Jackers on the Road
I would like to say thanks all of the Physio's who helped me get back on my feet, I'm not a good patient, so thanks to Tim Saunders (Fitfile Heathcare), Sarah Pomeroy (PhysioPlus) and Andy Glover
Bideford Half Marathon - March To my surprise I ran better than expected, running 1.38 starting steady and trying to save a bit for the end. Well Pleased!
Bodmin Half Marathon Cornwall Fire and Rescue - March - Run around Lanhydrock House and Gardens, this was a great Multi-Terrain race which I really enjoy although there were plenty of ups and downs, well done to those who organised it. Getting home in a 1hr 45mins
Tavy 13 - April - Another hot day greeted us and plenty of runners turned up for the sun soaked race, again this was a great run for me even with that very long hill at around the 8 mille marker, coming home in 1hr 42mins.
Bideford 10k - May - Not my favourite race ran a 43mins, a minute faster than last year, but it was a struggle from start to finish - you get days like that!
Swim - Bike - Run
Ruby Run Half Marathon - June - Running this year from Hatherleigh to Holsworthy in conditions which were better for ducks - Rain from start to finish - but I had a great run knocking 3 minutes of my old time finishing time with a 1.41mins so well happy - but wet!
Bude Lifeboat Run 6 miler - June - A good field of 140 runners set off at a very fast pace which does not suit me but I held on as much as I could and by halfway I was feeling fairly good, running with a good group of runners I managed to finish in 42mins and I new I'd been in a race!
Bude Shoreline Triathlon - June - Really hot day which turned out to be a bad one for me, a good swim was followed by no energy for the bike or run - Dehydration - took hold and it was a matter of struggle home.
London Triathlon Docklands - July - Great day all round, a bit scary in the water with 450 people though, had a great bike and great run finishing the Sprint in 1hr 30min. Will do again. Loads of Support
Dextro Triathlon London - August - My second Tri in 8 days was risky but turned out ok with a smaller field, the Serpentine for the swim was not nice really smelly, I had a good bike although I thought the roads would be better, the run was brill with a great run-in finish. Lots of Support along the way. Finishing 1hr 33min.
Bideford Triathlon - October 2nd - Great local Tri in super warm conditions, river swim under the old road bridge, hilly cycle to start with and a great run with some nasty little hills chucked in. Time 1.29min Will do again.
Sandymouth - Mouth to Mouth 10k - Tough off road race with great views of the Cornish Coastline. Sandymouth. Northcott Mouth and Duckpool made you work really hard hills within hills. Well Organised will do again.
The Good The Bad The Ugly
The Grizzly Seaton - March - This is a different type of race completely, those who have done it before will know what I mean. 10 Bude Rats started all keen to survive, we started along the sea front and entrered the shingle beach which would prove to become a nightmare to run on over the 20 mile long race. We experienced many many hill climbs, deep slopes, lots of bogs some upto your waist but what fun they were you need to chill when your doing this run, yes its a race but you need to have fun and enjoy the laughs, because there will be some bad times also. Congratulations to our Bude Rats for doing so well and many thanks to the Axe Valley for a well organised race. I hoped to finish under the 4hr mark but just missed coming in on 4hr 4mins, there always next year!!!!!
LONDON MARATHON 2010 - Sunday morning we all early start 6am breakfast, get your kit, onto the tube with lots of nervous runners, walk to the start, its 8.45 and I'm feeling knackered already. Start time 9.45 underway at last, rainy but OK, feeling good, nice and steady running for the first 4 miles. Fifth mile getting stomach cramps have these for 4 miles nightmare!!, manage to clear it with lots of water and get going again, run up to Tower Bridge "fantastic" people everywhere shouting and cheering, I notice Rob Walker from the BBC and grab him, we have a great interview I tell him about my charity I'm running for Bobby Moore and why, I leave in good spirits. Sadly the BBC choose not to play it. Running well now 13,14,15,16, on for a 3.40/3.45 get to 18 miles and my right thigh starts to lock and cramp, I try to run through it for 3 miles but the pain is to much I have to stop and walk for 30 sec's, I continue to walk/run to 23 miles where I stop for a drink at the last station and there handing out drinks is the lovely Liz Yelling (GB marathon runner) who I met at Excel on Friday, she remembered me and said hows it going I said "crap" she gave me a big cuddle and said not far now you'll be OK! Well that helped but I was still running on one and a half legs, The Embankment is a lonely place when your struggling even when the crowds are trying to help you, onto Birdcage Walk see the family there waiting and cheering great to see them. I crossed the line in 4.14 really dissapointed as 3.45 was on, but there you go a Marathon is what it says a "Marathon" and allsorts of things can happen. I had a bad day simply! it happens. Thanks to Virgin for a great Show and Marathon.
DEXTRO TRIATHLON 2009 - Not bad for 50taking part in the Dextro Triathlon 09 in London in August, having won a place in the Dextro Team I made my way to the Mayfair Hotel 5*!! in London to meet all my other team mates who came from all over Europe to take part. Dextro put on a great introduction and evening meal, met all the team which varied from seasoned triathletes to beginners, Dextro's organisation was superb.
Outside the Hotel with our Dextro Triathlon suits on bikes at the ready and then ride in convoy to Hyde Park for our team photo's and registration. Dextro got us all together for our photo beside the Serpentine, then off with our bikes to check-in. 10.00am start wetsuits on "getting nervous" we all enter the water for the 750 metre swim and wait for 5 minutes, we let the faster swimmers go to the front then off goes the hooter! go! well for me the swim is my worst part so I started plodding counting off each 100 metre markers its hard work, get to 600 metres and get bad cramp in my right leg "panic" manage to swim with another compeditor and we both get to the finish pontoon together exit the water and then start running for the bikes.
Manage to find mine then run again 500 metres to exit onto the bike racetrack, get peddling 3 laps to go 15 miles. When you enter the track there are bikes everywhere all racing in different categories, some on lap 1, 2 or 3. I manage to get my legs going and make good time counting off the laps, overtaking when I can, get to the exit area for transition 3 come in with my bike and find it really hard to park the bike in my space as there are bikes crammed in everywhere, finally get it sorted, change shoes then off running 2 laps around the park 3.5 miles.
Leg sore from the eariler cramp but still make good headway, catch up alot of the Dextro compeditors, feeling pretty good. On the second lap James Cracknell (Olympic Gold Medalist and Articman) comes running by, big man. I try to stay with him but he does 1 stride to my 3 strides so unfair!. I Enter the final home straight great finish like a mini stadium, great crowd and good commentator he calls me home, I manage a sprint finish and cross the line in 1hr 29mns "Well Pleased". I cross the line and there's my old buddy James, he kindly let me have a photo taken I was probably not at my best for the picture but never mind. This was a fantastic day, Dextro were brilliant, many thanks to them.
Bude Rats - Run and Triathlon
HPT Sportleisure - Support Local School
For those of you who have read this page and got inspired why not look up your local running/triathlon club for example -
- BUDE RATS.
- Expect help and advice, meet twice a week Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- BudeRats
- BIDEFORD ROAD RUNNERS
- Also a friendly club with their own races throughout the year.
- March Half Marathon, May 10k, September 10 mile.
- Bideford website
Holsworthy Community College have a good girls Hockey following but had no Kit!. Emily Youldon the Captain of the senior girls team came to us asking if we could help, she was really keen for her team to have their own kit and not play in just any old shirts. So we had a look at what we could do and found them a great looking "Masita Kit" this includes Shirts, Skorts and Socks. Well they certainly look smart "as you can see", they recently took part in their first tournament this season and won it!.
They said they looked great and played great!
- Support your local Community
- They will support you!