"If we can still see Stu, we're in trouble."
You would think, that with it being the summer holidays, I would have all the time in the world to do my blog, but the reality is... I've been so incredibly busy which is why it is only now I am getting round to writing it. Even my own Mother has called me out on the lack of blogging this week.. (Sorry Mum!)
So, without further a do let's see what this week (or, last week) has / had in store.
Wednesday Lion's run 🦁
A nice bit of normality. However, the getting TO the run was pretty stressful this week
(Thanks LCC for the horrendous road works)
I got there and things instantly brightened up. It was a week of the Netflix run, but with the added challenge to look for the Jubilee signs that have been put up along the route.
I won't lie, after learning that I'd missed about 8 because I was chattering, and just using all my might to get up the hill, I nipped it in the bud that Jess would definitely beat me on this challenge. (Jess was walking due to a back injury).
this is what we were supposed to look for!
Now for some reason, it is starting to become a tradition that 'Plankashire' is attempted for each group on the Lion's runs. We obviously, therefore had to plank at the lake (I genuinely just Googled what to call it, its too big to be a pond, but not really Lake District sized lake 😂)
Jess & Sue had caught us up at this point, so I thought I would cut a bit of the run short and walk with them for a little bit.. until I got caught. "You're not injured, come on, you can run." - Shelby always has my best interests at heart.
It was much cooler this week, but also still quite humid. It was just nice to not be running in absolute tropics.
Parkrun Saturday! 🌳
We were back! Oh how I had missed that hill! Sophie pulled out, as she wasn't feeling too great, but, off I went for a Lion's Saturday Parkrun. There was also a very special visitor who headed over to Parkrun this week, who will be fuming if they do not get a mention.
I started off with Shelby this week. I had no expectation, no chasing PB's it was just a 'good to be back' kind of run. We didn't want to fight our way to the back of the pack, so we started parallel to one of the benches. Off we went and the pace was good. I felt pretty comfortable I ran up the hill the first time (rare!) and we could still see Stu, this is never a good thing because it means that we are going too fast. Hence, the title of the blog. Shelby came out with this cracking quote and I just said: "That's the blog title for this week."
Very much a posed smile,
does not reflect how I was really feeling.
Mile 1 done. 9.17. That is probably my fastest mile. Unsure what was going to happen for the next two.. Shelby and I continued. We walked the hill the next two times, but our pace was good. Almost, too good...
Now, I had told Shelby before we started my PB for Preston stood at 30.59, which I got on my 50th Parkrun.
I got round in 30.35. A new Preston PB, and means that I am chasing down 1 minute to knock off my Parkrun PB (29.35 that I got at Morcambe) to go submarine style and be officially under 30 minutes. When I crossed that line I was absolutely elated, and finally, got to do something I've never done at Preston (another thing covid robbed me of)...
Absolutely ecstatic!
I rung that Parkrun PB bell! Lots of Lions came out and smashed their PBs this week, it was a really great atmosphere post race run. (Parkrun is not a race 😉)
It was so nice to see lots of familiar faces I haven't seen for about 3 weeks, due to honeymoon, and Preston being cancelled last week. It really does give you that family vibe when you go, week in, week out.
And, a new face who will hopefully begin to frequent Parkrun a little more, my best friends boyfriend, long time reader of the blog (still impressed with the dedication!)
Jon! Decided to come and have a leg stretch after leg day at the gym.
Next step is to get Nicole back to Parkrun, but we are quite literally taking baby steps with that one. 👣
I came home absolutely elated, huge smile on my face, but, unfortunately cannot yet change the PB board. Which, I can live with, for now.
However, there were much more exciting things afoot.. 19th August, The Great Run Series put out a post that race packs had been sent out. My phone started pinging.. I started getting impatient and started curtain twitching for the postie.. And there it was.
The reality set in. I screamed when the envelope landed on the mat, and I may have worried Jess with the texts that followed it. (Sorry for worrying you!)
My race number had made it. This was making things a little bit more real. 3. weeks. 3 weeks until, the biggest race of my life that has hung over me since January was happening.
Lions Sunday Run 🦁
Ladies covered between 7 & 10 miles
This week, I thought it would be best to start trying out the kit I will be wearing for GNR. I finally had the shorts I wanted to wear, I asked Paul nicely if I could take my shiny new Garmin out. (It was supposed to be a birthday present - long story short, I'm impatient and I want presents on my birthday sooo.. I now have the watch) It was a 10 mile run. Perfect to try everything out. There was only Shelby and I this week, and wow. The miles just ticked over. We got to mile 5 and I just thought, how on earth have we done this already?! We were on fire and feeling good! Instead of taking my hydration pack out this week, I thought I'd try and fuel 10 miles on just gels, another good practice for GNR. I think I have my strategy covered.
Our pace was good, and I can't quite believe that I'm saying that I enjoyed a 10 mile run.
and how nice is the backdrop for a good old Plankety Plank?
Isn't this journey funny? I've gone from being terrified of running 7 miles, to going out for 10 miles and thinking nothing of it. This is probably my last longest run before, that important Sunday.
I feel ready, I can feel the emotions starting. I've got this. It has been one hell of a ride to get here, and I can't wait to be on that start line with 50,000 other people, to smash my dreams and raise a hell of a lot of cash for a pretty important charity, Macmillan Cancer.
Payday is looming and if you're looking like you have a few pennies to spare, I am still collecting donations for Macmillan for the Great North Run. You can click here to go to my fundraising page.
Until next week, we will be one week closer.. 💕
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