Newham 10km Run #returntothestadium

This race was going to be a tricky one, when the entries opened up some months ago I of course had no idea that firstly I would be pregnant and secondly that I would have been suffering the most horrendous vomit inducing morning (afternoon, evening and nighttime) sickness!

But as runners we can be a little silly, and I knew this was likely to be the only opportunity I would ever have to run in the Olympic stadium in the footsteps of the greats so I was going to do this event, even if it meant walking the whole way!

The time in the picture was never going to happen but nice as a reminder that I was capable of a sub-50 10km at some point in my running life and I will get back there!

Added bonus of this event was that supporters could also come into the stadium to watch the finish, so I had both my husband and my mum on todays support crew and what a fine job they did. I must have seen them in at least 4 different points in the race before even getting to the final 400m in the stadium running on that famous track.

My pace was pretty good to start with but it was a hot day and getting hotter my the minute. When I was running I was maintaining pace but due to the heat and concern over cooking my growing bump I had several walk breaks and water to make sure I didn't overheat. 

These seemed to get more frequent towards the end of the race but the idea of today was not about time, it was about setting foot on the track and that I did!

I saw a few other PWR tops around the course and towards the finish there was some encouragement shouted at each other as we recognised the tops if not the faces!! (the club has grown so large and with my absence following injury there are a lot of new faces). I finished the race, oddly not with a personal worst and if anything the bump now had a 10km PB!!

A great event, very busy an perhaps 20,000 runners but something that was great to be part of and what a spectacular finishing venue!

PWR Midsummers Run 2015

One of the most anticipated and well attended events on the Petts Wood Runners calendar is the Midsummers Run. This year the organisers outdid themselves!

The groups were put together so that 3 larger teams went out and along the way there were pitstops with challenges to complete and 'trophies' to collect. At the first station was a quiz gave which upon completed the team was given a pineapple to carry round the course.

At stop 2 David and Hels put on their best Sargent Major military voices and put the groups through their paces on a series of press-ups, burpies, planking, jumping jacks and other activities. All the time being shot at with David's super soaker!! 

Next up, into Petts Wood we came across the infamous Cocktail & Dreams bar, amazing effort went into this, my favourite of all the challenge stops. With our very own Tom Cruise and Bryan Brown impersonators hosting this cocktail challenge. We had to guess the ingredients of a cocktail and were rewarded with cocktails of our own!!

The last stop before the finish was a cup cake decorating challenge where we had plain cupcakes and plenty of sprinkles and icing to pretty them up for judging... but mostly for eating!


Post cake decoration we headed to the finish point - with a quick team photo stop - and highlight of the evening, a garden Pimms party at Mike's house where we are all welcomed into the delightful oasis that is Mike's garden where his family rally to serve us cake, Pimms, samosa's as we await the annual prize giving. 

A wonderful evening as ever with lots of laughter, smiles, running and Pimms!

Dartford & White Oak Sprint Triathlon 2015

Something happened after my first triathlon back in April, I wasn't sure if I enjoyed it or not. But after some very hyper encouragement from the ever energetic and slightly manic Emma we decided we would both sign up for our local sprint triathlon with Dartford and White Oak Triathlon Club. As we were super keen we first joined the club to get some help, particularly with our swim training. I had hoped that I might be able to complete the swim section in front crawl rather than my usual metronomic breast stroke. We also pulled in my friends from my first triathlon, Lexi and her husband Chris who had regretted not signing up last time so wanted to get involved. 

As the race was only a few miles from home it wasn't such an early start as usual and we loaded up the bikes and got to the venue where we soon came across Emma and many other lycra clad competitors. It was a beautiful sunny morning, our support crew of my Mum arrived soon after and was our personal cheer squad and photographer appearing at multiple points around the course.

The swim was well organised and I started with a length of front crawl but my nerves got the better of me and I struggled to regulate my breathing so I reverted to breast stroke and completed the 400m in my predicted time. 

Into the transition zone and i stuffed a handle of jelly babies in and hopped on my bike. Only my fourth time riding my new racing bike but I was enjoying how much faster the ride was than my hybrid without any change in effort. I made it up the first hill and to the roundabout where I saw Rob and Sonja who seems to appear at quite a lot of my events in random places, they were there for my London marathon debut when I was struggling, they were in Brussels the same time as me completing the marathon (when I ran the half). There is something reassuring to me now to see the smiley supportive pair that I know the race will go well. 

The cycle was good and was faster than anticipated, about 4 miles in, Emma came speeding past me with words of encouragement, making me smile before she disappeared at an alarming rate into the distance. I reached the transition zone, my legs tired but I saw my mum again as I racked my bike, stuffed in more sweets and headed out for the final section of the event. 

My run was slower than normal and as the day heated up I was starting to feel fatigued. But I pushed through taking water at the stations and being encouraged by supporters on the course. As I exited the park after two laps and headed out to the road I was really tiring and was delighted as before long the leisure centre and finish line was in sight. I crossed the line, tired but satisfied and was reunited with the support crew (Mum) and my friends. After much patting on the back we headed up the road for an Asda breakfast to refuel before heading home for a well deserved bath. 

NOTE: So, although I did not know on the day I was in the early stages on pregnancy so this may account for my struggles on the final leg of the race and slower than normal running times! 

Parkrun Tourism: Tilgate Park

Staying away from home on a Friday night? What's the first thing a parkrunner does when planning their trip? Check out any local Parkrun to their accommodation and then see how they can squeeze it into the weekend!

I have not really considered this when getting ready to stay at my Mum's house until she sent me a message suggesting after staying over on Friday night that we could go to Tilgate Park in Crawley so I could do Parkrun there as it was a really rather lovely park.

She was not wrong, the park was beautiful and a popular Parkrun by the looks of their webpage regularly enticing over 400 runners. 

We arrived and saw the floods of lycra-clad participants heading from the car park towards the start of the course. The numbers swelling as 9 am drew closer. Mum found a good spot by the lake to watch the running and I waited at the start point as we thanked volunteers and celebrated the multiple event awards of 50's and 100's. 

It was a sunny and warm morning - not really done justice by the picture. The first lap of the course was gently undulating around the lake and then headed upwards for a lap of the park with some not so gentle undulations. Passing through wooded areas it was clear to see why this was a popular Parkrun, despite the course being tougher than I am used to it was a far more enticing environment to run in. 

At almost 2 miles into the run we returned to the edge of the lake to run another lap where I saw Mum and gave her a wave as she cheered and took pictures. Onward I went, very hot by now but still keeping pace with the same runners I had fallen into pace with early on during the run. A runner with his dog, let the giddy Spaniel off the lead to jump in the lake to cool down... I think this is possibly the only time I have ever wanted a wet dog to shake the water off himself near me (to cool down) but alas he did not! 

Round the final bend and the very keen marshals were shouting words of encouragement at the runners who were starting their final lap or in the final 200m sprint for the finish. I pushed as hard as I could for the last 100m although to look at the video my mum recorded you may be forgiven for thinking I was having a leisurely jog. I crossed the line in 26:42 which was pretty pleasing - and not too far off last weeks time especially considering the hilly course.

Tilgate Parkrun, I hope to be back in the future! A lovely park and very friendly marshals.

ORR Anti-Heros: The Man with No Name

A potted history of the Heroes Run (High Elms Run On Sunday) can be found here. This in turn led to the Anti-Heros Run, also taking place in High Elms but at 8am and takes the form of a trail run of around 6 miles.  A Hero or Anti-hero is selected by the weeks run leader and this week leader had selected Clint Eastwood’s character, The Man with No Name.

I decided to tag along as this week’s route was being led by Jerry and although an Orpington Road Runners established event I find them to be very welcoming and like-minded trail runners. I was collected from home by Jerry after a somewhat disappointing 5 hours sleep following a late night but I wanted to get out and run the trails and this seemed a great way to do it. We shared a Satsuma on route to the run, I forget all the reasons but oranges are a good pre workout source of energy so it only follows that so are satsuma’s!

Arriving at the designated car park meeting point another 4 runners pulled up shortly after us ready for the run. After some introductions we headed out onto the trails and past High Elms Golf Club before getting into territory unknown to me. Although the pace was fairly easy and should have been comfortable this was possibly the first hilly run I had completed in quite some time and it was taking its toll on me as I remained at the back of the back for most of the run.

It was a lovely sunny day, running along the trails and chatting with some new faces sharing our enjoyment of moving away from  road running and getting into the countryside. We passed several batches of youths – whom we presumed to be taking part in Duke Of Edinburgh training (or similar). Each group with matching ran covers on their back packs which were equal if not larger than the youths themselves. They politely waited, with bemused faces, as we trundled past wishing them well.

Crossing a field we entered a woodland which stopped us in our tracks, it was a magical bluebell carpeted wooded wonderland. So delighted we all cheered and whooped, congratulated Jerry on his excellent route choice and took some pictures of this magnificent sight. This is the reason we run in the woods, these sights can just not be found running the roads.

We continued on, all very jovial indeed and soon came across a Aberdeen Angus happily stood by the fence next to the path we were running. Jerry patted him on the head and kept going as I held back and took a picture of him, whether he knew or not he was soon to gain blog fame I’m not sure as his floppy red fringe covered his gentle eyes.

Continuing on, Jerry thought he may have taken a wrong turn but this didn’t matter at all, we carried on happily chatting and our next wildlife stop took us past an animal sanctuary with fields full of donkeys, Shetland ponies and turkeys. We passed the sign towards Downe House (home of Charles Darwin) and the group halted as I faffed around taking more photos and catching my breath!

We were now on the homeward stretch, a very lovely run with a very nice group of runners. As we closed in on our final destination we saw the 9am Heroes run group coming towards up where we exchanged plenty of hellos’ and a few high fives.  

I certainly think I will be back on an Anti-Heroes run.

I, I will be king (of the trails)

And you, you will be queen (of running)

Though no-one will run away

We can be Heroes, just for one day