Category: Stuff I love!

I’ve been in my running club for over a year now, and last Saturday was their annual awards evening. Last year I could not go, but I was looking forward to it this year, although on Saturday I missed parkrun as I didn’t feel well and kept feeling dizzy, so I nearly didn’t go. It was dinner and a disco, plus a raffle organised by some people running the London marathon, and the awards. Earlier in the week they had sent out the list of nominees for the different categories, although they didn’t announce the the fastest 5k, 10k and half marathon times (but I knew I would not win any of those, although I might have been close for the 10k). One of my work friends told me I might win something, and I told her that no, I was not nominated, and anyway if I was I would be so nervous- I was glad I could just turn up and enjoy.

It was all set out beautifully, and the meal was good (as well as accommodating the vegetarians, they also gave me a separate dessert as I didn’t want the Baileys that was in the profiteroles!). It was so funny seeing everyone dressed up- sometimes it was hard to recognise people as usually we have our hair scraped back and we are all in leggings and high viz! After dinner they started announcing the winners. Last year they let everyone vote, but now the club is bigger they said not everyone knows everyone else, so the committee had chosen. Different run leaders were coming up to announce each winner, and it was very exciting to see who had won. One of the ladies I run with a lot won Most Improved- she had only began running earlier in the year and has been steadily increasing her distance (she did the 10 mile race last weekend) so that was great to see.

There was a bit of friendly competition (banter) over the fastest 10k and 5k times, as there are a couple of very speedy ladies. Each award was given out by a different run leader. They then went to the final award- Runner of the Year. The girl next to me was announced as the runner up, as she had joined less than a year ago and had run 100 miles in the summer (impressive especially as she has 3 children)- she was over the moon and it was so lovely.

Then our club leader started talking about the winner- she started talking about someone who represented the club at different races, and encouraged others, and then the run leader I run with came up to hand it out, and I was looking across the room to see who it would be, and they called out my name! I was so shocked, and proud. As I went to collect it my legs were shaking! I really get so overwhelmed. All the others had collected theirs, had a photo, and gone to sit down again, but someone called out “speech”- I think I looked terrified as someone said to me “you don’t have to”, but then I felt like I should say a few words because I didn’t want to seem ungrateful. I said something about how I loved running before I joined the club, but since joining it I have loved the support and encouragement of the club, and seeing how everyone else does too.

As well as the lovely trophy thing (which had my name already engraved!) I was given a lovely shoe tag, which I am wearing as a bracelet as it’s too nice to get muddy. I love it.

Here are all the winners! (We had to pose in the hall as it had better lighting!). I still can’t quite believe it. I have never had a trophy before, having ever being in a sports team at school or anything.

Blurry photo I know!

Now I need to find a place to display it. I actually found it hard to get to sleep when I got home because I was just so surprised by it all. It’s weird in a way being given an award for basically doing a lot of something that I enjoy, but it’ lovely too.

Earlier in the week my lovely running club “Guv” shared that Gadebridge parkrun would be hosting a special guest (Special Olympic Ambassador Mitchell Camp, and the mayor) on Saturday. I then started having a look at the location and course, because I didn’t realise they had one there- it’s about a half an hour drive away, and has been going for less than a year.  I messaged my dad to see if he fancied it, but he was busy, and no-one from my club fancied it, so I decided to head there on my own and check it out.

I left at around 8.15am, a little earlier than usual, and I got there at 8.40am, so plenty of time to walk to the start. It wasn’t far from the car park at all, but it was so cold.

This is taken from the start- you can just about see the car park through the trees so it wasn’t far to walk at all.

Everywhere was frosty, and the fields were all rutted but frozen solid, There were plenty of icy puddles, and the pavements were sparkling. It was beautiful.

We had the most enthusiastic  marshal delivering the new runner briefing, and then in the normal run briefing the mayor talked briefly, although it was a bit hard to hear as I was behind a big group of tourists from the same running club. Then we were off!

The course was tough. It started on path, before straight away going onto a field- up, along, and down (over frozen mole-hills), then under an underpass, up the other side of the valley (and if you know Hemel, and Galley Hill, it is steep), along the ridge at the top, then steeply down, under the underpass, gently uphill to near the start, where you then get to do it all again. I really had to concentrate as the ground was so rutted (the spike imprints from previous runs were frozen solid)- I didn’t want to twist an ankle, and the cold air made it hard too.

I got a stitch (not sure if this is down to the nakd bar I had before leaving- I think my eating before parkrun experiment may have ended now), but the park was so pretty in the early morning sunlight, with all the frost everywhere. I enjoyed the run, looking at the surroundings, and even warmed up enough to take my gloves off after a mile! I was half tempted to take some pictures, but I had worn my flip belt as I didn’t know if I would take my jacket off or not (it has big enough pockets, but if I tie it around my waist then anything in the pocket bangs on my legs) and it’s hard to sort that out while running. I could not speed up on the flat ridge part because the ground was so frozen, but that was fine with me!

After I came out of the underpass for the final time I had a straight and gently uphill path to the finish, so I put on a bit of a sprint finish. There was someone taking photos and my shoulders are so hunched! Argh! I know I need to sort this but I don’t often realise until I finish that my shoulders ache.

From their facebook page.

I also thought that I was smiling!

Anyway, it was a really enjoyable run.

Time: 31.20, 65/100 runners (nice even number), 12th female and 4th in my age category. It’s funny, apart from San Francisco which had such a tiny field, I seem to hover around the 3rd or 4th age category placing. It’s a course pb of course (your first parkun at a new course always is) and my dad was keen to visit it, so I am sure I will be back.

I didn’t hang around in the end, as there was going to be a talk, but as soon as I stopped running I was totally freezing, so I headed back to my car to put my coat on. Then the day didn’t go so well- I had to stop off at the post office, and the queue was huge, and then I decided to have a hot drink once I finally got home, before having a shower. All of this meant that I didn’t eat breakfast (lunch) until 12.30 (although I had eaten the cereal bar).

I had a few hours of work to get through, and once that was done I popped to town, but the feeling of the stitch either came back, or it had not gone away, I’m not sure, but it was quite sore. I ended up having a lie down when I got home, and it really only went away when I went to sleep. I thought I had maybe pulled a muscle or something, but I don’t remember it aching when I was working, so I don’t know when it actually came on.

This morning I was awake before the alarm, and very excited to see snow! Most of the girls in the club were doing shorter runs, so I went out on my own for a lovely 9.5 mile run in the snow. I was fairly slow at first as I didn’t want to slip, but actually the snow was nice and soft (making that lovely creaking sound as I compacted it). I stopped for photos too, of course.

I ran around the lake twice- some of it was covered in ice.

I ran back through the fields, which was fine until I trod in a puddle (hidden by the snow) and my shoes filled with icy water. I sped up a bit then I think!

I cracked out the leg warmers this morning too!

I loved it though! And although about two miles in my stitch feeling reappeared for a bit (and I considered turning back) after a bit it went. After a quick shower we were off to brunch with some friends- we tried Coast to Coast, which was OK, but I don’t think I would rush back.

Anyway, my first parkrun tourism of the year was great, and I have already started looking at others nearby- I need to spread them out a bit but  there are a couple of others that I could visit now fairly easily. Panshanger is still my favourite though!

Before heading down to Brighton last weekend, I was thinking about all the races I have completed there during the year. I realised that I had managed pb’s in all my Brighton races during the year so far- although with the wind I had put that thought out of my mind for the 10k.

So here is a little recap of my Brighton races, and why I love running there so much!

February 2015– I did the half marathon as part of training for the marathon. I didn’t want to push too hard because I needed to be recovered right away for the next week of training, so I was rather surprised to get a pb- 2:04.10! The route is great and because I know it, having run it before, it helps me to pace myself a bit better. Yes, there is a little hill near the start, but you get to run back down it, and then it is flat.

25 miles in and still holding the pace band piece of paper!

In April 2015 I did the Brighton marathon. I really wanted to get under 5 hours, as for my first marathon in Stockholm I had been aiming for that but things had not gone my way. I managed Brighton in 4:53.24, which was nearly half an hour faster than my first marathon time. It was brilliant- so much crowd support, lovely sea views, the sun was shining (which did make it tough at times, and I did get sunburn on my legs as I forgot to put suncream there), my parents came down to watch. It was brilliant!

In October 2015 at the last minute (well a week before) I signed up to the inaugural Bright10, a new 10 mile race along the seafront. I had a bit of a cold, but the mainly flat course helped me along to a 10 mile pb of 1:33.51!

I do love a good medal!

Then finally in November we both did the Brighton Brooks 10K- another pb for me, despite the wind- 54:53! I realised when looking at my race calendar that it was my 50th race! When I think about that, it seems crazy to me, because as a child or teenager I didn’t run, and didn’t really think I could. It was only in my late 20’s that I decided to train for a Race for Life, and now I just could not imagine life without running.

See how much the wind was blowing the medal ribbon!

So why is Brighton such a good place to run?

• There is always such good crowd support, even on horrible windy and cold days there will be people out with signs, or instruments, cheering everyone on.
• The seafront is a lovely flat place to run- very good pb potential.
• The seafront is a scenic place to run.
• There are other landmarks like the Royal Pavilion.
• The marshals are always fab- I think the Bosh running group should take a lot of credit for this, but there are so many marshals in all of the races and they are always very supportive.
• It seems a place that encourages people to be active with cycle paths along the seafront, lots of running groups, loads of cycle parking at the station.
• There are loads of awesome cafes and restaurants to pre-race fuelling and post race treats.
• Of course, I am in vegetarian heaven with so much choice while I am there.
• There are several parkruns in the Brighton area so if you are visiting for the weekend you can still get your parkrun fix- the Hove Promenade one was easily walk-able from Brighton town centre (1.4 miles from Brighton station so a nice warm up walk or jog).
• Finally, the train station is nice and central, so you can get the train back, listen to a podcast and have a snooze on your journey home. Fab.

This is the view in February! Awesome!

So thanks for the pb’s, the medals and the memories Brighton, I shall be back next year!

So, winter is now here!

This week has been a funny one with running. We did the same route on Tuesday night as we have the last 3 weeks, but in the wind (and with tired legs from the weekend) it felt tougher.

On Wednesday I had a lovely run by myself, 3.3 miles in a figure of 8, and it wasn’t too cold. On Thursday I missed pump as we were taking Andy’s parents to the airport, and on Friday I did think about a run, but I was tired and my throat was sore, and it was cold, so I didn’t.

Anyway, Saturday morning I wrapped up very warmly as it was snowing and I was marshalling at parkrun. I had a couple of crumpets and some mint tea before- I would not eat if I was running, but because I was just marshalling I knew I would need something. Thankfully the snow stopped, and hadn’t settled, but the wind was bitterly cold. My dad picked me up as he and my brother were running- they waited in the car while I walked to my marshal point!

This is the track that the parkrun begins along, and my point was at the end where runners turn and head up a gravel track.

I could see the lakes, which you run around near the end.

Walking along the track was fine as the trees kept you sheltered, but where I was stood was right in the wind- when I took some photos my gloves nearly blew away! And even though I had on my hat and a scarf, the band holding my ponytail had nearly fallen out- it really was so windy.

As my point was near the start, I only had around 5 minutes where runners ran past, so I was (hopefully) very cheery, shouting “good morning” and “the faster you run the warmer you’ll get”. I do love being a marshal and I love how many runners manage to say thank you through their heavy breathing too. At 9.10 the tail runner went past, so I took a photo of them heading up the hill- like a line of high viz ants! Then I took down the arrow and walked back to the start.

As I got there, the first runners were finishing, and it’s always amazing to see these speedy runners power up that final hill. While I was waiting for my dad and brother I chatted too a few other spectators- there was a big turnout from a Stevanage running club, and it turned out they were doing a similar thing to my club with the beginner running group doing the 5k as their “graduation” which was lovely. My dad and brother finished well, and I think they were relieved I was at a point close by so they didn’t have to wait for me. I had planned on running once I got home, but it was so cold!

I am on a running facebook group, and I posted on there about being reluctant to head back outside (it was soooooo cold) but one of my friends (who did timekeeping at parkrun that day) said “I will if you will” so I changed before I got too warm.

I did a new route, which ended up being 3.5 miles, but my ears were so cold the whole way around they were properly aching.

I tried some of this neat nutrition vegan protein powder, which actually tasted quite nice, but even though I used my little milk frother thing, it didn’t all mix and was very very thick. I have another packet and I might add some to porridge to see if I like it like that.

Then I was off to London for an afternoon tea. Although they weren’t serving the festive food yet, it was decorated beautifully.

Mmmm this was all mine!  Those crumpets (and that protein drink) were a long time ago.

They went for the science afternoon tea (the hotel was near the Science Museum)- they did say they could make me a veggie science one, but I liked the sound of my one more. It did look eye catching with the pipettes, chocolate dinosaurs, macaroon planets and all the smoke. Our booking was 2.30 and we left just before 6! A long catch up. Then the tube was so busy we ended up walking for 10 minutes (including past Harrods with all the tourists!) to get to another stop (we would have been waiting for over 10 minutes to get into the station), and then on the overground it was so squashed because people were not moving down inside the carriage that a nice man had to shout “move in please” so I could squash in, otherwise I would have been waiting another half an hour. Phew.

This morning I was off for the 8am club run- after being so cold yesterday I wrapped up warmly- a t-shirt and thin long sleeved top, buff, ear warmers, gloves and tights. That turned out to be just right- I didn’t even take my gloves off and we ran fairly quickly- all sub 10 minute miles. I needed a tea when I got home before I could face getting undressed for a shower!

We had to pop to town for a few jobs, and I also did a bit of baking! Hooray!

I used my mixer to make the stollen dough and it was so much easier than kneading it by hand. We are going to see my parents later so will take one around for them.

Are you a fan of going into London? I love being close, but a day is enough!