Welcome to my first post of 2014! Where has the time gone? More than two
weeks into the new year already! I haven't had time to sit down and type but I
have managed to fit some running into my busy life...just!
I haven't been running since last Saturday (running was cancelled on Monday
and other priorities this week have meant no running!) I am planning on
getting my trainers back out and doing the Parkrun in South Shields tomorrow
morning with my sister and friends!
I've started keeping a running journal to record my progress and effort. I
regularly keep a journal of my life in general so I am enjoying having
something new to write about. Even though I haven't been blogging about running
I do still have a record of my progress so far this year - and I have lot of
progress to report!
My first run of 2014 was Newcastle Parkrun on 4th January. I went with my
friend Rach and saw a friend (Micky) from the Great North Run Beer Tent Group
when we were there. I also had opportunity to chat to one of my teachers
from High School, which was nice!
I found this run difficult and needed to walk a few times. I was just about
to start walking again when Micky came back for me, so that was the
encouragement I needed to continue. During running with Micky, Rach also came
back to find me, and the encouragement from both was invaluable. I
started to get a stitch which I was not able to run through so I did slow down
to a walk again. Once it cleared I ran some more and my friends encouraged me
to have a sprint finish. I found this run difficult but I achieved a Newcastle
Personal Best (40.03) and felt great that I'd got to the end! My friend Rach
and I then went for a most deserved hot drink (and I chose a healthy snack of
some fruit - starting the year as I mean to go on!)
 |
| Rach and me - enjoying a hot drink and a snack! |
The following Monday I went to my running session which hadn't been on over
Christmas, so I was happy to report how I'd been doing since the last session.
I'm still the only person in the 'group' so the sessions are tailored to me! I
ran 3.1 miles without stopping as my next goal was to do a Parkrun with no
walking. With encouragement, I managed to run the 5K in 39 minutes but by the
end I couldn't feel my feet and I had cramp in my legs! I was wrapped up warmer
than I needed to be and felt quite hot (the weather milder than I thought it
would be), which didn't help. But I did it! I ran 5k without stopping for the
second time ever in my life! To say I felt good would be an understatement. I
was so proud!
Later that week I went for a 2.5Km run with Rach after work - we did this in
18 minutes. I wanted to do a shorter, slightly faster paced run to vary my
training routine and also I didn't have much time available. A short
run is better than no run! I really enjoyed this run and it was lovely to
see my friend after work!
Last Saturday I did Newcastle Parkrun and my aim was to complete it
without stopping. I now knew this was possible because I'd previously
run this distance with no walking so I knew that the voice in my
had just had to believe it! Rach and I arrived promptly at
8.45am and it was bitter cold! We were talking to Una (from the GNRBTG) whilst
we all tried to stay warm! There was an announcement to say that there was ice
on the route and they were going to have to delay the start time. Some
people chose to go for a freedom run at 9am, but Rach and I (and a number of
others) waited for the official start time, which was 9.30am. I don't think
I've ever been as cold in my life as I was waiting for the Parkrun to start
(except maybe the time I got caught in a blizzard after a night out but that's
a completely different story!).
By the time 9.30am arrived I was painfully cold (I had been jumping/jogging
on the spot but this only helped raise my temperature momentarily). My aim was
to get to the end without walking and then treat myself to a cup of tea! The
first 2.5km were difficult and I was still freezing! There was frost on
the beginning stretch of the town moor but I ran carefully, just focusing on putting
one foot in front of the other. I felt like if I stopped I might never get
started again so I just kept going. My sister, Joanne, text me before I started
and told me to picture her telling me to keep going – this worked in real life
when I did the South Shields parkrun. All the way through the run I kept
hearing Joanne’s voice telling me I could do it and my desire to succeed was
greater than my desire to stop!
 |
| Crossing the start line - thanks to Newcastle Parkrun for the photo |
Towards the end of the 5K, Rach came back to meet me and she provided
encouragement and support to get me across the finish line. I don’t think I have
ever felt so happy and proud of myself as when I crossed the finish line (except
maybe the day I graduated!), knowing that I’d done it without any walking! The
volunteers at the end were all cheering me on and they asked how great it felt
to know I’d done it! I told them it was the first time I’d completed it without
any walking and they all seemed genuinely pleased for me. I achieved a pb with
39.08! Rach was also super proud! We went to the metro centre afterwards for a
hot drink and to get Rach fitted for some trainers at Sweatshop. The man
serving us was really helpful and he too had done the parkrun that morning.
Rach’s trainers are lovely and I bought myself a new jacket and my big sister a
purple t-shirt that says ‘Will Run for Wine’ – I saw it and thought of Joanne
(her favourite colour is purple, it had nothing to do with drinking wine…honest!
;) hehe
 |
| So happy...I DID IT!!! :-) |
I can’t wait to go to South Shields parkrun with Rach tomorrow. I'm running it with Joanne, which will be good, she's the best big sister (and worst!) when we are running together. I’m hoping we can do it without any walking but it
is a more challenging route than Newcastle, so I'm just aiming to get to the end! I’m excited to go for tea (and
cake!) with our friends after the run also.
Who would have thought that not only would I be so excited about running,
but I’d have so much to say just 17 days into the New Year! If you made it this
far thanks for reading! Here’s to a happy and healthy 2014!
