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Tuesday 9 December 2014

Running the Coventry Way: 35 years, 35 miles. A birthday in Numbers and Mud.

35 years
43.76 miles
11:40 hours 
5 runners, 7 runners, then 3, then 5, then 3, then 4, then 3 again.
1 cider, 1 mulled wine
2 creme eggs
3 pubs
10 sudocremed toes 
0 blisters
89,222 footsteps
1 brilliant birthday

Prior Preparation Prevents Pustulating Putrid Blisters
On the 8th of December, I was 35. A new race age category. Scary stuff. 

But birthdays are awesome. I bloody love birthdays. There’s presents and cake. But there could also be running ...

I decided to celebrate my birthday in a way I wouldn’t forget. 35 miles for 35 years. 

The Coventry Way is a 40 mile circle of remote footpaths looping around Coventry. There is sheep poo, cow pats and mud aplenty. Stiles beyond counting. Silly amounts of kissing gates. And fields and fields and fields. It seemed a shame not to ...

The Starting Five ...

There was getting friends from the station, getting to the pub,  getting muddy, getting cold, getting cider, getting the giggles at Lozza, getting hugs from Liz, getting support from Simon and Nick, getting lost, getting some sense and letting Richard navigate, getting some great training run ideas from Claudie, getting some headtorches and a crème egg from Simon ...


You've been holding the map upside down, Sarah ...

... And having a BRILLIANT birthday.

Whaddaya mean they've closed our footpaths ...

And just for the record I’m 35 years old not 43 ... but we got a bit lost and then decided we’d done most of the Coventry Way so we may as well carry on and finish it. 

7 miles in ... (Pic by Lozza)


And we got to the pub just in time to get a round in. Win.

The Final Three ... and drinks 



8 comments:

  1. You are an insane babe. So sad I couldnt join for a while! Well done on all those miles though, hows recovery?

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    1. It was BRILLIANT!! Had an amazing day!! Recovery is good! We ran really slowly and just enjoyed it so no aches or pains today! Even got away without blisters! Am worried have jinxed myself by getting off so lightly though ... all my toenails might fall off after my next run! :)

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  2. Congratulations and many happy returns. I wish you many more happy running years!

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    Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm not sure whether I'm now covered for birthday runs until I'm 43 or whether I'm just going to have to keep upping the game every year!! :)

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  3. Replies
    1. I know, right? Hows that for commitment to my athletic physique. Cough. I couldn't fit any more creme eggs into my running vest as I had so much pick n mix in there.

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  4. Yayyyy!!! Where did you get creme eggs this time of year?
    I did 26 miles on my 26th this year and now I want to keep it up ;)

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    Replies
    1. Oh that's brill! You totally should! I'm never going to forget this birthday that's for sure! It's been brilliant! Re the creme eggs they didn't have any ANYWHERE in Rugby! So a twitter buddy posted me some! How amazing is that???

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