World Championship Training: Night Time Running

It has been said to me on several occasions that I am very lucky to have what I have, and be able to do what I do.  I personally do not believe in "luck" per se.  Yes, I am fortunate to have been given the opportunities, (which I have taken) to experience some of the events that I have.

I want to share one such opportunity, one of these experiences with you, allow you to decide whether I am lucky or something else..

 

DRRRRRIIIIIIING!!  It is 12:35 am; my alarm has rudely awakened me after less than two hours sleep.  I leap out of bed and pull on my running clothes that were strategically placed by my bed only hours before.  As I change from pyjamas to running clothes, I realize that I must have been very restless in my sleep as my bedclothes are damp from my sweat.

I do not even stop for coffee, just pick up my running belt with Freddo frog and gel bar inside, take an pre made up special drinks bottle from the fridge and head out the door, strapping a head torch to my midriff as I exit.

Yes, at this ridiculous time of night I am going running - two hours is the plan. 

I am doing this because my 100k race will be run over night and I have never done that before.

This morning I do not take the dogs with me, I am running alone.  Running into the dark of the night.

It has just started raining, light drops cold and sharp upon my skin.  I consider turning back to get my waterproof jacket, but decide against it and push on, hopefully it will only be a cooling shower…

As I run through the village, I am aware that everything feels different, the sounds and smells feel strange to me.  There are few cars around, no people, no birds singing - no signs of life apart from the breath escaping from my mouth.

I feel my heart rate quicken, adrenalin pumping through my veins and I realize that I am scared.  There could be strange people around, drunken louts or worse.  I am out with my comfort zone and miss the dogs.

For 25 minutes I run on heightened alert, constantly planning escape routes if any situation should arise.  At 24 minutes and 32 seconds, I make my escape from fear.  I turn of the road and into the security of the countryside.  In my mind I have reached a safe zone.  My heart rate lessens and I start to relax. 

The rain has intensified now and I begin to realize that it might remain for the rest of my run.  I hear a rumble in the distance that sounds like very heavy traffic, and yet it does not…  Then suddenly all before me lights up in a flash of what appears to be bright blue light.   I am in the middle of a thunderstorm!

I hesitate, unsure whether to be enthralled or petrified.  It is exciting, but I feel that I should be wary, worry about the potential threat to my safety.

The rain is heavy now, soaking all my clothes and dripping down my face.  My gloves can only absorb so much and I know that before long they will be saturated and my hands cold.

I am unsure of the path that I am now running on, it seems flatter than when I normally run in daylight, flatter and wider and I feel very close to the pigs (who were all safely in their sleeping quarters, little snorty noises to be heard every now and again.

I start feeling uncomfortable, I do not feel familiar with this track.  I continue for a while longer, becoming more hesitant with each stride.  I think I have taken a wrong turn, I do not know when but I now know that I am not heading in the correct direction.  I turn around, heading back where I came from.  This error unsettles me, as I am completely unaware of when it happened.  Logic tells me that I cannot actually get lost (just always head for the lights of the Factory that I see in the distance) but the fear of the unknown is strong.  I reach the main track and instantly know what happened.  I over ran my exit by one metre.  I ran on the opposite side of the fence and was actually running in the piggies playground.  The electric fence is closed over during the day, this evening it was open.  For about ¼ mile I was actually running parallel to the track I should have been on!!

Even though I now know without doubt that I am on the correct track, I still feel uncomfortable for a few minutes, every shadow, tree and ridge in the track appearing alien to me, not part of my in built mind map of the area.

The rain is relentless now, intensity increasing as time progresses.

I start thinking of my bed, the place that I leapt from just one hour ago.  I want to be back there, snuggled under the duvet.  Warm and cozy, sweet dreams filling my mind.  It will not be, I am on a mission and my mission does not end for another one hour.

I am now running very close to a place where I once had a very happy memory of what was and remains to this day, the most amazing feeling that I have ever experienced.  The happy memory of this place was ultimately overridden by sad memories, extreme sadness, betrayal and loss.  But even then, I still remember what it feels like to have that amazing feeling; it is forever ingrained in my mind.  For a few moments I relive the sadness, mourn that past life, and that in turn takes my mind back to the race of my life, the only race that I have ever run in the dark.  In the darkness of my mind and also the darkness of the night - I remember it well.  That race gave me so much; I found something in me that I did not think possible, found something that I now understand and have allowed to grow. 

I have no regrets.

In the end he did not share my dream, did not want to share me.  That was what he wanted, his choice, we all make choices and grow from them.  They shape us into what we become.  I became stronger, more determined to succeed.  One day to have that feeling again and it to remain with me forever.

Now is not the time for negative reflection, I have done all that, made the decision to move on and learn from the experience.  Now is the time to persevere in what has become a major thunderstorm!

I cannot feel my fingers; they have gone numb with the cold.  My feet are squelching within my shoes as I run through roads and tracks that have become rivers.  Splash in and out, with not many outs.

I want my bed, I want warmth dryness and I want sleep. I want to wear my GBR warm up suit – so comfortable and cozy.  I want these things, but at the same time I am glad to be where I am, enjoying what I am doing.  How many people can do this, how many could actually be determined and focused to such an extent that they would take this sort of thing in their stride like water of a duck’s back…

There is another blinding flash of light and I catch sight of an object moving rapidly towards me along the ground and at speed.  It takes me a split second to realize that it is a young rabbit heading straight towards my feet.  Whether blinded by my torchlight or the lightening strike I do not know, but this poor rabbit appeared very disorientated.  I moved slightly to the right, but even then I could not avoid contact with this little fellow.  I do not think that he was hurt, I am even unsure if he was aware of the close danger, he hurtled away into the dark and hopefully the safety of his burrow.

The rest of my run is uneventful, just me foundering along in the dark river, all of my body numb with cold.  I do no fear that I will not making it home, I know that I will.

With one mile to go my ankle suddenly starts aching, there was no specific reason, no trip nor fall, but the ache was intense reminding me of my vulnerability.  Reminding me that my dream could still be take from me prematurely.

As I turn the corner to home I think of the question “am I lucky”?  My answer for tonight is “this is not luck, this is one of the reasons why I am a Champion”!

Home at last, (I have run for 2 hours and one minute) it takes me several minutes to open the door, I cannot turn the key within the locked door - my hands are so cold.  They are so numb that they cannot function properly.  Just as I ready myself to waken my housemate, I manage to twist my hand in such a way that the key turns and door opens into a warm and dry world.

I go to bed fully clothed in my GBR warm up suit – it takes me several hours to warm up!  My body has been completely chilled to the bone.

I fall asleep with pleasant contentment of mission accomplished.  I will awaken in several hours and go for a one-hour run with the dogs.  Why?  Because I can…..

 

A Very Historical Event

Guess what.... the temptation was too much!

I went for a very little run, just to try it out, to experience the dream.

And to the far left, a very historic photograph - the first ever image of me wearing a GBR vest.

The second photo is of a happy dancing puppy, sharing my elation!  

Next year Kez will wear the doggy equivalent of a GBR vest when he represents GBR at the CANIX European Championships!

When The Dream Starts to come Alive

I expected tears.  Phenomenal emotion as I opened the special box.  It arrived this morning, my GBR kit - clothes that money cannot buy!  There is so much, so many items that I am almost lost for words.  Speechless.

Today is a "rest" day, I am not supposed to run.  How can I resist the temptation to run this evening.  To run and experience a GBR vest for the first time in my life.  A lifetime's dream achieved.....

Lunch time Running in London

Here’s a nice little lunch time run – 38 minutes at easy pace.  Just long enough to blow out the morning cobwebs, returning fully energized for an afternoon’s hard slog in the office.

It was one of those almost spontaneous runs, no serious planning, just a request from a friend, and as I write, just realized it was my first run around London with another person!!

The aim was to get to Green Park, one of London’s parks, where it would be a little quieter and more relaxing than running around busy streets.  

Of course several busy streets have to be negotiated first, so bracing ourselves we surge forth amidst a sea of city dwellers….

Leaving Great Newport Street we headed through China Town, where I temporarily got lost in the moment.  I am going to visit China next week for the first time.  I am very excited and yet very nervous.  Travelling alone – big adventure, but big scary too.  What if I get lost, cannot eat or struggle to sleep (big worry the week before a World Championship race).  Lost in the moment of China/ Town I drift along, smelling the smells and taking in the sights of what feels like a different world.

We exit China Town and head down a congested street (I will look at my map when I get home, but I think we were heading to Piccadilly Circus/ Regent Street.).  People everywhere, we duck and dive, covering many extra yards as we bounce from window front, to edge of pavement.  I think of the dogs, the fun we could have playing slalom games upon the streets of London.  Probably scaring the nation as a pack of wolves careers down City Streets!

It is fun.  I feel invigorated as we charge down the streets.  Feel powerful, as we are running and others only walking.  I would love to be like the Pied Piper, the man whom all the rats follow by music, only I want others to follow me running.  Want them to feel the invigoration, the energy and the freedom that running brings – the world that can open up to you.

We reach Green Park and breathe a wee sigh of relief.  We have space now to run full stride (if we wanted, but lets keep it easy pace for now) and head right in the park heading towards Hyde Park.

There is now a mass of runners before us, so different from the streets only minutes before.  These runners are heading in all directions, all in their own little worlds – some with earphones, some with friends, others merely with their own thoughts.

Today I have some of my thoughts, plus also words shared with a friend, my running companion for the day.  I am not used to running with others and not used to holding a conversation as I run.  I feel my breathing affected, feel my body reacting differently to the variation in oxygen uptake.  It is not bad, just different and I am enjoying the companionship and sharing of time and space.  Too often running is my world alone, where I go to escape from others and deal with pain and my own mind demons.  Or at least I used to, in what now feels like a previous life.  Now I run for fun and with intent.  A deep desire to follow and pursue my dream until the end.

We reach Hyde Park Corner and enter the park, turning right and running along the sand for a few short strides, thinking of beaches and the salty sea, summer suns and BBQs.  Galloping bareback on a grey Spanish horse, mane and hair flying in the wind.  It is amazing how creative the mind can be when running upon ground prepared for horses living in the City!

We run partially around Hyde Park before taking a left at one of the Cross Roads, heading towards the Serpentine.  Admiring the view of Kensington in the distance we think – our geography might need a little work…

The ducks and geese are aplenty on this path, ambling merrily along between water and path.  If only they knew that the previously committed vegetarian is now looking at them and thinking how much iron does your body have, if I can eat deer, can I eat you…?

Food cravings not satisfied, we leave the ducks alive for now, and head back to Hyde Park Corner and down towards Buckingham Palace.

Running along Horse Guards Parade I am struck by the number of Union Jack flags proudly flying high.  I think of the Union Jack that I will soon be wearing across my chest, and remember that I have still not received my precious GBR kit.  The clothes that when I wear for the first time will bring me emotion like none I have ever felt before.  I believe I will feel a sense of pride that I might well never feel again.  The “first time”, in so many areas of our lives is always special, a treasured moment to carry forward through all the tough times we know we will encounter in the future.

We have a final burst towards Trafalgar Square, where I nearly needed to resort to First Aid treatment when my running friend nearly lost her ankle on a misplaced paving slab, slightly proud from its companion.

Trafalgar Square is our finish line today.  We walk from there to the office, cooling down and savouring the post run feeling.  I look across at the Albannach and remember Saturday night, remember the experience pre, during and post.

Memories are good.  If you write a memory, you encapsulate it in time.  It is there for eternity.  So long as you remember to press the SAVE button.

The Albannach

As I stand outside the Albannach Restaurant, I feel extreme excitement, and yet overwhelming nervousness.  I feel more nervous today than I do when I am standing on the start line at a race, representing my country!  I am here to fulfill my challenge.  I am here to eat meat and bring to an end a commitment to vegetarianism that I have held for over 20 years.  When I leave this restaurant tonight, I will be starting a new commitment in the quest of my dream.

Today I have the support of one of my best friend’s and the person that I consider the closest thing to my soul mate.  He has helped me reach this point, helped me decide that I can do this, which is why I chose to share this very special occasion with him.

He reassuringly touches me as we enter through the doors.

Gorgeously glamorous, devilishly decadent and seductively smart, Albannach is London’s finest, contemporary Scottish bar and restaurant. I feel a sense of pride as we walk into the bar. Proud of my Scottish heritage, of being a Scottish Champion and pleased that this restaurant resides in the City of London.

We are immediately met by Stuart Bale, the Manager for the evening and fully briefed on “my challenge”.  It is good to hear a familiar accent and I start feeling less tense and more excitement about the evening.  Coincidently, Stuart’s hometown in Scotland is only minutes from the town of my birth.

We decide to start the evening by experiencing some of the delicious cocktails in the comfort of the luxurious sofa seating.  Sitting and relaxing in such sumptuous surroundings dressed in Scottish heathers and blues I feel quite at home.  Stark black and white Scottish landscape photographs by Charlie Walte adorn the walls, reminding me of some of my favourite places on this earth.  The Beauchaille Etive Mor at the head of Glen Etive being just one example

Within minutes I am feeling more relaxed and enjoying the atmosphere of the bar and the buzz of the cocktails pulsing through my body.  We spend time enjoying the ambience and catching up with each other’s stories and recent experiences. 

Three cocktails later (I think…), Stuart returns and escorts us to the mezzanine restaurant – enclosed by an impressive art nouveau balustrade, the restaurant, with its dark chocolate oak flooring, bronze ceiling and matching mahogany tables welcomes us with open arms.

The menu offers a great selection, but I skim over the dishes, I know what I want and I order immediately.  It will be venison, the meat that has highest levels of iron and B12 – pure energy and blood food for me today!

Our starters are scallops with pea puree, which are delicious and quickly devoured by both of us.  A few swigs of Rioja Tinto and the main courses arrive….

The dish looks beautiful, presentation immaculate.  The venison is sitting upon a bed of scallion mash, with wild mushrooms and asparagus to the side.  I look across at my dinner companion’s steak, but take in no details of the dish.  My mind is too fixated on what I am about to do, my palms are sweaty and my heart rate racing explosively.

I can do this I tell myself.  It is no harder that taking those “yeuchy”-tasting tasting supplements twice every day.  I pick up my knife and fork and touch the meat.  I start to cut and then hesitate.  I see the deer, see him before his life was ended.  Running wild across heather and mountain, free spirited and alive a vision of great beauty. 

This is hard.  He did not feel anything, he did not suffer, probably did not even hear the bang.  But still I hesitate because I remember why I stopped eating meat all those years ago.  I look across at the steak – I see the cow.  I feel a little sick as I think of the different life a cow has compared with a deer.  I look back down on my plate, knife poised to make the first cut….

I am surprised at the effort I have to make to cut such a small piece of meat.  I am used to slicing straight through vegetables I guess.  I raise it to my mouth, and in it goes.  I feel eyes all around me, watching to see my reaction, waiting to see me do this.  I feel sick, feel nervous and want to leap from my chair and run away.  Give up before I start.  But I cannot, I feel the pull of my dream and I start chewing.

I chew and chew and chew.  Not because the meat is tough, but because as soon as I stop chewing and swallow I have ended a twenty-year run.  As I think of “running” I start thinking of my next big run – the World Championships! Remember why I am here, and I swallow.

I like its’ taste.  That surprises me and I realise at that point that a new world has just opened up to me.  The World of Meat.

I finish the rest of the meal and even manage to try some of the steak.

Feeling pleasantly satisfied, we opt for some delicious desserts of Highland Coffee with tablet and Cranachan, which are soon polished off with gusto.

As we finish our drinks and prepare to leave the restaurant, I feel a sense of contentment and achievement.  I have satisfactorily completed another challenge and together with one of my most favourite people, we have experienced an amazing evening and fabulous meal.

I am in gratitude to Jon Laycock, Kate Lester and Stuart Bale for making this event possible, and Head Chef Raphael Nabylon for creating the dish.  Eternally grateful to Gaetan for his support helping me create this challenge and sharing it with me.

I know that I will be back to the Albannach soon, return to try some more of their meat options!!

Sandra Bowers

2007 & 2009 100km Scottish Champion

Accepting my own Challenge - Eat Bambi...

I have been a vegetarian for over 20 years.  Not eaten any meat since I was a child.  

This is about to change, I am going to eat meat....  

I started eating fish last year in order to ensure my body was getting enough protein, omega 3 etc. and also to broaden the variety of food available to me.  For the past three months I have been trying desperately to increase the iron (ferritin) levels in my blood.  I need this iron to help the oxygen uptake of my blood when I am training, need it to help me improve my running efficiency and ability.

The body needs oxygen in every cell, the iron in hemoglobin (within the red blood cells) carry this oxygen from the lungs to where it is needed.  Also if iron levels are low, the body cannot use all the energy available to it, as iron is essential for the chemical reactions that produce energy from food.

I have eaten copious amounts of spinach, and green vegetables, taken vitamin tablets combined with iron supplements (vitamin C assists the absorption of iron).  It has not been enough.  I have always known that there is no replacement for the haem iron found in meat, other sources provide non-haem iron (cereal, bread, vegetables, eggs) but are not absorbed by the body as effectively as haem iron.  

My blood test this week proves that my ferritin levels are still low.  

Three months ago I was advised that meat would give my body what it needs.  I responded by saying that I closed no door to what I might need do in order to improve, but it would be a huge challenge just to put meat in my mouth, never mind eat it regularly.  

I am now preparing myself for one of my biggest challenges yet - I am going to start eating meat.  I will do it as a controlled experiment over the next three months.  My future could change immensely if it proves successful.

I have researched which meats will fit best for me from a nutritional and also an ethical perspective and have decided that the first meat I want to eat is venison.  I apologise to all those dedicated vegetarians out there.  I choose to break a long term commitment made as a child, in pursuit of a dream.  

I think I might watch Bambi one last time before I do........

When A Dream Becomes a Reality

Two weeks ago to this very day, I achieved a life time's dream.  I regained my Scottish National 100k title in a comfortable personal best time that has earned me qualification to represent Great Britain at the World 100k Championships in Belgium.  

The facts are there, medals in my hand and yet I still do not feel the achievement in my body.  I say the words, hear the words and yet do not seem ready to accept what I have done, I do not feel the emotion that I know I will.  It almost feels like I am in denial - I thought it was only bad things that sent me into denial.  This dream is most definitely a good thing!  Five years ago I was told that I would never run again because of my ankle injury, five years later I am still running and destined to compete with the world's best endurance athletes.  And I have earned the right to be there.

THE RACE

I started the race with no big expectations.  I wanted to finish, and wanted to finish sub nine hours.  The memory of my last 100k fresh in my mind.  Memories of the emotional pain that I struggled with during the race, and memories of my journey as a result of the experience.  Although the past few weeks have been physically exhausting (new job, 4 hours daily commute), mentally I am stronger than I have even been.  I believe in me fully now.  Believe that I can achieve all that I say I will.  This belief is a powerful force.  As physical energy seeps from my body it waits in the wings and then surges forward gives me extra charge...

I was a little concerned about how my mind would cope with the race course, which was fifty laps up and down the sea front.  Not an exciting course, completely flat, but exposed and if there were any substantial sea "breezes" they would take their toll on body and mind.  There was also the inevitability of constantly being overtaken by all the faster runners!  

I started the race very conservatively, almost felt like jogging as I pottered along all on my own near the back and was soon being overtaken by all the other Scottish ladies.  I was keeping an eye on the clock and knew roughly what my lap times were, and so I was surprised by what others were doing in the race - I actually kept thinking that I had my timings wrong and must be running slower than I thought.  It worried me a little, but I felt confident and decided that I was going to run my own race and save myself for the later stages when pain normally kicks in.  I wanted to try and run as equal splits as possible, and wanted my last mile to be sub seven minute mile pace.

I started eating inside the first hour - good old Freddo the chocolate Frog was the first to fuel me, followed by some gels, mints, bananas and even some baby food.  Later in the race I had flapjack and mini rolls.  I had an intense craving for carrot cake but there was none - must remember for my next race.  The baby food was amazing (strawberry rice in a sachet that I could squeeze easily) and I felt the energy from it very quickly. P.R.N. tried eating it one afternoon this week - yeauch, only tastes nice when you really need it as fuel, not one to eat for pleasure!

When running for nine hours (0k 8.5 hours this time), I have the opportunity to  think a lot without any interruptions.  No phones, no email, no one demanding that you answer a question or solve a problem.  No dogs that need walked or fed, dishes that need washing....  It is an amazing free time that does not come round very often.

People ask me regularly what I think of when I am running.  I have shared many of my thoughts through this website.  During this race I thought of me, myself and I.  Where I have been and where I am going...

I felt extremely comfortable until just before half way, and then disaster.  Due to the tight turns on the course my ankle started objecting, pain ensued and I started limping heavily.  I started fearing the worst, those words from the doctor of five years ago fresh in my mind.  Was it now time to plan my retirement from running?  Stop before I have gotten properly started on my racing career?  I could feel gut wrenching sadness deep in the pit of my stomach as I considered pulling out of the race.  To pull out now would be detrimental to my confidence and I did not want to consider the implications of that.  I stopped at the feeding station and put heavy strapping on my ankle in the hope that it would be enough.  I also took Ibubrofen, which I have never taken during a race before (I do not like taking any medication under "normal" circumstances), but I had to try anything just to keep running.

The next few laps were extremely tough, physically and mentally.  I ran very wide on all the turns to protect my ankle, almost hopping at one point to ensure no unnecessary pressure was placed on the "injury".  The pain did settle and I knew that I would be able to continue.

I soon started picking up the pace again, gaining on the people that had lapped me in the first half.  As the laps started counting down, (in my world they go up in the first half, down in the second) I began lapping people and was soon in front of all the Scottish ladies.  I do have to confess at this point I did get a little buzz.  The pull of regaining my Scottish National title was strong.  I wanted it back, wanted to go into the Commonwealth Championship as the Champion of my Country.  This pull gave me energy, combined with my belief in me and my dreams strong in my mind I felt good.  I was a little concerned that I felt too good, was the crash just about to come....?  Pride before the fall...

Nine laps to go, then eight, seven, six, five - whoa hold on, I only had five left and yet the lap recorders told me I had six to go!  I screeched to a halt and refused to continue until it was resolved....  Ok, that bit didn't really happen but the vision is quite entertaining!

I did question the count, but couldn't really argue and just assumed that I had gotten confused at some point.  I did want to stop, but knew that the end was far too close for that.  And I was going to earn those two free pints of Guiness!

I had known for some time (by my calculations) that I was on schedule for 8.5 ish hours, even if I had one more lap than I thought it would still earn me a convincing personal best time.  My biggest concern at this point was that Izzy (second Scottish female) appeared to be gaining on me and I didn't have my one lap ahead advantage anymore.  I have Izzy to thank for my time as she really did push me on, I was so determined not to lose my crown and kept digging every time I saw her on the course.  I am so pleased that she achieved such an amazing personal best (knocking off about 50 minutes I think) and has achieved the qualification time for the Commonwealth Championships - well done Izzy!

With two laps to go, everyone suddenly appeared very interested in my time. If I could pick up the pace I would be very close to 8:40, which was GBR qualification time for the World Championships.  I had been "pain managing"my entire body for the last two hours and picking up the pace did not seem a possibility, but somehow I did it and managed to finish in 8 hours and 38 minutes.  I was so time conscious that I did not even have time to hold the flag properly as I crossed the finish line, I just grabbed it and ran home!

I had finished another 100k, regained my Scottish title, a personal best time and achieved the qualification time to represent Great Britain.

At the prize giving, the GBR team manager said some lovely words about my run and my excellent time of 8:28.  I got really embarrassed and flustered as I tried to explain that it was actually 8:38 when I finished.

I then turned to someone else to ask them to remedy this error, to be told "oh yeah, you ran an extra lap - once we checked your lap times it was obvious!"

I have to say, I was not cross in any way.  Nice to know that I can actually count during a race though!

The final icing on the cake was on Sunday morning when I was told that I had been selected to represent Great Britain in the team event of the World Championships in Belgium in June 2009.  My first GBR vest and the realisation of a dream held ever since I knew who Seb Coe was!

At the start of this post I said that I had not yet felt my achievement.  I feel it now.  Tears are rolling down my face as I read the words and relive the race.  Tears flow as I remember all my dreams as a child, hours of inspiration watching Coe, Ovett and Cram and the races they ran.  Sebastian Coe my first ever hero, idolised as a child and my reason for running 800 metres.  Little did I know that I would have to run 125 of them in succession to earn my vest!