Helen-Louisa's 100 mile quest

MISSION COMPLETED!
100. 2 miles ran.
June 08 - Apr 09

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The Challenge:

25th June 2008 - Dulwich Midsummer 5K -Flat
Nice atmosphere for a first race on a very warm weekday evening. Even ran alongside a celeb until they overtook me. Finished 331/348.


13th July 2008 - Blackheath 5K - Flat
Great day, great weather and great turn out. Really enjoyed myself, with special thanks to my mom cheering me on.


14th Sept 2008 - Vision 5K - Hackney - Flat
Fantastic. Vision 5k, for deaf/blind people, great fun as Im deaf myself and thought this was a worthy cause. Met some lovely people. Finished 53/103.



21st Sept 2008 - Beckenham 10K - Trail
I didnt realise hill climbs and jumping tree roots and stumps was part of it! It was a gorgeous sunny morning again. Finished 163/171. Would like to run a race in the rain at some point as it is bound to rain on Marathon day.




5th Oct 2008 -
Dulwich 10K - Flat
I asked for rain after the last race, and I sure got my wish! Plus a complete head to toe soaking from a car driving through a puddle at 8km! Must remember to buy waterproof mascara! Finished 399/426. And congrats to all the people who ran the BUPA great north run for Leukaemia Care!




12th Oct 2008 - Petts Wood 10K Trail This one was tough as it was rather warm for mid October but the lovely medal was worth running in the sunshine. Beautiful cross country route through National Trust land and past farms with sheep! Locals came out with trays of jelly beans! Finished 516/592.






25th Oct 2008 -
Military 5K Redhill -Adventure


Mud, glorious mud (and pungent bog)! This was very good fun. First 3k consisted of very slippy clay mud and steep hills which I decided to scoot down on my bottom for quickness! Then at 3K I had to wade through a pungent bog upto my hips and then crawl under camoflage netting in thick bog mud. Then it was 2K of running through more sticky mud, a pond that came upto my knees and then run up a steep hill and down a mountain board hill track to the end. Finished 128/134.






9th Nov 2008 - Bexhill Poppy Half Marathon - Flat
I completed my first half marathon, and I wasnt last. The conditions were 30mph salty winds from the sea, in which I had to steady myself by grabbing the promenade rail a few times.
Completed the race in 2 hours 22 mins. Finishing position 272/294.







30th Nov 2008 - Beddington Park 10K - Flat
Completed it in about 1hour 02mins in the freezing rain in a
lovely leafy park in Surrey.






7th Dec 2008 -
Leukaemia CARE Santathon 5K-Dagenham - Flat

Dressing up in a Santa suit with full beard and running 5K around Dagenham streets to the astonishment of passers by, was jolly good fun. Came about 48th out of about 100.









8th Feb 2009
Kent AC 10 Mile Road Race - Sidcup Flat


Even though it was described as Flat with a slight hill, I would actually describe it very up an down throughout. It was very cold and the snow had been scrapped to the side of road so it was safe to run. It was a Kent AC championship race so the strong legged things were lapping me from quite early on. Came 443/456, ran it in 1 hour 42 mins.





7th Mar 2009
BVAC 5MILE XC - West Wickham -Cross Country/Trail
Mud! Mud! Mud! This one was tough as it was muddy hill climbs, muddy slopes and 3 laps of a wind swept field.
Came in at 62mins.



15th Mar 2009
Sevenoaks 10k - Knole Park - Cross Country
6.2 miles of cross country in beautiful NT park. The sun directly on my face in the valley part was tough but it was an enjoyable last race before the BIG ONE, the London Marathon 2009. Ran it in 65 mins and came 475/562.



26th APRIL 2009

Flora London Marathon - 26.2 miles - Flat
YES! Ive run my first marathon. Well, ran until 15 miles when my knees gave in. I limped my way through next few miles, jog/brisk walked to 22 miles. Nearly gave up at 23 and ran the last half mile over the finish line. And wept! pure joy and pain!

6hours, 21 mins, 36 secs and position 34,001.




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