Runstreak Day #449 - full day of NWR

This whole 'setting up a running club' thing seemed like such a simple idea.  We had lots of members of our Facebook group.  Plenty of willingness.  And oodles of enthusiasm.

The reality is that it's a LOT of work, taken on by a very few people.  In the last week, I've set up an AGM and promoted it, attended a meeting with the city council, I've drafted a club constitution, posted role descriptors ready for nominations, come up with a system for voting and prepared a load of posters for our new beginners and improvers' sessions.  As well as writing emails to my beginners group and delivering the session itself.  You have to really want it to happen to get it to happen.  Fortunately, I believe that it's the right thing to be doing and am happy to put the time in... but you sure couldn't do this stuff half-heartedly!!

So... today's run was actually two runs.  One was a run to my beginners' session.  Not particularly fast, but a nice steady pace which felt good.  The second was the 25 minute run with the group.  They did amazingly well again - some running a lot more than 25 minutes.  It blows me away to see their progress.  And I love their enthusiasm and passion for their running too.  I knew I wanted to run beginners' sessions when I decided to do the LiRF last year, but I had no idea exactly how rewarding it would be.  It is so much fun but it is such a privilege as well.  You get to see the difference running makes to other people's lives... and it's wonderful.

Simple ideas take a lot of effort.  Simple ideas can make a real difference.  And if you want to make a difference, you have to put in the effort!  If nothing else doing this runstreak has taught me is that you never regret finding a way to make time for the things you believe are worth doing.

449 days.  Yup.  Don't regret any of 'em.

Runstreak Day #442 - Sunday beginner funday

Yay!  Today was a fab running day.  I got to run with my beginners' group again... we now have 96 runners registered at my Sunday morning sessions... isn't that mad???  I never thought when I did the LiRF last year that I'd get to lead such a big and amazing group.  Or that it would give me far more than I could ever have imagined.

My group did their first ever 20 minute run today and the atmosphere was electric.  Full of nerves before they started... and then... such pride at the end.  Lots of cheering when the 20 minutes was reached, high fives, hugs... it was awesome.  I don't know that many of them could believe they'd done it.  And done it in style too.  Full of ace socks and happy runners, chatting as they went and supporting each other brilliantly.

I could wish that when I'd started I'd had a group to run with.  It took me a year to brave running with other people and I was so nervous about being 'found out' that I wasn't a proper runner.  Yet, here is this big, fabulous group of women, running together round the park while other park users smile and watch them go.  It's just incredible to be part of.

Is it daft if I actually feel a bit tingly and teary when I think about it?  I am just SO proud of them and all they've achieved in the past few weeks.

I'm also a teensy bit proud of myself today... I've managed my first ever 40 mile+ week and have clocked up over 200 miles already this year.

Just goes to show, it doesn't matter if you're running for 1 minute, 20 minutes or racking up the miles in some other way - running gives you so much to feel positive about.

I <3 running!!

And tea.  And my running friends.  And awesome socks.  And my trainers!!  And being outside and feeling inspired, free and completely happy on a Sunday morning.

*happy dances*

Runstreak Day #435 - soxy!

Hooray!  It's me and some of my fab Beginners' group from this morning's session *points at photo*  ... and look... crazy sock wearing is spreading all over Nottingham!!   YAY!!!!

Beautiful morning for a run today. I could almost... almost start to feel that *whispers* Spring might be in the air.  Almost.  The sun was out and there was a teensy bit of warmth to it.  There was lots of happy chatting as we ran.  And I even managed to be outside without a bobble hat on for.... ooooh... seconds!

As seems to be the case at the moment, my running was broken up into smaller runs.  One run to the park - where I thought I was late and took a stupidly steep shortcut - and then arrived early.  Whoops!  One run with the beginners' group around the lakes... totally inspiring as ever.  I LOVE it!  And one run around the lakes again at the end looking for someone's keys which had been dropped!  A little extra bonus of a run right at the end.  Gotta love it.  Still, at least I wasn't standing around getting cold today.  I got to enjoy the company of a whole load of other incredible women.  And had moments with Zoe Blackburn​ which made me laugh my face off.

What's not to like about starting off a Sunday like that?  As I was doing my final bit of running to look for the car keys I was running thinking 'must concentrate on looking for keys... oooh... isn't it lovely to be running along in the sunshine... and look at the sparkly water... and oh, there's some geese... and a puppy dog... hello puppy dog... mmmm, running under the trees... soon be Spring... la la laaaa... Whoops!  Should be looking for keys... concentrate... concentrate... keys... right... look for them... oh, hello blue sky!  And snowdrops!  Oh and mind out for the puddle... doo be doo...'

I didn't find the keys.

Fortunately, someone else did.  Phewie!!

Day 435 - you were a goodie!  And I've finally brought my weekly mileage back up above 35 miles.  Result!!

Runstreak Day #421 - hooray for Sundays

Today's Sunday was awesome!

Y'know though, Sunday used to be a bit of a bleurgh day. It's really Monday Eve and with a Monday hanging over you it always takes the shine off. But it's not like that any more because every Sunday morning I get to lead our Notts Women Runners beginners' session at the nearby Country Park and it is so fabulous it makes my toes tingle with happiness. Firstly, I get to have a laugh with Zoe Blackburn, Sion Bostock and other running friends. Secondly, I get to be with oodles of other women runners. And thirdly, we basically take over the park!

I'd run to the park to get my legs warmed up (and get a few more miles in) and arriving to a chatty burble of women all ready for the session was another 'eeeek - this is really brilliant!!' moment. Today, we had another 11 new runners join us. That means our Sunday beginners group now has 91 registered members. 91! Added to 41 at our Monday group and in the past couple of weeks we've started over 130 women off running. Isn't that mind-blowing?!

It is an incredible sight to see everyone setting off on the run. A sea of women doing something fabulous for themselves and all believing more and more that they can actually run. So many of them tell me how happy it's making them. How much they enjoy running with other women. How proud they are of themselves. How they are starting to feel fitter. How the running bug has got them already! I absolutely love it.

Okay, so my trainers needed a wash by the time I got home (that park is nothing if not muddy!), but I'd had a morning of sunshiney running happiness and that filled up my tank of positivity for the rest of the day. Plus, for the first time in ages my mileage is finally back up to being above 30 miles in a week... which makes me feel like my June marathon may not be such a stupid idea after all.

Sunday... you were a little bag of epic loveliness. Same time again next week? Don't mind if I do! Oh, and I get to run with our other beginners' group tomorrow! YAY!!!!

I LOVE RUNNING!!!!

And tea. I really love tea a lot as well. :o)

Runstreak Day #414 - running changes lives

Runstreak Day 414 - and another day which blew my (RMR!) socks off.  The second session in the beginners course I'm leading at the moment and after last week's amazing 62 runners... we had 18 new runners join our existing group!!  It was incredible!  Fortunately a brilliant friend of mine was on hand to assist... as well as another 6 of our experienced Notts Women Runners to help as those numbers are hard to handle and it's so important that no-one is left behind and no-one is made to feel that they're not welcome.

I'd run there so as to get a bit of a 'proper' run in as well as to check out how icy it was at the country park... but other than being sparkly and beautiful, the ice really wasn't a problem at all.  By 10:45 there were already runners turning up.  And then... wave after wave of them appeared.  It is such a brilliant atmosphere though.  Chatting, laughing and so friendly.  It makes me feel so proud to be part of how good running can be for bringing people together.  I love that there wasn't anyone standing on their own, looking lost.

We started with a warm up walk... then they got stuck into their run-walking.  It is *the* most wonderful thing to see a group of women running, talking, laughing, and being together.  All different ages.  All different shapes and sizes.  Taking over the park and doing something brilliant for themselves.  And when we'd finished all of the running bits and only had one last walk to do, one of the women said to me 'I feel so proud of myself, I never would have believed I could do that.' and I felt all tingly with happiness.  That is the gift that running gives you.  The feeling of pride.  The feeling of achievement.  And after only two weeks, our runners are already getting to experience that.

How flippin' amazing is that?  Even though it was hard work for everyone, we had comments such as 'I loved every minute of it', 'fab run' and so many others.   I really am so lucky to be able to run... and to be able to share that with other people.  A bright, sparkly, special morning, shared with an inspiring group of women.  Goose-bumpy stuff!!

If anyone's thinking about doing the Leadership in Running Fitness course... or thinking about setting up their own running club... do it.  Make it happen and a door into something more awesome than you can imagine will open right up.

Tea.  And happy dancing.  Oh yeah!  I love my Sunday mornings.  They're the best!!  :D

Runstreak Day #137 - sparkly morning runs - hooray!

Oh what a be-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-eautiful morning!!!  Sparkly and delicious.  A real 'hooray for being out there and doing something' day.  Especially when that day involves going for a run around the lake and it's all quiet and gorgeous and you feel glad to be alive.  Yeah, that day.

I decided to go for another shortish run today because my lower back, hip and knee haven't been feeling great - my left knee especially shouts at me if I run downhill at the moment - so I chose a flat route and just took it steady.  It felt really good (apart from a couple of slightly downhill twingy moments) and with my daughter riding her bike with me, it was lovely.  I can't believe I'm finally at the point where, even though I'll end up sweating and will get tired, the first part of a run just feels normal and not a big 'oh good grief I think I may need to stop any moment' kinda thing.

For the second day running I ran without music.  It was mainly because I was running with my daughter (am not that anti-social as to block her out with music) but I'd have run without music anyway.  I quite like listening to the rhythm of my feet and hearing my breathing - no matter how puffy and panty that might be.  There's something weirdly soothing about it rather than attempting to block everything out with sound.

Will try a longer run tomorrow and see how my knee holds up!

Geeky stats stuff

Distance:	2.71 mi
Time:	22:56
Avg Pace:	8:27 min/mi

Time:	22:56
Moving Time:	22:56
Elapsed Time:	22:56

Avg Pace:	8:27 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace:	8:27 min/mi
Best Pace:	6:14 min/mi

Runstreak Day 84... another scary Parkrun

There once was a runner named Sarah
And park runs they really did scare 'er
She went anyway
Did a PB... hooray!!
And now is a great big grin wearer

Cooer there were LOADS of people there today. Yet again it crossed my mind to leave the park as I went round it I felt so nervous (my brain is yelling 'RUN AWAY! RUN AWAY!!!!' most of the time)... and the only reason I didn't was because that felt slightly more humiliating than being the official 'she looks like she's going to throw up with fright' park runner. It's funny how they forget to list that in the volunteer roles, isn't it!

Day 84 of my run streak, I believe you and I have a date with happy dancing...

And tea. There *must* be tea.

Geeky stats stuff

Distance:	3.12 mi
Time:	26:49
Avg Pace:	8:36 min/mi

Time:	26:49
Moving Time:	26:50
Elapsed Time:	26:49

Avg Pace:	8:36 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace:	8:36 min/mi
Best Pace:	7:24 min/mi

Second ever Parkrun

Right... this is a confession... Parkrun scares me.  I get so nervous beforehand I take up almost permanent residence in the toilet.

I almost didn't go this morning but decided that I would just to force myself out of my comfort zone.  I don't really know what it is about it that I find so daunting.  Because I've only been running for a year and spent almost 40 years believing that I couldn't run at all, every time I set out for a run I'm not sure if I can do it at all.  Combine that with running with lots of other people who actually *look* like runners... well... that's a recipe for a nervous stomach and then some!

Anyway, I did it.  It was horrendously windy out.  The puddles were ankle deep in places, as was the mud.  My legs were splattered.  My white socks are now brown.  And by the time I rounded the smaller lake for a second lap and the wind hit me hard in the face AGAIN... I very very nearly left the park and ran back to my car!  Only the thought that I had less than a quarter of a mile to go kept me going.

And then a child, half my size, overtook me and leapt his way like a pint-sized gazelle towards the finish funnel.

Salt.  Wound.  :o)

I'm going to give myself one more go at doing a Parkrun to see if I can conquer my nerves.  If I can't, then it's nice, quiet, ownsome lonesome runs for me instead.  At least I might stand a chance of avoiding the mud on a Saturday morning!

Day 77's run... done.

Geeky stats stuff:

Distance:	3.12 mi
Time:	27:13
Avg Pace:	8:44 min/mi

Time:	27:13
Moving Time:	27:13
Elapsed Time:	27:13

Avg Pace:	8:44 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace:	8:43 min/mi
Best Pace:	7:06 min/mi