The Spar Great Ireland Run

Hello Fudgey Friends,

Sorry it's taken a couple of days - we were shattered after our mammoth journey back & I've not been feeling too great at all today - though much better now.

As promised a review on The Spar Great Ireland Run.

It was a perfect day for running on Sunday in Phoenix Park, Dublin. The previous 2 days had been gloriously sunny & on the Saturday I had even had to apply sun cream so I was anticipating it being hot on Sunday & was prepared for that, however it was dry but a little overcast, there were sunny intervals but never enough to be uncomfortable - perfect running conditions.

There were apparently 11,000 registered runners but I think only about 8,200 ran in the main event - the 10k.
This was the first run that I had been to with this number of runners, not to mention all the supporters. I actually found it quite intimidating & queuing for the portaloos wasn't much fun, but hubby seems to think that other people liked the anonymity that such a large field provided.
The race was meant to start at 1.05pm but for some reason was put back to 1.30pm - this meant I had to go join the toilet queue yet again & wait about 25 mins to reach the front.
Once lined up for the start the warm up was pretty impossible, there were too many people bunched up in the start area & a wee shortie like me couldn't see the person leading the warm up - I just vaguely followed the crowd - it was still fun, it was a bit like a Mexican wave as people copied those in front of them!
Once the gun went off it took around 7 minutes for me to actually get to the start line - where I started my garmin.
A lot of people had obviously not started in the correct waves as a many people were already walking - I had been in the 55 minute to 65 minute section but was very quickly moving past people. I resigned myself to the fact that hubby wouldn't be able to get a picture of me, there were just too many runners & then I saw him - so I shouted & he got some fantastic photos. Then I was off - I felt great but was minorly concerned I was running too fast but just stuck with it as it felt good. The crowd moved really well & there wasn't too much congestion on the course, only a couple of times did I get blocked in. Just before 5km there was a water stop - it wasn't the best organised - the volunteers were trying to get the bottles out of the plastic wrapping to hand out, they were behind a railing & it got very congested & with the number of runners you can imagine that part of the course becoming littered with bottles very fast - I tried to make sure I threw mine onto the grass verge after a couple of mouthfuls. Just beyond the 5km marker I had an energy gel. I have to stress though that as always I'm incredibly grateful to the organisers & volunteers - these events just couldn't happen without them.
It was amazing looking ahead & seeing runners stretched out so far ahead it was like a flowing river of runners. I loved the fact as well that there were runners of all ages, shapes, sizes & abilities just enjoying the day.
There were supporters all round the 10km course.
I found km 8 & 9 the hardest they were slightly uphill though I hadn't realised how much till the downward section. I just dug in though as I knew by that point I was on course for a good time & that I didn't have far to go to the end.
Phoenix Park is lovely - I wish I had had more chance to enjoy the scenery but I was so focused on my running & on trying not to get blocked in, cut anyone up or block anyone else in.
When I got to the home straight I was astounded to see Mr Fudgey again & he got yet more photos of me. I started to sprint at the 200m to go marker but had to ease up a little with about 50m to go as I'd gone too early & too fast but I was still running & as I crossed the line I shouted Woo Hoo!
As with most races I've been too there was a little bottle neck getting out of the finishing / exit area but I was soon tearing into the powerade & heading off to the meeting point to find hubby.

Garmin Results
According to the Garmin the course was 10.19km & my total time was 58 minutes 27 seconds. I was delighted with my pacing as I was really concerned I'd set off too fast but I kept the pace up well till the 8th & 9th km which also happened to be the 2 steepest.
1st km 5 mins 48 secs
2nd km 5 mins 40 secs
3rd km 5 mins 36 secs
4th km 5 mins 42 secs
5th km 5 mins 33 secs
6th km 5 mins 46 secs
7th km 5 mins 41 secs
8th km 6 mins 01 secs
9th km 6 mins 02 secs
10th km 5 mins 32 secs
194m 1 min

Official Chip time
confirmed as 58 minutes 25 seconds. A new personal best :-)
The fastest I had run 10km before this was in training when I ran 58 minutes 50 seconds - so I was more than a little pleased.


The Goodie Bag

Great run as always provided a fantastic goodie bag. Every runner had received a technical running top before the event & then on the day a cute red drawstring bag with a medal, a bottle of powerade, a space blanket, a sample of vaseline healthy feet & legs. an eat natural bar, a power bar energy bar, a packet of chocolate eclairs, a packet of chocolate covered raisins & of course a bottle of water.

I'm really pleased we made the journey to Ireland for the run in spite of the volcanic ash chaos. I had a lovely few days with Mr Fudgey & a great run.
As I said in my post on Sunday - Mr Fudgey is the best - he deserves a medal too.

THANK YOU AGAIN
We also need to say Thank you again & again & again to Mr Fudgey's dad for taking us to & picking us up from the ferry - it wouldn't have been possible without him. Thank you xxxxx

So that was the end of week 7 of the EHM countdown, less than 5 weeks to go till the half marathon now.

So the Stats for Week 7
Distance run this week 36.13km / 22.45 miles
Time running 3 hours 45 minutes 27 seconds

I should have ran 35 minutes easy today but as I've been feeling quite sicky & never ate all day I didn't even attempt it. I'll be back on the training regime tomorrow though.

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 :-)