So, this last week we finally confirmed that I would run the London Marathon 2009 for WERF. It was good to have the time to catch up with Lone Hummelshoj in London and plan our fundraising campaign. I even managed a short scamper round St. James’s Park before our meeting. Trying to fit in sufficient runs to train for a marathon is not easy when you are travelling as much as I am.
The week had begun with three days in Brussels, jammed packed with meetings which means running is impossible. The main topic this week is seals - if you want to know more see my website www.dianawallismep.org.uk
Then my day in London where the meeting with Lone was light relief between meetings on proposed consumer legislation and a speech to the Franco-British Lawyers Association. Friday was spent in Cambridge on a new initiative to do with the Arctic - another passion of mine. Finally, Friday night back home to Yorkshire.
On Saturday, just a short run round my village, as I have a race on Sunday. I try out a new fangled watch which tells me I have covered over 5 kilometres and used over 400 calories - that sounds good but not sure I trust it!
Sunday is my second race of 2009. The first was a 10k race I did on New Years’ Day. In that, I actually managed my own personal best (56mins and some seconds). Given that I am getting older, I am quite pleased with that. It also means that I don’t fall off the pace chart in Liz McColgan’s Marathon Manual. I am told this means I might complete the marathon in 4 hours (well if I could keep up the same pace!).
So today is a test as it is a 10 mile race just down the road from my home, starting by Skidby Mill. Somehow I don’t feel ready for it. I start far too fast. My new watch tells me I have completed the first mile in 8 minutes – that’s way too fast for me. I feel awful through miles 2, 3 and 4, and even think that maybe, for the first time ever, I will not make the finish, but now I know I can’t let WERF down! I mentally tell myself not to be so stupid as I regularly run much further than this. By 5 miles I am feeling much better and realise I am within my goal of coming within a 10 minute mile pace.
I did this race in 2006 before I ran the marathon that year so it is really important to me to better my performance from that day. I know the course ends uphill and is really hard. Still I’m feeling OK and yes I see the finish with the time showing less than 1 hour 40 mins. I make it in 1’ 38”. It might not be wonderful, but for me it is a whole 6 minutes faster than last time and I’m still within the McColgan pace chart - but now maybe nearer 4 hours 20 for the London Marathon. But then my aim is just to get within 5 hours, rather than the 5 hours 20 I ran in 2006. So I finsh the weekend on track.
Diana Wallis
PLEASE SPONSOR DIANA IN THE LONDON MARATHON:
www.justgiving.com/dianawallisendowerf
Tags: diana wallis, endometriosis, european parliament, london marathon, werf, world endometriosis research foundation