Herts 10K 2016

A few weeks ago my dad mentioned that he was going to run the Herts 10k, a local race organised by a hospice to raise funds. We had run it many years ago, and as he is trying to up his distance, and was around that weekend he’d decided to give it a go. As I was free, I signed up too, and so last Sunday morning I picked him up and we drove to Harpenden.

It was perfect weather for running- the most gorgeous autumnal day- blue skies with a chill in the air. We arrived with about half an hour to spare (we had allowed extra time as you have to park at the train station and then walk just under a mile to start), so we found a place to stand in the sun to warm up for a bit! Dad had worn tracksuit trousers over his shorts, and had brought a bag (I was just going to tie my top around my waist as I ran) so we used the bag drop (well, tent) and then headed to the start.

From their facebook page- gorgeous blue skies.

I had thought that he would run ahead, but when we were chatting about times, we both wanted to finish in under an hour. My last time running this course I managed around 62 minutes, and my dad and brother were just a few seconds over the hour, so we both fancied that target. We did arrange a place to meet up just in case one of us was running slightly faster, but in the end we ran together. It was so enjoyable- the course is really lovely, just through fields, along country tracks, with a small section through residential streets- here people had come out of their houses and were cheering everyone on. I had my Garmin on so I was keeping an eye on the time- we reached half way in just under 30 minutes- and we were both feeling good (my dad has to keep an eye on his knee). Although I had run the course before, it was a few years ago (5 or 6) and all I could remember was a hill by a golf course. The hill came, and although it was steep, it wasn’t too bad, and we both ran up it- in fact at the top we both wondered if that was it! Dad said it was a bit of proof that we were fitter than last time- I agreed and thought that the hill at the end of Panshanger parkrun was also good training for this!

At times you had to watch your step to avoid twisting an ankle, as some of the ground was rutted or covered in long grass, but it was just such a pretty route to run around. We got a bit stuck as there was one long thin path, with just over a mile to go I think, where you had to run single file and we slowed a little here. I did think we would need to push on a bit in the final mile. We got to the 9km marker and my dad remarked “9 miles? What?” before realising it was a kilometre marker! It’s not just me that gets confused at races! At this point I think we were on 53 minutes, and we compared it to a 30 minute parkrun being 6 minute km’s, thought we would have enough time. The final section was on the same path that we started on, and I thought it was going to finish sooner than it did, so we sped up a bit too soon! Anyway, we crossed the line together, with our official chip time being 58.40! Nicely under the hour mark!

Dad collected the bag, and then of course we had to have a photo- I was clearly very excited here! (This took many attempts as neither of us are good at A- looking at the camera, and B- keeping our eyes open for photos!).

We then had a cool-down walk back to the car, before heading home for a shower (our boiler still wasn’t working so I’d packed all my shower things, towels and clothes). Mum then made us a brunch of pancakes, fruit and tea. All was good in the world!

What sort of activities do you do with your family? My brother and dad go cycling together, and sometimes we will have a long walk somewhere.

Two milestones in one day!

This time last year, it was Panshanger parkrun’s first birthday, and my 50th parkrun. Last weekend was their second birthday, and my 80th parkrun! I am quite impressed that I managed 30 last year, as I also did quite a few weeks of marshalling where I could not run.

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They were having a beach party theme, so I had ordered a grass shirt and flower lei to wear over my running kit. At first there were not many people dressed up, but thankfully as time got on, there were a few people dressed up. I got talking to one couple and asked them why they weren’t dressed up- it turned out it was their first ever parkrun so I let them off! I did explain that it wasn’t like this every week! They ended up asking a lot of questions so I basically gave them their own new run briefing before the official one! Hopefully they will be back.

It started to rain a bit as they were giving out the prizes and things, but luckily not too hard as it does take a while. Someone had ordered a giant beach ball and people were bouncing it around, although they were worried it would knock the cake over!

From their facebook page- that’s me in the blue skirt and apricot top.

While I was running I met another club friend, and we ended up running the last 2 miles together. The finish has been different for a while (no longer a steep straight hill, but a zig zag)- she had not been for so long that she hadn’t done the new endig yet- I think we both prefer the old one. As we ran up the timers were shouting “keep going for sub 30” and we both managed to come in at 29.53/54- a new pb for my friend! I really enjoyed that run too- yes Ellenbrook is easier as it’s flat, but Panshanger is just so pretty.

I collected my jumper from the fence and then remembered the cake! I went back for a piece and it was very tasty as well as being a fantastic design.

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I also had a look at the amazing bike rack that Tarmac (who look after the park) had given the parkrun for their birthday.

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It’s a large log with slots for the wheels, and metal buckles for chains or padlocks to be attached to. Brilliant.

I ended up chatting to a few people for a while, and had a hot chocolate as we had no heating or hot water at home and I needed to warm up for a bit! (We went around to Andy’s parents after breakfast to use their shower).

This year I suppose the official milestone that I reached was the 25 volunteering sessions- I think next it will be 100 parkruns, and then after that 20 different venues. This weekend I am down in Brighton and I was looking at trying a different parkrun (as there are 3 there and I went to Hove Prom last time) but Hove Prom is a lot closer to the hotel, and I am running 10 miles on Sunday. Next time we go down it’s for a 10K, so I could run further on the Saturday to get to a different one- possibly Preston Park.

Which milestones have you achieved, and which ones are you working towards next?

Some of my favourite podcasts

I love listening to podcasts- when out running, on a walk, and on my commute. Here are some of my current favourites:img_20161002_082602384_hdr

Of course there is my long run favourite, Marathon Talk. It’s my favourite podcast for my long runs- I love the banter between the hosts, but they have a wide range of guests on, from super speedy elites, to people running a marathon for the first time. They also chat about general running issues and news stories, like the doping scandals that keep popping up.

Friday nights are good to listen to the Kermode and Mayo’s film review show. Again, they have great banter (athough at times they ramble on about old music a bit too much). The show has a fairly high entry point as there are lots of in jokes and sayings, but it’s worth it. They also review the films without spoiling them, which is not an easy thing (I’m talking to you Robbie Collins- I am glad I had seen Inside Out before I heard your review as you basically explained the whole film). It’s on air on Friday afternoon, so we tend to download the podcast and listen together while dinner is cooking, or if we’re going away for the weekend we save it for the journey.

Adam Buxton hosts a great podcast. Some of you may remember him from The Adam And Joe Show, either on TV or later on Xfm. He now hosts this podcast- each show he has a little chat, and then interviews a guest. He’s had some really interesting guests on there (including Michael Palin and Louis Theroux) and it’s well worth a listen. There are a few catchy jingles in there too, if you love those.

Pop Culture Happy Hour– This is a discussion podcast from the US, about TV shows, films, books and music. It’s good as they recommend new shows, and talk about old ones that they have just discovered (so even though usually America gets things first, they also have BBC America so get some of our shows too). Recently they had a very funny discussion about “The Great British Baking Show” (what Bake Off is called in America). It cheers me up on my Monday morning commute.

Science Vs– hosts some really interesting discussions, weighing up evidence and concluding. The first series had discussions about Paleo eating and e-cigarettes which were particularly interesting.

More or Less– They look at statistics that have been in the news and pick them apart. It’s so interesting, and not heavy going at all. They should be fact checking everything! And if only the government would listen to them (e.g. Grammar schools don’t improve social mobility…).

Tough Girl podcast– I only got into these a few months ago, and I find it so interesting. Each episode hosts a different adventurer. I love reading travel or adventure books (like Wild) and so hearing about someone climbing Everest, or hiking the Appalachian trail is just so interesting.

Now I hardly ever have the radio on- if I download the podcast I won’t miss any of it!

What are your favourite podcasts? What kinds of things to you listen to on the radio?

House stuff

Some good things first!img_20161003_180828154

The blind is finally up in my office. At the start of the summer my dad helped me to decorate the room, and I bought the blind but Andy’s drill was buried somewhere in the old shed.

Our new shed is up! After the old one took us 4 hours to take down, it took the people about 15 minutes to stick together with a nail gun! Andy is outside now painting it blue, to brighten it up a bit.

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We finally got the lights sorted in the bathroom! This is big news indeed. Honestly, I have no idea how the people here before us lived with it. There was no light switch, but a sensor, so if it was dark the light would come on (multicoloured colour changing lights no less…) but the sensor was not by the bath, so if you were having a shower and it was dark (or gloomy outside) the lights would switch off after about 40 seconds. So I would have to open the shower door and wave my arm about to make the lights come back on again- it was so annoying! Anyway, an electrician came and fitted a switch, and updated the fittings (they were metal and going rusty) and replaced the bulbs. Now I can see for the whole of my shower! He also replaced our (very tasteful) plastic gold chandelier in the dining room with a normal pendant so we could have normal lampshade.

Finally we replaced our old dining room table- we bought it when we bought our first place, over 10 years ago- it was something like £15 from Ikea and we kept thinking we’d replace it but didn’t find anything we liked.

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Our new table, chairs and lamp shade (plus the blue shed in the background).

It can’t all be good though. The guttering flooded and so we had people out to fix that (during the day where everywhere flooded and there were landslides). The dishwasher broke and blew all of the sockets in the house. As it was quite old we bought a new one instead of paying for the call out (because who knew if it could even be fixed)- it’s an integrated one which was such a pain because they are more expensive, plus the original one had been fitted rather badly so the people installing the new one had a lot of trouble getting it out and fitting the new one. But it’s in now.

The boiler stopped working this week too. After yoga on Wednesday (luckily I don’t wash my hair after) I had to heat water in the kettle and mix it with the cold water for a bath. Because it was so cold I made a hot water bottle, left it in bed while I got changed, and then when I got into bed and picked it up, it burned me. I jumped out, knocked over my full glass of water, and had to mop up the water (getting cold again). I thought there were a few drops of hot water by the valve, but when Andy picked it up we realised it was leaking all over the place so the mattress was soaked in two places (from the hot water bottle and the glass of water)- there I was at 11 pm drying the mattress with a hairdryer. Hmmm.

The weather seems to have been much colder this week and I think I would have had the heating on for an hour to take the chill off, but we could not. We have been showering at Andy’s parents (lucky we have that option) but it’s been cold at home. Today I’ve been sat in my office since lunch time doing work, and I had to have a hot water bottle (not the broken one) to warm me up a bit. Anyway someone came about the boiler on Friday and thinks they can replace the circuit board next week, although apparently it’s old and a bit of a mess so we might need a new boiler.

We still need to sort the flooring in my office and our bedroom- we got a quote for the bedroom but we may have to wait and see how the boiler does! Then it will be on to Andy’s office (more wallpaper stripping…).

Have you had your heating on yet? One of my colleagues used to do what she called “The November Challenge” (not having it on until November)- I think I last into October but it would have to be a very long Indian summer for me to last until then!

Just scraping by

In July I did the Awesome Virtual Running challenge of running 100 miles in July, and I managed a total of 116. I wasn’t going to do it again, but then I saw the September medal…

100 miles in September:

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Well, I managed it by the skin of my teeth! After the half marathon I thought I had 9 miles left, and we did just under 4 on Tuesday (the club run), but it turned out that after that I only needed 7 in total during the week, and I was feeling pretty tired on Thursday so I did just over 3 to make sure it would go over. Phew.
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The medal came today, and as I had to go out and collect some leaves (as many teachers will understand) I took a photo next to the leaves. Although, for some reason it’s upside down and each time I rotate and save it, the original comes back again. Anyway, I love the medal.

The October one is Halloween themed, and the November one is pretty cool with a spinning rocket, but as I am doing the virtual runner Poppy Challenge in November, I will leave it. I have high hopes for a festive December one, so that might be my next one.