Here is a video documentary of half marathon number 11 from Bath last weekend!
http://youtu.be/aVXh6TD9UH4
Thanks very much to Michael for editing this up for me :) to Becky for filming it all and Anna for starring in it!
Monday, 2 December 2013
Saturday, 30 November 2013
Bath hilly half marathon - 11/12 complete!
Well that was tough! Hills, cold, mud, even steeper hills, even colder ... but I have conquered the Bath hilly half marathon and am 11 half marathons down out of 12, only one to go!
As part of the Trionium series of races, I had done the Midsummer Munro in 2011 and loved the race which is why I was keen to do another one of the series! At 1,700ft of climb and 85% being off-road it was due to be an extremely tough race and so it turned out to be! I had done some hill training but possibly lacked a bit of off-road training, the hills were incredibly steep and turned runs into very slow jogs but the training got me through. It was bitterly cold on the day which really got to your lungs and made life that bit more difficult.
Despite all of this, it was a cracking race and a great atmosphere. The Trionium series has a fantastic feel to it and all the runners encourage each other during the race which I think is brilliant and part of the reason I enjoy the running community! I managed to clock a time of 1:45 which I was very happy with :) along with a 24th place finish out of 205 runners.
I would like to thank Rob who organises the series for letting me defer my place from last year and for putting on a brilliant race! Also for including my picture on his website!
http://www.trionium.com/bathhillyhalf/photos2013/index3.html
A big big thank you also goes to Becky and Anna for coming to support me during the race and cheering me on at various points, Anna even jogged up a hill with me! Was great to have you both there and taking some footage of the race which my flatmate Michael has kindly said he will edit for me (video to come soon)! Thanks to Anna's family too for the fantastic hospitality over the weekend!
So, nearly done! One half marathon left before the challenge is over! Can't believe it's almost done! Catch you again in 3 weeks time :)
James
As part of the Trionium series of races, I had done the Midsummer Munro in 2011 and loved the race which is why I was keen to do another one of the series! At 1,700ft of climb and 85% being off-road it was due to be an extremely tough race and so it turned out to be! I had done some hill training but possibly lacked a bit of off-road training, the hills were incredibly steep and turned runs into very slow jogs but the training got me through. It was bitterly cold on the day which really got to your lungs and made life that bit more difficult.
Despite all of this, it was a cracking race and a great atmosphere. The Trionium series has a fantastic feel to it and all the runners encourage each other during the race which I think is brilliant and part of the reason I enjoy the running community! I managed to clock a time of 1:45 which I was very happy with :) along with a 24th place finish out of 205 runners.
I would like to thank Rob who organises the series for letting me defer my place from last year and for putting on a brilliant race! Also for including my picture on his website!
http://www.trionium.com/bathhillyhalf/photos2013/index3.html
A big big thank you also goes to Becky and Anna for coming to support me during the race and cheering me on at various points, Anna even jogged up a hill with me! Was great to have you both there and taking some footage of the race which my flatmate Michael has kindly said he will edit for me (video to come soon)! Thanks to Anna's family too for the fantastic hospitality over the weekend!
So, nearly done! One half marathon left before the challenge is over! Can't believe it's almost done! Catch you again in 3 weeks time :)
James
Monday, 14 October 2013
Home sweet home for #10
Time for half marathon number 10 and a trip home to Leicester! 4 years after first running the Leicester half marathon, I returned to complete it again as part of my challenge. I was greeted with miserable weather for the weekend but had some company in my good friend Elliot to run with!
It was raining all of Saturday and Sunday morning but eased off into drizzle during the race. We were also treated to cold and windy conditions along with the wet underfoot conditions! Despite all of this, Elliot and I paced ourselves round in times of 1:25 with Elliot pulling away to beat me by around 20 secs! Well done mate :)
There was a slight problem at the end in that the chips didn't work, luckily all the gun times have been sorted so I do have an official time!
10 down and 2 to go :) not far away from completing my challenge! 6 weeks to wait until Bath Hilly Half, part of the trionium series of races, a great selection of trail races!
See you in 6 weeks! James
It was raining all of Saturday and Sunday morning but eased off into drizzle during the race. We were also treated to cold and windy conditions along with the wet underfoot conditions! Despite all of this, Elliot and I paced ourselves round in times of 1:25 with Elliot pulling away to beat me by around 20 secs! Well done mate :)
There was a slight problem at the end in that the chips didn't work, luckily all the gun times have been sorted so I do have an official time!
10 down and 2 to go :) not far away from completing my challenge! 6 weeks to wait until Bath Hilly Half, part of the trionium series of races, a great selection of trail races!
See you in 6 weeks! James
#9 Hanner Marathon Caerdydd
So October 2013 came by very quickly and so did my 9th and 10th half marathons! Number 9 was in the beautiful city of Cardiff where I could go and visit my wonderful sister, Becky, for the weekend too :) had a great weekend seeing her brand new office and going to a gig!
Well done to everyone who ran the Cardiff with me too :) especially Anna for running a 3 min PB of 1:33, a cracking performance and Tash for completing her first half marathon!
It was great weather on the day and the sunglasses had to make an appearance! An estimated 15,000 runners were on the start line and showed how much the Cardiff half marathon has grown recently. The course had changed from 2011 when I first ran it and took out the dual carriageway section, an excellent decision! I wanted to push the pace and see what I could do, even though training hadn't been great with a busy work month and exams!
The first 9 miles I felt great and was on for around 1:25 but then my legs basically said no! The bay is possibly one of the most picturesque parts of a half marathon I've done (this is my 20th in total in 4 and a half years!) and was feeling really good at this point. Still pleased with my time of 1:27:08 though as the injury comeback is still continuing!
Well done to everyone who ran the Cardiff with me too :) especially Anna for running a 3 min PB of 1:33, a cracking performance and Tash for completing her first half marathon!
Monday, 9 September 2013
Run to the Beat take 2 - the comeback
So 14 months after completing my 7th half marathon of my challenge I have
finally been able to do my 8th! In that time I have broken my foot and damaged
the ligaments, had two operations and been training back up since April.
Yesterday I ran Run to the Beat half marathon in 1 hour 26 minutes which I am extremely happy with as I wasn't sure how my foot would hold up in a race, even though training has been going well! So pleased to be back and with 4 half marathons to go over the next 3 months, I'll be able to finish my challenge :)
I have already raised £2,110.55 for Cancer Research and thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me so far. If you haven't and can possibly spare a few bob for a great cause then that would be fantastic as that's what this is all for!
Thanks very much and I'll let you all know how my next races go in Cardiff and Leicester at the beginning of October!
Yesterday I ran Run to the Beat half marathon in 1 hour 26 minutes which I am extremely happy with as I wasn't sure how my foot would hold up in a race, even though training has been going well! So pleased to be back and with 4 half marathons to go over the next 3 months, I'll be able to finish my challenge :)
I have already raised £2,110.55 for Cancer Research and thank you so much to everyone who has sponsored me so far. If you haven't and can possibly spare a few bob for a great cause then that would be fantastic as that's what this is all for!
Thanks very much and I'll let you all know how my next races go in Cardiff and Leicester at the beginning of October!
Cheers from a very happy James!
Thursday, 8 August 2013
The final five
After the challenge being put on hold last year with a broken foot, I am now back running fully and have entered the final 5 half marathons in September through to December. It was gutting to put it on hold having raised a fantastic £2,000 from all my amazing friends and family and I want to push home for these final races to raise as much as possible for Cancer Research that helps so many people.
I will be running Run to the Beat in September (the one I did being pushed around in a wheelchair last year!), Cardiff and Leicester in October, Bath hilly half in November and the Santa run in December. It's going to be a hectic few months completing the races and I hope I can raise a lot money in the process.
Follow me on Twitter to see my progress at the races! https://twitter.com/JamesGardner22
Looking forward to more regular posts on here now :)
James
I will be running Run to the Beat in September (the one I did being pushed around in a wheelchair last year!), Cardiff and Leicester in October, Bath hilly half in November and the Santa run in December. It's going to be a hectic few months completing the races and I hope I can raise a lot money in the process.
Follow me on Twitter to see my progress at the races! https://twitter.com/JamesGardner22
Looking forward to more regular posts on here now :)
James
Monday, 13 May 2013
Back running and planning to complete my challenge :)
So for the last month or so I have been back running! Very exciting given I had 8-9 months without going for a run which was very frustrating. Every week that passes and with every run or gym session my foot feels stronger and stronger!
Therefore, I feel it's time to crack on and finish my challenge! I have signed up for Run to the Beat half marathon in September, the one I completed being pushed round in a wheelchair, which will be my first one back. A fitting comeback I feel!
I may have to change some of the races however. The August 'Cross the bay' half marathon I don't think will be a good idea to do as my first one back and Bristol is only a week after Run to the Beat so may give that one a miss. Thinking of swapping in Leicester and Cardiff in October, both of which I have done before and are fantastic races!
The training starts now :) and as I haven't posted this yet, here is a little x-ray of my foot with the bit of screw that has been left in! Won't affect me though so bring on the rest of my challenge!
Yours, the bionic man
Therefore, I feel it's time to crack on and finish my challenge! I have signed up for Run to the Beat half marathon in September, the one I completed being pushed round in a wheelchair, which will be my first one back. A fitting comeback I feel!
I may have to change some of the races however. The August 'Cross the bay' half marathon I don't think will be a good idea to do as my first one back and Bristol is only a week after Run to the Beat so may give that one a miss. Thinking of swapping in Leicester and Cardiff in October, both of which I have done before and are fantastic races!
The training starts now :) and as I haven't posted this yet, here is a little x-ray of my foot with the bit of screw that has been left in! Won't affect me though so bring on the rest of my challenge!
Yours, the bionic man
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