JULIE VALENTINE

ME.

In 2012 I suddenly found myself weighing 12 stone at only 5ft 3inches tall, I was severely depressed, I never went out, I did no exercise apart from running the race for life once a year, it was just a token effort and used to take me around 50 minutes, walking a good portion of it. At the 2012 race there was a stand advertising military style bootcamps in my local park, so I went to chat the the man at the stand, and from there started to go to bootcamp. I was still far from fit, but through them ended up running the paras 10, clean fatigue the first time in 2 hours and nine minutes, 10 miles was by far the furthest I had ever ran in my life. In 2013 I did my first half marathon, 2014 my first marathon and never thought I would run any further than that. However come 2016 I got chatting to a looney by the name of Ian Yates at my local running club, who had just completed a 200 mile race across the country from Southport to Hornsea, and he was convinced that having done a good few fan dances by this point, I had it in me to do the same, so I signed up. I had to get at least oe ultra under my belt prior to the 200 so I signed up for the Chester Ultra 50 mile, and the Liverpool to Manchester 50 mile, which I completed in 13 hours and 59 minutes, and 11 hours respectively, far from the fastest times, but within the cut offs (only just by 1 minute for Chester) so come August I stood on the start line of the UGB200 in Southport wondering what the hell I had let myself in for, convinced there was no way I’d ever finish, but 99 hours and 53 minutes later I did, it was a lot of checkpoint chasing and I almost got pulled off at the next to last one, but I finished, in a silver position, but also in last position, and although I felt proud at the time, me being me, the pride didn’t last long, and I was soon kicking myself for just being a checkpoint chaser - this is where #BeaBlackSheep comes in…….

WHAT DO I WANT TO ACHIEVE?

This year I want to do more than checkpoint chase, I want to do better, I will never be great, but I want to be the best me I can be, and know that I am being the best I can. I want to finish events and feel proud that I have done the best I can, not go home kicking myself because I know I could have done better. Finish a test week march or a Fan Dance and actually feel like I deserve that patch or trophy. Finish that race and not think to myself I only got that silver buckle because of the number of people who dropped out, who gets silver for being last? I don’t want to feel this way at the end of a race any more, when I see how far the like’s of Karl have come it inspires me, and I know that I can be better.

WHAT CHANGES AM I MAKING?

Firstly loose a few pounds, in the hope it will help me move a bit faster, stick to training plans properly, and be accountable - don’t complain about doing poorly when I haven’t put in as much training as I should have. Try to be more positive, throw away my beat myself up stick, and be proud once in a while.

MY PLAN FOR 2018 AND BEYOND.

6-7th January 2018 Winter Trident, including Woodhouse Edtion Fan Dance - disappointed not to make the cut off for the 2nd ascent of Pen Y Fan and got pulled, but completed the High Moon and the Fan Dance on the Sunday.

13th January 2018 Bladerunner Ultra - Got pulled and number removed at the RV before the finish, but took the decision to continue off my own back, so got a patch and the Ladies masters trophy (as well as a bollocking off Ken Jones).

9th February 2018 Darwin Day Marathon - Marathon PB for me of 4 hours and 13 minutes.

10th March 2018 Chester Ultra 50 (DONE)

24th March 2018 Kielder Dark Skies Marathon (DONE)

2nd April 2018 Liverpool to Manchester Ultra 50 (DONE)

7th May Milton Keynes Marathon

13th May White Peak Trail Run

19th May Chester 100

28th June 2018 Pennine Barrier 50

7-8th July 2018 Woodhouse Trident

15th May 2018 Scott Snowdonia Marathon

21st July 2018 GB24

12th August - Rocky Horror Half Marathon

18th August 2018 THE BIG ONE - Race Across Scotland

22nd September 2018 Mt. Snowdon Ultra 50

7th October - Kielder Marathon

13th October - Hell up North

14th October Eden Project Marathon