Nottingham Castle Rock 10k 2019

Nothing too crazy before my next big race - a nice evening 51:01 and rocked in at 156th place. A T-shirt and lots of free food!!!

And so nice to meet up with ex-pupil Damien 

Asda Nottingham 10k 2019

 

This was my first 10k as I restarted my running 'career' back in 2017 but this year it was a totally different course through the Nottingham Uni campus. Cutting through the middle rather than doing two loops (like the Castle Rock 10k) revealed some beautiful scenery that I didn't even know existed despite having lived here for 20 years. 

It was a family affair and each one set a PB - including me! This is what a PB face looks like!

48:27

Whereas this is my 'don't look weird for the camera! You're looking weird! OK, lean into it. Make it seem deliberate" - face.

Tideswell 15k Trail Race 2019

Had a fun day in the Peak District at this guy's first trail race

Last annual Vole State Race?

Aid station food!

The finish line. 2:29:44. I came DFL and couldn't be happier!!!

Monsal Trail 10k 2019

A lovely day and a nice easy course

Braved a very dodgy calf. No PB but just glad to finish in one piece

One lucky runner got a spot prize of a bakewell pudding!

and the back of the shirt was less embarrassing than the front

Waterway 30 2019

Longest race so far 31.5 miles. Running with my buddy Tom. Our team - 'Two Broke Guys' because we frequently are!

Started off cold. 

Long, flat, slow, windy. But enough about me..

Hit the aid stations hard

Put on our best sprint for the official photographer

Genuine medals. We checked.

2018 Run Roundup

In 2017 my goal was to run a marathon.

In 2018 my goal(s) was(were) to become a marathon runner (by running more than one) and run my first ultra-marathon. I did it!

Ultra Marathon (50k) Peak District Challenge

Marathons - Longhorn and Snowdonia Eryri

Half Marathons - Maverick X (26k), Great North Run and Nottingham Christmas

Others - Sunrise 5k, Castle Rock 10k and a funk-load of Park Runs

Nottingham Formula One Castle Rock 10k 2018

Formula One Circuit Crew Castle Rock 10k (formerly Jaegermeister 10k) was the first race I ever did. About 10 years ago I tried to get into running, did 3 or 4 10k's over a couple of years, then tore my calf muscle (twice) got gastroenteritis and gave up. Piled on more weight and thought I was too old to ever get fit enough to run a marathon. Last year I did a the The Asda Foundation Nottingham 10k and thought I was having a stroke. But since then I've run a couple of marathons and signed up for some bigger and better races. And tonight I went back to where it all started - pounding the pavements round Nottingham Uni.

NEXT STOP - facing off against Mo Farah at the Great North Run!

Race Review: The Maverick Inov-8 X Series: Peak District (Middle - 26k)

Pros

ideal for a first ultra
beautiful location
good mix of terrain
well marked course
medal
high quality free photos
three distances (16km, 26km, 46km – can change on the day)
free parking
well stocked aid stations
nice post race area with deckchairs and food/drink tents

cons

too far till first aid station
inaccurate distances
very small selection of photos available
massive logjam in first km of race

Tips

Take even more water than you think you'll need
take your own photos if you're into that
sprint the start or wait to cross the start line
If in doubt sign up for the longer distance and drop down on the day

I'm training for my first ultra in Sept so I decided to do The Maverick Inov-8 X Series: Peak District to prepare. I arrived with a sprained ankle on a sweltering hot day in July to run the middle distance (26km). I chose the race for it's location, lack of navigation requirements and generous cut off (10 hours), started off DFL but managed come in about 13 places from the end in 5:30 plus change.

The race takes place in the 'Dark Peak' area of the Peak District starting in Hope and climbs Win Hill, descends past Ladybower Reservoir around Kinder Scout, through the village of Edale and up to Mam Tor and Crowden Head before returning to Hope.

The three distances start together and split off, reuniting just before the end. The whole course is brilliantly marked with blue signs or blue tape every 0.5m. It's basically impossible to get lost. The location is stunningly beautiful and varied - lakes, woods, mountains, fields, villages - and covers every type of terrain, from fields, dirt trails and gravel roads, to technical (treacherous rocks and roots), paved paths and steps with even a bit of beginners rock scrambling thrown in.

I picked the middle distance, but everyone was given the option to drop down distances on the day, no hassle, some did due to the heat or injury and I suspect others did to be back in time for the England v Sweden kick off.

For all these reasons I'd say The Maverick Series races are a brilliant first step for anyone wanting to get into trail, mountain or ultra running.

Overall I would recommend this race. However - a few cons.

The distance to the first (and only) aid station on the middle distance was way too far. I took 2L of Hi5 with me and had run out of fluid an hour before I got to the aid station. Now admittedly I am really slow, but I was by no means the slowest and the station was 6k further than was advertised. We were warned beforehand to drink lots, as stations could only be placed where there was road access, but I feel this is a safety problem that the race directors need to look at again.

Stated distances seemed a little vague. I hate 'my Garmin says...” pedantry as much as the next man, but I was running the 26k with an aid station at 11k. When I arrived at the aid station there was a sign saying “17k done. 10 to go”.

The course is incredibly narrow right at the beginning. In the first 0.4k you have a single track path, crossing a tiny bridge, another single path leading to a stile, followed immediately by a second stile. No problem for a back of the pack-er like me, but anyone wanting to set a PB should beat the queues by either sprint from the start or hang back and cross the start line 5 minutes after the gun. This is one of those races that would benefit from a staggered start for each distance.

Along with a medal (nice, heavyweight, identical for all distances) finishers get 'event photography' which is free to download post race. On the plus side these are really high quality artistic photos. But on the downside these are primarily photos of the event. Other event photos are searchable by race number, but the Maverick's are just in a downloadable gallery. You can hunt for photos of you, but you might only find stunning shots of the scenery, the race director, a cowbell, drinks, medals, the ground, legs and of course some of the runners.

This is a great first race and I'd love to come back next year and try the longer distance.

Second (Third) Marathon - Longhorn 2018

Longhorn Marathon - a 4 lap trail marathon. 21st place. 4:24:26. My third time running 26.2 miles and 2nd race. My son did his first 10k. Fantastic medals.

   

Nottingham Christmas Half Marathon 2017

My first competitive race since the marathon was the Nottingham Christmas Half Marathon at Holme Pierrepont. Fuelled by christmas pudding, AC/DC and arm-sweat salt I achieved a time of 2:02:07 and finished 351 out of 677 runners. 

Happy with that as I had no game plan, very little training and no goal other than to finish.

My son did his first race - 5k - and loved it.