Winter running and added enthusiasm

I had my meeting this past Wednesday with The Friends of Shepley First School (FOSFS) about my fund raising 10k run idea. They wanted to hear what I had in mind and they had some concerns about the organisation and safety involved. I reassured them about the safety of the run and told them there wasn't too much to organise and that I would handle that side of it. After a bit more discussion we came to the conclusion that we needed to offer different distances to attract more interest and not to put people off if they think 10k is too far for them. We would also include the option to do a 10km bike ride as well, so the Shepley First School Fun Run to Cannon Hall Farm was born. We set a date for the Fun Run of Sunday 17th of March 2013 and lets just hope it's as warm as it was last year. Everyone at the end seemed happy with the idea and some were already planning their training. I left the meeting and as giddy as a school kid and had to stop myself from running home and actually caught myself skipping now and again. I got home and as soon as the boys were in bed started designing the sponsor forms and flyers.

I was still buzzing and excited about the meeting when I came to do my run yesterday. Which helped as I was on my own as Rob has a slight knee injury, I hope it gets better soon as I can tell that he's missing the running. It also helped me get through the first 5 mins as the winter temperatures are upon us. I went on the usual Monday route but with a slight twist which added a couple of hundred metres to each lap. I was running at a good low 5 min/km pace and the added twist on the route helped with my cardio, and even when I hit 8k when i normally start to struggle I was still full of energy. I was close to the end of lap 4 and was still feeling great so much so that I picked up the pace and finished off with a fast last km. I finished lap 4 in 59.35 and a distance of 11km and was delighted to have equaled my distance PB.

It was good to get that run in, with the winter temperatures and cold winds getting worse the enthusiasm to get out running will drop. You just have to get out and do it, but it helps to have something to run for and the Fun Run is one of those things. I have also just signed Dexter and I up for the Santa Dash around Huddersfield centre on December 9th. He is looking forward to it and the practice run we will have to do in the next 2 weeks. The Sponsor forms came in the post today, so the excitement just got notched up a bit.

I'll keep you informed about the Santa dash and the fun run, and thank you for reading. Don't forget to follow me on twitter by clicking here.

Keep running everyone

5 days until the Charity 5km run at Greenhead Park

One week to go so a big push was needed, or at least that was the plan.
After last week and the injuries it was more like just do enough so we don't get any more injuries but keep our fitness levels up.

Last night Rob and I meet up for a run but the only time we could manage it was at dusk. This was new and it didn't take us long to discuss the need for high viz and probably head torches. We were on our usual circuit but very quickly had to change it as the path that run parallel to Robs house was pretty much pitch black. We choose to cross a field which was lit by the moon and came out onto a road, so we could do a new route and so we had street lights to guide us. Well that was the idea as the road it lead onto wasn't lit as well as I had thought and we couldn't see our footings, we both nearly fell a couple of times. As we reached the street light lit part of the road there was a little sigh of relief from the pair of us. I led us up the road towards the Doctors and then onto Jenkins lane, which I had been meaning to run for a couple of weeks now but from the other end. It was at this point I check my Endomondo app to see how far we had been and the GPS had gone funny again. It said we had just done Km 2 in 14 mins but by our pace and time we new we were nearly at 3km. At the top of Jenkins lane we joined Marsh lane and headed back down towards home knowing that when we reach home we will have easily done 5km. We took the back route home that led us round the Knowle and down to the train track. At this point Rob went home down the road and I carried on to the station and back up the hill to home. My app said by the time I reached home that I had done 4.72km but my time was 35+ mins so I knew I had done at least 6.5km and Rob had done about 6km.

The good thing was I felt pretty good at the end and was looking forward to the Run on Sunday even more. If anyone wants to sponsor me then here is the link, www.justgiving.com/teams/runforit then Click on my name Matthew Pattison and Donate to Kirkwood Hospice.

I must thank you all for reading my Blogs I enjoy counting the Page views I'm at 630+. This past weekend it was my sisters Wedding after 14 years she was marrying Kieron finally, they looked really happy and Jodie looked Beautiful. It was also nice to see all the family and some friends I haven't seen for a while. It was really interesting to find out how many people have been reading my blogs, and asked me how my running was coming along.
We all had a good time at what the family are calling the wedding of the year. Especially as Dexter (4 years old) was as he put it 'throwing some shapes out' on the dance floor and had about 8 grown ups copying him, funniest thing I've seen for ages.