When I last posted about my 'get the Strava 10k badge each month' challenge, I'd just failed at September because my race was too short and then I was too lazy to do another long run. Happy to report that I'm back on track now!
October's 10k was another local race - but this time with a UKA verified course and entirely closed roads.
Well, mostly closed roads. Some sections were definitely closed off, some were possibly only closed in the direction of running, and other times there were just cars everywhere. Maybe they were just being twats ignoring the signs, I... continue reading »
My 2019 goal of "get the Strava 10k badge each month" hit a bit of a stumbling block in June when half way through being one of Those People who run to parkrun, run parkrun, then run home (total of 12km) I fell and sprained my left ankle. And then stupidly thought I could 'walk it off' and kept going - managing a 31min parkrun, oops. It didn't hurt that much until I took my shoe off - and then I couldn't walk for a couple of days.
So that ruled July out. I probably could have managed August but instead... continue reading »
I ran this race last year, when it was called the Skechers trail run. New sponsor this year, so new name - Salming trail run. The course had changed slightly, bringing it to 10.5k (with 2 and 4 lap options added if you wanted to run a half/full marathon). There was also a 5k option, and before the main race started, a 1km kids route.
The weather was warm and dry and sunny! Last year I ran the (downhill) first 3km a bit too quickly, and this year I intentionally did the same as I knew the hill in the second... continue reading »
It's April, which means the clocks have gone forwards, my skiing kit has been packed away until next winter (boo), and I can slowly drag myself out of semi-hibernation.
This year I've set myself the challenge of getting the Strava 10k run badge each month. So far so good - four down, eight to go! April's was also my first race of the year - the Kymin Dash.
Having grown up in Monmouth, I know the Kymin pretty well. We used to walk up it quite often with Scouts, including in the dark, and I still look out for the white tower... continue reading »
I took this photo a couple of weeks ago before heading out for a run, to show how my funky new running leggings clash with my shoes. And our newly block paved driveway.
That was the last time I ran. I had to cut my run short and limp home because the gentle ache in my left shin that I'd been ignoring for a few weeks suddenly got a lot worse and turned into a stabby pain. Roughly where that badly doodled black X is. Ouch.
Dr Google convinced me it was either a shin splint or a stress fracture, and it... continue reading »
Or, for a possibly more official name, "Skechers Performance 10k Trail Run". Who knows.
I'm sure I've mentioned many times before how much I love the Forest of Dean. This run was on fireroads and decent forest paths, and on a warm sunny day that meant no mud on my shoes. Lovely. There were around 200 runners (plus others doing 5k/1k), and a choice of medal colours. I went for the one that didn't involve any pink...
Starting at the Speech House field, the route headed to Mallard's Pike. Downhill! I also started off too fast (not a surprise).
As previously mentioned, I've got a 10k coming up. The majority of my "training" runs have been on flat pavement, so last weekend I decided I should probably at least pretend to acclimatise a bit.
I decided to pop over to the Forest of Dean and run the Sculpture Trail. I could have made a route out of any amount of fire roads, but chose this route because it's signposted, I know it well, and it has two newish artworks I hadn't seen yet (which I could use as a convenient excuse to stop and get my breath back!)
Last year I ran the inaugural Great Highnam Court 10k, and last Saturday I went back for the second.
I've love to say my time improved, but it actually turned out to be a minute and a bit slower. However, I'm much happier with how the actual running went - last year I remember needing several walk breaks towards the end, but this year barely any walking was required.
Apart from the first few hundred metres, that is. 148 runners starting off and almost immediately reaching a narrow bit of footpath was only ever going to turn into a bottleneck! I'm blaming... continue reading »
Saturday was the very first Gloucester North parkrun. This is very definitely now my local, as it's within walking distance.
There are quite a few nearby parkruns now, which is quite exciting. I've done Cheltenham (including the inaugural one) and the Forest of Dean, but not Newent, Kingsway or Tewkesbury. That may or may not change at some point, but it's certainly nice to have a choice!
Glos North is held at Plock Court, which is a big boring flat field - no prizes for scenery here. It's also been known to turn into a large lake, but that's another matter... One of... continue reading »
On Saturday I took part in the inaugural Great Highnam Court Run - my first proper 10k!
When I signed up back in June, I questioned how I'd ever be able to run that far. Or why I'd entered a race at all when I hadn't even been parkrunning regularly. Main reasons were:
it's local - somewhere I've driven past daily for many years
it wasn't too expensive, and all finishers got a medal
the venue isn't usually open to the public
it'd give me a target to work towards
Also, a little bit of peer pressure. When I told friends I was considering it, Jem... continue reading »
It seems to be some sort of unwritten rule that meetups with Rachael involve running of some sort. For her birthday, we went to Snowdonia.
I had to stop on my drive up to take some photos because the sunset/view was absolutely stunning:
Anyway, to the bemusement of everyone else I managed to get all the way to Llanberis without the aid of satnav or google maps. I still maintain that it's not that difficult, but then again I've been to Llangollen/Bala kayaking so many times and once you get past that point there are only so many main roads and big... continue reading »
I'm still not entirely sure how it happened, but in January I found myself agreeing to do the Forest Warrior - a 10k mud/obstacle race - as part of a team at work.
2.5 months of denial and half arsed "training" later six of us dragged ourselves through a lot of mud, climbed over walls, scrambled in and out of ditches, carried tyres up and down hills, crawled and swam through various depths of water, and ran/jogged/walked the bits in between. Oh, and got shot at with paintballs (but none of us were hit, hurrah)
More specifically, the very first Cheltenham Parkrun - a proper timed 5k event, running laps of the lake in Pittville Park. Along with 233 other people, wow.
I have done one parkrun before - the Forest of Dean one, back in 2010. But I struggle to find the enthusiasm to drive 20 miles early on a Saturday just to go and hurt my body by trying to run. It's a very low priority behind kayaking and lie ins!
But Cheltenham is much closer, and after persuasion from a couple of mates I couldn't come... continue reading »
