Leisa and I decided to make a weekend of it. We travelled up to London by car on the Saturday. After sitting in traffic for a couple of hours we eventually arrived at the car park Westfield Stratford this was  located about 15 minute walk from the race and we were able to get the tube straight into London (where we were staying)

We both set off to London and headed straight to the hotel to dump the bags off. The hotel was very central and would recommend  to anyone ( Club Quarters Lincoln’s Inn Fields ) . We had a great evening looking around parts of London and enjoying the sights and the food. We headed back to the hotel not too late as the taxi was picking us up early 

Race Day

I woke up about 5:30 feeling very excited and nervous I eventually got up and tucked into my porridge and banana. I had a little time as the race started at 9 and taxi was picking us up at 7. I was a little worried about the temperature being too hot to really push myself, so decided to  play it by ear and see how I felt closer to race time. I had some great advice from some of the “in the know” team members a few days before about keeping hydrated, great advise, thanks all. I started to get ready, sun cream on then the great Hedgie top! 

We arrived at the race start around 7:30. Leisa and I were able to walk around to see what was going on. I handed my bag into “bag drop” and headed off to the start to see where I should be at the start of the race. I headed to the 1.30 - 1.45 time slot, decision to push myself made!

At around 8:30 I went to warm the legs up where I bumped into my friend Julian who I knew would be around but I wasn't sure if I would see him in the sea of 12,500 runners. We had a little chat then decided it was time to head to the start. Julian and I headed very close to the sub 1:30:00,  the temperature was starting to get warm at this point 

The Race!

We headed off out of the park, not bang on 9 but near enough. I decided to keep a very close eye on my pace as after 1 mile it was hot and definitely hotter than D-Day. My watch beeped at me as I got to the first mile - 7 minute 10 seconds,  I thought this was too fast for my first half marathon and in this  heat .....I carried on running 2 miles, 3 miles and my pace hadn't changed, I felt comfortable and got to the first water station at 3 miles.This was entertaining, I’ve never seen or used the water pouches they were handing out ... The marshall were shouting squeeze the pouch and suck .... 

As I did this so much water went into my mouth I nearly shocked myself. After a little, more educated sip of water I pushed on. Julian and I ran together up until mile 5. My pace was still a low 7 minute mile  but I still felt comfortable at this stage. I eventually got to mile 6, half way and the next water station. I was ready for the water pouch ( or so I thought) I grabbed the water and squeezed  so hard the water exploded out of the back ....I had no water at this station. 

I carried on running as I felt comfortable and I didn't want to go back. Miles 7 and 8 had gone and I was feeling the heat now lucky mile 8 was the next water station I grabbed a couple of pouches this time, one to sip the water and one for pouring over me, a much more successful hydration session than the previous 2  ... also just after mile 8 they had a mist shower,  this was rubbish and didn't do anything ....mile 10 fast approached and my  pace had slowed down to the high 7 minutes miles now .... 

I kept thinking what kelly told me “after mile ten it was just a park run to do”. Unfortunately the last 3.1 miles were in direct sunlight, the scenery was good to look at as it was very close to the Olympic Park  . I got to mile 11, the last water station, grabbed more water and tried to push on I could feel the heat really getting to me now. I was still happy with my pace and thought 2 more miles .... 

There were lots of people shouting at this stage pushing me along . I got to mile 12 and this was my biggest challenge, my legs felt heavy and I was very hot all I wanted to do was stop. I thought to myself if I stop now I will never get going again so i decided to slow my pace down. I started to recognise some of the surroundings so I knew I was very close to the end. One last corner and there it is the finish line there was no sprint finish this time ....my end time 1:40:56 I was so pleased with this time.

  

I was handed my medal, a water and a goodie bag (if only there had been flip flops in that bag as I left mine in the car) and met up with my cheer team of one (The Wife).




I know it was my first half marathon so nothing to compare it to but it was a good one, well organised, friendly and an interesting route as I had never been to the Olympic Park before.The people of Hackney were amazing and very supportive, clapping and shouting nearly all the way around. 

Ali Morant is the May member of the month. This is for completing her first marathon, for her run in the Netley 10K, for being the Female Championship winner at Netley parkrun back in March, and for doing a lot of the organising for the barbecue after the club championships at Netley.

A bright and sunny Saturday morning saw Southampton Common host the Womans Running 10K. A series of events held around the country just for ladies. With an 11am start time there was plenty of time for a pre race porridge breakfast, to get there and of course meet with the other Hedgie ladies for our pre race team photos!!

Our Ladies captain Kelly led us away from the mass warm up and gave us all a Berni style warm up. By now the sun was beating down on us with a temperature of 23 degress and we knew it was going to be a warm one. Before the race, it was advised to grab some water so the water station was opened and bottles were handed out for on the way round.

Kelly was the sub 50 minute pacer for the event so with her flag attached it was easy to spot her. There were also pacers for 55,60 and 70 mins. We were called to the start line, however many times I start a race there is always that excited nervous feeling waiting for the gun to sound. Kelly took her position right at the front and surrounded by some Hedgie Ladies we were ready, I asked Claire if she was going to win todays race, she was not so sure!! The gun sounded.

The course was 2 1⁄2 laps around the common which included areas of shade from the trees and running on both grass and the paths. The water station was passed twice which for me involved pouring bottles of water over my head just to cool down.

I knew that I had to stay in front of Kelly to be in with a chance of a sub 50min, all this was going well until I heard behind me ‘Sarah use your heels’ I then knew I had gone off to quickly and the 50 min target was out of reach. Kelly had overtaken me and before long was out of sight.

After a hot 6 miles, the finish was in sight – At last I thought. As I approached the 200m left to go I found a sudden burst of energy and the interval training came into play. Looking at the watch and hearing Kelly shout and encourage me there was still a possibility for a sub 50!!

In a time of 49.46, I just made it over the line, then to fall into Claire and Kelly pouring a bottle of water over me. Thanks Ladies.

For me the race was hard, what did it for me was once again prove the team support from the Ladies at HERC is incredible. We continued to watch fellow Hedgies cross the line with cheers and support and celebrate in style with waving bottles of water over the champion of the day, Claire!!! As we watched Claire receive her champagne and new trainers on the podium, I realised thats why I run and why I run with HERC. 

I had expected to see more runners out on Saturday, looking at the entrants lists there were only 194 finishers. Lots more recorded as DNS. Good job really as there were not many toilets!!! As running club entrants go there were definitely more red, white and blue vests than any other.

The local brownies and guides had made some amazing cakes and supplied tea to all the runners. The goody bag at the finish line was also very impressive as well as a technical t-shirt and medal. All in all a very hot local 10K full of lovely ladies!!!!

1) Do you have a nickname? Nope, not that I am aware of!
2) Describe yourself in 3 words.. Enjoys, running, slowly
3) Who would you want to play you in a film? Mo Farah!
4) Why did you take up running? It's cheaper than the pub & keeps me out of trouble
5) What is your favourite race that you've run and why? Either of my 2
marathons - Bournemouth or Portsmouth Coastal, it was a big achievement to finish
them both for someone who could not run at all four years ago. 
6) Who is the most famous person you have met? Lots of sports people -
Courtney Walsh who is a Cricketer, Kevin Bond was a footballer, now manager, among them.
Met Chesney Hawkes on holiday & some bloke from Hustle at Bournemouth airport.
7) Favourite song? -Anything Britpop - Blur, Oasis, Stone Roses etc
8) Favourite distance to run? Marathon 
9) What races have you got coming up? RR10's and any others popping up!
10) Why HERC? It is the best & friendliest club around


Quick fire round

1) Nightime or Daytime?  Night
2) Sweet or Sour? Both
3) Cats or Dogs? Neither
4) Intervals or Long Distance training? Long
5) Pepsi or Coke? Coke
6) Dominoes or Pizza Hut? Pizza hut
7) Red or White or Blue?  Red & White - Cheltenham Town
8) Chinese takeaway or Indian takeaway? Indian
9) Nike or Adidas? Neither
10) T shirt or Vest? T shirt
11) Short or Long distance? Long
12) Football or Rugby? Football

My parents were visiting for the weekend from Cheltenham so a day of watching me race then a trip to Southsea to watch the dday concert on the seafront was planned the day before.

I woke and opened the curtains at 8 am after a fairly long night out in town to see unbroken sunshine and immediately feared the combination of heat and slight hangover were not going to let me have the race of my life.

Undeterred, after a couple of pints of sports drink and some porridge we set off for the station, meeting my business partner Liam (who was doing his first run for a while and decided to run with me) at Cosham Station on the way.

I first managed to break the 50 minute barrier for the first time at Eastleigh in 2013 in my 4th 10k, but due to entering 3 marathons in the last 8 months I haven’t entered too many 10ks, and have managed 47:37 at Wyvern last year, 48:17 at Stubbington, 47:17 at Eastleigh and 49:30 at Netley in my four efforts since. With a marathon just 5 weeks ago and a lack of interval training I decided to run as close to 7 45/ mile pace as possible and to speed up from 4.5 m if I was feeling strong and to try and sneak a PB.

Assembling at the start we bumped into Robson, Jo, Sarah, Kevin, Matt, Mark, Keith and Richard and we chatted about how the race might go. As soon as the race began it was very disheartening to see the whole group of them go zooming off into the distance. I tried to forget about them and just relax into the run and to settle into target pace.

The course wasn’t as boring as I had imagined. It seemed like 3 laps of a car park but there was enough to look at to keep it half interesting. I was chatting to Liam and the first two miles flew by. A quick check of the garmin and we had completed them in 15 : 40, within 10 seconds or so of target. I started to see hedgie vests ahead of  me and spent miles 3 and 4 very slowly catching and passing a few other hedgies. (I should add this never happens to me, its always the other way around with me being caught)

After 4 miles I checked the watch again and was just 17 seconds behind target pace so I thought it could be on, but was really starting to feel the heat. I grabbed two cups of water from the drinks station, poured them over my head to cool down and carried on towards the end.

Mile 5 was the slowest of the race for me in 8 02, so by the end of it we were 34 seconds behind target. To sneak a pb I knew the last mile would have to be run in 7 mins. We planned to try to speed up from 5.5 miles to achieve this. Unfortunately, whilst able to speed up a touch there was no big finish in my legs and I crossed the line in 48 : 09, just 53 seconds off a pb.

A quick bottle of water to rehydrate and we headed to the station and on to southsea for lunch and to spend some time watching the bands on the common.

Thinking back on the race I cant really fault it. It was well organised, the course was nice and flat and the support from the other Hedgies was as great as it always is. I ran as well as I could have expected and have possibly laid the foundations for a pb race at the Lordshill 10km in 3 weeks time. Heres hoping …………..

Have you heard…..

The Stubbington Green Runners RR10 will take place at Fairthorne Manor near Botley, on Wed 11th June at 7.30pm. The venue will be signposted from Botley and at the entrance off of Botley Rd.

The course is two laps with extra loops at the start and finish, and is approximately 4.2 miles. The route is over grass and woodland trails, with some short stretches of tarmac so is unsuitable for spikes.

Car parking as always is at a premium, so please car share where possible; please note that there is a £1 per car parking charge which will be collected upon arrival.

Part of the course is on the entrance/exit road so early finishers will be asked to wait until the race is finished before leaving.

NO DOGS are allowed on site.

There are toilet and shower facilities and a small bar that will be open.

Dear All Members,

You are cordially invited to join together to form club teams for the annual Miles of Miles Relay, organised by Southampton Athletic Club, to be held on Wednesday 2 July 2013 at 7.30pm at Southampton Sports Centre athletics track.

The format is a 10 leg relay over a 'metric mile' (4 consecutive laps for each runner) with teams from all of the local clubs. All teams need a minimum of two ladies, but an all ladies is also an option.

- Each club can enter three teams of ten runners.
- At least two of each team must be female.
- Runners may only run once for a team.
- Each member of the team will run 1 metric mile (4 x 400m)
- Change overs must not be made in the inside two lanes.
- A Team has finished when all ten members complete their mile.
- Winning team is that with the fastest time and receives a cup.
- £20 donation to be made per team entered on the night.

This event is an excellent way for us to have some evening competitive fun. It would also be a great opportunity to experience track running.

If you would like to be part of a team please let us know either by accepting the Facebook invite.