The training / racing weekend from hell..

This, the last weekend before my Three Peaks challenge, has probably been the hardest weekend of training I have ever experienced.

I have entered quite a few races this month, and the idea was to use them to strengthen myself, physically and mentally, for greater challenges that lie ahead..you all know by now what I mean..

I therefore entered the Bourton-on-The-Water "hilly" half marathon on the Saturday, and the Westonbirt 10k the following Monday. The plan at the time was to rest Sunday..but at the time I didn't know Anthony would only be available at weekends..

I trained up until Thursday, knocking out 5 miles in 40 minutes on the treadmill - PB for me there, but as I paused the machine for water breaks I guess it doesn't count..

I had an excellent sports massage with Ali O'Hara on Friday, which I needed more than I expected. My back used to give me a lot of problems, but now the weight is going it is getting a lot better.

The usual pre-race trip to the cinema took place on Friday evening and the film this time was "Hard Candy". You've probably heard about it, if not it's about a 14-year old girl who meets an older man online, and seeks to expose him as a paedophile. I really enjoyed it and thought the dialogue especially was cracking. There were some great one-liners in there as well: "guess they weren't made out of brass, huh?" If you've read the reviews you can probably guess which scene that relates to.

I really liked it though, and the really clever thing for me was, it was never clear whether the male protagonist was an actual paedophile or not. One thing was for sure - thanks to a cracking performance from Ellen Page, the female character scared the hell out of me.

On Saturday I should have taken it easy but had a busy day. I had a new lodger, Jean-Paul, moving in in the afternoon and I had to do some last minute shopping for my weekend away. Plus I needed some new trousers for work - the ones I wear at the moment barely stay up even with a belt.

So I headed off for the Cotswolds feeling a little flustered. It got worse because - and don't ask me how I did it - at some point I turned off the A429 (Fosseway and drove about 10 miles in the wrong direction. Oops. I guess I must have just switched off. Not like me before a race.

Despite this, and the concomitant stress, I arrived at Bourton with about half an hour to spare. Excellent.

Have you ever been to Bourton-on-The-Water? If not, go there for a day out at your earliest opportunity. It's beautiful, out of this world picturesque. Seriously, you have to see it to believe it. As someone said, its like being on a film set.

As I made my way to the start I felt uncomfortable. All the other athletes looked like very serious, seasoned club runners. Not one other runner who looked like me, i.e. only been running a year and still has a few pounds to shed. Oh dear. Think positive, I told myself, appearances can be deceptive.

But not always.

And what can I say about the race. A line from the song "Black and White" by The Upper Room springs immediately to mind: "Pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain, pain". And more pain. I suffered from a stitch at the start, severe chaffing from sweaty shorts from mile 5 on (ok, too much information) and the stitch from hell after about 9 miles.

Up until then I was going well - managing 9 minute miles and on course for a sub-2 hour finish. The last stitch really took it out of me though and the last four miles were absolute agony. Probably all my own fault though - I had taken on too much fluid, taking a sports drink with me and taking 2 or 3 glasses of water at each of the water stations. The idea was to stay hydrated but I was eventually hoist by my own petard. My time of 2 hours 5 minutes, whilst totally respectable given the course, did not do my efforts justice I felt.

But as always there were plenty of positives. The scenery was fantastic, it made a good, tough training course, and the organisation and support from the marshals and local people lining the routes was second to none. How good of these people to take the time to cheer us on. I could probably have done without seeing people in a beer garden drinking a few pints of delicious ale mind you!

The mug I received at the end made a fitting memento but I felt I deserved a decent medal as well. I'll certainly be back next year - as I say it makes a good training run and a nice evening out.

After the race I made my way home (this time without getting lost), had a well earned curry and a few beers and spent time getting to know Jean-Paul a little better. He seems like a really nice young man, just here for 8 weeks while he does a work placement before going to India for 6 weeks and then back to his final year at Cambridge!

The next day I had a PT session scheduled with Anthony for the afternoon and was not disappointed when he sent me a text asking to switch the time so he could watch the England match. Fine by me. So we met up at lunchtime and did a sprint session, which would have been tough at the best of times, but obviously a lot more so given the half marathon the day before. As I write I realise how much fitter I must have become, because not long ago at all it took me a few days to get back into training after a big race. I think after the Reading half marathon I didn't have a decent training session until the Thursday or Friday after.

I was also instructed to go out for a run in the evening after the match. So I watched England march (or should I say stumble) into the quarterfinals of the World Cup and set off on my way. I was tired but it was very pleasant, everyone I met was in a good mood because of the football.

The next day, Monday, I had the Westonbirt 10k in the evening. As I have said before, it's not easy competing in a race when you've been at work all day. It was made worse this time by the fact that I had not slept well the night before. Oddly I seem to find I sleep worst when I have had a tough day's training. Not so much the case after a race - the post-event beer usually sees to it that I get a good night's kip.

I arrived at the event in good time - a 7.30 start meant I had plenty of time, coming direct from work as I did. When I got out of the car I realised just how sore my legs were - my hamstrings hurt especially. I did some stretching and made a mental note to head straight for the massage tent after the race.

There were a few friends from running club and it was good to see them. There was a pretty good turnout too, and it soon became obvious why the event is so popular.

Despite the tiredness and soreness I was very happy with the way I ran - I seemed to pick up a good pace straight away and maintain it. It didn't seem to take me long at all to warm up. I was determined to enjoy it, but at the same time part of me was determined to make up for a disappointing day on Saturday.

The course was wonderful, all along woodland paths through the gardens. It was just gently undulating and I'm sure had I been fresh I could have got a good time. In the end I was very happy to get round in 53:50. I had maintained a good pace all the way round, never felt in any trouble, and whilst I started to tire mid-way I still managed a strong finish.

The massage was welcome, and I think stopped my legs from stiffening up later. The memento was especially nice however - a medal made out of wood and a small tree to plant in my own garden! I doubt it would thrive in my back yard however, so I'll probably donate it to the old people's home near me.

So the toughest weekend of my running career finished on a real high - especially as I had a few tasty pints of Bombardier bitter when I finally got home.

I didn't have time for that many, but I thought I should enjoy them while I can - when I get back from the three peaks challenge, I'll only have 10 weeks or so to prepare for the biggest test of all - the New Forest Marathon - and there won't be too many treats in that crucial period of time.

But I'm up for the challenge.

Copyright © Jonathan Weedon, June 2006