Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon

Hello Blog Lovers!

6:30 am.
The alarm goes off, and I snooze it, it goes off again! I snooze it. The third time I am up and getting ready for Singstar Jo to pick me up for our Half Marathon!

7:40
Jo is outside, bang on time, in fact a little early, you just know that the goal she has for herself will be achieved! With change!

8:10(ish)
We arrive at H.Q. We picked up our tee shirts, used the facilities and then bagged a chair to wait. It's always good to arrive early, and besides which, we were all in a hall! Nice and warm. And waited for other PW's to show up.  Which of course they did. We all chatted for a while, 'Good lucked' everybody and then used the facilities again.

09:45
We were all told to make our way to the start line. Walking down and getting very excited. We were just behind the race mascot, Bagpuss, Singstar Jo, wanted to have her picture take with him, so of course I obliged with the camera.  Now the race begins!

We heard the drums, we heard the countdown, we saw the hoards of runners slowly moving forward, then it was our time, as the line of runners started to filter over the timing mats, the line stretching out, the buzz of the runners quietens down.

I was running next to Singstar Jo and Sherry. We didn't run off fast, and try to get to the front, we were all just going to do our own race/run. And do our best!

It was quite chilly, there had been weather reports from the race organises for the past few days, but thankfully the snow stayed away, although we did keep getting just a slight dusting. "It's just the hydration system" I had said to the girls. We were all wondering if we had put enough layers or, or too many for that matter!  But I know that I love being warm. Running while cold was not going to be an option for me.

At mile two Kitman mike was there with lovely cheerleader and my fellow model, Sian, Kitman Mike had his camera going. (Video footage at the end of the blog, I come in at 1.32 and then right at the end! Hobbling!)  this is also where all the PW's off loaded there extra layers, gloves or gear that they felt unnecessary now. I kept hold of all my layers!  Just me and Sherry were running side by side now as Singstar Jo had started her race!

The route is a very hilly route.  It started off just after we left the start line! And it continued that way, but I know soon that it will soon be heading down hill, and besides, the hills so far were not that long. Not that long compared to That Hill!  I was managing to keep on running. I felt good, the training so far has paid off!  The first water station was around about 3 miles in. I took this opportunity to grab a cup and also to eat some dextrose. I have never tried these before, well not as an aid to give a boost, only had them as 'sweeties'.

Back to jogging again. The short walk/water break done. It was that short, thankfully, I didn't cool down at all. I know the next drink station the Old Boy will be waiting, to hand me my running cap! I had left it this morning! (Not that organised!) Still Sherry stayed by my side. Encouraging me, keeping me on target.  We were chatting away, keeping red shirt man in our sights. He was going to be our race for now.

About 5 and half miles in there was the Old Boy, just as he said he would be, with my cap! Now I feel like a proper runner! Lets hope I wont call for the .......drop out bus!  Even the sound of it just makes me a little bit stronger. There is no way I am going to the finish line in that! I can't believe that I was still running! With only those two drinking/eating stops.  This really is the most I have run on a 6 mile route! I will have to investigate my geeky stats to see if the 10k time as been beat! I love geeky stats!

Now just after the little bridge there is 'baby bump' Starts Hill its called. I think it's called that, because that is just the start of the torturous climb ahead of us.  Sherry encouraged me to keep on jogging up this. ''Look there is Red shirt man, we are gaining on him" she said. I did as much of the hill as I could, I walked a bit of it and then jogged a bit more. "Is that the hill we have to run up" Sherry said, as she looked ahead. "Don't look" I said, and tried to change the subject!

All to soon though that we came to the bottom of the hill. It climbed up, looking like a sheer drop to me.  Taunting me, trying to intimidate me!  I knew at the top of this hill the Old boy would be there again, I saw him drive past me, after dropping off my hat he had to drive around to try and get to the top of the hill. I so wanted to be running as I got to the top, but my legs were complaining. I shoved some more Dextrose into my mouth and tried to power up the hill.

We started the hill together, but I knew that I wouldn't be able to make it all the way "Go Sherry" I said, I think I have kept Sherry long enough from her own race. And I watched as she powered on up the hill and disappear.  I kept on going, trying to overtake some of the walkers on this part. but I couldn't even do that!

Nearing the top I could hear the drummers again. Encouraging everyone to keep on going! I wanted to run to the top, I really wanted to, my legs refused to go any faster. Then I saw the Old boy, camera in hand "Come on then, run, just to here" Well, I just had to, he had the camera out!  So I jogged on! The drummers were sounding brilliant, I kept my pace with their beat as I ran across the now flat road.

It was good to be able to run along the flat, I am alone now, thanking all the marshals as they enthusiastically cheer these Old girl on. I must just say, these guys have done a fantastic job. From the very beginning to the very end, their enthusiasm did not waiver!  In fact the whole event was truly a well organised event, from the text messages to tell about the weather, to the fantastic staff in the halls and the marshaling on the route!  Not only that but the neighbours all out and cheering us all on! A great time.

But right at this moment, I was alone, the occasional car going in the opposite direction. I thought about the end of the race. What will it feel like, who will be left to watch this Old Girl come across the finish line, will I make the finish line. The dreaded 'drop out bus' crept into my thoughts again. "No way, Old Girl, now way will you turn up to the finish in that!"  More determination again now, I just plodded along doing my own thing.

Mile 8 and 9 seemed to come and go, Mile 10 I began to struggle. I started to get a slight ache in my left hip, a cramp like ache. I stopped running and just walked for a bit, but that only made it feel worse! It seemed if I wanted to be slightly pain free then I am going to have to keep on jogging!

Mile 1 and 2 seemed like I ran yesterday! I really did seem such a long time ago that I left the start line! Could I really have been running and jogging and walking for over two hours now! This is new territory for me now.  My furthest run was the train run I did last month, when I had ran for 9.5 miles, and now the 10 mile poster was way in the back now as I was looking forward to mile 11. Just a park run left now. Thats all I have to do, as I remembered what some of the other PWR's had said to me before we left the hall.  My hip kept letting me know that I have done something new!

Mile 11 now, the cheering people are keeping my spirits high, the marshals still with smiles after standing around for the last 2+ hours. "Two miles left Old girl, come on, keep going" I have now taken to talking out loud now. My walk/jog/hobble is causing me to yelp out, and my breathing is gone to pieces. But I am not going to stop! I am going all the way, on my own two feet! The Old Boy will be there waiting for me, and maybe some other PWR's if they haven't got to cold now.

I seemed to have missed the board for the 12 mile mark. Maybe that was a good thing.  I knew it couldn't be far now, I was in town! I was window shopping, just anything to take my mind of what I was doing. The people around were cheering, I saw finished runners with their medals. I took a look at my Garmin! My goodness, thats it keep going, it really isn't that far now!

I was really hobbling, I tried my best to look cool, look like a Pettswood Runner, but the grimace on my face was telling a whole different story, the cries of pain adding sound effects. All the while the people were telling me "Not far now, keep going" I saw finished runners walking in the opposite direction with their goody bags and their medals. They joined in the with cheering.

The marshals were lining the road now, helping to keep the runners away from the traffic as we ran along the road. runners who I had overtaken before were now over taking me. "400 m now, I was clutching my leg, and yelping. A paramedic asked if I was ok, and if I wanted to stop for a while "No, I'm keeping going" I said and started back to running.  The army guys were all telling me to keep going! The pain in my hip was not letting up. I am just going to have to go for it.

200 m now. I stopped! "Get going" I told myself. I wasn't sure if that was out loud or in my head, but it seemed to have done the trick. I could hear the man on the microphone, "Here's another running" as each running came past him.  Hopping along, I could hear the announcer getting louder, then I heard "Come on Donna! You can do it!" It was Kitman Mike, he had his camera aimed at me, "Oh wow, he is still here, but I must the be last PWR to come in" was my first thought, and then "Oh blimey, I am glad I am running!"

Just turned the last corner I could see the finish tunnel us up ahead, and then some more cheering "Well done Donna, come here, give us a hug" And there was DiscoRich! Oh wow, more PWR's, they waited!  I went over to the barrier and gave him a hug! "I'm proud of you" he said. And then I hobbled over to the finish line, and grabbed hold of the barrier, just as my leg decided that I had actually done enough standing on it, and it wanted to rest!

Another paramedic came over and asked if I was ok, "Just cramp, I think" I told her, and she pushed to where I was pointing. "Oooouch" yes, that's it, just there" But I shall walk it off" I said. In the mean time the Old Boy was saying "Smile" he said pointing a camera at me! Well, all photos and vid are at the bottom of the page, you can see just the sort of smile I had by then!

Video link to the race.  Thanks to Mike for supporting us and taking the the video, and for Sian, and apparately Moy's chocholate brownies!  Also thanks to my hubby, for being there for me, love you!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uC1ckoD8g7U

Singstar Jo and Bagpus



Top of Spring Hill

just chekcing Garmin

Smile! :-)

 

 

 

Geeky stats