I did it! My first proper run of the year. My first proper run of Janathon and Jantastic. I was rather nervous beforehand, I don’t DNF easily especially over 5k, and I’d had a dilema the day before. Do I go and try a mile so I know if I can run Milton Keynes parkrun or do I save my legs for the parkrun? In the end I decided that I wouldn’t run yesterday in case it meant I couldn’t parkrun today.
The running wasn’t bad. I was managing to keep up with my godson although I did have to give myself a talking to a couple of times and tell myself to slow down, especially in that first kilometre. I could feel my calf aching on even the slightest of inclines, so when I got to the zig-zags (there’s a hill on the Milton Keynes course that is so steep you run up it in zig-zags) I decided to walk. I walked twice more on the gentle inclines around Willen Lake.
It was difficult running so slowly, at the 4km marker I looked at my Garmin, which read 26:22, and I thought to myself, ‘I’m normally finished by now.’ Still I enjoyed. I ran along singing to myself and dancing, well I say dancing, have you ever tried dancing whilst running? This was more like hand-jiving. I got a bit of a strange look from Gareth, our parkrun Event Director, who was running back along the course on a warm down after his brand shiny new PB, I assume this was to do with the fact I running and dancing my way round parkrun and not for some other reason. If anyone else behind me was giving me strange looks, I didn’t notice, and quite frankly I didn’t care. It was fun.
I finally gave myself permission to stretch my legs out for the last 300 metres and I picked up my speed,* not a sprint but just enough so I felt like I was stretching my legs out. I leaped across the line to thunderous applause and cheers from my daughters, with 32:18 on my Garmin (32:16 official time). And although the calf is a bit achy now it’s been a good day.
Some other stuff
Although I haven’t done my#plankaday for today yet, I did do one yesterday just before going to bed.
Well done to M, my 8 year old godson, who finished his second parkrun well inside 30 minutes!
Gareth is also a personal trainer, as well as Milton Keynes parkrun event director, and he’s started a blog about his marathon training. If you’re looking for hints and tips to help your marathon training then have a read of Gareth’s blog.
Also a big hello is April Cochrane of Faster Mummy Faster who was the timer at Milton Keynes parkrun today. Hello April!
And finally…
Here’s my contribution to the Janathon Jokeathon:
The Romans conquered Africa, they conquered Europe, they conquered Britain, then they stopped.
They ran out of conkers!
And I thank you. I’m here all week.
* The Garmin training centre showed I ran that last 300 metres at 7:30 minute mile pace.
Thanks very much
Sounds like you had a lovely parkrun today. Sorry I probably missed you through trying to concentrate! I missed my mum come across the line too! Lol xxxx
cant wait until I can run outside again, I want to do a parkrun you made it sound really good fun. well done