Fleet Half Marathon 2014 #3in14

    Well this was the big one the third in the half marathon trilogy! And the big one in the Peddle Vs Ball brothers rivalry. I was feeling the pressure big time I could not go 0-3 down could I? I knew I would have to have a big run and a better time than the last 2 weeks I wanted to make coach Paula proud. Well after last week’s rather warm weather I expected it to be like last year’s Fleet half very wet and horrible but it was a beautiful day a bit too warm for running though.

    We all met up near the start and what a turn out! So many friends were there loads of Cove Joggers and loads of mates from parkrun and of course the Peddle brothers. Chris & David had not taken part in a half marathon for a long time and they had trained hard for this day. Unfortunately Chris had come down with man flu and after an amazing PB at parkrun last weekend I had managed to beat him on yesterday’s parkrun so I feeling confident that the balls might get a weekend win!

We all headed to the line and I was getting nervous about running with Chris as his training has been pretty quick and of course James was full of confidence after back to back wins under his belt. Coach Rich had a plan to run under 1hr50 so we all lined up around him at the start. As we set off in the first mile Chris was on a mission and pulled ahead a bit and so did the quickest amongst us Abby :-) that’s not surprise as she regularly beats us all at parkrun that girl can run! James was sticking to his plan to run with Rich so I tagged onto Chris and we pulled out a bit of a lead by mile 2. As we ran through the town centre the support was brilliant loads of friends had turned out to see us running and to my surprise loads and loads of people where calling my name! The chap next to me mentioned this and it turns out his name was Duncan and he had also his name on his shirt. I was running quite well as we approached mile 4 probably a bit quick and the heat meant it was important to take on water. I remember James had a plan to stop and walk because they only had cups and it’s tricky to run and drink. So as the cups approached I decided to grab and just keep on running it could gain me some valuable seconds.

     I could see Chris in my sights and was closing him down as we approached 6 miles. I glanced down at my watch and I had just done the first 10km in 51mins 3 quicker than last week! Maybe I had set off way too quick. I was now running on my own and I was feeling good a lot fresher than last week and I was knocking off the miles heading towards the 9 mile marker. I had no idea what was going on behind me but I could sense if I didn’t keep on pushing i'd have Chris and James on my tale. 

Coach Rich went passed me at mile 10 and this had me worried I managed to ask him where James was and he said I was well in front. So mile 10 onwards was where it all fell apart last week and mentally I was thinking it could happen again but I was feeling a little better than last week. I had to dig hard as there seemed to be hill after hill in the last 3 miles. The heat was tough and it was getting harder to keep it together and at the drinks station at mile 11 I had a little walk for 100 meters.
I knew that i couldn't do that again until i pushed over the line. The next mile was really tough and running back into town at mile 12 the crowd was cheering everybody on and it was really lifting me to push on to the end. The last hill and 400 meters seams to go on forever and I was tempted to look back to see if either James or Chris or maybe Dave had closed me down. But I put my head down and forced myself over the finishing line and what a relief I had done it!!.

I staggered round for a few minutes taking on water and catching some shade. James had been beaten and I found him collapsed in a heap as worst for wear as me. We had a hug and I he was almost gracious in defeat :-). As for the Peddles Chris suffered but completed his first Half for 20 years in just over 2 hours and Dave had an amazing run in 2:04. It had been a long hard and hot run! Maybe up there with the toughest half marathons we have done but I had buried my demons 1-2.

    Duncan finished in 1:51:23 a seasons best!.Smashed James who finished in 1:55:07

Surrey Half Marathon 2014 #2in14

Last week’s Reading Half was the first in our 14in14 challenge and this week was a homecoming for the Ball Brothers. Surrey Half is a brand new event and we had been looking forward to running in our home town of Guildford. Also this day was special because my friends Lee and Martin were attempting there first half marathons and they had been training for this day for months. We also had Abby, Hannah, Kelvin, Rich, David Mac and Martin G joining us for #2in14.

The weather was bright and sunny and by the time it was 10am warming up. No need for bin liners this week but we were all sporting our rather attractive Surrey Half Buffs that had been given in the race pack. I had been planning with Abby for a few days that we were going to go out a bit quick and see how James reacted to the pace but unfortunately we lost her on the start line so the rest of us started just behind the 1:58 pacing flag.

The first few miles we started off at a good steady pace and all ran together in a tight group soaking up the atmosphere of the spectators as they shouted our names out. It’s the best idea James had getting our names written on our shirts! As I had expected the scenery was very familiar and it seemed strange to be running on roads that I had driven on for years ,only with running the hills are so much more noticeable. As we approached mile 4 I decided to run a little harder and I pulled a gap out from the others I thought this was the only chance I had to get my revenge on James for last week’s defeat. As I approached mile 5 because of the out and back nature of the course the leaders pass me on the other side of the road unbelievable how quick the Kenyan runners whizzed by!. Just before the half way point heard a shout from Abby on the other side of the road she was having a great run and as expected well ahead. As Woking approached there was a big hill to get up and it was head down until water station in the centre. As I turned the corner I was looking for the boys on the other side of the road. James was first to appear and I had put out a lead of about ¼ of a mile I didn’t see the others as the course out of town went a slightly different route. As I came up to the 8 mile mark the heat was taking its toll. 

Was taking as much water on as I could but I was feeling worst as I approached mile 10! At the 10 mile water station I decide to walk! and put on some music to try and drag me to the finish. I didn’t really help and I pushed through to 11 and had another walk. At this point I knew James must be closing in on me and I was just waiting for him to pull up to my shoulder. I happened at just after 12 miles I heard his voice I was walking when he stop beside me. James was exhausted as I was!!

We ran and walked for the next half mile but I knew he had me beat as his finish is always better than mine and saw him pulling away for the 2nd week running.. heart breaking ! As I ran down the sandy lane towards the running track for the last 300 meters I could hear loads of support from the crowd and I gave it a last push for the line. James had me beat but I we proud that we had both finished well in the conditions and as it turns out both under 2 hours that was a surprise for us both.

 It was emotional end to the run as we all met up to exchange stories about how we dragged ourselves around the hilly course and hot conditions. Was particularly proud of Lee and Martin who had both done really well for first timers. Everybody walked with very sore legs into Guildford for lunch at Giraffe and a post mortem on how James managed to beat Duncan for the 2^nd week running. Next week is Fleet Half will I have my revenge? !! (I hope So)

James finished in 1:56:46 and showed me his heals again I came in on 1:57:19 gutted.

Reading Half Marathon 2014 #1in14

After last year’s successful Ball Brothers 13in13 challenge this year it’s time to step it up! The 14in14 challenge is to run 14!! yes 14 Half Marathons in 2014.

First on the list for this year was the Wokingham Half Marathon on the 9^th of February. Unfortunately it was cancelled at the day before due to the Course being flooded! We where I bit upset because we had trained hard in January for it but we went off skiing for a week and that cheered us upJ. The next half we had in the calendar was Reading on the 3nd of March. This race has a big reputation and big support on the course so we were really looking forward to it.

We got picked up by our running mate Hannah and arrived early and although it wasn’t raining the wind was blowing and it was pretty cold waiting around at the start line for 30 mins didn’t help but my fashionable bin liner did! Kelvin the “running legend” and fellow club member bummed into us just before the start line. Apparently you can’t miss the ball brothers :-)

We had a plan to go sub 2 hours for our first half of the year so we set off at a comfortable pace and enjoyed the first 5 miles and the various hills that appeared. As we approached the town centre the support was amazing! James had got our names put our Cove Joggers tops for #14in14 and all the way we were getting encouraging shouts from the crowd giving us both a real lift. 

As we approached the 10 mile mark I was feeling it and we had a quick discussion on how we going to run the last 3 and a bit. We decided to keep going at the same pace until mile 12 and then see how we feel. As I saw the 12 mile point we saw the 2hr pacer and I pushed a bit harder and James followed! With a mile to go we had really picked up the pace and where carving our way through the runners. I was put in a lot of effort and James was on my shoulder and was looking strong. As we reached 1000 meters to go I was struggling and James was pushing on and I had nothing left in the tank. We had the stadium in our sights and James had gone and was pulling away from me with every stride as we ran onto the track inside the stadium I was broken James was 10 seconds ahead!.

James finished in 1:55:10 a brilliant run! I came in on 1:55:24 we were both really pleased with a sub 2hr run.

Left to Right Kelvin, James, Hannah, Duncan

Reading was a brilliant start to 14in14 the crowd was amazing and the drinks stations where excellent will defiantly be doing this one again in the future.