As I turned up my iPod, I knew I was making 'The Face', the one where the eyes narrow and become fixated on a goal they, as yet, can not see. It is a look of steely determination and betrays every bit of my natural tenacity. I was thirsty, the juice in my water pouch now tasting like syrup, and nothing seemed to make my legs move faster and above 6 mins/km, no matter how hard I tried; but there were only 3.5 kms left and I was going to complete this race, as quickly as I possibly could.
Eyes on the prize. (c) Woodentops.org.uk |
But perhaps I should rewind. In 2012, having damaged my Achilles tendon and a ligament in my left ankle, I could barely walk, never mind run and, in spring 2014, seriously unhappy with the person I had become, it was with a great deal of trepidation that I set forth on a short lived attempt to get fit again. But, by Christmas Eve 2014, I had had enough, and for reasons that almost no longer matter, I started training regularly again. It was winter, it was cold, usually there was a gale blowing, but I stuck with it, determined, I think, to prove a point to no one else but myself. But I was afraid of injury, I remembered the pain of 2012 and I actively avoided hills.
![]() |
A grumpy selfie from run number 2, December 27th 2014 - You'll just have to believe there were pretty snow covered hills behind me... |
I thought then, that to even suggest the possibility of running a 10K race was silly, an impossible goal, far beyond the ability of someone like me. 5K, I thought, was my limit. But as I kept running and began to get fitter, 10K did not seem so unachievable, I had, after all, run further in my previous life. But there is nothing like a goal to focus your mind and with the Hardmoors Saltburn 10K (I still maintain it is more than 10K!) entered, and following the advice of one in the know, I embarked on a regimented schedule of training distance, speed and hills, with about 50% of my time spent off road.
And so there I was, just shy of 7 months since I started with week 6 of Couch to 5K, 11.5 km into a 15 km race.
![]() |
Dragging myself to the finish line (Photo: The Simple Chick) |
The last couple of Ks were hell and as I crossed the green bridge, the sight of a sign pointing right to the finish rejuvenated me before the seemingly endless run across the meadow to the line. Try as I might, there was no sprint finish, there was just nothing left. Although 1:30:57 may have been 57 seconds slower than I would have liked, I ran the whole route (including the larger than expected hill) and as the Simple Chick has just reminded me, this was only my second ever race and my first at this distance. Sometimes, I think, I forget the bigger picture!
For the last couple of weeks, I have been along to the very friendly Queensbury Running Club on a Thursday night. Eight club members ran the race and I was made to feel very much part of the club on the day. I think this Thursday, I will have prize open my (Scottish) wallet and become a proper member! Should you be interested, you can find the full race results here and the club results here.
There are now just under 3 weeks until the Saltburn race, which I am running to raise funds for Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, so if you need me, I'll be running up and down some hills somewhere!
https://www.justgiving.com/MaryKSaunders/
![]() |
Team Queensbury and associate (c) http://www.queensburyrc.co.uk/ |