Scott Snowdonia Trail Marathon - July 2016

This was my first marathon...I had decided last year when I was finally running injury free having changed my technique that I didn't want to wait a prolonged period before achieving a long held ambition, I just wanted to go for it, so from late autumn last year this had been my target for 2016. I had known that it would run long, 28.22 miles in fact, and I also knew that I could have picked far easier marathons out there as my first, lol. But what's the fun in that right?! If I'm going long, I may as well make it hard for myself, and I wanted to finish the course broken, to know that I had achieved something epic with this race...

So the profile of this run was a hill almost straight from the off that went on for a couple of miles, then a period of mildy undulating until mile 20 when you hit Snowdon, BOOM! You had to be at mile 20 after 5:15 hours, otherwise you wouldn't be allowed up Snowdon. Well, I had no intention of being anywhere near this cutoff but...if you'd read my last post you'd know that I came into this race with ITB syndrome and I had only managed to run about 15 miles in 4 weeks since Swansea Half Marathon...not the best preparation by any means as I couldn't use the turbo much either as my other knee was playing up (cleat alignment had something to do with it after my cleats falling off mid-ride and being re-aligned wrongly).

We travelled up on the Saturday (my parents and I that is) and stayed overnight in a quaint family run hotel overlooking the Menai Straits. Can't say it was my best sleep ever as the fabric of the hotel was paper thin it seemed, with wood floors that vibrated every sound and then noisy gangs of people in adjoining rooms!!!!! I think I got off to sleep some time around 2am, with the alarm set for 7am!

As I didn't know what breakfast would be available I took rice pudding with me for breakfast as this has worked previously prior to races and long runs - a good mix of protein with sugars and fats. It served its purpose anyway as I didn't get hungry at all on the run and stuck to my strategy of eating Naked cocoa bites every 15-30 mins or so after the first 50 mins. I also threw in some strawberry chewy sweets to be sure I didn't overload on the natural fruits, although I had taken an immodium pre-race. I also took ibuprofen and paracetamol pre-race, and took another dose after 2 hours of running (boy was I glad to be able to take them, not that they made much difference). 

Pre-race...sizing up the challenge

The race started in Llanberris, on the field adjacent to Lake Padarn, but I can't say I was impressed with the race expo or the "race field" on the day which had advertised itself as having loads of music going on, different fun events for everyone to take part in, etc. The race expo had a few shoes on display to buy, some nutrition stuff, but nothing else, where as I'd been hoping to maybe buy a buff or two as advertised. The weather was grim, drizzly, cloudy, but not cold, almost humid. Not great for spectators though, as it was my parents went back to the car for a bit, then had a coffee in the coffee shop, and I text upon reaching mile 20 to let them know where I was. As it was I was about another 1hr45 from that point, bless them, as they'd anticipated I'd be nearly done so went to the finish area!

So the race itself...well I can say it was truly beautiful, other than up on Snowdon when you couldn't see much because of the mist, but...saying that, you daren't hardly look up to admire the scenery as for the most part the security of your footing was less than assured and there were potential trip hazards almost throughout the whole race. I duly obliged to fall, on a fast decent off the first big hill, which was on a snaking series of switch backs, there was I politely pointing out the boulders and trip hazards to those behind me, as if I were on a bike, and what do I do, slip on almost nothing I think! Smack down and straight back up and again, hardly missed a stride, lol! Fair play, a couple of blokes asked how I was, and one even came onto me after the race when he saw me hobbling asking if it was from when I fell. I also had another stumble or two later on, but these were only air falls and I managed to write myself before anything catastrophic like a face-plan occurred, LOL!

Up and up and up right from the start!

The problem was that at mile 5 my ITB syndrome kicked in like a bitch and after that I struggled to breath at times because of the pain let alone enjoy myself! If I hadn't have been in searing agony then I might have actually enjoyed large parts of the run, but for me from mile 5 onwards was about completion and not having to throw in the towel. The pain had set in even before the split between half marathon and full marathon and for a moment it crossed my mind whether I should play it safe and do the half but no, I was in this for the long-haul, I was told it wouldn't do me any damage if I could handle the pain and that was what I was determined to do! There were times when the pain was less, but still present, and there were other times when I had shots of pure agony shoot through my leg and I could barely hobble. The amount of times on a single track section that I had to stop and let others by purely because I couldn't say I was running, merely moving forwards and I didn't want to hold anyone up. The terrain varied between forest roads, single track muddy slippery tree root laden paths, and muddy grassy boggy sections. My hip flexors had started to play up not long after the ITB pain set in and this made it hard to maintain my usual technique which is raising knee up and landing on mid-foot. It seemed almost that I was barely able to lift my knees so my focus became on just moving forwards!

Some of the terrain meant if you didn't want to face plant you had to walk, there was thick slippery mud on single track sections, and lots of rocky sections that you had to pick you way through. It was lovely to see a friendly face when Jonathan, who I am Facebook friends with from the tri world in Swansea, passed me after about 10 miles or so and we had a little chat, and even a selfie (he loves a running selfie), so that distracted from the pain and misery for a little while.

It was quite beautiful really, even if I hardly noticed!

Like in the Preseli Beast Bach, there was a moment where you rounded a corner and all you could see was a huge hill/mountain in front of you that looked vertical and a steady line of runners ahead of you who were all walking up the climb. This was the climb up to Pen-Y-Pass which was the 20 mile mark, so for about a mile or so it was mostly walking with some brief moments of being able to get into a jog. It seemed never ending but thankfully my calves were fine and it was just a case of moving forwards and overtaking a few people as felt right at key points. It was still single track so overtaking was difficult but I was conscious that if I felt decent (relative to the pain I was in) then I'd push on as much as I could. Getting to the top was a welcome sight as I could then refill my camelbak with isotonic drink, which is what i'd inadvertently been drinking when I had taken cups from marshals on route up until now so I continued to take isotonic drinks when I could. Took a few sweets, a couple of swigs of isotonic drink and then straight on, no hanging about, lol! This is where the pyg route started for us and right from the off it set the tone with huge boulder steps that required a big step up each time. There was no running going on, which actually was my race strategy given the pain, get to this point within the cut off point and I knew I could walk the rest of it. As it was I got here at 12:30pm and the cut-off time was 14:15 so I was fine. Phew! Of course I had no intention of walking it even if running was agony, but the majority of the climb you had no option but to walk/step/scramble. To be honest there were certain parts of the path where if you fell from a wrong footing you'd be off, falling down the mountain that was directly to the side of you - a sheer drop! Mostly it was those huge boulders that went on forever, and at times the signage wasn't great, having to look around to be sure I'd taken the right path when it came to a fork. There was also more traffic on this path that I'd anticipated and this held things up now and again with some walkers just being oblivious to the fact that you were in a race and young kids just scrambling around in front of you for sheer fun! The scrambly bits really were climbing, not for very long, but a good few foot/hand movements at times which is when things could have gotten hairy if it had been windier. It was wet and at times slippery but thankfully no falls for me. It was just a case of keeping on going. It was actually about 3 miles up from the 20 mile mark and that path seemed to go on forever. Hearing the sound of the train was a welcome sound as I knew I must be near the summit to hear it and then I chucked to myself when I saw a seagull perched up on one of the rocks, right up near the summit of Snowdon! Well he was certainly a long way from home. The weather up top was drizzly but not raining really and not as cold as when I was here in May. The race up until now had been a mixture of light rain and dry periods, but never cold, so I didn't feel the need to get the jacket on. The wind wasn't as strong as it was in May either, just no views, not that I dared look around anyway! 

Eventually the climb opened up to the welcome sight of a marshal and from there it was straight right and start the descent down the Llanberris path, which I knew. We didn't have to go right to the top, probably because of the amount of foot traffic with visitors from the train and walkers, plus we'd have to run into oncoming racers going in the other direction, so we were about 300m short of the top when we topped out. However, the descent was where the pain really set in as parts of the descent are really quite steep, which meant fast work for all those that flew past me, some asking if I was OK because I was walking mostly, sometimes trying a little shuffle, but the agony brought tears to my eyes! I had resolved myself to seeing this race as all about finishing, so whilst I know that I could have been at least 30-45 mins faster, and about 10 female places higher, plus about 50 places higher overall (given the amount of people that flew past me on the descent alone let alone those that passed me in earlier parts of the race when I was slow due to my lameness) I just accepted that for me I just wanted to get down off the mountain and finish the race. As the path eased off a bit I did try and run but it was hit and miss. When I was in sight of Lake Padarn (the start/finish area) on a steep descent that I knew left only about 1 mile or so left I was told to turn right through a cafe car park and into woods - NO!!!!!!!!! As it was this section I was able to run (well, what I was able to call running at this stage) as it was flatter, and a nice flowing trail actually. I just thought they were taking us away from the steep tarmac descent but No, they got us within touching distance of the finish, I could hear the commentator, and then rather than left towards the finish, I was told to go right, taking me away from the finish, even though I was probably already on 26 miles by this point (I couldn't even look at my watch at this point). This was another wooded section and then a young marshal said "1 mile to go" - "WHAT????????" But carry on I had to, and then there was a section where there was a little tourist train that was coming meaning the warning sirens were sounding and the path was about to be blocked - the marshals were calling us forwards quickly so I had to speed up - speed up?!?!?!? This hurt like hell but I made it before the train and as it was it possibly helped get into a better stride as from here I was running a bit easier, and we did a loop of the field basically, cutting out of the park, and then back in through what looked like a work's entrance. From here I could recognise the finishing area and was told "400m" to go. Now I always liked to finish a race strongly but I didn't feel I had a sprint finish in me today, thankfully I didn't need to test that out as I'll never turn down a sprint finish opportunity to pip someone at the line. With about 250m to go I was able to pass one guy who was in my sights, and thankfully he didn't come back at me so I had no-one directly in front of me to chase down, and no-one coming up behind me that I had to fend off. I could finish in my pace, arms aloft, and feeling so relieved that I had made it! I had completed the 28.22 miles (I can't say ran, as a fair bit of it was enforced walking from the terrain let alone my injury)!!!!!

Less than 100m left...

Thank heavens for that!

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!

Official photographer delayed taking this till after I had crossed the line and already started to drop my arms, DOH!
I look awful, lol!

Crossing the line I was disappointed to be told there was no medal as they had run out! That's what had kept me going, the feeling of having that medal around me neck. Everyone was disbelieving that they had run out of medals so early on as out of about 600 runners I placed 219th, 29th female, and 16th female under 40. Time was 6hr11. Not quite what I'd had in mind if I had been fit, but given I was running injured for 23 miles then I fared a lot better than a lot of people...They said they'd send the medal out in the post, not the same as the satisfaction of wearing it for the rest of the day for everyone to see, LOL! However, whilst it didn't make up for it, the finishing line treats of chocolate digestives (one for my Dad) and gummy bears with plenty of water was a welcome treat. Crossing the line I felt OK actually, although as soon as I stopped the pain in walking again was EPIC!!!!!!! My mother had thought I was running well when she had seen me but once I stopped and tried walking again she realised how much pain I was in. I can't say I was particularly tired and I certainly wasn't out of breath as there had been no sprint finish. Very strange from finishing a triathlon or the half marathon last month but then I guess the injury put paid to any speed and instead it was just about moving forwards. 

It was disappointing that there was hardly anything going on in the race field other than the finishing shoot so the atmosphere wasn't that great. I decided to have a post-race massage, £10 for 10-15 mins, but there was quite a wait and I quickly got cold. By the time the massage came about I was shivering almost uncontrollably and thankfully Jonny, the sports therapist threw loads of blankets on me to get me warm! I have to say Jonny was amazing, if not brutal! My hip flexors had seized completely and just lifting my left foot off the ground even less than an inch was agonising but he had me lying down and putting my let down straight, and then bringing my knee up to my chest - just this movement along brought cries of agony, let alone any actual treatment! Jonny felt that my adductors and glutes weren't firing and that possibly other areas were tight which meant when the injury kicked in and the body started to compensate all these other issues flared up. My sports massages are always painful but this was by far the most pain I've ever been in, which given I've just been in agony in the race for 23 miles, was quite something! I'd like to think it helped a little as I was walking a little easier that evening but BOY that night I couldn't roll over in bed without waking up through the pain, and the next day just trying to lift my left leg was almost impossible, having to lift my left leg to get in and out of the car, and to get up from lying down. This was purely because of my hip flexors being so tight, other than that and my ITB issue I felt good and had plenty of energy. When back at the hotel that afternoon I had a sauna and a very short swim, but it was lager I wanted!!!!!! Alas, I was so tired when we got back from eating that I went straight to bed, so only a couple of lagers for me over our luscious chinese. 

All in all I'm happy with my efforts and I know if I'd been injury free it would have been a completely different story but I achieved my goal, I completed my first marathon and yes, it had broken me as intended!

Swansea Half Marathon - June 2016

I hadn't run a half marathon for a few years, my first was 2008 in Llanelli, a mildly undulating course (had a few short hills) exposed to the elements on the coastal path. Then I did both the Forest of Dean Trail Half Marathons, the spring one and the autumn one. It's on one of these that I had my personal best time of 1hr41. These trails routes are hilly so I was intrigued what I might post on a flat course like Swansea, which has a total elevation of less than 10metres I think. Coming into this race I'd been getting the long hilly miles in for my July marathon and had done a few tempo runs but I hadn't followed a race plan and I hadn't focused on any particular pacing, I was just going on feel throughout my training. This is what I decided to do in the race, not focus on pace but rather start out on a pace that I felt I could maintain and then try and pick it up in the last few miles. Even though my main focus was the marathon in a month's time I still tapered for this race, just to see what I could do but the last couple of runs before the race I noticed a pain on the outside of my left knee which I wasn't pleased with as I hadn't noticed it before, it had come from nowhere even though I had tailed back the training that week.

Race day came and I was wearing the colours of my running club Run4All for the first time. I'm still with my triathlon club Celtic Tri and it felt very strange and disloyal to be wearing another club's colours, but I've had more to do with the running club of late and I liked the fact that the R4All race vest was nice and tight and that they had race pins in club colours, plus a nice buff to keep the hair under control. I had no support at this race so off I toddled in the morning, getting to Swansea by about 7:30am to be sure of parking and the place was deserted almost! Still, at least I got to use a portaloo that hadn't been used before...a clean portaloo!!!!!!!!!!

The weather was great, not too cold, but not hot, a very slight breeze but nothing that would affect running...Upon entering we'd had to enter an estimated finishing time and as a result we had been grouped into pen starts. I can't remember what time I had put down but I was in pen B, the one behind the elites/fastest club runners! In my mind I'd like to go sub 1hr40 as that would be a PB but if I could get anywhere near 1hr35 I'd be well chuffed. I didn't think 1hr35 was on as that would be consistent 7:15 minute mile-ing and whilst I was running well in training I hadn't done much consistent speed work or threshold work so thought keeping that pace up for 13 miles would be too much. So I thought I'd hang out by the 1hr40 pacer and then towards the end up the pace and move ahead. As it was in my pen I was much nearer the 1hr30 pacer which wasn't intentional but I thought I'd start and see how long I could keep that pacer in my sights as long as the pace felt OK for me. 

The start was delayed by 1/2hr due to road closure issues so this meant we had all been standing around in the pen waiting to go for at least 45 minutes, not ideal by any means and thankfully I didn't need the toilet having gone 3 times since getting to Swansea in the morning! The organisers had gone to a big effort and there was a choir singing in the starting area, and there was another part way down the course which was fab. The support to be fair was amazing out on the course, the best I've experienced and the shout outs I had for being in R4All colours was fab and I found that I overtook someone every time I had a shout out, which wasn't intentional, lol! I was also thoroughly enjoying myself, having been so long out from racing, to now be in a race and loving every step was an amazing feeling!!!! 

Clearly enjoying myself!!!!

The route was a little route out from the city centre starting point and then out and back along the coast road, out on the road and back on the cycle path, this meant supporters could see you on both ways which is great as a spectator and as a runner in terms of maximising support. It also meant you could see the runners ahead/behind you on the route so extra shout-outs for fellow club runners. I also got chatting to a celtic tri bloke at the turnaround point, Gary, had to say I was in that club too but in different colours for the day, lol! I surprised myself immensely when I looked down at one of my mile lap times and saw that I was clocking sub 7 minute miles! This wasn't intentional but the pace I was running at felt comfortable so I stuck with it. As it was, post-race, looking at my pacing, I was pretty consistent other than the last 2 miles when the pain from my knee hampered efforts, but otherwise I had stuck to a pace based on feel alone, and that pace had been both consistently fast and consistent! Happy Days for me!

Just before mile 12 - this is me trying and failing for sub 7 min pace - sheer agony!

So...It got to around mile 10 and I decided to ramp it up a bit, caught Gary back up and overtook him and didn't see him again, I always try and finish a race strongly so I was pleased that I was able to do this. However, the pain in my knee had been there from the off but it was just a mild niggle initially. However, from about mile 10 on it got steadily more painful until it started to actually hamper my running. I was now running in pain and I know it was showing on my face. Right before mile 12 I looked down at my watch and I was on 1hr23, the first time I'd looked at my time - f**k me!!!!!! I was on for a great time and if I could nail a great final mile I might get sub 1hr30!!!!!!! Unfortunately, the pain was just too much and as much as I was trying to push I just couldn't. I did manage a last final sprint though, just got to haven't you, as I had spiderman in my sights in the final straight so gave a sprint from about 100m out but I was in sheer agony, lol, and when I crossed the line, f**k, the pain of trying to slow down!!!!!!!!! The marshals were asking if I needed St John's Ambulance, lol. Nah, but I did decide to head straight to the massage tent, and slowed limped my way over. Thankfully the massage was free as all my cash was back in the car, but she was able to loosen things up slightly, but I was still in heaps of pain walking and spent the next few days limping around!

Spiderman in my wake...this was through gritted teeth though, not pretty on the eye, but at least I'm flying!

As it was I managed 1hr32:27 - BOOM!!!!!!!!! I was well chuffed with this given I hadn't thought I'd get near 1hr35 and know that if it hadn't been for the injury I could have gone faster, so the next target is sub 1hr30!! I'm also hoping that I get a 'good for age' time with this for the New York Marathon. This year for my age-group 1hr35 was the magic number, which is why I'd looked at 1hr35 pacing, so in January I can see if this time is good enough for me to try and get a 'good for age' slot in next year's New York marathon which would be amazing!!!! There's no guarantee of a place, but there's far more chance than if I entered the ballot. Just so happy with this result...I know there's more to come too if I get some consistent speed work in me once I'm over the injury.

So the injury is ITB syndrome so who knows what will happen for Snowdon Trails Marathon 4 weeks after this race...

Preseli Beast Bach May 2016

My first race for 18 months and a brutal looking race at that. But, it was a running race, I love running, it's unlikely I am going to die whilst running (although I came to think otherwise during the race), so I don't get anxious unlike in triathlons where the swim section is my psychological battle because of my fear of drowning. 

It was a late morning start time so nothing to early and the drive across was beautiful. I had decided to wear my marathoner camelbak for the first time to see how it felt ready for my longer marathon training runs. I know you shouldn't try anything new on race day but when I tried it on it fitted so snuggly that I knew it wouldn't be an issue, and it wasn't. 

I knew this race was going to be tough. It's 2000ft of climbing over 11 miles with "the beast" featuring as the highlight, basically a hike up a pretty big mountain over grassy terrain!!! I had seen the profile, but didn't know what to expect really in terms of terrain. I wore my trail shoes and the weather was decent so I had shorts and t-shirt on, with a buff to kerb the bed hair!! 

The start/finish was in a little village square and the locals certainly now how to put on a show with drums being banged and even a little golf cart lead out with hooters and sirens! The sound of those drums as I emerged from the trails on the way back was a welcome sound as this race was brutal! You had your race pack beforehand and I'd bought a t-shirt, as I love a good t-shirt to show off the race achievements, and a slate coaster. I still feel like a cheat getting these before the race has been finished, but then it is a motivator to make sure you complete to be sure you can make use of them I guess, lol. 

So the hooter sounded and off we went, hundreds of footfalls in tandem, up the road out of the village and then right onto the trails. Into a forest section which was fast but potentially a fall hazard as there were tree roots a plenty and little boardwalks that were going to be slippery if wet. After about 1k the race then started, up, and up, and up. This was pretty much a constant theme, lol. As it was the first ascent was a steep grassy single track and unfortunately if the person in front of you stopped to walk you had to also. I can't say I was ready for walk then but you had no other choice until you found a spot to pass. 

The terrain of the race was a mixed bag, forest fire roads, wooded trails, grassy single track ascents and descents, boggy marshland that landed you shin deep in mud, and then proper fell racing up almost vertical mountains on grass that required you to walk and distract yourself from the screaming in your calves! The final 3 miles was a very fast descent off the mountain followed by a return through the wooded trip hazard and then back out the trail to the village drummers! Coming into this race I wasn't sure if I was race ready. I was fit, but having not raced for so long and speed work having been minimal I didn't know what to expect of myself. 

As it was I can't say I "enjoyed" the race. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking, especially on a sunny day, but you didn't dare look up because the footing was so uncertain that you could trip at any moment. There had been a long hilly on a forest fire road that I was determined to run all of it even as others started to walk but then rounding the corner and seeing a line of racers in front of you walking up a bloody big mountain that seemed to go on for at least a mile was demoralising, as was the way my calves said "no thank you very much" to the walked ascent due to it's beyond steep gradient! Then when you got to the top of that you had a little respite before it pitched up again. Thankfully though, at the top of that final climb over rough grassy terrain was the start of the descent and boy was it fast! If you'd fallen then you'd have landed a good 10 feet in front of you I'm sure such was the slope down and the hazards underfoot! 

Pretty beautiful right!

 Throughout the race I'd been too-ing and fro-ing with another girl and on that final pitch up I had just re-overtaken her. Thankfully, on that descent, I left her for dust and I left nothing out there on the way back in, overtaking people on the fast single track section, and then holding off others in the last section through the forest and out into the village. As it was a guy approached me after the race to say he had kept me as a marker point down the mountain by about 400m but that I had pulled away from him so he couldn't catch me. When I got back to the village with about 400m to go I was running as hard as I could to be sure no-one caught me and crossing that line was one of the most welcome reliefs ever!

Thank f**k!!!!

As it was I was 11th female so I didn't do too shabby at all! The food on offer back in the village hall was amazing, although I can never really stomach much after a race, so a nice free cup-cake did me nicely rather than the cawl that everyone else was tucking in to! A change in the toilets as i was stinking was a welcome relief and then after watching for a while and catching up with run4all club members I made the trip back home. All in all a good day's work! Can't say I enjoyed it...would I do it again??? Now I know what to expect maybe, but at the time I would have said no. Still, a cracking race, and great preparation for hilly races to come...

2016 - half a year gone and not one blog post?!?!

A serious lack of blogging has been going on!!!! Life has been a bit of a rollercoaster this year but having done three races this year (that's a huge improvement on recent years) I thought I best write some race reports at least!

So, just to bring events up to current day before the race reports, the start of the year was hit by illness which hampered training, then my asthma flared up as a result quite badly leading to a painful chesty cough that went on a long time. I was training for the Preseli Beast Bach (in May) by this point so when my chest felt a bit easier off I went for a hilly run only to jar my rib muscles on a steep descent when I was coughing badly. Pulled rib muscles are painful buggers as just turning over in bed caused sheering pain and running was out as was swimming as I couldn't stretch. Then I had a minor operation on my finger so again I couldn't swim so all in all I decided to drop out of the triathlons/duathlons I had planned and just focus on my running races as my training had been so sporadic at the start of the year. 

When I finally got back to run training properly things were going well and I was chuffed that all my miles at zone 2 heart rate had worked a treat as my time per mile was dropping steadily without any more effort. I started to add in a few tempo runs and was pleased that I could sustain a faster pace, although I wasn't training to any set pace, just going on feel. 

The races I had lined up were the Preseli Beast Bach, 11 miles covering 2000ft of climbing in the Pembrokeshire Mountain range - The Preseli's. This was a race carried over from last year when I was injured; then the Beast of Bryn (15 miles of hilly trails), again carried over from last year, the Swansea Half Marathon, and then the Scott Snowdonia Trail Marathon. Unfortunately, the Beast Of Bryn got cancelled due to events with Tata Steel (the sponsors) but I still had three good races to focus on with the last one, the Snowdonia Marathon being my first marathon and the most important one in my book. If i could achieve that after the years of running injuries I'd had then I would be well happy...

Training wise I was still using the turbo, but wasn't going out on the bike on weekends as I was focusing on long runs, and getting my gym work in. As it was as well, the early part of the year life took over a bit too so having just running to really focus on was helpful for balancing up work/training/life. My early morning training routine was very much hit and miss, but I was at least getting the training done and feeling good when doing it. It's not been plain sailing though as I've had some stuff going on that affected my appetite so I was conscious I was running on empty a lot of the time for a period but the positive was that the weight I had put on over the past couple of years from being injured and liking junk food too much fell off me so I was the lightest I'd ever been and feeling great for it!!! Now it's about keeping it off!!!!!!!! My shoulder injury still isn't sorted, I had a MRI that looked right at the shoulder joint but they found nothing there and then discharged me, even though I still had the issue. Not sure what I'm going to do about it but for now I'm just watching the pain when I do manage to go swimming and hopefully from now on I can get a couple of swims in a week and then maybe return to club swims from end of September when the focus will return to basics rather than the race prep stuff they will be doing now. 

In life stuff, I passed my MSc in Sport Psychology with a merit and graduated this month out of The Millennium Centre which was pretty stunning, (if not long and tedious as I was 3rd from last to go up!!). I've also started a new job which is setting up a service for people with personality disorders that I am leading from scratch, so that's been a challenge as no-one wants to be helpful and instead people tend to ignore your requests!!!!!!

Anyways...race reports to follow...