Race Review: We Own the Night London May 2014

Ever since I started running in January 2011, I’ve been a bit of a Nike fangirl, and working 20 minutes walk from Niketown hasn’t helped my cause! Entering We Own the Night, in London’s Victoria Park, with my running compadre Hannah seemed like the obvious choice for my first 10k of 2014!

The entry process, comms and race pack pick up were pretty slick and organised and I picked up mine and Hannah’s race packs from Niketown a few weeks before. The pre race tote bag, designed by Holly Fulton had a dri fit WOTN running shirt, timing chip, course map, and pacing band. All finishers also got an exclusive race necklace, designed by Alex Monroe (much better than some of the huge tshirts/ random medals I’ve collected over the last few years)!

I just hoping to get a sub 50 finish and enjoy the race. The first lap of the course was great, and every Km or so we ran through a tunnel with music, lights, and bubbles, making the race fly by! My only negative was how busy the course got on the second lap, and there weren’t any directions for people on their first/ second lap so the course got very congested.

Despite it being pretty windy, the flat course was pretty fast and I finished in 48.19, so was very happy, and just missed the rain! After regrouping with Hannah we ran off to the tube, and refuelled with a post race Tooting curry!

Would I do #WOTN again? 100% yes!

Highlights: Awesome race pack and goody bag, Alex Monroe necklace, Paula Radcliffe and Perri Shakes-Drayton on stage after the race, measured splits every KM available two hours after finish

Lowlights: Second lap very busy!

 

Race Review: Dursley Dozen 2013

I loved this race! Despite everyone telling me how difficult it was (they weren’t wrong) and the pouring down rain in the days before, I think it’s my favorite race ever. The race was amazingly well organised and had loads of marshalls and covered 12 miles of hills, mud and also involved climbing a hill with the aid of a thin rope and a thin tree!

The course was really wet and muddy and I fell over on more than one occasion. I’m not sure how I managed to get muddier than everyone else, but that was all part of the fun. I finished in 2 hours and 36 minutes, which wasn’t the fastest, but I consider even completing it a real achievement, as it was easily the hardest race I’ve done! One of the best parts of it was how friendly everyone else doing the race was and how much support everyone gave to each other when climbing hills/ falling in puddles/ trying to balance and not fall off the side of the hill!

 

 

Race Review: Weston Tough Ten 2013

The 21st Weston-super-Mare Tough Ten Challenge took place on the 24th February 2013. Like the name suggests, the race is ten miles of flat road and hilly trails through Weston woods, and starts and ends by the Grand Pier on Weston beach.

The race was really well organised, and every runner got both a chip time and a slate coaster!

It was my first time running the Tough Ten, and I’m not yet sure whether it will be my last! Despite it being very hilly, I was pleased with my chip time of 1.27.13, and I think this was in a big part due to the amazing support throughout the course! It would be a great race to spectate at too, if you knew people competing, as the nature of the course means you can see runners four or five times without having to drive/ leg it across town.