So'ton to Fareham

I have had this run in mind for some time but other things always seemed to be happening or me being lazy.
 It is very rare that I run over to the East side of Southampton and the furthest I have previously run to is Bitterne, a mere 5-6 miles away. I was hoping to run to Fareham or Portchester castle. I would try and run to Fareham and if I felt good I would run to Portchester which is around the 20 mile mark, only an additional 3 miles from Fareham. These two places both have train stations so that was my way home. I checked google maps for a route that was pretty simple. Mostly the A27 all the way. There are bound to be much nicer routes but I don't know them and didn't want to get lost or run down to dead ends like I usually do and add about another 10 miles to my run.

      I packed my rucksack with water, clean socks, shorts, a t-shirt, flapjack and a couple of energy gels. Phone, wallet, keys etc.. Headed off sometime after 10am to make sure that I would miss the rush hour traffic and all the pollution. I was feeling good but wanted to average my miles around the 8.30 mark to ensure that I would actually get there and not burn out.
      I chose a more scenic route to Bitterne via the sports centre and the common, then through woodmill. I had now done a 10k and was running up that pretty big hill towards Bitterne precinct. Maybe I wasn't feeling as great as I had first thought! It was now pretty much a straight line to Fareham via the A27 with the exception of the roundabouts. Another big hill next to the Harefield estate and then I reached Thornhill.
Into Bursledon and Lower Swanwick which had some nice downhill and flat. Until I reached Sarisbury green. This was the biggest hill of the day and it was so humid out there. I had to stop at the top of the hill to change t-shirts and drink water and eat something. I was feeling weak already!

    After cooling down for 5 mins I resumed my run and felt much better for the rest. Only 12 miles in though. Why was this run so much hard work today? I had been reading a lot of books on Ultra running lately so my efforts today seemed pretty poor to me but now I am happy enough with my achievement and know that I will try this challenge again and run it better.

   Onto Parkgate and then Segensworth. I must admit I went a bit mental at Segensworth roundabout and lost it with a driver who accelerated towards me at the lights when I was running across. I swore abuse at him as loud as I could why others stared at my moment of lunacy. I glad he didn't get out of his car cos I was super angry at this point. This was soon forgotten and onto Titchfield I ran.

   I got to 15 miles and decided to walk up a hill. How far is Fareham from here? Turns out it was only 2 more miles and I made it okay but didn't feel I had the strength to make it to Portchester castle.
It was a great run and I really enjoyed it. Maybe next time i'll make it Portchester or even Portsmouth!

  After those 17 miles I was soaking wet with sweat and walking through Fareham and people staring at me as I staggered about in my sweaty daze. I found a Tesco where my priority was to buy a new t-shirt and get some fruit. £4 for a t-shirt and £2 for some lovely fruit medley thingys. I changed in a park, ate my food and reflected on my run. I love these little adventures of mine. It's great to be alive and feel alive :)

The Bratton Hilly 11.4K Run

Race fever has hit me once again! I've had a taste of it and I want more. I must do something this weekend. It would be nice to get out of Southampton for a few hours. I'll just check the Runners World events page to see what's going on this weekend.
As I don't drive, I was always going to be limited with public transport so early in the morning and this is almost impossible on Sundays. Need a Saturday race but not too far away.
Bratton hilly run. Sounds interesting and it's on a Saturday morning at 11am and you can enter on the day. Google maps says it's 4.4 miles from Westbury train station. This is looking possible. I research all the travel details from buses to trains and other options etc..
 I'm still not sure. It's a £20 train journey and there is no bus from Westbury to Bratton. More expenses on a taxi or a very brisk walk to make the late entries desk in time. To top it off the weather doesn't look great but what else am I going to do this weekend if it's raining anyway?

          I pack and prepare, printing maps and making notes. It's time to go, the decision has been made. Only Four stops on the train. Romsey, Salisbury (I try to remember the third stop but can't) and then Westbury.
Westbury train station always reminds me of traveling to Devon or Cornwall. Always stuck at Westbury for an hour or so with nothing to do and waiting for the connection train to arrive.

       I decide to walk when I get to Westbury. It's only Ten past Nine and late entry is open until 10.30. 4.4 miles in 1hr 20 mins? Should be fine. I pretty much get lost straight away even with a map! I end up in the city centre and ask the locals for directions. The directions are superb and put my google map to shame. Stupid google maps. This still didn't stop me from walking down a path for half a mile that only led me to someone's front door though.Had to turn back.

          I got to see the White horse of Westbury on the way too. This is the first time I have seen it up close. Usually I would just pass it from far away on the train. An awesome view from the bottom of the hill.
Right Dean Jones, no more photos, got to get to the race and register. I had now run out of pavement though and was running down a narrow busy country lane, dodging the traffic coming in each direction. I get used to this with google maps even though I always select the walking option. A car overtakes but stops in front of me. I go to the passenger window. "Going to the race in Bratton? Want a lift?" Bob and his wife are from Avon Valley running club. Bob is the V50 winner from last year and his wife is the race timer today. Lovely people and they tell me about the race and to watch out for that hill at the start that I read so much about on the Runners world reviews. Not sure I would have made it in time without them but when I got there I had plenty of time. Everyone is so so friendly and welcoming. I get chatting to other runners from other clubs. Avon Valley runners, Dorset Doddlers, Gillingham runners etc.. Everyone warns me about the first hill. "Last year was the first time I made it up that hill without walking you know" says an old man from Fordingbridge who runs for Dorset Doddlers. We warm up together, running back and forth exchanging racing stories. This guy is awesome I thought to myself.

       
 How many times have we heard about hilly races and they haven't been that bad. "Look out for the big hills" and then they aren't actually that bad and have been exaggerated. This was different... I broke at 0.88 of a mile and started to walk. My garmin later showed that this first hill is a mile long and 128 metres in elevation. Once I got to the top I started running again and was able to take in some scenery. The views from the top were amazing and you could see miles and miles of Wiltshire countryside. As only 110 runners took part, there was no congestion whatsoever. I love these races. It started to drizzle but the effects were cooling and much welcomed along with the breeze cooling my perspiring face. It still felt hot.
        There was a nice long downhill section but in the distance you could see like a mirror image. So the steep hill we were flying down now, we would running up in a mile or so. I ran as fast as I could down that hill. I was again walking part of the uphill. This was one very challenging race and the drizzle had now turned into a proper downpour and the winds were slightly stronger but I was loving this.

       It was mostly views of fields and farms and we were running on gravel tracks. No signs of life out here apart from us runners. Alone with our thoughts, battling on to catch the next runner or trying not to be overtaken from the runner behind. Must push on, want a top 20 finish. Come on Dean. Got to the 10K marker and I was flying past runners downhill. 1K to go! I was enjoying the looks of disappointment as I past my fellow runners. I was going as fast as I could now. Only 0.6 of a mile right? Wrong! I had reached an 11K marker and was slightly confused. The course now went up a steep hill again. I had to walk to get my breath back and then I remembering reading that it's actually an 11.4K race even though it says 11K. Doesn't sound like much does it? The marshals were shouting words of encouragement at the top of the hill. "It's a downhill finish when you reach us" I was past by a runner from Leicester. I dug deep and ran. I stayed with him but didn't have the strength to pass him. I could see the finish and the cheering supporters. This was brilliant.

My Official finishing time was 53.43 and I had came 26th. Couldn't be happier with my time and my run. Got chatting to the Avon valley runner who organised the day and thanked him. Got invited to the pub with the other runners after the award ceremony. I was told that the reason that there are so many runners from Birstall running club in Leicester is because they do it every year and it was their massive coach that delayed the start by 10-15 mins. Not that anyone cared. Nice laid back attitude and lots of encouraging friendly people. I can't wait to do this race again next year on the 10th of May. I got a nice mug and a bottle of water at the finish as well. The winner had run it in 41 minutes.

       After the pub it was time to walk back to Westbury but via the bridleway and not the main road. Bit safer I reckon. I took the path but it wasn't too long until I got lost again and ended up walking up steep hills again and before I knew it I was above the White horse this time and the views were amazing but the winds were so severe. So I got an even closer look at Wiltshire and the White horse.

I got to the carpark on top of the White horse. It seemed too dangerous to walk along the paths now as the winds were ferocious, so I decided to take the road back down the hill but then was offered a lift back to Westbury by man in a van with his dog. Hopefully I wasn't going to be murdered. He was a painter and decorator who loved rambling. We exchanged walking stories as his dog Snoopy sat on me and kept on trying to lick my face. What an awesome day. He drove me all the way to the train station as well. And to think I was contemplating staying at home and doing nothing today!

Salisbury 10 mile Hampshire road race league 2013

The great thing about these league races is that I get to catch up and socialise with my fellow running club members. The support and encouragement from everyone on the day is always overwhelming and makes the day more special than any kind of other race or PB ever could but that's just the way I feel about it.
I know that on the last stretch of the race that a lot of Lordshill road runner associates from my club are going to be cheering my name and this pushes me and gives me the determination I need to finish.

Just before the race I was contemplating a finishing time. Do I go for a 10 mile PB or just run around the 70 minute mark and still feel good? This is a really nice course and I PB'd on it the previous year (68.42) but got a calf injury that seemed to last for ages. Anyway, I decided to go for a 10 mile PB. It was a year ago since I got one afterall!

It was a lot colder than the previous year as well. In 2012 I actually got sunburnt doing this race and afterwards I was sat with some of the club members, eating food in a pub garden. This year, I paid £17 for a long sleeved running t-shirt to keep me a bit warmer and wore my hat for the first two miles of the race. I thought it would be a good idea to shave my hair off so I would run faster with the marginal weight loss, if any..lol. We got to the athletics track where the race begins and did a few slow laps to warm up.

The race got underway and off we went. I was hoping to average 6.45 to 6.50 mins per mile. I knew this was possible because of my half marathon times both at Cardiff and Gosport from last year. I still find it hard to take in that I could run those races that fast or what seems very fast to me personally anyway.
It started well for the first two miles. I just tried to relax my breathing and settle into a rhythm. I was a bit disappointed with my third mile and this made a big impact on my fourth mile - that and the fact that I tried to stay up with Kevin Yates which was impossible.
Because of Yates I had just ran that mile in 6.33 when I saw a woman on the ground who had fallen off her bike. She didn't look badly injured but I was going to offer help if needed. I was thinking two things: If she wants help I can stop running so fast and tell Larry that this is the reason that I didn't beat him and also a valid excuse for no PB. My other thought was PB, I need this PB. She was fine and waved me on anyway. I kept going but the previous mile pace ruined my next mile of over 7 mins. My pacing was a bit erratic today but I was feeling okay considering.

So I was halfway and I was thinking how slowly time passes when I run races (Escially parkrun!) at a fast pace yet a slow 3hr marathon training run can fly by cos I am enjoying it more. This reminded me of an article I read about Einstein's theory about "Time" being relative. It was a study on how we perceive time. Twenty minutes on a bike at the gym can seem like a long time but if you do the same cycle whilst reading a magazine that you like then the time will appear to elapse much quicker. Anyway, I think weird things when I am running sometimes but it keeps away the negative thoughts I get from time to time: "My legs ache", "I don't think I can keep this up", "I want to quit" etc..

So from mile 5 to mile 6 or 7 I am fending off the negative thoughts and pushing myself hard even though my pace isn't improving. I usually find that I am mentally weaker than I am physically during these races cos my legs felt fine. Sometimes I just manage to switch off and think of nothing. Just watching the person in front of me and the road ahead. This is probably why I never recognise a race course even if I have run it previously. Ask Mike Mattingly! We did Bramley 20 mile race together which is two 10 mile loops. Even on the second loop nothing looked familiar to me. Short term memory of a goldfish..lol

I drifted out of my running daze when I nearly stood on two mating toads. Poor things had been flattened by a car by the looks of it. Then I was thinking how it wasn't a bad way to go but it really if you think about it. I then spent that mile thinking if I would rather be run over in the road whilst mating (but not with a toad) or if I would rather die from running this 10 mile race. There weren't many pros and cons to either of them to be honest.

I wasn't averaging my 6.45 to 6.50 minute mile pace. One mile went over 7 minutes and a few miles were over 6.50 but I had run that stupid 6.33! I was doing ok but didn't really know if I was on for a PB still. I couldn't be bothered to work it out as I was now getting really tired mentally and pushing really hard. It was about 8.5 miles in and I was thinking about my mum as it was mother's day and I wanted this PB for her. I may not get that PB but I was proud of myself for trying so hard and I then thought about how proud of me my mum would have been. This broke me down emotionally and I could feel myself getting teary. I was crying for a few moments but it felt right and I don't think anyone could tell as the wind was also pretty strong in my face at this point.

9 miles in and I realised I was on for the PB still. I could do it even if I ran my last mile close to 8 minutes and that was never going to happen. I was getting slower on the last miles but I was sure I could maintain a 7  to 7+ mile at least. I had remembered how long that last mile seemed last year as you ran down that narrow path. The narrow path seemed very long but I knew the end was near. I could see the athletics track and I could see that bastard Larry already on there beating me! "Well done Larry, good going" Bastard I thought..lol. Everyone was cheering and Larry was waiting on the line for me. He was shouting and really encouraging me to push as hard as I could. My PB time by chip was 67.57.  45 seconds faster than the previous year. If it wasn't for Larry standing on that finishing line and shouting at me, I don't think I would have gone under 68 minutes but I did on chip time and I wanted to achieve 67 as that would have been my mum's age if she was still alive today. Maybe not alive but she's still with me all the time. Happy mother's day :)

24 mile training run for VLM

Introduction to my new blog

I got into running about March in 2011. It all started with a new years resolution and health kick. I was 18 stone, I was out of breath constantly and I was tired all the time.

I started with a diet and then decided to swim for Marie Curie Cancer care in April. I swam 93 lengths and raised £642. This was a great achievement for me as I am not a good swimmer.

During this time I was running home after work. I would only run for about the distance or 4 or 5 lamp posts before I had to stop due to breathlessness. I think I was running faster than I needed to and didn't pace myself at the time.

It was then that a work colleague Steph asked me if I wanted to run with her after work. She was much more in the know of what to do than me. So we ran slow after work and I remember running my first mile and feeling good about it. I was now a runner!

I bought new shoes, shorts and t-shirts and finally a GPS watch to monitor my times. Running was becoming addictive and it really felt like it had changed my life quite a lot.

I am also a member of the Lordshill Road Runners. The training sessions with them have really improved my running even though I have only been a member for a short time. I had never really done any sprinting until the running club because I seemed to be focused on distance running. The more miles I ran the better I felt. I love to set goals and achieve them.

I have met really nice people at the running club too. It's always good to share your achievements with others who can appreciate them. I feel like I am really pushing myself and get the greatest satisfaction from this. The runners high!

I am still running all the time and i'm running an average of 30 miles a week now. I have ran in Two 10k races. Lordshill being my first and then Hengistbury 10K for the Dorset Blind Association. I have also ran in Two 5 mile races. Braishfield beer run. Which was my first ever race and The Sway 5 mile.

I have the Everton 10K coming up and I have already entered the Stockbridge 10K, the Hursley 10K and the 10 mile Great South Run.

I am looking forward to all of these races and hope to improve upon my times. I am happy to be running for the British Heart Foundation which was my first choice charity due to my Dad's heart operation Two years ago. I did promise to raise over £500 though.

Running has become my biggest addiction in my life with Skateboarding now being a very close second. I just love to run and take in views that the great outdoors has to offer.