I felt really down over the weekend and hadn’t run since last Tuesday, but had entered the Watermead Challenge near Leicester with my friends so pulled myself together and went. It was a 7pm start which was different and at 4.00pm I got a text saying “You’d better pack a waterproof” 💦💦 Anyway, it had stopped raining by 6.00, so was dry, overcast and 16c. Pretty good running weather! This was supposed to be the first post Freedom Day race but hey ho! Hand sanitizer everywhere, socially distanced queuing for the loo, face coverings in the registration area, no spectators, but, apart from that it felt like a normal race 😃😃 There was a real buzz, possibly because for many of the club runners it was their first outing. The route is 5 miles twice round the lakes at Watermead Country Park(yes I was lapped 😂) with a 3 mile option. It was very flat, tarmac paths, car free. Chip finish time 51.17 and another medal to add to the collection. (The image is of the King Lear statue on one of the lakes - not a clue why they have a statue of King Lear 🤷♀️). The rain started again about 200m from the end so I did a sprint finish 🏃♀️ Quick change and off to the pub for a chicken Caesar salad and Coke Zero (driving!).
If anybody is in the Leicester area, they are planning to start a parkrun in September. Plenty of parking and a lovely venue.
I feel much better now 😁
Written by
Sandie1961
Graduate10
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Fantastic! Sounds a very interesting course, loving the word FLAT and intrigued by King Lear! Apparently it is not a Shakespeare reference but to the British King Leir who Leicestershire was named after.
Interesting! On Google maps it’s definitely King Lear’s Lake. Just looked it up and it says that the statues show the final scene from Shakespeare’s play although it was named after an 8th century king who is buried nearby.
It sounds like you really enjoyed that event and it has helped your weekend mood. I’m glad you feel safe enough to join in , we are currently the covid capital of Europe 🤨 so a lot of people avoiding and just in case testing going on. Happy running 🤗
I know it isn’t foolproof, but I had my 2nd jab over a month ago, we were outside and there were strict instructions not to go if anybody had any symptoms of anything. I have faith in my fellow runners not to do anything silly!
You look pretty serious in that photograph Sandie!! Maybe just concentrating. About to set off for post hols jog; Over 8 hours on trains not good for the muscles. We need our fix!
I was talking to the guy in the running shop yesterday and mentioned that I thought that road running might have cured the calf issue. He said that he always goes to road running before trails after a calf problem. The absence of sliding about on wet or crumbly surfaces makes a big difference. Another lesson learned. 9 or10k next 🤞
Interesting! Probably obvious if you think about it. Mr S had his physio appointment yesterday. Not much can be done as cartilage, but advised to stick to smooth surfaces and avoid hills if possible to give time for recovery. Similar thing I guess
Well done Sandie1961 …it’s so hard sometimes trying to get motivated, I find though, that when I don’t always want to go and I’m feeling a bit down running is my saviour…it hits just the right spot…maybe at not at the time, not even during the run but afterwards I feel so much stronger & so much better, my mood lifts and I have an enormous sense of satisfaction, more than I do after a run I’m looking forward to because I absolutely have to make myself go…and those are the hardest runs…it’s good to see you out and about, I’m sure you feel better for going, how can you not? xx 💪🏻🏃🏼♀️
It’s not like me to miss (not) parkrun, but I did on Saturday - absolutely no motivation, even though it would have been my 55th. This was different, though, friends expecting me, somewhere new and bling 🏅 How could I not? And it has lifted my mood massively
There were loads of marshalls because it wasn’t just circular, but a bit cross crossy and they were very encouraging, plus I had the early finishers to cheer me on, especially at the finish. 600 runners in total, so not quite like having spectators but for a small run it was fine
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Success with first 10k race 😀
First 10K race done! 
New 5k PB (and race bling!!!)
Wilmslow Summer 10k race
First race and first medal!