Jelly Baby Masacre

I woke up to a cool morning, dull and drizzly, wahey all the worrying about running in heat had been unnecessary. My friends and I dressed, checked our bags and checked them again. We left our hotel by the airport and headed into Edinburgh. It was well and truly raining when we left the car park and headed in the opposite direction to all the other runners who were heading for the start of the half marathon. I was beginning to feel more confident of completing my first marathon, I don't mind running in the cold and wet.

By the time we'd had porridge in Maccy D's, the rain had stopped and the temperature was rising.

A couple of loo stops and we were ready to get in our pens, I was in Blue and V was in purple. E wasn't running due to a back injury and was our support crew, (invaluable).

About 9:55 the sun suddenly came out and the temperature rose instantly.

We were walking towards the start, then jogging and we were off. It didn't feel fast, I was enjoying the views and the atmosphere and running over a road dotted with jelly babies.

At 6 miles I dodged a fallen gel, only to have the runner behind me step on it exploding it up my legs.

10k down, I was already starting to feel the heat, I was on target for a 4:30 finish.

approaching the race course I was finding it difficult to get a decent breath in the heat, so wading through the fallen jelly babies at 9 miles, I had a little walk, saw E and stopped for a photo.

coming up to 13 miles I still wasn't comfortable, but kept running until I had passed the Macmillan Cheer point, where V's friends were to support us. again, I stopped to pose for a pic and ran till I was out of sight. 2:17 at the half way point, I was loosing time, but it was too hot and people were collapsing. Time for a new plan. Finishing would be a good enough target.

Just after 14 mile I felt a a pain then as if something was in my right sock," UURRGGHH I think I've lost a nail". I stopped and wiggled my foot about to try and make it more comfy. It was not the best feeling. I couldn't take my shoe off in case I lost my chip

At 16-17 mile, only 10 miles left, I saw V, she was just behind me, Wow she was having a great race, I'd better get a wiggle on.

At 17 miles I felt a sharp pain in a toe on my left foot and then a flood of warmth, YUCK a blister had burst. It was tough to try and put the pain out of my head as I headed off road towards Gosford House and the turning point, I walked a bit. As I passed the house I felt more positive I was on the way home. The trail of jelly babies was now replaced with runners collapsing, it was so hot.

The road back was tough, no shade, no breeze, I ran for the shade crossing the road, where possible. I found myself walking more often, expecting V to pass at any moment.

Glancing down at my painful feet, I was relieved not to see blood. There was no point seeking fist aid, the dressings would be more uncomfortable, carry on deal with it later, I was still going forwards.

I was now alternatively speed walking and running and counting the miles off, I was doing this, I was doing a marathon, and I was going to finish. 20 miles, just a 10k to go. I went under every available shower took all available water, and passed the Macmillan cheering point at 23miles, where V's friends were.

Only a 5k to go and "The Wall" to avoid, by now I was walking as much as running but still going forwards, 24 miles 25 miles, "You Beauty" where was the wall? ! and a bit to go tears were threatening, ever since 1981, I've dreamt of doing a marathon and I was doing it, I really was, I could see the racecourse, the crowd was roaring and tears were rolling, I still had to walk a bit, the rubber matting draining what energy was left.

Nearly 5 hours after I had started, tired, weeping, sunburnt and ecstatic I staggered across the finish line. I HAD DONE A MARATHON, In 4:56:56.

Unfortunately there was a fatality at the event and many casualties.

League race at Temple Newsome, Leeds

Thursday 20 th May 2010. Decided to this race, to get a few points for the club, the marathon was only 3 days away so my running buddy and I took it easy, what a lovely place it was with some not so lovely hills, which we walked up.We had a great time, running, walking and chatting and we crossed the finish line together. The weather was warm and humid to say that it was 19:45.

TIME 56 min 12 sec

Up to date at last

THE WORLDS FIRST KILOMATHON was on the 14th of March, an interesting way to spend Mothers day. This was the first ever metric marathon, 26.2 km. The race started in Nottingham and ran to Derby.

I ran this with 2 friends, we drove to Derby Saturday evening and stayed in the travelodge at Pride Park, close to the finish. we had tea at the Frankie and Bennies restaurant across the road.

I had a room to myself,which was a good thing because i was asleep by 10 pm but wide awake by 2 am, I tossed and turned, watched telly, read and eventually at 5 am got up for a shower and started to get ready.

The bus was at Pride park to take us to the start at Nottingham, we were on the first lot of buses, we like to get to races early, to use the loos and find the baggage etc.

There were thousands of people there, we were put in groups then walked to the start.

Eventually we were off, it was bright and breezy with the breeze in our faces. at the first marker I thought "I must be mad" at 10k I heard someone say "about an hour". Then I started to believe that I could do this. I try never to look at my when I race, I worry that i'll slow down if i start to think I'm doing ok, or speed up too much if I think that i'm too slow, I prefer to go on instinct and those around me.

at 8 miles i knew I was half way and still going great, at 10 miles I was confident that I would finish, my ankle and calf were holding out, I was walking the water stops to give my legs a little break. At 13.1 I knew there was only 5k to go, i was bolstered by people calling, "Come on Lena, you're doing great" i had my name on my Macmillan t-shirt. It was great to be cheered on by strangers in a strange town. By 14 miles I was tiring, we were heading into Derby passing stationary traffic, but there were more spectators, i kept chanting in my head, " You're still going forwards, you're doing great". Finally I hit 16 miles and sped up, I underestermated 0.3 miles. I could hardly walk talk or even think when i finally crossed the line. I was pleased with my time, I know that I couldnt possibly done it any faster.

TIME 2 hr 37 min 50 sec

LIGHTWATER VALLEY 10K for Help for Heroes. This was the week after the Kilomathon so I wasn't expecting to do great, plus I planned to run the 6 miles home afterwards, as marathon training.

This was a course of tracks and road, undulating and very twisty turney. The race went ok, I did it in my usual fashion, run as fast as I can, as far as I can then just keep going, by 5 miles I was tiring and the grass up hill finish was a killer but I did it, Stayed around for 1/2 hour socialising, then set off home.

TIME 58 min 40 sec RACE

Time 1 hr 12 min Run home

ARKENDALE 10k was on 28/03/10 a week later, we'd had a lot of rain lately, so this multi terrain undulating race promised to be a bit muddy, and it was at one point we were ankle deep in mud and water.

TIME 56 min 20 sec. 7 mins faster than last year.

The next race was the first in the Black Sheep Series, FOUNTAINS 10k at Grantley, I do it in memory of my Dad. I planned to run the 8 mile home after. Again we had had rain and the moor was really boggy, I found it tough on my ankles, and my left knee had been playing up, I took it easy, I wanted to run home and I didn't want to damage my knee. tis was a tough, undulating mixed terrain race, but it helped knowing the course from last year. I did ok, and then ran the 8 miles home, which was tough.

TIME 1 hr 3 sec RACE over 2 min faster than last year.

Time 1 hr 32 min 19 sec Run home.

The first League race this year was at Ilkley, so it promised not to be flat. The start was 1 1/2 times around a field then onto the road up, up, up we went then there was l short flattish gravel section, then down, down, down, finishing with a mile of flat and a grass finish. My knee was still giving me grief and my ankles were still sore from the Fountains race ( I have weak ankles and they dont cope well with off road) I normally make up ground on downhills because I have long legs but this time I had to slow down, My knee hurt on changing direction and I couldn't trust mt ankles, they were pretty sore.

Time 49 min 30 sec, over the 5.05 mile course.

RIPON 10 MILE. This is the first long run of the Black Sheep Series, as its organised by the club they like us to help out. I was giving out numbers, this meant that as the race was due to start, I needed the loo, and there was still a queue. I was last out of the loos and had to run the 1/2 mile to the start, I had barely got there when the klaxon went off.

My Knee and ankles were still a problem, so I had to make as much time up as possible in the first mile before we headed off road for a few miles. I was going ok, but as soon as I hit the grass my ankles turned to jelly, there was nothing there, no push off and it was so painful, people were passing in droves, but I wasn't giving up. At the first water stop, i was advised to stop, the marathon in too weeks was more important, but I carried on hobbling. If I got to the road and was still doing badly, I'd consider stopping, but i really didn't want a DNF by my name. I got through the Brass Monkey with a sprained ankle I had to give it a go. I hit the road at 4 miles and like a miracle, my ankles firmed up and I set off up the mile straight to Studley Church. I now found myself slowly catching up with some of the people who had passed me in the off road section. It was a long hard race, but now it was ok, I knew it wouldnt be a great time but at least I'd finish.

TIME 1 hr 39 min 17 sec. 4 mins faster than last year

Up to date at last. It is now only 5 days to the marathon in Edinburgh and I am nervous, I get butterflies when i think about it. This years races so far have been plagued by injury, and affected by the marathon training, I have run over 600 miles this year already, 72.9 of which were races.

My puppy Jed

New Running Partner

I will soon have a new running partner, I have a puppy, an 8 week old Border Terrier called Jed.

I still hope to catch up with myself entering my races from this year as the big on, The Edinburgh Marathon is 5 days away now and I wanted to be up to date by then.

Vicky Clayton is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support - JustGiving

Vicky Clayton is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support - JustGiving

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Raising money for Macmillan Cancer Care

My running buddy and I decided that running a marathon was a good way to raise money, we picked Macmillan and set ourselves the target of £918.00, the amount it costs to fund a Macmillan nurse for a week. We decided the 4 biggest races of the year to do this, they totaled 71.9 miles.

The races are;

The worlds first metric marathon, The England Kilomathon, 26.2 km Nottingham - Derby

The Edinburgh Marathon

The Great North Run

The Scottish Kilomathon

This was not going to stop us doing the other races which we enjoy;

The Black sheep Series,

The Harrogate District Summer Road Running league (HDSRRL)

and any other race we fancied.

People have told us that we shouldn't be racing whilst training for a marathon. but we love racing and we're doing it our way. The important thing is to complete all of our races. We aim for good times, but we just enjoy what we do.

A new year and a marathon to train for

We had an unusual amount of snow this winter, I spent New Years Eve in Whitby, which was stunning in the snow, and didn't run at all from the Jolly Holly on the 28th Dec until Jan 4. My running Buddy and I had a training plan which we had got off the internet and we tried to follow it religiously, except the races that we had booked. No way were we doing less races because there was a marathon to train for.

January 24 2010, was the Brass Monkey half marathon at York. This was one that I was really looking forwards to, you had to be quick to get a place in this race and I don't mean race times, though the time limit for the race is 3 hours, I mean that from the entries being released you have about 2 days to get your entry to the race secretary. The race is so popular because it is fairly flat and straight , and all on road , making it a promising pb course. It was a typical January morning cold and bright and not too windy, ideal for a good time.I set off in my usual fashion, run as fast as you can, as far as you can and then just keep going. At the 1/2 way point they had a clock, I don't normally look at my watch when I race, in case I get dispirited, so i was pleased to note that, at 58 mins, I was on target for under 2 hours. But disaster struck at about 8 miles, we were turning a left hand corner and a car was passing us, so i moved slightly more left, there was a drain cover and pothole, I hit it badly and pain shot up my left leg. I swore loudly, tested the leg, it was painful but it would bear my weight, obviously not broken then. The race marshall stationed on the corner asked if i was ok, I said yes, apologized for swearing, and with a bit of a hop and a skip I carried on. It was agony I counted down the miles and promised myself a little walk if I made it to the bridge over the railway at 12 miles. I just kept telling myself that it would all be over soon, I've never dropped out of a race, and theres a Marathon to train for, but the pain in my left foot and ankle was the most dominant of all. I made it to the brige and, as promised, I walked up it, then realising that to run down would be even more painful, so I walked that too. I soon regretted this because it was hard to lock the pain away and get a running motion going again, but I did, it was nearly over now, i was hobbling and starting to let the pain dominate when the voice of a Ripon Runner broke through my thoughts, "Go on Lena" she was shouting, I was shocked I could beat her if I kept it together for a few more yards, I'd never beaten her before. It spurred me on as the racecourse and the finish came into view, i dreaded hearing her footsteps so close to the end. I made it, I beat her in, collected my momento, a sweatshirt, and headed for the St Johns Ambulance station to ice my foot. I hardly dare take of my trainer in case my foot swelled up, It looked ok, no swelling no bruising, just pain. I kept it iced till I, got home. I got out of the car and could hardly walk up the hill to my house, now i was worried, I had just run a pb half marathon and 5 miles was on an injured foot.

I had a marathon to train for. I hope I hadn't done permanent damage.

Time 2 hours 2 minutes 38 sec

I rested my foot I couldn't run, I could barely walk, I went on the xtrainer in the gym but after a week it wasn't improving.

On 30/01/10 it was The Ripon Runners award dinner, and I was ecstatic to be awarded Ripon Runners most improved female 2009, I got a massive cup, shame it'll have to go back next year, it looks great on my mantle piece.

My foot was not improving so I went for total rest, one bit of my brain was screaming that i should be marathon training whilst the other bit was saying that i still had 4 months to do that.

The rest did it good and eventually i tried running on it, it was a bit tender but i was soon back up to 10 miles again. All my speed had gone, my running partner had improved greatly over the last couple of weeks, it was all very dispiriting. I would not let it beat me.

Towards the end of Feb, one snowy Sunday morning we set off for a 12 miler, at around 6 miles I was trailing and at the top of a hill my friends waited for me. "Are you ok?" they asked "Of Course". I answered. I set off down the other side of the hill and felt the most horrendous pain in my left calf. I pulled up short and rubbed snow into it. My friends asked if i wanted to tun back, I said I was ok and trailed behind the rest of the run, I had to walk the ups but was ok on downs.

I could have cried, I know it was my own fault, my foot wasn't 100% so my gait was off and it was cold so cramp was my own fault. The next weeks training was tough and painful, my husband said to stop but I wouldn't.

Sunday 28th February was the Snake lane 10 miler I was still suffering with my left leg, but i wasn't backing out, the plan was to keep my running buddy in sight, then I'd get a decent time. The first 3 miles were hard, my leg was bothering me so I had a little walk, and when I got going again it was less painful so the rest of the race was ok, i kept my Buddy in sight, and she knew I was there, so it pushed her on, which in turn pulled me on. So I was quite happy with the result.

Time 1 hour 36 minutes 14 seconds

the rest of 2009

Here we go again, I am determined to get this up to date.

On 24/06/09. I got a lift with friends to Harrogate to take part in the Race For Life, a 5k run which happens all over the country, its only for women and the money raised goes to cancer, you can run, jog or walk. The course is undulating and mixed terrain.

Time 27 min 18 sec

Rainton 10k, 28/06/09another in the Black Sheep Series, mixed terrain and undulating. Weather was fine.

Time 58 min 51 sec

Now for the biggy. The 2^nd long run in the Black Sheep Series, The Burn Valley Half Marathon, 05/07/09 ,1pm on a Sunday afternoon from Masham market square, hot and hilly undulating doesn’t do this course justice, the views were beautiful, I knew I couldn’t run it all but I set myself to run the hilly 3 miles to the 1^st steep hill and from then on to run the downs and walk the biggest of the hills.

Time 2 hr 20 mins 20 sec

12/07/09 Great North 10k in Sunderland a BUPA run so there were thousands there including elites.

Time 57min 42 sec

14/07/09 The finale of the Harrogate and district summer road running league, the Ripon Handicap. All your points from the league are added up and then runners set off slowest first and fastest last with the aim of everyone finishing within 5-10 mins of each other. When it was my turn, I set off on the 5 mile off road course, it was ok until about 1 mile to go on a narrow part I heard thundering behind me and the faster runners were catching me up, I stood aside and let them pass, I found it terrifying and intimidating. Next year I will marshall.

Time 57min 42 sec

19/07/09 Burton Leonard 10k, a Black Sheep Race. This is the village where I grew up, it was a hot Sunday afternoon with a very tough course,

Time 63 min 01 sec

On the 26/07/09 I woke up feeling sick, I struggled to eat my breakfeast and fleetingly it crossed my mind to not go to Harrogate and run their undulating 10k, It didn’t last though, so I met my running buddies and off we went. I thought that I would vomit on the 13 mile journey in the car, but I didn’t, I felt awful but still I collected my number and lined up for the start. Race plan, complete the first of the 2 laps without being lapped and then as long as I could see my running partner I could walk.

Time 59min 49 sec.

The next weekend I didn’t book any races as I was taking part in Ripon’s annual Saints day parade, St Wilfreds day, With the Youth drama group where I am a volunteer youth worker.

08/08/09 Darlington 10k, 2 laps flatish course. I set off really positive on this one but I could’t get my breath, and was struggling by 2 miles, but I struggled on and it seriously crossed my mind for the first time ever to drop out, then just before the end of the 1^st lap I was lapped, I couldn’t give up now, people might think it was because I was lapped so I struggled on.

Time 63 min 01 sec the same as Burton Leonard.

The next day I went to the doctors, he said I had a chest infection and that I had to rest.

16/08/09 Ben Nevis. I was on holiday in Scotland and on a dreary cold rainy day, I climbed the highest mountain in Britain, it was tough and rough underfoot, at points visibility was so low you could only see a few feet ahead and it was so cold, but I did it, it was amazing how all the discomfort was forgotton once I knew that I was on the top. Amazing.

Time 5 hr 26 min

06/09/09 The Great Yorkshire run. This was the 10k that started it all a year ago. Another BUPA run with thousands of entrants and elite runners. It was nice to run a course that I was familier with and that was a definite advantage for pacing.

Time 59min 32 sec a massive improvement on last year.

13/09/09 Wetherby 10k, the last in the Black Sheep Series, a notoriously fast course.

I didn’t find it an easy course but when it was over it was a great sense of achievement I had completed all 8 races in a race series.

Time 59 min 15 sec

The BUPA Great North Run on 20/09/09, the biggest half marathon in the country with afield of about 40 thousand runners including elites.

This was a log day with the coach leaving Ripon for Gateshead at 6 in the morning.

When we got there it was a bit frosty but the day soon warmed up. I was in a pink pen the penultimate pen. It took 20 mins for my pen to reach the start line and within 100 yards I had to avoid a queue for portaloos, it wasd so conjested it was hard to get running as people kept stopping to walk right in front of me within the first mile. I found it very stressful zig zagging through the crowds I was swearing in my head, and at water stops avoiding all the discarded bottles. I held onto my bottle and swapped it at each water station. At 9 miles my knee popped, I hop skip and jumped for the next mile until I could put the pain to the back of my mind. At 11 miles I was feeling confident, Id never run this far without stopping before, then I got stomach cramp, I slowed right down as I went up a short incline, but I was nearly there. As I arrived on the seafront for the last mile the Red Arrows flew above, What an amazing feeling but I still could not relax and enjoy the run as people were still stopping to walk in front of me so I zig zagged my way to the finish line, what a feeling, my stomach hurt, my knee hurt but I had completed the Great North Run.

Time 2hr 19 min 51 sec a pb

6 days later I took on the John O’Gaunt challenge a 25 mile walk/run which you have to navigate but have check points. This was probably a mistake so close to the Great North Run, the first 10 mile was ok but then it got tougher, at 16 mile I got my partner and I lost, we ended up doing an extra mile, but we struggled on and completed it, complete with blisters thorn scratches and sun burn.

Time 8 hr 23 min and we weren’t last.

Back in April I had entered the ballot for a place in the 2010 London Marathon and I got the news that I was unsuccessful. I looked into a charity place but they all wanted a guaranteed amount of money raising and the least amount was £1250.00 I couldn’t manage that so entered the Edinburgh Marathon on 23/05/10 instead and got in.

04/10/09 the presentation dinner for the Black Sheep Series, I received a medal for the series plus a t shirt for completing all 8 races. I finished 7 (last) lady over 40 and 93 out of the 102 who finished the series, 161 had started it.

11/10/09 The Shaun Johnstone 10 mile trail race. This race is organised in memory of the Son of one of the members of Ripon Runners, Shaun was also a member of ripon Runners and died of a brain tumour aged 16, this race raises money for his charity.

A tough race.

Time 1 hr 41 min 21 sec pb

My birthday saw me travelling to Bridlington on the east coast to take part in the Bridlington half marathon, undulating mainly on road, a sunny Breezy day.

Time 2hr 7min 38sec pb

A month off, then on 22/11/09 The abbey Dash in Leeds, A notoriously fast flat race. I was pulled on by the girl that I had gone to the race.

Time 54min 32 sec pb

A week later 29/11/09, was the chance for a pb over 10 mile at Thirsk, Last year this was my first ever 10 mile. It was a cold morning and it had rained for days, so the first three miles was a bit of a paddle through the puddles, A member of Ripon Runners pushed me on to a new pb.

Time 1hr 30min 37sec pb

06/12/09 was the Percy Pud 10k near Leeds downhill start uphill finish flat in between. The race start was delayed as we had had a lot of rain and it was still raining and part of the course was under water. Half an hour later the course was clear and the race started.

Time 55min 18sec

20/12/09, the Sunday before Christmas was the Travellers 6, a 10k near Wakefield. My running buddies and I dressed up for this one in Santa dresses and fish net tights. It raised a few smiles as as we ran through blizzards.

Time 58min 01sec

28/12/09 The last race of the year was the Ripon runners jolly Holly Jog. We had had snow and freezing temperatures for 3 weeks now so the course was a skating rink, Runners were advised that they ran at their own risk. But lots of us chose to go ahead. It was tough there were places where you just couldn’t get a grip at all, I fell on my bottom once.

Time 1 hr 8 min 51 sec

So ended 2009 a year of 32 races over 232 miles.