'All the gear & no idea'

Hi there! So I’m the new girl who will be taking over the Get Started blog from Kate and will be chronicling my new venture into running over the next six weeks. Before I begin though, a little about me…

My name is Jemma; I’m 28 years old and have always been what you could call 'remedial' at any sort of sport. I was the child who got her pony tail stuck in the cargo net mid-obstacle race at primary school whilst trying to crawl under it. I was the teenager who used to hide from the teachers mid cross country run. I was the older teenager who would feign an ankle injury to get out of 100m sprints. And I am now the adult who has signed up to run a half marathon in October and have absolutely no running ability what so ever. A few panicked expletives do cross the mind at this point.

Luckily, I know a few marathon runners who I pumped for information regarding how I can get myself at a level where I can run 13 odd miles without collapsing. The one piece of advice that they all shared with me (bar buying good running shoes of course) is to join a running club. I must admit, I was sceptical. I assumed the Striders would be full of professional runners and had absolutely no intention of joining until I spotted the 'Get Started' course on their website. So I harangued my flatmate into joining with me and dutifully paid my £12.50 in the hope that I will become 'A Runner' within the next six weeks. And here I am – still standing after my first week and feeling absolutely elated!

So, Tuesday evening at 6:45pm, you would have seen me and my flatmate sitting in her car scared stiff and preparing to run away. This was until we realised that neither of us CAN run and that is the whole point of us attending this course. The nerves were bad as we made our way up to the athletics track in Verulamium Park. There were a number of groups standing around the track and we must have looked a little lost. Luckily, some kindly soul pointed us in the right direction (our first taste of just how friendly and encouraging the Striders are) and we found the other 40 'Get Started' runners.

We started the warm up – running in a large circle whilst stretching (at one point I did feel like I was in a Morecambe and Wise sketch with some of the stretches we were asked to emulate) and I was tired. This then made the panic set in – if I can’t handle a five minute warm-up, how was I going to run around a lake for half hour?! However, I did it. We ran for three minutes and walked for one and I kept up the whole way. 

What also surprised me was that we ran a distance of 2.61 miles (Thank you, Nike GPS!) and I can’t tell you just how proud of myself I was. Helen led our group (the Green group – or intermediate beginner in my opinion) and was fantastic, making sure we all kept up and motivating us to carry on.

Cut to the second session on Thursday. A little more confident this time, I tried not to let the Morecambe & Wise warm-up phase me. This time, our little band of merry runners was led by Abby, who was completing a marathon that week. Again, I managed to keep up and chatted with Abby and the rest of the group as we ran around the picturesque lake and thinking just how nice this all is. Until Abby broke the news that she had actually had us running four minutes to every one minute walk. Normally, this sort of white lie in relation to exercise would make me want to instantly give up, however I was actually none the wiser beforehand and my confidence shot through the roof knowing that I could do this. This time, we ran for 2.5 miles; however there was a little more running involved this time.

It is now Sunday, and I’m gearing up for my first lone run. I’m not sure how I’m going to do without the support of the Striders, so wish me luck. And I can’t wait for next Tuesday to see what I will achieve then….

Jemma Western

Photo finish - Adam W's London Marathon

Hi folks, hope you enjoy the first of the Striders' tales from the 2012 London Marathon! Over to Adam W to tell his story......

 

I’d strained and strained to remember every last intricate detail of what was my first full marathon. Unfortunately, my memories were blurred into a maelstrom of noise and colour, pain and elation, exhaustion and glucose. 

Blurred that is, until I was shown a series of photos taken by my family and girlfriend at various points along the marathon route. 

Then it all came flooding back.

Mile 11 - ecstatic

The first, taken at mile 11, shows a pristine Striders vest, with a relaxed and happy looking owner, grinning at the camera, giving cheerful thumbs up. The background of the photo shows a relatively disperse crowd of people and I remember how ecstatic I felt at mile 11. Ecstatic as I was no longer crushed and stunted by hordes of people running frustratingly below the pace I craved. Ecstatic because I felt great, like I’d only run 1 mile instead of 11. Ecstatic as I’d just seen my family and girlfriend who’d come to support me. And ecstatic because I was finally running the London marathon after three disappointing years of failed applications.

Mile 24 - fatigued

The second, taken at mile 24, shows a sodden and dishevelled Striders vest, with an unconscious looking owner, eyes closed with a fatigued hand feebly raised in acknowledgement of his support crew. I remember how hard that mile was, how time dragged and I seemed to be looking at my Garmin every few strides, assuming it was broken as time was moving so slowly. I remember feeling confused at how something that had initially felt so easy, was now so draining.

 

The final photo, taken seconds after crossing the finish line, shows a Striders vest, blue writing partially obscured with red and gold medal, the owner sporting the most exhausted and yet contented face imaginable. And I remember the feeling of sheer rapture and euphoria. The satisfied feeling of knowing that the four months of missed binges with friends and perpetual heavy, sore legs had made the preceding three hours, fourteen minutes and sixteen seconds one of the most poignant milestones in my life to date.

Mile 26.3 - exhausted yet contented

Ready, set, go!

Well, here we are: the business end of April. The trees are trying to blossom, the days are getting longer, and all round our part of Hertfordshire, in one way or another, runners are on their marks.

For some, the start line is in SE London this Sunday. Best of luck to all the Striders taking part in the marathon, and to everyone tackling 26.2 miles elsewhere before the month is out, such as Madrid and Milton Keynes. Look forward to hearing your tales of the day!
 

The start line for others is closer to home, in the Park, and it's time to say 'Hello!' and 'Welcome!' to everyone joining the Get Started course on 24 April. As a recent 'graduate' myself, I know the course can give you a brilliant introduction to both running and the club. Have  fun over the next six weeks, and beyond!
 

And here, at BlogCentral, I'm starting to get to grips with all things 'Striders' and the pleasure of editing the Club's blog and newsletter. In the next few weeks and months, with your help, it would be great to capture the full range of Striders' life, through race reports, training diaries and other stories, including the occasional 'sideways look' at the world of running.
 

With the Olympics this summer, as well as the usual club calendar, there's loads coming up that's worth writing about, so if you've got run-related story to tell your fellow Striders, please don't be shy about it! You can get in touch via email - 'newsletter' at striders.com - or catch me at the track on Tuesdays or Thursdays.
 

On your marks, folks! Happy running!
 

Kate

Jack Brooks: Many Marathons Man (Jan-Mar 2012)

 

100 Marathon Club Handicap Marathon, Bromley: 8 January 2012: With only 2 months before I was due to move into the 60-64 age group the year started off well for me and I finished in 3:59:56. These days I am grateful for every time I can complete a marathon in less than 4 hours. The days of getting under 3:15 are long gone.

Gran Canaria Marathon: 22 January 2012: Given how hot it was at the start of this race I suspect that I started off too fast. The race comprises 2 laps and the course is flat so this was entirely my own fault. By half way I felt that I had very little energy left and I was just happy to finish in 4:15:48. Still, it was nice to have some sunny weather before returning to the UK.

Miracle Match Marathon, Waco, Texas: 29 January 2012: I was expecting Texas to be warm, but I had to keep my gloves on for the whole of this race. The first half of the race was slightly undulating, but on the second half we were faced with hill after hill after hill and whimsical signs along the lines of 'Last hill! Sorry just kidding!' and 'Really the last hill! Sorry, just kidding again!' I ran with the 3:56 pace group for the first half and then went slightly ahead of them in the second half, finishing in 3:55:54. This was a good enough time to place me first out of 30 in my age group. Given how tough the course was I was more than happy with this result.

Galveston Mardi Gras Marathon, Texas: 5 February 2012: I knew that there were no hills in Galveston and was hoping that this would mean that fast times could be achieved on this 2 lap course. However, driving to the race start we were faced with torrential rain and howling wind. The rain died down substantially before the race start, but the wind was unrelenting. Hoping to emulate the previous weekend’s performance I decided to set off with the 3:50 pace group, but at 12 miles I felt that if I was to finish in one piece I needed to drop back slightly. The main reason for this was that I knew that a 5-mile stretch was coming just after 16 miles when we would be running directly into a headwind along the sea front. This was tough enough on the first lap and I was not looking forward to facing it a 2nd time. I went through 23 miles in around 3:33 and from then on my principal aim was to get under 4 hours. My legs were screaming at me by the end, but I crossed the line in 3:59:50, which was good enough to get me 3rd place in my age group. I’d been hoping for two easy marathons on this Texas trip. Maybe I should have done a bit more research before booking these particular races.

Enigma Leap Year Trail Marathon, Milton Keynes: 29 February 2012: Running over 17 laps round Furzton Lake on a Wednesday morning is not everybody’s idea of fun. At least the weather was kind to us. My time was 4:09:33.

Fairlands Valley Spring Challenge Trail Marathon, Stevenage: 3 March 2012: On my 50th birthday I ran the Wendover Gap Trail Marathon. For my 60th birthday I joined about 50 others for the winter version of the Fairlands Valley Challenge. My legs were suffering after Wednesday’s race, but once again we managed to avoid the forecast rain and I finished in 5:07:15.

Blackpool Marathon: 11 March 2012: Having forgotten to start my stop-watch at the start of the race I decided to just run as I felt without looking at my watch. Consequently, I was surprised at the finish to discover that my time was 3:48:05, which was well under the 4 hours that I had been anticipating.

Dizzy Daze Trail Marathon, Seattle, USA: 24 March 2012: This was a small marathon comprising just over 8 laps on a mainly dirt track around Green Lake in Seattle. The only obstacles around the course were tree roots and a few roadside kerbs. Amazed to find somewhere flat in Seattle I enjoyed the race and was pleased with my time of 3:50:22.

Yakima River Canyon Marathon, Washington State, USA: 31 March 2012: I have run this marathon twice before and on both occasions have had to walk on the 1.5 mile long hill, which commences at the 21.5 mile point. A friend of mine, 82 year old Bob Dolphin, is the race director and was due to complete his 500th marathon at Yakima so it was a race that I could not miss. We started off in snow, but this eased off after about 20 minutes and the running conditions were actually quite good. For the first time I managed to conquer the big hill and finished in 3:56:01 (3rd male 60-64).

The ALTERNATIVE View: Berlin Marathon 2011

Words: Petra Grosse

Photos: Sylvia Herden 

Berlin. Sunday. 25 September 2011.  The MOMENT is upon me!  After months of training, 

(......possible overtraining......but who knows.....)

constant battles with my inner "couch potato" that would much rather watch Masterchef than plod the streets at 5 am 

(....the milkman is remarkably attractive ........if I don't wear contact lenses......)

struggling to keep up with "Grim Jim" on his Tuesday evening runs 'with efforts" for those who want to....  

(....and beliiiiiieve me ......I was NEVER one who wanted to make ANY effort.....)

The view from behind....

I am on my way to the start of the Berlin Marathon 2011.  

With my personal photographer Sylvia in tow

(.....a dear old school friend.....who has witnessed me making A LOT of effort avoiding PE lessons at the tender age of 13.....so, needless to say, she was keen to see what I would do to get out of THIS ONE....)

we find ourselves at a Berlin U-Bahn station where I have my first panic attack!  

I am CONVINCED I have forgotten SOMETHING!!!

Sylvia assures me I have EVERYTHING I need.  She would have told me had I forgotten to put pants on.

(....even though she tells me, THAT would make a funnier photo.....)

So,........it's my race number?  Definitely my race number!  

No, the race number is in my bag and so are the Gummibears.

(....I NEVER travel without them.......never mind running without my beloved sticky friends.......they have helped me through rough times....back when I was 12 and struggling with acne or now, 30 years later....closer to menopause than puberty....)

Where are the Haribos??

It is a mere miracle that we make it to the start in time! 

(....you don't want to be late for a German Marathon....they might not let you run it....Germans take it very personally if you are NOT on time....)

Strictly VERBOTEN!!!

While Sylvia leaves me to ponder on my non-existent race strategy,

(....and also because she isn't allowed to go any further.....it is strictly VERBOTEN.....)

I decide to make my way and attempt to WAIT semi-patiently for the race to start 

(....I don't DO patience.....) 

in the sub-4 hour “play”-pen.

(…..passing the time by treating myself to no less than 3 loo-breaks……you have to really…….the facilities are just too inviting....whether for nerves or just to enjoy the  “aroma” of pre-race-“sweat”…..)

I very soon experience the warmth of pre-race bodies rubbing against each other in their silly orange Adidas-all-over “bin bags” that runners are given in exchange for their race bags

(….doesn’t anybody SHOWER any more before an important race ???....)

and opt to ignore the stern looking marshals reminding us of ORDER in the “play” pen.

(….hopeless…..half of the participants don't speak a word of German….and I decide to be "deaf"……)

As I nudge my way to the very front of the pen, I spot he sub-4-hour race group.  

Two cheerful chaps

(….yes, both German….)

one dressed as a Scot in a cute check skirt, he must have borrowed from his girl-friend

(….admittedly....slightly odd…….)

the other dressed as “Joe Blogs”

(….aka, Wolfgang Müller….)

promise to get us over the finish line - come what may -  in under 4 hours.

High on pre-race Gummibear consumption I decide to join them.

(….I have spotted a very agreeable looking bum hiding underneath that cute little skirt…..THAT alone will keep me “amused” for the next 26 miles……and maybe even ease the pain......)

The glaringly obvious....starting off too fast....

Not long after Paula and her pals are on their way to chase their own records and Olympic qualifying times, we are on our way, fighting our own battle with over-enthusiastic runners crowding the Avenue of the 17th June (Straße des 17. Juni) past the famous Siegessäule.

(....which brings an emotional tear to my eye....usually reserved for crossing the finish line.....)

"Wolfgang and the Scot" are full of beans and lots of silly jokes: 

"Leute, laßt mich durch, ich bin Arzt!!"

(.....make way, I am a doctor.....)

In the end I don't manage to keep up with them.

I don't know whether it is the masses of runners selfishly forgetting that there are another 35,000 people in trainers chasing the same dream

(....crossing that line....in one piece....with limited amounts of blisters on their feet....)

or whether I am not quite fit enough to do a 9 min/mile race. So, after 3 miles I am "on my own".

(....mourning the fact......that I can't chase THAT BUM any more....) 

My friend Sylvia spots me near the area of Alexanderplatz at around mile 6.  

(.....I don't....I am "deaf" AND apparently "blind"....)

Reportedly, I look a mess and my friend doubts I will EVER make it to the finish line.

(....have faith dear friend....I am a tough cookie.....I have trained under the supervision of "Grim Jim" and Gladstone.....I CANNOT fail.....)

At mile 7, a Japanese chap wired up to his iPod and enormous headphones, presumably under the influence of Prosac 

(....or he has eaten one too many Gummibears.....)

shouts at the top of his voice: "Keep going! Keep going!"

I want to remind him, that this is just over a quarter of the way, and maybe he should preserve his vocal energy for later in the race. However, Mr. Prosac flies past me deliriously happy, so I decide to watch out for him at, say, mile 17.  Doubtlessly, he will have collapsed by then?

I decide that I am not going to make the sub-4-hour target on this occasion.  

Instead I decide to enjoy myself.  

(....I have 4:38:39 from New York in 2008 to beat.....surely, I can do THAT ......piece of "Kuchen".....)

Maybe just as well.  I have another three quarters of the way to go, most of which through a part of Berlin that is rather colourless and grim

(....with street lines by Germans.....that by nature are not the most enthusiastic VOCAL supporters....)

More than once I have to battle with the locals who insisted that they could cross the street JUST in front of me

(....the race organisers obviously don't feel that barriers are necessary......presume they are NOT seasoned Marathon veterans then...)

Also, having enjoyed the "facilities" at the start so much, I decide to see whether they are just as "good" at mile 16.

(.....they are NOT!!!!!!........bad mistake......)

......something you ate.....too many Gummibears perhaps?

I don't know Berlin well, but I thought I know it well enough to estimate how many MORE corners I need to turn until I FINALLY make it to "Unter den Linden" knowing that the Brandenburg Gate is lurking somewhere in the distance.

(.....still about 1 kilometre away.....the LONGEST 1000 metres of my life........)

Now, HE is clearly struggling....

With the famous landmark in my view, my spirits lift and I cannot BELIEVE I am actually about to run underneath "das Tor"  that was hiding behind The Wall for decades and the regime it stood for and I spend my childhood in fear of.

I expect to cry

(.....emotional drama queen that I am....)

but I don't.  

Instead, I laugh my way happily to the FINISH LINE!

(....official video footage proves later, that I am pretty much the only maniac waving to the puzzled crowds lining the last 200 metres.....) 

STILL......

......I am NOT happy!!!!!

I have burned a good 2600 calories and my muffin top is still visible!

.....well, she IS German....they have NO shame....

....so if you can't beat the flipping flabby thing....

.....and drink a lot....

....you might as well feed it.....

...a bunch of hooligans....

....and laugh with your friends about it!!! :-)

.....Brandenburg Gate Drama.....

....with NO sense of humour..

Prologue:


I beat my previous PB by 24 minutes rolling over the Berlin finish line in 4:14:17.


I thought that that breaking 4 hours would make me "happy" and not reaching my dream target that I have trained for a good 9 months would make me miserable.


It didn't!!!


Being in a place doing what I enjoy doing,


(....in a cruel sort of way.....especially when my piriformis muscle is a right pain in the BUM......)


accompanied by my friends and family supporting and "humouring" me on my personal little journey to run a marathon in Berlin.....  


.......THAT made me REALLY happy! :-)


(....something to think about....next time you chase after a "good time".....)

.....and REMEMBER....
.....just don't mention THE WAR!!!