Category Archives: GEAR 10k

It’s been a while

It’s been a while since I last posted here, 4 months in fact which is far too long.

I have had lots to say but with things going on with my white blood cells, a sore shoulder and back mixed together with menopausal stuff well truthfully I often didn’t want to talk to anyone let alone write my blog

Things are looking up now, my white blood cells are behaving, my shoulder and back improving by the week and the hot flushes that I thought might kill me, seem to be under control with a magic pill from the Doctor!

During all this time I have done some wonderful things with Geoff and my friends ……

I managed to Run the Cambridge half with hardly any training and was very happy with my time

After the long cold winter months I finally got out to do my first Audax of the year with Geoff, it was, in fact, my longest ride to date 142 miles, a permanent route called the Pork Pie and very hilly might I add.

This year we did the Daffodil Dawdle as a run/walk which was amazing we covered the 18 miles in 6 hours about 2 hours quicker than when we just walk

Then I had an awesome week in Mallorca with Geoff and friends from SWNC, I had been worried I would not be able to do the planned rides which included Pug Major, due to my back, but with a few painkillers I achieved all I set out to do

Straight back from Mallorca to run the GEAR 10k an amazing event with all the ladybirds and my Norwich running friends, I was a little slower due to my back but I did it.

Then to celebrate Linda’s birthday we had Chase the Train 10km my back was quite sore for this and if I am honest I hated the first 3/4 miles on a narrow single track but when we switched over to the opposite side of the track the path widened and I enjoyed the final 5 miles but what really made this run special was the ride back to Aylsham on the tiny steam train

Another 200 km Audax enjoyed with Geoff from Long Melford, I really enjoy these longer rides.

And then just for fun, I met up with my lovely Norwich running friends at Debden winery for the wine run, 6 wine tasting stops around a 10 km mainly off road run. I would estimate we drank 30 shots of wine, after crossing the finish line you received a huge glass of wine with your medal, we then enjoyed a really fun happy afternoon with a BBQ and yes you guessed wine !!

I am still having problems with my back when I run but it is much improved, I can only hope it keeps improving so I can start training for Wissey half soon as I miss my running so much …….

A busy few months

While Geoff has been away touring around South Korea and Japan, I have been filling my time doing the things I love….. running, biking and walking.

First It was the LDWA Daffodil Dawdle, Gina and I have walked the Daffodil Dawdle before from Kirtling, in unforgettable conditions which included a lot of Mud, Rain and Snow, last year we gave it a miss opting to do the Flowers of Suffolk later in the year instead where Jo and Jayne joined us too. We enjoyed that walk so much that we decided to risk the Daffodil Dawdle again.This year it was from Stradbroke and luckily we were blessed with a lovely sunny day and a beautiful route. Many people run or run/walk these events and we were inspired by these people and have decided that a challenge for next year will be to run/walk the 18 miles

Easter and a 4-day break for me, I usually hate Bank Holidays when Geoff is away but thanks to Parkrun and SWNC I had a fab Easter break, filled with running biking and fun.

My Next adventure was a 200km Audax, something I have wanted to do for a while, so when the opportunity came up to join a couple of friends I jumped at the chance. It was an awesome day, starting from Seething, riding on lovely country lanes and roads, the route took us out to the Maglia Rosso cafe near Bury St Edmunds then we headed to the coast via Framingham, Saxmundham and Southwold before returning back to Seething. The miles just seemed to fly by and I returned home eager to book another 200km Audax with Geoff.

Amazingly my next big event was running Parkrun number 100, not such a big achievement when many have run 200 but for me it was huge as I was the person that was never going to do Parkrun, why would I want to set my alarm clock on a Saturday I told everyone but it took just one Parkrun and I was hooked, now I cannot imagine a weekend without a Parkrun

 

Then to top it all off there was the 10k GEAR run, I have done this run many times but had to miss it last year due to injury, so it was nice to be back running a home event with many lovely friends and Ladybirds. This year it was being run by the Asda foundation and as a runner, I can say it was very well organised with a great medal, T-shirt and goodie bag. There was also the most amazing amount of support around the route, which provided a magic atmosphere.Due to not running for 10 days and doing 250 plus miles on my bike I didn’t expect to run a good time, but my legs had other ideas, a great time of 56.53 missing out on a P/B by 10 seconds !! After the run we all went to the pub, enjoying food, drink and of course lots of chatting and it really did feel like I just about knew everyone.

Now Geoff is home for the summer and I have lots of exciting things planned for him !!!!!!

GEAR 10k

IMG_8341I love bank holidays especially now I fill them with fun events with friends.This May day weekend was no exception.

My friend Gina came over to stay for a few days and the fun started with the GEAR 10k 

This year was the 10th Anniversary and the 4th year I would be running it, along with many other Lynnsport Ladybirds and Ryston Runners in fact it was a total sell out with over 1500 runners. Even the predicted bad weather could not stop the excitement building!

By the time we had walked into town the predicted wet weather had arrived, I have never seen so many umbrellas at a running event, the atmosphere was amazing though and not even the pouring rain was going to spoil the day.11188230_920641781312019_4608564301251447602_n

Finally it was time to gather in the starting pens, so off with the jackets and away with the umbrellas amongst much talk about how mad we all must be! then horror as 10.45 came and went with no starting gun, the roads were now becoming quite flooded and we were all eager to be on our way then 10 mins later looking like drowned rats we were off…..

IMG_8440A nice flat course meant many of my friends, including Gina  were hoping for P/B times, as usual I just wanted to get round in under an hour and even though I achieved this with a time of 58.08 I was alittle disappointed  as I felt I could have done better. My big mistake was running in my glasses because after 10 mins in the pouring rain I could hardly see a thing and had to carry my glasses the whole way round 🙁

Even in such bad weather conditions Gina and many of the Ladybirds got the P/B times they wanted and none of this would have been possible without the fantastic marshals who braved the weather too and of course Geoff who was there to cheer us on and take photo’s 🙂

Needless to say the sun came out at the end and we were rewarded well for braving the weather with a totally fab medal and another fun day spent with friends 🙂

Start of the silly season!

February 21st saw the start of the Bike Sportive season for most of us, with the Wiggle No excuses sportive from Huntingdon race course and a huge group from my biking club turned out for this ride in cold windy conditions.

WNOEX08I wanted a nice chatty ride with my friend Gina and that is just what I got, but it was a toughie in the wind, all the running the week before did not help and at one point going up a hill I thought about just falling off to stop the pain … but i didn’t 🙂

As usual the feed stops and signage was excellent and I would always recommend these wiggle sportives…

The list of events now continue like this…

Lincoln 10k Run (March)

Count the Counties 95 mile bike sportive (April with Geoff)

Trowse 10k Run (Easter Sunday)

GEAR 10k run (May 3rd)

Pedal Norfolk 50 mile bike sportive (May4th)

Cycle Together Sandringham 100 mile bike sportive (June14th)

Then I think I may need a Holiday 🙂

GEAR 10k

Another fabulous GEAR 10km Run, made more fun by the great atmosphere,sunny weather and the support/encouragement of all the lovely ladybirds.

I had no plans for this run as I was happy with my P/B from Lincoln, which I thought I would find hard to beat.

53178501-BG10K14A02333On the morning of the run it was lovely to see so many people, all wishing me good luck and extra special for me was having Geoff here with me, adding his support, so the excitement just grew and grew…..

The start of the run soon came round and it was far busier than usual, taking a good 2 mins for me to cross the start line, then it was very congested taking a while to find some space and get into a running rhythm

Half way point and the clock said 29.33 and I thought I best speed up a little, forgetting it was the gun time not my chip time…

Three quarters of the way round and I thought I was dying it had become very warm and I knew I was pushing myself hard because suddenly I wanted that P/B time.

Then Geoff appeared cheering me along, giving me the lift I needed and some how I managed to find the energy for a speedy finish

Totally delighted with my time of 56.45 and a new P/B.

Interestingly my times for running GEAR are…

2012… 1 hr 03     2013… 1hr 02      2014…. 56.45,   quite an improvement I think 🙂

Lincoln 10K Road Race

After doing the Rutland Alps then the Daffodil Dawdle my next day out was going to be a running one, The Lincoln 10K Road Race.

photo (34)I don’t do running events very often because I get so nervous but when my number arrived and I discovered that it was Purple I just knew I was meant to do this run.

Doing it with 2 friends who had tons of confidence in me certainly helped the nerves too.

5000 runners entered the Lincoln 10k and it was totally amazing, the whole route was lined with people cheering you on and the finish was spectacular even though the cobbles were hard to run over.

I did this run to experience the crowds, running with 5000 other people and the medal, which is pure bling, what I never expected, was getting a P/B time of 57.31, as I ran up towards the castle I could see the finishing clock and thought they must have the time wrong !!!

The Lincoln 10K will be a hard run to beat for the crowds,atmosphere,organisation and the pure joy of getting a P/B, but this weekend I am doing the Kings Lynn GEAR 10k another fabulous run with record entries of 2000

and yes I am just as nervous as always 🙁

GEAR 10k Run

What a difference a year makes, last year it  was cold and dull for the GEAR 10k Run, I ran with an injury and it was hard, this year it was sunny and hot, I had no injury and I loved it 🙂

Almost finished

1700 runners took part and the atmosphere was brilliant,crowds of people lined the streets cheering you on at every corner.

Geoff was also there to support me, which really made my day and he took some great photos.

There was a time last year when I thought my Achilles would never get better and I would never run again but eventually around Christmas time I started back with some gentle runs.

Then I joined The Lynnsport Ladybirds running club,at first I found it hard especially as I was used to running on my own,but I soon settled in and for the first time ever I started to meet people from around Kings Lynn.

I was soon back up to running 6 miles but was very paranoid about my Achilles, it does ache at times but thankfully I have learnt to rest it between runs and the aching soon goes away.

This run was amazing for me, I am so happy to be back running, I want to run longer distance but must confess that I am scared I may upset my Achilles again and I dont want any more injuries!

So for now I will try the Park Run, the Race for Life in July, and the Sandringham Xk in September

and if anyone has any tips on how to strengthen my Achilles then please let me know 🙂