2012 Race calendar

This list is provisional and will change at some point. I will also update this post regarding race times.

January 8th - Exeter Last Chance 10k
February 12th - Plymouth Hoe 10 mile (16k)
March 18th - Looe 10 mile (16k)
April 28th - Haldon Heartbeat (8.55 miles / 13.75k)
May 6th - Great Western 5k
May 27th - London 10,000 (10k)
June 24th - Torbay Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
July 28/29th - 24 hour Adidas Thunder run

TBC:
Plymouth 10k
Race for Life (5k)
Castle Combe (10k)
Tavvy 7 miles

I will be running for Mencap. To sponsor me - http://www.justgiving.com/Sofie-Haidon Thank you.

Castle Combe 10k

This race was much more difficult than Plymouth 10k. With Plymouth, it was a lap; with Castle Combe, it was 3 and a bit. 

The first lap seemed to go on and on forever and so did the last lap - despite the fact that the final lap is a bit shorter than the first two laps.

It being a race track, in one way, made things harder; because of the incline on the track.

I did enjoy this race and will consider doing this again.

Time 1:21:00.

My first experience of 3D films

I have never, up until last night, seen a 3D film. I have heard from many people with Nystagmus, (one of the eye conditions I have) that they can't see the 3D with or without the glasses.

Anyway, I went to see Tin Tin last night and was given some 3D glasses to wear. As someone who wears glasses, I found the 3D glasses to just be irritating; so didn't use them.

At no point in the film could I tell the difference between 2D and 3D - it all looks the same to me.

What a boring week!

Since last Sunday's 10k, I have really struggled with running. I don't race on a Monday; so that gave me time to rest before heading out for a run on Tuesday evening. That run was awful. I always find the first mile so difficult.

I went for a club run on Thursday, again, the first mile was difficult and I struggled to do a decent time. Yesterday was just as bad - I tried a different route, thinking that may help - it didn't. I managed just under a mile before walking the rest of the way home.

Have done very little else this week. Still no luck with job hunting - despite emailing 3 different employers on Tuesday about jobs, I haven't had a response from them at all. I am now getting fed up of taking my time to email them and tell them that I would like the job they're offering, just for them to completely ignore me.

Plymouth 10k Race Report

Today, was my first ever 10k race and the first time I did more than 5k in one racing session.

The race started at 8.15am - too early for me! I made the mistake of wanting to start near the front. I got overtaken by so many other runners. The first km came around very quick.

Annoyingly, I had to stop 3 times to sort my shoes out - that was so off putting.

Part way through the race (and for the second time this week) I got pins and needles - apparently, this is because I "strike" too hard. This makes running rather difficult and somewhat interesting...

Part way through the race, I ended up racing with about 4-5 people and kept trying to overtake them - including a man dressed as superman!

A quick glance at my watch at just over 5k showed that I had beaten my current 5k personal best. (38:50)

At around 5k, I could see a lot of people on the other side - including one of the people I ran with on Thursday at the running club. They cheered the rest of us on; as did the marshalls.

Not wanting to finish last, I knew I had to keep on running and no (or very little) walking.

The last km seemed to take ages to come around. Coming across the finish line was a lovely feeling.

Finish time - 1:18:41

So, I joined a running club...

I really do not like running by myself and sometimes, it feels like too much of a chore. After some thinking, I joined the local running club.

I went for my first session tonight and loved it. I had a free session tonight and have two more before I have to decide whether I join and pay £25 for the year and £10 for every year after. The £25 also means that I can get reduced (only a few pounds or so; but should get my money back if I end up doing 12 runs next year) entry to races.

I managed 5km tonight and really enjoyed it.

To half or not half

As mentioned in my first post, I will be doing 12 races next year. It has been suggested that I do a half, which I am not that sure about. However, I will see how my 10 mile race goes and decide from there.

Anyway, I received a pack from my chosen charity, Mencap. Amongst the sponsorship forms and information about the charity, was a half marathon training plan...