Challenge 41!

I turned 41 on Friday and I realised I felt that sad my 40/40 challenge was over. After much thought I decided a new challenge was in order.

One thing that has bothered me recently is that I really missed the NHRR training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I worked out that it's over 2 years since I last did one and more like 4 years since I went on a regular basis. It's funny that something that used to be such a big part of my week had completely disappeared. Therefore, I wanted to challenge myself to train more often by aiming to attend 41 NHRR training sessions in my 41st year.

Then a friend suggested I join another challenge which is to run 516 in miles in 2016 (with the entry proceeds going to 2 charities Motor Neurone Disease Association and Bowel Cancer UK). This ties in nicely with the aim of wanting to train more so I'm in! As of 25 March I'd done 81.6 miles in 2016 but I am actually aiming to do 516 miles (running) between then and the end of 2016, let's see how I get on...

Week 52, Race 43: Sport Relief mile(s)

The last event in my 40/40 challenge was the Hitchin Sport Relief mile. Hannah and her friend from school ran the mile (I ran with her), we finished a slightly short mile in just under 10 minutes (about my usual speed!) then I went on to run the 3 mile version (which was more like 2.7 miles) in 27 minutes and Gary ran the 6 mile event (5.4 miles) too. Hannah's friend's Dad ran all 3 races too. What a team!
Hannah and her friend are only 6 and I was impressed at how well they ran. I don't think they walked and then only stopped to make their leggings into shorts as they got too hot! And they chatted all the way round, I taught her well...
So that's that, the year is up, the races have been done and I completed my challenge...Hmm, what next then? Time to have a think...

Week 52, Race 42: Bedford parkrun

It's been a strange few weeks. After the excitment of completing my 40/40 challenge I fell back down to earth with a bang...6 weeks of flu, chest infection and a sick bug sweeping through our 5 person household has meant I have barely run, let alone raced. Good job I completed my challenge ahead of the deadline!
However, I am feeling better and decided this week to squeeze another race in. This time it was the Bedford parkrun along with some fellow NHRR members as it was chose as run of the month.
Not been to this race before and I enjoyed it, nice and flat 2 and a half laps around a park (reminded me a lot of the Stewart parkrun in Middlsebrough. Only downside was that is a bit further away to get to and it involves driving through Bedford which I always find very confusing!
After so many weeks of illness and inactivity (not only was I not running, I wasn't doing my daily 5 miles of walking school drop offs/pick ups) I was pleased with my time of 30:05. We also ventured into the cafe after the race...I'll be going there again, the breakfasts looked amazing!