A Marathon Journey

Having made the decision to finally "retire" from competitive marathon running following my run in the Phoenix Marathon at the weekend, I have spent the past couple of days reflecting on my marathon career whilst I've sat at home with my feet up, recovering from the race whilst both Wilson and Brandy have been curled up next to me on the sofa. 

Looking back, I still can't believe that I ran my first marathon 20 years ago as a very young and naive 23 year old "unattached" runner. I also can't believe that I had actually miscounted the number of pure marathons I had taken part in - I thought I had successfully stopped at the nice round number of 30 (discounting ultras), but in fact, I have completed 35 - how the hell did that happen? Had I known, I might have given up earlier - now I'm a little concerned that with my OCD for things being neat and tidy, I might get the urge to make it a nice, neat, round number - but let's not go down that road...yet!

With so many marathons under my belt, I really can't remember all of them in any great detail although some of them stick in my mind as memorable ocassions for very different reasons. I know folks are probably bored to death of me harping on about marathons by now, but up until recently, the marathon has always been my favourite distance and I have felt confident every time I've lined up on that start line. Besides, with Andy working away and with me having a couple of days rest, I have nothing better to do at the moment other than taking a look back at each and every marathon I have ever done, and to try to recall what I can about the event at the time.

If you'd like to take a look back with me, feel free to read on - if not but you know me personally, thank you for all your support and encouragement if you have been there at any point during my marathon journey over the past 2 decades. 

Marathon Number 1 - Potteries Marathon - June 1996

Finishing Time : 3.46.59    Position : 11th Lady

The Potteries Marathon was my local race back in the 1990's, and having being a spectator every year since I was a child, I was now old enough to take part myself. I'd taken a few years out from running due to college and work, but 1996 was the year that the Britannia Building Society was sponsoring the marathon. At the time, I was working for the Britannia and thought it would be fun to take part.  I was no longer a member of a running club, so I did all my prep under my own steam.

"The Potts" is renowned for being extremely hilly, and being held in June, it was always held on a very warm day. 1996 was no different, and having started well and lying in 3rd place in the ladies race at Bentilee, my inexperience and lack of training (2 x 16 mile runs and a few 8 milers in the 2 months leading up to the race!!) meant that by Carmountside, I was already suffering, and by the time I reached Thistleberry, I was ready to collapse. 

The only thing that kept me going was what somebody at work had said to me. He'd done The Potts the year before and had finished in around 4.15. He too said that it's a really tough run and he doubted that I would get under 4 hours - wrong thing to say to a stubborn red head! I finished in just under 3 hours 47 minutes in much pain but with a huge smile on my face. My marathon addiction had started :-)

Marathon Number 2 - Potteries Marathon - June 1997

Finishing Time: 3.59.17 Position : 37th Lady

Another hot year at The Potts. I'd done absolutely no training for it this particular year and only decided to do the race on the Friday evening - just 2 days before the race. I've since learnt that this is NOT the way to run a good marathon :-)

Marathon Number 3 - Potteries Marathon - June 1999

Finishing Time: 3.40.19  Position: 16th Lady

I have no recollection of this particular day, but it looks like I'd maybe started to take things a little more seriously, running some 7 minutes quicker than my previous course best. I do remember that I'd decided to raise some money for charity this time, and ran to support the Sail Training Association - a charity that sends young people on sailing trips aroubd the globe where they work as a crew member on a tall ship. I'd actually been on one of these "cruises" a few years earlier so I wanted to give something back to them.

Marathon Number 4 - London Marathon - April 2000

Finishing Time: 3.35.42  Position : 428th Lady

I'd always dreamt of running in the London Marathon, and on a whim, I carelessly entered the ballot, not believing for a second that I would get in. October came, and I'd been given a place - whoo hoo!

Running in the Capital was simply AMAZING! I started with "the masses" on the red start, and I remember it taking around 10 minutes to cross the start line. In those days, I was really enjoying marathons by now and was caught up in the whole atmosphere - I LOVED it! I was still an unattached runner so all my training was done without any input from anybody else. I knocked another 5 minutes off my PB and I was ecstatic! I had also decided to once again raise some money for charity and donated to the RSPCA.

Marathon Number 5 - Potteries Marathon - June 2000

Finishing Time: 3.56.39  Position:  9th Lady

Being on a high after London, I made the decision to run another marathon in the summer and not surprisingly it was once again The Potts. This was the year that was scorching hot and people were dropping like flies as the temperature climbed into the 80's. I remember running through Burslem and feeling a pain in my chest and wondering if I was about to have a heart attack! Luckily it was just indigestion and like everybody else, my time was slower than previous races simply due to the weather conditions.

Marathon Number 6 - Snowdonia Marathon - October 2000

Finishing Time: 3.52.21  Positon: 17th Lady

The Snowdonia Marathon - still one of my favourites! It's another tough one with lots of climbing, but is one of the most scenic marathons I've done.

This was my third marathon of the year - clearly by now I was hooked!

The weekend of the 2000 Snowdownia Marathon was extremely memorable as the whole of the UK was hit by howling winds and torrential rain. We had opted to camp at Nant Peris and on race day, we awoke to an inch of water in the tent and a flooded field. The race still went ahead and I remember being thrown all over the place by the crazy  windy weather, yet loving every minute of it! 

Driving home after the race, all the roads out of North Wales were flooded and if they weren't flooded, fallen trees were blocking the roads. What should have been an hour or two drive turned into a 5 hour journey home but we eventually arrived safely - and my slate coaster was safe :-)

Marathon Number 7 - London Marathon - April 2001

Finishing Time: 3.31.43   Position: 336 Lady

The atmosphere of the London Marathon the previous year prompted me to enter again, but this time I had a guaranteed place thanks to achieving a "Good for Age" Standard. I started on the red start but much further forward than the previous year, and the atmosphere was again amazing. Despite the crowds, I ran yet another PB.

Marathon Number 8 - Potteries Marathon - June 2001

Finishing Time : 3.29.55  Position: 7th Lady

The Potteries Marathon was now becoming an annual tradition for me as I was keen to support a local race. Being hilly, I never anticipated that I would run yet another PB so soon after London a couple of months earlier, but I did, and I broke  the magical 3.30 mark .... just!

Marathon Number 9 - Potteries Marathon - June 2002

Finishing Time: 3.37.09  Position: 7th lady

Another hot year and times were once again down, but I was still very happy to be out there pounding the streets of Stoke :-) The crowd support from the folks of Stoke would rival any major big city marathon elsewhere in the world.

Marathon Number 10 - London Marathon - April 2003

Finishing Time: 3.25.07   Position: 270th Lady

Another "Good for Age" guaranteed entry, and another PB :-) I was loving the marathon and felt confident every time I toed the start line. I remember this particular year, simply because I was hoping to go sub 3.30 again and I was frantically doing the maths in my head for each mile split - it was only when I entered The Mall that I reaslised I had smashed my target time :-) I also raised some money for The Blue Cross - a UK national animal charity.

Marathon Number 11 - Potteries Marathon - June 2003

Finishing Time: 3.19.33   Position: 3rd lady

This was the last year that I did The Potts, and sadly, the following year saw the race last holding of the event as entries had dwindled and  it was no longer sustainable :-( 

I remember starting the race feeling confident after my run in London, believing that I could go sub 3.30 again despite the local hills. When I saw my finishing time, it was a very surreal moment - how could I possibly have ran yet another 5 minute PB within just 2 months, and on the Potteries Marathon course?! Even more surprising was that I finished 3rd lady and got on the podium as well as winning the silver medal in the Staffs County Marathon Championships (behind Ju Myatt at the time who had won the race). No wonder the marathon was fastò becoming my chosen distance!

Marathon Number 12 - London Marathon - April 2004

Finishing Time: 3.09.09  Position: 138th Lady

This day was another O.M.G. !! kind of day. I had completely smashed my PB yet again, going way under my target of 3.15, and raising lots of valuable funds for The Dogs Trust. I still wasn't a member of a running club but this day was the turning point where I thought that maybe I could break 3 hours one day. I needed a coach, and I needed a running club that would help me reach my full potential - I really didn't think I could improve much more on my own, and needed some guidance. 

Shortly after London in 2004, I plucked up the courage and joined Trentham Running Club and with the help and guidance from Richard O'Keeffe, and the awesome guys at Trentham, the next few years running marathons were about to become even better :-)

Marathon Number 13 - Snowdonia Marathon - October 2004

Finishing Time: 3.13.16     Position: 2nd Lady

My time at the London Marathon in April meant that I could now join the elite ladies in London the following year, and run in the English National Marathon Championships. I still hadn't got my head around the fact that I had gone sub 3.15 so I made the decision to do the Snowdonia Marathon again and if I went sub 3.15, I would send off my Championship entry.

This time around, the weather in Snowdonia was much better - a little warm, but certainly far calmer than the last time I'd done it. My training for the event this time had been much more focused thanks to Richard, and he'd kept me company on his bike whilst I did my long weekend runs around the hilly Astbury. Richard came to the race to support me, along with my family.

I can remember how strong I felt that day and I knew that I was in second place in the ladies' race until we had passed through Bedgelert and started the undulating section at the back of Snowdon. I caught up with a chap and we ran together for a short time before he told me that the leading lady was just ahead. I never imagined that I would be within striking distance of leading the Snowdonia Marathon and was a little afraid of going past and taking the lead. I didn't feel I deserved to be in that position, but the chap encouraged me on, and so i made my move. I knew the climb at Waunfawr was approaching, and the chap told me that I really needed to work up there - I was now the rabbit, and the hounds were chasing me down. Sure enough, I faltered on the climb, and with around 3 miles to go, I was passed and moved down to 2nd place. 

I finished 2nd lady, just 2 minutes behind the winner, and as I went up to collect my prize, I was still shaking my head in disbelief.

My run in the Snowdonia Marathon that year also brought me my first running club award, as I won the Best Marathon Performance Trophy at Trentham - thank you guys :-) It also gave me the confidence to enter the Championship race in London the following year - the joy of marathon running was now in full swing!

Marathon 14 - London Marathon - April 2005

Finishing Time: 2.53.59    Position: 42nd Lady

The London Marathon in 2005 was my most scariest yet. I was representing a club again (Trentham) and I was there on the start line on my own, with not only the best women marathon runners in the country, but also in the world, including the amazing Paula Radcliffe - I was start struck!

Of course, as soon as the gun goes, the elite go off so fast that you only see the tops of their heads bobbing off into the distance, which left me to run my own race. And what another amazing day it was! I certainly didn't go out thinking I could run as fast as I did - sub 3 was my ultimate goal, but I would have been happy with another PB - and yet I achieved both. I ran the race a mile at a time - focused purely on getting to the next mile within a certain time - and once again, as I ran down Bird Cage Walk and turned in to The Mall, I really couldn't believe it when I saw the clock saying 2 hours 53 minutes and some seconds. I remember looking at the results afterwards and thinking, "Huh??!!!" A 15 minute personal best and 3 hours smashed easily - and I can honestly say that on the day, although I'm sure I was tired, I cannot recall feeling any negativity during the race whatsoever. 

It was the start of a string of sub 3 marathons and I was ecstatic :-D

Marathon 15- Blackpool Marathon - June 2005

Finishing time : 2.58.01   position: 1st Lady

I was brimming with confidence after London and so I went to Blackpool 2 months later hoping to run a similar time, if not quicker.

The Blackpool Marathon was dead flat with no hills whatsoever. The course in 2005 was just a single loop which headed all the way to the south to the sand dunes near Lythm St Anns, before turning around and heading all the way north, before turning around and heading back into Blackpool again. Being run along the sea front meant that gusty winds were possible, but that particular day the wind wasn't the problem, it was the heat. There was absolutely no shade, and a vast majority of the field dropped out with heat exhaustion. What made things worse is that prior to the start, all the water that had been placed at the aid stations overnight had been stolen, so the start was delayed whilst they had to ship in emergency supplies!

I really don't remember the race itself, but I know that I led from start to finish. I knew that the second lady was only 400m behind me at around the 5 mile mark, but I tried not to think about it and just concentrated on maintaining the pace. I won the ladies race and finished 4th overall - I was literally speechless but absolutely over the moon. It wasn't a PB, but I had secured my first ever win at the marathon distance - now I really did feel like a marathon runner :-)

Marathon 16 - London Marathon - April 2006

Finishing Time: 2.47.41    Position: 16th Lady

Oh my goodness! What a day THIS one was! Not only did I knock a further 6 minutes off my PB, but I was also a member of the Newcastle (Staffs) AC marathon team, which won national team gold that day.

I'd left Trentham a few months earlier as there weren't enough ladies to run the national marathon championships in London as a team, whereas Newcastle had several lady marathon runners, all of which had already met the Championship entry standard.

It was an awesome team with Michelle Buckle, Julia Myatt, Mel Young and Maxine McKinnon. I had no idea that I was going to run another PB but I do remember feeling absolutely fantastic that day, and desperate to do my best to help the team win gold. The event wasn't without incident though. At the marathon Expo, I got to meet Steve Cram and on asking for his autograph, he signed my number. Under UKA and London Marathon rules, you're not supposed to mutilate or change your number in any way, and yet mine had been defaced by Steve Cram - an ex-international GB middle distance runner! His signature caught the eye of the judges at the start who said they would have to check if it was ok otherwise I could be disqualified which of course could have a huge impact on the team result. For the next 26 miles, I ran hard but at the back of my mind was the thought that it could all be for nothing. Thankfully nothing came of it, and Newscastle were crowned English National Marathon Champions, whilst I came away with another shiny new PB :-D

Marathon 17 - Snowdonia Marathon - October 2006

Finishing Time: 3.05.53    Position: 1st Lady

By the time the Snowdonia Marathon came around in October 2006, I was starting to make an impact on the local road running scene, and had already secured several victories over 10k and half marathons. Winning Blackpool and made me realise that I really could do this, and so I went to Snowdonia hoping to win rather than just run a fast time.

I took the lead at the top of Llanberis Pass and never looked back, winning the race and fulfilling one of my marathon dreams! To win what was considered Britain's toughest marathon was amazing, and I was filled with emotion when they interviewed me afterwards. What I didn't realise is that it was going to be televised AND put on the race DVD. I'll always remember my quote, "I love the Welsh people!" much to Andy's amusement.

The solid slate trophy I won and the beautful painting still take pride of place in our home, and that is definitely one race victory I will never forget.

Marathon 18 - Lochaber Marathon - April 2007

Finishing Time: 2.53.08   Position: 1st Lady

Having done the London Marathon for the past few years in a row, in April 2007, we decided to head north to Fort William in Scotland where I had entered the Lochaber Marathon. The course was an out and back and the lady's course record at the time stood at 2 hours 50 minutes. I'd continued with my winning streak in recent months and I was placing some good times, so I went into the race hoping to break the course record which in turn would give me the win.

There were lots of things that didn't go right in the race and I'm surprised I ran as quick as I did and still won. We had travelled there with some friends, and for the whole week leading up to the race, all I had heard from them was, "you're going to win this race" over and over again, along with "gosh, you're going to be loaded when you win. Are you going to take us out and treat us all to a good meal with your winnings?" Those comments got into my head - I felt lots of pressure, and I also felt that if I won, I wouldn't be able to enjoy it because I felt like I was obliged to treat my friends!

It was a tough run mentally and having gone through half way in 1.21, I was well on course to smash the record and receive the cash bonus. I had also been leading the race from the start, but shortly after half way, I saw my friend's family whose words of encourgement were something akin to, "looks like the celebrations are on you tonight!" As soon as they were out of sight, I sat at the side of the road, emotionally exhausted and crying my eyes out. I wanted to quit just so that I didn't have the pressure of having to "treat" my friends - but at that moment, Andy came along and convinced me to get going. The second lady was a considerable distance behind me, I was still on track for the record although now it would be tight, but Andy got me going again and I grudgingly ran in to the finish, winning my third marathon and being just 3 minutes off the course record - and another sub 3 marathon in the bank. I was very happy with my win, but I did feel awkward when I was handed my £500 winnings. I guess money really does tell you who your real friends are!

Marathon 19 - London Marathon - April 2008

Finishing Time: 2.48.23  Position: 23rd Lady

In 2008, I was back running for Trentham again and earned another place in the Championship due to my times the previous year. 

I remember the day started damp and cool with a slight breeze and I was on target for another PB by a couple of minutes. But in the final few miles running along The Embankment, the wind really picked up and we were running into a head wind as the drizzly rain came down. It was hard work but I was extremely pleased to be just 40 seconds off a PB in such conditions, and it also gave me the club record at Trentham, which I believe is still waiting to be broken 8 years later.

That same evening, Andy and I were invited to the presentation gala dinner where we met all the world class elite athletes - now that was awesome!

Marathon 20 - Langdale Marathon - September 2008

Finishing Time: 3.15.46   Position: 1st Lady

Langdale was another tough marathon and consisted of 2 laps with 1:3 climbs up mountain pass on the Langdale Valley. A couple of weeks earlier, I'd had a disappointing run at the Boddington 50km so I was desperate to seek some redemption and have a good run.

It was an awesome day and because nobody knew that I had decided to do the race, I felt no pressure and just felt  like I could go out there and enjoy it. I love the Lake District and the great outdoors, we'd spent a week camping in the middle of nowhere, and I felt rested both physically and mentally, making me more prepared to race.

I secured another win in the ladies race and finishing 3rd overall - I felt like I had some of my motivation back, and I was feeling great.

Marathon 21 - Cologne Marathon - October 2009

Finishing Time: 2.55.01   Position:    5th Lady

Having turned to ultra running in 2006/2007, I wasn't running quite as many marathons and so Cologne was my first attempt at the distance in over a year. We'd been on vacation in Canada in the September and arrived back in the UK just a few days before we caught the coach to Cologne. Arriving in the German city feeling jetlagged and under trained did not instill much confidence in me, and so I really didn't know how fit I was nor what time I was capable of.

I got my sub 3...again....and as soon as I crossed the finish line, I was taken away for a random drug test! I really wasn't expecting that but thankfully the only drugs I'd taken were some  immodium and some painkillers...phew! It took me ages to find Andy afterwards. He knew I'd dipped under 3 hours but with not being given the opportunity to contact him and let him know where I was, I caught up with him some 3 hours later - to say he was a little concerned is an understatement!

Marathon 22 - Blackpool Marathon - April 2010

Finishing Time: 2.57.01   Position:  1st Lady

Back to Blackpool for 2010, and this time the course had changed again to be 2 loops rather than just one. The date had also been moved to April which meant it was now the race to do for those folks that hadn't got into London.

The thing I remember most about this race is when passing the leading lady in the half marathon on lap 1, around about the 8 mile stage. As I passed her, she increased her pace in an attempt to keep up but knowing that she wasn't actually in the same race as me, I quite innocently said, "It's ok, I'm doing the full and you're well clear." She gave me the dirtiest look and Andy informed me afterwards that it wasn't really the right thing to say when passing somebody that is doing half the distance that you are!

I got another race win that day, and another sub 3 and I have to say that that really was the most unexpected result in my marathon career. My training hadn't gone well and I'd been plagued on and off with plantar fasciitis, so I was absolutely beaming at the finish line and proud to have bagged another win for Trentham.

Marathon 23 - Galway Marathon - August 2010

Finishing Time: 3.03.48   Position:  5th Lady

The Galway Marathon wasn't really entered as a marathon - it was incorporated into the World 50km Championships in which I was competing for Great Britain/England. Because we crossed the finish line of the marathon before continuing a loop of the town for the final 5 miles of the 50k, we were given a marathon split time.

I was 5th at the marathon and 5th at the 50k having battled heavy rain and strong headwinds whilst on the roads that followed the coastline. It was a weekend of mixed emotions for me personally. The GB/England team had a world champion in the form of our amazing team mate Sue Harrison, whilst the rest of the team had placed 4th (Helen Taranowski), 5th (me!) and 6th (Karen Rushton) in the world championship 50k race. But back home in England, our 17 year old Border Collie Leo was really poorly and it was close to the time for saying bye bye to him. Andy had stayed home with him and our other old boy Sammy to take care of him, but I knew that when I got home, we would have to face the inevitable. It put a dark cloud over me for that weekend despite my attempts at focusing on a major race for the team. Sometimes our pesonal lives can have a huge impact on our running :-(

Marathon 24 - London Marathon - April 2011

Finishing Time: 3.03.00   Postion: 61st Lady

The 2011 London Marathon came just 3 weeks after the British 100km championships where I had narrowly missed out on a medal having suffered with a swollen and bruised foot for the latter half of the race. I don't think that I had fully recovered in time for London, but still went along with the hope of running another sub 3. Sadly I didn't get the sub 3, and I was bitterly disappointed. We were well aware that this time next year, we would be living in Canada and therefore this was my last chance to have a good run in London, probably for a long time.

Marathon 25 - Calgary Marathon - May 2012

Finishing Time: 3.17.53  Position:  10th Lady

I'd applied for an elite entry for the Calgary Marathon in May 2012 as I was genuinely going to aim for a time of around 2 hours 50 mins. The problem was, our move to Calgary was delayed and so I didn't arrive in the country until a month before the race which didn't help with preparation for a fast marathon.

Running the Calgary Marathon this particular year reminded me of my earlier marathon running days - no goal in mind, no expectations or pressure, just a nice early morning run with a few other people where I could just relax and enjoy it. I remember finishing with a big smile on my face - Calgary was now my home town, and so this marathon would become my annual "must do local".

Marathon 26 - Calgary Marathon - May 2013

Finishing Time: 3.06.26  Position: 6th Lady

Now I'd lived in Calgary for a full year, I was far more used to the dry air and the higher altitude. I was feeling fit for this one, and knew I was capable of anything between 3.05  and 3.10. It was another awesome day, and I was once again extremely pleased with my run, and with two belt buckles in my collection, what more could I ask for?

Marathon 27 - Edmonton Marathon - August 2013

Finishing Time: 3.06.55  Position:  2nd Lady

The Edmonton Marathon was the one where I started to believe that I could run a sub 3 marathon again. I was doing well in races across Alberta although by now most of them were trail races, but I was running decent times on the road and genuinely thought it was well within my capabilities.

I was given an elite entry for Edmonton and I went there determined to go under 3 hours - but it wasn't to be and despite finishing 2nd lady and coming away with nearly $1500 in prize money, I was extremely disappointed.

Marathon 28 - Red Deer Marathon - May 2014

Finishing Time: 3.11.08   Position:  1st Lady

The Red Deer Marathon brought back memories of race victories from a couple of years ago, where I was genuinely happy with my run and knew i really could not have gone any quicker. I was realistic with my goals, expecting to run anything between 3.10 and 3.15. Having looked at the past results, I knew that this could bring a win, depending who else turned up.

It was a fabulous day, made even more memorable because our friend Kim also won the ladies half marathon, and it was nice to have not only Andy there supporting us, but also Kim's hubby Adam, and our good frind Alan.

The weather conditions were ideal with cool temperatures and light rain - it really was a fabulous race and one that I was sure to go back to.

Marathon 29 - Banff Marathon - June 2014

Finishing Time: 3.41.48   Position:  8th Lady

Another epic fail in Banff. Having suffered from a seriously bad cold in the week leading up to the race, I really shouldn't have raced given that I was coughing up lots of green phlegm on race morning. The course was also changed at the last minute due to bears feeding on the original route around Vermillion Lakes. Instead we ran along the cycle track that goes parallel to the Trans Canada Highway - still in the mountains with some fabulous vistas, but not quite the "run with nature" that we had all been expecting. I completely understood the reason for the change and didn't have a problem with it - the wildlife were there first, we are running in their territory - let them be.

It was also a very hot day and many people were caught unawares by the fierce strength of the sun. No only did I finish coughing and sputtering, but I had severe sunburn that made sleeping on my back impossible for the following week.

Marathon 30 - Mount Robson Marathon - September 2014

Finishing Time. 4.29.45   Position:  3rd Lady

What can I say about the Mount Robson Marathon, other than it really is the most scenic marathon I have EVER done! It's a trail marathon but still counts in my tally, and I went into the race simply to have lots of fun and enjoy the amazing scenery of the Rocky Mountains. Fantastic views, an amazing course with lots of climbing that takes you to the base of the highest mountain in the Canadian Rockies, and finishing 3rd lady to make the podium. It really was a most AMAZING day!

Marathon 31 - Toronto Marathon - October 2014

Finishing Time: 3.06.04  Position:  20th Lady

2014 was a busy year of racing for me and whilst I'd originally entered Toronto for... you've guessed it, to go sub 3! .... I knew I had trail legs these days and that I had to be realistic about my goals in Toronto.

I'd never been to Ontario and it was great to spend the weekend with our good friends Dawn and Don, and Dawn's family, and to experience the beautiful area in which Dawn's family lived.

The race itself went as expected, and I was extremely pleased to finished 3rd in the  masters category which meant I came away with $200 in prize money - certainly worth the effort :-)

Marathon 30 - London Marathon - April 2015

Finishing Time: 3.02.34  Position:  114th Lady

Once again, I had high hopes of breaking 3 hours when I went back to London last year. I rejoined Midland Masters as a way of getting a guaranteed Championship Entry and it was great to see so many old friends whilst there. I remember the day being cool and damp at the start, but warming up throughout the morning. The buzz I get whenever I stand on Blackheath Common was still there, and I was excited and confident of yet another good run in London.

A 7 hour time difference and a wee bit of jet lag meant that I suffered a little bit on race day, but I got far closer to 3 hours than I had for a while. I was extremely happy with my run and it was fantastic travelling back up to Stoke after the race to see family and friends, and to share our stories about the race.

Marathon 31 - Red Deer Marathon - May 2015

Finishing Time: 3.09.12  Position: 2nd Lady

The Red Deer Marathon was not in my race plans for 2015, but being the defending champion, I was invited back to race again. The race came just 3 weeks after London and knowing that I likely wouldn't be fully recovered from a hard run in London, I opted to go back and just hoped to be able to run a quicker time than the previous year.

I never led the race this year and lay in 2nd place all the way around, slowing quite dramatically in the second half when compared to my usual marathon splits as the fatigue in my legs from London started to build. I kept being told that I was gaining on the leading lady, but it wasn't until the last mile or so that I actually saw how close she really was - literally just 400m or so. Had I known sooner, I may have found something inside me to give chase. As it happened, I was still happy with my 2nd place and with a little bit of prize money, I couldn't complain.

It was the same day as the Red Deer Marathon that Andy left Calgary to start setting things up for our move to Phoenix, so whilst I was in a celebratory mood, I found myself home alone as he boarded a plane to head south to Arizona. I had no idea when I would next see him, nor when I would be moving there myself with the rest of our family and it sort of took the shine away from my race result.

Marathon 32 - Las Vegas Marathon - November 2015

Finishing Time: 3.29.09  Position:  10th Lady

Las Vegas .... oh dear. Another attempt at a sub 3, another build up in training that dictated that sub 3 was in my grasp, but the weather on the day had other ideas. Weather warnings for high winds that could cause potential damage just an hour before the start cast doubts in my mind, but I thought I'd just go for it anyway. Having dodged flying road signs, aid station tables, plastic cups and goodness knows what else, as well as taking a fair old battering and being blown all over the place, I finally gave up the chase and made the decision that this would be my last competitive marathon. Absolutely no more....ever.

Marathon 33 - Phoenix Marathon - February 2016

Finishing Time: 3.19.49  Position:  27th Lady

So, why did I let myself talk myself into doing Phoenix? Because I was feeling fit and strong after Vegas, I felt like I was capable of one final sub 3, and it was getting to be an obsession now.

If you read my previous post, you will know that I once again gave up the chase, and I have finally admitted to myself that my marathon days are now over. I realised on Sunday that there is no passion for running marathons anymore, and if you've managed to read all of the above, you will see that my motivation and passion for running marathons has faded in the past couple of years. I just don't have it anymore.

But you'll have also seen that I've had some amazing moments during my marathon career and whilst I would like to have ended it on a high, I'm not willing to put myself through it all again - not at the moment anyway. Maybe I'll change my mind in the future, but that will be my decision when I feel the time and place is ready. 

So there you have it - a brief (!!) summary of my 35 marathons.  I'd  like to finish by saying that for those of you that find the lure of marathon running appealing, go for it and be sure that you are enjoying it and doing it for youself. Having folks around you for support and training is a huge help, and in recent years that's certainly one thing I've missed - the encouragement and support of group training runs and speed sessions that I used to get at Trentham are long gone and I've got so used to running alone these days that I'm not used to the crowds you get in the marathon anymore.

The most important thing though of course is to have fun. Chasing times isn't the be all and end all - I guess it's taken me 20 years to finally realise that :-)

 -

The Beastly Marathon .... Again :-)

The Las Vegas Marathon in November last year was meant to have been my last attempt at getting another sub 3 hour marathon before I get much older. Unfortunately, the weather put paid to that as we encountered crazy winds on that Sunday evening, and I ended up finishing in 3.28. At the time, I was done. I’d done 30 marathons by then, had several sub 3’s already under my belt, and I really didn’t feel like I had anything to prove, in terms of marathon running, to either myself or anybody else.

But the marathon is a nasty beast – in more ways than one – and shortly after Vegas, I found myself entering the Phoenix Marathon which would take place at the end of February.

I didn’t tell anybody that I had entered the marathon again. I wanted to keep this one private so that I could just run without the expectation of others, and as soon as I’d done the Across the Years in December, I had a few easy days with no running before building up my mileage again in preparation for the marathon.

What I didn’t know when entering the Phoenix Marathon was that I would be invited to join the Aravaipa Running Racing Team for 2016 – had I known, I perhaps WOULDN’T have convinced myself to run another marathon. In all honesty, my love for the marathon and the enjoyment I get from racing them fizzled out a couple of years ago - I was only going back again with the intention of aiming for that sub 3 for one final time, despite knowing that I would find it much harder to maintain that kind of pace compared to when I was purely focused on road running back in my 30’s. No, my passion for running these days comes from running on the trails, and it’s thanks to the many trail races I have done in the past few years both across Europe and in North America that my love for road running and chasing fast times is no longer there.

And yet I was still excited to know that I would be running the Phoenix Marathon and with some fantastic training runs leading up to it where I was hitting my goal race pace, I was feeling extremely confident of a sub 3.

Race day arrived, and I was up at 3am getting myself ready for the 45 minute drive down to Mesa. Andy was working away, so I had to allow that extra time for walking the dogs before I headed off, and with the last bus to the start leaving at 5.15am, I needed to make sure it wasn’t too stressful for me trying to find a parking spot and hopping on the bus. Thankfully, I arrived in plenty of time, and although I was excited at the thought of a good race, I was feeling pretty calm and relaxed.

The start was out of town in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere and it took around 30 minutes to get there as we travelled in convoy on the provided school buses. We arrived in the pitch black at around 5.30am, and as the dawn started to break it certainly looked like we were just surrounded by desert with very few houses in the vicinity.

The race started at 6.30 and by then, the sky became a beautiful red as the sun started to rise in the east. There were a couple of thousand people registered for the marathon which made for a busy start line, but I managed to get near to the front and was focused on just getting to the finish line in under 3 hours.

Phoenix Marathon is actually a downhill course with a net elevation loss of around 1000 ft although there is one good, long climb just after 4 miles that lasts for a good mile or so. Other than that, the first couple of miles are noticeably downhill along with a couple of other sections, whilst the remainder of the course appears flat. Under normal circumstances, it would be considered a fast, PB course but many people start off far too fast in those early miles, and then suffer later on with tired legs from hitting the downhills at a quicker pace than planned.

I was very well aware of this and was being extremely good in controlling my pace. I’d given myself target times for each 5 mile split and was pretty much on target with my pace up until 15 miles. It was at that stage that I looked ahead and all I could see right in to the distance was a long, straight road. This lasted for a couple more miles – no turns, no obvious ups or downs, and I was starting to get bored with the monotony of running that same road. By 18 miles, as we turned a corner and saw yet another long, straight stretch of road ahead of us, I realised that I was getting extremely bored, I was starting to lose my focus, and that my pace had started to slow. My motivation for running wasn’t there, and with that sub 3 goal slowly slipping away yet again, I very nearly quit. But I was there on my own – there was no Andy today, so I HAD to get to the finish line otherwise I’d be unable to get home. I persevered, but every step I took felt like a chore. I was so frustrated as physically I felt strong – sure, my glutes had tightened a little and I’d been suffering with a stitch for a short time, but otherwise there was absolutely no reason why I couldn’t continue to run strong – it really was a mental block.

I then started to walk. Tons of people passed by me and I really didn’t care. I wanted to stop but knew I couldn’t and then it dawned on me – why don’t I just damage the timing chip so that I don’t get an official time? I can still finish, but my time would not go down in the personal history books, and it could be one of those races that never really happened.

For the next few miles, I ripped at my number, I peeled off all the foam, I put pinholes through the chip, I tore off sections of it, and I crumpled it as much as possible, convinced that it would do the job – after all, don’t they say, “do not bend” and “do not remove the foam”? As I approached the timing mat at 20 miles, I skirted around it rather than going over it, saying to a bemused police officer that I didn’t want a time so please don’t make me run over it!

That last 6km of the marathon was horrendous – I’ve never know 6km go so slowly! I was walking quite a lot now – couldn’t be arsed to run, but desperate to get to the finish. Every time I walked, hundreds of people would overtake me, but when I started to run again, I gained on them and ended up putting a huge gap between us once I’d gone past. The worst thing about it all was that these people were pushing so hard to get that Boston Qualifier, and here was I, not putting in any real effort whatsoever, and I felt awful watching what the others were going through.

Finally we had just a mile to go, and I decided that I was going to run the whole way in now – why prolong the boredom unnecessarily? Barely out of breath, and literally just jogging in to the closing stages, I was greeted by hundreds of people cheering and yelling, “Good job! You qualified!” Crossing the finish line, I did hear the timing mat beep so clearly my dramatic attempts to avoid an official time being recorded were wasted. I haven’t looked at the official time – I’ll let everybody else do that – but I was extremely disappointed and frustrated at yet another marathon attempt having gone wrong. What made it worse was all the joy at the finish – all those lovely people – spectators, volunteers, other runners – congratulating me on an “awesome performance” and I could “now go to Boston!”. I tried to nod and smile enthusiastically, but it was hard – what about all these people that genuinely deserved all the praise and attention? All the runners around me that had fought tooth and nail to get the qualifying time, that hadn’t walked and hadn’t just given up like I had? Surely they deserved it more than me?

I know that this is an extremely negative account of my experience at the Phoenix Marathon, but this is in no way a reflection of the event itself. It’s very well organised, it is a great course and it’s actually pretty scenic and well supported. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to others :-) The problem today comes from a change in my mindset when it comes to racing and running these days. I’m no longer a road runner, I’m no longer one of those runners that dabbles in a bit of everything – I really am an ultra runner, a trail runner – and that’s where my heart lies and where I want to succeed. As I said to a friend recently, when you can run 100 miles in 16 hours 53 mins – a pace that is only 1 minute per kilometre slower than what I did at the marathon today – then you really do know where your strengths lie.

I’m not the sort of person to dwell on things so I know that today won’t put me on a downer for too long. I have much to look forward to over the coming months with some great trail races planned, the next one being the Crown King Scramble 50k in April. See, I’m already looking forward :-D

Happy trails and happy running everybody :-D

Marathon Finisher Medal and a Mutilated Bib
Which did absolutely nothing to erase my result!

Pups, Snakes and Shock Collars

One of the things I've been missing since moving to Arizona is running on the trails with Wilson and Brandy. When living in Calgary, it was something that I was able to do year round. Undoubtedly there was always a risk of encountering a bear or a moose, or even a cougar - particularly out on the mountain trails - and even closer to the city, we'd frequently see coyotes, rabbits and deer out on runs around Mahogany and Fish Creek. Both Wilson and Brandy have a very high prey drive - something moves and they want to give chase, and I can certainly recall a couple of occasions where Wilson has slipped his leash and gone missing for several minutes when he's spotted deer, rabbits and the bane of his life - squirrels.

Since moving to Arizona, the trail runs have become few and far between. One of the reasons for this is the sheer desert heat - even in the winter, there have been days when it has been too hot to run with the dogs - but one of the other reasons is due to the wildlife here. Yes, there are coyotes and we've already had almost nose to nose encounters when we've been out walking around the local neighbourhood. There are also rabbits and ground squirrels which have caught the eye of both of our lovable mutts, whilst birds and lizards are attracting lots of attention and curiosity, and occasionally Andy and I are nearly dragged across the road as they attempt to give chase.

However, the one thing that I fear most when out walking or running with the dogs is snakes. Arizona is home to many species of snake of which several are venomous. They typically hide under rocks and bushes during the day, and are most active at dawn and dusk when it's cooler - which strangely enough is also the most popular time for us humans to be out and about with our pups in order to avoid the heat! Needless to say, for the past few months, I have been extremely cautious with the dogs when hiking, and although they have done runs with me, these have been short runs on the roads where snake encounters are less likely but still possible.

Prior to moving here, we did our research. We were well aware of the flora and fauna before we arrived and I think it would have been ignorant of us to move to Phoenix without first knowing anything about it. I'm not afraid of snakes or insects generally - I've spent years on camping trips with the family and experienced many a critter when I'm just about to climb in my sleeping bag! - but the thought of my dogs encountering a venomous snake and quite innocently approaching it out of curiosity, only to be bitten, is something that I was obviously keen to avoid.

I'd been reading lots about snake avoidance training in and around Phoenix, and both Andy and I were in agreement that this was something that we needed to do. The problem was that the majority of places used a shock collar to teach the dogs to stay away from snakes. The use of shock collars is something that we are normally dead set against - along with other forms of nasty collars such as prong collars and choke chains - but having read about the number of dogs that had gone through the training and seen how successful it was, we figured that a few shocks was a small price to pay if it meant that the dogs had a lifetime of protection from harm. There were other methods of training out there - one used a combination of fake snake toys and elements of basic obedience and agility training to make things more fun, but it would take 8 weeks to complete the program and relied on the owners being around the dogs to give the correct commands to get the dog to move away from a snake should one be encountered. It would take too long, and as we sometimes walk our dogs on our own, it can be difficult to keep an eye on both of them at the same time when they are both chasing after smells in opposite directions.

We watched videos of the e-collar approach some of which upset us, others which made us feel relieved, and we generally felt that completing the training was a necessity even if shock collars are used. With studying for a diploma in dog behaviour, I had a good understanding of how dogs learn and how their brain works. 

The rattlesnake avoidance training involves the use of live rattlesnakes and the use of negative reinforcement through the shock collars, to condition the dogs to avoid the snakes based on the scent of the snake, and the sound of the rattle. The enforcer has to be harsh enough to make the dog associate it with the snake smell and sound, so that it frightens them and they avoid all contact with them in the future. In most cases it is very effective, but there are occasions where further refresher training is required more frequently, particularly with certain types of dogs.

Today was the day that I took Wilson and Brandy for their Snake Avoidance Training at Partners Dog Training in Cave Creek. I felt really bad driving there - both dogs had woken up very happy and excited, and I was feeling somewhat guilty knowing what was ahead. The thought of them receiving an electric shock was upsetting me, but I knew that it was a means to an end and hopefully the training would be effective. 

As I pulled in to the car park, both dogs started howling in excitement. The training centre was right next door to where Wilson does agility classes, and both do lure coursing, and I honestly think they thought we were there for more fun reasons. Yet as soon as they got out of the car, they settled down pretty much straight away despite there being several other dogs in the vicinity. I think somehow they sensed that this visit was different and maybe it wasn't going to be as much fun as anticipated. It didn't help that in a shaded tree area about 100 metres down the dirt track, there were yelps and barks coming from the other dogs that were currently being put through their training.

I waited anxiously, wondering how on earth our two were going to get on, but each time a dog came trotting out of the trees with the instructor, I felt reassured as they gave feedback to the owners on how the dogs had got on, whilst the dogs were absolutely fine with just a couple coming back with tails between their legs and not eager to go through the experience again.

Then it was our turn. Each dog is taken individually so as not to feed off the reactions of other dogs, and with Wilson being what I thought to be the most nervous and timid of our two, we opted to send Brandy first. Having placed the collar on her along with a 20 feet leash, the instructor attempted to walk her into the trees to confront the snakes. Except Brandy had other ideas. She pulled in the opposite direction and when that didn't work, she promptly sat down, absolutely refusing to go anywhere with a complete stranger, and certainly not into an area where she had seen dogs walking out and not looking too happy. She was so anxious that we had to let her settle down before we commenced the training - her mind was elsewhere and the trainer openly told us that if she went in now, it would not work as she was far too worried about where Wilson and I were to be focused enough on recognising what a snake was.

We let a few more dogs go before us, and then it was agreed that I would need to go into the "snake pit" with them. This time, Brandy walked far more confidently even though I wasn't holding the leash, but she seemed far more relaxed with me being with her. 

The first test was to get her used to the rattle of the rattlesnake. I was asked to walk up to the snake (it was in an enclosed cage for safety reasons), with the intention being that Brandy would want to follow me. Sure enough she did and after  I stepped out of the way and the snake started to rattle intensely, Brandy's curiosity got the better of her and she went over to take a look. At that point, she received the electric shock - apparently at level 3 - and whilst it made her hesitate just for a second, she then went back to take a closer look at the snake. At level 4, she still didn't back away, so I was asked to move away and then walk back towards the snake. Brandy followed, and then on our return , she received a higher level shock. This time she jumped and tried to grab the leash. Success! We tried this a couple more times, but Brandy was being downright stubborn - she was happy to tolerate a little shock so they had to increase the intensity to make it effective. I could see that it wasn't hurting her - she never yelped once and I could tell that it was more of a discomfort than anything, so I felt far more relaxed about it being used for this purpose.

Live rattlesnake in a cage - dogs are led up to this, causing the
snake to "rattle", and the dog receives a shock to associate the
noise with something unpleasant (taken from Partners Dog Training FB Page)

 Brandy's body language started to change. She was no longer pulling on the leash, she was no longer keen to get close to me as I stood close to the cage, and whilst she didn't exactly want to run away petrified by the sound of a rattlesnake, you could certainly see that she was a little more reluctant to get much closer.

Typically, snakes can hang out in drain holes, alongside buildings or under rocks, so the next stage was to walk her through a "desert area", where a snake had been placed in a drain hole. This would test her reaction to the smell of a rattlesnake. It was pretty clear that Brandy could smell something in there, and she went over to take a sniff. The first of several shocks then followed, but every time Brandy went back to sniff some more despite the increasing intensity. She seemed very resilient to the e-collar, and it certainly wasn't causing her any pain. When it got too much, she tried to grab at the leash, but eventually she learnt to steer clear of the drain and she was once again reluctant to get too much closer.

Leading the dog up to a rattlesnake in the ground -
this time the focus is on the smell, and teaching teh dog
to steer clear when they smell a rattler (Partners FB Page)

The instructor was happy with how the training had gone, but he did stipulate that the training was on the brink of being unsuccessful. He informed us that Brandy is far too stubborn and has her own mind.She's willing to tolerate some discomfort and will go back for more, but he did say that she had eventually made the association, although it had taken longer than normal.

Getting them used to avoiding the smell of rattlesnakes -
this time using an e-collar to associate with smell (Partners FB Page)

Wilson was up next and as I watched him walk in to the training area, he was already nervous. He wasn't pulling back or sitting down like Brandy, but he clearly didn't feel comfortable with strangers. I didn't get to see how Wilson coped, but I did hear him yelp a couple of times which completely broke my heart. 10 minutes later he headed back out, pulling on the leash in a desperate attempt to get away. The feedback on Wilson seemed more reassuring to some degree. He was now terrified of the rattle and wouldn't go anywhere near when he heard it, but because he was so nervous about being around strange people, they were unable to do the scent test with him as he had lost his focus and just wanted to escape.

The overall verdict was that both dogs needed to go back for refresher training, and that in the meantime, they need to get used to walking with different people on the leash. Their nerves at being around others meant that they were unable to learn effectively, so we needed to introduce them to as many people as possible, and encourage them to be left alone with them for a short time and become less reliant on us.

I think Partners did a great job in helping to "snake proof"our dogs and I'm glad that we took that leap of faith, despite our reservations about the methods used. I guess now that the snake avoidance training is done, I kind of feel more at ease about taking them out running again on the trails, but I will be honest and say that I still don't trust Wilson and Brandy 100% to avoid snakes. I think their nerves and anxieties prevented them from making the most of the training, and I want to take them back again in a few weeks time to see if they remember, and to watch how they react next time. I'd also be interested to take them to a venue that they don't associate with lure coursing and agility, and where they will walk confidently with other people rather than shy away. 

For now though, I will feel somewhat more relaxed - if not 100%  more confident - about hiking and running the beautiful trails around here with the pups in tow, and hopefully we'll avoid any unwanted encounters by working together and being observant of what's going on around us.

Next on the agenda - how do we stop them getting curious about toxic toads when the rains come...?!

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