My December and 2014 review plus 2015 challenges

I've racked my brain on ways to start this blog post but it all keeps coming out like dribble and babble, so let's break this month down a bit.

All month I have been taking part in the Marcothon challenge which involves running at least 5k every day in December. Which is fairly simple to start with but becomes more difficult as the month progresses, however by the end of the month you're not sure what you're going to do when the challenge ends. The challenge couldn't have got off to a better start as I smashed my 10k PB at the stadium runners 10k time trial. The first week of the challenge flew by and I found running everyday really exciting and slightly naughty like I was doing something wrong. My 5k target on the first Sunday was split across several runs as it was the Huddersfield Santa dash, which is set over 1 mile. I completed the Santa dash in 5m30s and crossing the line as first finisher, which makes me the fastest Santa in Huddersfield in 2014. The field of runners isn't the same as a parkrun or a 10k but I will take the small victories whenever I can. 

As the days rolled on I found extra pace creeping into my training runs and when I ran an unofficial parkrun PB during the week I was amazed. This Marcothon challenge was really helping me and at the Xmas themed parkrun I managed to smash my parkrun PB by 15s and could now officially say I had a sub 21min PB. Yet there was still room for improvement as I was running in a Santa suit and there was a nasty headwind on the uphills. As I got closer to the end of the challenge I found that I was mixing the runs up a lot more to make sure things didn't get boring. I was trying a spot of pacing on some runs and on others I was starting slow and building my speed. Now that I am at the end of my Marcothon challenge, me and all the other people taking the challenge are all left with the feeling of what now, do we rest or do we carry on. 

For me it's the later as I had, at the start of December, decided to do 100 days of running.  I just started it with the Marcothon. So this December has been filled with running, but also with statistics and I loved watching and tracking them as I ran. For instance I ran a total of 135 miles this month and for the whole year I clocked up 643 miles. So I ran a fifth of my annual mileage in the last month of the year, it didn't feel like it though in fact the main thing I will take from the Marcothon is that as long as you don't go all out on each run and look after your legs you can easily run everyday.

My running wasn't the only thing that has made December a month to remember, although it is running based. Huddersfield juniors parkrun which has been a huge part of our family life along with all the juniors, volunteers and the rest of our juniors team it has been an amazing year. Sadly Simon our event director has decided to step down as ED due to work commitments, marathon training and missing races which is the one thing all runners look forward to. He won't be disappearing, he will still be helping and volunteering whenever he can, he just can't give it the focus that it needs. We always knew he was going to do this but just not so soon.  So from today (1/1/15) I can say proudly that I am the Event Director for Huddersfield Junior parkrun.  Simon has left a great team and I am really excited to see what 2015 holds for the junior event.

In 2014 I have had the privilege of meeting and becoming friends with so many amazing people and I've also been witness to some brilliant moments. I've seen countless juniors smash their PBs, future parkrunning babies brought into the world and been witness to an awesome little girl complete a junior parkrun who couldn't walk 6 months previously. I've shed tears with fellow parkrunners over the loss of an amazing and spirited lady and I've made others weep just by highlighting how awesome they are and have others agree, 2014 has truly been one of those years that I won't forget in a hurry.

 

2015 is already looking like it will be an amazing year with a new PB yes another one, I knocked 5s off my PB at Pontefract parkrun. We were there as part of our New Year's Day parkrun double starting at Ponty then moving on to Nostell Priory. The whole of team Pattison was at Nostell Priory along with a lot of the friends we have made over the last year, the best thing about the day wasn't all the familiar faces and friends all running together.

No it was the enthusiasm for parkrun that I saw in Clark and the excitement about finally being able to take part in parkrun for the first time in 10 days time. He definitely has developed his own friendships within parkrun already, which will help when he's running around the park on a weekend.

2015 will also be a big year for me I terms of challenges with 4 half marathons and my first marathon already signed up to, and many more to come I'm sure. Then there is all the 10k's and other runs I will enter, not to mention that hopefully Dexter, SJ and I will all enter the 100 club at some point this year. Plus the Shepley 10k I will soon have to start planning and organising as well as the anniversary of our fabulous junior event.

So thank you to everyone who has been a part of my 2014 and let's make sure that 2015 is just as good if not better

Keep running everyone

Hillsborough parkrun and Huddersfield parkruns 3rd birthday party

I still haven't stopped smiling or feeling on top of the world 48hrs later, I wonder how long this awesome feeling will last.

This parkrunday had a fantastic feel to it from the moment the little boy woke up and demanded his bottle. Normally I would stagger downstairs and sleepily make his bottle, miscounting the scoops of baby milk. This time however I was wide awake and excited for our parkrun tourism trip to Hillsborough parkrun. Whenever we take part in a bit of tourism we seem to pack less than what we would take round to my mums when we stay at our home parkrun in Huddersfield. Which helps as it means we set off in time and as Hillsborough parkrun is only an extra 10 mins travelling time compared with Huddersfield we didn't even have to get up as early as we usually do. 

We arrived at Hillsborough park in plenty of time to pay for parking setting up the buggy and the buggy board for Clark's first parkrun even if he's not officially running. I was running with all 3 boys and SJ was running solo, so In advance I had emailed them and offered to be tail runner but with no reply. Nevertheless I intended to be the tail runner anyway so we positioned ourselves at the back of the gathering pack at the start. My friend Steve had also made the small trip over and was near the front of the pack, I had warned him he wasn't allowed to lap us more than once, but he wasn't sure of the course so he said he wouldn't be going all guns blazing in case he got lost, but as SJ and I know Steve can't help himself when I comes to parkrun and ends up going faster than he plans to. 

We were all ready to run when the run director for the day called us all over to give the run brief from the top of the children's climbing frame in the playground adjacent to the start. It was a little different to the norm but it worked well and everyone could hear him during the run brief.

He asked if there was any first time parkrunners and surprisingly there was quite a few and from a small group too, and that didn't include the tourists. After describing the course for all of us he set us going and Hillsborough parkrun #61 was under way. The starting strait is fairly wide but the first turning is onto a narrow path that head back down the park to the car park so for the runners at the back it bunches up a little. You could use the grass at the side but there was a feeling of not wanting to cut corners and trying not to get muddy at the same time. As I was aiming to be last I was ok with hanging back a bit, and soon enough we had all spread out again and settled into our rhythms and pace. It wasn't long before we before we had completed a lap and all I could think was OMG I've got another 2 to do, not because it was hard or the course was difficult I was mainly because the first lap just seemed so long. It wasn't long, I had just been looking around a lot and taken in lots of new sights, sounds and smells. Yep I said smells I haven't noticed smells before but at Hillsborough parkrun you can't help it as at the bottom of the park you get the most delicious smells coming from the Caburys factory across the road. At the start of lap 2 one of the two ladies I was staying behind to make sure I was last had to stop as she seemed to be struggling with asthma, but she started walking again. 

I failed in my attempt to stay last as we over took her whilst she walked, but I tried to keep an eye on her so I could keep the team informed where she was at the end. Just after we passed her we were lapped by Steve and as he went passed the boys gave him high fives, which gave the boys a bit of an energy boost ready for the next lap. We got half way round lap 2 and could see SJ in the distance still going strong and doing well plus at the same time I could see the lady with asthma was running again and not far behind us. As we came round the liberary and down the hill to the finish straight we could see Steve had finished and was talking to one of the other runners, so we gave him another high five as we went past. As we headed down towards the car park again on our final lap Steve caught up with us and joined us for a another lap as a cool down (that's for you Nicola Forwood). At the halfway point again we looked for SJ and she was on her way to the finish straight doing really well. So I tried to look for the lady with Asthma but couldn't see her so she was either out of sight or she had dropped out. So when we came round to finish Dexter and Steve sprinted off to finish and I jogged in behind a few seconds later, I then told the parkrun team that there was 1 more lady but I lost sight of her or she dropped out. After thanking the volunteers SJ the boys and I went to play in the playground for a bit before setting off home. 

SJ and I both agreed that Hillsborough parkrun was really quite nice and with all the other activities going on in the park at the same time it had a very friendly and fun atmosphere. Plus with less hills than the other parkruns we run it was easier, if you can say that about 5k at anytime. 

Later and back home it was time to get ready for the Huddersfield parkruns 3rd birthday party at the Conservatory in the park, I had to go on my own as we had no one to babysit for the boys. This wasn't too bad as at least I knew a few people that were going too. When I arrived there was a couple trying to find the right entrance to use and I joined them, we ended up almost doing a mini parkrun just trying to get in to the party. When we finally got in there was Simon and Mark greeting everyone and making sure they had tickets, there was a really nice cake someone had made and the conservatory was nicely decorated with 3rd birthday banners and balloons. They also had photos from the past years parkruns on a screen as a slide show it was interesting to see how people have changed in only a year. 

After a few conversations and a lot of wondering around as I didn't know a lot of people that were there, Simon and Mark started to announce the annual awards.

Starting with fastest male and female then the top 3 point winners male and female, followed by top age grading % and a special award given to 3 parkrunners who saved a fellow parkrunners life after they had a heart attack last May. Then there was a break for cake and lots of photos, then a quick trip to the bar before they carried on with the awards.

This time the awards were for Male volunteer of the year and Female volunteer of the year, best fancy dress, best photo bombing of the year, which was only ever going to go to Martin.

 

Next was the parkrunner of the year as voted by Simon and Mark. The final award was the parkrunners parkrunner of the year and there had been some voting on Facebook, Twitter and via email. During the week I had a seen a few votes on Facebook for me which was really great and very unexpected. I wasn't expecting anything as there are a lot of parkrunners at Huddersfield and many other great people who were being voted for. Then Mark read out an email from Nana (my stepmother Janice) that she had sent in along with her vote and it was then that I realised that I had won, I HAD WON , WOW HOW AMAZING IS THAT!!!!! I went up to collect my award and had to give a speech, but I was a bit dumbstruck and all I could say was thank you to everyone who runs or volunteers and I just enjoy running.

Since then I've been able to think a bit more and would like to thank everyone who voted for me, thank you to everyone at Huddersfield parkrun, the volunteers, runners, organisers and people who just come to watch. They all add to the great atmosphere and feel to Huddersfield parkrun that has helped me to attract more and more people to join in with me and more importantly keep coming back. Even after only 9 months of parkrunning I feel very much part of a enormous family and with the up coming Junior parkrun that is starting which SJ and I are going to be a big part of as run directors that family will only get bigger and better. 

After I had collected my award I sat down for a bit and was told by Marks girlfriend that there was so many votes for me, which just made me feel so humble and proud, but at the same time I was still slightly in shock. I went to the bar and to get a drink as I was shaking a little and didn't know what to do with myself, I couldn't get a proper drink though as I was driving so I had a celebratory coke instead. Eventually I calmed down enough for me to drive home and go show off my award to SJ, she was asleep when I got home but I woke her up of course.

I still haven't stopped smiling or feeling on top of the world 48hrs later, I wonder how long this awesome feeling will last.

Keep running everyone

Temple Newsam's 1st Birthday and Team Pattison tourism

This past parkrunday Team Pattison packed up early and headed off to Temple Newsam parkrun to join in the celebrations for their 1st birthday. This was also Team Pattisons first team tourism, I had done a couple on my own before but this was the first one that we all were taking part in.

We arrived and met up with my friend Steve and made our way round to join the ever growing crowd at the start. There was a large following from the Huddersfield running bunnies that had made the trip up the M1 too, which added to the already great atmosphere. Whilst we all arrived Leigh Harvey was going round handing out party hats for everyone to wear, we even put one on Flynn. 

As this was our first time at Temple Newsam parkrun we didn't know the course or where the start was but I did know courtesy of social media that they had changed the course a bit. I had no idea what from or to so it was useless information to us but for those who were more regular I'm sure it was helpful. So after a bit of standing around looking a little lost and scared we got the call to go to the start, from Ronnie the "ppoty" (parkrun personality of the year 2013) and event director. It seemed no one knew where the start was so Ronnie led the way and soon had us all lined up ready for the start and the run brief. Then after a couple of introductions and a couple of photos, we were off and across the grass/muddy path we went. 

When we reached the start of the downhill it seemed everyone had under-estimated the warning we got at the run brief about the icy bits and taking them steady. There was quite a lot of accidental Temple T's, regulars of Temple Newsam parkrun will know what I mean. For those of you that don't here is a photo to explain.

At the bottom of the hill we could trust our footing again and pick up the pace, and not long after dodging all the puddles we were already for the uphill back to the start. There was kilometer markers placed around the course which was nice but it made me think if there were any at other parkruns I had been to, and there wasn't any. It's only a small thing but it was nice to see, I can see how it could get confusing at 3 lap courses and part lap courses but on a 2 lapper it's great.

After climbing the hill up to the house I started lap 2 and was already being too slow for my friend Steve who had stayed with me for a bit but was stronger on the climb so decided to keep going rather than wait for me, which I totally understand and wondered why he hadn't do it already. 

The second lap was a bit quicker to start with as I knew where I was going this time but when it came to climb the last hill again my legs felt really heavy. I still managed to make it up in a pleasing time but the finish was now right at the top of the hill right in front of the house so the extra 50m climb up to the finish really hurt mentally but the friendly reception I got from the volunteers was great. About halfway up the hill I had noticed that S-J, Dexter and Flynn were struggling and were last. Mainly as the buggy we use doesn't have the most suitable front wheels for the muddy patches and the bumpiness of the footpaths. So after a quick chat with Steve and  a catch of my breath I ran on to catch them up and help. When I caught up with them Dexter was helping the tail runner Nikki Coop collect the markers and cones etc as they went by. Nikki Coop was brilliant with Dexter and taught him the correct way to do the Temple T.

I took Flynn and the buggy off S-J for the final hill climb so she could cross the line with Dexter and they got a amazing cheer as they crossed the line thanks to all the people who stayed back after they had finished themselves.

At the finish I managed to get a quick word with Nicola Forwood and meet Poppy for the first time, and  Nicola got met Flynn again 4 months after the last time at Huddersfield parkrun. it's safe to say he was a lot bigger now than when she met him at only 3 weeks old. Unfortunately it was only a brief meeting as we had a very excited 5 year old who wanted to play in the playground by the car park before we had to go and pick up Clark. So even with the ice and mud I had a fantastic time, S-J not so much but we will definitely be back again maybe in the Spring or summer. 

Thank you to everyone at Temple Newsam parkrun and a special thanks to Nikki Coop who kept S-J and Dexters spirits going through until the finish.

Keep running everyone

*****S-J edit*****

I had a lovely time! I genuinely thought I might die going over the wet muddy grass track, as the buggy seemed to think it should be a bloody plough!  The first lap was honestly horrific in my defense I did get so cold at the start I couldn't feel my toes and it was an uphill start and I couldn't run down the hills due to ice!  Also one of the little known joys of pushing a buggy in the ice is you have to hold it back down hill so it was like resistance training! Nikki Coop was ace and we didn't even finish last (just v nearly last) I will do it again in the sunshine!!!