Blackpool Illuminations Run

[Outofpuff]

Lovely night for my first ever organised run - the Blackpool Illuminations 5 and 10K. I wanted to see what it was like running with other people - 1300 of us took part. I ran the 5K in 33 mins which is the same time as when I run on my own. I had a few hairy moments where there could have been a pile-up but we all managed to survive unscathed. My next run is a 10K in October. I’ll post a pic of my medal in a mo. I have to keep reminding myself I couldn’t run for more than a minute 4 months ago!

[Eiralas]

Lovely photo! Glad you enjoyed the run, and escaped a pile-up 🙂 Hope the 10K in October goes just as well!

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to Eiralas]

Ta! None of my family where able to come with me so I was a bit of a Billy no mates! I’m gonna make sure I’ve got race support for my next one!

[Eiralas in reply to Outofpuff]

Aw... Sorry to hear that 🙁 Hope you can persuade the race support along to the next! All your VRBs will be supporting you too!

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to Eiralas]

🙌😀

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

Nice photo, thanks for posting your result for the 5k,I wish you all the best for the 10k in October ⛹️‍♀️

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

👍😀

[ancientrunner Graduate10]

Well done - no stopping you now.

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to ancientrunner]

🤞!

[Equi-geek Graduate10]

Great photo and very decent time too - all looking positive for October 💪

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

Well done in the 8km. I’m doing the 10k plan and I’m up to 8 this coming week. Starting to run out of routes that don’t involve running up and down the same stretch of coastal path or around dull housing estates with nothing to look at other than people’s cars. How are you finding the added distance?

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Outofpuff]

Thanks for noticing my increased distance today 🤗 I found today’s run lots, lots better than the 7km last week - which was all downhill to start and then all uphill. I did feel the extra 1km today, but made it to 5km at my normal Park Run pace. I decided to let my legs do what they felt - rather than hold back too much- and my hamstrings and calf muscles were a lot happier.

I think I’ll try experimenting with route changes on the shorter runs, but the first time I go for a longer distance I’ll stick with what is familiar. I’ll happily drive somewhere for a change of scene. But part of the mental game for me today was being able to think ‘ah well, I’m not feeling any worse than after the first lap of parkrun (and I’m now at the 5k mark, rather than 2.5k) and I know I can do the rest of this loop when I feel like this, so no worries for another 3k...’ I think if I was in a new place I wouldn’t have that experience to fall back on. 😁

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to Equi-geek]

You’re doing brilliantly. As Dory says , ‘just keep going, just keep going...’

[Outofpuff Graduate10]

You’re doing brilliantly. As Dory says , ‘just keep going, just keep going...’

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

If you enjoyed running with others outofpuff have you done a Parkrun event? It’s my favourite run of the week.

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

My kids are aged 2 and 4. The nearest park run to me is a 35 minute drive away. I work. I’m thinking I might be able to do my first parkrun in about 20 years. Could someone introduce a parkrun that starts about 11am please? And has a crèche. Maybe a masseur? Coffee at about 2km?

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Outofpuff]

That would be great outofpuff - I’ll put forward that suggestion. 😂. Sorry, I may have asked that question before and forgot. Hopefully it will be less than 20 years before you can introduce the kids to a new Saturday activity. 👫🏃‍♀️

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Thanks Dexy. My daughter would be horrified by the thought of a 5K Run but my son is like a wind up toy - if you pick him up his legs keep going - put him down and he’s off at 💯 mph.

[Equi-geek Graduate10 in reply to Outofpuff]

I have seen people run with pushchairs at Park Run 😉 but totally understand the logistics are tricky ☹️

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Outofpuff]

Make the dad mind them. Time out man.

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to Tasha99]

My partner and co-parent is massively supportive but there’s only so many times I can ask her to once again put the kids to bed as I’m off out on another run! Heading off at 8am on a Saturday morning might result in me returning to find the locks changed...though thinking about it...

[Tasha99 Graduate10 in reply to Outofpuff]

He he he I’m the same with asking my mum all the time 😬

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10]

Very well done, both for the run and joining an event 👏👎🏅

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

Thanks. Felt like my first day at school - where do you stand, where do you line up, where in the line should I line up, how soon before the run should I have a wee, will I trip over, hold other people back - and why do all the others seem to know one another?

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10 in reply to Outofpuff]

But you did it!! All that stuff is a part of what puts me off organised events 👍🤣

[Outofpuff Graduate10 in reply to GoGo_JoJo]

The medal was calling to me....never got one so I thought in my late 40’s it was about time I started a collection...and I thought my four year old daughter would like it. “That’s nice Mummy,” she said, handing it back to me. “Can I watch CBeebies?”

[GoGo_JoJo Graduate10 in reply to Outofpuff]

That's kids for you! 🤣🤣🙄