mile | UltraBoyRuns

Stood at the back of the first family wave at the Vitality Westminster Mile reminded me of every race I’ve been in – the difference was that this time I was accompanied by both the GingaNinja and UltraBaby. For the first time UB was taking to the tarmac for a race powered solely by her own two little feet. Yes it’s true that she’d completed the Chislehurst Chase 2km last year but that was trail and I was quite excited to see what 6 months of growing, the training and some slightly more technical kit might draw out of her.

As Lord Sebastian Coe dropped the flag at the sound of the starting horn we belted out of the ‘starting blocks’ and pushed hard. As parents we kept hold of our little athletes hand and reminded her of the medal we were aiming for.

Our training had been pushing for the mile in between 15 and 18 minutes and as we hit the first 400 metre marker at 3mins 12secs I did wonder if we might even break 15 minutes. The route had lots of awesome support to help keep us going and the Steel Drum band gave us a bit of a boogie wiggle opportunity. There was such a positive atmosphere that you couldn’t help but want to push on!

At 600metres in, the clock ever ticking, we encountered a problem though – UB wanted to run alone!

We tried a couple of parenting tactics to get her to hold onto us but to no avail…

She simply stopped.
Bottom lip drooped.
A little tear slid down her face.

The seconds ticked on and with a thousand metres to go I was worried we wouldn’t get started again. It was then than a little girl went past us and I used her as the reason to get going again, ‘look at that little girl…’

UB relented and pursued the young girl with all the vigour she could muster – faster than before and encircled, hands free, by her parents.

Cheers erupted from all over the course, volunteers and spectators generously giving of their applause. UltraBaby returning the response with a series of double thumbs up, culminating in lots of ‘ahhhhh’ from the crowd. But with a great swathe of focus we had pushed to the final quarter of the race, before us we could see other runners and we encouraged UB into one final effort.

Over the line my little monster raised her arms in the air and cried ‘ice-cream’ (a promise I had made her during her mini meltdown). We had done it!

With meltdown we finished in 16mins 04secs. I was incredibly proud and watched with a little lump in my throat as she strode around displaying her medal to all that would look, telling them that she ‘won’ her race. I shan’t be dropping the crushing reality on her just yet that she wasn’t quite the overall winner.

Post race we ambled around the race village (while UB slept) – listened to Seb Coe talking and generally soaked up the amazing race day atmosphere. What a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning!

Toddler Kit: For those of us looking for reasonably priced running t-shirts and shorts for our toddlers can I recommend Uniqlo, who have a reasonable range of smaller non cotton kit ideal for the active toddler. UltraBaby was wearing the 3 year old sized short sleeved ‘boys’ top and the peach shorts and UB is a small(ish) 2 and a half year old.

Conclusion: What I can say is that the Westminster Mile is a mass participation event that feels small scale, low key and uber friendly. It never feels pressured and has a smoothness that keeps it feeling that way.

The family friendly nature of the event means you aren’t worried about bringing gran or grandad along (as we did the first time we did it) nor do you have any concern about having your toddler or younger with you. I ran this our first year with UB strapped to my front and loved it – this time she’s old enough to do it herself and run in a great time. More events could learn to be this family supportive.

The only thing I would love to see is this event replicated across the UK – to help build sporting achievement in the UK and as Seb Coe said at the event ‘everyone can run’ and mostly he’s right. So let’s spread events like this to every corner of the UK.

On two final notes, the first is a huge thank you to the army of volunteers and supporters who make this event feel special (especially for the younger runners who are hugely encouraged by the positive, inclusive atmosphere).

And the second thing, get involved, you won’t regret it.

The GingaNinja races a lot less than I do – not difficult given even on a quiet year I’ll still race twenty times – but this weekend was one of those rare occasions where the GingaNinja was giving it welly and I was spectating.

The Great Swim Series are an excellent, well organised and inclusive set of races. Just the kind of Open Water swimming experience you’d want as a beginner or even an experienced athlete and this event marked the Ginger ones third Great swim.

We rolled up Saturday morning to Alton Water to face the grey and murky clouds but the atmosphere was as usual, jovial and mirth filled – it had that hugely positive sporting buzz that you only get from people really achieving something. We wandered around the farmers market, ate delicious onion bhajis and dipped down to the waterside to catch up on the action.

Swimmers of all shapes, sizes and speeds were dunking themselves into the cool water of the reservoir and thundering into the headwind. In my view was a sea of little pink swim caps and flailing arms looking to pass by the 600 metre point where the swimmers would then have the wind behind them. This looked like it was going to be a difficult swim.

The GingaNinja, UltraBaby and I drifted over to the small but pleasant children’s playground and bounced around on the slide and monkey bars for a bit, this had the bonus of giving the GN the distraction to go and get her wetsuit on.

Now suited it was acclimatisation and warm up time and despite the GN being a little nervous from a lack of training time recently it all looked like it was going to go smoothly. UB and I waved our athlete away as she went to complete the slightly silly warm up exercises and then we watched as the horn was blown and the swimmers ran into Alton Water.

The GN would say that the first 600 metres were a battle to keep on course and make forward motion while the last 1000 metres were a battle to the finish.

UltraBaby and I did out best to hide from the wind and rain but (at least in my case) this was pretty pointless and I accepted wave after wave of wet passing straight through my clothes. Moist to the skin we went over to the finish line about 20 minutes after the start, listening to the excellent entertainment laid on by the event and we waited, joining in with the cheering of swimmers home.

We missed first swimmer in – 19 minutes 5 seconds but lots followed soon after. An older chap from the 12.30pm wave who hadn’t done any exercise in a decade since last year rolled in from his mile at just before 2.30pm – he was exhausted but elated. His wasn’t the only exceptional story of endurance over speed and several new to open water swimmers came home slowly but determined.

In the distance I could see the distinctive googles of the GN. I raised the lens of my camera and waited. I watched the water bobbing in all different directions and I could see her battling the conditions but with a final huge effort she flew under the finish line and onto the timing area. She had, of course, done it and done it well. Both UltraBaby and I beamed with pride!

Elated at completion though wishing she has gone faster the GN now turns her swim attention to the Great London Swim in July but her weekend of adventure was far from over – there was the Amba City of London Mile to complete first.

If you’re looking for a well organised and value for money swimming event then this series should be considered – you can easily see where your money goes, Tshirt, medal, organisation, facilities, safety crews, locations.
Between us the GN and I have completed 6 of these in 3 of the 5 locations (Manchester, Lake District, Scotland, London and Suffolk) I’m confident we’ll go and complete the others at some point in the future, because we hold these events in such high regard.

So if you fancy a safe and fun Open Water adventure then try this. Excellent.

—UltraBoyRuns

Saving the world one run at a time

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#Review One Mile, One UltraBaby, One @westminstermile #Race #WestminsterMile

#Race – The GingaNinja and the battle of the @Great_Swim in the East #GreatEastSwim