It was while I was making a cheesecake that I decided to run the Clarendon. I was musing on the best nutrition for running, and that took me back to the invitation that one of my clients had made, to join her and some friends on my local yearly off-road half.
I finished the cheesecake, put it in the fridge to set, and sent her a message: Yes! I’d love to.
I’ve done a few half marathons, and I definitely prefer the off-road ones. More to see, less to watch out for. Since meeting Sarah professionally, I’d become a regular with her running group, running out of Stockbridge or somewhere nearby every Sunday, followed by coffee and cake, often brought along by one of us. Hence the cheesecake.
During my degree, I researched nutrition for various sports. It’s not totally settled, but there’s a lot of evidence that fats (in appropriate amounts) are better for training than carbs. Carbs fuel shorter distances, but fats are perfect for longer distances at lower intensity. However, the body needs time to adjust over a period of months. Carb loading before a race is up to you, but for me I prefer to eat something that takes a bit longer to burn through.
Sarah had suggested the Clarendon as my next outing, because it is an amazing event that brings people from all walks of life together. It’s a run from Broughton to Winchester, along the ancient Clarendon Way. The terrain is a challenge, and although I had run the Winchester off-road half earlier in the year, this was going to have more hills to accomplish. I would need to gradually increase my calorie intake for the terrain as I increased my run lengths.
Being a sports therapist, I don’t tend to advise too strongly on training. I offer rehab programs and recommendations to improve muscle weaknesses, I can recommend regular massage to keep muscles in good condition and I can treat you when you’ve trained too hard and given yourself a niggling injury, but coaching is not my area and training is very individual for each person. For me, it’s starting at 3 miles and gradually building up the distance, and remembering not to put too much pressure on myself. After the first few weeks, (which can feel like hell) your muscles, tendons and ligaments have had time to adapt to the exercise and it gets a lot easier. Speed increases with regular running and improving gait, rather than with greater effort. I look forward and not into the past as this provides a positive mental outlook on training. Embrace the beautiful location and fresh air, and greet people with a sweaty smile!
Running with the Sunday Runners was very special for me because previously I had always run on my own and when you are training for an event it can be very hard to keep the momentum, especially when the mileage needs to ramp up. I love my Sunday runs with the girls. It has helped all of us through our training by chatting and Putting the World to Rights and having a good laugh, mainly at our husbands who are often the butt of our jokes. Before you know it, you have been running for almost 2 hours and you often don’t even notice because your focus is on the coffee and cake at the end, and don’t forget the smug grin!
I had no niggles from my training this time. I was extra careful because when I was skiing with my children for the first time back in April, my 6ft plus son went cartwheeling off piste and in helping him back up onto his skis my legs went in different directions and I twisted my knees. With this in mind I monitored my runs for training errors, and improved my muscle strength to support my knees. As a part of that, I had a regular massage to keep my muscles in good condition.
With a week to go, everything was in place: a good group of friends to run with, fitness peaking just at the right time, husband ready to be a taxi driver, kids with school work to do while I took a day for myself. And then disaster struck… Those pesky kids came home from school with a sniffle - just a sniffle - which the next morning was a headache, and a cough, and a runny nose, and two lines on a covid test. Two days later, less than a week before the race, I was in the same boat. I was negative again by the day after the race, but even if I had been negative that morning, I would have been exhausted and washed out and tired, so I sent Sarah and the girls good luck messages, asked for photos, and stayed home.
So I’m still a Clarendon virgin, I’m afraid. Next year. But running isn’t about the event, that’s just something to focus on. Running is about freeing your mind, keeping your body healthy, and making sure you’ve got a good excuse for eating that cheesecake.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope it made you laugh and has inspired you in some way to keep moving forward.