Derby Ramathon

After finishing last years Nottingham Half marathon and actually sort of enjoying it I wanted to find another one this year. At first I saw the Sporting Futures Derby Half but it's the same weekend in September as I'm cycling London to Brighton. I then found the Ramathon and it fitted perfectly into my schedule. Also being from Ilkeston having a Derby postcode and a Nottingham phone number it felt right to do a Derby half to match with the Nottingham run.

The race starts and finished from Pride Park (iPro Stadium) like the Derby 10k but that's about the only similarity in the route. The 10k going into the City centre and around the Cathedral Quarter, where the Ramathon went out to Alvaston, Shardlow, Thulston, Elvaston and back to Pride Park. 

Derby 10k route 2015

Ramathon route 2015

The route was really flat with just a few undulations, the sun was out and I was sweating as always. One of my clients was running it and her partner from Beeston Cycling Club was there taking photos. Thanks to his massive camera and bright cycling helmet I could spot him and put on a smile for his photos, or laugh at times because it felt like I was playing "Where's Wally?" looking for him to pop up and take a photo.

2km into the race, a proper smile.

About 12km, laughing at spotting him again.

About 18km, a slightly forced smile/laugh, just let me finish now.

I had never realised how big or nice the park was behind the Pride Park complex, it seemed to go on for a lot longer than the 2/3km we ran in it. Once the iPro Stadium was back in view it was nice, the finish was almost here. I knew I was slightly up on my time from last Septembers Nottingham Half Marathon but I wasn't 100% sure how much. As I turned the penultimate corner a brass band were playing some tunes and I could see about 5 people in front of me and thought game on let's see how many I can overtake. Some how there was a huge sprint finish left in my system and boom overtook all of them. Once I crossed the line I couldn't wait to get a bottle of water, a banana, the medal and some sleep!

My PB for a half marathon at this point was 1 hour 49 minutes and 31 seconds, on this day in Derby I ran in 1 hour 45 minutes 44 seconds, smashing a huge 3 minutes and 47 seconds off my PB. Time to have a big stretch and chill for the rest of the day now.

For more photos please look at my Instagram account.

Another great run done supporting Cancer Research UK too - JustGiving.

Derby 10k

This was my 2nd year running Derby 10k. They had changed the route slightly from last year and it looked a better and more direct route for the end of the course. I was really looking forward to this apart from feeling like crap the fortnight before the run. I managed to keep my usual exercise going with group sessions but I couldn't get out running as I had a really chesty cough.

I went into it thinking just finish the run, it doesn't matter about time etc. But once I was there I wanted to try and get a good time. Last year I ran it in 45 minutes 12 seconds, then set a PB at Wollaton 10k of 44 minutes 48 seconds. I knew I would be a distance away from those with how I felt but I would still give it a go.

At about 3km I could feel my breathing was really tight and didn't feel like the run was going well. I was ignoring my phone in my pocket with MapMyRun on it as I didn't want to know how it was going. I was just focused on my iPod and my random music selection.

The new course was better even if I was sort of just ignoring it and running with one aim of Finish!!!

As I turned back to Pride Park (Ipro) I saw the time and couldn't believe it, I was on for my 2nd sub 45min 10k. That spurred me on and I managed to find a little kick to the finish.

Showing off the Cancer Research UK top as always.

After the run we went for a little look around the new Velodrome as we couldn't get out the car park until the 3km fun run had finished. The velodrome was amazing! I can't wait to go an play badminton there and maybe invest some money in learning how to use the track and get my level 1 qualification you need.

Once I got home I found the official race times and I couldn't believe it I had set a new PB by 3 seconds. So I've now got a 10k PB of 44 minutes 45 seconds. Bring on Wollaton 10k when hopefully I'm feeling 100% fit and then I can see what time I get there.

www.justgiving.com/adamfretwellpt

Derby 10k

On Sunday I ran the Derby 10k for the first time. It's a really good course and finishing in Pride Park or as it's now called iPro Stadium is brilliant. Running into the ground with a crowd of people cheering everybody on was such a great feeling!!! I am now even more envious of all the professional sports stars out there who get to walk out onto a court, pitch or field with thousands of fan cheering them on each week.

I ran the 10k in a PB time of 45 minutes and 11 seconds. Hopefully over the Summer I can shave a minimum of 12 seconds off that to hit my goal of a sub 45 minute 10k. Finishing position of 521 out of 4229 runners, I'm happy to be in the first 8th of all runners.

I've entered a total of 164km of runs/treks this year all for Cancer Research UK - Cancer Research UK check out the amazing work they are doing with your help and funding.

After Derby 10k

Derby 10k - 45:11
Awsworth 5k
Hull 10k
Wollaton 10k
Nottingham Colour Blast 5k
Leeds 10k
York 10k
Birmingham Color Run 5k
Isle of Wight Challenge 56k
Wild Warrior 10k
Robin Hood Half Marathon 21k
Men's Health Challenge Nottingham 12k

If you wish to donate please visit www.justgiving.com/adamfretwellpt

iPro Stadium

I will do a new blog after each run to keep updating the times for each event along with photos and updates with money raised.