Clair Park Run and RunGatwick

MY PLAN going into the weekend was simple.   Go for a long run on Thursday and then taper off for RunGatwick on Sunday.   The problem was by Friday I was suffering with itchy legs and decided to do Clair Park Run.

Clair Park Run PB

The aim was to take it easy and complete the course.   I got to the front which meant that I didn't have to stop when everybody hit the first bend going into a narrow footpath (I should have realised that my body was telling me something!)   The first lap went well and it looked like a PB.   So I maintained the pace and tried to increase it on the downhill section.   Going into the last half lap there was a chance I could achieve the elusive 5k in 27 minutes.   But no, 27 minutes and 29 seconds.   Nevertheless it was still a PB.   So much for taking it easy!

RunGatwick was a very different experience for me this year.   Last year was the inaugural run and I did the race just for me.   This year the event hosted the Sussex Athletics Association Half Marathon which means a show of strength from the Beetroot Army and I am now running as a member of Haywards Heath Harriers and under Sussex Athletics official race rules.

Three years ago I suffered from work related stress and it really hit me hard.   I didn't know what I was going to do and the amount of physical issues I had was ridiculous.   I went to the local gym and then took up running.   I didn't own a pair of trainers and wouldn't run for a bus.   This was a real change of attitude for me.   I never believed for one moment that I would be chasing a 27 minute PB on 5k, running half marathons or joining a club and it is so inclusive and motivates you to push yourself that little bit further.

Beetroot Army Team Poto

I have to say thank you to my beautiful wife for driving myself and two other Harriers to the event.   She then had to find something to do for five hours with a lot of road closures in place around Crawley, and pick us up.   She was amazing. (From the wife - I agree!)

RunGatwick kicked off at Southgate Park and went past The Hawth Theatre before turning back towards the town centre.   Up the dual carriageway past County Oak and into the industrial units at Lowfield Heath.   It was where it became RunGatwick as you run the main road and can see all the aircraft at the busiest single runway airport in the world.

 

Turning onto the Perimeter Road you are running parallel with the runway.   You can't see it because of trees but aircraft landing and taking off were coming towards us.   So you can hear and see them when they clear the tree line.   Coming up the road there were three Gatwick Security Jeeps playing "Eye of the Tiger" really loud.   They got a big cheer from the runners.   At the end of the road you cut across the end of the runway with the perfect view straight down it.   With aircraft coming in over your head, the sight and noise of them makes this really a unique run.

Next stage is the road to Charlwood in Surrey.   This is a great run. You get to go through a busy major town with full road closures in place and run around the Perimeter Road at Gatwick and see some amazing countryside in both Sussex and Surrey.

50plusandrunning coming in
to the last half mile.

Charlwood was amazing. It's a small village and lots of people turned out to support the event.   At the end of the village we turned onto the Ifield Road and headed back towards Crawley.

By the time I hit the Ifield Roundabout I had picked up a fellow member of the Beetroot Army and we were motivating each other to get to the finish line.    Ifield Roundabout was significant for me as I knew where we were, how far we needed to go and I could visualise the finish line.

We hit the 12 mile mark and the route took a different direction to last year.   We were pushed through the town centre and up and around County Mall shopping centre.   The effort had really hit our legs and we needed to get up Southgate Avenue and cross the finish line.   With a bloody big push we got up the hill and on seeing the finish line I just put everything I had left into one final sprint.

Once over the finish line we got the medal, T-shirt, banana and protein bar.   Then headed directly for the beer tent and had a pint of ale.   Cor, that was really good.

 

The experiment with energy gels seemed to work quite well.   Last year my muscles were seizing up in the last three miles; this time they held on until the end.   I took a caffeine gel half an hour before the start and then used two energy gels one at one hour and the next at one hour and forty five minutes.   I had meant to have another caffeine one for the last couple of miles through the town but totally forgot it because of the support I had which was a pity as I wanted to see if that made any difference.   I will have to save it for my next race.

Things were looking good leading up to RunGatwick and I managed to knock just under 20 minutes off my PB.   Very pleased with that.   Except the day before I started to go down with a cold.  Taking part in the event I just dosed myself up with paracetamol.   That night the cold really kicked in.   So, I have spent two days in bed snotty, sweating and coughing my lungs up!

At least I have my RunGatwick medal and goodies for another day.   And my important race number.   I have these all stored in a photo album because they mean so much, even more than the medal because that little piece of memorabilia was a part of that journey on the day.

If you want to see and feel what this run feels like.   Experience the amazing support around the route then check this video out on YouTube by Fordy Runs.   Click here.