I have a few friends who are attacking the Edinburgh Marathon / Half Marathon tomorrow, and just wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone competing and running all the best of luck.
There are a good few doing it from Team Wesham, and we are immensely proud of everyone of you, go out and wear the vest with pride, enjoy yourselves and give it your all.
The Edinburgh Marathon Festival is a fantastic weekend, and one which I have been fortunate enough to have experienced myself in the past. Back in 2013, when club Chairman of the time, Graham Vickers, unfortunately broke his foot and had to give up his number for the marathon.
I took it on, seen as I was already in training for Manchester, which was about 6 weeks before. I picked up a hamstring injury at Manchester though and ended up struggling for form as Edinburgh came around, so decided to just try and enjoy the course.
All I can say is what a wonderful place Edinburgh is. Prior to that weekend I had never been to Scotland in my life - but this experience left me eager to see more! So much so that I ended up returning the following February for a short (run free) break with Molly.
The race itself was ran on yes a very flat, but also sparsely supported (in places) course, and I personally wasn't overly keen on the out and back countryside loop, that saw you run into seemingly no-mans-land for a good few miles between approx. 14-19 miles, but other than that the rest of the race was fantastic.
Starting close to the City centre, and finishing at the race track, both the start and finish were well supported, and some of the scenery as you ran along the coast was unbelievable. I managed to get around in 2:59:36 for 107th place.
I learned a few valuable lessons from my visit, firstly make sure that you have booked your hotel properly (I ended up roomless and begging for a place at a hostel on the Saturday night!) and also to try and do as little as possible in the 24 hour run up to the race (I travelled up and even went to the gym the day before! Rookie errors...) I was also especially grateful of Graham and Louise who took such good care of me in the aftermath of the race, when I couldn't even pick myself up off the floor!
I would love to return for another go one day, we shall see...
But final message for everyone taking part: as long as you have trained hard, ate well and are focused, I am sure you will all smash it. Above all enjoy it. Have fun guys x
Saturday 30 May 2015
Sunday 24 May 2015
Family
It's not all about the big races and the fast times.
Sure, it would be nice to be able to go out and push yourself around to a PB every single outing, but let's face it - sometimes that just isn't possible.
Today was one such day.
Having races on the track in the 5000 metres at the Lancashire Championships some 18 hours earlier, I chose to do the Great Eccleston 4 mile road race today more as a means to encourage my dad to run himself.
He has taken up the sport as a means to get fit and as a form of hobby over the last 15 months, and has done a few 5k races in the past, so today he managed to do his first 4 miler, and performed well - it was good to see him going strong and looking like he was enjoying himself too towards the finish.
Myself, I managed to win the race, seeing off Jason Parker of Preston Harriers, who finished second. The pace wasn't the quickest - but then again on heavy legs and into yet another head-wind, that was never going to be likely anyway.
The reason I like to support these smaller races so much, is the sense of community, family and friendship that you get from them. I am proud to be a runner, and proud of my club, and all the other runners that go out there and give it their best every week - and proud of the sportsmanship and support that we all offer each other. You wouldn't get other clubs encouraging each other in most sports!
So, 4 wins in ten days, and as many team wins too!
A good bank holiday all in all :)
Sure, it would be nice to be able to go out and push yourself around to a PB every single outing, but let's face it - sometimes that just isn't possible.
Today was one such day.
Having races on the track in the 5000 metres at the Lancashire Championships some 18 hours earlier, I chose to do the Great Eccleston 4 mile road race today more as a means to encourage my dad to run himself.
He has taken up the sport as a means to get fit and as a form of hobby over the last 15 months, and has done a few 5k races in the past, so today he managed to do his first 4 miler, and performed well - it was good to see him going strong and looking like he was enjoying himself too towards the finish.
Myself, I managed to win the race, seeing off Jason Parker of Preston Harriers, who finished second. The pace wasn't the quickest - but then again on heavy legs and into yet another head-wind, that was never going to be likely anyway.
The reason I like to support these smaller races so much, is the sense of community, family and friendship that you get from them. I am proud to be a runner, and proud of my club, and all the other runners that go out there and give it their best every week - and proud of the sportsmanship and support that we all offer each other. You wouldn't get other clubs encouraging each other in most sports!
So, 4 wins in ten days, and as many team wins too!
A good bank holiday all in all :)
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