Mud, daffodils and aeroplanes

Saturday mornings are generally all about parkrun - more often than not, I'll be at Hanley parkrun, running or run directing and then enjoying a good catch-up in the parkrun café afterwards.

But this week, we took the opportunity of a couple of days off work to spread our wings and headed off to Cheadle Hulme parkrun, which is definitely a hidden gem in a hidden park by the A34

It was a chance to catch up with fellow parkrun ambassador Sam, who was looking after the event on Saturday, and also gave us the opportunity to try something different - the route is entirely on grass, involing one small loop of the top field, three bigger loops of the bottom field then one final loop of the top field to finish.

The general consensus from the regulars was that the course was muddy - most of the volunteer team were in wellies - but nowhere near as muddy as it can be... but it was still going to be much more like a cross-country run than my normal Saturday experience on the paths in Hanley Park.

Mud!

Time to embrace a change.... my relatively clean trainers didn't stay clean for long but I really enjoyed the challenge. There were a couple of slip-slidy moments - I definitely wouldn't get many style points for the way I navigated the muddiest sections - but I stayed on my feet and generally ran with a smile. The marshals were brilliantly encouraging and helpfully pointed out the most treacherous sections before you got there...

Easy Jet?

As well as mud, though, there were a few other distractions on the run... planes coming in to land at nearby Manchester Airport, daffodils just about still in bloom and the occasional glimpse of sunshine too. Given my love/hate relationship with cross-country, I was glad this run was a parkrun perfect 5k and not any further; I was soon heading back into the top field and completing that small loop with a cheer from the marshals and Mr T.

Daffodils Everywhere

And of course, the other important part of parkrunday is the post-run refreshment... we left our muddy shoes outside and enjoyed a hearty breakfast in the lovely Vinery Café.

View from the Café

It was a fabulous morning and put me back on track with my running with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

But I will have to clean my shoes!

Comments

Well, that's a long way!

Race day was finally here. After a difficult couple of weeks, I woke up on Saturday morning with a certain amount of trepidation after a very restless night's sleep and a couple of weeks of niggles, aches and tiredness. I reminded myself of the three goals I'd set for the race - start with confidence, enjoy the adventure and finish with a smile - and was boosted by some encouraging messages from friends and family. After a quick breakfast and a short bus ride, I arrived in Marlow for the start of the race. I wasn't sure what to expect and actually had no idea how many runners were taking part. My start time was 9.15am and it seemed like there were a couple of hundred of us setting off in the "competitive" wave covering marathon and ultra marathon distances. The ultra marathon route was approximately 33 miles involved an extra loop around Hambledon but we all started off in the same direction. My first race goal was accomplished as I started with...

(Not) Sorry!

It has been a while since my last blog. There's been a lot going on. Sometimes life gets in the way of running and writing about running. I'd like to say I'm sorry but this post is all about being not sorry, hopefully not in a selfish "I don't care if I upset you" kind of way but instead with a spirit of "I've got my motivation and priorities back on track and that's a good thing". I'm not sorry that I've decided to taken a step back from local road racing. Last year, I raced so often between May and September, that races were almost the only running I was doing. I forgot to rest properly and my body took a hit. There was a reason for racing so often: I was chasing points and placings in the NSRRA. Winning my group was a real possibility and points in every race mattered. It would be wrong to say I didn't enjoy it... I loved the competition and the challenge and of course I enjoyed winning... but I realised I wanted this summ...

Waiting to Exhale

I completed the final long run of my training for the Greater Manchester Marathon last Thursday - 10 miles in wind and rain along the canal towpaths of Hanley and Stoke and then through Fenton and back down Victoria Road. I was feeling tired before I set off and, as I left the house, I contemplated a shorter run than my training schedule suggested. I decided to listen to the latest edition of the Marathon Talk podcast as I ran, a special show reflecting on the unexpected and tragic events at the Boston marathon on the 22nd April. The stories that were told and the emotion in the presenters' voices reflected much of what I'd been feeling since news broke of the attack. As I ran, sometimes with tears in my eyes, I forgot about being tired and focused on my goals. I would show my support for the people affected by the Boston bombings by being as ready as I could be for my first marathon on April 28th. Meanwhile, all eyes were on London yest...

Rosedawn Ramblings

Search This Blog