*warning, long post*

I think I've decided that 4 days travelling for a 16.23 mile race might be a little excessive.  No matter how much 'fun' it was...

The trip down to Edinburgh on Friday for the plane went as it usually does for me (the drunks and weirdos).  I stayed overnight in Livingston and was collected by Tina for our early-ish morning flight to Nottingham...  The less said about the airport security alarm the better, but I was let on the plane anyway for the short flight down to Nottingham.  Arrivals at East Midlands airport is something else - outside toilets (portaloos!), so we didn't hang around, we just picked up the hire car and decided to head for the hotel.  Now Tina had been extremely organised and had brought a sat nav with her (for which I was very grateful as I am probably the worlds worst navigator.  I get travel sick, and feel ill even trying to read road signs as we pass).  Unfortunately the sat nav wouldn't work so the first stop when we left the airport was to buy a map (and a sick bag)...  The route from the airport to the hotel covered 3 pages, so as long as I concentrated on that and nothing else it was okay, and we found our hotel with only one or 2 (ish) wrong turns.  I was impressed, though I doubt my other half will ever believe me.

After checking in we spent the afternoon wandering round Nottingham centre, generally hydrating for the next day.  We took a turn on the Observation Wheel (it was a little breezy up there at times)

before more hydrating.  Had a lovely meal out at a tapas restaurant before going back to the hotel and having our 'near death' experience with another taxi at the front door.  Great way to unwind.

Sleep came fairly easily, for about an hour, then it was 6 hours of dozing until it was time to get up.  I have never been this nervous about a race in my life (and I think Tina was feeling the same way).  We got a taxi to the race start, even though the hotel estimated it would only take us about 15 minutes to walk...  The race start was 6 miles away.  Work that one out if you can.

We were filed into race pens at 8.15 (for a 9am start), which was a little bit of bad planning as all the toilets were at the other end of the park - maybe a portaloo or two in the pens as well might have been an idea.  We met up with Amy W during the 45 min wait, and then it was time to go...

We were walked over to the start but the various 'pen numbers' were getting all mixed up on the way over so it seemed a little of a free for all from where we were.  There were 2 lanes leading towards the start line - a hundred or so alternatively being let out of each side - then we crossed the start mat and we were off.  We lost Amy right at the beginning, so after that I was just focussing on trying to keep beside Tina and at a reasonably sensible pace...  This went okay until the first water stop - it was down just a little hill, sharp turn to the left, and my right IT band went ping...  Good start.  Carried on and it seemed to settle a little, though I was more than happy when Tina suggested a toilet/gel stop at the next water station.  I took one of the race gels - it seemed okay at the time and we plodded on.  Its maybe not the most scenic race, but it was well supported and the marshals were great along the entire route.  We passed the 8.1mile half way mark at 1hr 20, which still gave a possible time of under 2.50 if things carried on this well.  Unfortunately they didn't.  My legs just didn't want to play.  Its near enough a flat course (well, for me anyway) and I'm just not used to it.  I needed hills!  I took another gel about 11 miles and things were still okay at that point and the time for the Half distance was slightly over 2hr 10 (I think.  I had to try and work it out as my garmin packed in).  But after that everything is just a painful blur.

Tina and I had run the whole race together but she was managing far better than I was so I kind of decided to try and lose her somewhere after 21km.  I kept slipping back a little, hoping I could dip off her un-nerving radar.  But could I shake off that woman?  No...  Every time I thought I was far enough back I'd look up and see the pink t-shirt right in front of me again, and by 23 km I knew she wasn't going to let me get away with it.  I was resigned to having to finish the race when I'd far rather collapse in a heap at the side of the road.  My left foot was numb at this stage, probably because I'd been putting more pressure on it to try and save my right IT band and I was reduced to a mere shuffle.  And my feet felt like they were on fire.  The KM markers took forever to appear - I kept thinking I'd missed one, but no...  I was just taking so long to run between them it just seemed that way.  Finally the 25km sign appeared and I tried to get some response out my legs .  Not a chance.  26km and I all I could think about was I'd done it - just a few more meters...  I did the best sprint finish I possibly could (!), and whereas Tina could have easily carried on I'd have been happy if someone had just put me out my misery.

Thanks pal!

Collected the medals & goody bags then had an never-ending hike to where the buses were for the return trip to Nottingham.  Our Hotel (Waltons) had very kindly left our room open for us so we could go back in and shower & change afterwards.  This was so good of them and it was much appreciated.

Left Nottingham mid-afternoon and had lunch at the motor way services - which was actually very nice.  Had 90 min or so at the airport before the flight, then it was just another 45 min back up to Edinburgh.  Saw a few folk wandering around with Kilomathon t-shirts (spoke to one guy who said security had made him open his bag when his medal was detected.  Its rather large!)...  At Edinburgh it was a goodbye to Tina while I caught my bus up to Inverness.  Got there at 12.20 am and crashed in yet another hotel...  Woke at 6am unable to move my legs.  My quads were on strike but I opted for the 2 mile walk to the bus station before the final trip home.  My fab OH met me in Portree so I didn't have to spend yet another hour on the bus, and then I was home.  Trip over...

Yesterday I hurt...  Although my IT band has been okay my quads aren't and navigating the stairs is 'interesting'.  Also my back is not that great and I don't think the physio will be very gentle with me when I go again next week.

But I enjoyed my weekend.  Had a brilliant time with Tina, met the lovely Amy, had an interesting race and got a monster medal.  What more could I ask for?

When is Dublin???