Photo by Astrid van Wesenbeeck

This is a lovely course, the views are spectacular but there’s a few hills
ERNIE’S STORY
I’ve been nervous about this all week, mainly because of a knee niggle that I’ve rested for a week or so, but I needed to do it so much, as a psychological boost to my marathon training. I decided to race it and go for a sub 1hr 40min time, and if there was ANY pain I’d stop. Fortunately , despite a faint tightness, everything was fine and I felt quite strong. A proper warm up and I was ready to go.

The race announcer told us to watch out for vehicles, pot holes, and that there was ice on the road eeek. We ran a circuit of Bampton village before heading out along Haweswater. This was really beautiful and I made a mental note to come back here for a day out.

On the uphills I just kept a steady pace without pushing it and I used my arms to help. On the downhills I just relaxed my arms and let the momentum quicken my pace. I passed a lot of people this way, apart from one girl who kept passing me on the uphills and it would be a cat and mouse game until the last mile when she flew past and stayed there.

I reached 8 miles at about 62 minutes (slightly slower than planned, but I was feeling good so decided to pick up the pace and hold on as long as possible. By mile 11 I was wishing it was mile 12 but fortunately there is a nice downhill at this point. Note my downhills had become mad sprints for the last 2 miles which probably took a bit out of me, but it was fun.

As I finished I stopped my own watch a few seconds below 1:40 which was a great result. Collected my souvenir mug, banana, and NB Voucher, did some stretching, then got a free cuppa in my mug and bought a baked potato. I’ve been on a high ever since.
MY FINISHING POSITION
I was 182nd in 1:39:50 (7:37 pace average).

MORE RESULTS
1st Male = 1:14:07, 1st Female = 1:26:21, 1st Male 40 = 1:19:15, 1st Female 40 = 1:26:21
There were 517 finishers. Last person did it in 2:46:04. This was the 9th year of the event.
A VERY SHORT VIDEO TAKEN AT THE START:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyNL7_ew-9E

Well organised, and well supported. Thanks especially to the 3 women on the final bend who screamed encouragement to every finisher.

This time last year I was 2 stones overweight, so in March I wrote out a training plan and got to work. Once down to my racing weight I ran a 10k race and 2 half marathons. In total in 2009 I ran 871 miles (about the length of Great Britain).

looking back it was a mixed year. On one hand great satisfaction because of my running, on the other  deep sadness at my father dying, and the challenges and joys of being a parent to teenagers. The thing that kept me strong through everything was running.

In 2010 I’ll run the Edinburgh marathon, and get faster times in all distances, setting a few PB records on the way.

I’ll look back at a successfull year, be able to speak and write Spanish in 2010 and some nice surprises are welcome too, like (at least) doubling my monthly income.

Enjoy my local winter pictures:

If you enjoyed this montage, please rate it & comment on >>YouTube

1.  I’ve slept through an earthquake while my house shaked

2.  I’ve seen Pink twice in concert

3.  I’m a ‘black belt’ in kung fu

4. I passed my driving test at the 4th attempt

5.  I became a dad at age 25

6.  I became a single parent at age 28

7. I stopped driving for 10 years due to becoming a parent

8. I was named Ernie after my grandfather, who appeared (in spirit) at the foot of the bed in maternity

9.  My great great great uncle, Kirkpatrick Macmillan invented the bicycle

10. My great great grandmother Mary Marchbank was the first girl on a bicycle

11. I’m going to be a great uncle myself soon, in 2010 infact

12. I grew up in the countryside in a small Scottish village

13. I’ve never tried drugs, don’t smoke, and only drink occasionally

14. I don’t have any tattoos….or maybe I should say, yet?

15. I was in hospital as a child with suspected meningitis. The whole class sent me cards and letters, it was really nice

16. When I was 13/14 I kept and bred tropical fish, I was quite an expert. I also collected 50 types of cactus plant.

17. I was an Infantry soldier for a couple of years

18. I once jumped from a cliff top into the sea.

19. I have grown my own vegetables

20. I was vegetarian for a year but missed Christmas dinner too much

21. I take a multi vit and mineral suplement, vit C powder, and glucosamine tablet every day

22. I learnt to play chess aged 11, and have since taught many friends and family

23. I went on a day trip to Venice whilst on a school ski-ing holiday in Italy

24. I’m proud to be Scottish

25. I’m learning Spanish

26. In 1981 (the week Charles and Di got married) me and a friend spent 4 days cycling to Girvan and back. A total of 205 miles, we were 15

27. I’ve ran 9 x half marathons so far (at Nov 2009).

28. I’m currently training for the Edinburgh Marathon 2010, my first full marathon

29. I’m qualified in Massage, acupressure, sports injuries, and nutritional therapy

30. I proposed to my girlfriend on Christmas day during dinner in front of my family. You could say I’m romantic.

Just thought I’d print a picture of my celebrity lookalike Neil Hannon: on the right >>>>

Neil is the front man in ‘The Divine Comedy’