The Girl Who Can't run.

Here we go. This might die off, but let's see. 

I've recently started writing run reports for the wonderful Parkrun, and after a joke with my Sister in law that I could be the Lady Whistledown of the Parkrun world. (I wish) & discovering the wonderful running world on Twitter, I thought I would try my hand at blogging my runs. 

I can't run. I've always tried. But I can't. I signed up for Parkrun when I lived in Windsor, but never had the confidence to get up and go.
A few years later, I moved back to the North West and going through a bit of a rough time. Unsure where my life was going, I went to my first Parkrun event at Cuerden Valley. 12th January 2019. This is where the love affair began.

43 minutes later.... I finished my first ever Parkrun! I wanted to be sick, and I never wanted to run again.

Fast forward to 22nd January 2022, my 30th Parkrun, and my time is now 33 minutes.

Thats 10 minutes off. 

So the idea behind this blog is because I've fallen in love with running, and the mental health benefits it is giving me. But I have also my biggest challenge ahead of me.

13.1 miles. A half marathon. Not just any half marathon. The Great North Run.

Back in University I remember being out for freshers week in September and started speaking to 2 men in a pub with medals on who had completed the Great North Run. "You are amazing, I could never even attempt to run that distance." 

Well... fast forward 10 years later and she's doing it. Not just as a personal challenge, but I'm raising money for the wonderful Macmillan Cancer Support. 

I have been lucky enough to secure a charity place. If you're feeling generous, you can donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sammiecox

Let's hope that this is a a long time love affair and not a fling.

I will be blogging about Parkrun, my long distance training and my favourite thing.. the races.

First race of the year, next week.. Mad Dog 10k. 

I say race. I'm not a runner. I'm not fast. But I'm a sucker for a medal (& a t-shirt!), and, from being obsessed with splits and pace over lockdown and injuring myself to no end. I try to only look at the numbers on a race, opposed to every week when I used to beat myself up about getting faster week on week. Who knew! Patience is a virtue.