Stafford Half Marathon - cough drops needed!!

Congrats Spud! As having run a half with a cold myself, I can
sympathise entirely. Good time despite it though, I know it
takes some time to keep clearing the nose out! Hope you're
feeling better now, I swear the race made mine go away much
faster. Good luck next week!

Teresa in AZ

Sofa - Spud said:

My first attempt at this superb urban and rural (mainly rural) Half ,
it was hilly in places , quite steep indeed but generally a flat
course threading through Stafford and surrounding countryside ,
running past Shugborough Hall grounds at one point. Well marshalled
and organised given that it starts in the town centre and it was very
crowded we had no problems at all with parking etc.

I did as well as I could , given the cold I had during the previous
week .I got in a good start given the crowd , helped over the
barriers
by a Readers World forumite I know ! I was delighted to find I wasn't
too chesty until I got to about 8 miles when I was coughing all the
time and blowing my nose, good that I took several hankies. Every
time
I had a coughing fit I dropped back on the pace , when I got over it
I
speeded upto those I had been pacing with . Back and forth back and
forth like a concertina.It was very hilly in places and the extra
effort really took it's toll. I really thought I was OK and carried
on
like this but by 11 miles I was shot, if I had dropped back I might
have been OK but I so wanted a sub 1:46 . I reset my watch accidently
so I'll need the official times - 1:48:35 or there abouts. I've chest
pain from the coughing as well as cracking headaches for sinus
congestion - though my legs seem OK !!.

There was plenty of water - it seemed a bit of a waste with large
bottles handed out. I hope there was enough for those at the back. A
choice of T shirt or medal which was good as the T shirt was good
quality and not the cheap printed white ones normally given out.
Plenty of water and bananas at the finish as well as entertaiments
for
spectators.

Loved it - at least I got round , kill or cure I say!!

A cracking 6+ mile XC next week - the 7Pools run!!
Loved it to be honest - at least I got round!

Sofa - Spud said:

My first attempt at this superb urban and rural (mainly rural) Half ,
it was hilly in places , quite steep indeed but generally a flat
course threading through Stafford and surrounding countryside ,
running past Shugborough Hall grounds at one point. Well marshalled
and organised given that it starts in the town centre and it was very
crowded we had no problems at all with parking etc.

....

Quoted message said:

Loved it - at least I got round , kill or cure I say!!

Congrats, Sofa - Spud. Sounds like you fought through a cold and still
had an enjoyable time. Good organization can be really helpful. Try to
get rid of cold before next week's race.

Dot

--
"The goal is training and adaptation, not destruction and injury."
- John Hardy
http://www.mountainrunning.coolrunning.com.au/misc/training.shtml

On 26 Mar, 20:41, Teresa Bippert-Plymate <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Congrats Spud! As having run a half with a cold myself, I can
sympathise entirely. Good time despite it though, I know it
takes some time to keep clearing the nose out! Hope you're
feeling better now, I swear the race made mine go away much
faster. Good luck next week!

At least it did blow out the cobwebs , I had a pain in the chest
yesterday but now its fine.

Now I'm just left with the aching hips and the T shirt!

Dot dot.h@#duh?att.net said:

Sofa - Spud said:

My first attempt at this superb urban and rural (mainly rural) Half ,
it was hilly in places , quite steep indeed but generally a flat
course threading through Stafford and surrounding countryside ,
running past Shugborough Hall grounds at one point. Well marshalled
and organised given that it starts in the town centre and it was very
crowded we had no problems at all with parking etc.

...

Quoted message said:

Loved it - at least I got round , kill or cure I say!!

Congrats, Sofa - Spud. Sounds like you fought through a cold and still
had an enjoyable time. Good organization can be really helpful. Try to
get rid of cold before next week's race.

Dot

What helped with this race was that it was organised by the local
council or at least with full cooperation with the council. Road
closures in the town , portaloos, entertainments, road closures in the
countryside etc. Had it been a running club or small charity then we'd
have seen the difference. The town was open as normal as it usually is
on a Sunday with the new Sunday opening and it must have bought a big
revenue boost to those shops at 10am on a chilly Sunday morning.

Sofa - Spud said:

My first attempt at this superb urban and rural (mainly rural) Half ,

[]

Quoted message said:

forth like a concertina.It was very hilly in places and the extra
effort really took it's toll. I really thought I was OK and carried
on
like this but by 11 miles I was shot, if I had dropped back I might
have been OK but I so wanted a sub 1:46 . I reset my watch accidently
so I'll need the official times - 1:48:35 or there abouts. I've chest
pain from the coughing as well as cracking headaches for sinus
congestion - though my legs seem OK !!.

[]

Quoted message said:

Loved it - at least I got round , kill or cure I say!!

A cracking 6+ mile XC next week - the 7Pools run!!
Loved it to be honest - at least I got round!

nice report and cheers on your toughing it out to the finish. I agree
that running helps fight colds. At least that has been my experience.
Thanks for the report. good luck with the XC race!

Ed