Water Wipeout

Run 3 of 3 in 3 weeks. This is the fun one of the three, after a Half Marathon and then a 10k this is a 10k mud run, or should I say water run!

This is my 3rd of the 4 events by X Runner, earlier in the year I ran (froze) doing their Winter Warrior, last September I ran their Wild Warrior, now it's the turn of Water Wipeout! I was looking forward to this until I saw the course and the obstacles. Normally these events don't bother me but when I saw 100m swim, 30m swim, wild rivers - moving water swim, and 30m swim, doing them twice with the two laps made me think why sign up for this? I might enjoy almost everything health and fitness but I'm no swimmer. Being very short sighted from a young age, school swimming lessons weren't enjoyable at all as I couldn't see the other end of the pool so ended up panicking. The only time I enjoy swimming is on holiday with a snorkel and goggles watching the fish but this event doesn't include nice fish, just a Ford Capri.

The course.

I really didn't need to worry about the water obstacles as they weren't anywhere near as scary as first thought, in fact it was a brilliant event! I would happily do it again next year. The rapids were brilliant fun and I wish I had my gopro camera with me to film it. The reason I didn't is I didn't have the float in case I dropped it (currently on ebay buying one).

I was running the event with Rob and Danny, Jo was also running it with some friends in the wave after us. So 4 members of IlsonGlowsticks were at the event which was cool. It was all of our first time running the event and it was Dannys first ever 10km and first obstacle run so a major achievement. His effort levels were amazing for the event even including a funny to watch fall on "boxed in". The three of us stayed together and finished in about 2 hours.

On a personal note I managed to finish 100% of obstacles, technically about 110% as after jumping over some incline walls I saw others struggling so ran back around to help them then jumped back over myself again.

Before the run, all nice and clean.

Obstacle no.33 and no.34, water slide to swim on lap one.

As I've already said the event is brilliant, the course was really well set out with a good mix of obstacles, The water did stink at times but what do you expect jumping into a pond and muddy water. Who cares it was great fun!

Post run  #IlsonGlowsticks we all stink!

Danny did this as his first ever 10k and his first obstacle run, the medal means so much to him but not as much as a donation to Crohn's & Colitis would mean, please visit his JustGiving Page.

Bring on Wild Mud Run in 2016 to finish the 4 XRunner events, but first I think I'm rerunning Winter Warrior with a couple of clients as a Postnatal treat!

Wollaton 10K

Run 2 of 3 in a row now. Last week was the Ramathon and next week is Water Wipeout, but this week is Wollaton 10k. Back to Nottingham after last weeks visit to Derby, all nice local runs meaning minimal travel to the events which is nice.

Last year I set a 10k PB on the course and I haven't got a clue how, it just fell into place. (Wollaton 10k 2014) I then set a new PB this year at Derby 10k so knew I was up against it. Last week in the half marathon I had slowed my pace from around 4 min 30 sec per km to around 4 min 50 / 5 min per km. I knew it would be tricky trying to get the pace back up with only 1 short run mid week to try and get the pace back.

On the morning of the event it was throwing it down! I don't mind running in the rain as I sweat buckets so it helps keep me cool but there are limits. The state I'm usually in post race is how I looked at the start line this time. It was the same course as last year and my first of the 2 5km laps felt ok, I was only about 15 seconds down from my PB time. However I seemed to just hit a wall at 7/8km and my pace just dropped for no reason what so ever! I think the last couple of km were run at about 5min per km, way down on what I needed. I finished in 47 minutes 25 seconds which I was disappointed with. On the plus side I did finish 37th of 262 runners, compared to 52nd of 477 runners last year. This shows how the weather effected the race but the turnout as well.

This years winner was Ian Hunter in 38 minutes 9 seconds, last year he finished 3rd in 35 minutes 57 seconds. So I shouldn't moan too much as the conditions effected everybody in a similar fashion.

I also had a client running the 10k too, it should have been one client but after an accident involving stairs, dog toy and falling over it resulted in a broken metatarsal a week before the run. Another client stepped up and transferred the place and he ran in her place. With minimal training time for the 10k and the shocking weather he managed a respectable 1 hour 7 minutes, down on his PB but a cracking results in the circumstances.

Bring on next year for my third year at the event.

A tad wet post run.

Great work Rob.

Robs work deserves some donations for a great charity. Please visit his JustGiving Page.

Men's Health Challenge 2014

This was my 3rd year running this event, and with all the other events this year I was looking to smash a new PB for the event. 12km with loads of obstacles, water and mud. The first year I finished with s time of 1 hour 29 minutes 30 seconds, last year I finished in 1 hour 24 minutes. Looking back at the previous blog I also set myself a challenge for a sub 1 hour 15 minute this year - Men's Health 2013

When I arrived on site I could see a couple of familiar faces waiting anxiously to see their partners return from an earlier wave of the race. Unfortunately I didn't see them finish as my wave started before they returned.

Rob almost finished after climbing over the inverted wall, next stop the "Wall of Fame"

Rob and Tom almost at the finish line.

Rob, Tom and Simon all recorded really good times as it was either their first event, of injuries stopped their training being 1005%. I think they're all signing up again next year as they enjoyed it so much, even if the photos dot show it. Trust me while you're running it horrible, once you've finished and have the medal around your neck it's a brilliant feeling,

I got off to a quickish start in my wave, helped by getting really close to the start line. I soon settled into a nice pace between my 10k pb and half marathon pace. Before I knew it I was out at the 5/6km point and it felt like I had only just started running. However with the course for Nottingham 70% of the obstacles are on the return leg so I knew it was only going to get harder.

As each obstacle went I realised I hadn't seen many white wrist bands for a while which was for the wave I was in. As I approached the climbing wall I heard a voice "carry on mate you're setting a great pace for me here." It was another white wrist band who was following in my shadows, a nice little confidence boost as I hadn't been a pace runner for somebody before. As we waited patiently for our climb a girl who was almost at the top lost he footing and fell a good few metres but luckily her friends cushioned the blow and she didn't fulling hit the turf. She got back on the wall and tried again and had every single person there cheering her on, it was great to see every person willing everybody else on during the event.

Another few obstacle stations came and went and the home leg was in sight, Trent End came into view which means about 3km left. After the little trip up and down the stairs it was a run along the embankment to the last couple of exercises then job done!!

I could see just in front another white wrist band, only the 2nd I had seen for the last 30 minutes. I soon caught him up and we ran almost neck and neck to the finish line. I honestly can't remember who beat who in the end.

All I know is boom another PB and beat last years target time!!! I finished in 1 hour 13 minutes 15 seconds.

Wall of Fame - it doesn't get any easier each year.

Bath Time!!!

 I fancy a change next year so I'm thinking of being daft and entering the Elite 21km race they have started. It looks incredibly tough but something worth training for.

Bring on the "Elite" next year.

That's now 12 races down, 0 to go for Cancer Research UK in 2014...... apart from a Santa Dash.

Derby 10k - 45 minutes 11 seconds.
Awsworth 5k - 22 minutes 20 seconds.
Hull 10k - 45 minutes 46 seconds.
Wollaton 10k - 44 minutes 53 seconds.
Twin Peaks Midnight Walk - 8k. - 2 hours 37 minutes.
Leeds 10k - 46 minutes 8 seconds.
York 10k - 46 minutes 31 seconds.
Birmingham Color Run 5k - 45 minutes 38 seconds.
Isle of Wight Challenge 56k - 7 hours 48 minutes 35 seconds.
Wild Warrior 10k - 1 hour 18 minutes 42 seconds.
Robin Hood Half Marathon 21k - 1 hour 49 minutes and 31 seconds.
Men's Health Challenge Nottingham 12k - 1 hour 13 minutes 15 seconds.

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

Wild Warrior

Last Sunday was X Runner's Wild Warrior at Wild Parks Derbyshire. A nice set of 64 obstacles over 10km with water slides, fire, mud pits etc. After the Isle of Wight Challenge it was nice to have a mess about event. Once I got there I bumped into a client who had just finished and was just a tad muddy and didn't smell too good. This meant one thing don't swallow any water on this course!!!

Pre-Run & Post-Run but both happy.

I didn't have any set time I would be happy with as a result for this race as it was the first time I had run it and didn't know how busy course would be or how tricky obstacles would be. 

By the end of lap one I realised I hadn't be overtaken by many people from the start line but knew a few had vanished into the distance too. The first lap was really enjoyable with everything being new and thinking what will be round the next corner. The second lap was more of a let's get to the finish now for a warm bath and shower. The water really did stink and wasn't pleasant at all but the course was brilliant. 

I ended up finishing 109th out of about 1880 which I was happy with but even better out of the wave of just under 300 I finished 4th. 

I think a wash is required!

In fact it was a shower, bath then another shower for myself to become clean again. My clothes had 2 or 3 washes too and the top still isn't fully white. Good job it only has to more races then it can be retired and I can try to get another one next year.

The last big push is on now with two races to go, the biggest being tomorrow for the Robin Hood Half Marathon followed by Men's Health Challenge in a few weeks.

That's now 10 races down, 2 to go for Cancer Research UK in 2014.

Derby 10k - 45 minutes 11 seconds.
Awsworth 5k - 22 minutes 20 seconds.
Hull 10k - 45 minutes 46 seconds.
Wollaton 10k - 44 minutes 53 seconds.
Twin Peaks Midnight Walk - 8k. - 2 hours 37 minutes.
Leeds 10k - 46 minutes 8 seconds.
York 10k - 46 minutes 31 seconds.
Birmingham Color Run 5k - 45 minutes 38 seconds.
Isle of Wight Challenge 56k - 7 hours 48 minutes 35 seconds.
Wild Warrior 10k - 1 hour 18 minutes 42 seconds.
Robin Hood Half Marathon 21k
Men's Health Challenge Nottingham 12k

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