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Eleanor's Endeavour

Tag Archives: medals

2015 Run Report and Carbon Footprint

31 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by elladuv in Running

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Tags

achievements, Athens Marathon, Carbon Footprint, elevation, Kilian Jornet, medals, miles, running, Thessaloniki Marathon

RunReport2015

 

Count: 536.8 miles

Time: 95 hours 40 minutes running time

Elevation Gain: 27, 172 ft elevation

Interesting to see that I did these miles in far less running time than last year.  It might not have been more miles due to injury.  Last year I did 546 miles in 142 hours which is a great deal more running time.  Now, whether that’s due to the elevation of those miles, or the training time, I’m covering nearly the same amount of ground in quicker time.

This is a considerable improvement either way you look at it.

Kilian Jornet shared an interesting tool that calculates your carbon footprint on his Facebook page. My footprint is 6.62 metric tons per year.  Only 1.1 metric tons higher. The average footprint for people in the United Kingdom is 9.80 metric tons so at least I’m doing better than average – I hope that my run commuting helped towards that a lot in 2015.

You can check yours out here; http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx

Being more green is a resolution for 2015 and fitness lifestyle plays a huge part in that.  What’s your carbon footprint?  Do you plan to be greener in 2016 and how will you do it?  Working for an energy company has really made me think about my impact.

I hope everyone has had a fantastic running year!

xxx

Eleanor

 

Bath Running Festival 14.5 Very Long Half Marathon

01 Saturday Aug 2015

Posted by elladuv in Running

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

Bath, Half Marathon, Kit Kat, medals, Relish Running, Trail

After a week long taper and curry the following evening race day was here again. The day was wet and full of rain that announced itself against the windows that morning and didn’t look any better when I peered reluctantly through the curtains.

Steve provided me a breakfast of crumpets, the only warmth I would have for the best part of the day, and drove me to Bath University.  In the lower field Relish Running Races had set up their white tents just over the rise from the carpark.  I’d intended to do the Marathon but in this weather I thought I’d do the Very Long Half Marathon instead as I wasn’t feeling entirely motivated.

The haunting memories of last year (scorching heat) aside I figured just one lap of the course for the Very Long Half Marathon should be reasonable in this weather.  I’d done a ten mile run last week so I knew that I could cover the distance.  All in aid of trying to add in a weekly long run to build up my endurance base.  Just think of the positives, I tell myself, what great training!

BathSkyline

Overlooking Bath city

Advertised as 14.5 miles the Long Hilly Half in true Relish style was actually a huge 16.5 miles. Of pure mud. And inclines and descents of trails hazardous hell.  It sounds risky doesn’t it?   Well, yes it does, and I thought about this whilst doing the course.  Each run is a risk.  You risk a fall, an injury, an epiphany.  But that’s why we do it.  We run to relish the experience.  Because we know that running through rolling country in this weather isn’t exactly a smart idea but because it is exciting and exhilarating and it isn’t the same as another lap of that park back home.  So whilst there is a risk it is worth it.  It gives us the strength and courage to battle on through our race with gusto.  It gives us adventure.

Stoney Lane

Relish Running Races

I thought of risk because I did see people fly forward stumbling over the tree roots in the University woods.  I myself nearly fell in the canal not realising which bit was muddy puddle or waters edge at one close point out of tiredness.  I witnessed one elderly runner on an incline nearly do a classic Tom and Jerry style banana peel slip down a hill incline like that to the left which two runners behind had to steady but still on they went enjoying every moment.  Despite all that I don’t think health and safety has much of a place in races.  It shouldn’t either.  It’d ruin the fun.  This is what trails are for.

This is a photo from the Relish Running website page for the Bath Running Festival which really shows who tough some of these inclines were.  I finished the run in 3:56:03 (+1:39:53 for the extra distance).  Last year I did the marathon in 8 hours ish hung over after a night out.  I really don’t know how I survived the run at all last year considering how hard it was sober!

Survive I did though.  This year I finished soaked through and practically limping by the end due to sore cramped leg muscles that continued to seize all day even when I got warm.  I kept my legs up snoozing on the sofa for the rest of my Sunday.  My foam roller sorted the legs out eventually and I didn’t need physio although my doctor said I’d injured my IT band my legs are fine now if not a bit tired still.

If this was an XBOX Achievement this would be 100G for sure.  The medal was pretty fantastic.  Relish medals are great and I really hope they continue these styles.  Platters of chocolate bars, fresh fruit, Jaffa Cakes and the like awaited at the end.  Totally worth it.

BathMedal

xxx

Namaste

Eleanor

The sound of hard work

14 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by elladuv in Running

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

10k, 5k, marathon, medals, Olympus Marathon, racing, running, running bling, training, wind chime

This is the build up of two years of running at the end of February.  I moved house last month and only just got round to putting up my plaque that I bought a year or so ago for displaying my medals.  I had my window open at the time which let the air in through the room.  As I went about tidying I heard the medals chiming away.  I was proud that my hard work not only created health and fantastic experiences but a sound I could listen too in the present even if the events are considered in the past.  It reminded me of wind chimes and it sounded beautiful.  Hard work makes a soft sounding music for something so tough.
IMG_20150214_110730Step 1: Watch an insane video where Kilian Jornet runs up Mount Olympus along the wrong route and still breaks his record.

Step 2: Think positive, ‘I can do that!’ start running every other day one cold day in late February.

Step 3: Run the Bristol 10k. Convince your other running buddies Liam and Matt that Olympus Marathon is a good idea whilst they’re recovering from the shock of their 10k victory. Whilst on a race high anything seems possible.

Step 4: Buy a fancy running medal display with a funky slogan on it to hang your bling on. Attach it on a wall between a cross breeze created by the window and the door. It doesn’t look like much now but you just wait!

Step 5: Continue to run races around the local area and the Athens Classic Marathon to collect medals. Pile them on the hooks one on top of the other.

Step 6: Open the window.

Step 7: Listen to the beautiful sound of your hard work as the wind catches the medals and chimes them together. Your dedication to your running is making that sound. Your alarm at 6 am telling you to get up and run. Your choice over what to eat and when in regards to how it will benefit your training is making that sound. Your experience whilst running 5k, 10k, Half Marathon, Marathon and Ultra distances are making that sound. Your memories are making that sound. Your sweat is making that sound. Your success is making that sound. Remember that at the Start line of your next race. What tune will it make to you? Will you like its sound? There’s only one way to find out. Ready. Set. Run!

xxx
Eleanor

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10th International Alexander The Great MarathonApril 5, 2015
26.2 From Palla To Thessaloniki

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