5th October 2014
Basingstoke, Hampshire
Team members: Johno
A busy couple of week's for Challenge 2014 saw last week's Eton Triathlon closely followed by the 13.1 miles of Basingstoke Half Marathon.
Once again it was Johno in the hot-seat, dosed up to the eyeballs with energy drinks and lukewarm porridge. This relatively new event attracted almost 2,000 runners on a bright sunny day and Johno's stated target was to finish...at some point...ideally the same day.
Beforehand there had been knowing winks from local gym employees and ominous text inscribed on the course map to suggest, in some way, that the course was a bit hilly - one such section being labelled "The Big Dipper!", another "A VERY LONG UPHILL".
With so little to go on, Johno lined up at the start, selected "shuffle" on his specially prepared iPhone playlist and waited for the starting gun. The eclectic tones of Alt-J proved a useful early companion as the course almost immediately began to climb after the first mile marker.
On and on, up and down, they went as the course weaved it's route through rather jolly lovely Hampshire countryside. Local residents cheered and waved as the red-faced wave surged through their tiny villages, some clutched pints of ale, held aloft to the heavens as Johno fought the urge to sack all this nasty running business off and grab a table at the Jolly Farmer for a refreshing pint of Bunny Chaser.
With "The Big Dipper" dealt with, and "A VERY LONG UPHILL" conquered, the course wound it's way back towards to the town centre and the welcome sight of finish.
Wrapped in tin foil, and medal in hand, it was time to go home and drink Cuba Libres. (I imagine Dennis Kimetto does exactly the same).
Next up at the end of October is TOUGH MUDDER!
Yours achingly,
Team C14 x
Basingstoke, Hampshire
Team members: Johno
A busy couple of week's for Challenge 2014 saw last week's Eton Triathlon closely followed by the 13.1 miles of Basingstoke Half Marathon.
Once again it was Johno in the hot-seat, dosed up to the eyeballs with energy drinks and lukewarm porridge. This relatively new event attracted almost 2,000 runners on a bright sunny day and Johno's stated target was to finish...at some point...ideally the same day.
Beforehand there had been knowing winks from local gym employees and ominous text inscribed on the course map to suggest, in some way, that the course was a bit hilly - one such section being labelled "The Big Dipper!", another "A VERY LONG UPHILL".
With so little to go on, Johno lined up at the start, selected "shuffle" on his specially prepared iPhone playlist and waited for the starting gun. The eclectic tones of Alt-J proved a useful early companion as the course almost immediately began to climb after the first mile marker.
On and on, up and down, they went as the course weaved it's route through rather jolly lovely Hampshire countryside. Local residents cheered and waved as the red-faced wave surged through their tiny villages, some clutched pints of ale, held aloft to the heavens as Johno fought the urge to sack all this nasty running business off and grab a table at the Jolly Farmer for a refreshing pint of Bunny Chaser.
With "The Big Dipper" dealt with, and "A VERY LONG UPHILL" conquered, the course wound it's way back towards to the town centre and the welcome sight of finish.
Wrapped in tin foil, and medal in hand, it was time to go home and drink Cuba Libres. (I imagine Dennis Kimetto does exactly the same).
Next up at the end of October is TOUGH MUDDER!
Yours achingly,
Team C14 x