Running Piers

2017 - Bournemouth I ran the Bournemouth marathon in 2017.  It was my first and it was great - I loved the training, I loved the people I ran and trained with (especially), and on the day I loved the course and the experience. I didn't love the hill you get to at mile 17/18, I didn't love getting cramp at mile 20 and then repeated twinges in the last 3 miles, and with the benefit of hindsight I didn't love the fact that I had breakfast too early and then not enough full/carbs/salts etc. prior to the start. But although I didn't get the time I wanted (sub 4 hours), I finished in 4:17 so I was a marathon runner -and people said well done and were proud of me and it felt good. So what lessons have I learned from my first marathon and how can this hindsight help me with my next one? 2018 - London Now in 2018 I've got a charity place for London - one of the "marathon majors" and to be honest pretty much the pinnacle of the running calendar as far as I...

I'm deliberately keeping this short, but I think challenges are quite important.  As I've been running for a few years I've always measured my growing success/capability by annual mileage.  A few years ago I'd aimed to run 681.2 miles in a year - simply that equates to a half marathon (13.1 miles) every week (although most definitely, back then, all in one go).  3-4 times running maybe 4 miles a time and job done! In the event I did manage to beat it. Wind forward to 2016 and the numbers are higher - that year I'd started with a target for 800.  That seemed like a lot, but possible.  What changes in 2016 was the creation of a running club in Hook where I live.  It took off in the autumn and I got involved at the tail end of October... In essence two things changed.  Firstly I was running with other people (all of whom were either a good laugh, or good runners, or both) and that really puts a different complexion on running as an activity.  I l...

(First published in Hook Focus, January 2018) A year in Hook Runners, a tale of 12(+) cities Hook Runners are out training Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and on club runs Sundays together.  There are also numerous organised events around the country that its members take part in, either individually or as a group. There have been no shortages of personal bests and races run – even in the local club monthly handicap race people put in their all and get PB’s – including most recently club chairwoman Lou. In 2017 one runner, Piers [me], had set himself the challenge to do a half marathon every month; then he added to this a first marathon as well.  This is his [my] tale of 12 cities (plus one). A Strava movie with some stats in is also available at:  https://youtu.be/KEANSU07f9Y January – Farnborough (Time: 1:48.13 PB) The new Farnborough half marathon was attended by a few of the club’s new members.  The obvious feature of 2017’s ra...