Snow, wind, rain, hills…and an ice bath!

Pre-race, trying to stay warm
(note the snow in the background!)

Stafford 20 was on the cards this morning and I’m gonna be honest-I wasn’t looking forward to it! Having returned from warm Madeira (20 degrees) last Monday to the UK’s positively Baltic climate the last thing I wanted to do was get up at the crack of dawn on a Sunday morning, drive an hour down the M6 and race! But hey ho, that’s what I did, with my dedicated hubby in tow J

On our way down the snow seemed to get heavier and heavier the closer we got, our car temperature gauge assured us that it was indeed, Balitc. In hindsight it’s a good thing this was a race, had it been just a training run, I really don’t think I’d have got out of bed for it.

The race started and finished at Stafford University (who even knew, I just thought it was an M6 service stop!!).  Anyway great facilities, loads of parking and it seemed to be well organised bar the fact that we had to pick up our ‘finishers’ mug BEFORE we had even started….hmmm!

 We lined up at 10:30 ready for the off and were warned of the ‘bollards’ and ‘speed bumps’ (remember the ankle incident?) around the Uni grounds before exiting to the road. Within half a mile I passed a 14 mile marker, either I time travelled or….oh yes it was laps, oh so taunting. One large lap (8miles) and 2 small laps (6).  They were all ‘undulating’ although I’d rather call them ‘hilly’ (see Garmin link below). On top of that add a mega headwind and snow =  watering eyes and a wish that I’d stayed in bed, I really was doubting myself. Two girls and plenty of guys passed me and third girl tried but I managed to shake her off and never saw her again J

Matt must have been keeping toasty in the car when I finished the first lap as there was no sign of him, don’t blame him! But sure enough he was there egging me on for the 2^nd and 3^rd lap- he actually ran along side me for the last 500m or so, guiding me to the finish (the description said the start and finish are ‘tricky’, I was paranoid I’d run straight past it!!!).

Anyway all the effort, pain, cold etc. paid off as I finished in 2 hours 25 mins and 34 seconds, ave pace 7:17 minute mile, 5^th lady and won a prize - pleased with that!

Stafford 20 mile race by samjones13 at Garmin Connect - Details

(if you're at all interested in the stats, here's the link!)

I came home and yes got in an ice cold bath for five minutes (it’s ok my legs were numb, I literally couldn’t feel them, so pretty bearable!)

Next challenge, to beat 1:30 in a half marathon in two weeks, followed by LONDON MARATHON!!!