Lisa - Fat Girl Fit

I get knocked down but I get up again

I’ve been pretty quiet I know and there have not been the regular blog posts as usual and there is a reason.

I’ve been sulking. It’s not that classy. My funk well and truly wrapped its arms around me after slapping me in the face with a rather lengthy weight loss plateau.

So as you know I had a pretty nasty fall from my bike on my main event for this year and ended up unconscious and surrounded by a fire engine, ambulance and police cars.

It knocked me pretty badly and that combined with the toddler tantrum mood I was in was not a good mix. Up until that point most weeks I was training 5-6 times per week. Following my fall I was sore and achy and gave myself a rest break which ended up being quite an extended break. Don’t get me wrong I’ve had a few events here and there but my training went down to once or twice a week if that.

Before then I was also strict with my food but found myself being easily convinced to have a take away if offered and the 1, 2, 3 glasses of wine.

I was full of excuses I tried to justify as reasons I was letting it all slip.

At the end of the day I am still on my journey and I have 24lbs left to lose. Well during my funk I also hadn’t weighed myself and I felt uncomfortable so I knew when I did I wouldn’t be happy with the number that I was going to see and I was right. I had put on 10lbs! That is a lot! Pick up a 10lb dumb bell at the gym, several bags of sugar, a sack of potatoes – you get the hint! It’s like having an extra limb! I am not being brave and putting this in a blog post I am doing it quite selfishly to accept my accountability for it and make me turn it around.

I am getting back to it now and instead of thinking I’ve put on a hideous 10lbs over two months I am thinking that I have still lost 50lbs and that is the equivalent of a small bale of hay which is massive! So the goal posts have just changed and so now I have 34lbs left that I want to lose.

It would be easy for me to beat myself up (which I have already done) but I am just going to get back on track. I messed up my diet, I didn’t exercise as much as I should have. No one died. I’ve still got this. I did it before and I can do it again.

My desire to change is greater than my desire to remain the same.

I started back on my bike but shorter rides that I will admit were painful and I was nervous but I did it at my pace.

I’ve started running again and although it feels extremely hard I’m doing it. A bad run is better than no run after all, even if I do sound like Darth Vader from the moment I start to the moment I finish.

I’ve gone back to spin classes and I am leaving with a red sweaty tomato faced self as usual and loving it.

Most exciting is that I have signed up for a new six week fitness regime that started last night but I will leave that for another post to explain more about it.

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Category: Events, OCR

Mudd Queens Hit The PT Barn

At the weekend I signed myself up for a day of training with the amazing Mudd Queens and it took place on Nuclear Races ground at the PT Barn.

Now I’ve spoken before about Mudd Queens – they are an all female OCR network and the most positive and supportive group I think I have ever been part of. Nuclear is one of my favourite places to spend the day and so I need say no more on that front. The PT Barn I had not been to before and so was pretty excited. I know Scotty, who runs the barn, and he is lovely but with one thing and another I had never been to the barn, but wanted to so this was perfect. Their website says if you’re bored of conventional training then this is the place to try and it is true.

The day was structured so that it started with a class to develop skills in the barn, then a bootcamp session, then a team building session and then afternoon tea.

Now whilst I love OCRs I am the first to admit that without friends by my side there are some obstacles I will just not complete. Scotty said something I can really relate to and something that is part of the reason I love Nuclear. There are no egos and there is no shame in not being able to do something. They have a real family feel and are really supportive and so much fun. Scotty said everyone has their own goals and that could be to either compete or to complete. I am the latter. I do these to complete them. That in itself is a challenge and I have great fun doing so and I am perfectly happy with that. I also have huge respect for those that compete and think they are amazing too!

In the hour session in the barn I learned some techniques that I will use going forward at OCRs. I managed to move across the monkey bars – usually I am pleased if I can just hang. But I moved! I actually moved across! I also learned how to climb a rope – an actual rope. If you see me any time this week I may tell you I can climb a rope. Do me a favour and look impressed – thanks.

If you do get bored with conventional exercise – I do unless I have my good friend Emma telling me exactly what to do and how – the bootcamp with the lovely Tracey was great fun. All outdoors, getting muddy. In and out of ditches, using tyres – amazing! I think there is an advert with Mo Farrah where he says if you have fun while working out it doesn’t seem like working out and its true! The team work session was all outdoors with different obstacles, all whilst carrying someone on a stretcher. Working together around a course as a team.

This was followed by afternoon tea in the PT Barn from Little Pinkie Vintage Afternoon Tea. Quite odd to see that place you had earlier been swinging across monkey bars and climbing ropes in have a long table with pretty china, tea pots and cakes laid out for us, once we’d cleaned the mud off of course.

Yet another amazing day with amazing ladies and amazing teachers!

I will be back to see Scotty and to the PT Barn and will let you know when and why in another blog post, watch this space…….

Category: Events, OCR

Spartan Beast complete – Trifecta done!

As explained in a previous post I had set myself a goal for this year to earn myself the Spartan trifecta. The trifecta is earned when you complete the Sprint, Super and Beast races within the space of one year.

The Sprint is a minimum of a 3 mile run (was actually 4.5 miles) with at least 20 obstacles.
The Super is a minimum of an 8 mile run (was actually 8.5 miles) with at least 25 obstacles.
The Beast is a minimum of a 12 mile run (was actually 16.7 miles) with at least 30 obstacles.

I’d completed the sprint and super and at the weekend the beast was waiting for me. Naturally I was nervous as this was the longest distance in the Spartan trifecta and would be the furthest distance I have ever run. I was lucky that yet again I was taking on this challenge with my two lovely friends Helen and Stacey.

The beast was set in Windsor Great Park a stunning setting that provided nicer ground underfoot than the super in Peterborough. This was a trail run through the forests on bouncy ground for the most part aside from the tree roots and rabbit holes to dodge. Gorgeous park I will make sure I go back to visit – only managed to glimpse the deer briefly as we ran past and to be honest they paid very little attention to us as if a bunch of crazies running through mud and taking on obstacles was something they saw every day.

Most participants of obstacle runs know vaguely what they have in store when signing up and by that I mean Tough Mudder sees large quite extravagant and fun obstacles, Nuclear sees mud and fun with lots of obstacles making use of all the land they have in the best way and Spartan sees obstacles that require upper body strength and the beast did just that with quite a number of carrying obstacles and lots of walls.

The biggest thing I love about OCRs is how everyone comes together to help – I am lucky to complete such events with friends and have no shame in admitting I would not complete half the obstacles without assistance but complete strangers help where they can as well – I stood on some poor bare chested mans shoulder to get over an 8 foot inverted wall (poor guy) and was helped down a 9 foot vertical wall by a kindly gentleman – neither of whom I know but both of whom I am grateful to.

I am very pleased to say two obstacles that beat me at the super didn’t manage to do the same at the beast. I’d like to say I made them my b*tch but that was not the case. The slack line cargo net across the trees I got up and over (even if the crowd waiting to tackle the obstacle was about 20 people by the time I got to the top after exclaiming that the top line was in my vagina – classy as always)! And the rope climb up the wooden wall I managed (just) – this was the one I got to the top of at the super and then less than gracefully slid down the whole thing but not at the weekend (although nearly) I did make it.

We met a lovely lady part way through, called Kelly, who joined our threesome for the second half and we completed the event with her.

We met Tristan Steed who is part man part machine and generally wins these races. He had won the sprint on Saturday (again) and the Super on Sunday and we caught him at the second sandbag carry on his second lap – you know just for fun, with a weighted back pack too. Sadly he was not adorning the pink unicorn/rainbow leggings, which I told him was disappointing and he joked he didn’t want to get them dirty. He even stopped at a tree climb to offer assistance to a man who was cramping and offered to carry him down off the tree. This is the essence of obstacle runs. Tristan can run and race and win time and time again but stopped to help as it was needed and that is why I love these events.

The run was longer than we had originally thought and it was such a feeling of satisfaction to jump over the fire pit at the finish line and get our well earned medals. Even more so to do it with amazing ladies by my side.

I would also like to take a moment to remember the toe nail that was lost on this journey – totally gross but totally worth it. It survived the sprint and super but the beast claimed it – RIP toenail we had good times together.

Category: Cycling, Events

ICAP L’Etape London by Le Tour de France

Yesterday I took part in the Human Race cycling sportive L’Etape London. I was due to take part in this ride last year and due to injury I was unable to do so. I had hurt my wrist by falling off my turbo. Yes you read that right I basically fell off a static bike and whacked my wrist against a wall in the process. Impressive right? Not really I know!

So this year I was signed up and ready to do the long route. I’ve only been doing shorter rides since I had an accident on my bike in August leaving me unconscious and I am still pretty nervous so when I woke up and saw that it was torrential rain outside I started to panic and worry I would come off again. I had seen some other people I knew signed up on social media saying because of the weather they were giving it a miss. I was literally sitting at home in my dressing gown ready to get back in bed when a friend of mine who was doing the shorter route asked me to cycle with her and another friend and as the rain had cleared my husband quickly drove us to the start just in time to join the ride.

I would like to be able to say there was no rain but we got wet from the beginning and then as the rain stopped we promptly cooked like boil in the bag chickens in our waterproof jackets. However, then the skies cleared and I was so pleased I had gone after all.

I have had so many people ride with my and help me as I got into cycling and my friend Becky is relatively new to cycling so myself and Steve were more than happy to ride this for her. I will tell you something about Becky – she bought a bike last year and signed up to do the Prudential Ride London 100 mile ride and with relatively little training in comparison with most who participate in such a distance she completed it and went back again this year. She is someone with such determination and says she may not be quick but she is happy to get on her bike and put in the miles and that she did yesterday, smiling all the way.

We rode the 50 mile route and we laughed and chatted and had fun and that is what its all about – fun with friends on our bikes.

Steve was unsure as to why his banana didn’t taste nice – could it be because it was green? Clue is in the colour!

The ride starts and finishes at the Velopark in the Olympic Park and as you cycle on the open roads the route takes in some of Stage Three of the 2014 Tour de France. As you near the finish line you complete a 1k lap of the Velopark. It was such a good feeling to go through the finish line with two lovely friends and take our well earned medals and have a photo on the podium.

Chris Froome was also at the event and took part in the long route. I was keen to catch a glimpse of the man I had spent hours watching through various Tour de France’s on TV and as I saw a very unassuming man in jeans and a shirt be asked to sign a piece of paper I realised it was the man himself and so with my cleats on I ran over before he was surrounded by many people. Anyone who knows me knows I can chat for England and so I was not embarrassed to thrust my phone in front of me and him for a photo and I asked if I could be one of the many weirdos who asks to take his photo. He laughed and chuckled at my reference to weirdos before I took a quick photo and thanked him profusely.

He did also then look at my like one of the weirdos I referred to when I asked to take the pic ha ha.

I’ve never been disappointed with a Human Race event and this was no exception – so well organised and will ensure I return next year for sure! I especially liked the little signs in the toilets!

My race entry was complimentary, but all opinions are my own.

Category: Events, Fitness

The job of an event marshall

Do you take part in events? Have you ever marshalled an event? If, like me, you have then I commend you and take this opportunity to thank you. If not I would recommend you do.

Most people assume the marshalls on events are part of the company putting the event on or paid to be there. A lot of people are rude to them. Not many realise those jelly babies or other sugary treats they hand out they’ve paid for out of their own money as well as giving up their time to be there as volunteers.

Don’t get me wrong when volunteering as a marshall you generally get something in return like a free race pass or item of merchandise for example, which is great, but given that it is a very long day, most people do it to give back or for the love of the sport involved.

I’ve done a number of events with different friends and we always thank the marshalls. If it’s a run then sometimes I’m struggling to breathe and run and stay upright so can’t always say thanks but if a bike ride or obstacle run always make sure I do.

I’m part of a group called Mudd Queens and you always see other Mudd Queens at most events but especially as marshalls during obstacle runs. They are always on hand with muddy hugs, jelly babies and a friendly face and that small of act kindness from them makes such a massive difference so those taking part in the event. In my recent Spartan Super when we got to the tyre flip obstacle and at the finish to claim our well earned medals myself and friend Helen were so chuffed to see a fellow Mudd Queen, Jojo, at both!

I thought of doing a blog post about this when someone I know made a comment about the role of a marshall with little gratitude assuming they were paid as an employee by the company putting on the event and not actually realising that is not the case.

A friend from my cycling club, Romford CC, is part of East Essex Tri club and they recently out on a triathlon event and club members are asked to volunteer and then they can race and take part. Local Tri club Havering Tri did the same recently at their aquathon. In addition my running club, Havering ’90 Joggers, are often found as volunteers at local Park Runs. These people regularly take part in events and are happy to do their part in return.

It’s actually very rewarding and I have previously done a blog post when I volunteered as a marshall for Men’s Health Survival of the Fittest urban obstacle run and I will be taking part in Nuclear Races Blast event this weekend then on marshall duty for the evening event Blackout and I know I will finish both with a huge grin on my face and either none or very few jelly babies left in my bag!

It’s not just my opinion either, I asked quite a few people who have either marshalled or compete in events for their opinions and they were as follows:

“volunteering was a major part in my ocr journey. i started back in 2014 at a Tough Mudder and then ended up volunteering all year for them as it built my confidence and also the understanding what was involved in ocrs. i still prefer to marshal than run. From a marshal co-ordinators side most people dont realise how much time is put into organising marshals for a race. My love for OCR running and marshal has found me lucky to work for some great race events. People also need to remember if they say they will marshal then its important to turn up, but also make sure they are prepare for the day ahead.”

“I love volunteering for the fun factor . I love encouraging the girl at the back the one with no self esteem who just wishes she hadn’t come to the race .she has lots of tears and fears and then she goes over that wall runs through the mud falls flat on her face she picks herself up and smiles . We laugh all the way round the coarse and the demons are left in the muddy puddle and this girl goes of and gets herself fit then comes back fighting them obstacles stronger than ever she then becomes a volunteer and helps the next girl that comes a long . I give up at least three Saturdays either helping at nuclear taster days or I do local Parkruns .i dont look at it as volunteering but just putting the belief back in people.”

“Only that it’s a saviour when a Marshal says well done or keep going etc.. I really listen all desperately to what they say sometimes & get comfort from it when I’m tired So so appreciate it.”

So next time you take part in an event, gratefully take a sugary sweet that is offered, helping hand over an obstacle, advice at a junction on your bike, claim a medal please say thanks as without these guys those events would not be possible!

Category: Events, OCR

Spartan Super

This year one of my goals was to earn myself the Spartan trifecta. The trifecta is earned when you complete the Sprint, Super and Beast races within the space of one year.

The Sprint is a minimum of a 3 mile run with at least 20 obstacles.
The Super is a minimum of an 8 mile run with at least 25 obstacles.
The Beast is a minimum of a 12 mile run with at least 30 obstacles.

Having completed the sprint earlier in the year I had two to go and this weekend saw the second, the Super. I was slightly nervous as it is the first event following my epic head plant on my recent bike event Newcastle to London and I am still not 100% but I had signed up with my two lovely friends Helen and Stacey and so off we set.

This photo was taken of me at the start and you can see I do look a tad concerned.

Being part of the Mudd Queens you always get lots of support at obstacle races whether it be from organisers, to marshalls or even other people taking part and of course I was taking part with two friends and we were doing the whole thing together so I had no need to worry. This is good as there are some obstacles I cannot overcome alone such as the 8 and 9 foot walls – Stacey on the other hand was in a league of her own and upper body strength is something she has in leaps and bounds!

There is a range of obstacles from walls, carrying atlas balls and logs, climbs and wading through a lake so this does of course include mud and water and lots of fun!

I give everything a go even if I cannot complete it like monkey bars – don’t go there, I’m useless! Got all the way to the top of a cargo climb between two trees and some guy hurtled up it and with the whole thing moving I lost my nerve then was bugged at the end I had not given it a second try. I also got up a climb on a wet, muddy wall and lost my footing and slid the whole way down. I was told this was graceful but I had other words to describe it.

Also face planted in the lake tripping over I’m not sure what and turned to two guys who were trying not to laugh and just saying ‘watch that there’s something in the water’ as I turned around and giggled myself.

Managed to rip my amazing mudd queen leggings on one of the barbed wire crawls but that is what I have them for and I had fun in the process!

The running on this course was more like fell running in places with very steep descents in the woods, which I will admit I didn’t have the nerve to hurtle myself down – much respect to those that did, very impressive!

Loved seeing other Mudd Queens around the course especially the marshalls who always have a jelly baby or two, even nicer when you see one of your favourites at the end giving out the medals! I think people forget how much people put into the event by volunteering but I will save that for another blog post.

Hardest obstacle for me I think would be the bucket carry of rocks which sounds odd but it was so heavy and the walk in the heat seemed to go on forever! But I am so pleased that with the help of my friends I managed every wall! Even the big ones as I mentioned earlier. My bruises tomorrow ill be epic OCR kisses I am sure!

We well and truly earned our medals and have one more to go – the Beast, which will be tough but these girls can!

Over the next month I will need to add some trail running to my training schedule so I am ready for the Beast!

Category: Fitness

Trying to find my mojo

After my crash on my Newcastle to London ride I lost my mojo. I’d trained hard for that ride and it was my main event for the year and I am devastated that mother nature decided instead of me finishing, that a hefty gust of wind would knock me off and knock me out! I’ve had many messages and kind words from people for which I am very grateful. I’ve received cards and flowers and yet could not pull myself together.

I worked from home as I was pretty sore and stiff and really emotional so most people I spoke to or saw have had to deal with me in tears (sorry).

Everyone has said that it was out of my control and when you end up in an ambulance that is the time to accept your ride is over. I know all of this is true but it doesn’t make it easier. And they are right there are other events and other rides and the training is not for nothing.

I got taken out for dinner by my lovely friend Helen and taken over the park for a picnic by another lovely friend Danielle. One card I received from the lovely Laura was this and although I didn’t feel neither brave or strong I loved it – I could be brave and strong again.

I was due to go to Nuclear Races for a training day with Mudd Queens and didn’t want to go there either but the lovely ladies convinced me to go and so I did and I am so pleased I did. I couldn’t do much as I was still sore but its one of my favourite places and I started in tears and finished with a huge smile on my face.

The thought of getting back on my bike quite frankly petrified me. But after a good day on Saturday I asked my husband to go out with me for a short slow ride to see how I got on. I can see on my garmin my heart rate and it was higher than usual, my breathing was all over the place and I felt completely panicked. I had hoped I would get on and think I was worrying about nothing but I was freaked out. To top it off the wind was out to play as well. I cried at one point as I wanted to get a drink but was so scared to take my hand off the handlebar to get the bottle. I got there in the end and finished the ride and stopped crying. It wasn’t pretty but I got it done.

I finished the weekend with friends at a bbq where once again there were tears but ended up an amazing evening finishing in a hot tub in my underwear (trying to forget that part) with lots of laughs and smiles, which did me the world of good!

Also went back out on my club beginners ride last night and those guys never fail to make me laugh, again was nervous but had a giggle at one member who got a puncture and ended up changing it in front of a tyre sign!

I’ve done a blog post before about how important it is to have a support network and this week showed me once again that my support network is amazing and so this is just a quick post to say thank you all once again!

Category: Cycling, Events

Newcastle to London didn’t go quite to plan

As you know I have been training hard on the bike for my main event of 2016, which was Newcastle to London 315 miles by bike in 24 hours and it was last weekend. There were four of us taking part, Laura, Helen, Kat and myself, and we were both nervous and excited in equal measure.

The weekend started on Friday heading to Newcastle which was a mission in itself with everyone coming from any direction being delayed by hours including us. We finally made it to Newcastle just in time to register and head to the hotel for dinner before getting in bed. Saturday morning we were due to be off at 10:30am and both Laura and I had already had little moments thinking about the extremity of this challenge though agreeing we would tackle it stage by stage in order to get through it.

We had heard there would be terrible winds and most sections predicted rain but we had signed up for this and raised over £2,500 between the four of us for MacMillan Cancer and so we would be completing this whatever it took. Little did we know what that would be but we were ready.

The first stage was lumpy with constant ups and downs mixed with rain and mixed with heavy winds making everyone work extra hard, which is not something you want to do on an endurance ride. We saw the results of a horrific accident that left a cyclist with a broken back and fractured skull and pray he recovers fully! We regrouped and off we set on the next stage.

The second and third stages I had done last year with Helen when she took on this challenge and so I knew they were relatively flat and would be quick. This was of course based on the weather of last year which was almost perfect and in fact the polar opposite of what we were facing. Any cyclist knows how demoralising it is to be working your heart out but in the wind seeing yourself getting nowhere fast. Apparently the winds were up to 40 mph and so we were making sure we worked as a four taking ten minute turns on the front to share the load.

That was until about 75 miles in when I stopped pedalling for seconds to get my bottle of water. In that short space of time a massive gust of wind moved my bike so much I ended up being taken off my bike with full force being on the back of my head. I was unconscious and woke to my fellow lovely team mates surrounding me and a small group of strangers. Out of these strangers was an off duty paramedic and fireman and before I knew it I was shivering with cold, crying (a lot) and being covered in foil blankets before an ambulance was called and police had closed the road.

My main thought was that I needed to get back on my bike – we had a timetable to ensure we made the challenge within 24 hours and our first stage was 7 minutes behind so we were hoping the flat stages would see us gaining some time back and me being on the floor would not do that. I even asked my friend Laura to pause my garmin (I’m not joking) and if my bike was ok after agreeing to have a selfie for this blog post (at the time it made sense).

My husband had been called and was on his way and next thing I knew I was in the back of an ambulance. I have a sizeable lump on the back of my head my right ankle/knee/leg too the brunt of the impact so was sore and my helmet was done for. I was then told I was not allowed to continue.

Devastated, heart broken, gutted are not the words. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing pleasurable in cycling in gale force winds but I had spent the best part of the year training for this ride. I had put in over 2,300 miles and many hours in training and so to be told at 75 miles of a 315 mile event that I was done left me in a very sorry state and I would be lying if I said I am ok with it now as I’m not I am absolutely gutted. I know it could have been worse and I was lucky not to have been hit by a car – my poor friend Helen thought I was dead as I didn’t move or respond for over a minute. Thank god for my helmet – why some people don’t wear one is beyond me!

After crying a lot we headed to the next rest stop and I changed out of my cycling gear as I would no longer be needing that but we would continue as unofficial support car for our friends and stay with the ride until the end. The girls were lovely and super supportive given they could see how upset I was as they fought on in terrible conditions.

As the rest of the ride continued I got more and more stiff and sore and I will admit there would have been no way I could have continued. Last year as unofficial support we drove from rest stop to rest stop via sat nav for the most direct route but this year we followed the actual route and one word many used which I completely agree with is brutal, just an absolutely brutal ride. It is described as flat but let me tell you it is not. I am not too proud to admit I am not sure given the conditions I would have been able to continue and complete the ride anyway as the wind was wiping people out in huge numbers with 140 people dropping out the day before and over 260 people at the last stage pulling out. Helen in our group was one on stage 4 – I think my fall had affected her more than she realised and her head had given up on her.

It was the most physically and emotionally draining thing I have ever experienced and my husband said the same. Seeing the pain of people continuing on the ride knowing they wouldn’t make it in 24 hours and seeing coaches full of people who withdrew from the event because the conditions made it too much made it heart breaking to watch. In hindsight many said it should have been cancelled but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Laura’s partner James and our friend Steve got on their bikes to help Laura and Kat and were a god send completing 180 miles with them especially given they had not event signed up for it!

Despite the weekend completely not working out as we had originally planned there were some funny moments including Kat applying chamois cream behind our car but unintentionally maintaining eye contact with my husband and this became a running joke of who she would look at when she was next applying. I also mooned the foursome at one point as they cycled past – I couldn’t spend the whole weekend crying!

Between my husband and I and Helen and her partner Adam we became the weirdos who were driving the route and helping out with words of encouragement, inner tubes, lights, punctures and food and drink as we went. People were very grateful though I think they all just thought we were nuts. A lot had spotted me when I was out cold as I was wearing pink compression socks that stuck out of the foil blanket and so at every stop someone would ask me how I was and if I was ok, which was very nice given most were suffering a lot in completing this challenge.

I am pleased to say that both Laura and Kat continued and they did so bloody well! Absolutely earned their medal! Very few people perhaps only a handful they think completed the challenge this year within the 24 hours and Action Challenge realised this and were very flexible with the finish times. Everyone who completed I am in awe of – brutal ride in brutal conditions with broken cyclists coming over that finish line – they should all be extremely proud of what they have achieved!

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Me? I am broken, fed up and still wallowing in selfish self pity and will take some time off the bike now until I am less sore and stiff and of course have a new helmet!

Category: Events, Running

Spitfire Scramble

What did you do last weekend? Me? I spent from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon camping in my local park. It sounds strange and it felt strange! This is the park I run in with my dog, where I walk the dog and where I have spent many hours and I should also mention it is only a ten minute walk from my house. So why would I camp there? I was part of team Scrambled Legs, which consisted of 8 amazing women taking part in a 24 hour multi-terrain relay run called Spitfire Scramble.

You can also take part running on your own or in teams of two to eight runners. It is described as the only event of its kind in the London area and just so happens to practically be on my door step so I thought it would be rude not to take part.

By Friday night our camp was set up and like true athletes our cool box had a very odd selection of food and more alcohol than was necessary. The atmosphere was amazing and we were lucky that we were camped right next door to many friends at Havering Tri who were also taking part with a whopping 32 members in various teams including my husband.

We decided last minute that perhaps we should have a kit though as we would be completing around 3 laps each we would not run in them and whilst trying to look for something we decided if we couldn’t get what we wanted we would do the opposite and find something so wonderfully tacky that is was in fact fabulous and so we all headed to the race briefing Saturday morning amidst perfectly matching running clubs in club vests wearing the most amazingly hideous Disney tshirts. I think it was safe to say we stood out a tad and I even joked it would be funny if we placed looking like such a bunch of misfits.

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We had arranged our teams order of running following one order to enable everyone to have time to rest in between laps. We should have realised that rest in a field of people camping whilst taking part in a 24 hour relay run was never going to work out well so sleep was minimal. First off was Danielle and as everyone gathered at the start to see everyone head off that became the hub for people to gather as you waited for your teammate to come in and pass the next person the wrist band to go off on their lap and so on and so on. It was such a great atmosphere as the runners returned and our Danielle was sixth over the line with a sprint finish and first woman so we were off to a good start.

As the day continued so did the heat and the gnats. It is safe to say we all caught the sun and all got bitten to death regardless of how much sun cream and bug spray we applied.

One by one we all completed our first lap and it was safe to say it is not the easiest route – they say undulating though in the heat the slight inclines felt tougher than I’m sure they actually are. As I say I run on a regular basis in that park and I think I’ve always run faster than I did at the weekend. It is multi terrain though I would say more is trail than on path and with my main event of the year being this weekend (with Helen and Laura who also took part in this run) I was making sure my tactic of slow and steady was in place (that’s pretty much my run style/speed anyway) being careful not to lose my footing at any point and finish with an injury. That being said I wither and die in the heat so whilst I was not overly impressed with any of my times I am not sure I had any more in my legs to go faster as much as I willed them to.

Had I ever run in the night? In the pitch black? No! Was I a little worried and nervous? Hell yes! Three of us had walked the route on Friday night and I had the benefit of knowing the park so one lap and I knew where I was heading but you do go through a farmers field and as the crops are now over a meter high I did liken it to something out of a horror film. On my night lap my amazing friend Helen had her hybrid bike and rode the whole loop behind me, which was a god send and much appreciated.

By the time I finished my lap, stopped by the porta loos and got changed it was almost 4am and I was just in time to see my husband finish his night lap and so this pic gives an idea of how dark it gets – our 4am selfie.

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So in our group one lady ran two laps, everyone else ran three and three of the team ran four laps – seriously impressive and such a team effort it was the best feeling. What could have been better? The fact that we came third out of the all women’s teams! You know I said wouldn’t it be funny if we placed looking like such a bunch of misfits? Well we did and so not only had we earned our medal but we also each got a cup. Not too shabby for this fat girl trying to get fit!

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Would we all do it again next year? We’ve already said yes! You are tired, fatigued, sweaty, worn out but do so with amazing people having the best time makes it all worth it.

We did earn our team name though and yesterday I think we all found that our legs were well and truly scrambled!

All in all an amazing event, well impressed with the organisation and atmosphere all weekend and left with the best feeling. More impressed that when I walked my dog yesterday the park was immaculate and you would never had even guessed there had been an event so well done to the organisers and volunteers and also the marshals on the route.

Have I talked you into it for 2017? Do it! You know you want to……