On the run: Age is no barrier

Annie Hayes, HRZone.co.uk's very own contributing editor and self-confessed reluctant runner is bravely taking part in the London Marathon this year and she is charting her training regime here in this blog. This week, she completes the 16-mile Kingston breakfast run and finds a friend in the Saga pace setter.

Try as I might I couldn't shake off the old lady that was permanently at my feet for the entirety of Sunday's Kingston breakfast run. She must have been at least 70 and I a hearty 30-something seemed, I’m embarrassed to say, completely unable to overtake her. I wish it had been the hunky James Cracknell who'd been snapping at my tail.

I've written enough about age discrimintion to watch my step on this one though and, if the truth be told, she was a jolly soul and I hope I'm as full of energy by the time Botox is a regular feature in my diary. In fact, I was very impressed with her dedication – a whole nutritional regime dedicated to her running retirement and yes she is also doing the big one on 13 April.

The event was 'fun' - did I just say that? Well I mean it, I really rather enjoyed myself. The worst part was being ditched by a friend who'd originally harangued me into signing up and then wimped out after a close inspection with the rainfall charter.

Alas it was just me, myself and I. The whole ritual began on Saturday night with a desperate search for the entry number and some safety pins. Whilst sipping, ok glugging is more accurate, my glass of wine and with one eye on the TV, I read (for the first time) the information sheet where it said alcohol two-days pre-run was a serious no-no. I skirted round the issue by downing the remainder and walloping back two pints of water in the vein hope that the 'one cancels out the other' solution would apply.

The early night (also advised by the information sheet) was also foiled by the upstairs neighbour who decided that a late night party was in order - either that or they were dragging a dead body across the floor. So weary eyed I awoke at 7am (well actually it was really 6am - some bright and helpful soul had decided to put the clocks forward).

Of course to insure against the vagaries of oversleeping I set four alarm clocks, my husband returning from a night out at the pub decided he also needed to make sure that I would wake for the event and added his blackberry alarm to the mix, deliberately placed at arm's length.

Five alarms later and I and the whole block were awake. Hurray. I climbed into the car and set off for Kingston. Not being the best navigator (if you read the countryside blog you'll agree it's not my forte) I was chuffed to have found Kingston and not ended up in Devon, and parked the car without damaging any others - that's another story.

I've never seen so much lycra in all my life and then there was the runner's gel to contend with. We're talking serious athletes here, complete with waist bands packed full of the stuff. Whilst they were comparing their PBs with their tapering strategies (it's a whole new language) I was deciding whether or not I would be able to remember where I'd parked the car.

Under starter's orders we were off and a lovely jaunt out of Kingston's lovely market town and down by the Thames past Hampton Court and around in a big loop – once for the eight-milers; twice for the 16-milers, mainly made up of Marathon luvvies.

Together with the 70-year old and two lucozade drinks, I crossed the line in a respectable two hours 30 minutes. I was knackered – ahem exhausted, cream crackered, done for – you get the picture. I didn't really realise it but I was running faster than I would normally - being swept up with the Saga pace setter crowd takes it out of you. I gathered up my completion goodies – a browning banana and a chipped mug - and managed to find the car, success indeed.

Now all that is left is the big day itself – I must refine, revise and review the final plans (translation - find the information sheet, probably under the bed with George's vomit still on it) polish the safety pins (translation - save them from being swallowed by the 16-month old), buy the Vaseline and clean the mud off my shoes. The end is in sight, bring it on.

Annie is running the Flora London Marathon on 13 April in aid of Heart UK. You can sponsor her at www.justgiving.com/annabellehayes

Marathon blog archive:

HR Zone, 7-Apr-2008
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