Headcorn Half Marathon

This weekend I ran the Headcorn Half marathon. I am training for the Brighton marathon at the moment and I am really trying to get as close or under 3 hours as possible as this will then able me to run London next year and qualify for most marathons world wide without having to go into a ballot. In the run up to Brighton I decided to enter a couple of half marathons to work on speed and see where I am in my training. This year the only race I have run is the 45 mile Country to Capital event on which I ran in 6 hours and 32 minutes (PB). I have been training pretty hard running 5 times a week running around 35 - 50 miles a week. I've also been running one speed session which is mainly a 5 mile on the treadmill which I am now down to 29.55 and then trying to get a long run in on the weekends. I managed to find the Headcorn Half on fetcheveryone.co.uk - inaugural event so I thought I would give it a go. I had never heard of Headcorn but it's just outside Maidstone. I managed to persuade my mate Ash to run as well who is training for Brighton also. The race started at 9am and you had to collect your number and chip pre race so it was an early start leaving at around 7ish and arriving just before 8.30. We joined the queue outside the White Horse Pub collected our numbers and warmed up - it was very windy and cold, at the time I didn't fancy running at all. The race started on the middle of the green, around 400 people lined up on the green under a small start sign. The guy was explaining the rules with no microphone so was hard to understand what he was saying, a few moments later the siren went and we were off with a lap of the field to start. It was a bit slippery running around the field at the start but was only 400m and then onto the roads through country lanes. My P.B for a half was around 1.28ish so I wanted to go under that - I believed I could go at around 1.22 (6.16 minute miles). To run at this pace or any quick half marathon I believe you need to go out quick and try to hold on. I went out and ran the first couple of miles in 6.05 and 6.10. The course was pretty flat, there were some hills but was undulating. I went through 10k in 38.50 so I was on for around 1.23ish. I felt pretty good after around 6 miles and pushed on to around 10 miles in over an hour. Unfortunately the last 3 miles were into a head wind and suffered a little and finished in 1.26.22 (16th/380). I was happy with that time as was a p.b and with 6 weeks to go it shows that I am on schedule to break 3 hours. I also have another half in a few weeks so can see where I am then. Ash came in at 1.36 which was PB for him as well so all in all 2 good races. I thought this race was really well organised for the first one - great water stations at around 3, 6, 8 and 11 miles, chip timing and great volunteers. I will definitely be back next year. Next for me is the Essex 20 next Sunday which should be a good race again to measure where I am in my training.

Country to Capital 45 Miler 2014

Going into the country to capital I wasn't sure what to expect.I had put a few runs in December but the Christmas season affected training a bit.I then managed to run everyday from Boxing Day through to the 7th Jan,anything ranging from 5 miles to 17 miles.I also included a few back to back long runs to get used to running on tired legs.I was excited to run an ultra again after Caesars camp in October.I've recently joined a local running club called Leigh Striders and I received an email from the captain Dean who was driving up there as he was only running half of the race due to bigger challenges in spring and would go back to the start to get his car.This gave me an extra hour in bed and a chance to meet some new people from the club.Dean picked me up at 6.20 and I met a couple of the striders-Collin and Elisabet who had run a few ultras before and Dave who was running his first 45 miler. We arrived at around 7.45 which gave us plenty of time to register and get ready.It was a glorious morning,a bit chilly but sunny with blue sky's.This would be my 4th Country to capital and every time I have reduced my time,looking back at my first one in 2010 where it rained most of the day and I ran that in 8.10.I didn't really have any targets-around 7 hours would have been nice (p.b 6.43).We set off at 8.30 and there were over 300 runners starting this year which shows how much this sport is growing.After the race briefing we set off and made our way down the main road through Wendover then onto the public footpath,we then hit the trails for around 6 or 7 miles which were very boggy.I felt pretty good at this point and was making chat with various runners.As I have mentioned before ultras are great as there is a massive camaraderie,everyone is there to help each other out. I met a guy called Kenny who was from Chelmsford who I ran with for a bit.We managed to get lost with Collin (Leigh strider) for a mile or so and then made our way back on track.Even though I've done this race 3 times I still manage to get lost-hopefully next year this won't happen.I ran the first 26 miles in 3.54 which I was pleased with and I knew I could be on for a p.b as the last 19 miles is flat down the canal.The weather was great,was sunny all day with blue sky's-perfect for running!When I got to around 30 miles I did hit a bit of a low and lower back was hurting so I took an ibuprofen.I then moved on for a few miles and seemed to be okay.When you reach around 32 miles there is a sign for Paddington for 13 miles and that's when you know you're on your way home.From there on in its head down and tick the miles off with 2 check points.I finished in 6.32 (29th place and Average 8.43 min miles)which was a p.b and felt great.I slumped in the chair at the end and was ruined but it's a great feeling.Its a great race and I would recommend this to anyone who wants to run their first ultra.For me now I have Brighton marathon next where I'm aiming for another PB and then I have the South Downs Way 100 in June.Happy running guys!