During the first half of 2013, I've really enjoyed taking part in races as part of the annual competition by the North Staffs Road Runners Association. There was the first race of the season in Alsager where I learnt about the importance of spotting the other "Ws", two hilly 10k races in Newcastle and Clayton, my accidental half marathon in Uttoxeter. Even the tough races at Westbridge and the Potters 'Arf had moments of enjoyment, where I felt like I was accomplishing something as a runner. And my first season in NSRRA Group W has gone better than I could have hoped - six races, six wins.
Last weekend, it was time for my seventh race - the Stone St Michaels 10k. I didn't wake up on Sunday morning feeling enthusiastic about running - the weather was not inspiring and if I hadn't pre-entered and arranged a lift, I might have been tempted to give it a miss and have an extra couple of hours of sleep. But I did run - two laps round Stone in the rain with the finish over a muddy field too - and picked up my medal at the end.
It would be really easy to focus on the negatives from Sunday - there were many negative thoughts in my head as I ran and I was really hurting by the finish - but sometimes it pays to be like "Pollyanna" and play the "glad game". Like Pollyanna said: "when you're hunting for the glad things, you sort of forget the other kind." So here are 10 reasons why I'm glad I ran the Stone 10k on Sunday... the negatives can be forgotten:
1. I picked up another 50 points for the win in Group W. That gives my competitive self another boost and takes me to seven wins out of seven. Bring on Berryhill 10k on the 2nd July!
2. I ran my first (and fastest) 10k time as a 40 year old, finishing 12th in my age category, and my age-grading was 0.4% higher than it would have been if I'd run the exact same time on the day before my birthday last week. That's a real benefit of getting one year older.
3. I had enough energy at the finish to sprint for the line alongside John from parkrun and stay ahead of another runner who was gaining on me towards the end. But she didn't overtake me this time.
4. There were loads of familiar and friendly races from Potters Trotters and other running clubs and also parkrun to chat with before, during and after the run, continuing well into the afternoon via Facebook and Twitter. This community aspect of running is one of the main reasons why I usually love to run.
5. Being encouraged on my Bobbie as I ran through Stone town centre on the second lap and again as I came round to the finish - she was standing under a tree sheltering from the rain but cheered as loudly and as enthusiastically as ever. I didn't see Bobbie after the race and did wonder whether I'd imagined her on the second lap - delirium from the rain perhaps.
6. Remembering to smile and wave at Bryan Dale on the second lap.
7. The amazing enthusiasm of the marshals - they were out in the worst of the rain but still encouraged me to the finish. A big thank you to everyone who gave up their time on Sunday so the rest of us could run.
8. A really lovely conversation with Jocelyn Payne at the end of the run. She holds the record as the fastest lady on the Hanley parkrun course and was the first lady at both the Potters 'Arf and the Greater Manchester Marathon. She was second on Sunday but celebrating a brand new PB.
9. My post-run chocolate brownie - thanks to Bryn and Julie Holmes for taking pity on my penniless self and shouting me a cake and a cup of tea. A great way to warm up and get a sugar boost - apologies to all those healthy-eating runner types but cake works for me as the ultimate post-race recovery food.
10. A lift to and from the race with Andy M - trading running stories and training ideas for our next races on the journey. Thanks Andy.
Next time you have a tough run, be like Pollyanna and play the glad game. Sometimes it really helps.
Happy Running
Liz T.
Last weekend, it was time for my seventh race - the Stone St Michaels 10k. I didn't wake up on Sunday morning feeling enthusiastic about running - the weather was not inspiring and if I hadn't pre-entered and arranged a lift, I might have been tempted to give it a miss and have an extra couple of hours of sleep. But I did run - two laps round Stone in the rain with the finish over a muddy field too - and picked up my medal at the end.
It would be really easy to focus on the negatives from Sunday - there were many negative thoughts in my head as I ran and I was really hurting by the finish - but sometimes it pays to be like "Pollyanna" and play the "glad game". Like Pollyanna said: "when you're hunting for the glad things, you sort of forget the other kind." So here are 10 reasons why I'm glad I ran the Stone 10k on Sunday... the negatives can be forgotten:
1. I picked up another 50 points for the win in Group W. That gives my competitive self another boost and takes me to seven wins out of seven. Bring on Berryhill 10k on the 2nd July!
2. I ran my first (and fastest) 10k time as a 40 year old, finishing 12th in my age category, and my age-grading was 0.4% higher than it would have been if I'd run the exact same time on the day before my birthday last week. That's a real benefit of getting one year older.
3. I had enough energy at the finish to sprint for the line alongside John from parkrun and stay ahead of another runner who was gaining on me towards the end. But she didn't overtake me this time.
4. There were loads of familiar and friendly races from Potters Trotters and other running clubs and also parkrun to chat with before, during and after the run, continuing well into the afternoon via Facebook and Twitter. This community aspect of running is one of the main reasons why I usually love to run.
5. Being encouraged on my Bobbie as I ran through Stone town centre on the second lap and again as I came round to the finish - she was standing under a tree sheltering from the rain but cheered as loudly and as enthusiastically as ever. I didn't see Bobbie after the race and did wonder whether I'd imagined her on the second lap - delirium from the rain perhaps.
6. Remembering to smile and wave at Bryan Dale on the second lap.
7. The amazing enthusiasm of the marshals - they were out in the worst of the rain but still encouraged me to the finish. A big thank you to everyone who gave up their time on Sunday so the rest of us could run.
8. A really lovely conversation with Jocelyn Payne at the end of the run. She holds the record as the fastest lady on the Hanley parkrun course and was the first lady at both the Potters 'Arf and the Greater Manchester Marathon. She was second on Sunday but celebrating a brand new PB.
9. My post-run chocolate brownie - thanks to Bryn and Julie Holmes for taking pity on my penniless self and shouting me a cake and a cup of tea. A great way to warm up and get a sugar boost - apologies to all those healthy-eating runner types but cake works for me as the ultimate post-race recovery food.
10. A lift to and from the race with Andy M - trading running stories and training ideas for our next races on the journey. Thanks Andy.
Next time you have a tough run, be like Pollyanna and play the glad game. Sometimes it really helps.
Happy Running
Liz T.
Comments
Post a Comment