In May of this year I tentatively set up a Facebook Group
after some initial interest from some friends and Mum’s at my daughter’s
school. The objective was to pick a race at some point in the future and enter it
as a ladies only group to raise money for Children with Cancer UK ltd. My first
update on the site was as follows;
‘Attention all lady joggers. This FB page has
been set up to use your 'get up and go' to get up and go running !! The aim is to run
5 miles, in September for a great charity Children with Cancer UK. Please use
this page to discuss training schedules, upload pictures, arrange runs etc. Who
knows, we could organise our own event next year. Remember pain is only
temporary, but the satisfaction of achievement lasts forever. Let’s do this :o)’
Looking for a reasonable
distance and a realistic training timetable I picked the Victory 5 Mile race
organised by Portsmouth Joggers on the 15th September. This would
give about 4 months to train for it. The ladies who showed interest were a mix
of those that had never run before and those who had run a little.
Early on we had some
injuries which depleted the gang, we lost Suzie and Fiona who had been training
hard for the event. We now had a group of 5 runners who decided collectively on
a name of the ‘Victory Vixens’. These consisted of Nikki Bone, Amanda Ware,
Caroline Tyler and Sarah Fergusson. Nikki was a complete newcomer to running,
whereas Mandy Caroline and Sarah had moderate experience of race day running
and had completed the Great South Run previously.
We set up a Virgin Just
Giving site for sponsorship;
and got down to the nitty gritty of training
hard for this race. We promoted the group through friends and family, social
networking and local groups and organisations. I had never met Sarah or
Caroline before and was immensely chuffed that they joined the group and helped
raise some serious cash and awareness for the charity. Nikki had a special
reason for running this race, she had lost her nephew Daniel to Cancer when he
was just 6 years old and it would have been his 13th birthday in the
week leading to race day. The generosity of her friends and family showed, and
our target of £300 was well on its way to being hit already.
The determination and
focus to go from running 0 miles to 5 miles was displayed on every training run
(well most anyway) and the banter and support on the FB page was awesome. Mandy
was eating up the miles up and down Southsea sea front whilst Caroline and
Sarah was pounding the hills of Waterlooville, Nik and I tried to go out twice
a week locally and incorporated some runs through Foxes Forest and the Sea
Front too. The Vixens were certainly taking shape as race day was fast
approaching.
The race itself is very
flat, but being on the water’s edge means there is a high likelihood of wind at
some point, it is very open and comprises of a there and back course with a
loop of Lakeside 1000 (the previous IBM building). The 10k race was being run
the same day and they would have to loop twice. The best thing is that the race
starts and finishes on the running track at the Mountbatten Centre, this means
that supporters have a great place to watch the start and finish, and on the
day the runners will feel amazing as they sprint down the track ‘finish line’
bound.
Ok one final word about
the supporters before we crack on with the race itself, this is a massive thank
you to everyone that has supported in some way, to Justine and Dan who have had
to fend for themselves whilst Nik and I have been out training, sometimes late
into the evening. To the families and partners, sons and daughters who have
been woefully neglected whilst everyone has got their jog on. To everyone that
turned up on the day including Fiona, Lisa Steve and family, Joseph and Oscar whose
fantastic display of breakdancing kept our minds occupied before the race
started, and to Caroline’s husband and family for the cheers over the line.
Race Day!!
We all meet up in the
sports hall and get our numbers, nervous and excited. This was the first time
we had all been together. I was (and am) immensely proud of everyone that day,
this has been months and months’ worth of fundraising and training and today
was the day. We all have our charity vests on and it felt like we were a real
team. An accumulation of all the hard work, the street pounding, the booze abstinent
(ha ha yeah right), the fundraising, had all boiled down to this moment and I
cannot tell you how emotional and proud it made me feel.
Venturing outside (with
maybe one or two nervous WC trips) we presented ourselves to the chilly
overcast conditions. There was a slight breeze in the air and all the signs of
Autumnal weather were now dominantly apparent. The summer had given me a hope
that it would still continue, that it wasn’t really over and that at any time
soon I would swap my wind jacket for the sun tan lotion as we experienced a
freak Indian summer that would continue to last until at least Christmas. No
such luck today but at least it wasn't raining.
There was only about 20
minutes to the gun as we stretched, lunged and jogged to warm up. The Vixen’s
families had taken camp near the final straight of the track to ensure maximum
shouting and banner waving to convince a sprint finish out of weary legs. We
all huddled together for the ‘before’ photo’s before walking to the other side
of the track to take our positions. Dishing out high fives (Sarah you left me
hanging) I separated from the girls and moved up a bit further up the track. I
stood next to Steve who I sometimes see on the marathon circuit, he had a big
race last week and next week is planning 3 marathons in 3 days, he is on his 94th
marathon and not long to go before joining the hallowed 100 marathon club and
can wear their coveted singlet, Steve is a lot older than me and it goes to
show exactly what you can do when you put your mind to it.
For me I wanted to run
the race in sub 32 minutes 30 seconds to keep me on track for a sub 40 minute
10k in October. The weather had turned out nice and there was only a slight
chance of a drizzle which meant conditions were nigh on perfect. The 5 mile
race is mainly a club race, this means that everyone is of a good standard, I
was going to use this to my advantage and try and catch on to the coat-tails of
the faster guys and keep with them for as long as possible.
The 5 mile and the 10k started
at the same time, which meant there was a real mix of people and ability on the
start line all mingled in with each other, it also meant there would be a fight
finding position and pace in the first 400 metres or so. I was stuck on the
inside about half way through the pack and indeed had to pick my way through
gingerly before darting to the outside lane where it was clear.
The race started and off
we went, after I had found the outside lane I set off at a pretty good pace, I
could hear the supporters cheering us as I hit the first straight and rounded
the corner towards the exit into the promenade. Schools of people were
overtaking me at this point, I thought I was going at a pretty strong pace,
however not as fast as the leading (Kenyan) runner as he quickly disappeared
out of sight in the distance (he would later win by running under 5 minute
miles). I was definitely being overtaken by more people than I was overtaking,
I wasn’t disheartened as this was a club race and the standard would therefore
be very high indeed, I wasn’t even set back when a small Father Christmas like
character in a striped singlet breezed past me like I was standing still, I now
know how he delivers all the presents so quickly on Christmas Day.
The first leg took us up
to Hillsea Lido, I had already split this race into 5 unequal parts, I often do
this in a race as it makes it easier to control my timings and also gives me
targets to run to. The Lido was my first split, the second was up to Lakeside
1000, this was only a short distance but once it has been run it feels good
that two parts are over and done with.
Our race coincided with
the Ruby Ride for Rowans Hospice, I didn’t see any cyclists but their
supporters were there and clapped and cheered us on as we went passed heading
into the estate, a loop here saw us back on to the pavement and then down towards
the Lido, splits 1, 2, 3 were complete. It was here where I picked up an award
for having the most uncomfortable stitch. At first it was just a niggle which I
thought I could run off, apparently it had other ideas though and decided to
manifest and stick with me for a while, to be fair I have had nicer running
buddies.
Split 4 completed and
just the home straight to go, running round the corner and past the Lido and
then boom, WIND!! It was like running into a small wall, I started to tire and
just clocked in a very poor mile, I was making noises like I was chanting for
rain but it seemed that I was overtaking people, this was just the little boost
I needed to hoist up my skirt and push for home. Passing the one mile marker I
always have a little saying in my head ‘this is now just 6 and a half minutes
of your life Andy, don’t stop now!’
Heading for home I put a
bounce in my step and grimaced against the wind, I could now see the turn into
the track and pushed hard, I kind of forgot that there was another 400 metres
to go once I had got there, which then seemed like another bloody mile! Just as
my feet welcome the red spring of the track surface two ladies overtake me on
the bend, I kept close behind them
though, I could hear the shouts of the supporters and cries of ‘come on Andy/Daddy’,
and orders to ‘run faster’ and ‘sprint’. I started the sprint into the straight
and swooped past the ladies, rounded the final bend and pushed over the line.
I gently jogged back over
to where everyone was standing and handed my medal to Jessica, my time was
acceptable considering how I felt, and I was only 20 seconds off of where I
wanted to be at 32 minutes 51 seconds. I now wanted to go back and cheer the
Vixens to the finish line.
I jogged back through the
course and it wasn’t long before I saw Mandy, looking ace and in a brill time.
I then saw Sarah, again looking good, I reminded her that not sprinting at the
finish is not an option. Next was Nik and only a few yards behind was Caroline,
both looking like they had put everything into the race. I peeled off at the
track and waited until everyone had crossed the line.
Mandy 45 minutes 21
seconds
Sarah 48 minutes 07
seconds
Nik 50 minutes 30 seconds
Caroline 50 minutes 35
seconds
PB’s have been broken, Sarah
and Caroline smashed their predicted times, Mandy was bang on what she had
expected and Nik beat her PB by 7 minutes.
I am so so proud of all
of the Vixens and the fantastic time and effort that they have all put in, the
total so far and with more to come is £545 before Gift Aid, and I reckon it
will be more like £700 once all the money has been collected. What you have all
done is amazing and you should all feel thoroughly proud of yourselves. Thank
you so much ladies – A x
Vixen Nik Bone Blog
So after feeding my temple with the correct fuel for over a week
the day had finally arrived. I was a little nervous in the morning as I
was eating my porridge oats but mostly excited. This was my big chance to show
my nearest and dearest and all those generous money sponsors what I had been
training for over the past few months.
The gun went off and we slowly started filing out of the
stadium, I was feeling good until 3 minutes in when I noticed my shoe lace had
come undone arrrghhh, Caroline Tyler and I had made a vow to stick together
(ish) as we run a similar speed, so bless her over to the side we went so I could
do the tightest double knot ever!!
All ran smoothly for the next two miles then my energy spurt
kicked in and off I went at full speed for mile 3. By about mile 4 Caroline had
caught me up again and running towards us in the distance was Andy (yeah yeah
so you had finished already.. whatever). A reminder flashed through my mind at
that point of how if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t even be at mile 4 or even at
the race at all, but more importantly who I was doing it for also hit me,
Daniel I hope I made you proud up there, and of course for me.
I am immensely proud of myself for last Sunday as a few months
previous I couldn’t even get halfway down Stanley Avenue without stopping!!
Tuesdays and Thursdays I ran with Andy patiently nurturing me and encouraging
me all the way until BOOM my first 5 mile, without stopping!!!
So there you are, I did it, but I didn’t just ‘do it’ I ran it
in my best time yet, shaving 7 minutes off of my best time as well.
As to whether I would do it again??... Yes I think I will. Have I
caught the running bug??.. No sadly not!!! My interests just aren’t collecting
medals and running faster and faster, but hey I’ve done it, I would do it again
and I enjoyed it. Great experience shared with great company, I am a very very
happy bunny xx
Vixen Caroline Tyler Blog
On September 15th, I took part in the Victory 5 as part of a team to
raise money for Children with Cancer UK. We called ourselves the Victory Vixens
(despite having one male in our pack!)
We trained hard throughout the summer but sadly we had 2 fallen vixens who
succumbed to injuries along the way, but 5 of us made it to race day.
I was excited before the start, although much of that gave way to fear
as I eyed up some serious runners on the track. Once the gun went off,
there was no more time for nerves. Before we hit mile 1 we had our first set
back in the form of a loose shoe lace. I gallantly waited for my fellow
vixen Nikki to address it before we got back in with the pack.
The mental battle began around mile 3 when we realised there was no
water station; the remaining 2 miles was spent pretending we had saliva!
As we reached 3.5 miles, the dismal weather predictions kicked in and we were
running straight into high winds. I literally pushed myself on, one leg at a
time. A half mile off the finish I caught sight of our illustrious leader Andy
who had run back to push us on the last leg, it was a much needed boost. Entering
the track for the final circuit I saw my family cheering me on and almost
dissolved on the spot. Rounding the bend for the last 200 metres and I heard
the rest of the vixens shouting support, it gave me the last bit of strength I
needed.
I’m not sure what was more staggering, the fact that I finished or that
I shaved 6 minutes off my personal best! Amazing feeling.
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