Blog to the Stones 2
April 24, 2019 / Nev Davies (FRCS) – Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
3 months to go till the 100k ‘Race to the Stones’ challenge and training has steadily increased with some great trails around the local countryside.
The big weekend had to be the super Saturday down in Cardiff to watch Wales win the grand slam followed by my first Reading half marathon the next day.
Cardiff was buzzing as ever and didn’t disappoint. I sensibly paced myself on the Guinness this time! and stopped drinking early evening. The black stuff certainly is rocket fuel as Reading half was fantastic. Lauren and I started in the 1hr 35min pen with the pacer and the pace was steady as we set off. Running in a big group of people certainly pulls you along at a terrific pace so I used the help of the pacer till the top of Whitley climb then I tried to stretch out for as long as I could on the lovely downhill section through the University grounds and down Kendrick Road. The support was phenomenal and it is easy to see why it is such a popular race. Every section of the route someone was there, cheering the runners on. As I got round to passing Spire, Dunedin I was starting to tire but by practicing the drag along the A33 was great training and soon the stadium was in site. I even managed to kick for the line, finishing in a decent 1 hr 33 min and surprisingly pipping Lauren.
My knee has been good. Occasional twinges, but I can feel my legs getting stronger. I drove up to Ridgeway one wet Tuesday afternoon and sampled the lumps and bumps for an hour and a half. It was great fun, but pretty exposed up there and a taste of what challenge is to come!
My longest training run so far was last weekend 35k along the river loop down to Caversham to Whitchurch to Goring and back home. Rugby podcasts kept me going as well as my new favourite thing to listen to, Desert Island Discs !!
We are back in La Santa for Easter and I hope to go a bit further this time certainly along the coastal trails to Famara and hopefully a bit higher to some of the volcano ridges – I’ll report back after Easter…
So the challenge is well and truly on… – Teaming up with @RBHCharity – I’m aiming to raise as much money as possible to go towards the COAT fund and a new Children’s Surgical Outpatients Department at The Royal Berkshire Hospital. In Trauma & Orthopaedics last year we saw just over 12,000 children through our clinics, and unfortunately the environment we see these patients in is just not as good as it could be.
Please help us make a difference to our local children… Happy Easter
