Day 1 - The Start

Always a nervous start. One difference between doing ten marathons in ten days or doing one in one is the nervous start can last 2 days, before you know how it's all coming together. And then like mile 20 in a marathon, everything can fall apart on day 8, so strategy is very important. Pity I didn't type that a few weeks ago. But then again, a back injury that pounced last weekend put any thoughts of starting not to mind strategising to the back of the list of worries. Thankfully day by day and hour by hour with the help of some medication I was about 85% loosened out as I touched down in Manchester and settled into the trip north to Windermere in the Lake District once again. The 15% was still a bit of a worry though.

I completed the Brathay 10 Marathons in 10 Days it in 2008 and a disastrous run in Luton last December followed by a chat with my mate Steve Edwards in Pizza Hut laid the foundation for plans on another assault (on the event as well as my body!). Sometimes it takes a bad run to give you a kick in the hamstrings and push yourself further. I had no goal, the training wasn't focused, my marathon times were in free fall so I needed something to aim for. 10 in 10 in '10 it was ten (sorry). The event has grown in stature over the past four years and one of the big additions this year was an increased crew of Physio's. The people at Brathay have always provided good support and I enjoyed being pampered by Amy and John in '98. But with more support comes more time on the table and this allowed me to have a thorough going over at 7.15 am on the morning of Day 1. An hour and a half it took before Maria was happy with progress and sent me on my way to the start line.

With this new enthusiasm and encouragement Day 1's game plan was to loosen things up a bit with a strongish 9 minute miles and look for a 3:56 finish. Decision made.

The start was all ceremonial as usual. Big crowd on the lawn in front of the Hall, shotgun start and a bit of craic. I settled in quickly not getting sucked in to the over excitement of it all and forced myself to stick to 9 mins... NO MATTER WHAT!!! A great bunch of runners, 12 in all made it to the start line with different goals and finish times in mind. No doubt, we were all going to bond over the next week and a half and hopefully all in one piece.

My new Garmin was coming in very handy during training and was going to be my new best friend for the next few days. A bit of an authority figure that blinks instructions to you, showing pace and distance run, I was really pleased I had it. I won't rattle out the splits but going downhill I slowed, and uphill I sped up all the time checking in with Sir who was telling me I was doing just fine and running in around 9 mins pace.

My back was not causing any concern at all which was great and I really enjoyed watching the scenery, the familiar landmarks, twists and turns... and the hills. The Bloody Hills - Crap! Had I forgotten or just shut it out? - Who knows but the Windermere Marathon Course is savage and unrelenting. Just when you get to half way and think its nearly over the dreaded mile 13 to 16 whips up and crashes down, up, down, up, up, down. It was tough, but I kept it more or less at 9 min miles, albeit with extra effort. And it was hot, but for me that was a bonus.

It was around the 20 mile mark that I started to dread tomorrow. What would it bring and how would I recover, have I gone too hard, the uncertainty was killing me so I had a word and stopped thinking about tomorrow... started to sing (in my head) If tomorrow never comes.... but couldn't think what the second line was. And then I was at mile 22 :-)

I saw a bobbing head about 200 yards up the road which I figured was Naomi, and had fun trying to close her down for the next 4 miles. Just at the turn to Brathay and 200 meters from the finish, there is one final hill, no, a mountain. Well actually just a steep driveway. BUT to us it's a bloody great big mountain with sheep and snow on the top, you need ropes and snow shoes and the wind howls unforgivingly, and it goes on and on for miles.... ok it's just a steep driveway. Naomi started to walk, and I shouted at her 'that's the best idea all day' and I gave my legs a break by stumbling to a walk too. Naomi, without a care in the world, turned around, looked a me, and took off running again - BITCH! :-)

I lost all interest in gaining another few valuable seconds and walked a hundred yards and then ran the finish stretch (just in case anyone was about)... My watch said 3:58 - more or less 9 minute miles - Bonus!

The ice bath read 5C, I managed 5 minutes. What a sensation. Brilliant.

Back for more physio after dinner and ready for action again tomorrow.

Day 2 - Getting Going ....

A shiver goes through the spine when you hear that one of the elites in the race ran sub 3 hours on day 1. It puts all the effort into perspective and you realise where you sit in relation to the world. Still I was happy with my finish time yesterday and was hopeful enough that recovery would go well and I'd be fit, healthy and ready to go for the second day.

Another really good physio session (or sports therapy as others call it - is there a difference?) at 8am got me in the mood again and we headed for the start line a little less ceremoniously this time. 9 minute miles again I thought, just to see how I could keep it together.

Over the first few miles I started to think that running slower than I had trained might be a difficult task but determination not to mess up early on saw me hold back constantly. 9 minutes every mile, sometimes a bit quick sometimes a bit slow over the hills but steady all the same. I relaxed and really enjoyed the first 7 and then on to the first testing hill and a reminder of the day before. Ouch! Calves on the way up and quads on the way down, I was surprised that I was hurting so early and was seriously worried. This was sore.

I forced myself to keep it all ticking over and for some strange reason looked forward to the hilly second half, maybe to mix things up a bit... It worked and my legs seemed to get into much more of a rhythm but a constant sickness kept me in check. I had taken my quota of salt tables so I just put it down to wear and tear and a tough enough head wind.

At mile 18 the familiar bobbing head of Naomi came into sight so I had a bit of focus. She was running slower but steady and the gap narrowed over the next six miles. I ranged alongside at 24 but she slowly edged in front again and pulled away. I was spent at that stage, hit very quickly by fatigue, hunger and unwillingness to push - The Wall! Unbelievable. I though I had done everything right, but was obviously doing something wrong.

I finished slowly but was very happy to get a 3:57:00 finish - Not 3:56:59 though (One second really does make a psychological difference :-)

I found out later that I was drinking the carb loading drink instead of the recommended electrolyte drink that we should be using during the day.

We do learn!

Might slow tomorrow!



 

Day 3 - In A Groove ....

I seem to be constantly checking how I am doing. Every minute of the day is taken up. The schedule works like this

7.30am - Breakfast



8.00am - Physio (80 mins)



9.30am - Prep for race



10.15am - Race Start



2.15pm - Start recovery - eat, drink - One and a half hour window apparently.



2.45pm - Dynamic Stretching by Physio (new on day 3)



3.15pm - Ice Bath - Trying for 10 ins.



3.45pm  - Shower and more eating (pot noodles or pasta)



5.00pm - 2nd physio session (90 mins). They won't work on us until 3 hours have passed.



6.30pm - Dinner. Really good food in the restaurant on site.



8.00pm - Blogging and email



8.30pm - Bar for a beer or two (hops loading we call it)



10.30pm - Sleep

So it's all go and no time really to get away from the event. For the moment, this is a good thing but as the week goes on I think I'll have to try to find a bit of space alone. It is really great at 'Camp 10 in 10' as we get to know the characters and how they blend into a certain dynamic that brings laughter, drama, shock and great friendship.

Day 3 tactic was worked out on the physio table at 8am. We figured that my quads were acting up a bit because i was changing my stride dramatically on the downhills, so I was to try to run freely and don't worry about the speed I gather. Try to keep my stride more or less the same throughout the run.

We started out slowly and I found the first miles were again approached nervously by most. I held back during the initial miles as they are predominately up hill. At the first opportunity, around mile 4, I tried out the new tactic and flew down the other side where I found any discomfort, strain or stretch disappear instantly... So what was I to do? Keep it up!

I floated along in around 8.30 pace and was joined by a group of 3 supporters who were out running the course, one of whom was none other than Rebecca Robinson who was 2nd Great Britain Woman over the line in the London Marathon finishing in a time of 2.37!!! WOW I thought, what an amazing opportunity to share strides with a true elite. She was just lovely. Chatted away without a care in the world. She has qualified for the European Championships so I'll be watching out for my new pal on TV :-)

I slowly drifted ahead of the group by mile 13 and the last I saw of Rebecca was when she darted ahead of my with mind boggling speed, video camera in hand to catch some footage of me passing her further up the road... Bye Rebecca!

The hilly section was a breeze today and I managed to keep the momentum, keep everything together and didn't feel a twinge. Slowly a couple of runners appeared up ahead... 'Foxy' Dave and Anna were about 200 meters apart and I was closing in fast. I passed Foxy at 18 and rattled him such was my speed :-D Shame to leave roadkill on the side of the road... and I headed in pursuit of Anna. I was nervous passing these two because they had great times on the first two days. I knew they would be strong so had to be sure if I passed, that I could stay ahead or risk looking like a right plonker. Anna came within reach at mile 20 and I passed smoothly. Not that I was racing or anything but it is always nice to catch other up.

I begged my body to give me just one more sub 9 mile at 22, I got 7.55... Otherwise Plonker was going to be replacing my name on my bedroom door. I pleaded for another sub 9 at 23 and got under 8. Thought the wheels would come off anytime soon but 8.06 and 8.24 saw me cross the finish line very comfortable in 3:43.

My only worry was had I gone out too hard too soon, but feck it - this was my day and if this is all I get from the week... It was bloody brilliant.

I couldn't believe it when my physio Maria arrived at the finish area with mats for me to lie down on for some immediate 'Passive Stretching'.  And Teresa arrived with not one cup but two cups of tea along with eight sugars. Paula Radcliffe couldn't expect that support!  Only Day 3 and I'm starting to sing "Ave Maria" and call Teresa a saint again. They have been just brilliant.

Day 4 thoughts will be of nothing but confidence because I've already achieved what I wanted - One great great day - So nothing will take that away.