Women's Running 10K Series - Southampton - Race Report

This morning I travelled the 40mins or so to Southampton for the Women's Running magazine 10K series event. As per usual I got there stupidly early, parked up and made my way across Southampton Common to the start area. I had no idea this 320ish acre site was slap bang in the middle of the city - and very nice it was too!

After the 5K race got under way, the 10K girls gathered at the start line and positioning myself between the 55 and 60 minute pacers we set off.

Once I'd wound may way through the usual slower runners I got nicely into my stride. The two lap course was mainly on tarmac paths with a bit of grass and a deceptive long-long hill which I definitely felt in my legs!

At about 8.5K the 60 min pacer caught me, but thanks to Mr Garmin I knew she must be ahead of pace. It was definitely the incentive I needed and I pushed the pace and even managed a nice sprint finish over the line to finish with a chip time of 57.48. If you were reading yesterday you'll know that a sub 58min 10K was one of my 2015 goals!

The race had great organisation, with loads of water stations around the route, a quality medal and technical tee and an awesome goody bag! All the runners were also given a yummy whey protein shake from Everything But The Cow and soy ice cream from Wheyhey - Yum!

A great race and I'll definitely be back next year!

Checking In - 2015 Targets

At the beginning of the year I set myself a couple of targets for my running - a couple of time goals and a total distance goal for the year. I'm happy to report that with 201 days left of 2015 I'm on the verge of hitting 50% of my goal distance of 1000k for the year!

Considering that January and February were rather injury ridden I'm pretty darn happy to have hit this milestone already. 

I'm about to get back to doing proper long runs on the weekend as part of my Half marathon training (after the next couple of weekends with races on the agenda) so I'm hopeful that I'm on track to succeed.

My other goals were to hit a sub-28min 5K and a sub 58min 10K. I achieved the first of these in April with a new 5K PB of 27m 55secs and am hopeful of beating my 10K target with my PB currently sitting at 58m 59secs. Once I hit them both I guess I just have to set myself some more goals!

Juneathon update - Rest day today as I'm running a 10K race tomorrow - but I did manage 5 miles of talking including a vigorous beach walk with the girls!

Rain Runner

Friday is definitely my preferred day to run to work. It sets me up nicely for the weekend and somehow even after a good primping I also look a bit more dishevelled than usual  (especially when I’m changing into clothes that live in a desk drawer!) and that’s a whole lot less noticeable on dress down Friday.

Today it also serves the purpose of making sure I’m not tempted to pop along to a local 10K race this evening – I’m running in the Southampton leg of the Women's Running 10K series on Sunday and two races in a weekend is a little nuts!

I set off this morning to cloudy skies, but with no rain forecast till tonight I was hopeful that the weather would be kind to me. I was wrong.

About 3.5K into my 8.5K commute the heavens opened. 

Running in the rain isn't something I do that often. I rarely set off for a run if  it's already raining, but of course every British runner gets caught out on an all too frequent basis. If I know rain is forecast I slap on my trusty running cap. Mine is a Gap G-stride cap and while it's not currently on the UK Gap site, there are plenty more similar ones out there.

Of course Mr Hat was safely tucked away in my bag at home so today I just embraced the rain! Once you're wet, there really is no point in worrying as there is no getting wetter! This is the point where the fun kicks in! Splashing through the puddles is strangely appealing and the rain definitely cools you down and spurs you onward!

Happy running everyone!

Run Dorset - Wimborne - Race Report

Pretty hardcore hills and craggy terrain. That's how I'd describe the trail race/cross country course for the Run Dorset event at Wimborne in May. Of course the race organisers described it as 'mainly flat and perfect for fast times'!

The race started on the playing fields of my old school - Queen Elizabeth's in Wimborne. Apart from a single trip to their leisure centre a couple of weeks previously, I've not been back since leaving after my last A-level exam more years ago than I care to remember!

The race set off onto closed roads and soon turned off road onto gravel, grassy banks and stony slopes. A 'novelty' was the inclusion of kissing gates, stiles and rustic wooden steps. We came across all of these within the first km so there was definitely a serious bottleneck at these points - of course on the return journey the field had thinned somewhat so they were a lot less of a delay on the way back.

The race definitely took in some pretty terrain though. Passing fields of rapeseed, bluebell woods and avenues of ancient oak trees all added to that authentic Dorset feel and I definitely got well into my stride on the flatter middle bits.

The timing at Run Dorset events is via a wristband that is dibbed into a device at the finishing line. This seems to work quite smoothly and your results are handed to you just moments after finishing!

A great race and you can still grab your slot at the last of the Run Dorset events in Christchurch on October 18th.

Junathon update - Rest Day today but I certainly kept active with a mammoth lawn moving session of  a quarter of an acre of grass!

Inspiration - Pinterest Style

I'm quite the Pinterest junkie - I use it for all sorts of 'research' - cute baby animals, Star Wars pictures  and stuff about Marvel - y'know, all the important stuff.

But there is also a whole load of really useful running and fitness resources at your fingertips with lots of links to pages that other people have thought are useful enough to save on their own boards.

But even better are the funny, inspirational and painfully true motivational and humorous mottos and slogans that are to be found there too - here are a couple you can find on my own Health and Running Pinterest board - I promise if you give me a visit (and a follow) I also share the useful stuff too!

Junathon update - an easy pace 7 and a bit km this evening :)

Rewards for running - Bounts

Gaining real money off loads of high street stores just by doing the running that you'd be doing anyway? When I heard this deal I just about snatched the arm of 'Bounts' right off! Bounts is just that, a website that talks to your various tracking and activity apps and grants you points which accumulate to give you money-off vouchers for loads of shops, restaurants and more.

It handily talks to lots of the most popular apps including Fitbit, Runkeeper and Strava and for each activity you complete you will gain Bounts points that you can save up and cash in for your vouchers - I'm rather a Gap junkie so am thrilled to grab vouchers for this one whenever I have enough.

The other great thing about Bounts is that it's free to join - you can even grab some extra points for free if you quote my code when you sign up - just use godbeer1286 and we'll both get 20 free points!

Junathon update - an easy 5k recovery run for me today on a very blustery afternoon!

Currently lusting after...

People will tell you that one of the many reasons running is the perfect exercise is that beyond running shoes (and a sports bra for some of us!), it's a totally free hobby. Of course 99% of runners will tell you that's just not the case! Somehow race entry fees and other bits of running paraphernalia suddenly become essentials! Here are three things that I currently REALLY need despite my bank balance disagreeing! 

1. Garmin Forerunner 225

I currently run with a Garmin Forerunner 10 and while it does the basics rather well I'm finding myself lusting after this new baby! This one would let me import training plans including interval sessions etc, it has a much improved battery life and a built in Heart Rate meter. Get on my wrist!

2. Nike Victory Gym Tote Bag

Love this gorgeous coloured bag - it'd be perfect to toting my bits to yoga class. 

3. Skins A400 3/4 Tights 

These sound blissfully supportive and comfortable - and I suspect come winter I'll be wanting a full length pair too! Shame they are a tad 'cha-ching!'

Jonathan update - no running for me today so I got my activity done with a hard 6.30am Yoga class - the perfect way to start the day!