Hello! Quite an exciting week this week, lots of different things happened and ending with the first properly longer run (for me anyway). And it's my second runniversary approximately today - I'd nearly forgotten about that!!!
The week started off with the group run challenge at work, which added an extra run to my plan. Not the best idea but I wanted to see how I compared with the super-fit people at the university and have a bit of fun as it only lasted a couple of weeks. And today it ended with my longest planned run so far and confirmation of getting a place in the Two Castles run again in mid-June. Katnap also has a place and Windoze will be joining us too (hopefully we'll see each other this year!). I've also been contemplating another HM in September as I know I'm really going to miss this training when it's all over.
My sponsorship is going well, I've reached 50% of target! This has been boosted by selling biscuits at work from a tin of M&S luxury chocolate biscuits my brother gave me 😊 Cake sale next!! My workmates will be waddling soon!
Run 1: An impromptu run at work for the challenge, to get the extra 10 points for my team. I got a huuuuuggge compliment from the Sports Club bloke who ran with us. He said 'You've been running a long time haven't you', I said 'No, about 18 months properly really'. 'Oh' he said 'It's just you have really good cadence, like someone who's been running a long time.' That made my day 😁 We had a good natter and he gave me some tips for the HM itself, particularly about planning the pace along the way (slow first 10k, see how you feel, if you feel good, speed up a little and do that at different intervals). The run was over in no time and we did just over 4km in 25 minutes.
Run 1a: 20 minuter with eldest kitten. This was a very creaky run once again but I'm very glad I can get him out as he really doesn't want to go. I didn't want to either as I'd already run 4km, so another couple of k added to the day.
Run 2: 8km run. Added some fartleks to the run this time, as I've been promising. Not much different to last week really, but without being mowed down by herds of athletic club members on a hill!
Run 3: Parkrun was cancelled 🤦♀️😢 as the Avon burst it's banks again. So as I was already in my kit (I heard just as I was about to leave the house to do pre-setup) I went for a gentle 5km run anyway.
Run 4: Today, I went out with Katnap and we did 8 miles. We actually did more than 8 miles as I didn't turn my watch on properly but it wasn't a huge amount over. I got an extra 5 bonus points for my work run challenge if I proved I did exercise with someone not on the challenge, so we took a selfie halfway and posted it. Towards the end we shared the Kendal Mint Cake gel and we both came to the conclusion it's way too sweet for a HM run and the mint will make it difficult to drink water. So back to the SiS for the longer runs methinks. He did introduce me to his SiS banana flavoured recovery drink - this is truly a wonderful thing! It is really yummy and really does seem to work! I will definitely be having more of that 😋
Meanwhile...the parkrun newsletter turns up with a section on the London Vitality 10k. There are 2000 parkrun places going at a good price. Do you want to go Katnap? Yes? Fab! We are now joining Sandie1961 , Dexy5 , UpTheStanley , cheekychipmunks and daughter and Beachcomber66 for a wonderful meet-up in May! Anyone else doing it?
It may have been a miserable, wet winter but this spring/summer will be ace!!!
Have a fab week everyone, and happy running! xxx
