roseabi's Running Story 😊: Here's my... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

Fun Beyond 10K & Race Support

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roseabi's Running Story 😊

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathon
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Here's my contribution to the July mini-challenge - I've actually been meaning to "introduce myself" since I became an admin here!

Q: Please attach a picture, doesn't have to be of you if you don't want - but tell us here: what is the picture about?

A: That is me, and I'm running in the Beachy Head Marathon in October 2016, where I got a lot of humorous comments about my parkrun top :)

Picture was by Sussex Sport Photography, nice chap - check out his blog here, funny captions :)

sussexsportphotography.blog...

Q: Tell us a little bit about you!

A: I'm 48 and married with two cats. I did a biology degree, and worked as a factory QC microbiologist for a few years, and then various techy admin type jobs, but these days I work at home (with my husband) doing bits and bobs for our small mobile phone game business. I play the flute, and I enjoy housework, beer, and slothfulness :D

Q: How long have you been a runner?

A: About three and a half years...

Q: Did you start running with a C25K programme? Why or why not?

A: I did the NHS C25K, using the old app with Laura (not the podcast - sorry but the music was just too awful :)). I wasn't really a couch potato because I was a keen swimmer and user of barre fusion video workouts, but I had never been able to understand running! However, I knew it would be good for my bone health to take it up, and a friend did C25K and posted about it on Facebook very impressively. It interested me, and I was at the time writing a master's dissertation about digital health apps and websites, so I gave it a go and loved it!

Q: But what made you want to start running races?

A: Same old story, I originally had no desire to run further than 5k! But I wanted a new challenge, so I worked up to 10k, and once I'd been running that distance for a bit (and I loved it!) I started to think, well, a half marathon is only two 10ks... And then I heard about the Milton Keynes Winter Half Marathon (MK is an old stomping ground), so there I went :) I've since done a few halfs and 10ks, four marathons, a triathlon, and an ultramarathon! I've been injured too, but it's all part of life's rich tapestry :p

Q: What's it like to run in your area?

A: I'm really lucky to live in Brighton & Hove UK, which has a mixture of long and super-flat sea-front promenade (up to Rottingdean and back for a half-mara pb attempt!), flat-to-steep town streets and parks, and hilly trails up on the South Downs and beyond :)

Q: What is your favourite race event so far? And why?

A: Difficult to choose, but I'll go for Beachy Head. It was my first marathon, and it's just such a lovely event - trails, massive hills, glorious views, a highland piper, Mars Bars and sausage rolls en route, lunch and the use of a swimming pool at the finish!

Q: What are your favourite mid-race snack, and post-race meal?

Mars Bars (thanks Beachy Head!); and Fish 'n' Chips.

A: Best piece of running/racing advice?

Smile, and pick up your feet!

Q: Name a favourite running website (plus link, please!):

A: I love the Endurance Planet 'Ask the Coaches' podcasts:

enduranceplanet.com/

Q: What's next for you, running-wise?

A: I'm going to be a bit more spontaneous with my race bookings, because earlier on this year I got really bogged down and stressed out with injury and too many races at once. I have booked a return to Beachy Head this year, but I am doing an ultramarathon training plan leading up to that, and would like mostly just to do my own thing. I may well go for more ultramarathons (there are quite a few local ones), and definitely would like to do more triathlon training - only the occasional actual event, but maybe an Ironman one day! And I'm currently trying to improve my windsurfing skills :)

Link to the July Challenge post:

healthunlocked.com/marathon...

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roseabi
Ultramarathon
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22 Replies
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Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon

A wonderful bio Abi. Thank you for sharing this with us. Yours is such an inspirational story. From C25 to Ultras! That is really something to look back on.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toDecker

Aw thanks Decker! I'd love to read yours... :)

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toroseabi

I will try and put something together. It will be much tamer than yours :) Great idea to get to know everyone too

So inspiring! Sounds like an amazing journey. One question, how do you cope with winter running? 😘

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply to

Oh, hey! Welcome to the forum!! Lovely to have you here :)

Funny you should ask that; I hesitated over the Beachy Head picture because I'm wearing capris, which is unusual for me - I'm definitely a shorts girl! But in winter, the capris will sometimes make an appearance (unless it's so cold I have to wear full tights!). It is important to keep the leg muscles warm.

Winter training can be really hard, and I have to say I am avoiding spring marathons next year partly because of that! But what I tend to do in winter is run more in the evenings because I feel stronger and warmer for having eaten a couple of meals, and having moved around throughout the day. I'm lucky because it's easy to run in Hove after dark - there's lots of street lighting along the prom - but if I go somewhere like the local park, which is unlit, I wear a head torch. If it's really cold I often wear two tops and two hats! I don't like gloves, because I don't have a good way of carrying them if I want to take them off, so I go for long sleeves that I can pull down over my hands, or roll up as needed. I tend to get very hot when I run, so in that sense I prefer winter running - don't need so much water either :) We rarely have snow here, so I'm afraid I can't comment on that situation! I will wear a waterproof jacket if there's chilly rain, and I have a special hat with a peak and ear-covers (it's actually a cycling hat) for winter, to keep the rain out of my eyes.

I like to follow some sort of training plan (either home-made or found online) - this will help get me out of the door and running in most weathers :)

β€’ in reply toroseabi

I'm just a lurker! Haven't graduated the 10K yet, but love reading the stories over here. Everyone has a tale to tell about how they got here, so I'm loving this idea!

Wondered how everyone copes in winter as we started in April when it was still very cold this year. I had my old WalktheWalk gloves which are long, they go up to your elbow so easy to loop over my running belt. Can't imagine what it would be like when it's even colder, I suffer from terrible pain in my ears when it's cold.

Strange, because I'm happiest when out in the snow skiing. My argument is that my gear makes it bearable, it's designed for sub-zero temps.

Even the gym is a thought in the colder months, it's pretty chilly in there until you get a good 10 minutes in.

Any links to good winter technical clothes would be appreciated from anyone over here. 😊

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply to

Ooh, yes - forgot about the treadmill! I have only run on one once (when the weather turned extremely nasty!), but I liked it. I don't listen to music or anything when running outside, but I was happy with my podcast on the treadmill :)

I feel you with the sore ears. I am like that too, and always keep mine covered in the winter - and even when it warms up if it's windy!

So you're a ski-er? I'd love to hear more about that, maybe when you feel like it you could post about the running experience as a skier? I know of one or two others on this forum that ski...

As for clothes, I tend to just layer up whatever cheapo stuff I have from Amazon or wherever - I'm sure others will be able to offer some wisdom though!

mrrun profile image
mrrunUltramarathon

This is actually very nice, including the photo - you look like one of those serious pro runners except that you smile, those guys never smile for some reason! ;)

One day I will expose it all in a bestseller 'Ups And Downs And Other Selected Adventures Of mrrun, His Dishevelled Joints And More', available at your local airport or charity book shop.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply tomrrun

I'll look out for that ;) But do give it a practice run on here if you feel so inclined :)

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Half Marathon

Great start to this feature and a lovely idea to see (i rem this pic i think!)and find out more about you!! Epic girl and force to be reckoned with ,doing great and a brilliant advert for c25k 😊x

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toaliboo70

Thanks Ali! xxx

I'd love to read your story!

I bought all my pics from that race, as there were quite a few that weren't bad (I hate pictures of me!), also the photographer (Sussex Sport Photography) seems like a nice chap, and his prices are reasonable :)

Whatsapp profile image
WhatsappHalf Marathon

Lovely post and lovely idea Abi. Looking forward to finding out about everyone on here what a wonderful forum. πŸƒπŸƒ

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toWhatsapp

Thank you Whatsapp! Hope to hear from you too... ;)

Sqkr profile image
SqkrHalf Marathon

From 5k to Ultramarathons and Ironmanβ€”flipping heck. That's quite the progression :D I didn't realise you were based in Brighton! I lived there a long time myself whilst I worked in London, I'm just in the process of selling my wee flat there in Oriental Place :( I love that flat so much but it's so tiny and so far away.

Beachy Head sounds amazing, I'd thought about going down for Brighton marathon next year but I've heard very mixed things so didn't sign up in the end. Maybe Beachy Head would be a good choice instead... πŸ€”

I'm looking forward to reading everyone else's challenge posts too!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toSqkr

Ooh, what were your favourite parts of Brighton/Hove? What do you think of the i360 viewing tower they've built very near to your flat?

It's very very far! We're loving living down here, although it is hard to get people to visit, cos it's such a trek :) It's sad that you to have to sell up, but times change...

Beachy Head is amazing, and a lot of people do it as their first marathon. Brighton is also wonderful though, pretty flat and fantastic crowd support, definitely worth considering.

I'd love to read your story too! :)

Sqkr profile image
SqkrHalf Marathonβ€’ in reply toroseabi

Favourite bits of Brighton...hmm...Edinburgh is wonderful and I've no regrets about moving but I do miss silly things like watching the starlings wheeling about around the old pier and bumping into Nick Cave in Waitrose all the time πŸ˜‚ I'd like to have experienced East Sussex as a local runner too, I imagine all the way along the coast through the various Deans or out to Devil's Dyke would be lovely! Oh man the i360, I'm sure there's a great view but honestly what's the point. It'll fall down in fifty years and stand there all sad and decrepid like the West Pier.

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toSqkr

The starlings are beautiful, and the running is fun, but of course Edinburgh is both :)

Yeah, you could be right about the i360... I like the sight of it, and enjoyed very much watching it being built - and the view is amazing. But I gather it's not been doing so well financially :(

ju-ju- profile image
ju-ju-Marathon

This is fab, it feels so good to get to know you more, and what an interesting life you have... I so want to do windsurfing it looks so much fun!!!

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply toju-ju-

Thank you! It is very fun :)

Fab post, really interesting, and I,love the colour combination of your outfit

roseabi profile image
roseabiUltramarathonβ€’ in reply to

Thank you! Yep, love a bit of orange and blue (purple-ish :))

β€’ in reply toroseabi

one of my favourite combinations, and those capris are really nice.

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