My second 5k race

I wasn't sure whether to go.  I had a stack of schoolwork to do and the beginning of term cold had just hit me (thanks kids).  Also, as the sun rose and my alarm went off this morning my bed was a warm nest of comfort.

Nevertheless I got myself up, donned my running gear plus ipod (it's not an official race, so there were no anti MP3 people) so I would have a beat to run to,  battered the mud off my running shoes and headed off to the local park.

There were lots of members of the running group already there, with friends and families there to support them.  I had two Lemsip Max capsules and a bottle of Lucozade to support me.

We did a brief warm up, mine was briefer than anyone elses as I took it as an opportunity to go the the toilets.  At ten o'clock we lined up to start. I made my way to the back declaring I might as well start there as that's where I was going to finish (don't say I don't know my limitations!).

It was a beautiful day, my favourite to run in - cool, but sunny and with that magical sunlight making all look wonderous. Up above the sky was blue with only the faintest white clouds floating high above.

I started the race at the back with three other ladies in pink, but despite their all being older than me, they all soon moved off in front.  I was definitely keeping up the rear!  

All I wanted from this race was to beat my Race for Life time from July - surely I must have improved in two months?  That thought kept me moving and kept me breathless all the way.

This race was two big loops of the park and one small one.  I smiled and said hello to the marshals as I slowly ran my way round. When I was halfway I got lapped by the race leader on his way to the finish.  By the time I was near the end I was the only one left running, but as I was racing my last 5k time (46minutes) and not other people it didn't matter to me.  Also, as I neared the last stretch I was able to go into what honestly was an amazing sprint finish.

My time?  42minutes.

An accident prone evening

I tried to run further than normal after a day at school.  Before I'd even begun running I caught my foot on an uneven path and twisted my back; then I wandered into stinging nettles (when looking for somewhere to do a 'Paula') and finally I twisted my ankle which also had the consequence of twisting my knee.


After this run of bad luck/clumsiness I walked for a bit and wondered why I was not enjoying my run on what really was a glorious evening in the woods.  The air was fresh, the birds singing and the golden sunlight making all the trees look amazing.  Then I thought back to the last time I had a dreadful run - then I was very tired. 

After the weekend at PGL and several night's bad sleep I was once more shattered and this meant not only was I a rubbish runner, but could not enjoy the beautiful evening.  Our bodies just cannot work without adequate sleep, especially when we ask it to do something like run 6 1/2 miles.  Sleep is the runner's friend!

Ah well, at least I got a couple of hours fresh air in the woods!

A different kind of training

This (long) weekend I left the Big Smoke with 3 teaching colleagues and 25 ten year olds.  We went by coach to Swindon in Wiltshire where there is a PGL activity centre.

For four days we partook in a variety of activities and the children insisted we adults join in a few.  So, instead of running seven miles at the weekend I fenced, abseiled and screamed down a zip wire. I ache in brand new places. 

Jumping down the abseiling tower.

The most terrifying thing was letting go of the rail at the top of the abseiling tower.  My head knew I was attached to a safety wire with an experienced instructor at the other end, but my hand really did not want to let go.  It was a LONG way down.  However, once I had released my hand I could feel my weight safe in my harness and it did not seem so bad.  The children were really supportive and one was behind my camera taking photos.  However, once they knew I could do it they had a little fun with me.  The second time (the only reason I had gone up in the first place was to encourage a girl to have a go, she couldn't do it the first time so we went up for a second go) the children decided to have some fun:

"Miss Walter!  Quick!  The rope is breaking!"

"Quick Miss, it's fraying!"

Needless to say - that time I didn't have so much fun!

Altogether it was a great weekend, although I am very grateful to our headteacher for allowing today off to recover!

One of the instructors said something to one of my colleagues over the weekend that stayed with us all:

"Challenge yourself to do more."
 

How many of us are complacent with what we can do and do not make the effort to extend ourselves in some way?  Perhaps we should all try to do a little more?

The zip wire - not quite so terrifying after abseiling, but I still had a good scream on the way down!

4 month anniversary

Yesterday was my four month running anniversary. Can you believe I have been runnng for one third of a year, religiously at least 3 times a week?  It seems incredible to me.

If you had told me on May Day Bank Holiday that in four months time I would run 7 miles this Monday and then again on Saturday I would have laughed.  To the person who was not even running a mile huffing for 45 second runs and then walking this would have seemed impossible.

Today I ran 7 miles, okay they were pretty slow and I did an OAP jog on the uphills - but I did it.

Happy running anniversary me.  It's nice to have something to celebrate.

Running pride

I feel so proud.  Wow, I can hear you ask, have you achieved a PB or run further than you ever thought possible?  Well, yes - but that's not the reason for my pride...I have my first toenail injury!  I am now a proper runner!  One of my toenails gouged a small hole in the next door toe - I feel so proud.

Now, excuse me while I go get the Savlon and a plaster. :) 

Treadmills vs the outside

There is a lot of debate amongst runners as to whether treadmills are better or worse than running outside.  Personally I have always run outside because of the variance in the surface and cambers that better prepare you for races, which after all are also held outside.  However, the rains of autumn have already started and it won't be long before the nights lengthen and I will be spending the only daylight hours at work.   

As I'm sure you've got from my hints before, I don't live in the nicest of areas and running in the daylight is okay, but running around the park in the dark is an entirely different matter.  It is not something I would welcome.  How does one get round this?  Well, my running group will continue once a week so I can run with a group which will be safe, I can still do my long runs on Saturdays and that leaves one more run to find this side of Christmas (two afterwards).  I am seriously considering doing this run at the gym on the treadmill and I took myself there on Thursday for a little taster session.

I have run on treadmills before and did find I could run for a longer period than outside, hardly surprising when I lived on a hill.  This time I found I could walk at a fast pace so I really had to crank up the running speed.  The biggest challenge I found was having to run at a very regular pace, I could not slow down without resetting the treadmill first. The sweat poured off me and it was very tough going.  But it was also boring.  There was no breeze, nothing to look at (and you know how I like to let my eyes wander), no dogs to say hello to...all in all I was not enamoured and I know if I had to do all my running on a treadmill I just wouldn't have got the running habit.

I guess when the nights are dark and cold I will find my way to the treadmill, but I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy it.

Are youa treadmill or an outside runner?

Climbing trees

Okay, climbing trees - not really running related, eh?  Bear with me - in my thought processses there was a connection.

You remember the park I run in?  One of the things I love about it are the variety of trees and there is even one I secretly stash a water bottle in away from lunatics and urinating dogs.  I was thinking about this tree and I suddenly wondered why on earth I had never climbed it; then I realised I haven't climbed a tree since I was a kid.  

As a child I loved trees and if it could be climbed, I climbed it.  In my grandparents' garden there were many trees, my favourite was the apple tree - easy to climb once you learnt the secrets of where to put your feet.  There was one wonderous branch in that tree I could actually lie along and I spent many summer afternoons in that tree.  My brothers, cousins and I were intimately acquainted with all the trees in that fantastic garden.  We each had a favourite and often the trees would be an important part of our games and adventures.  Our parents were also the type that took us to the great outdoors at weekends and in the holidays and we made the acquaintance of new trees.  So you see, I'm a big fan of trees.  The strange thing is though - when did I stop climbing them?  When did we all stop climbing them?  I mean, honestly have you seen an adult who isn't a tree surgeon in a tree? 

Well it all changes now!  Tomorrow I'm going to the park and I'm going to climb me a tree!