Challenge 41 - week 9 update

Almost there with my crazy May running challenge! Pleased with my 6 mile Midweek League time at Orion (under an hour on a hilly course and I felt strong at the end ) and my 5km parkrun at Stevenage (28 minutes). Just a little run on the banks of the River Ouse to finish the week off

Summary:
NHRR Training sessions - 1
Other runs - 6
Total mileage - 23.7

Progress:
NHRR Training sessions left - 35
516 challenge mileage left - 369.17

Challenge 41 - week 8 update

A calmer week with a higher mileage, I am feeling good running every day, maybe this is something I should do more often!

Highlight of this week was the Midweek League 10km race at St Albans on Thursday, I finished under an hour (in fact under 59 minutes), fastest 10km time I have run since 2011 and over 3 minutes quicker than the same race last year, result!


Summary:
NHRR Training sessions - 1
Other runs - 6
Total mileage - 29.7

Progress:
NHRR Training sessions left - 36
516 challenge mileage left - 392.87

P.S. I am counting the midweek league races as a NHRR training session (my challenge, my rules :-))

Challenge 41 - week 7 update

Aaaagh, crazy week, dinner in London on Monday night, stressful presentation in London on Tuesday (so I ran when I got back at 10), theatre trip on Wednesday (so I ran when I got back at 1030!) and an absent Gary on Friday night which culminated in me running a mile around my garden at 10pm hoping my neighbours didn't see me! I am not sure how I managed to fit my 7 runs in!


Summary:
NHRR Training sessions - 0
Other runs - 7
Total mileage - 21.63

Progress:
NHRR Training sessions left - 37
516 challenge mileage left - 422.57

Challenge 41 - week 6 update

I've set myself a daft challenge; to run every day in May! I am also hoping to raise some money for the Breastfeeding Network. Not sure how this will pan out but hoping I don't get too tired or injured.

This week has gone ok, a trip into London meant I missed NHRR training on Tuesday but went to the Thursday track session instead. Gary was absent over the weekend so I had to do an early Friday run, a 1.1 mile run pushing the pram and dragging a small child on a scooter followed by a lovely Sunday evening run which was made a little harder by an afternoon beer ;-)

Summary:
NHRR Training sessions - 1
Other runs - 6
Total mileage - 21.5

Progress:
NHRR Training sessions left - 37
516 challenge mileage left - 444.2

Challenge 41 - week 5 update

A much better week this week with 4 runs in total and almost 16 miles run in total! Really enjoying my running at the moment. The NHRR training session also included planting a tree, not something that happens every week :-)
I was also Race Director for the Greenway Challenge Half Marathon on Sunday 1 May, it all went well, thank goodness!

Summary:
NHRR Training sessions - 1
Other runs - 3
Total mileage - 15.7

Progress:
NHRR Training sessions left - 38
516 challenge mileage left - 465.7

Challenge 41 - week 4 update

Oops! No real progress this week. I did go to a NHRR training session on Tuesday but I didn't run as we were trialing our new race timing system (which was a success!). As the point of my challenge was to run more I haven't counted this session. Gary was away for some of the week too plus I had to do a dress swap at Euston station and a crazy busy weekend so no training...must do better next week!

Summary:
NHRR Training sessions - 0
Other runs - 0
Total mileage - 0

Progress:
NHRR Training sessions left - 39
516 challenge mileage left - 481.4

Challenge 41 - week 3 update

We spent the third week of my challenge having fun at Butlins so not much progress to report this week I am afraid! I took part in the Luton Wardown first birthday parkrun on Saturday. It was very cold, wet and a little bit sleety but I was really pleased with my fastest 5km time this year (29:28)...recovering from flu and some extra training appear to be working! My support crew were not impressed, one fell off her scooter about 30 secs after leaving the car and when I ran past them on my 3rd of 4 laps the smallest one was screaming...they might not be so keen to come next time!

Summary:
NHRR Training sessions - 0
Other runs - 2
Total mileage - 7.6

Progress:
NHRR Training sessions left - 39
516 challenge mileage left - 481.4

Challenge 41 - week 2 update

Starting to feel a bit fitter and Spring has sprung, all is good in the world of Lindsay.
Managed a hill session with the NHRR Yellow group on Tuesday, not a very long session but fun. Enjoyed my Thursday evening run in the sun around Oughtonhead Common and was VERY pleased with my 6 miler this afternoon. Hannah had a party at Letchworth Tennis Centre so I revisited routes we used to run when NHRR was based over that side of town.

Summary:
NHRR Training sessions - 1
Other runs - 2
Total mileage - 13.8

Progress:
NHRR Training sessions left - 39
516 challenge mileage left - 489

Challenge 41 - week 1 update

Week 1 of Challenge is 41 and so far so good...for the second week in a row I went to the NHRR Tuesday training session. This week it was 1 km reps, I did 4 with 90 secs recovery and that was probably enough. Weirdly, I am struggling a little with running in the evenings as it's getting a bit dark! Over 2 years of not training in the evenings has meant I am a little out of practice...oh, and my 41 year old back keeps being a bit sore!

This week's mileage was 13.2 over 4 runs culminating in a lovely 5 mile run this afternoon in the sun...this running lark is fun when you aren't exhausted!

Summary:
NHRR Training sessions - 1
Races - 1 (FSOTM 5km 31:32)
Other runs - 2
Total mileage - 13.2

Progress:
NHRR Training sessions left - 40
516 challenge mileage left - 502.8

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!

Week 46, Race 41: First Saturday in the Month 5km

So, what do you do when you have completed your 40/40 challenge? Another race of course! This time a very slippy First Saturday in the Month 5km in Letchworth which I finished in 32:13 :-)

45 weeks, 40 races!

	Date	Race	Distance km	Distance M
1	28/03/2015	Panshanger parkrun	5
2	04/04/2015	FSOTM 5km	5
3	11/04/2015	Wimpole Estate parkrun	5
4	18/04/2015	Luton Wardown parkrun	5
5	26/04/2015	London Marathon		26.2
6	09/05/2015	Panshanger parkrun	5
7	13/05/2015	Luton Wardown parkrun	5
8	23/05/2015	Panshanger parkrun	5
9	04/06/2015	MWL St Albans	10
10	06/06/2015	FSOTM 5km	5
11	07/06/2015	Hitchin Relay Race	5
12	13/06/2015	Pretty Muddy 5km	5
13	18/06/2015	MWL Royston	10
14	20/06/2015	FSOTM 5km	5
15	28/06/2015	Hitchin Half Marathon		13.1
16	02/07/2015	MWL Trent Park/Barnet	8.5
17	04/07/2015	FSOTM 5km	5
18	12/07/2015	British 10km	10
19	16/07/2015	MWL Mobmatch WGC	10
20	22/08/2015	Stewart parkrun	5
21	29/08/2015	Panshanger parkrun	5
22	02/09/2015	Hatfield 5km Series Race 1	5
23	05/09/2015	FSOTM 5km	5
24	17/09/2015	Hatfield 5km Series Race 2	5
25	20/09/2015	One True Grit	10
26	27/09/2015	Hitchin Town Centre 5km	5
27	30/09/2015	Hatfield 5km Series Race 3	5
28	10/10/2015	Wimpole Estate parkrun	5
29	17/10/2015	Luton Wardown parkrun	5
30	31/10/2015	Luton Wardown parkrun	5
31	08/11/2015	XC2 Wooton		4
32	14/11/2015	Luton Wardown parkrun	5
33	22/11/2015	Panshanger parkrun	5
34	29/11/2015	XC3 Wing		5
35	05/12/2015	FSOTM 5km	5
36	12/12/2015	Luton Wardown parkrun	5
37	20/12/2015	XC4 Letchworth		5.5
38	02/01/2016	Holkham parkrun	5
39	16/01/2016	Wimpole Estate parkrun	5
40	30/01/2016	Southern XC		5

Week 45, Race 40: Southern XC Championships, Parliament Hill

Photo by Martyn Annetts

I did it!! 40 races in a year (with 7 weeks to spare!). I decided I would finish my challenge with a bang and one of my all time favourite races, the Southern XC Championships at Parliament Hill. I've done this race quite a few times before, it's 5 miles of mud and hills, a real challenge! It's been a bit wet recently so I was expecting plenty of mud but the weather was nice and sunny.
The race started with a massive hill and for the first time in 40 races I was worried I would be sick mid-race. Luckily I wasn't and I plodded up and down and through the mud for the next 5 miles. I was extremely happy to finish in just under an hour and to complete my 40/40 challenge!
Over the course of the last 45 weeks I have raced just under 180 miles with 28 5km races, 5 10km races, a half marathon, a full marathon, 4 XCs and a relay. I've won a prize (Third FV35 in the Hatfield 5km series) , done a crazy obstacle course 10km and discovered the wonderful world of parkruns. Although I have done a lot of 5km races I am really pleased with myself for completing this and, most importantly, it's really got me back running again!
It's been really fun doing parkruns most Saturdays (and when I've not done one Gary often has) and it's given us plenty of practice at getting out of the house in a hurry!
So, what next? More races of course! (although less frequently as I need to let Gary have a turn too!) And more training...maybe my next challenge should be going to 40 NHRR training sessions in a year? :-)
I should probably also celebrate with an alchoholic beverage but I am far too tired for that today!

Chuffed!

Week 43, race 39: Wimpole Estate parkrun

 Brrr! Today's race was a cold one. Wimpole Estate parkrun is probably my favourite run (althought I've only run it 3 times in total), scenic, nice cafe, easy parking and fun for the children. The only downside is that it's a little bit of a drive to get to so we have to be out of the house nice and promptly which is a challenge!
There's also a bit of a hull to climb, this video sums it up quite well!
Last weeks Wimpole parkrun was cancelled due to the wet conditions and this week all the muddy rutted earth was frozen instead making it pretty tricky under foot. And it was cold. But I loved it finishing in a slow 32:57 and very much enjoying my coffee and sausage role afterwards.
The mini-Cooks also had a great time investigating frozen puddles, all in all we had a very succesful morning!
So, that was race number 39, only one more to go!!!

Week 41, Race 38: Holkham parkrun

A holiday in Norfolk gave us the chance to be parkrun tourists and we found the new Holkham parkrun to get us about and about early in the new year. It was a 1 lap course around the attractive grounds of Holkham Hall. Not much to say really other than it was a lovely scenic run (if slightly undulating) where we had to dodge deer and cows. I finished 89th in a very average 31:16. Only 2 runs to go now and if I had been less lazy over Christmas and run on Christmas Day and Boxing Day then I'd be all done and dusted by now!

Photo from the Holkham parkrun facebook page