A sense of belonging..

This week has a been a strange one for my running habits.. but, there's been some good in there nonetheless so lets get to it...

Monday Night - Chorley Runners 5K

The gym was taking a break this week which saw me able to go out with Chorley Runners. I was absolutely petrified that I would end up in the wrong group and doing 10k - and the people doing the 10k there is no way I can keep up with them! Luckily, I found the 5k group and the weather was cold, but good conditions for a run. Even though this run was with Chorley Runners, I had decided that it was going to be the one that I ran for Ukraine, and when I got home, donated £5 to the Red Cross DEC appeal. 

My mugshot that went on Facebook. 

I forgot to take it when I was out, so very sweatily did it at home.

I nominated 5 friends, but I am yet to see if they have completed the challenge. I will have to give them a little nudge when I make this post go live. (Sophie, Chloe, Jess, Kelly & Susan.. time's ticking..) As I said, it was a pleasant run, and I'm glad I went out on a Monday night after work. Nothing of note went through my mind. I turned up, I got it done, and I felt good after it.

Thursday Night CR - 5k

This one was slightly different to the usual Thursday night run. It is usually 7k, but it was the first social event of the year. I don't really know many people at Chorley Runners, I'm starting to recognise faces, but I don't really have any bonds with anyone. With that in mind - I'd put myself in feet first at a social occasion, not really knowing anyone. We went for a post run curry. 
The run itself was lovely, if not too warm. I'd left my jacket in the car (tick) but still had a base layer on. That evening, it absolutely was not needed. 
It was Thursday night and I was exhausted from work, with things not going too well there, but it is good to have running to keep  me sane (ish). I started to find the 5k hard, which is ridiculous - its nothing! But one name popped into my head.. Jasmin Paris to help me get round and finish my 5k

That name on Thursday evening became my mantra. This week, Jasmin Paris has been completing the mother of all marathons. The Barkley Marathon. If you haven't heard of it, I will not spoil the pure joy of you Googling it and finding out about this madness on your own. But, I'd been following #BM100 on Twitter for the past few days, and if Jasmin Paris can attempt the Barkley Marathon, I can pull my big girl pants up and finish a pathetic 5k on a Thursday evening. So as I ran, all in my head was; "Jasmin Paris, Jasmin, Paris, Jasmin Paris.." It got me round, and there was a whole host of curry waiting for us at the curry house.

Absolute fan girl moment when she (Jasmin) liked my tweet.

Now, I'm not going to go into the social aspect of after the curry. I think I sat at the wrong part of the table, because I felt a little like an outcast, I hope that if I'd have sat at another place, then the outcome of Thursday would have been much different. But the feeling was that I was the slower runner who had plonked herself at the wrong part of the table with the cool kids, but she didn't fit it in. It was like a flashback to high school hell.

At least I know. Next time I'll turn up, I'll run and I'll leave. 
This is absolutely not a reflection of the club. I love going out with Chorley Runners, the majority of them are super friendly and I often strike up conversation with others. This one unfortunate occasion will not stop me from going out with Chorley. 💜

Now on to my favourite day of the week.... 

Parkrun Saturday

Our little Parkrun crew assmbled by our tree. 

I love Saturday mornings so much, and this was confirmed for me when I was running on Saturday. I couldn't be bothered. I wasn't going for a time. I've just got 3PBs in 3 consecutive weeks.. so it was a nice run to just get around. In last week's Parkrun report I got a lovely mention for my PB (31.38) by George, a fellow Preston Parkrun report writer - but I've never met him.

I was stood by my tree, people watching and I saw someone point at me. "uh oh... I've been spotted!" A gentleman in a red T shirt was coming towards me.. It was George. He had found me by my tree I seemed to have adopted for a Saturday morning. It was lovely to get to know a new face!
I was supposed to be at Witton for Aimie's 250th Parkrun, but the rain the evening before saw me heading to Preston instead.

The klaxon went off and off we went. A few things I realised on Saturday. I really do love Parkrun. There were 2 ladies running near me on one section chatting about Parkruns in other countries and said "You know you're a runner when you plan your holidays around a Parkrun"  - I know this all too well.

But listening to them made me go all warm and fuzzy inside. It was a different feeling to Thursday night. I feel part of something when I'm at Parkrun. We all turn up, we all run the same course, we give a nod or a cheer of encouragement.. we are the friendliest community, and I am so proud to be part of that community.

I don't know many people at Preston Parkrun, yet I feel I know everyone as I see the same faces week in week out. Its a lovely feeling to belong somewhere. 

Something I've not felt for a very long time.  

I romped home in 32.10. It baffled me a little that 32.10 was an easy run for me. So, here is hoping I will be in club 30 soon! 

So that's this weeks round up. 15k completed over the week (very proud of that) No long run, because I have reports to write but I can't wait to get back to them! & the Easter Holidays are on their way! Which will allow me more running opportunities! 

Until next week... 💞