Last weekend I had the run from hell. Cold and windy weather coupled with horrible mud was bad enough, but having to find an alternative route when nearly home which added another 5K or so to our run was a challenge. And of course by then it started to hammer down with rain. I don't think I was fully warm again until Tuesday!!
What a contrast to this weekend, glorious blue skies, not a cloud in site. OK, so it was not a heat wave but with the sun and only a light breeze it was fantastic.
I had arranged for a run with my neighbours on Sunday on a route that they do quite often. They are fair weather runners and although they will brave the cold, any sign of the wet stuff and they stay indoors.
When I run on my own, or with our running group, we generally keep to a constant pace throughout the run. My neighbours mix it up a bit and do a slow run, then a short flat out sprint, then back to a jog again. They have set points that each sprint starts and ends. I found the slow running bit more difficult to start with than the sprints, but now I am finding it a bit easier. I did try this technique on my own once or twice but it didn't seem as much fun, probably because we have a good chat on the slow bits.
They told me they finally have their gym finished and asked if I would come and see it after the run. I was jealous when I saw it in its original state so was keen to see what it was like now.
Their gym is in a room under their patio which is believed to have been a bomb/fallout shelter built in the late 40's/early 50's. The end wall had been knocked down which opened up onto the lower part of their garden. from the décor, that was probably done in the 70's. They had been in the house several months before they had even found it due to the garden being so over grown.
They had bought a load of old equipment from a gym for next to nothing as, although working, had failed safety checks due to broken covers etc. They were told that it was uneconomical to repair and that some of the parts needed were no longer available. They had first though that as it is only them using it, it didn't matter about the covers. When one of their brothers heard about it, he took up the challenge to fully repair and refurbish it all.
After our run, I have to go past their house to get home so it was a good opportunity to take a look so I was invited me in.
They have done quite a bit of work on their garden and it looks much neater than before. After going down the steps to the lower part of their garden I could then see they have replaced the old windows and doors with two sets of bi-folding doors so in the summer they can open it up completely. Inside it looks really professional with a rubber matted floor, mirrors along the back wall and what looks like brand new equipment. Her brother has done an amazing job on it.
They said that the weight machines they had bough in the bundle were a bit specialised and once refurbished and repaired, they sold for more than they paid for all of the equipment plus the parts needed for the repairs. How jammy was that?
I said that having the treadmill here must be fantastic as they can do a run even in really bad weather. They then admitted, yes it is a great idea, but whenever it has been raining, they haven't been that inclined to even brave the short walk down the garden to get to it.
What a waste!! I did make them feel a bit ashamed 
, and did get an invite to use it whenever I want which is nice.
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
