Skip to main content

Catch that dog!

Let's start with a fact I saw on a runner's website recently:
"Just one run can increase energy and decrease fatigue."

Last Monday I woke up feeling good. 

 Optimism soon turned to apprehension as I pulled into the car park at the local country park to be greeted by deep standing water and a plethora of vests. Worcestershire's runners were out in force. Oh, and me.

Quite how I don't know, but I'd found myself on the start line at the CHEER5 Easter 5 mile trail event. It was sold to me as a short stroll through parkland, fields, and quiet lanes.

We moved off across the first open field and I smoothly dodged the first round of mud. Around 100 metres in, and it was going well - no complaints. 

 At 200 metres I followed a runner with spaniel through a puddle. They both glided though the opening with what seemed barely a dampening beyond their feet, except for the huge wave that the dog kicked back over me. I splashed forwards behind them and promptly sunk up to my knees, and nearly lost a shoe.

 Things really didn't get much better actually; I experienced the running cliché where I wasn't able to catch the older fella who walking in front of me. As we went round the course he disappeared off into the distance, leaving me with a couple of Pershore Plum Plodders chatting away behind me, and the sounds of my gasping and spluttering as my heart continued to pound out of my chest.

 I realised why I felt like this afterwards when I checked my monitor. You're not supposed to be able to spend more than a few minutes working at 90% heart rate. It turns out I did - nearly 25 minutes continuously in fact. Short stroll they said, suitable for all they said...

 One week on and I can look back at 5 miles complete, a medal, a first trail event in the bag, and a few lessons learned.
Back to that fact then, and I can confirm, categorically, that it's bollocks. Once at home I felt like I'd been awake for 24 hours being kicked in the calves and punched in the chest.

 At least I beat the spaniel.
Instagram: philvsnature
Twitter: @PhilJ0606
JustGiving: fundraising/philvsnature

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

And folks, that's a wrap

Last week I had the privilege to be invited to the Anthony Nolan Supporters' Awards. It was emotionally charged; a night chock full of remembrance, celebration and pride. We heard about the volunteers that keep the organisation ticking. We heard all about the scientists behind some of the advancements in Anthony Nolan's care. We heard from survivors, celebrities, and about some extr aordinary people doing extraordinarily selfless things. Anthony Nolan Latest News One of the stories we heard was from a parent of a child that had been saved by an Anthony Nolan donor. She spoke bravely about the fight they'd had, the moment her son was diagnosed, and the relief she felt when they found a donor. The young man who had joined the register and saved a life was in the room at the ceremony, beaming from ear to ear. The applause was deafening, and tears ran freely down the faces of many of the onlookers. The story was Rupert's, and y ou can check it out h...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Full Stalker

"This is probably the hardest off-road-Tweed-clad-pipe-lit-plus-four-and-headtorch-wearing run that exists. We send you across rivers, through forests and over a mountain or 2 in the pitch dark of a chilly March night. The Mighty Deerstalker is now in its twelfth year and this classic outing shows no sign of slowing down or getting any easier. And who wants that anyway?" In just under 2 weeks I start my efforts properly, and run the first event. It's billed as the biggest night race and the toughest off-road run in the UK, an extreme event in the Scottish Borders. I took about a month to persuade myself it was a good idea to sign up - bearing in mind my well documented aversion to running. Since then I've been cursing my foolhardiness, avoiding the cold outdoors, and sacking off my training when it's raining. All of this, of course, isn't the most sound preparation for getting muddy, wet and running in the cold (see last the photos from last year ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Phil vs Coast

Back at the start when I signed up to save a life , this all seemed so distant. Something not to worry about. It would be fine! And then I read this: "THE MOST EXPOSED ADVENTURE RUN IN BRITAIN" screamed the headline. "BUGGER" screamed I. And just like that, here we are for the inaugural Man vs Coast, 2018 edition.  It's a long bloody way Cornwall is, and so is the race. An estimated 23 miles - though with the Rat Race distance marking I've experienced before I'm not certain it won't be longer - from St Michael's Mount to Lands End, via the Cornish coasts of course. Yes. Coasts. North and South. Uh-huh. The company is at pains to point out that it's a running event. But runners will be fully immersed. And runners will need to swim. And jump off a cliff. Rat Race say to expect brooding moorland, alongside beaches, waves, rough-hewn rocks, water jumps, and some of their signature obstacles - though which ones will be a surpri...
Post a Comment
Read more