The Great Edinburgh Run 5k Race Report

Hello again Fudgey Friends

As promised my race report from Sunday's 5k....

Pre Race Preparation

We had planned on taking our little princess with us but when we gave this some thought, especially given how hot & humid it has been, we decided that it was better to let her stay overnight on Saturday with her Grandparents.
After dropping her off, I got my kit ready, this was quite straight forward as I didn't need any gels or foot taping with this being a much shorter distance than I had previously been running. I made sure I had factor 50 on hand as I burn really easily & knew it was going to be hot, made sure Mr Garmin was charged & that my race number, safety pins & timing chip where all ready for Sunday morning.

On Sunday morning I was up at 6.15am, earlier than Bug who apparently slept in till 6.30am at her Grandparents! Normally on a race morning I have porridge but with this being 5k I didn't feel I needed my favourite M&S apple & cinnamon porridge, so it was tea, toast & about half a litre of water.

We left the house about 7.20am to get the bus at 7.34am - thankfully on this occasion First Bus didn't let us down.

We arrived in Edinburgh about 8.15 & walked up to the Royal mile & down Canongate. We had to wait for Starbucks opening at 8.30am. It was very strange as on previous occasions that I have started a race at Holyrood Park it has been really busy but on Sunday morning it was actually very quiet.
Quick coffee at Starbucks & use of their facilities & then down to Holyrood Park. Again very quiet, though did see some of the celebrities who were running the 10k later. Very pleasantly surprised not to have to queue for the portaloos. Then it was over to the start area.....

I have to say I was really unimpressed by the warm up, in my opinion it was too long for a 5k & though the music got me motivated I can't say the same for the warm up leader.

The Race

I can't begin to describe what it felt like to go over that start line after 15 months of pretty much no running - I wish someone could have captured the big smile on my face.

I had looked at the course & the elevation profile & knew it was hilly.

I always aim not to go off too fast at the start but it is inevitable when you get carried along by the runners around you & the crowd. There was very good support in Holyrood Park & the race announcers were very energetic & enthusiastic - in fact they should have done the warm up.

The first km was fantastic & as we got to the top of St Mary Street I knew I had the downhill of Canongate to look forward too, 2nd km was slightly faster & I actually held myself back a little as I knew that there was the climb up Abbey hill & regent road to come but it would have been so easy just to free 'wheel' down that hill. 3rd km was where it hit me hard, combination of the hill & the heat, I tried to tuck in under the trees on Regent Road to try & get some shade from the sun. Apparently at the start in the park at 9.30am it was already 22c.

At about 3.5km there was a 'shower' which was a very welcome relief. I can't believe some runners chose not to run through it. I liked it so much that I was very tempted to cross back over the road through the tape & use it again on the way back to the finish! The only downside of the shower was that between the fine mist of water & sweating my sun cream started to run & made my eyes sting, a small price to pay though.

The last km unsurprisingly was my fastest, it was downhill & I knew the finish was in sight. Was running really well at the 400m to go, held off at 200m to go but when I turned into the finishing straight & saw the line with maybe about 100m to go I let the legs just go......sprint finish :-)
Think I surprised some other runners as I overtook them!

I had the Fudgey gritted determined face on - I was finishing strong & I loved it.

In training I had only 'run' 5k twice, completing this in 38 minutes 40 seconds on my first attempt 3 weeks before the race & 36 minutes 27 seconds 2 weeks later 1 week before the race.

Looking at the conditions & the course I had told myself I'd be OK with a time between 37 & 40 minutes & I'd be happy with a time between 35 minutes & 37 minutes. So I was absolutely delighted to have an official time of 34 minutes 56 seconds. Yes this is about 5 minutes slower than my PB but when I consider everything that has happened since 2012 I am super proud of myself. It would have been so easy to say 'oh I've had a baby - I can't run anymore' & for some people that is the right decision for them but not for me.

Post Race

One of the things I love about Great Run events & the main reason I keep coming back is the organisation. They are so well organised throughout & as usual the volunteers in the finish area were great.

The race bag this year was probably not one of the best I've had in terms of volume of items & I think the medal wasn't as good quality as previous years but it was still a really lovely treat at the end. I would actually rather pay less for my race entry & just get a medal, a bottle of water & banana, yes I am cheap date than a bag full of things.

One criticism I do have is that the medal was in the bag, one of the things I love at the finish area is having my medal hung round my neck - again this is a personal preference.

Some observations about the event in general & some feedback to Great Run.....

Why was the date changed from October to July? I think a poor choice was made of the date clashing with T in the Park weekend & the start of the school holidays. I know several running friends who chose T in the Park over the run as TITP is once a year, there are loads of running events & I also know a number of people who took the first 2 weeks of July as holidays.

In general there was the usual great atmosphere & organisation that Great Run have always provided but it seemed numbers were down on previous years? Maybe due to the change in date?

I think runners are cherry picking the races they take part in now due to the cost & in general people watching what they spend. I don't think many people can afford to take part in several races anymore.


So post race we watched the start of the 10k & said hello to some of my running friends & wished them Good Luck & then headed home & to pick up our little Bug.

Coach Bug quickly claimed all the credit for my performance & the medal!

I have to say Thank you very very much to Granny & Grandpa for watching her for us.

BUT last & most certainly not least I have to say the biggest Thank you ever to my ever patient, super supportive, amazing, lovely Mr Fudgey. I couldn't have to got to where I am 6 months after having our girl without his love & support. It hasn't been an easy 6 months with me being seriously ill & us adapting to our new responsibilities as parents, & I haven't always been the easiest to live with. Those who know me well are probably reading this & smiling - yes I'm stubborn, determined, sheer bloody minded & a control freak who would also cry at the opening of an envelope - add into that all my post pregnancy hormones whizzing round - poor Mr Fudgey. Thank you for everything babe - love you lots xxxxx


Take Care all
love
Fudgey x x x x

Wonder Woman

Hello Fudgey Friends,

Don't you just love it when you get a little unexpected gift? Mr Fudgey got me this fabby wonder woman mug which I love. He also made personalised wrapping paper. He's so talented. He's really kind, generous & thoughtful too & I love him to bits

Well after my longest run to date on Sunday, yesterday simply had to be a rest day, much as I like to think I am, I'm not really Wonder Woman! Though I do try to be :-)

Week 9 Run 1
Today was my first run of the week & it was hill intervals on the treadmill, I ran 5 minutes & then 1 minute each at gradients of 6%, 8%, 10%, 8%, 6%, then ran for 2 minutes & repeated 1 minute each at gradients of 6%, 8%, 10%, 8%, 6%, finishing with an 8 minute run. It was hard work but a necessary evil as Sunday's Great Edinburgh Run is quite hilly & as I mentioned the first part of the half marathon course is round that b of a hill Arthur's Seat. Yes almost a bad word from Mrs Fudgey.
After my run I kicked off my latest mad challenge....

One Hundred push ups
I found this online - I can't remember but I was looking for at the time - this wasn't it but it did make me wonder if I could do 100 press ups. This is a 6 week training programme that you follow to be able to complete 100 press ups. Why? I hear you ask. Why Not! I reply.
Follow this link & check it out for yourself. If press ups aren't for you there are other challenges like squats and sit ups.
I did the initial test today & managed 25 full 'man' press ups. I think I could have squeezed out maybe 1 or 2 more but was happy with 25 as a starting point - so I'll let you know how the 6 week plan goes and if I actually can achieve 100 in a row.....you know me I'll give it a really good go.


Well I'm going to go off & treat myself to a nice bubble bath before a cup of tea in my new Wonder Woman mug.

Take Care everyone

love
Fudgey
xxx

100 Days to go / My Amazing Charity

Hello Fudgey Followers,

So the countdown tells me it's 100 days till the Edinburgh Half Marathon on 23rd May. I'm kind of excited & kind of nervous but I know I can do this and as with everything I do I'll give it my best.

Of course it's an enormous motivator that I'm running for charity not just for myself.

So let me introduce you to my amazing charity.

CCLASP
is an Edinburgh based charity that helps children and adolescents suffering from cancer and leukaemia & provides advice & support for parents

My first involvement with CCLASP was when one of my fabulous friends Eileen Norman was seeking volunteers to help with the annual CCLASP Christmas party, which is held at my office. Anyone else who works at Standard Life Investments, who has been involved in this day will back me up and tell you how much fun it is, even though it's hard work and can be emotional - it is one of the best ways to spend a day. So I signed up to help out with the party, at the time I also had a part time weekend job so I couldn't stay for the actual party the first year, but I helped out making sandwiches, getting all the gifts ready for Santa, filling helium balloons and getting everything ready.
Then in 2008 Standard life Investments celebrated their 10th Anniversary as part of our anniversary year we pledged to raise loads of money for CCLASP. Mr Fudgey & I took part in The Great Scottish Walk , a 12 mile walk round Edinburgh, this event was also sponsored by Scottish Slimmers, another very very very important part of my life - they helped me lose 6 stone ;~) but I shall save that story for another day. Mr Fudgey & I raised £500. I should also tell you Mr Fudgey did this the day before he started his new job - I hate to imagine what his new colleagues thought when he walked tentatively in the next day!
Standard Life Investments hosted a fabulous Christmas party in 2008 and this time I was able to stay the whole day. The great thing about CCLASP is that it's like a family and the whole family come to the party, every child gets a gift from Santa, not just the children who are ill. All the children are treated the same. All the families recognise each other or know each other from shared hospital time and other CCLASP events and it truly is an amazing support group. The parents can sit back & enjoy a coffee while the children run around, chase the lovely volunteers who have dressed up as TellyTubbies or characters from Monsters Inc, play party games or sit quietly & colour in. Of Course the highlight of the day is Santa's visit. Every child goes home laden down with goodies.

The Christmas Party is just one of the many many fun events that CCLASP organise. They also provide transport to and from hospital appointments, running a drop in centre, run a telephone helpline, arrange holidays, fundraisers, newsletters and the weekly clown entertainment on a Wednesday (theatre day) for those in hospital. These few things are just the tip of iceberg, Check out the website to find out more for yourself.

So this year I'm going to try & raise £1000 for my chosen charity. the main event being The Edinburgh Half Marathon. However I have now pledged to run a 1000km for £1000.

Events
The Great Winter Run - completed
Meadows 5km March
The Great Ireland Run April
The Great Edinburgh Run May
Edinburgh Half Marathon May

THANK YOU
to everyone who has sponsored me already - I really appreciate it so much & I know CCLASP will too.

SPONSOR ME PLEASE
Please please please sponsor me. Every little donation will help so much.
Your sponsorship will keep me motivated to keep training & keep blogging & will be thankfully received by CCLASP.

Please vist my just giving site, or come & see me if you prefer the old fashioned form method.

In true fudgey tradition there will be home baking to Thank you!

and you can check back to my blog regularly to see my trainign progress, classic Mrs Smith 'thoughts' and just my general all round fudgeyness

and if you don't sponsor me I can't promise that I won't show you my scabby runners feet with blisters & lost toenails......you have been warned :-)