Muscat Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai5 Comments

Where & When:

Muscat, Oman, January 2018

Oman is truly spectacular with an incredibly beautiful landscape full of mountains and Wadis. We spent a few days exploring some of Oman’s offerings and were welcomed by such a welcoming culture with very smiley and happy locals.

Why I ran this course:

This is a great example of meeting people through running, being inspired by other runners and discovering amazing new places. Laura, who I met at the Lisbon Marathon, spent some time in Oman when she was younger. On talking about races and adventures she suggested I look at the Marathon in Muscat and shared some pictures from the country of places where we could visit easily on a trip. As always I didn’t need to think twice after seeing the pictures! I was joined on the trip by Angela and Stephane whom I met running in Myanmar back on 2016.

The Course:

A very flat, 2-lap route along the coast taking in golf courses, rich-people’s housing areas and the sea front. Nothing overly scenic and an extra 3-mile (out and back) stretch on the second lap added a particular mental challenge to the course.

The Organisation:

Pretty good. Everything leading up to the event was efficient and informative. The organisers were quick to respond to questions via email and accommodated overseas entries and runners very well (e.g. able to make special arrangements to collect race packs). A slight delay (20mins) to the 6am start was annoying but beyond the organisers control (technical difficulties ensuring traffic barriers were cleared). I feel the organisers were let down though by the volunteers on the day who were mostly not particularly attentive (needing coaxing at the water stations for example) or just appeared un- interested in the race.

The Atmosphere/Support:

Non-existent. Despite plenty of people being about the atmosphere was as flat as the course. I can recall just a handful of people clapping/cheering/supporting runners around the course. This naturally improved at the finishing stretch but not to the extent that it created an atmosphere. A traditional Omani band provided some entertainment along the route which was a pleasant relief.

My Race:

You might have gathered by now that I don’t tend to stick to any particular, regimented training plan. This continued through November and December as I just ensured to do a number of long runs and few shorter ones in the week. In December I started going to some ‘Mountain Athletics’ training sessions held in London by the Never Stop London community (North Face). These sessions focus on upper and lower body workouts fused with running and techniques. through the community I also started trail running with a few people I met. So distance wise I was certainly covering the miles now (December ended up being my third highest month for total mileage, impressive considering the top two months included a 100km race each time!).

I set out in the morning with Angela and we walked the brief stretch from our Hotel. Stephane, staying else where that night, joined us at the start line.

muscat me and ang — The darkness surrounds us as we arrive at the race village for the 6am start

By now I’d identified my plans for 2018 and the Muscat Marathon would be the first race of my 2018 12 month challenge. I’d decided to approached the marathon with a relaxed “just enjoy it” attitude. However, after the frustration of being kept waiting at the start line (and thinking to much about risking a toilet stop) I got a little caught up in a sprint off the starting line. I settled in behind a local runner and progressed through the crowd over the first few kilometers. I felt good, so I decided to keep the pace going. I devised a race strategy there and then, telling myself to keep running at a 7min/mile pace for the first 10 miles before dropping this to 7:10-7:20 min/miles for the next 10 miles. The final 6 miles I’d run at a comfortable pace and enjoy the finish. The first 10 miles went to plan and I continued strong into the second 10. Around mile 17 though my pace started to drop and I was struggling to maintain the target 7:20 min/mile pace, fluctuating more around 7:30 min/miles. I adapted once again, making the promise that I could keep this pace instead if I continued for an extra mile before dropping to the more comfortable pace at mile 21. As I reached the turn around point on the beach straight I didn’t realise that the second lap involved running further along the coast before turning back towards the finish. This was admittedly a struggle as the road was so straight and there was no sign of the turn in the distance. Eventually I reached this point (coincidentally it was about 21 miles into the race), grabbing some flat coke, popping an SIS gel, which I picked up earlier,and settled into a slower rhythm, aiming to maintain 8:00 min/miles to the finish. Over the next few miles I was over taken by two runners looking strong (one of whom was to come home as the second female finisher) and I must have sub-consciously recognised the chance at a sub 3:10 finish as my pace picked up again for the last two miles. Gladly the finishing stretch was short! job done. I stuck around at the end to cheer and support (some one had too!) and to catch Angela cross the line.

The Goodies:

Besides the medal (which I actually really like for a change, a very simplistic and stylish design) and the T shirt, participants received a rather high-quality looking swim bag. Nice touch.

Time/Standings:

3:09:24 (PB)
18/159

Lisbon Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

Where & When:

Lisbon, October 2017. I’d always heard great things about Lisbon and was looking for an excuse to go visit and find out for myself what one of the oldest cities in the world has to offer. It didn’t disappoint.

Why I ran this course:

When James told me he was heading out there in October with some friends and they had plenty of space in their apartment, I didn’t think twice to take the offer and run another marathon. James is an accomplished marathoner with a sub 3:00 time and a determination to keep chipping away at that time. I later found out that a friend of a friend would also be out there running the half, so a ‘runwithdai‘ to meet Laura before October was also on the cards.

The Course:

Starting outside of Lisbon in the area of Cascais the route initially heads west along the golf course before doubling back and heading along the coast towards Lisbon. Passing many towns and villages on the way, the course is a pleasant ‘point-to-point’ with stunning views and scenery to take in. There is a final stretch of about 10km or so that is rather challenging as it is along a long and straight dual carriage way through the industrial port area. Keeping focus at this stage can be a struggle! Generally the route is flat but dotted with little hills as you navigate the coast.

The Organisation:

Shocking. Considering it is one of the Rock ‘N’ Roll events, my expectations for efficient organisation was well off the mark. We queued for about 2 hours to collect our race packs the day before the race, Most of this time was outside in the blistering heat with no access to facilities. Upon getting inside the expo we were told to go to any counter and not bother going to the one corresponding to our number. What was the point then? It was no wonder the queues were so long, it was mayhem inside. runners everywhere, volunteers having to go all over the place to find the numbers from different counters. There was no order or control whatsoever.

I’d somehow been sent two different race numbers in the emails I’d received as confirmation to collect my race kit. So that was also confusing and the volunteer had to spend a bit longer determining which one was the right one. After figuring it out, and handing over the required documents, the volunteers were collecting the individual bibs, bags and other information/items individually and collating them together in the corresponding drop bag. No wonder it was taking so long! Why this wasn’t done in advance I do not know?!

We then had to re-queue for collection of the T-shirts, and much to our disappointment they had already run out of mens Small and Medium sizes. Again, what is the point of specifying your size only to be restricted when you go to collect? Quite disappointing as I’m sure the inclusion of a T is a factor for many runners to pay the entry costs for races?! Also worth noting that there was still over half a day of the expo to go and hundreds if not thousands of runners still outside queuing.

Come race morning, the trains to the start line were also massively crowded (perhaps more were needed?) and there was a completely insufficient amount of toilets at the starting line (which had an open space that was also too small) for the number of runners.

During the race the on route entertainment was in my opinion quite pathetic. The entertainment being one of the USPs for these Rock ‘N’ Roll events . the bands/DJs were either isolated in areas of no atmosphere or just not performing (I appreciate they can’t be performing non-stop all day, but I did get a sense of a lack of enthusiasm)!

All that, all of my gripes, though are insignificant to an experience a friend had on the half-marathon route – delays experienced in queuing to get to the start, for toilets at the start, and to begin the race meant he didn’t cross the start line until almost an hour after the race was due to start (despite him being on time!). This meant he was running midday in the blistering heat. Many of the water stations he reached had run out of water and runners were having to pick up discarded water bottles from other runners or buy from shops along the way. This is frankly dangerous. I provided my feedback to the organisers and never heard anything back. Regardless of the rest of my experience, I won’t be doing one of these events again that is for sure.

The Atmosphere/Support:

As the route runs from out of town towards, and into, Lisbon, the majority of the route has limited support. The support once entering Lisbon however was great and had a real party vibe.

My Race:

Training wise I was still in good form from the summer’s ultras. I’d recently started using some of the hills around where I live a little more so I didn’t do too much in the sense of long runs. A few additional hill training sessions closer to the event meant I was feeling quite strong.

As James was injured, he decided to not race his usual pace but to enjoy the weekend more in a relaxed way. Think beers and custard tarts the night before the run! He ran a slower race and I was able to stick with him for the first three quarters of the route (despite an urgent need for a toilet stop which I had to then play catch up on). It was like having my own personal pacer which was a great help. We stayed ahead of the 3:15 pacer for the majority of the run, however, after James had left me for dust (around the 20mile mark) the pacer caught up with and passed me. Surprisingly he was alone and had lost the huge gang who’d previously been tracking him.

Approaching the finish line I made the last mad dash as I saw the inflatable finish arch in the distance, hoping to hit the sub 3hr 15 time. Oh how wrong I was, after reaching the arch it turned out to be nothing more than a sponsor’s advertisement and I still had a few hundred meters(3 sides of the Praca do Comercio) to run before reaching the actual finish line. My sprint finish ended up being a finishing wobble. Despite everything, I’d come in with a new PB, a big chunk taken off my previous best from earlier in the year. I was smiling at last.

The goodies:

A wrong size T shirt a banana and a medal that looks like it was the result of a children’s design competition. Can you tell I wasn’t too enthusiastic about the event?

Time/Standings:

3:15:52 (PB)
272 / 4673

SVP100

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai4 Comments

Where & When:

Stour Valley, August 2017

Why I ran this course:

It happened, I was hooked. That feeling, whatever the science is behind it, it had me. Post RTTS I had the craving, I’d sampled something I liked and I wanted more. I wanted it soon. I started looking and I found this local(ish) 100km and didn’t hesitate to sign-up. Race day just 3 weeks away.

The Course:

Starting in New Market and winding south along the Stour Valley path towards Manningtree. Taking in sites such as Newmarket Race Course, Devil’s Dyke and Flatford Mill along the way. The majority of the route was marked (as it is the Stour Valley Path). Some course specific markings helped navigation, though the dry dusty landscape meant these were often difficult to see and missed.

SVP marking — A smiley face to keep you on route!

The Organisation:

On the scale of events, this one felt small. Whereas RTTS had over 5,000 competitors, the SVP100 had under 100. That said, the amount of effort and input to organise such an event is still mammoth undertaking. There is no doubt a greater reliance on support and volunteers to make the event go to plan (which a number of local running teams support). The team did a great job with information, route planning, training guides and support throughout the day.

The Atmosphere/Support:

As experienced before, supporters are few and far between. The volunteers at the checkpoints were so attentive and supportive and again without them this wouldn’t have been possible.

My Race:

There was pretty much no training for this one. I was counting on the fitness I’d built over the past few months and the fact that I’d continued running since RTTS.

SVP start — The start of a long day on the trails.

Once again I met a fellow runner, Andy, on the train out to the starting point. Always good to get talking, share plans and tips with a fellow runner. Andy and I set off together, both with the intention of making a certain train we’d booked back to London later that evening.

SVP dai and nick — Starting out strong with Andy.

I started out with a little niggle in my right knee felt from a run the week before. Whilst I felt comfortable starting the race, within 10 miles I could feel some discomfort as a result of the hard ground and grooves from tractor ruts (there was plenty of ankle rolling this day!). I was slowly becoming accustomed to managing the mental aspect of pains and niggles experienced during running so blocked it out of my mind, chatting away to Andy and other runners met on the day.

SVP tractor rut — One of the many fields and tractor ruts to play havoc with your ankles!

As the miles ticked by, Andy powered on (it was clear he was capable of running at a faster pace and he was focused on catching an earlier train he’d booked). I was now out on my own, head down, miles to go until the next checkpoint. This race was a real learning curve for me. There were long, lonely stretches where I went almost whole check points without seeing other runners, there were other segments where I interchanged places with others, passing each other on several occasions. It dawned on me that I entered the SVP100 with preconceptions. Incorrect expectations even. I had the mind set of “I did the RTTS in 11 and a half hours, I’ll beat that time here”. Wrong. Different race, different place. No two are the same as I was about to find out. I realised that the course was flatter (I think) than the RTTS so without noticing I’d spent more time running and less time walking and recovering. I’d exerted myself more and thus tired sooner. I also didn’t adapt as I ran. One example that came back to hurt me after the race was when I felt some discomfort in my back, something had shifted in my pack and instead of stopping and addressing it, I decided to continue to the next checkpoint to sort it out, some 7 miles later. Mistake, I was in agony for days afterwards and it was only two months later on a holiday that a friend (qualified physio) noticed the lump in my back and massaged it out!

Second Ultra – SVP100 2017

Later in the day I met Chris shortly after the half way checkpoint. Chris had run this race several times before and we settled in together, happy to have some company on the lonely route. We ended up sticking together for the rest of the course, both tiring and relying on each other to get through what was left. Come the final check point the sun was setting and the temperature dropping. we’d slowed to a hobble and decided that we were both happy to walk the final 4 miles (it was probably faster than we were running at this point). All was good. Head torches on we entered some fields, much to our annoyance though we couldn’t get out. Somewhere we’d gone wrong! Walking several lengths of the field we soon managed to back track and get back on course, carrying along towards the river. Further on we could hear some noise up ahead and encountered some local youngsters hanging around on a bridge over the river. We had a choice, left or right (past the youths). They were encouraging us to go right but there were signs for the Stour Valley Path heading left. We didn’t trust them and followed the signs. All good. Wrong yet again! Sometime later we were shocked to see head torches coming towards us in the dark. Yes, we’d followed the path, only we’d followed it in the wrong direction. Great! Lost in the dark again. Needless to say we got some stick as we eventually passed the group on the bridge. Yep, they told us so.

Eventually we reached the finish to a great welcome from the volunteers still working through the night. A shower and some chips later it was time to hug it out with Chris and blag a life back to the station. Lessons learnt. Manage your own expectations in future! I’m sure we’d covered closer to 70 miles with all the wrong turns on the day!

The goodies:

A medal and a Tshirt, both bearing the SVP100 logo – Black Shuck, the ghostly black dog of local folklore. Excellent!

Time/Standings:

13:35:17
28/92

Race To The Stones

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai4 Comments

Where & When:

The Chilterns & North Wessex Downs (UK), July 2017

Why I ran this course:

You know that mate, that same one who’s influenced me for the Nohtaram & Tel Aviv, yep, it was him again. Whilst I was considering attempting an ultra at some point, he suggested we try this non-stop 100km event. Once the idea was in my mind I was sold. He soon bailed on the idea and went to a James concert instead…

The Course:

It was bloody long. Starting in the Chilterns and leading through the North Wessex Downs to Avebury passing noticeable landmarks along the way including Uffington Castle, the White Horse, Barbury Castle and the Avebury Stone Circle itself. It’s hard not to enjoy yourself with such amazing views to absorb…

The Organisation:

Threshold Sports did a brilliant job. So much information leading up to the event, smooth organisation on the day and an abundance of well stocked and supported check points along the route.

The Atmosphere/Support:

You don’t get the same level of support on a spread-out ultra trail as you would on a city marathon and this is one of the many unknowns I had which would be answered on that day. That being sad, all the volunteers at the checkpoints were a huge help and massive support. So much energy and enthusiasm in ensuring you were rested, fed, watered, injuries seen too and stocked on food ready to continue. Each checkpoint having its own unique vibe and approach to positivity. The event would not be the same with out them. The smiles, acknowledgements and support of the walkers and hikers out on the trail were also appreciated.

My Race:

I loosely stuck to the training plan that Threshold Sports provided and slowly began getting used to running consecutive days, running when tired and exhausting the muscles. Admittedly I struggled with adapting to longer, slower runs but was able to start running with others to break up the tedium of long and lonely runs.

Being too tight to book accommodation before and after the event, I set out from home at 2am on the morning of the race, getting the London-Oxford tube at 4am. On the bus I met two other fellow runners (Will doing the 50km and Alison doing the 100km over 2 days). Come our wave, we set off together falling into a rhythm for several miles before myself and Will carried on in a larger group. Reaching the first check point (and each one there after) we were like kids in a candy shop. there was food everywhere. Everything you could ever crave. It was hard not to enjoy watching the process of litres and litres of flat coke being made by kids pouring bottles into builders buckets.

As we kept on running, getting to know one another (and the other runners around us) I soon found out Will was training for the MDS in 2018 and this would not only be his first ultra but the first time he’d even done a marathon. We stuck with each other, providing company to the half way point before we separated and I carried on for the last half (after stocking up on Pasta and the base camp!).

RTTS Will — Time to go our separate ways

I’d read so much about Ultras, what to expect etc. and decided to bring with me a change of t-shirt and socks to freshen up at some point. I stopped at the 7th Checkpoint for an extended rest with the promise of the change of clothes. My word did that work! After struggling to get out of my socks and T shirt, the feel of clean, dry and fresh smelling clothes was a welcome relief (there was some rain earlier in the day). I felt empowered to carry on.

RTTS field — The ‘Golden Field’ from earlier in the race.

Not far from the final check point my Garmin started flashing the warning of Low Battery, so I stopped the tracker there and then, only to find out I still had 11% battery remaining. Doh. Something to test out before the next long run (yep, long runs are now considered more than a marathon!)! Throughout the day I’d been informed of the final stretch of the course, Spoiler Alert – you run past the turn for the finish, carry on down the road, loop through the stones for a photo opportunity before back tracking up the road and turning into the farm land for the final stretch. Like probably every runner who has reached that point, I couldn’t give a shit about the stones at that stage but hobbled on and puffed out the chest for the photo opportunity.

RTTS stones

Crossing the line with a smile on my face, it was done, I was now an ultra runner. A very tired one. The next was to negotiate a change of shuttle bus back to Oxford, I’d booked the last bus for 2am and it was now just 8:30pm. Result! thankfully this wasn’t a challenge and, several bus rides and 24 hours after setting off, I was back home and ready for some well earned rest.

RTTS finish

The goodies:

An abundance of food along the way and a medal and some food / beer at the end. You don’t get much more than that although the free photos linked to social media was a nice touch.

Time/Standings:

11:27:10 (PB)
81/963

Paris Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

Where & When:

Paris, 2017. Do I need to write anything about it? It’s Paris!

Why I ran this course:

I was on a roll at this point, Bagan to Tel-Aviv, the fitness and conditioning was there. In the past I’d become lazy and stopped running following a race. I had a chance here to keep going, so before Tel-Aviv was run I’d signed up to another. Why Paris? A best friend (and at that time house-mate) Bobby had signed up to Paris as his first marathon so the incentive was to be a familiar face and supporter along the journey.

We both knew a few others who’d be out there running too (a colleague, James, in my case).

The Course:

Through the heart of Paris, taking in the sights of….Paris. C’mon. Don’t make me have to describe this one. There’s that big thing on the route. Y’know, the thing that looks like the Blackpool Tower. People keep talking about the cobbles. I don’t remember the cobbles!

The Organisation:

As expected for such a major race, with tens of thousands of participants this was a huge undertaking that, for the best part, ran smoothly and efficiently. Some over-crowding was encountered at the race expo and the race itself but this is probably unavoidable with so many runners involved. It’s a fairly pricey marathon but you do benefit from various free social media and other interactive benefits along the way, if you are into that sort of thing. If you are thinking about Paris, do be aware of the requirements to provide a medical certificate for races in France! You could easily miss it in the regulations if you don’t pay attention (I almost did).

The Atmosphere/Support:

Generally good. A big turn out from the city and excellent support from the the main sports partner Asics who had various cheer zones and other ‘fun’ bits along the route.

My Race:

I’m writing this a good few months after the race (can you tell?) and I don’t really remember much about it to be honest. I certainly don’t remember the training. I do know my belly was pretty bloated around this time though. I’ve never really worked on the nutritional side of running. I kinda of ignorantly eat whatever I want as I’m ‘burning it off’. I know that’s not the case though. Either way, that’s my main memory. I had a big belly. The other memory is not being able to figure out the sofa-bed and waking up in the morning underneath it.

As I’d entered with a 3:30 expected finish time I was able to set off in one of the earlier pace groups and so was fortunate to have a pretty un-congested run. With wide streets for most of the course I was uninhibited and able to settle into a strong pace from the start, taking in the sites and landmarks as I progressed. Pushing myself towards the finish I was confident in breaking my PB from Myanmar 5 months earlier. When I came to the finish, James was already there. We grabbed a photo and went off for the most ridiculously expensive sandwich and milkshake on the Champs-Élysées. Screw you Paris!

Later on I met up with Bobby at the finish line and we went off to grab a beer, in a bookies. That’s more like it.

The goodies:

T-shirts, Medals, supplies of sports nutrition and a handy pack-able bag. Discounts and offers in local bars and restaurants when displaying a finishers medal was also a nice touch.

Time/Standings:

3:23:12 (PB) 3988
3988 / 42469

Tel-Aviv Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 12, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

tel aviv why i run — Tel-Aviv was primed for the weekend.

Where & When:

Tel-Aviv, Israel, February ’17

I’d heard a lot of positive things about Tel-Aviv from friends. It certainly lived up to expectations. Something that I really felt straight away was safe and welcomed. Everyone was so friendly. There was a good vibe in the city for marathon weekend. You could sense it was a big day for the city and those keen runners!

Why I ran this course:

Remember that friend who talked me into the Nohtaram? Yep, it was him again. In training for his Iron Man 70.3 he was heading to Israel with his Wife and was going to do the Tel Aviv marathon. So I tagged along. I like going on other people’s holidays with them.

The Course:

Starting in the Hayarkon park and heading up the coast to Tsukei Aviv before turning back and along the sea front and down the Marina towards Jaffa Old town. The route then ran back up through the heart of Tel-Aviv and the city centre before finishing back in Hayarkon park. Mostly flat and scenic along the coast.

tel aviv route — Part of the beautiful coast line the route would take.

The Organisation:

Pretty good. A standalone marathon race, the pre-race exhibition, pack collection and morning of the race was all straightforward and hassle-free. There was an abundance of free food and drink available at the finish line which was very much welcomed. A little shitty that you have to pay for the bag storage at the start though! Unsurprisingly locals just throw old clothes away in the park.

The Atmosphere/Support:

A good turn out from the city with lots of enthusiastic support along the route. It gave the day a good atmosphere.

My Race:

Thankfully I was still pretty much in condition from Bagan so training was pretty minimal this time. Come the morning of the race we walked the 6km or so to the starting point. An unnecessary warm up really! We decided to run together, this being Daryl’s first official marathon. Entering the marina area after about 13km, you start to feel the vibes from the city and it was good to receive some early support from Daryl’s patient wife Brigita.

The route was lit up with runners in the race T!

We carried on and I felt pretty comfortable as we chatted along most of the first part of the race towards Jaffa. I was keeping an aye on the pace (I had a watch now!!) and we were on course for a 3:30 finish providing we maintained the momentum we had. As the half marathon and 10km races started to merge onto the route (I think around the 30km mar) it did start to get very busy on the route and congested in parts. We got separated in the crowd and I decided to carry on with that aim of hitting 3:30.

A final high-five and cheer from Brigita as I entered the park area made me realise the end was near.

A sprint finish saw me coming in just in time. I needed to sprint as I’d forgotten about the 0.2 mile at the end. You think I’d be familiar with the distance by now wouldn’t you! Daryl wasn’t far behind.

New Watch, new finish line priorities 😉

A strong finish time for a first attempt!

Done.

The goodies:

Pretty damn good in my eyes! Besides the now expected free T-shirt, medal and local product samples, there was a re-usable water bottle and a sports micro-fiber towel all included in a colorful drawstring bag. Good job Adidas!

Time/Standings:

3:29:12
257/2085

Bagan Temple Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

Where & When:

Bagan, Myanmar, November 2016.

Breathtaking. the local communities, the food and all the mysteries of Myanmar (the parts I was able to visit) and the the town of Bagan kept blowing my mind. You know those places you go where you are speechless and think its the best thing ever, then the next day you get the same feeling again and the day after, its one of those places. Bagan itself is littered, no that sounds wrong, blessed with thousands of unique temples providing visitors with a truly enriching experience.

Why I ran this course:

I had an itch. I scratched it. It had been about 18 months since the Kili marathon and I was coasting in life, no real challenge or adventures of note. It needed to change. I needed to fill the void so started looking for another marathon and thinking about the other continents on my list. Google led me to stumble across the Bagan Temple Marathon website and as soon as I saw the pictures I was sold. There was no changing my mind after seeing those pictures of thousands of temples and the mysteries that awaited in Myanmar. Google it now and plan your trip!

The Course:

Truly a feast for the eyes. I genuinely have no idea where I was at any one time as the course seemed to wind its way through various roads, paths, dirt tracks and sandy areas through and around Bagan. Like the pictures led me to believe, there were temples everywhere! Big ones, small ones, ~~some as big as your head~~ and some massive structures which I cannot even begin to comprehend how they were built. I must admit, although fairly flat, there was far more sandy stretches than I anticipated and these could be felt in the legs throughout the run.

The Organisation:

I was initially a little put off and irritated that, as part of signing up for the race you have to register on one of the fully supported excursion packages. I like to consider myself an independent traveler and I wasn’t not keen on the idea of paying someone else to book trips and hotels that wouldn’t normally appeal to me. I must say though, Albatros Adventures were fantastic. Every little detail was accounted for and the trip went as smoothly as it could. I was so thankful for the trips and excursions to sites and locations I wouldn’t have otherwise seen and I made some great friends through the trip. Race day was also perfect with excellent organisation and a superb ‘pasta party’ and post race ‘celebration evening’. I wouldn’t hesitate to sign up to run of the other races they run across the globe.

bagan the gang — This was the first time running became something more for me. Friendships and community.

The Atmosphere/Support:

Another smaller race meant the support is pretty much non existent for this race. However, given the surroundings it isn’t something I even noticed whilst running! You don’t go to Burma for the cheers and cow bells!

My Race:

I’ll fast forward through the training, you know how it goes by now. I stuck to what I already knew was a tried and tested approach for me. The morning of the race saw runners from the hotel shuttled for an early start beginning outside the Htilominlo Temple.

bagan before — It was too dark to get a decent photo of the temple, so have a standard pre-run pose instead.

Within 30 minutes of beginning the sun started to rise and tens of hot air balloons started to take to the sky. Its not often I’m looking upwards whilst running!

I again chose to run with my own water in a hydration pack given the relatively low number of water stops available. Definitely a wise decision as temperatures soon reached over 30 degrees C. About 13km in I caught up with my room mate who was running the half marathon race, I was a little envious at this point as the sweat was becoming relentless! Soon after the course turned onto some dirt and sand tracks. I wasn’t prepared, nor experienced, for running on sand and to my surprise there was rather a lot in Bagan. I found this tough, very tough. I felt I was running quite strong though and, using my trusty Casio F-91W was constantly calculating my average pace and expected finish time. I felt I was on course for a sub 3:30 finish time and kept pushing. After about 30km though I accepted this time was gone as I started to slow and feel the effects of running on the sand. Since seeing my room mate I’d spent most of the run on my own and the isolation was also getting to me a little. As I reached the 40km point I caught up with another runner (it had been sometime since I last saw one!) and I decided to settle in behind him at a more comfortable pace and keep pushing for a PB time. To my surprise and confusion though, the finish line soon loomed up ahead and we both chased down the end. I later realised I’d been calculating my finish based on a 44km distance. I have no idea why. It did keep my mind occupied though with the calculations. I decided I’d invest in a sports watch (Garmin F235) as a result of my cock up when I get back to the UK!

bagan — Back to where it began, only now with a medal.

The goodies:

A nice T-shirt, a medal and a ridiculous amount of food and drink the whole week.

Time/Standings:

3:28:56 (PB)
6/100

Kilimanjaro Marathon

Published on January 26, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai2 Comments

Where & When:

Moshi, Tanzania, March 2015.

Moshi, “The gateway to the Kilimanjaro National Park“. How’s that for a strap line!

kili sign

Why I ran this course:

I’d somehow gatecrashed a friends holiday! The plan was to trek up to the summit of Kilimanjaro. After some planning over Christmas we knew what we wanted. Then I found out (about 6 weeks prior to the trip) that there was a Marathon in Moshi the week we were visiting, well, the plans just had to change!

The Course:

Starting at the stadium in Moshi, the route begins with heading out (for about 8km) along the road to Dar Es Salaam before looping back (passing the hotel were we were staying) along the road into the town (this was fairly flat with some undulating). Passing through the town the course headed gradually uphill towards Mweka with the mountain in the background. Correction, the mountain was the background!

The route passes through farms, villages, coffee and banana plantations. Turning around at about 32km, the final stretch gradually led down hill back to the start, finishing in Moshi stadium where it all began. Throughout the majority of the route, Mt Kilimanjaro stands ever present in the background providing a surreal visual to run with (it is the highest free standing mountain in the world after all!).

The Organisation:

Basic but effective. No intermediaries required, you can book the race and everything you need directly with the organisers. The registration at the event was simple, collect your race bib and check the route. Done. The event is IAAF accredited and also counts towards qualification for the Comrades. Besides the marathon there are half, 10km, 5km and wheelchair events. On the day bag storage is freely available.

Registration was short & easy

This is my nervous face

The Atmosphere/Support:

For such a small race (there were approximately 300 participants in 2015, the majority of whom were Kenyan or Tanzanians that made up 58 of the first 60 finishers!), the support was fantastic. The locals all come out to celebrate the event, clapping and cheering along the route. Children in local schools and orphanages going wild at the sight of runners sweating it out in the sun.

As we explored the town and registration center the locals were so friendly and chatty (and besotted with Kate and Sarah!). Each time someone found out that I’d be running the marathon, it was met with cries of “who, you are?!” and laughter. A real confidence booster! They had only one request, beat the Kenyans! They were betting on the wrong runner.

My Race:

My training was pretty much the same as it was for the London Marathon. I just had much less time. By now I was living in Crystal Palace and exploring different areas on my training runs. It was quite weird when I started to recognise roads I’d run on years before when training. Training went well with no issues or concerns. I was off to Tanzania. My only worry, 3 days of safari and camping might not be the best prep for a marathon! It’s a tough life.

The even before the race we rocked up in Moshi, collected my bib and chilled out by the pool. After a few days of eating packed-lunches and camp meals I was ready for some pasta and carb loading. the “Pasta with red sauce” ordered at the hotel though turned out to be some curry concoction. Oh well, I need those carbs! That evening I tried again with the “Pasta with white sauce” and to my delight, I had the same meal as earlier. Brilliant. double curry before a race, great start.

The hotel was providing a breakfast and a shuttle bus into Moshi for the marathon, I understood the bus to be leaving at 5am but inquired at reception to confirm. There was some confusion, although I was confident that I was right and wouldn’t miss out as a result of the breakfast gathering. A few hours later though I was woken up by the receptionist to confirm it was indeed a 5am departure. Great, double curry and a disrupted sleep. This was going well…

kili start — As the darkness lifted, runners gathered ready for the start

Being unsure of the water situation in Moshi I decided to run with my camel back. I was so glad to have my own water supply as the temperature was hot (around 33 degrees C) despite the early (6am) start. With so few runners, there were long stretches, particularly after leaving Moshi and heading up towards Mweka, when I was running on my own. At times, coupled with the long straight roads, this was a mental challenge I’d not previously experienced. The path through the Banana plantation (about 3km i think) was another challenge as, despite being beautiful, it was off road and like running through a building site! Along the final descent, I was joined by a group of 5 or so young children who came out of nowhere, holding my hands and running with me for about 5km. This was rather special and honestly I was struggling to keep pace with them in their jeans and flipflops!). I kept going though as I realised I had a shot at a sub 4hr time if I could maintain the pace. Coming into the stadium the town was bustling and you had to weave through locals going about the business. A small crowd seated in the stadium cheered home each runner. That was a nice touch!

The goodies:

A medal and a single size (large but more like gigantic) cotton t-shirt which sadly didn’t last long.

Time/Standings:

3:59:01
111/313

London Marathon 2013

Published on January 23, 2018February 1, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

Where it all began – My first marathon.

Where & When:

London, 2013. The place I’ve come to call home. A place I’d hardly explored.

Why I ran this course:

This was the start of my running journey. A friend and I had previously agreed to sign up to the ballot back in 2008. 5 years later, thanks to Virgin honoring the final year of Flora’s “guaranteed entry on the 5th attempt” I obtained a place in the ballot.

The Course:

This one needs no explanation. The historical course runs from Greenwich through London and finishing up on the Mall.

The Organisation:

Smooth. For such a large event, the organisation really is flawless. From registration, through to race pack collection at the race Exhibition, to the race Village at the start, and post race ceremonies you have everything you could possibly need.

The Atmosphere/Support:

Without doubt the best I’ve ever experienced. After all the lonely training runs, the buzz from the crowd really helps you to run with a smile on your face. A huge number of supporter zones, entertainment along the way and the masses of general public make the atmosphere and incredible experience that will last in your memories.

The goodies:

Medals, bags, T-shirts and all sorts of edible treats!

My Race:

this was my first time training for a race. I looked at some training plans but didn’t really feel them. So I decided to do only thing I knew to do – lace up my trainers and start running. I’d recently bought some cheap new Asics in the Christmas sales and decided to do a few short runs in the week, one long run on the weekend, gradually upping the distances each week. Nothing more. A few weeks in I was feeling some pain in my Achilles and went to see a physio. A gait analysis and some investigation later and I was advised to get some support trainers. So much for the cheap start. I opted for some Brooks Ravennas and the rest of my training went as planned. Dull.

Race day came around and I was quite intimidated with circa 40,000 runners penned up and setting out from the race village. As the 3 starting routes merge it can be quite congested and I spent a lot of time looking at the floor to avoid tripping on runner debris and obstacles in the road. Coupled with the amazing support and constantly looking out for people I might know, it wasn’t until about mile 17 that I really thought about what I was actually doing. I was able to sustain a fairly consistent pace throughout the run, and powered through two bouts of cramp in my calves around miles 21 and 23. A big highlight was the sloppy Vaseline high five I got from one volunteer around mile 19, certainly appreciated by my nipples at that point!

Having gained a ballot entry, I signed up to raise money for MacMillan Cancer Support. The support from the team leading up to, during and after the race was a huge boost and assistance in me completing that first marathon!

Time/Standings:

3:36:48 (PB)

5819 / 34280

London Burger Run Jan 2018

Published on January 22, 2018February 7, 2018 by runwithdai1 Comment

Burger Run Team — A great turn out of enthusiastic and passionate runners!

I first came across this group after seeing some posts on Instagram. I for one happen to enjoy a good burger (who doesn’t?) and the thought of combining it with a run (a substantial 13 miler at that!) certainly caught my attention.

From what I gathered, this was an open invite to whoever was interested, but that a core group of friends, who met through Instagram, were always in attendance. Whilst running the ‘Big End of Year Run’ (LINK) I recognised a face from Instagram and it turned out that Tommy was the brains behind the Burger Run. I promised to join the next run there and then. Two week later and it was burger run time!

I’d convinced Alex to join me, knowing he has a taste for calorific food (Sometime I’ll tell you about his Pizza escapades) and I rocked up at Hyde Park corner early on the Saturday morning. As I’m walking into the park I meet Mel and we do the whole ‘are you looking at me looking at you wondering if you’re dressed in running kit to go get a burger’ kinda thing before introducing ourselves and walking to the meeting location. There were a group of runners already inside the café and we go in and begin more introductions. Mel knew a few people from previous runs she’d attended, whilst I instantly recognised another face from Instagram – Em – who I’d briefly chatted too after one of her posts led to me signing up to the Brecon Beacons Ultra Trail later that year. Alex soon appeared and some more connections were made. I also met Bex who I’d come to know through the Never Stop London training sessions and we both did the “what are you doing here?” thing (there’s a lot of ‘things’ in running I’m starting to realise as I discover how close-knit the community actually is when you break away from being a lone-runner).

XIAOYI — Some landmark passed on the way

Tommy ushered everyone outside, gave a little speech and explained how the run was going to go down. Basically different pacer groups with two pacers familiar with the route. Go where you feel comfortable enjoy it, don’t get run over and see you at the burger joint. One of the pacers (Dana) led us through a quick little warm up and off we went.

On this occasion the route saw us loop through Hyde Park and Regents Park before joining up to the canal path which we’d pretty much follow then past Victoria Park and Mile end towards Limehouse. From there we would loop back along to Tower Bridge and the end point, this time GBK.

XIAOYI

Alex and I joined the 9:30 – 10:00 mile pace group. We were a group of about 10 people and most of the run was spent interchanging and chatting away with each other, getting to know each person’s interests and backgrounds and running stories. Despite the time and distance there were certainly a few people I didn’t spend much time saying hello too and something I’d have to rectify next time. Interestingly there was one woman who had joined us in Hyde Park as she was running, she tagged along and left us at Victoria Park. I liked that. It showed how open and accommodating the group is.

We’d stop from time to time to regroup and to make sure everyone was hydrated and fuelling their runs. My snack choices this time were nuts and biscuit combos, fruit winders, dried pineapple and some Babybels. Cheese on a run is something I’m a big advocate of. When you can’t handle any more of the sweetness and you need something salty….cheese it up!

XIAOYI

As we were winding through Tower Bridge and ending up at London Bridge, I agreed to run a few miles extra with Tasha who was looking to get a 16 mile long run complete in preparation for her place at the Tokyo Marathon. So jealous. As we left the others to walk to the restaurant, we continued, slaloming our way through the Saturday tourists along the Southbank. We nipped across Millennium bridge and looped back over London Bridge at which point we noticed our last two miles were at a faster (near 9 min mile) pace. Dodging tourists is good training!

When we got to the restaurant, there was no one there. Something was wrong. It turns out that we’d (the whole pace group) had led ourselves to the wrong GBK and we should have been at Tower Bridge. Doh, those extra miles could have been achieved running back to Tower Bridge rather than further away. The short walk back felt so much further than it was. Rocking up at the restaurant we were joined by the last pace group and several other friends from the group who couldn’t run on that occasion.

Another thoroughly enjoyable day, getting over the insecurities of meeting people, putting myself into social situations I’m not always comfortable with (I prefer smaller groups) and putting so many names to faces recognised from the internet. I’d recommend the run to anyone and will certainly be back for more next time!