No 'I' in team

Running is a team sport - it’s a community, it has moved a long way from being a solo sport! The Speed of Light adds weight to this statement. On Monday evening we returned to Arthur’s seat, well where else would we go on a Monday! Up on the hill we bumped into Kristi and Paul, who were out running one of their colours. Once again we opted for running both our colours without the choreography and working on our fitness as a priority. For a change this summer it was a lovely evening for running.

This month I have been on a mission – my aim – to run every day in July, at least 3 miles or 25 minutes. Those of you who signed up for the Marcothon for the last two Decembers will be familiar with the concept. The Marcothon challenge was set up by Utlra runner Debbie Martin Cosani after her husband Marco challenged himself to run every day in November 2009.  Debbie then followed it by running every day in December 2009.  Debbie posted the challenge in various social networks and running forums and before she knew it there was a group of runners equally eager to take up the challenge. I found the experience last December got my fitness levels up, so for the Speed of light I challenged myself to my very own Jammython – run 3miles or for 25 minutes every day in July.

In December the toughest week was the third week so I was expecting this week to be the most difficult. True to form that’s how it turned out. Wednesday and Thursday were particularly difficult to get my tired legs out for a run. But we got there! It’s times like these that your fellow runners get you out and running, whether it’s the company or not wanting to let someone down you find the inspiration or motivation to get out there and do it.

On Saturday, Moira ran her 51^st parkrun resplendent in her coveted red 50^th parkrun running top. No PB for this run but it felt good running in my new top. John took his place in the Strathclyde parkrun ‘Dream team’ competing in the Clyde Stride Relay race. The Clyde Stride is an ultra-marathon running along the Clyde walkway from Glasgow to New Lanark a distance of some 40 miles. The dream team were Pat Smith, Neil Robbins and Anthony Butler and me. The plan was to meet up at Strathclyde Park at 8:00 am and head off to Partick in Glasgow. Neil, however, stayed behind to set-up ‘his parkrun’. It therefore fell to Moira to make sure Neil got to the changeover point on time. We felt a little unprepared as we headed into Glasgow for the 9:00 am start. We just had time to pick up our numbers, have a quick chat with familiar faces including Gavin (Sweatshop) and Helen (Falkirk parkrun Heartbreakers) and attend the pre-race briefing and before too long it was time for Pat to head off.

Once seeing Pat off, Anthony and I made our way to Cumbuslang Bridge for the first changeover point. Contrary to Anthony’s blog ( Blog) we arrived with no detours, perfectly navigated and in plenty of time. The wait for Pat was agonising – I just wanted to get my leg underway. All too soon I got my wish and I was on my way – leg 2 of the Clyde Stride, destination Strathclyde Park. I had opted for my Trail shoes and it was an inspired choice as the terrain was mainly off-road. 

Fortunately, there wasn’t any scope for overtaking between mile one and mile three allowing me to warm-up slowly and ease my way into my leg. By mile four I was running strongly and continued to feel strong all the way to Strathclyde Park. I had a few wrong turns but got back on course pretty quickly. As I ran into Strathclyde Park it was great to see the parkrun regulars there to give a rousing reception. Moira, Ross, Ian, Jon, Neil, Pat and Anthony were all there. Neil didn’t waste time and was quickly off the mark as soon as I reached the changeover point.

For the rest of the day I could relax and just enjoy the spectacle and that’s what I did. Moira, Pat, Anthony and I made our way to the next changeover point. Maudslie Bridge was packed with runners and support crew. Neil appeared and we now had something to hold onto, 3^rd place. Anthony set off on the glory leg in with a chance but he would need to be at his best. This was the time when the support would be vital so the support team stopped off at Crossford Bridge to cheer Anthony there, we then caught up with him again at Kirkfieldbank. Unfortunately this was at a cost, we got held up in traffic in Lanark and arrived just in time to see Anthony finish in the distance – he’d done it we were third.

It was great to be placed in a race and even better to receive a trophy for our efforts. It wasn’t exactly expected but very welcome and we probably milked it a bit too much (you don’t say!!!!! Moira).  It was a happy team that arrived back at Strathclyde Park already planning next years race.

On Sunday, in a change to the plan, Moira and John returned to the bikes and managed an impressive 22 miles. This of course, meant that I had not done the planned long run and had to fit in a quick 4 mile run in the evening, so the Jammython is still on with one week to go!

Time to get serious!

It’s time to get serious, Monday saw us return to Arthur’s seat for the first of the runleader’s extra training session in a concerted bid to practice the choreography. It’s all very well going out on the hill and learning your routes, it’s a completely different ball game leading runners through a session packed with choreography. For a runner Speed of light is about distance and time but not in the usual sense – we have got to be in the right place at the right time to nail the choreography. The variables are runner’s ability and the terrain, so instead of losing yourself in your running you find you have to concentrate for the full session and be very aware of your surroundings.

The underfoot conditions were tricky to say the least with some of the descents hair-raising. As always with the best intentions in the world it takes a lot longer to run through a section when you have several run leaders involved, debates about what this or that means. Thankfully we are getting closer to ‘all singing from the same Hymn Sheet’.  There is definitely a togetherness building up between the run leaders that has evolved over the last six months.

With August just around the corner our training has gone up a notch, our mileage in July has already surpassed June’s total mileage. This is partly due to my return from injury but also the focus switching to the Speed of Light. The injury nightmare gave me time to think and assess what’s gone wrong after a couple of years relatively injury free. Being like all runners, I have thirst for knowledge and was tempted by the barefoot running fad on the back of reading the ‘Born to Run’ book by Christopher MacDougall. I could definitely buy into the thinking behind barefoot running but feel it’s something I need to introduce gradually.  However, I am now convinced that my ankle problems are a result of the weak right hip that I developed several years back and that if I strengthen the hip and work on my running gait I will avoid the more serious injuries in the future. So for the last two weeks I have been trying to concentrate on my form. My first port of call was Chi running, Thank goodness for Amazon.  I am currently reading Danny Dreyer’s book on the Chi Running. Together with the various You Tube guides I have adopted the four main principles into my running. It is very difficult trying to alter your running style and it requires constant concentration but you have to bear in mind it is a long term goal rather than a short-term fix.

On Friday after a 7 mile lunchtime run we returned once again to Arthur’s seat for another run leader’s session, this time it was one of Moira’s routes we were running. This session went very well and teamwork got the job done. However, late home on Friday night meant we had to grab a pizza and get organised for parkrun the following morning.

Moira was Race Director for Strathclyde parkrun and I got the chance to run the course for the first time in a wee while. Equally important was that Moira picked up her 50^th T-shirt, a new record for parkrun – dispatched within a week. My tactics for the run were just to go out and run and concentrate on the form, I was more than delighted with my 21:24, my best 5K time post-injury.

With next week’s Clyde Stride Ultra relay in mind, Sunday’s long run was to be a leisurely 10 miler. Must have forgot to mention that to Moira because as we headed into mile 6, she upped the pace and for the next three miles we were close to race pace – still it’s all good training.

Why does always rain on me?

Following on from the June Super Sunday we headed back up the hill the following day – although the hill was still wet the overhead conditions were not too bad. Our training session consisted of us both going our separate ways and running our legs from start to finish. We did, however bump into each other a couple of times most notably at Hub 3 – definitely the centre of the universe, well in August it will be! We both managed to run both our colours so it was ‘happy campers’ that left the hill that night.

The following evening it was ‘the road and miles to Dundee’ to take on the 5^th JogScotland 5K challenge.  We left Edinburgh with a hint of rain in the air and arrived in Dundee in the middle of a downpour. It was miserable, it got to the stage that you just wanted to get started and finished as quickly as possible. JogScotland obviously sensed the mood and the challenge begun a couple of minutes early. Camperdown Park is a nice course or least it would be in better conditions, the rain was incessant. It was a rather bedraggled bunch that hung around for the prize giving but it was worth the wait, we scooped 1^st and 3^rd female (yes Mo got another 3^rd place), 3^rd male (no not Jo, although he was 5^th) and The Jammys took a team prize for the 4th challenge in a row! There was to be no hanging about, it was straight in the car and home.

The Challenges come thick and fast at this time of year, the Wednesday night saw us complete the tour with the Edinburgh double-header, back-to-back 5K challenges. The biggest challenge was getting the kit dried in time for Edinburgh, that and getting there on time – we travel the length and breadth of Scotland, yet it is the transport to Edinburgh that is the most stressful.

The first 5K of the evening was a wet one albeit nowhere near as wet as Dundee. Right from the off it was evident that once again we had a course change but too our surprise the course was on the short side this time! Our entry back into park was accompanied by the Drifters performing – yes The Drifters! Almost immediately after finishing it was time to swap numbers and congregate for our second 5 K of the evening. Thankfully the overhead conditions were improving. The second 5K is more of a procession than a run – all The Jammys run together on this one – it’s a tradition. And all too quickly that was the challenges over for another year.

On the Saturday it was back to parkrun and a chance for Neil and Ross to bag their 49^th parkrun and set themselves up for the big five O the following weekend. We completed the weekend with a nice wee 10 hilly Harburn mile run on the Sunday morning as we attempted to get out stamina up for the Speed of light which was now a mere month away.

Another wet Monday evening saw us return to Arthur’s seat, although we were unable to park in our usual location, some sort of garden party going – even in those conditions. We were joined on the hill by two girls that had got our name from Run 4 it, and they wanted to get a flavour of Speed of the Light and get an idea what they had let themselves in for! The conditions underfoot were once again treacherous, and clearly demonstrated the need for trail shoes for anyone contemplating doing The Speed of Light. Instead of doing our two colours we chose to run one colour. As time wore on the mist descended on the hill and we were unable to see each other on the hill - Justified our decision just to do the one colour.

The remainder of the week was spent getting some regular training in as most of midweek June was spent running the JogScotland challenges. We even managed a toning session at Harburn Village Hall. However, all too soon our focus switched to someone’s 50^th parkrun, the countdown had begun – 3 sleeps to go. Honestly, it was worse than Christmas! A cake had to be baked, no ordinary cake but a cake in the shape of a 50 parkrun T-shirt!

Saturday morning arrived after the protracted countdown and even the torrential rain failed to dampen spirits en route to Strathclyde Park. I was once again Race Director, so I opted for a freedom run ahead of the main event – gets me out of erecting the tent! As I addressed the runners the ‘all new 50 club were in position – Moira, Ross, Neil, Pat, Eddie and Eamon.  The field got underway and the 50 club all managed to complete their run with young Eamon recording a PB. So to the cake, well there wasn’t much left by the time the last marshals arrived but thankfully enough to go round.

It was back to business on Sunday morning with the infamous Harburn ‘12’, a hilly 14 mile route – don’t ask! After the run we both felt that at last the training was back on course.