Round up of recent races

• Been a busy month so I probably won't ever get round to doing full race reports of all my recent events, but here's a summary of them!!
• Edit - now with more photos!
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• John O’Callaghan Memorial 5 Mile 28/06/2013

My first evening race, a 7.30pm start after work on a Friday.  Well organised, small club run in Luton which takes you round the nice, but hilly, Luton Hoo estate.  There was a minute's silence for John O'Callaghan in whose name we race.

I wanted to try and get in under 50 minutes but I haven't worked much of speed lately so I didn't think I'd hit that target but would give it a shot.  Messed up my first mile's pacing with a 9.30 min/mile (too fast!) and struggled for the rest.  It was a lovely route once in the estate but psychologically tough as the area is quite hilly and makes for some weird optical illusions - there was a long stretch where it seriously looked like you were going downhill only to do a U-turn and discover you were running uphill that whole time!  As it was a 2 lap course, i watched out for it the second time, but it almost caught me out again.  Weather was wet, grey and raining!  Got round in 52 minutes feeling shattered.  Banana, water and medal at the finish.  For those who'd come from further afield, the race took place from a sports center and has good shower/changing facilities and proper lockers.

• NSPCC Milton Keynes Half Marathon - 07/07/13

This was the hottest race ever!  A week into the July heatwave and even sitting around waiting for the start was tough.  I don't think anyone took this seriously.  I am not a fan of hot weather and generally try and run early in the morning throughout the summer - a 10am start with running in the midday sun was unbearable!  At least it makes other runs feel easier now.  Went at a very slow pace and took on plenty of water at each station.  Although I'd planned to run in a vest and shorts, many girls ran in crop tops so at the last minute I quickly ran back to the baggage area to stuff my vest into my bag, apply more sunscreen and run in my crop top too!  Modest clothing days are long gone now.  About half of the race was thankfully through tree-lined paths and cycle tracks, but there were still long stretches alongside main roads with no shade, no cloud and heat radiating off the tarmac.  Race took me 2hr 40mins - my slowest by over 10 minutes (2nd slowest was Brighton Half when I was recovering from a cold).  Many people were walking by 6 miles and some did not finish. 

 The marshals worked very hard to make sure people did not become ill from heat exhaustion which was a real possibility.  Thanks to them as well for standing around in the blazing sun for the best part of 4 hours!!

Massive relief to finish that one, and although a PW it was certainly one of the toughest so VERY pleased to finish and earn the lovely medal.  Didn't do much for the rest of the day except sleep, have a cool bath and watch Andy Murray win Wimbledon on the TV!!

Below: At the MK NSPCC Half with 2 follow runners (me in green), trying to keep cool in the shade before we set off.  Plus the well earned medal - you deserve one if you run in that 30 degree heat!

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• Jenson Button Triathlon - 14/07/2013

This was a good day out.  Another trip back to Luton Hoo but this time got to enjoy the facilities a bit more.  Run by the Jenson Button Trust, so we got to see the famous F1 driver close up in action - on the tri course at least!!  This was the main reason I entered this race, as I am a big fan!  He is actually just as good looking in real life as on screen!!

The day was actually 2 tri's - a morning "eliminator" super sprint, followed by a final sprint for those who made the top 50 men and top 20 women.  Everyone else went into another super sprint "wooden spoon" race (yes, competing for an actual wooden spoon signed by Jenson Button!).  It was another very hot day - 31 degrees by midday - so things were going to be tough out on the run.  

Started off with the lake swim.  The temperature was high enough to make wetsuits optional, so I opted out.  300m to go.  Found the swim more of a challenge without the buoyancy of the wetsuit but it was a lovely temperature although very black water (black with soil rather than anything worse, I think!).  Saved a bit of time by not having to take off the wetsuit at the end!  Short run to transition, then onto the 9k bike course.  First km or so is all uphill though!  Pretty route but unfortunately there were some dodgy speed-bumps that were difficult to negotiate and required having to slow right down.  Much of the bike course was the same out-and-back route ran in the John O’Callaghan Memorial 5 Mile although in the opposite direction.  Nice downhill to transition!  Run was short but hard as it was so hot and virtually no shade.  On the way back to the finish i discovered I was just about to be overtaken by Jenson Button's girlfriend - tried to stop this from happening but to no avail!  Could hear JB cheering her on and even got a cheer from him aimed at me (although not quite as loud or as enthusiastic!).  Good finish with loads of supporters, but it was really weird knowing I was only half way done!  Needless to say I did not make the top 20 so would do another super sprint.

2nd race was easier in some ways, but it was a lot hotter and ended up being a slower time over all.  The swim felt smoother overall, but frustratingly my nose-clips were damaged right from the start, loosing one side of the rubber grip, so ended up slowing right down to work out why they weren't working properly!  Once I'd decided to put up with it the rest of the swim went very well but it had already cost me a bit of time.  Bike was good and it was nice to get some fresh moving air on the downhill!  Run was really tough, whilst only 2.5km it was 20 minutes of running in 31 degree heat!  Great to finish that race knowing it was all over!

The rest of the day and hours spent in between were very nice.  I relaxed on the many beanbags and sun-loungers  and was given unlimited free yogurts, packets of seeds/nuts and water.  We also got a Maxifuel shake after each race and a decent goody bag.  There was a lots of stuff for kids to do too, such as F1-themed video games on big screens. Plenty of chances to watch the tri's as well due to the multiple waves - there was always someone coming over the finish line.  After the races there was a free BBQ in the grounds of the hotel with live music and the bar was open to all.

Below - some pics of the event and Mr Button himself at the finish line!

• Olympic Park 5 mile - 21/07/13

I certainly entered this race for the fun-factor rather than any hope of a PB!  Getting right into marathon training again meant I needed to do a long run at some point over the weekend - a 5 miler wouldn't cut it - so this was just to enjoy the sights and have a laugh.  The race was big - very oversubscribed, as it was the first mass race to be held in the Olympic Park - with the finish in the stadium itself!  very well organised though, must have been one of the same lot who do some of the other big events in the UK.  Race day was due to be cloudy but humid in the morning, but hot by lunch, so hopefully we would beat most of the heat.  We also got given matching tee-shirts to wear (nice idea, although would much rather run in a vest in summer!) which the majority of people did.  I sort of wished I'd worn my Team GB replica running shirt though!!  The race was started by Sir Chris Hoy, which was epic!  Plus taking part was Paula Radcliffe and Victoria Pendleton, plus a some celebs including Mel C!

It was a fun race, with runners of all levels (i.e. plenty of first timers looking for a taste of a mass London race) weaving around the Olympic Park.  The park is not quite as glamorous as it was during London 2012, and loads of it is pretty much a building site.  But it was good to run past the velodrome, aquatic center and the rest of it. Felt pretty good considering I'd run 16 miles the day before. The finish was epic - at 4.5 miles you enter the undercroft of the stadium before bursting out onto the track itself!  400 meters to go on the track in front of thousands of spectators then up to the finish line - it was awesome!  Finished in 55 minutes, but just glad my legs didn't collapse having done 21 miles in 2 days.  I sat around for a while afterwards eating the snacks out of the goody bag and watching the final runners come in whilst the bands were playing.  Great day out!