Pic of Anna F from Halstead

Copyright of and "borrowed" from the lovely <a href="http://www.richk.co.uk">RichK</a>, who many runners may have seen around at races.
Original (larger) <a href="http://www.richk.co.uk/HalsteadMara/Halstead_09_223.htm">here</a>.

Astonishingly fast time? & in a VRUK vest! Plymouth Half

We hear from Cris Iles-Wright, who - when poked by Peter S - blushingly admitted to doing 1:33 in the Plymouth Half last Bank Holiday weekend.
Good news travels fast!
I was astonished too.  I set myself a target of 1:39, (7:30/mile)and kept looking at my splits wondering how I was managing to stay ahead.  As the race went on it became clear I was fitter and faster than I thought and the time was genuine.
 
I'm lighter, training regularly and things are going well.  Great to get that on my record!
 
PS I was in a VRUK vest.
(Ed - thanks for the tip - see the teeny pix)

British Masters Relay Result

Sid DeLara ran the 3^rd leg for his local club and for a distance of (we assume) around 5K, his time was 19.01 . Sid's team Southampton RC finished 28/30 V50, so very competitive as would be expected of a championship. Looking at the results it seems he gained 13 places for Soton on his leg, so they must have been pleased with that!

 

Mike Green out West

We hear from Mike Green - hi Mike ! - who says,
...vest arrived in time and has now been
worn for several events... [see below - Ed]

Lampeter 10m, 12/4/09   71:53
Pos 72/150, MV50 Pos 15/39

Wrexham 10m, 26/4/09   72:03
Pos 44/88, MV50 Pos 8/11

Newtown 10K,  3/5/09   42:47
Pos 19/79, MV50 Pos 2/5

Hereford Half Marathon,   17/5/09    1:41:15
Pos 125/465, MV50 Pos 8/25

Didn't see any other members at any of the above, so let me know if there are
any events not too far from me that you know other people are entering. I
thought there might be some in Hereford HM as its a very popular event. I
don't have any more events for a while now - I don't run as well in hot
weather!

Woodley 10K team meet-up

Arriving in Reading by train it began to rain and heavier as I cycled to the venue 3-4 miles away. Arriving early I found a COSTA in Woodley centre, a short walk away so took refuge whilst it continued. It had eased by the time I arrived but it was very wet under foot. Suddenly the rain cleared 20 minutes before the start and it was quite warm in the sunshine. Soon met up with John Bateson, John Morgan and the late arriving Sid Delara also by bike. Sid had only yesterday participated in the veterans relays in Sutton Coldfield and said that it was definitely not ideal to be racing the next day.



Given the lower standard of this event, we all lined up together at the head of the field. As we ran downhill and off the park, a significant number overtook me particularly as I have been off for 5 weeks and only resumed training in the past week. John Morgan I understand had not raced since October 2007 when we participated in the English 10K champs at Chichester. John Bateson and Sid soon raced ahead of me and out of sight but John Morgan was just a short distance ahead. There was a significant amount of water in the first 3K otherwise it cleared. By about 3K I managed to ease past John Morgan although feeling a little stiff from the lack of racing. Despite feeling rusty I continued to overtake other runners and even the hill approaching 8K hardly affected me, the driveways on the pavement seem to be more disruptive to your rhythm. I seemed to tire in the closing stages especially climbing that hill in the park but still retained my position and was surprised by the time of 42.35 (66th) about 1 min 18 secs slower than the 2008 event.

Sid finished in 41.23 (5th V50), John Bateson 18th in 38.07 with John Morgan 42.58 and 72nd out of the 600 or so runners. Unfortunately their was no team prizes otherwise we estimate to have been 3rd men's team.

Yet another cry for Nottingham - come on people!

Morg says.....

Hello yet again
I have just looked on the blogspot and see that somebody has posted about doing the nottingham half marathon.
It would be great if we could get LOADS of people in vegan runners shirts taking part in either the half or full that day.
 
Could you put on a bit asking if anybody will be doing the marathon there that day?
(Done - obviously! - Ed)
preferably an average speed runner so I can have somebody to talk to on the way around lol.
cheers
m morgan

Askern 10k - Morg is still off the bench

As promised Morg has been making up for the bench stay with alacrity

Hello again, after running the tickhill 10 miler sunday, last night it was the turn of the askern 10k which I completed in 45 mins, and I think 37 seconds but im not 100% on that one, my other and possibly better half thinks it was slightly quicker, but we cant get results up online as it says the file is damaged?? (Worked for me or they fixed it by the time I tried, so your 45:46 is in the spreadsheet - Ed)
Next race for me is in maltby next wednesday and is a multi terrain 6ish miler
cheers
morg

Punk Newt is *off* the bench

"Morg" is better (for some value of "better") and -as you do- has flung himself back into the fray with gusto...

hello there
after missing 4 months due to injury I am back running again and ran in the tickhill oftrac 10  10 mile cross country race sunday.
not a great time at all but its a start lol
50th out of 129 runners in a time of 1hr 20 min 7 seconds
 

askern 10k next tommorow night
 
cheers
morg

First Tri result of the year - from Paul Snell

Paul Snell (who was worried he would be so slow he would put the club to shame so didn't wear his vest - and has now been heartlessly grassed up by your editor here - wear your vest with pride, people, however womblesome your pace, for otherwise how will other VRUK bods spot you?) has provided our first tri result of '09!

I have a result for you. Tewkesbury Sprint Triathlon 17th May 1:20:07 81st out of 151. I was not listed as vegan runners on the start sheet but I am so pleased with my result I had to share it! I will definitely be doing that again!

White Peak Marathon - Anna Finn

We hear from ... oh go on, you can guess...

I did the White Peak Marathon yesterday. The weather was typically English, with a good mix of sun, rain and wind. The rain was lovely when it was a pleasantly light drizzle and the wind was welcome as a tail wind, but the combination turned into a storm of horizontal rain blowing into my face for a mile or two - not so nice!

The course is along a trail, very good underfoot most of the way. The first 7 miles are uphill - not steep, but enough to notice the incline, then it evens out before a couple of steep drops in the final few miles (see course elevation profile in the picture).

I felt a bit tired after running so much recently, but was pleased to get a finish time of 4:11:50. The finshers' memento was a mug, making a welcome change from all the medals and T shirts.

This is a lovely event that I'll definitely consider doing again. I'm not running a marathon now until the 31st [shocked we are, shocked! - Ed]- time for a nice rest then...

Anna
(Ed - I also found a pic. of Anna running - she provided the other 2)

Fwd: 17.05.2009 - Crouch End YMCA, London 10km

Wolfgang Kunst has been doing a bit of an assault course this weekend...
Did the YMCA Crouch End (north London) 10K this morning. What a difficult course, between parked cars, around dozens of corners, pavements up and down, and worst of all quite long stretches uphill.

The rain, wind, slippery surfaces this morning didn't help either, so am far behind what I was hoping to achieve, but still reasonably happy, given the circumstances.

So finally, this was my time: 42:26
and he came 69th/~1000  - so heaven help us when the conditions are good!

Oh what it is to be young

5 May, Silverstone 10K, Ed Banks, 37.05, 39^th, OTH

- er didn't he just do a marathon....? - Ed

Looks like Dave Arnold is back on track

10 May, Alton 10 miles, 1.09.58, male position 79 / 320, Denmead Striders (OTH).

Pictures and Report of Vegan Three Peaks Challenge

The website http://www.vegan3peaks.info/ has now been updated with pictures at each of the peaks, with extreme conditions at the summit of Ben Nevis and dark & misty conditions to contend with at Scafell Pike.

Great experience and achievement for all three of them plus the supporting crew.

A Supporter's London Marathon Report

It was only the night before when I checked the train times that the first replacement coach was due to arrive earlier than I thought so, had the opportunity to visit the Start. Thousands of runners were still making their way to the Start after 9am with trains packed to capacity and others being left on the platform for a later train at London Bridge. Took ages to get out of Blackheath station and some had difficulty getting off the train with the doors about to close.

Immediately headed for the supporters side of the blue start where a considerable number of runners were already in their starting pens. Could not see any of our VRUK or VC&AC runners as I walked up and down the field, eventually deciding to hold the banner in view of the runners i.e. 'Plant /Energy, Best of Luck, Veggies / Vegans'. Some runners were looking in the direction of the banner otherwise there was no response apart from a few facial expressions. Stood near pen 1 so maximised the publicity as the runners moved forward. As the race started the banner seemed to attract more attention, especially from the rear of the field who were also more relaxed. Ade of the VC&AC found me again as he did at the 2007 event and Doug Hawkin, one of our contacts was wearing the VRUK vest. Doug came up to the fence as I was about to take his photo he decided a picture of his back was more important.

After the last runners passed I walked back through the Blue Start meeting area, the baggage lorries appeared to have left quite swiftly with the odd late arrival having nowhere safe to leave their bag. I noticed runners were still pouring out of the Greenwich Park at the Red Start as I walked around the edge and down to Greenwich station to go over to Canary Wharf. As I arrived, the leaders of the women's race who started at 9am had already gone through. Went for a drink in the underground shopping complex and returned in time to see the leading men pass at a pace that would win many 5K events. Due to the change in arrangements for some of the slower elite women who started at the head of the main start, I had to leave for the finish before Fiona Oakes had passed. I had arranged to meet Ron Franklin (aged 80+) at our meeting point. Ron is a former 2 hours 25 minutes marathon achiever and his diet has been free of dairy and egg for about 50 years. Ron alongwith myself decided to greet our runners at the finish.

I stayed long enough at Canary Wharf to see James Meldrum pass, also running in the English (or AAAs) Marathon Championships for Liverpool Harriers. I feel guilty not staying to see our other sub 3-hour runners including Fiona but did not have a mobile number for Ron. Despite arriving rather late for the appointment, Ron did likewise knowing Fiona had started later. It was not long before some of the elite runners were walking past, quoting their sub 2.30 times. With few people around at this stage I soon picked out James (2.36) approaching us, still looking quite fit in outward appearance. James although 1 minute faster than 2008 was disappointed he did not achieve nearer or below 2.30. It was appropriate to take a photo of Ron holding our congratulatory banner with each of our runners. In quick succession Ed Banks (2.51) and Max Newton (2.52) arrived and all three are in the photo with Ron.

We were also joined by members Dave Arnold, Andrew Knight, Wolfgang Kunst, James Millington and Annette Herold, a good show of support to our runners. Both Dave and Andrew alongwith myself and other VRUK members had the previous day participated in the national anti-vivisection march from Hyde Park to Whitehall which took about 2 hours.

Unfortunately due to Fiona sustaining an injury earlier in the race related to her weak knee without the cap she still managed to continue and achieve a remarkable time of 2.58. In extreme pain at the finish, Fiona was in need of urgent medical attention and in no fit state to visit our meeting point. Fiona was also running for Captive Animals Protection Society.

Vanessa Hudson, due to limited training was thinking in terms of finishing around 5 hours but exceeded her expectations with a good personal time of 4.38. Vanessa was also running for WSPA with 'Vegan Vanessa' printed on her WSPA vest. Relatives from Nottinghamshire had also made the special trip to support Vanessa and met her at the finish inspite of the huge crowds around that time.

Other VRUK members who had to defer their entry due to injury or health included: Laurence Klein and Andrew Rankine.

Four of the VC&AC runners also made it to our joint meeting point, namely Ryan Procter (3.07), Andy Jordan (3.22), Jim Cheseldine (3.56) and Caroline Chapman (5.12) her first.

Continuing our previous year's arrangements we visited the CHI Vegan Buffet in St Martin's Lane which must have seemed a long walk for Vanessa in particular. We seemed to lose Vanessa and her relatives before we reached Admiralty Arch but eight of us including Ron eventually met at the buffet for a welcome sit down for all of us. It was an opportunity to hear details of Ron's major achievements. Around 6pm I thought that was the end of the social but Vanessa had other ideas with a visit (and a fair walk) to Neal's Yard (for the remaining six of us) for a large vegan chocolate slice of cake (more like a desert) and a hot drink. With a chilly wind developing as we sat outside we were shivering by the end.

A memorable day for Vegan Runners UK.

Larwood 10k - Clare C

Clare Coombes writes ...
I managed  47.19 and 133rd (no separate ladies results) at the Larwood 10K. A lack of training, due to frantic work commitments at present, and a warm day kept me steady. Though I am very grateful to a Mansfield Harriers club team mate, who passed me on every incline, her enthusiastic encouragement kept me going! She gave me enough strength to dig in and pass on the down hill and flat. I think I might have given up and gone home if it hadn't been for her.

A beautiful location and very well run 10K. As usual, only the toilet facilities need attention. Shireoaks, the start and finish location, is a wonderful little village with its own micro climate. Very warm and sunny. Got in the car and went home, cold and cloudy.

Looks like the Hobin Hood Half is beginning to attract some attention. I am sending off for a club vest and look forward to running in it in September.

Robin Hood Half aka Experian Festival Of Running And The Like

We hear from Paul Snell, who plans to be at the vegan fair "with the little vegan family" for a while...

I have a DNS for Sunday's Stratford triathlon - I was off sick. I have entered the Tewkesbury triathloon for this Sunday - but not mentioned my club because I think I will come last! Based on last years results there will be no athletes riding shopping bikes.

He then makes a call to action - as indeed did Clare Coombes last month - 

Who is up for The Robin Hood half? (My emphasis not Paul's - Ed)It seems to fit my calendar and it will give Ben from our office another chance to humiliate me... or, very possibly, a chance for REVENGE! The real motivator for us MOTP runners ;-).

(Ed comments - given that Abingdon's full and Mablethorpe's off this year, possibly Nottingham is going to be the place to be this autumn - book now!)

Upcoming activities in the next fortnight

From the events diary
17-May    Brighton            Heroes 10K    Jane Gant   
                       
.
17-May    Woodley10K , Reading 11.00am    Peter Simpson, Sid DeLara, John Morgan, John Bateson   

.
31-May    Edinburgh    Marathon    Anna Finn   

.
31-May    Chatsworth House        Golden Gate 10K    Clare Coombes   

.
Remember, diary entries should be sent to Laurence Klein
and results &/or race reports go to me, Maria

Bristol/Tewkesbury/Portsmouth/Lymington

Your editor writes:
As an experiment, for the next few (weeks/days/until I get fed up of it), I am going to put up unformatted results on the blog (as well as entering them into the results spreadsheet). I may also (if I have the energy!) put up exerpts from the events diary, so people can see what's coming up. This should paint a broader picture of club activities - and, as well, I reckon that there should be something new (on average) almost every day.
Let me know what you think.

And to start:
Bristol 10k (10 may)
Position      Race No.      Name      Gender      Cat      Chip-Time      Club Name
1551    3919    Isabel Hoskin     Female        00:49:56    Vegan Runners
2396    3226    Matthew Cole     Male        00:53:36    Vegan Runners
5511    4146    Karen Morgan     Female    45    01:10:42    Vegan Runners

Tewkesbury Half (same day)
Pos    Overall    Bib    Competitor    Category    Team    Finish    Chip time
493    493    2207    HELEN WATKINSON    FSenior    VEGAN RUNNERS    01:55:30    01:54:51
556    556    1871    CEDRIC DAVID    MSenior    VEGAN RUNNERS    01:58:57    01:58:18

Sid DeLara has been as busy as ever, and says:
Here are some results from races i have taken part in recently. Seems I am getting the knack of finishing 33rd.
  1)Weds May 6th. Portsmouth Promenade 5k.
   19mins 30secs.  33rd/143  Male V50 3rd. A strong head wind between 2 1/2k and 4k put paid to most runners hopes of a PB.
  2)Sunday May 10th Lymington 10k.
   41mins 7secs.  33rd/600+ runners  Male V 50 2nd.
 A multiterrain event road/gravel/grass.  Ideal run if you like to run on gravel paths for about 5k. Including a raised dyke gravel path for about 2k with seaview across to the Isle of Wight.

Ridgeway 40 + Halstead Marathon - Anna Finn

We hear from Anna Finn, who has been managing to keep busy last weekend. How does she do it....?

So there's been another weekend - here's the running I did:

The plan was similar to last weekend, with back-to-back 40 mile Ultra Sat / Marathon Sun again, hopefully without getting lost. Well, the short version: mission accomplished and in a faster time than last weekend's effort too. I had a fantastic couple of days!

The start was at Overton Hill in Wiltshire. It seemed to be bright but very cold. However, within a few minutes of starting, I had stripped off to my VRUK vest as it was rather warm after all. The Ridgeway 40 does what it says on the tin – 40 miles along the Ridgeway, which is a sign-posted byway stretching across the countryside over undulating but not-too-hilly terrain. The track underfoot was a bit tough at times, but I've run on far worse surfaces (see Thames Trot!). It was a lovely course and I felt very strong throughout. I had planned to walk the ups and jog the flats and downs. As it turned out, I also jogged a lot of the gentle uphill inclines too, which I was pleased with. There were 9 checkpoints, spaced from 2 to 7 miles apart, where we had to get checked in and could restock on water and nibbles. At mile 28 they had homemade vegan malt loaf – it tasted fabulous! I spent most of the time chatting to various other runners on the route. There was a final climb after the last checkpoint, then the last 3 miles or so came back downhill in a very welcome fashion (you can see the last hill in the background of the photo). There was however the steep driveway up to the YHA to negotiate (also in the pic – I'm about to head up it), to get to the finish check in – that seemed a little unfair after 40 miles!

I was more than happy with my time of 7 hours 10 minutes. As it wasn't officially a race, positions don't count here, but I think I finished second or third female.

On Sunday was the Halstead Marathon, a road race in Essex. A couple of runners said they were in VRUK too, but they weren't wearing vests and I didn't get their names.(Nor have they put down VRUK as their club or sent me their results, so I am not sure who they might have been either - Ed). I was expecting my legs to start complaining at some point, but I felt great again, though a bit tired. I chatted away with other runners most of the way again and was very pleased to finish with a time of 4:20:36. Job done. 

Rather terrifyingly she adds,

...more next weekend (but it'll only be one marathon, no ultra this time)...

Berlin Lauft - 25k

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
Charles Dickens was not thinking of running your first 25k when he wrote those words, but how true they were on Sunday. The better half had housemaids knee (*), I had a stinking cold picked up from the Plague Pit which is my office upon returning from the Hamburg Mara and so we were both feeling rubbish and were up to the eyeballs in OTC medication.

Thus the decision was made to take it easy (**) and go round together. Of course we could have pulled out but we had paid for the entry, dammit! It's not as if we were Paul Tergat(***) or anything.

As ever with big German races, full marks (sorry Euros) for organisation. I did not have to queue to go to the toilet !!!!!
Start and finish at the Olympic Stadium - which is kind of unlovely, but has a very bouncy blue track to finish on.
Also, it was where the German longjumper Lutz (sp?) Long (who was in first place at the time) exhibited great sportsmanship (we assume he wasn't just one of those people who can't stop themselves from telling other people how to do things, even when they really should shut up) by telling Jesse Owens that he really was jumping quite far enough to be able to take off an inch or two further back and thus not foul. Jesse Owens promptly won gold, Herr Long had to be content with silver, a filthy look from Hitler and a posthumous Coubertin medal for being a good sport. Not sure Leni R. put that in her movie.

The course started with a worryingly long downhill. Worrying, because it finished where it started...you do the math. Support was sparse but cheery, but a big shout-out to all the samba schools - five I think - who turned out.
The race was started by the French - crazy people, crazy distance! - and (including the 10k and 5x5k relay) is v. popular amongst Berlin's diplomats (passes by a lot of the embassies, which is handy). The Indonesians (a well known sporting nation...!) put in two relay teams - very keen there ! Apparently 45 nationalities were represented. Very little sign of any of them en route though, so I imagine they were all doing faster than 11 minute miles (I did mention the housemaid's knee, but not that he'd never gone over 1/2 marathon before and that it was rather warm...).
Although support is thin on the ground, the course is an ideal sightseeing tour of Berlin, so as a pleasant Sunday womble with a medal at the end it's hard to beat. However, despite the gels I cruelly forced down him ("yuk!"), the other half was getting really very tired in his Marmite vest (we were flying the flag for Britain and a life beyond currywurst & toasted cheese) and we were very glad to see the stadium again, which, bewilderingly, did not seem to be at the end of a long uphill. I think someone at the Max Planck Institute has been doing something naughty with gravity... Anyhow, at last there were cheering crowds - well, clumps, anyway.
As in the Reading Half, once you catch sight of the stadium you have more-than-you-think to go (a detour round Jesse Owens Allee). But to make up for it, someone had set up a mobile disco complete with flashing lights (no, really) in the tunnel going through to the stadium! Bless them and their dodgy taste in pop music!

A friend had come out to see us finish so we put on a finishing sprint (despite this we managed both a PB (first 25k race ever) and PW (slowest pace in any race ever)) and squeaked over the line just under 2:50, but going at 8:15 pace which is almost certainly as fast as the OH has ever gone in a race!
Yet again (om nom nom) there was beer at the end (though you only got it after drinking two cups of warm sweet black tea hoping they were beer) and we even got receipts when we handed in our hired chips!

So - Berlin 25k - a nice day out. But if you want screaming crowds, try the marathon instead!

(*) Imagine that a man has had a saline breast implant. On top of his kneecap. That pretty much describes it...
(**) aka stop at almost every toilet en route and religiously hi-5 every small child who had bothered to get out of bed to support us.
(***) who was due to run it, but fell over and b0rked something or other, so instead he started the race and then did the kiddie run.

John Bateson– Three Peaks of Yorkshire (37.4 km, 1608m of ascent and descent)

John Bateson reports from Yorkshire, where "Vegan" is a longer word than "Calderdale"

The first outing for my black and green VRUK vest was in most ways an enjoyable affair. Being a fell running event the majority of vests were well known to the spectators. So as I passed in a group it went something like this - 'good running Bingley, good running Calderdale, good running …er…' (screwed-up eyes as they tried to read what was written on my vest followed by a pretty puzzled expression). 

Sadly I didn't see the other VRUK competitor.

We were lucky with the weather - sun with the threat of rain – and the start/finish at Horton-in-Ribblesdale looked lovely.

The route goes quickly from the village to the top of Pen-y-ghent (Cambrian for windy hill – 689 metres), which was indeed windy. (Wind was a common theme as the day wore on.)

The first hill is quite manageable, running-wise, so I was sad to have to walk a little. Even so, the leader reached the top in a tad under 30 minutes and I was about seven minutes behind. That placed me in the top 100 and my best position of the day. It was all downhill from there (only in a metaphorical sense, unfortunately). Both of the subsequent hills – Whernside (723 metres) and then Ingleborough (722 metres) had much steeper final sections - I was reduced to a hands and feet approach at one stage.

I knew I was going to suffer – in fact I deserved to suffer, having prepared my body and my kit quite poorly. My thin little feet were slipping around inside my shoes from the get go and I had painful ankles and blisters from the first of the three peaks onwards. I also conducted a masterclass in the positive power of negative self-talk - as we jogged out of the start enclosure I found myself looking around and thinking 'he looks a lot stronger than me. I feel terrible. Man, he looks fit. Why didn't I train more?' Not a good start.

And so the day went, painful and long. I finished in the top half of the field, just, with a time of four and a half hours. I'm not used to being overtaken by more than a couple of people, so I was really annoyed with myself as a couple of hundred went past me ...

First race for around a year, and not an especially glorious first outing for my new club colours. Enough excuses, back to training…

Speaking from experience John, it makes it all the sweeter when you're fit again - something to look forward to - though if this is what you do when you're not fit, what exactly were you planning for the future? Have you been talking to Anna...?! -Ed

"Biggest Weekend Of Running So Far" - Anna Finn (be afraid, be VERY AFRAID)

Anna Finn has a cold. So does your Editor, who feels too rubbish to run. Anna, on the other hand... well, read for yourselves...

I thought I should update you on this weekend's running - it's that time of year when there seems to be summat on every weekend! My biggest weekend of running so far, with the plan being to run 66.2 miles over Saturday and Sunday. 

I did the Oxon 40 on Saturday - a beautiful LDWA event starting in Henley-on-Thames. It was off road through lots of bluebell woods (brilliant carpets of bright purple) and along lots of trails and footpaths, up over some hills with fantastic views and only 1.5 miles of me going the wrong way! I had 5 sides of A4 of written instructions to follow and used my compass a lot to make sure I had my bearing right. After the detour where I got lost (very early on - you can see a spur near the start on the attached map) I was more meticulous which slowed me down, but I didn't mind taking it easy. My final time was 8 hours 44 mins.

Then on Sunday it was the Neolithic Marathon. This is another long, hilly, pretty trail run from Avebury to Stonehenge. I had no idea what my legs would think about tackling this the day after an ultra, but they were fine. I planned to walk the uphills and jog most of the rest, which worked well and I felt really strong. Finished in about 4 and a half hours which I was very pleased with.

I got a certificate and badge for the Oxon 40 and a medal for the marathon (pics atttached) and ended up doing 67.7 miles over the weekend. Is that why they call it a long weekend? 

I did my usual 4 mile recovery run this morning and that felt really good. 

And it's lovely to have a day off - bank holidays are fab!

Happy running, more next week, (eeek! Ed)

Anna

Hamburg Marathon - 26 April 09

Your Editor writes:
Assuming (correctly) that I would not get into London this year, I started looking around for flat (ish) big(ish) spring marathons.
Paris and Rotterdam were too early - Hamburg fitted the bill perfectly - not too far away, not as big (or, I hoped, crowded) as Berlin, but big enough for a nice wodge of support in those later-on stretches, and best of all, beer at the end!
Twenty years ago (no-one can keep their age a secret in running!) we were in Germany and the food was all sugar or sausage. These days the streets are full of Asia/Falafel Imbiss(es) and I had no trouble carbo-loading. Also the LIDL in Altona-Hamburg station had soya milk. Joy, how times have changed!
The start of the race was at St. Pauli - i.e., one end of the Reeperbahn (not a glamorous place first thing on a Sunday morning LOL). Hamburg Mara is about the size of the Reading Half, and the runners' village was much the same, only filled with weatherbeaten, fit-looking Germans in tight zip-necked tops, all of whom appeared to be called Ralf or Florian(*). Bit like a Kraftwerk keep-fit convention. Everyone I'd seen up to this point looked to be in the "can definitely beat me" category.
Even once I'd wriggled into my time-pen (and promptly wriggled out the other side to go to the loo) everyone seemed to be much fitter-looking.
Mysteriously though, once we all got going I was surrounded by the usual motley assortment of body types that I am used to - where did they all come from? There was a chap in a brown St. Pauli t-shirt I must have followed for 20-odd miles (and I do believe I did beat  him :D).
Anyway. Someone sang the national anthem rather beautifully (fair brought a tear to my eye), there was a bit of,
"Hummel hummel!"
"Mors Mors!"
(the local equivalent of OGGIE OGGIE OGGIE OY OY OY, pretty much) and then we were off at last.
Once we had crossed the line, the next few miles (luckily, the route was well-lined with trees and bushes!) was peppered with blokes nipping off for a pee. WHY? It's chip-timed and there are mountains of loos before the start! Go before the timer starts! Are blokes bladders really that nervous? But hey, no skin off my nose! (I should point out that they were at a good distance - no unpleasantness of the sort poor Fiona had to endure - mixed champs start - what were they thinking?!).
As I do more and more distance training I take longer and longer to get going - these days it seems to be about 3 to5 miles (sorry, 5 to 8 km!) before I get into my stride. Knowing this, I wasn't too worried about the first few km being at a 10+ m/m pace.
The OH had given me a cheer and a wave from the sidelines as we trotted down the Reeperbahn and then vanished into the mysteries of the Hamburg public transport system. He was aiming to emerge at about km 10-12, but sadly he missed me.
No matter: as we rounded the bend and caught our first view of the harbour (very striking and beautiful in an industrial way), there was a chap standing atop a cable box holding up a professionally printed sign saying (in English)

ALMOST DONE
NOT FAR TO GO NOW

Truly comedy is all timing. At 10k to go it would have been true (but he would have been risking his life!) - at 10k down, we all just laughed. (Also he was rather dishy - think Michael Redgrave in The Lady Vanishes).
2nd gel washed down, and I could see my pace improving in a gently pleasing manner. My target was to get to the 10 mile (sorry 16k) point in 100 minutes or less, and that was looking unproblematic. But by 10 miles my toes (ah, blisters!) and hip (only one, mind) were complaining. 2 paracetemol down with the next gel (I had a natty little zip-up pouch on my gel belt, very handy).

The course was well supported but entertainment consisted of a light smattering of school bands (charming) mixed in with a firm and lavish helping of that much-loved German standby, the spoon-in-saucepan. The country of Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Boney M, Kraftwerk and Einsturzende Neubauten, and spoon in saucepan is the best they can do? Mystery! 10/10 for effort though.

Unlike Berlin, not many fellow British runners (lots of Danes, of course!) though I did see and talk to a Canadian lady at the finish. Her ninth and last marathon - she said firmly. Famous Last Words, I thought! This of course left me with only my rather rubbish German to make chitchat with. I told a clown - as I passed him - that my club (my 2nd claim club, in case you are wondering) has the fastest marathon clown in the world! I may however have said something quite different. He looked startled. But I motored on ahead regardless.

The promised 23 degrees Celcius was making itself felt. Luckily Hamburg is

1. very leafy
2. round lake... like... things
3. on the seaside
4. very well provided with water stations

aaaand there was the odd shower (most official ...and one provided by a kindly caravanner!) along the course. So although I was still making time to plan, I confess I was tired and very much looking forward to the Ziel with zeal. The midweek long runs really proved their worth at this point, as 26k came and went.
"10 miles - I've done lots of ten milers feeling much worse than this," I thought (trying not to think that they were slower as well).
27k. 28. .... 30. 32k... Now it was 10k to go. I knew I should put my foot down but somehow couldn't quite follow through (even though it was less congested than Berlin, or perhaps Hamburgers are just better trained!). Hmmm - more progression runs next time, I think.

Under the arch at last, and the Garmin said 4:18 something. So 4? minutes (4 min 2 sec, as it turned out) off the PB. Job done. I had a little weep of relief (that I'd got the PB... and that I could stop running).
Now! I had been promised beer and (having not managed to get it in Berlin), the full force of rusty 'O' Level German was turned to to the task of locating the right tent. Cruelly it was on the other side of the Runners' Village (so there was a lot of pinballing around, as you do, medal->fruit->goody bag->kit tent->chip return->beer!->Meeting Point).
Very nice beer, though alcohol-free. (I can only imagine the chaos which would have ensued if not - runners tumbling down the steps at St. Pauli Underground station like puppies, and the Runner's Village a paddling pool full of regurgitated banana).

Postscript: though I thought it was hot in Hamburg (and it was), I came home to find that the runners in London had been fried alive in Canary Wharf and on the lovely reflective path in Stratford - so I guess I was lucky! I have booked up for Eindhoven in the Autumn - yes, I know I live in Abingdon, but the race is full already! - and am hoping for some traditional Dutch drizzle.

(*)Your name was printed under your number on the bib - a nice touch even if the locals cannot pronounce your name right (it would seem churlish to stop and say, "No, it rhymes with diarrhoea....!")

Vegan Three Peaks Challenge 2/3 May

(Peter says...)

VRUK members Andrew Knight & Andrew Taylor are due to have taken on the vegan challenge
event this weekend just gone, a sponsored event for the Animals Count political party. The
three peaks are Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis, for more details visit

http://www.vegan3peaks.info/

We look forward to hearing how it went... brave people!

Shakespeare Marathon - Anna Finn

Anna Finn continued her domination of the VRUK marathon results page with a run at Stratford - such is her fantastic endurance that despite spending pretty much her entire year marathon running, she still has energy to delight us with a race report and some photos :D

I've just got back from a fantastic weekend in Stratford upon Avon. There were various events going on to celebrate Shakespeare's Birthday, including a parade with brass bands and morris dancers. All rather entertaining and it was lovely and sunny too. We hired a rowing boat and spent an hour on the Avon - very scenic.

The marathon went well and I was pleased that the huge hills I remembered from previous years turned out to be just gentle undulations. It's a pretty two-lap course through country lanes and tracks, on a beautiful sunny day and is a very well organised event. My tenth marathon this year and 50^th ever! I don't know my exact time, but it was within a minute of last week's time. (4:02:35 - Ed ) I seem to be pretty consistent at least. More sunburn too though...

My boyfriend Jim managed to get some shots of me running. One within the first mile and one when the finish was in sight, just after the 26 mile marker. There's also a pic with the finishers medal, taken by one of the locks.