Running for pleasure!

Sunday 15 June 2014 - Well I have been out this morning for a run although I am sorry to say I walked a good part of it and I only did just over 3 miles. Needless to say I found it very hard work however a week ago I managed to run 10k when I took part in the Castle to castle run, Warwick to Kenilworth.

 It was a hot day even though the race started at 9am. It wasn't a long distance (compared to the previous year) so we did not think it would be an issue however we had not anticipated the heat and neither had the organisers who did not provide a water station until we reached the 5k mark. Not only were we all struggling by that point but the area was then a bottle neck as everyone needed water. Hopefully they will act on that for next year. The race itself was relatively uneventful. The route used gets lots of local support which was really nice and local people stand outside their homes with tubs of jelly babies for you which was really nice and desperately needed at the end of the race.

It wasn't a quick time 1.14 but it was nice at the end in that it was very well supported. Kenilworth castle was buzzing with people which was really nice and that was missing last year at St Albans there was no one about rally at the end of the race.

5 of us entered the race and all of us finished. Jake was the quickest (and youngest) he took Tony's place. Then came Joanne and I and not far behind us was Julie and Trudi. We then went back to ours for a bbq which finished the day off nicely.

I sorted out some  rosettes for us to wear saying "Andrew's angles" I thought these would be better than sashes and we all wore MND t shirts.  We only made about £200.00 (which was a little disappointing ) for Motor Neurone Disease but every little helps.

I am not sure what or when  the next race will be we will have to have a think about it but in the mean time I will keep running locally.

Sunday 1 June 2014 - I went for a relatively long run this morning. The longest of this year at about 6.5 miles on the sunniest day of the year. It was really nice but very hard work. I have only being doing short runs since I last posted as it has been quite wet when I wanted to go out running so time has been limited. Anyway next Sunday is the big day when we will be taking part in the castle to castle run. It is the same weekend as our half marathon last year but we are only doing 10k this time. However most of it will be uphill and I don't like hills :(  Have I mentioned that before!!

I will let you know how it goes.....

Saturday 3 May 2014 - What I lovely day to go for a run the weather was lovely and I managed to do the longest run of the year (not the required 10k yet though). It was really nice I ran all the way along the river and then all the way back on the opposite bank.
There wasn't much wild life thought, a few sleeping ducks and a sleeping swan. The water taxi went by and it was full which was nice to see as when it is cold it is empty.
There were a few dog walkers about and on the hole they were really good apart from one dog that was a pain. Small brown terrier which was off the lead. The owner told it to sit but as I ran by it thought it was a good game to jump up at me (it was a good job I was wearing long jogging bottoms). As if that wasn't bad enough when I crossed over the river to come back I met up with him again but he still didn't put the dog on the lead and it did exactly the same thing. Now if I had kicked the dog he would have been really mad but he knew the dog was going to react and not behave the second time a saw him so why didn't he put it on a lead. It is not the dogs fault but the owner and he was rubbish.

I did manage to get out for a run one night in the week, Wednesday actually but only managed a  couple of miles and was absolutely shattered.
We three who are running the 10K castle to castle run, in less than 60 days, all agreed to go for a run Saturday morning as the rest of the week evening running was just not possible. Up I get Saturday morning and one of my fellow runners  is going to the hair dressers and one has a head ache so "billy no mates" goes out for a run on her own. I decided that i have to crack this 2 to 3 mile problem so I went for it and managed 5 miles yippee. I was well pleased with myself. There were a couple of hills but nothing major I wanted to concentrate on distance and not worry about hill work and I managed it.
The first three quarters of the run were relatively uneventful with the usual horses, cows, geese and ducks but just as I was about to head off the canal and make my way back home I came across two fire engines in a field near a canal bridge, it turns out there had been a canal boat fire so that's why there was nothing much moving on the canal. There was no smoke so I guess it was out, I hope everyone was ok.

We have managed to get out for a run; Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Yes I mean WE, myself and one of my 10K buddies have been out for a run each evening only for about one to two miles a night but with some hill work included in that it has been very hard. It is also a lot more difficult to run in the evening after a busy day. Although when we go on the run it will be in the morning it did surprise me as I am so used to running in the morning at the moment. We were very slow this week with our running but are hoping to get quicker for the run otherwise it is going to take us ages and it is only 10k.

Saturday 29th March 2014 - Well what a lovely day and my run should have been really good but it was so hard work. It was nice and warm a bit different to how cold it was Monday morning. There was some activity on the canal this morning which was nice.  I actually over took a canal boat which I always enjoy as I know I am running a bit faster than 4 miles an hour (which is walking space). In my defence I did tackle 3 quite seep hills and although I did not quite manage to run up them all I did not try and avoid them as I usually do.
It is only 70 days until we have our 10k " castle run and I have not seen any activity from other people who are signed up to run with me but we have started to get some sponsorship money in. As usual we are raising money for Motor Neurone Disease in aid of Andrew my brother in law who was diagnosed with the awful disease last year. We have named ourselves Andew's Angels for this run not that it will make us run any better but you can always live in hope!

Monday 24 March 2014 - Well I didn't get out for a run last Wednesday or at the weekend. You wouldn't think that working a couple of days would create so much havoc with my running schedule but I can't seem to get into a routine yet.
I have been out today and run just over 4 miles. It was the quickest run I have done for a while (not that I am ever that quick). It was a nice run not to wet under foot, I went on my usual route but continued along the canal a little further than normal. There was the usual ducks and geese oh and a lone swan today. Horses as normal but the cows have been moved, the sheep were still there. There was a fisherman enjoying the morning sun and a canal boat on the move. I can back home up the hill which I was quiet impressed with as I do normally avoid hills, well going up them anyway I don't mind going down. When will I get out again? Watch this space.....