We had been invited up to Brathay Hall for a training weekend.
Most runners would think this was going to consist of some kind of running, whether it was interval work or speed sessions. Well that wasn’t the reason for this weekend. Training for the event is basically up to us to sort out ourselves in a way that suits us. We did, as mentioned in a previous post manage a run round the lake on the Saturday morning.
The reason for the weekend was about two things:-
1. To meet the people we would be with during the challenge.
Firstly, Aly and Mac who will be looking after us on a daily basis. They looked after us really well all weekend and while we ran round the lake. I’m sure I couldn’t ask for better people to look after me in May. Thanks to you both for a lovely weekend.
The body Rehab team who will be looking after our legs, aches and pains during the event with massages and physio.
Team Nutrition who will be providing the sports drinks which will hopefully keep us hydrated and fuelled for the 10 days.
It was good to meet the other runners. I found this particularly interesting. The first evening when we all assembled in the bar was like a library, you could have heard a pin drop. The nosiest thing in the room was the gorgeous open fire crackling away oblivious to the nervous runners sitting around. Aly spoke first introduced herself and then made us all introduce ourselves and say a bit about ourselves. I thought the variety of runners was very interesting. There are fast marathon runners, slow ultra runners and runners counting the marathons to be eligible to join the 100 marathon club. Some had been running only a few years while others like me had main years experience. Funny but the runners with less years experience seemed to have done more marathons. One thing in common was that we all liked running marathons and regularly. On the Sunday it was a completely different atmosphere we were friends and had also bonded into some mini groups as well. We had all got a common hobby and you just could not shut any of us up.
2. To be shown what to do during the ten days.
We were taken see the Shackleton Lodge where we will be staying, two to a room. We were shown how to us the timing chips. Where to make our drinks before the race and how they will be placed around the course for us. We will be having breakfast in the Shackleton Lodge. Lunch after each marathon in the Goldsworthy Room in the Hall, overlooking the finish and diner in the dining room.
On the Friday evening we had a Health & Safety briefing explaining the traffic dangers especially near the start which is between two bends.
After the morning run nn the Saturday we had a talk from Scott Umpleby, race organiser and Chris Heaton former runner of the 10 in 10 about ways to improve our fund raising efforts. We then had our talk from Team Nutrition and after dinner from Aly and Mac on the daily operations.
Sunday consisted of meeting and a talk from the Body Rehab team and finished off with a look round the Shackleton Lodge.
It was strange leaving a place where I had just made some nice new friends only to leave again. Weird next time I’m there it will be the evening before we start running 10 marathons in 10 days.
Just a little extra note, I woke up on the Sunday to find the run round the lake had not affected my ankle and it is still on its slow mend.
