Palace Half Marathon - Race report

Who would be so shallow as to be persuaded to enter a race pretty much only because of a huge medal, in the shape of Henry VIII doing a mo-bot?  6 Running Sisters.....

This was the first Palace Half - multi terrain and all within the parkland surrounding Hampton Court.  9am start would normally be challenging, allowing for travel time, but this race was scheduled for the day the clocks change:

• 9am clock, 8am body clock start
• 7:30am clock, 6:30am body clock get to Hampton Court & park car
• 6am clock, 5am body clock, pick up Clare, Dee & Debbie from Fair Oak

and I am so not a morning person!  

To be honest, I was worrying more about getting there on time than I was running 13 miles - so it was a relief that there was no traffic (and why would there be at that time on a Sunday?) and that it was easy to find & park.  We scrabbled to get coins together for parking (I hadn't thought of that) & walked across a park to get to the palace in drizzle & high winds.

First loo queue in the cafe (not too bad) then walked to the start through a beautiful informal spring garden with daffs and blossom. We bumped into Sam & Sue L - and with supporters Sharon and Sam's family.  We also found Dee's son Matthew who was running - and persuaded him to be in some of the photos with us.  There were not so many people (2,465) that we couldn't find each other - but enough for a weirdly slow moving queue for the bag drop and portaloos.   We got to the start (back in front of the palace) just before the start.

The route took us out of the main gates & for just a few yards of pavement before turning up a path by the river which we followed for the first few miles.  Clare & I were just a tad ahead of Sam, Dee and Sue.  Debbie was a little behind them.  A few runners had themed fancy dress - we saw a knight and two tudor ladies.

It was a very flat track with views across the river to houseboats & prime real estate.  When we reached a road, there was a tiny slope up before turning into Home Park which started looking more like a common before we got to zig zag around more formal bits closer to the palace.  The wind was more of an issue here - but the rain seemed to have eased off.  

One section of deep gravel was seriously hard work, making our way to the front of the palace for lap 2 - compensation was high fiving Henry VIII (didn't see that in Wolf Hall).

Lap 2 started out the same along the river.  Clare spotted bunnies, but I had too much sweat in my eyes to see! Back into the park for a different route to lap 1 - lots of grass around big straight ponds (Longwater Avenue).  Clare sensibly left me as I slowed and slowed, finding the wet grass tough going.

I felt very weary at the end - and felt quite emotional on seeing Sharon with her camera at the finish.  Sam, Sue and Dee came in just afterwards - Sue's first ever half.  Clare headed straight off again as she had miles to complete for her London marathon training - I am in awe!  Especially as she found Debbie (also first ever half) and kept her company on the last section.

Huge medals really did not disappoint (favourite comment on FB from Jo C - "It's not a medal it's a pub sign").  Tech t-shirts, plenty of water & some fruit - but I was craving Clare's flapjacks.   

Photos with Henry VIII - an unexpected bonus - although given that there were 6 of us, I did wonder if we were safe from marriage...

The organisers had encouraged people to bring picnics - but it really wasn't the right weather for sitting out.  Debbie treated us to hot drinks at the cafe & we had some food in the car (including the flapjacks) before an easy drive home.

Thanks so much to Sharon for the photos and to Sam's family for supporting us.

As an event, I was very impressed.  Historic and fabulous venue, it was well thought through as a route and it was so good to be away from traffic.  The only things I could niggle about were very minor (queue for bag droop, some carbs (e.g. cake!) at the end would have been welcome, hated the gravel) - but if it as good next year, I can recommend it highly.  

Clare 2:26:18

Debbie 2:46:30 - first ever so a PB

Dee 2:28:17

Gin 2:27:32

Sam 2:28:18

Sue 2:28:13 - first ever so a PB

And Matt's time was 1:31:43.....

Many thanks to Sharon for these fabulous photos.

Eastleigh 10K 2015

By the bike shed

I can’t remember when I first ran this race – but it has been a key date in my calendar for a few years now.  

I think it’s one of the best local 10Ks for newbies as it is flat (apart from the hill), it’s known territory for those of us who run the mean streets of Eastleigh regularly and supporters get at least 3 opportunities to see us hurtle™ by.

Couple of changes this year – the t-shirts are now technical fabric (good), with Clare W & 

Karen I  found some almost queue-less loos  (good) but the fruit cake at the end has been replaced with a jaffa cake (not good).  Weather was mild & sunny without getting hot (good) and there was enough water at the end (v.good) - unlike last year.  Start time was technically 1 hour earlier - but as this race has previously fallen on the day the clocks change, not really different this year. 

Meeting up by the bike sheds beforehand, it was great to see so many Running Sisters - 30 I think.  Photo, then off to the start. 

I like to start towards the back but Lou didn’t look impressed.  Got irritated by PA describing us as the more “leisurely runners” – we may not all be fast, but leisurely we are not!

I opted to run with Rachel B who was aiming to do something around 63ish minutes – I’d already written off a sub 60 as my training has been curtailed recently by glutes issues.   We messed up our pacing big time though, doing the first 1K way too fast & then paying the price later.

It was good to hear a runner complain about the presence of the hill on a race advertised as flat – it’s a universal constant.  Tried to reassure her that it would be over soon with a lovely long gradual down.  

Admired the daffs on the verges of Passfield Avenue.  6K water pause.  Derby Road always feels tough, but then it’s onto familiar territory on Desborough and Chestnut.  We played cat & mouse with 2 blokes who we kept overtaking.  

The marshals have a tough job with this race as the roads are closed - which means that they have to keep impatient motorists at bay.  

Back onto Passfield & then through the park.  It was fantastic to see and hear a crowd of Running Sisters as we neared the finish – and we joined them to pass on the favour to those still running.

Kathryn S was the final Sister over the line – her first ever 10K!  I know that Denise, Sue W & Tabatha all achieved  PBs.  

Many thanks to Lindsay, Laurel, Laura, Becky & Sharon for fantastic (and noisy) support & photos (all on this post are Sharon's).  And to Jeff for bringing our flag along.

All the race needs is a medal, fruit cake & it’d be my favourite 10k!

Results:

Astrid Mangel 70:14

Becky Yorke 59:23

Bridget Wells 61:54

Caroline Vasili 61:31

Catherine Curtice 80:16
Chrissie Wall 65:10

Clare World 53:20

Claire Wilson 67:33

Debbie Harvey 68:44

Dee Atyeo 64:15

Denise Hughes 59:20
Gabby O'Brien 48:56

Gin Tidridge 63:49

Glenna Greenslade 63:27

Jo Culpin 57:08
Karen Bolton 53:40

Kathryn Smith 83:29

Lisa Graham 49:06

Louise Hillier-Wheal 56:37

Maria Oinn 57:12

Nikki Skeats 60:08

Pauline Herd 56:18
Rachael Ingram 63:10

Rachel Bradley 63:49

Sam Radford 64:16

Sue Leith 60:38

Sue Wilton 54:40

Tabatha McCormick 48:46

Tina Blackburn 62:16

Wendy Wynne 61:55

2015 training weekend

Saturday morning run

I think this was my 4^th Training Weekend – and possibly the best so far.  Don’t let the word “training” put you off as it’s a case of doing as much or as little as you want.  We actually had 2 women join us who don’t currently run much as well as Liz from Lordshill.

So, the downsides first to get them out of the way.  I don’t think anyone would describe the bedrooms & bunks as luxurious. I have long, thick hair and now don’t bother trying to wash it in the showers which are not exactly powershowers.  Dry shampoo & ear plugs are on my packing list.  Washing up is necessary – but a rota shares the chore.  And no wifi!

And everything else was fabulous.  First run was led by Pat on Friday afternoon – I arrived just as the runners were coming back.  Found my bunk, cup of tea & the first bit of cake. 

2 women from Alexandra Sports gave a talk mostly on sports bras.  Apparently these should be changed when you buy new running shoes as opposed to when your thumb goes through the very worn fabric.  And allegedly, it is worth getting your gait analysed more than once every 15 years.  Who knew? Discount on the kit they brought along was appreciated.  

This year, we had a badge making machine - the outputs really helped to keep track of who was who.  Helen became queen of the machine, with much glee.

Dinner, a couple of beers & bed.

We were up early for the 7:30am run, joined by Lou & Claire D who were with us just for Saturday.  6Kish on a clear morning across open forest by Lyndhurst, passing some over excited cows on the way back – difficult to beat. 

Porridge, then the day’s activities.  I started with yoga, but ducked out of the (apparently v.good) speed/agility session in favour of a sports massage.  The yoga instructor targeted runners’ requirements well.  Self defence next – choi martial arts moves combined with excellent advice on how to get out safely from sticky situations.

After lunch, a small group of us headed out to combine a bike ride with putting out the signs for Sunday’s run – really impressed with Donna doing so well on a little folding bike as we covered about 18km. 

When we got back, it was straight into this year’s surprise activity – hula hooping.  Amazed that I managed to do this following a very frustrating few minutes & Vicky giving me some much needed coaching.   

After dinner, we had a competition to select a team to act as ambassadors for the club, demonstrating deep knowledge of running, running culture and social skills.  The teams also had their fashion creativity tested as they made ball gowns….

Sunday – porridge and then the long run through the Forest.  Most of us did somewhere between 5K & 8 miles – supported by Karen whisking past on a bike.  It’s done as a “there & back” – runners decide on their own distance & it’s unusual for anyone to end up alone for too long.  Very relieved that nobody got lost – the signs worked!  Not sunny & a bit grey – but it stayed dry.

Sunday Run

I went around the course again on my bike to retrieve the signs – and got back in time for lunch (jackets with lots of filling options), more tea, more cake.

It always surprises me how smoothly we seem to clean & clear out of Foxlease.  The washing up rota squad did an amazing job – as did so many others with the hoover & brooms.  We came very close to leaving Sue L without any trousers (she was having a sports massage & they were being considered as lost property) but I managed to steal her Garmin by mistake.

Home, tired, have already put next year’s in the diary!  Thanks to Sue W, Pat, Lynne, Tanya and Karen who made it happen and to all of you who came who made It so good.