Liverpool spring 10k

Spring 10k

When I first took up running, jut over 12 months ago, this is one of the races I was aiming for, although at that point it was inconceivable that I would manage to get that far as I was week 1 into the couch to 5k training programme, however today, I did it! yay!!

So I was having a bad week, having nearly passed out at 1k on Monday, [post night shift yukness] and a very slow 7k on weds I wasn’t feeling in the best shape for this one, however I realized during said 7k that I had a tight issue.. ie they kept falling down and I had to keep stopping to pull up.. resulting in shopping trip (and a mandatory wagamma’s) to buy smaller clothes! Which is great as slowly getting a bit more fit! Just want to be fit and healthy more than anything else.. everything else is bonus!

So today! I found out I was in the slow group at the back due to co lour coding, however half way around found myself running with a elite runner [pink number] who had a cold but kept same pace as me… so maybe the colored numbers not as significant a its all down to what you do on the day..

Overall it was a fantastic race, I had a good steady run and seemed to not have to walk as much as per previous runs, pace was between 6 – 7.3 min/k, which is very good for me, and over all did it in a personal best time of 1hour and 11mins J very very very happy Helen.  I briefly stopped to offer help to a lady who had collapsed before running on for a Marshall.. which may have taken a few mins but at the same time probably speed me up to the Marshall as well!  But this is a personal best time, taking a massive 5mins and 30 odd seconds off! Aiming for under 1:10 for the tunnel run, which is my next 10k.  

down points? there seemed to be some good distance between marshalles and perhaps they could have been spread out a bit more.. otherwise an exellent and well organised race, good medal, good t-shirt, brill atmosphere. thinking of making this one a yearly event! 

As always I’m aiming to raise vital funds for Child-flight,  so any sponsorship will be greatly received! And would add an extra very t how happy I am! Just follow the link on your right! Every penny helps! 

p.s. thanks to the lovely val for your support at 4k and the finish! 

Bradford10k 2014.

Bradford 10k.

Today way another 10k run! Felt very tired this morning and had little sleep last night,  so wasn’t in great condition for this run at all!  But you know, if you never try you will never succeed! So I will start with a little lesson learnt for today to stop my self-moaning about the effort to much! Lesson. Follow a training plan and train properly!  Which is the plan to do between now and the next 10k!  

as Always i'm fundraiser for child-flight! all donations very welcome so please follow the just giving link on the right, 

So today was Run by epilepsy action, and once again I did it in my Childflight yellow hat and Tshirt! Was billed as a flat course which in the majority it was but was still hilly in areas and also had a high wind which at points we ran into.  I had chosen this race because Bradford is where I grew up and thought it would be nice on home turf!  Enjoyed the race but I feel it now! Around 4k I bumped into a lady called becky and we had roughly the same pace so we ended up running/walking together the rest of the way.  was nice to have someone to talk to and someone to help keep pace with!

According to my nike plus app I ran my fasted 1k at 6.53mins and my fastest mile at 11.5mins, so all is good in that area, once again, got to around 5k ok and then pace began to slowly slip. I normally run to music but unfortunately my Ipod died this morning so was weird to run without it, also the road the majority was run down [out and back] doesn’t have much points of interest on it so felt as though I couldn’t distract myself with it much and gave in to pain to easily at times I think.  

I did this race in 1hour and 16mins and 10seconds [chip time]  which is a 40seconds improvement on my previous time two weeks ago! And continues to be something to work on [has downloaded the ActionAid training plan, will let you guys know how I get on!] this time means that I came in at 1429^th position… out of 1442… paula Radcliffe I aint but going out and trying is better than quitting right? Right?

Run facts:-

distance :- 10k

time:- 1hour, 16mins 10 seconds. 

surface:- road, windy. 

equipment:- compression-socks. No music

memento:- white XL t-shirt [they had run out of smaller sizes!]

rating. 5/10 

repeat/recommend? No, [think I need some more interest on the route and no medal!]

Childflight

Hello everyone, I’ve had a slight poorly little week over here but now I’m back and off training again.

As most of you may know, [and if you don’t I’m about to tell you, ] I’m a children’s nurse who works on a local intensive care unit, i.e. I look after some very sick children and try and help make them better again.  However there are sad and hard times but I also get to see some amazing things and the most powerful thing in the world, a child smile again! And this is why I got involved with the chosen charity. 

Child fight provides once in a life time holiday’s for children with life limiting or life threatening conditions. [In other words these children are all poorly or disabled in some way.] Every other year they run a structured trip to Florida, visiting all the major theme parks and providing a little magic to these children’s lives, what make them special is that they also take the whole close family.  Making a perfect family holiday making amazing memories for everyone. Something which may not be possible for them to achieve without the support of this charity. Whilst there, the holiday is organised for them from the minute we arrive at the airport to the second we get back to the uk, no one has to worry about anything and there is medical support by the doctors and nurses who all volunteer and are constantly on call.   And the most important bit of the holiday? Well to see the children smile knowing everything they’ve been though, after all nothing matters in Florida!

Childflight also provides Santa flights every year for children to experience there first time flight and meet Santa as well as proving medical flights for children where treatment cannot be found in the uk.

So why run? Well I started doing a sponsored run in 2013 to raise funds and the running bug kicked in big style. So thought I would keep it up and get fit at the same time. So far since May 2013 when I started it’s been hard work but slowly managing to pick up pace etc. Looking at ways that are a bit novel to go with my running but we will see. 

So far I have raised around £600 pounds for child flight from august to Dec in 2013, and I am already at 10% of my target for this challenge. Every penny means the world to both me and this charity but especially the children so if you can, please donate or support in any way you can. 

Thankyou

helen xx

p.s... just something to make you smile as well!