Posted on

Folkeston – First holiday run June 2019

After a week of very little running due to a chesty cough and cold and the start of a two week holiday I knew my running gear had to come with me even if I didn’t run as much I knew no running would make it harder to get back into things when I returned home.

So first morning of our holiday was a bright sunny day in Folkestone with a two day stop off here before boarding the Euro Tunnel and spending two whole days sat in the car traveling I used this as the perfect opportunity to stretch my legs.

Situated on the sea front with gorgeous views I had taken some time out the evening prior to look at where I could run.

I turned left out of the hotel and along the cliff tops, it wasn’t long before I hit a steep slope going down, my thoughts at this point were if I am going down I am going to have to come back up at some point

I noticed markers were being put out along the roads and realised there was some sort of event running event going on, later found out it was their Race for Life, had I have known I would have pre entered as an incentive and joined in.

I hit the bottom of the slope and carried on forward hitting he car park before the light house, looking out to the sea was so pretty and calming but I could not quiet work out how to get to the light house bit so did a tour of the car park and ran back along the bottom part of the cliffs. I soon entered a woodland area designed with walkways and flower beds so well kept it really was pretty. It also had several little park areas which I made a mental note we would visit for a walk later with Suzie.

I ran along through the forest area till hitting an exit back up the cliffs it was zig zaggy but steep so I knew this was going to be a tough bit especially after not running for awhile. Off I plodded up one foot at a time but reaching the top was so breath taking seeing the views out over the sea.

Last little stretch back to the hotel in time for breakfast. Not my fastest are farthest this morning and certainly not the easiest run but I knew if I didn’t start to get back into it it would be so hard to pick back up, it was good to get back out.

Posted on

Clumber Park Race For Life June 2019

Today wasn’t about breaking PB’s or dashing around it was all about supporting a fellow running member finish her first race and enjoying a fun day for a fab cause with great friends. This should have been my first official race when first booked but with the earlier races creeping in first this was now my third race.Still my first %k though!

Supported by Stu and Suzie and with a picnic planned after today was going to be a good day.

It was a warm one but luckily not as warm as the day before. So all sun creamed up and ready to go off to Clumber Park we headed. Having just returned from 2 weeks in France I wasn’t the most prepared attire wise so off to the merchandise tent I strutted for a vest to wear with my little miss princess Tikkis. If you ever feel like investing in a pair feel free to use my recommendation link https://prz.io/RrnalaTj getting you 10% off! I could not resist in the pink tutu and also picking up a t-shirt for Suzie ( Maybe next year she can participate).

We lined up at the start for the obligatory warm up dance before getting into sections based on running, jogging or walking.  Hundreds of runners some in some amazing fancy dress costumes, all stood raring to go. I always find this an emotional race (walked in past years not run) with all the remembrance notices pinned to runners and listening to stories before the start. We stopped to take the pre run photo of course!

We were off onto the trails of Clumber Park. with the amount of runners it would have been hard to go at a speedy pace even if we had wanted to with quiet a few narrow walkways it wasn’t easy to overtake other runners and  it was soon easy to spot the mistake at this year event,  as both the 5K and 10K had started together and soon the 10K runners were overlapping and struggling to get through the hustle and bustle of the 5K lot.  This must have been frustrating for them especially the faster runners.

As we came up and over the brow of the hill turning on to the last stretch you could hear the music and commentary at the finish line. So we prepared to finish running in together holding hands just as the ladies had done with me last year, all together leaving no one behind and we did just that with a cracking comment from the gent on the mike over my leggings deserving a ring of the bell!

Yay Jackie had run her first 5K! and it was a privilege to run at her side and she was so deserving of that medal.

This is my favorite picture as I don’t do pictures very well

Then they made me do a more serious one!

Race for Life Clumber Park June 2019

 

 

Posted on

What I’ve been up to latley

Well where do I begin? Firstly apologies it seems like ages since I last blogged,  so this is going to be a long one. So grab a cuppa and pull up a chair or simply flick through and jog on (I promise I won’t be offended if you just check out the pictures)

It seems so long ago I was starting the couch to 5K and the though of running even just 5 minutes seemed so daunting and like it wouldn’t happen and yet here I am coming up 2 months after finishing it having achieved so much already and learning to be proud of my achievements.

So my first official 5K race actually turned into a 10K!

After an impromptu entry into Wellbeck 10k with my running buddies. it seemed pointless entering the 5k Nuro Care at Rothervalley the week after so I swapped for the 10K.

How did the crazy idea of running 10k come around on, May 12th at Wellbeck estate? Well that will be my friend Sharon’s idea. who messaged our group chat at 10pm that she’d found a run that looked interesting but the catch was it was the next morning. So when invited it took me all of seconds to say why not! Being a fun run / walk I knew that even if I only made 6k (the furthest I’d run so far) I could walk the remainder and meet them at the end and it would still be an achievement.

There  was only one outfit for today’s run and that was the cookie monster.

We set off nice and steady feeling strong, the scenery was so spectacularly pretty it was breath taking and made the run seem so pleasant that the odd hill didn’t feel too bad and when we hit the 7k mark I was surprised I still felt so good and did a little victory punch in the air as I passed the marker, this was the furthest I’d ever ran!! 7K gone 3K to go I now knew I could do this, I wasn’t stopping now, I wanted that medal! And I wanted to say I’d ran it all. Crossing that line was amazing and I really felt like I could have given more on the day. I think this was the day that I started to realise my crazy Marathon entries may not be all that crazy.

Thank you to my crazy friends for believing I was ready to take on this challenge otherwise I would never have enrolled for a 10k so soon.

So what followed after, let me think. I feel like I have done so much!

There was the 10k neuro race at Rothervalley a fairly flat route and a route I knew so well having done most of my couch to 5k training around there. On May 19th I woke raring to go and excited at the thought of completing another 10k. After a breakfast of overnight oats and a couple of cups of tea I headed down to the registration area. This was my first chip timed event so I was starting to feel like a runner now. There was a variety of runners this morning from club athletes to fun runners. I thought lining up next to the athletic runners would be off putting but it wasn’t I know I am never going to be number one over the line and that really dose not matter what matters is I finish the events I sign up for no matter how long it takes and I take pride in each medal and goal I achieve.

So I set off with my running buddies nice and steady, lap one of the lakes went well and I still felt strong as we passed the finish point to do a final lap around the smaller lake before finishing, Sharon began to pass in front of me picking up pace. I didn’t know at the time but her though was I would either drop back if too fast and finish at my own pace or I would keep up and it would motivate me to push my self that little more. I knew I would never hit her pace but was determined to not get left too far behind so picked up my speed, I could feel the muscles in my legs being used but pushed on through. As I passed the ice cream van I could see that finish line and knew I had a little left to give so set off for the sprint finish!(It has to be done at every race no matter how tired I feel) Yay another 10k medal to hang on my board!

P.S If anyone finds the top I was wearing today can you point me in the right direction I haven’t seen it since it went in the wash after this event! and es my whole wardrobe has been emptied.

26th May 2019 was my next biggy I had started running with the girls on a Tuesday evening doing some hill work and kept my mileage up running three times a week. When they told me they were planning an 11 miler to help with their marathon training. After some thought knowing the route was mainly flat and that if I didn’t manage it all I could walk it, So I decided why not, if I wasn’t going to challenge myself who would it was all great for training.

We set off early with the sun already shinning down on us, today was going to be a warm one. When I was first invite on group runs I was a bit nervous I would hold people up or might fail at running the distances but I have to be honest I’m glad I said yes and took that step, running alongside friends having a chin way (a great way to know the pace is right when you can run and still talk) and having them to pace me really has helped me build up my distance.

Fairly flat route heading from my doorstep, down onto the trail and along to poolsbrook country park. Quick toilet stop before returning back along the trail and up. Note to ones self must master pulling up sweaty tikki’s quicker for Marathon. Didn’t go round the lake saving that extra mileage for another training day.

Heading up the last stretch of hill towards home was a tough one, legs were now tired and my muscles were definitely feeling the mileage but I couldn’t stop now not when I was so close so I plodded up to the top to be greeted with Sharon saying we were so close to a round number of 11 miles and couldn’t stop now so off around the small estate we went and into our car park circling the car park a few times. I think that was the toughest part of the morning I could see my back garden gate but knew it would annoy me not rounding off the miles and I would regret not staggering that little bit.

17.73km in the bag!!! Check out those calories burned!! I must remember this is not an excuse to over indulge.

So happy with this one. I would never have done it if it was not for the help and support of my running buddies Sharon and Marie.

So I think im all caught up apart from The race for life and training runs which I will blog separately. Hope your still with me at this point? Don’t forget to keep following I know it’s going to get tough and I have so much more to learn. I love to read others blogs too so if you blog please do share with me.

Posted on

WEEK 9 RUN 3 5/5/19 LAST ONE OF C25K!!

GRADUATION DAY!!!Where did those 9 weeks go? It really only seems two minutes since I was telling my self to get my butt out of the door for run on week one.Decided to try a proper breakfast this morning before heading out, normally I would grab some fruit and a drink and eat when I return but I know my eating habbits need to change. So alarm set for 6am, yes I know its Sunday but I love getting up and out, cuppa and a bowl or porridge giving it time to settle before going out.Instead of taking the car to the bottom of the track decided to walk down it would mean a longer cool down walk but the excercise all adds up!So started my walk along the trail and then began my run, watch set determined to get that 5k coverage today!Ran down the trail entering the main lake at the top. Decided not to run the top lake today as my run had started earlier on the trail so knew id get the coverage I wanted.With no more than a few people round the lake, it really felt so calming and relaxing.Before I knew it the half way bell had gone and then the count down to the last ten minutes. Legs felt good today so when I was told it was time for cool down I was determined to push on for a little longer up the exit hill to the track to make sure I’d covered the distance.If it hadn’t have been for stopping to climb the steps onto the trail I feel I’d have kept my pace going but today was all about finishing that last c25k training run and covering that 5k!I DID IT!!! Does that mean I can now call myself a runner or say I run? I think it does 😍😍. Cant wait for my first medal to arrive from #virtualracing.co.uk. I shall be hanging it with pride as my first medal on my display Ive ordered.

So now the hard work starts, I need to decide on a training plan moving forward.I’ll continue to blog but wont blog every run, maybe checking in each week and bloging my up coming charity races. Feel free to continue following.Apologies for the shocking first video I dont do recording or photos of myself very well 🤣🤣 I look wrecked but felt great!

It appears the blog wont publish my video so I’ll try and blog it on a post on its own.

Nope it appears your saved from watching it 🤣🤣

Posted on

WEEK 9 RUN 2 2/5/19

Early start this morning.

Up and out of house for 6.45, sun shining but temperature wise ideal for running as not yet fully warmed up.

Decided to do usual route on trail for warm up then down to Rothervalley off arpund the lakes. Once again it was so peaceful with only a couple of people around the lakes. I definetly think morning runs are my prefered choice. (Don’t think ill be saying that in the winter months but we will cross that bridge when we get to it)

That 5k is haunting me so close today, I even went longer after being told I’d finished to complete the lake in hope of making sure id done 5k. It wasn’t tonnes longer but I was hoping it was long enough.

I will have it Sunday I intend to add a small section between the two lakes on, hopefully adding extra distance. On the plus my pace was a huge surprise as I honestly felt id really plodded along today.

Last one Sunday! Feeling sad to be leaving my comenteers who have kept me going through the 9 weeks and built me up.

Ive already started looking at training plans for moving forward, just need to decide which one is best to folllow.

Lots of reading, researching and most of all getting out there and running to be done over the next year, exciting times ahead but also scary!

Posted on

WEEK 9 RUN 1 30/4/19

I’m not ashamed to say tonight was tough. Decided to try a different route locally around the houses, kind of forgot how hilly the area was, not sure how thats possiable since ive lived here long enough 🤣🤣. I’m sure it wasn’t this hilly in those early weeks, but then I was walking most of the 30 minutes back then, that seems so long ago.

I set off up hill for warm up walking thinking that most of the hill if not all would be covered in this and my run wluld begin on flat, what ive not really noticed is its a gradual hill after the steep but all way to the main road. Really didnt think this route out.

Hit the main road and headed down which gave legs a chance to rest however uts amazing how running down puts pressure on the knees just as much running up is on the calfs.

Hit bottom road and headed off for the trail. Had to stop at the road for traffic, only several seconds but have to admit starting once id stopped was hard to get back my rhythm my legs thought they’d finished so definetly something I need to work on.

Headed up the trail and back along the trak onto the main road. I pushed what I thought was the time id not recorded at the end of the run but it turns out it wasnt enough and My run ended not far from my home which led to a short cool down this evening. I know, I know not a clever idea. Need to ensure im cooling down full time and stretching more now.

I can certainaly feel the burn in my knees tonight and ache in tops of my legs, think the lack of cool down is part of this.

I suppose feeling these aches are all part and parcel of building up and thats not a bad thing. If it was too easy it wouldn’t be a challange and if it is challanging tjen how an I going to progress?

We shall see what Thursdays run brings!

Ohh maybe now is the time to mention ive set myself self some more crazy goals.

Posted on

WEEK 8 RUN 3 28/4/19

Last one of week 8!!

It actually feels quiet scary that next week will be my last week of C25k, where did those last 8 weeks go?

It’s ok though ive down loaded a few training aps for 10k just need to look at which ones best as some of them seem to take me backwards quiet a bit to start with.

I have so many people who bave inspired me to start my c25k journey, each and everyone one of them I am greatful to, people who showed and supported me in believing I could do this. One of those people is Ainsley who is running a full marathon in London this morning! My run will be absolutely nothing compared to what she is taking on today and Ive planned to run early so I can track and follow her progress. Cheering her along from my sofa. Running really has become my hobby. Not sure if I can call myself a runner just yet, what point do you become classed as a runner? Is there a definitive point?

Looking a bit windy this morning and not the warmest of weather but at least its dry.

Decided to try a different approach this morning. For the past two runs the first five minutes has seemed tough so today I took the trail route and joined Rothervalley further down before I knew it the first 5 minutes had gone and it was half time!

Not sure if my bodys just built up and ajusted to the longer running time or if mentally not looking at the full lake too early on thinking I’ve got to get round that.

Got to the last corner before the enterance when I was told that was it, my time was up. I was determined to finish the lake so kept repeatedly telling myself your not stopping, your not stopping and I did it!! Yay!!

Mixed emotions at end of today’s run Im absolutly extatic that I did it! I ran both lakes at Rothervalley but I’m also a little gutted I was so close to covering 5K and if id have just gone on another minute I’d have done it, I’ll have it on next weeks runs!!

I’m comming to get that first medal next week!

Posted on

WEEK 8 RUN 2 25/4/19

Its raining, it looks cold and its 7.05am the do I, dont I? is creeping around my mind, but I know if I leave it till this evening I’ll regret it, so off I went to get ready pulling on my cookie monsters telling myself I can do this!

Drove to the bottom of the trail, I know we only live up the hill but needed to be back for stu to go to work and wanted my run to cover the lake, Forgot head phones, so had to drive back 🤣🤣.

Again that first 5 minutes seemed to be such an effort and felt like 25, with the whole country park to my self apart from an odd cyclist or dog walker, and it was the odd one, I had no human markers to beat getting past today so with little chance of ploughing into anyone I put head down and concentrated on just keeping those legs going and before I knew it the half way bell had gone.

I imagined my little cheering squad telling me to woman up and waiting at the end and before I knew it I was done. Another step closer to graduating!

When I looked at my stats I was ecstatic, not only had I ran the farthest distance but my pace was the best yet!! No idea how, I truley thought I’d gone so slow.

Posted on

WEEK 8 RUN 1 21/4/19

Tough one today think I may have had a glimpse of that brick wall, just a glimpse though!

Set off feeling motivated, however my legs just didnt seem to be feeling the same motivation I was. Not sure if its down to a busy on my feet day prior to run or what. I have to admit when I was told id ran for 5 minutes I began to question was this going to be the one I couldn’t complete, in fairness it had to happen at some point.

That inner motivation and determination kept yelling at my legs telling them to stop being stupid they could do this, no matter how slow we were not stopping!! I was passing walkers so couldnt have been going that slow. Each time id focus on a point or person and after passing would find a new focus. It seemed to keep my mind occupied and before I knew it there was 5 minutes remaining.

Normall that last 60 seconds I’d push myself a little harder but couldnt muster up the power to go any faster, todays aim was just finishing and that sense of achievment when my full 28 minutes was up was so worth pushing through.

Hoping next early run on Thursday will feel easier.

On the plus side my legs felt solid after my run and very toned.

Posted on

WEEK 7 RUN 3 21/4/19 ( not sure what happened to run 2s blog)

Opps forgot to write run 2s blog but I definetly did it!

Warm one this morning so on went the new Tikkaboos flames capris and matching top with vest over top, not confident enough to show the midriff.

So this morning I was determined to see how much of my first official run route I could cover so I drove to the bottom of the trail and used the trail as most of my warm up walk.

It was already starting to feel warm at just 9am so I knew I needed to pace as it would be the first time I’d run in heat.

Why is it when the app tells you youve ran the first 5 minutes it feels like you’ve been going ages then when that half way bell rings you get a sense of I can do this?

As I entered the start of the second lake I spied a pair of tikaboo legs and immedietly knew it was sharon, one of my main inspirations, out for a walk. Pottering on past I apologosed for not stopping but knew if I stopped I’d lose my pace, she did get a couple of fab butt shots of me though 🤣🤣.

I did have the intention of trying to push myself and finish off the whole of the two lakes but when I was told that was my 25 minutes up it kind of gave me my finish line so I stopped, walking the rest for my cool down walk. Legs were a bit wobbly today in the cool down walk. Have to admit I think week 8 is going to be a challenge running for 35 minutes, but then 7 weeks ago week 1 was a challange.

Ive already down loaded 5k to 10k training app ready for the end and purchased some shorts for France so I can run on the sea front and keep it going if I keep setting goals I know I’ll do it!