THE RETURN TO LOCH NESS (2nd October 2011)

 

When I returned from the Loch Ness Marathon 2010 I felt I wanted to write an article for the magazine to thank everyone who supported me in the training for my first marathon even though in my heart I was so disappointed with my time and performance.  Helen Lawrenson and I agreed to go back in 2011 and for me it was hopefully going to be a chance to get the time I wanted sub 4hours.

 

Helen and I started training again as we had done last year by using the Freckleton Half as the start of our programme.  We decided that we would include speed work and hills this time round as well as concentrating on our long runs. The lower walk seemed an ideal place to practice our speed and I am not sure whose bright idea it was to use the Longridge Race course for hills but I am so glad we did.  Perhaps not so at the time.  We returned to Longridge a couple of times and then wondered if on the next visit we could manage to run the course twice.  We decided to recruit a couple of extra runners to give us options on the day.  The question was who would come with us?  Very generously two new recruits to Wesham, Sarah Ward and Brian Jones willingly offered to help us out.  They had both supported us on our long runs and speed sessions so why not join us for the hills.  The four of us were elated when we completed the Longridge Course twice!  So much so that we all went back a few weeks later and did it again.  (Sarah and Brian may use different words to describe this experience).

 

We scheduled our long runs and with the fabulous support from other Wesham Runners and we gradually got through the mileage.  For me this part of the training is fantastic.  I love the camaraderie of the long runs.  My work colleagues ask me ‘what do you talk about when you are out running all that time?’ Poor Brian has to listen to us natter on about the price of our weekly food shop, our latest hair disasters and which sports bras have less bounce!  Sorry Brian. 

 

On the day of the race we travelled out into the Highlands by coach.  As we got off the coach we had a quick chat with Dave Young but we all got separated at that point as the coaches were late arriving at the start and it was a bit frantic dropping off baggage and having a pee etc.  I personally had two challenges ahead.  I wanted to get to the 9mile and 16mile markers still feeling ok.  At 9 miles last year I had already started to fade and by 16miles I had nothing left.  The last 10miles were painfully disappointing.

 

I was so relieved when 9 and 16 came and went and I was still feeling ok.  I daren’t look at my watch.  I just stayed positive.  I remembered between 18m and 20m there was some work to do on the hills up ahead but none of them compared to Jeffrey Hill which was such a relief.  At 23m I was back into civilisation, (the first 23m of the Loch Ness Course are isolated), and I dared to glance at my watch.  I was starting to tire but still felt ok.  I was absolutely delighted when I saw the time over the finish line and I mouthed to Helen ‘I did it!’  I so desperately wanted to get under 4hrs and I knocked 25minutes off from last year.  Helen did incredibly well and it was such a pleasure to see her on the podium receiving a prize.  I must apologise to Dave Young as I didn’t see him on the field at the finish.  I just needed to find somewhere to sit down.  So apologies to Dave and at the time of writing this article I haven’t spoken to him so I hope he enjoyed his race. 

 

I will return to Loch Ness, perhaps not in 2012.  I apologise if I have bored you with writing about the same marathon twice.  I will finish by saying a massive ‘thank you’ to all the Wesham Runners, (and Tanya!), who supported me.  I couldn’t have done it without you.   “Thank you” x

 

WESHAM ROAD RUNNERS FINISHERS AND TIMES

Race

No.

First Name

Surname

Gender

Gender Position

Cat

Cat

Pos

Club

Gun Time

Overall Position

Chip Time

275

Helen

Lawrenson

Female

9

F40+

5

Wesham Road Runners

03:18:52

149

03:18:32

310

Nicola

Unsworth

Female

81

F40+

27

Wesham Road Runners

03:45:55

543

03:44:35

2056

Simon David

Young

Male

682

M60+

8

Wesham Road Runners

03:57:34

834

03:56:22

Written by: Nicola Unsworth

Submitted: 2nd October 2011

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor