A special thank you – TP100 – ready or not

I would like to take this opportunity to thank EVERYONE who supported the Freedom Run last year.  We raised a staggering £28,300.  The money raised has enabled Save the Children South Africa to set up a project called Giving girls the Freedom to Live 

Seeing it in print really makes my heart leap with joy and made every step taken in South Africa over the 32 days worth while, knowing the project will be helping 400 girls in KwaZulu-Natal between the ages of 11 – 18 enabling them to remain in Education.   This couldn’t have been done without your amazing, wonderful support, it’s you guys who are the ones who made this possible, thank you.

http://www.savethechildren.org.za/UMMP

This weekend finds me on the start line of the TP100 (Thames Path 100) organised by the fantastic Centurion Running and I’m delighted to say that there are no hills or more importantly rocks – after my first race in India earlier this year it’s quite a relief not to have to rock hop or fight my way through any thorns!

There have been moments since February that I really didn’t think I would make the race.  My left leg has been causing me issues that made running long distances really hard work as it became painful after a couple of hours, but with low mileage, listening to my body,  my marvellous Osteopath and doing my strengthening exercises I seemed to have turned a corner.  (jumps up and down cheering) I have been doing sensible training,  if I needed a day off I would take it, all this has really helped with my recovery.

Me just before the start of my Double Comrades in 2009

Over last last month I have been able to build up my longer training sessions and my leg seems to be behaving which is great, giving me more confidence.  Sounds daft after all the long stuff I have done over the years but I still get nervous with ever race I do and my confidence levels hit the floor.

The TP100 is a flat course – joy of joys, I can do flat – starting in Richmond, London and finishing in Oxford.  When you look at it on a map it looks a very long way!

You might think that it wouldn’t be possible to get lost while running along the Thames – wrong! When I did it in 2012 I was so excited about seeing a double rainbow I kept running while trying to get my camera out, going straight past the bridge I was supposed to cross (note to self, turn right over bridge a little way after the 1st CP).  As I was happily taking a photo I notice a runner on the otherwise of the river – you can imagine I was just a little frustrated with myself!

I have a marvellous crew looking after me, Becky, Paul and of course HWMBO so I know whatever happens they will keep me on the straight and narrow.  My kit (X-Bionic of course) is all packed and ready to go and I will be wearing my really comfortable Mafate Speed Hokas – love them (thanks to the Ultra Marathon Running Store) my Salomon S-Lab Sense 3L & my marvellous Suunto Ambit3 Peak (thanks to Spike Communications)

This certainly isn’t going to be my fastest 100 miler as I haven’t been able to do a lot of speed work unfortunately but I’m just delighted to be able to run it at all.  See you on the start line.

 

Happy Training