Moving further afield!! by Heather_B

Well I've just about recovered from London last week, I was quite sore & stiff on Monday & Tuesday, but was feeling better by the Thursday & managed a short 3 mile run at the running club.  Then on Saturday morning after I had dropped Glenn to football, I manged 6 miles along the Coast - it was a lovely sunny morning & I just plodded along at a very easy pace!  On  Saturday night I caught up abit with some overdue partying with my sister, but boy did I suffer for it on Sunday.  My body has obviously got used to a lack of alcohol & protested very loudly with a sore head & quesy stomach about my over indulgence!  Later on on Sunday afternoon I headed to a barbque at the local football club, but was very well behaved as I knew I was turning out for Larne AC at the Belfast marathon relay on Monday morning.

Monday was a dull, damp & quite windy day & we headed up to Belfast about 7.30am.  We got parked & headed over to the start to drop off one marathon runner & our 1st lady relay runner.  As I'm sure you have read in Pete's blog, I spied him lining up immediately & was thrilled to finally meet with him after internet blogging for 2 years!  Once the runners set off at 9am, we headed over to the 1st changover point (6 miles) & while I was waiting on our runner, Pete went breezing past me looking very comforatable.  I headed off shortly after he had passed, but he was obviously going much too fast for me as I didn't catch sight of him at all during my 3.3 mile leg!!  I felt not too bad but my legs could only manage a 8.40 pace, which I suppose was to be expected after London.  I was glad to see the next changeover point & was very pleased to have the shortest leg of the relay to do!!  I hopped onto a bus & headed back down to the finish & arrived in time to watch the race leaders go past at 21/22 miles.  I was delighted to see one of our club runners Ryan Maxwell go by very far up the field - he eventually finished 12th overall in 2hrs 46mins!

While waiting at the finish for our final lady runner, I spotted Pete for the last time, cruising along to the finish line, lapping up the applause & was totally delighted for him when I seen the clock showing just over 3hrs 26mins - brilliant run Pete!!  Our relay team finished shortly afterwards in 3hrs 39mins which we were totally delighted with as 2 of us had ran in London & another 2 were carrying injuries.

Well finally, I will explain the title of my blog, but it is already explained in my overview!  I have not entered the ballot for the VLM - I've run London twice now in the last 3 years, & I just feel that there are so many more marathons out there to have a go at.  So the next one is likely to be in Miami on January 31st 2010.  We have the holiday already booked, - we fly to Miami on Thursday 28th Jan, spend 3 nights there & then we are heading for a 7 night Caribbean cruise.  I intened to run Miami at 6am on the Sunday morning, then hope to be finished in time for our 12.30pm pick-up at our hotel to go to the ship!!  That should put an inch to my step anyway!  I know the heat will probably be an issue again, but I hope the sights of Miami at dawn will take my mind off it. 

I'm going to remain hanging around on this site as this is where all my old friends will be & I don't want to be a Norma No Mates on some strange blog site somewhere!!