ComaBoy Running
Runner, Diabetic and Waffler
Up and coming events and race reports
One of the great things about running is sharing the collective experience; being part of an event with hundreds or even thousands of others and allowing that collective energy to push you along is something quite unique.
Running is one of only a handful of sports where you can start shoulder to shoulder with an Olympic athlete, both sharing the same experience, both with the same crowd cheering you on and both facing the same challenges.
I'm pretty much an average middle of the pack runner and as equally impressed at the speed of those at the front of the pack as I am with the determination of those at the back. Encouraging others to 'go for it' or the sense of achievement at doing something you thought impossible make every wet, windy and cold mile in slogged in training worth it.
Below are a list of the events I've got coming up and brief reports from those I have done.
Running is one of only a handful of sports where you can start shoulder to shoulder with an Olympic athlete, both sharing the same experience, both with the same crowd cheering you on and both facing the same challenges.
I'm pretty much an average middle of the pack runner and as equally impressed at the speed of those at the front of the pack as I am with the determination of those at the back. Encouraging others to 'go for it' or the sense of achievement at doing something you thought impossible make every wet, windy and cold mile in slogged in training worth it.
Below are a list of the events I've got coming up and brief reports from those I have done.
Where I'll be going.....
11-Oct-2009 Birmingham Half Marathon
25-Oct-2009 Great South Run (Portsmouth, UK)
08-Nov-2009 Athens Marathon
31-May-2009 BUPA London 10K
25-Oct-2009 Great South Run (Portsmouth, UK)
08-Nov-2009 Athens Marathon
31-May-2009 BUPA London 10K
...and where I've been!
3rd October 2009 - Run for the Toad (Cambridge, Canada)
sdasdassadas adasd
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:55:22
Av. Pace: /mi
Cals:
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:55:22
Av. Pace: /mi
Cals:
20th September 2009 - Berlin Marathon (Berlin, Germany)
My second
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:55:22
Av. Pace: /mi
Cals:
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:55:22
Av. Pace: /mi
Cals:
13th September 2009 - Robin Hood Half Marathon (Nottingham, UK)
1234
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:55:22
Av. Pace: /mi
Cals:
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:55:22
Av. Pace: /mi
Cals:
16th August 2009 - New York Half Marathon (New York, USA)
My first International run and it was roastingly hot, devilshly humid and ardeous hard work....but I finished!
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 2:20:04
Av. Pace: /mi
Cals:
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 2:20:04
Av. Pace: /mi
Cals:
9th July 2009 - JP Morgan Charity Run (London, UK)
This was the first time I'd run this annual fun twisting 5.5k race around Battersea and I am hoping it won't be the last.
The event is the natural extension of every banterous city email or bragging trading floor IM as numerous City institutions race against each other to see who is the fastest, strongest, can muster the largest team or host the most impressive tent with all the money raised going to some great causes around the Capital.
I was pleased to set a new 5k PB of 21:16 and am going to get that 20 minutes if it kills me!
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 5.5k/3.5mi
Time: 24:39
Av. Pace: 7.02/mi
Cals: 486
The event is the natural extension of every banterous city email or bragging trading floor IM as numerous City institutions race against each other to see who is the fastest, strongest, can muster the largest team or host the most impressive tent with all the money raised going to some great causes around the Capital.
I was pleased to set a new 5k PB of 21:16 and am going to get that 20 minutes if it kills me!
Photos: JP Morgan 5.5k (2009)
Garmin Link: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/8361241
Stats
Distance: 5.5k/3.5mi
Time: 24:39
Av. Pace: 7.02/mi
Cals: 486
25th May 2009 - BUPA 10,000 (London, UK)
An undulating course around London and the first time I had laced up since the Flora London Marathon.
I was in two minds about heading down to the Start Line for this event; I'd done no training for a month, my ITB was still far from happy with itself and the weather was predicted to be drizzly at best. Still, one mustn't grumble about such trifling matters and so I sauntered on down.
The course itself was a loose loop and saw us heading out along Embankment, past St Paul's, through the City and then retracing our steps back with a finish through Trafalgar Square; for a 45 minute tour of London is was ideal!
Photos: BUPA 10,000 (2009)
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222607
Stats
Distance: 10k/6.22mi
Time: 46:21
Av. Pace: 7.26/mi
Cals: 848
I was in two minds about heading down to the Start Line for this event; I'd done no training for a month, my ITB was still far from happy with itself and the weather was predicted to be drizzly at best. Still, one mustn't grumble about such trifling matters and so I sauntered on down.
The course itself was a loose loop and saw us heading out along Embankment, past St Paul's, through the City and then retracing our steps back with a finish through Trafalgar Square; for a 45 minute tour of London is was ideal!
Photos: BUPA 10,000 (2009)
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222607
Stats
Distance: 10k/6.22mi
Time: 46:21
Av. Pace: 7.26/mi
Cals: 848
26th April 2009 - Flora London Marathon (London, UK)
Report to follow
Photos: London Marathon (2009)
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222625
Stats
Distance: 44k/26.2mi
Time: 04:15:51
Av. Pace: 9.45/mi
Cals: 3463
Photos: London Marathon (2009)
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222625
Stats
Distance: 44k/26.2mi
Time: 04:15:51
Av. Pace: 9.45/mi
Cals: 3463
15th April 2009 - British Heart Foundation Hyde Park 10k (London, UK)
An after work 10k is always fun but especially so when you're sharing it with 5000 others in one of the worlds most famous Parks.
A fairly standard 2 lap dash with a varied field - I lapped some people - and set a new PB in the process. The event was well staged and the route we took is deceptively harsh with some long legs and tight undulating parts. I would definitely run this race again but it would have been to have a staggered start for the faster runners.
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/6047528
Stats
Distance: 10k/6.1mi
Time: 46:30
Av. Pace: 7.28/mi
Cals: 834
A fairly standard 2 lap dash with a varied field - I lapped some people - and set a new PB in the process. The event was well staged and the route we took is deceptively harsh with some long legs and tight undulating parts. I would definitely run this race again but it would have been to have a staggered start for the faster runners.
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/6047528
Stats
Distance: 10k/6.1mi
Time: 46:30
Av. Pace: 7.28/mi
Cals: 834
5th April 2009 - British Heart Foundation Sea-front 5k Dash (Bournemouth, UK)
A 5k along Bournemouth Seafront in aid of the British Heart Foundation.
Not a huge distance given, that I was running a Marathon a couple of weeks later, but a really special race as it was with my sister. I "strongly encouraged" her to get under 35 m inutes!
Photos: Bournemouth 5K Race for Life (2009)
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222652
Stats
Distance: 5k/3.05mi
Time: 34:27
Av. Pace: 11.09/mi
Cals: 417
Not a huge distance given, that I was running a Marathon a couple of weeks later, but a really special race as it was with my sister. I "strongly encouraged" her to get under 35 m inutes!
Photos: Bournemouth 5K Race for Life (2009)
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222652
Stats
Distance: 5k/3.05mi
Time: 34:27
Av. Pace: 11.09/mi
Cals: 417
29th March 2009 - Reading Half Marathon (Reading, UK)
A great Half Marathon that rewards those that want to push and helps those starting out.
I really enjoyed this race and would suggest that it would be perfect for anyone contemplating doing a Half. The organisation, pack and crowd support are all top notch and the course - presenting a couple of cheeky hills at the start and midway - gives generously later on with the long download sections. The last 5k is deceptive as the course weaves towards the football stadium and then doubles back before diving back inside the ground for a pitch-side finishing line.
The icing on the cake was a new PB of 1:37:04
Photos: Reading Half Marathon (2009)
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222656
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:37:04
Av. Pace: 7.24/mi
Cals: 1760
I really enjoyed this race and would suggest that it would be perfect for anyone contemplating doing a Half. The organisation, pack and crowd support are all top notch and the course - presenting a couple of cheeky hills at the start and midway - gives generously later on with the long download sections. The last 5k is deceptive as the course weaves towards the football stadium and then doubles back before diving back inside the ground for a pitch-side finishing line.
The icing on the cake was a new PB of 1:37:04
Photos: Reading Half Marathon (2009)
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222656
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:37:04
Av. Pace: 7.24/mi
Cals: 1760
8th March 2009 - Nike+ Half Marathon (Milton Keynes, UK)
Oddly enough for a run in Milton Keynes there was not a roundabout insight but I made heavy work of an otherwise forgiving course.
This run taught me an awful lot on how not to prepare for an event; its best not to go on a two day bender beforehand, travel the length of the country, ignore the water stations or skip breakfast. I'd done all these things and at least half the run was spent feeling like utter death.
What of the course though? It's surprisingly green and hilly, taking place mainly around a large lake and thus it's fairly blustery at times. I'd look at running here again but would think about taking the train to get there - traffic after the race was chaotic.
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222671
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:40:14
Av. Pace: 7.38/mi
Cals: 1760
This run taught me an awful lot on how not to prepare for an event; its best not to go on a two day bender beforehand, travel the length of the country, ignore the water stations or skip breakfast. I'd done all these things and at least half the run was spent feeling like utter death.
What of the course though? It's surprisingly green and hilly, taking place mainly around a large lake and thus it's fairly blustery at times. I'd look at running here again but would think about taking the train to get there - traffic after the race was chaotic.
Garmin Link : http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7222671
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:40:14
Av. Pace: 7.38/mi
Cals: 1760
22nd February 2009 - Sussex Beacon Half Marathon 2009 (Brighton, UK)
A glorious day for a race... perhaps a touch on the chilly side, but there were few complaints from the runners this year - and the sunshine even put in an appearance.
It was an early start for the over one-hundred mile drive to Brighton and I was slightly cautious of this one; not for the cliffs but for the long stretches along the seafront. However, I need not have worried as this is a fun event although, the cliff ascent after 10 miles is certainly a tester on the legs!
Photos : Brighton Half Marathon (2009)
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:51:03
It was an early start for the over one-hundred mile drive to Brighton and I was slightly cautious of this one; not for the cliffs but for the long stretches along the seafront. However, I need not have worried as this is a fun event although, the cliff ascent after 10 miles is certainly a tester on the legs!
Photos : Brighton Half Marathon (2009)
Stats
Distance: 21k/13.1mi
Time: 1:51:03