Running up that hill
This week I have been quite surprised how well my body has recovered from last week's 13.1 miles.
It has dawned on me now, that we will soon be in single figures on the countdown to the GNR, and the T-shirt and medal design had been released this week.
It's all beginning to get a little bit real.. So let's see how this week panned out.
I was desperate to get into the gym on Monday, I just wanted the foam roller - what a godsend that thing is. It sorted me right out and I felt as fit as a fiddle on Tuesday!
The weather had been very hit and miss this week, but after torrential downpours on Wednesday, I decided to have a week off a Wednesday run. I must admit, I did miss it a lot - and seeing all my weekly lions. However; I ran a half marathon. Surely I deserve a rest sometimes, right? So we went to the pub with some friends for the Wednesday pub quiz. Mr Coxy usually attends without me, but it was nice to be out on a week night. Made me feel all refreshed!
Then, I couldn't wait for the weekend. I was back. Parkrun number #52!
I did miss Parkrun a lot last week, but change is good, and will mean that I don't get bored so to be back and knowing I was going to see lots of familiar faces, was very exciting.
Sophie unfortunately was not in attendance as she had contracted the great mysterious Covid.
This week was a very exciting Parkrun however. Ginny's great return!
Jess had the great idea of suggesting that we run with Ginny, and it was the best thing we did. Shelby, Julie, Ginny, Jess and I stuck together like the pride that we are to do 5 minutes running and 1 minute walking (interval training). It was so lovely to have the camaraderie of each other and no pressure on a PB.
"The watch is beeping! Walk girls!"
We moaned at the prospect of being off with our intervals and potentially needing to run up 'the hill' I just replied 'whose singing Kate Bush then?'
A fellow running chuckled, she commented 'I'm not listening to your conversations but you're really making me chuckle.' It felt so good to be making someone's day, even though they weren't part of our little pride.
We all LOVED being back together. And, I say it time and time again, this is why I love running with a club so much. We cheer each other on, we look after each other, we are the best cheer leaders for one another! I'm very lucky to be surrounded by such wonderful people I can call friends. We all crossed that finish line smiling, laughing and cheering Ginny back. And the Parkrun community could feel that too, as they joined in with our cheers.
A huge shout out to my friend Mike. He finally did his 50th Parkrun! Julia (His wife) was marshalling so we snuck off to get him the 50th Parkrun bib. He wasn't best pleased with us, but he wore it and ran amazingly!
Birthday pride
Sunday Runday was one I was looking forward to this week. It was Stu's birthday and we were running Hoghton Bottoms, one of my favourite places to go.
I'd had a rather large curry the night before so the thought of breakfast was painful. I was really worried what this would mean for running. Would I have enough energy or was I going to burn out? I had my trusty backpack filled with liquidy electrolyte goodness to help me.
I found this week really difficult! It was a beautiful run. Trail running certainly is my happy place. But the miles just seemed to pass really slowly. I walked a bit, I ran a bit. The views were stunning and there were a lot of hills.
Hoghton Bottoms really was the pinnacle. It was just as beautiful as I remembered. The electrolytes were going down well. The hills were not. We went past Hoghton Tower (& up a bit of the drive) what a killer that hill was! (Jess and I said we certainly preferred Great Hill)
It was a bit of a struggle at the end. But there was no pressure. It wasn't a race. It was a Sunday Social. So we treated it as such!
I looked at my watch. Hold on. We've done 10 miles? This was the point I was grumbling at last week. "Shelby.. I'm not grumbling"
My body is absolutely amazing!
Could I have made it up to a half marathon distance? Probably. Did I want to? Absolutely not. This week was not about distance, it was about being out with friends and enjoying the scenery. But, we ended around 11 miles and I was so so happy with what I had done! Little old me. Who couldn't even run 5k a few years ago casually doing 11 miles on a Sunday morning before lunchtime.
WOW.
Perhaps a half marathon distance is a distance I can do. I just need to work on getting the time down!
5 minutes off for September. That is all I dream of. Its not much to ask.
*Hoghton Tower
If you would like to donate to my cause, Macmillan Cancer, supporting vulnerable people through a time in their life where a friend, a guide is needed most. Then please donate to my JustGiving Page.
J
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