New Years Day Double and 2020 Running Goals

[JaoJao]

Hey everyone,

I took part in the New Years Day double event. Black Park at 09:00am and then Upton Court at 10:30am. It turned out to be a fantastic New Years morning, bring on 2020. I noticed many of you also got out for a New Years Day run, whether it was Parkrun, a Parkrun double or a solo run... good on you and let’s start as we mean to go on.

I’ve set a running target of 366 miles for this year (a mile a day and it’s a leap year remember!) as well as collecting more parkrun badges (running-challenges) and entering a handful of races. Oh, and an earnest commitment to Strength & Flex too!

I wish you the best on your run journey and look forward to supporting you with your goals and continuing to share and care x

If you’re interested to read, here is a link to my run report for yesterday’s double.

parkrun.org.uk/uptoncourt/n...

[skysue16 Graduate10]

Great double, fantastic! Love the photo 😊 Great goal of 366miles, what’s that in km?! S&F is always my struggle 😬 All the best for 2020.

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

Hi Skysue, 366 miles is 589 km. I have been kicking myself the last 6 months for not getting time to focus on S&F but that’s my top priority this year. On the S&F forum many are following a 30 day yoga challenge and I enjoyed the first session today, it’s all on YouTube.

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

Oh, I signed up for the yoga challenge but being completely new to yoga I found the first session very difficult. I needed to lie down for a sleep afterwards 😂. I am thinking of using one of ‘beginners’ videos instead.

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

Yes even I found it tough and i've been doing yoga for years, I couldn't hold the downward dog post for long or the planks. I'm doing day 2 in a little while and will just go as far as my body wants to and won't push too hard, i think the key is to be gentle with yourself. Yesterday's session was 40 minutes, todays session is shorter thankfully.

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

I've just done Day 2. It's still challenging, but I never got on well with downward dog and planks, thankfully these are short sessions. I love the cat pose, the child's pose and my body just said "thank you for that"

[skysue16 Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

Well, I just gave Day 2 a go but I reckon it is too advanced for me. It was relaxing and I definitely need to do more stretching so will find one of her beginners videos to try. Best of luck with it 😊🧘‍♀️

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to skysue16]

No problem. On her website I notice she has done many series and some are even shorter sessions, enjoy exploring and please do share your experience x

[linda9389 Graduate10]

I will have to try this one year ... You've made an amazing start to the year and I don't doubt for one minute that you'll achieve your goals. Have fun!

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to linda9389]

Thank you so much Linda. I’d happily do the New Years Day double again next year, it was really fun and a great experience for a NYD. I might even do a Christmas Day one too... stick with me and let me be your parkrun challenge mentor ❤️

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Fantastic...I saw a registration plate yesterday and the last 3 letters were JAO and I thought of you. You have come so far this last year and your goals are definitely achievable...I’m looking forward to reading all about them all...happy new running year to you

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Mummycav]

Ahhh that’s lovely you thought of me from the number plate, JAO is my unique ID on the HU forums, it’s grown on me.

All the best for your red January challenge, you’ll be clocking up so much mileage at the start of the year, making a flying start! I hope to build up the mileage in January too, that way if Feb and March get extremely cold there is some tolerance to relax and do shorter runs! Keep us posted x

[damienair Administrator]

Well done on your double. I did my first one yesterday too. What an experience. Best wishes for your goals in 2020.

Damien

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Well done Damien x

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Well done to you too. It was awesome wasn’t it, I’m definitely up for it again next year. All the best for 2020, look forward to your updates Damienair🙂

[damienair Administrator in reply to JaoJao]

I did an inaugural parkrun this morning. Collected a C for alphabet challenge, finished in 27:16 giving me a 16 for parkrun bingo and spent the morning with 6 of my parkrun friends plus met a few more. Breakfast and great company. Overall I would say it was a success.😀

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to damienair]

Those running challenges are so so motivating, I’m doing them too.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Great effort with that double. 366 miles sounds fun, I foolishly opted to do the Proclaimers by running a virtual NC500 the route round the north coast of Scotland, I'm doing an actual 10k of it at the Cape Wrath challenge week. Yikes, and I've done 2.7miles but now I'm visiting family and going skiing so will have a heap of running to do at the end of the month. Happy running

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Hey Granny, it’s great to have goals at the start of the year and both yours sound cool, all the best with that. Sometimes other plans will get in the way, but what I found last year was when I was away on holidays I was dying to get back into my running shoes and go for a run so hopefully you will still be on track x

Enjoy the journey, it’s all part of the fun 🙂

[Coddfish Graduate10]

Great report thanks and well done on the double. I was particularly interested because Black Park is on my to-do tourist list this year, targeted for 29th Feb when I have to be in west London later in the day. Based on the description, I presume the photo is Upton?

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Coddfish]

Yes the picture is of Upton Court. I did a run report for Black Park on 2nd Nov so you can have a read of that if you like, it’s in one of my previous posts. You will enjoy Black Park they have some 500-600 runners every week. Or... you could come to Upton Court to get your letter “U”, there aren’t many Us to choose from so we attract loads of visitors. It has on average 180 runners and use of a rugby club for facilities and post parkrun hot drinks, sometimes cake. I usually do the first timers briefing at Upton Court so let me know if you ever come there 🙂

[Coddfish Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

Thanks, I have just read your 2nd Nov report on the Black Park parkrun site, and now remember reading it on here when you first posted it. It was the day I ran Futakotamagawa in Japan, meaning I was one of the lucky rugby fans who didn’t have to miss a parkrun to see the rugby, or vice versa. (Pity about the rugby result, but it was worth being there).

I like to visit new parkruns when travelling (37 locations so far). I choose them for a combination of proximity to where I am going, nature of course, and ability to get a shower afterwards, rather than a new alphabet letter. I like the sound of the Black Park course, whereas I am not a big fan of playing field courses, particularly at this time of year. It also looks close to Nuffield Stoke Poges, where my Nuffield membership should allow me in for a stretch / foam roller / swim / shower afterwards. I may do Upton Court later in the year when it’s dry.

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Coddfish]

No problem Coddfish I’m pleased you will use some of my resource material to make an informed decision. I use the Stoke Poges Nuffield Health from time to time and they have great facilities, a pool, steam, sauna, jacuzzi and decent showers! All the best for your trip and maybe catch you some time again 🙂

[Deals1 Graduate10]

well done! great start to the year!!

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Deals1]

Thank you and best wishes on your goals and running journey too x

[Debston Graduate10]

Well done, JaoJao, flying start to 2020!

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Debston]

And you Debston, cheers to another year of running madness 🙃

[Kevtrev Graduate10]

I’m loving your post JaoJao and doing the double good on you I bet you was tried but felt great. And I loved the park run write up 😉

I only did the one as I was setting up but after the run most of us volunteers went to Costa for a coffee I have to have decaf these days as normal coffee sets my heart palpitations off. XX

[JaoJao Graduate10 in reply to Kevtrev]

Thank you Kev, do you know i was bursting with energy at both parkruns and my times were remarkably the same! It gave me a massive boost. Happy New Year buddy and stay away from the caffeine!

[Kevtrev Graduate10 in reply to JaoJao]

That’s fantastic JaoJao that’s 10K in one day I’m glad you enjoyed it Happy new year to you to JaoJao yes I will stay away from it 😉XX

[JaoJao Graduate10]

Quick update - my commitment to Strength and Flex is going very well. I joined the Strength and Flex forum and from there I jumped on the 30 day Yoga with Adriene plan which some people are doing! It’s highly addictive! So if anyone who is post c25k, on the juju plan and in need to working on their strength, come on over to that forum and join in! Best thing I did to help myself run stronger 🙂🙂🙂