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!