Family parkrunday

This week there was a real excitement about the forthcoming parkrun for 2 reasons. Firstly it was a Halloween parkrun run with dressing up (sorry Danny Norman) and face painting etc. Plus the second reason for the excitement was the long awaited debut of Nana (my stepmother Janice). Nana was going to attempt her first parkrun and non walking 5k, after being diagnosed and recovering from Cancer over the last 12 months. This has been a parkrunday we've all been looking forward to and with the surprise apperance of my other sister Jessie as well, our parkrun family is growing steadily. With me running, SJ pushing Flynn and jogging along side is Dexter plus my sisters Jessie and Jodie also pushing Izzie and then there is Nana. I think that's 6 parkrunners and 2 babies and could be 1 of the biggest family attendances at a parkrun.

There is still more to come too, my sister Jodie's eldest Liam hasn't run yet, and Jessie's other half Matty to make an appearance we could make it a ten strong team. It may take a bit longer to get my Dad and Mum to lace up the running shoes and join the crew, but we are still optimistic they'll do 1 at least. 

So on Friday evening (parkrunday eve evening) SJ and I packed bags with spare clothes for boys after run clothes for SJ and me. Shoes, coats, Flynns essentials, milk, nappies and of course Halloween outfits for all. Then I packed the buggy and bags into the car so that all we had to do in the morning was get dressed and have breakfast. The past few parkrundays we have been cutting it close arriving as they are doing the run brief. So we made sure we got there with

enough time to meet up with all the family and brief them on what was about to happen. 

We arrived at Greenhead park and joined the back of the pack gathering at the start. Here we saw some childhood friends and some other friends who had come too. They had arranged to come with one of their friends and bumping into each was a nice surprise. As the run was about to start Grandad (my dad) took Clark and Liam to the playground to have a play and cheer us on from there. We all got ready and in our respective blocks mine being in the 16-23 min section which still amazes me that I run that quick, and the rest of the gang in the 35+  section. After a very funny and hungover run brief we set off on our All Hallows' parkrun. 

I completed my run in 22.05 and had just enough time to get my barcode scanned and turn around before SJ was sailing past the finish just starting her second big lap of the course which I thought was in a great time. But was slightly confused as she was with Jodie not so long ago but Jodie was no where to be seen. Neither was Nana, Jessie and Dexter but I quickly discovered what had happend. Jodie had ditched Izzie with Grandad and had picked up her pace to try and beat her PB. Jessie and Dexter had slowed down because Dexter wasn't 100% and a bit of a monkey and Nana had stopped around the 3km point. She was feeling a little too tired and didn't want to hold people up or finish on her own. Not long after stopping though she had a change of heart but by then we had all passed her and Grandad so she didn't start again. But we were all proud of her and it didn't matter if she finished or not the fact that she attempted it and is now determined to complete it next week is brilliant enough. Well Done Nana (Janice)!! 

I waited at the finish until Dexter and Jessie came round then I joined in to get Dexter motivated again and sent Jessie on her way so she could catch up with SJ and Jodie. Dexter and I kept going at a slow but steady pass until we bumped into a lady called Lynne and she started talking to Dexter, who being 5 and a little unwell just ignored her. Then when she held Dexters other hand to me he suddenly started to warm a bit to her and started talking again. She was very impressed that it would be Dexters 10th parkrun next week and she also picked up his spirits a bit so when she parted ways to run with a friend Dexter was still happy to run. So as we started to close the gap on SJ and Flynn he started to smile a bit more too and even thanked the Marshals who even at that point on a drizzly day were still smiling and cheering us on. We caught up with SJ and Flynn just after the 4km mark and we finished the run off together. Also at this point I had somehow managed to be wearing Dexters Skeleton mask from his Halloween costume and had made it very sweaty so when I gave it him back for the last 200 metres all he could say was errr daddy you're sweaty. Thanks son I love you too. At the last corner SJ  set off running and pretty fast too Dexter really tried to keep up with her but couldn't. The reaction that everyone gave him at the finish was ace and made it a really great parkrunday.

Once we had all finished and met up after all barcodes had been scanned we set off back to Grandmas for our parkrun breakfast were we compared our different versions of the run and enjoy a nice bit of family since we haven't all been together in what seems months. Even Great Grandma was up from Chelmsford so there was 4 generations talking about parkrun. Since making a visit to grandmas a staple of parkrunday and the numbers growing each week, my mum has had to expand her table layout and today I think we maxed out the space.

Next week Grandma is away but is happy for the rest of us to carry on the tradition of parkrun breakfast. 

I wonder if there are many other family turnouts to a parkrun this size and do they have a family breakfast too? 

Keep up the good work Huddersfield parkrun and keep running everyone.

Two months on and the only routine is parkrun

Wow it's been a very busy last 8 weeks, things have changed, new additions have arrived and new routines have replaced the old and familiar ones.

I haven't blogged for a while as I have gone back to work after what I refer to as 5 years maternity leave. I have gone back to work as we are expecting son number 3 and we couldn't financially support me to stay at home and raise 3 children even now that Dexter is at school and Clark nearly at the stage where he will get funding at pre-school. So luckily I was able to get a job back at my old work but It has been a shock to the system. Even though I've done less at work than I did at home looking after my boys, I seem to be more exhausted than before. This in turn resulted in an end to my Insanity workouts but luckily I still managed to get my evening runs in. I had to change 1 of the days but they survived  at least, and I was still improving my times even if I was tired and hadn't done a workout in a while. The other casualty of me going back to work was parkrun as I had to work 1 in 3 weekends I had to  miss 1 in 3 parkruns but to make up for it  I managed to get 2 people at work to sign up to and take part in parkrun. 

After a few weeks back at work and a few days before the Shepley 10k I was organising Flynn Richard Marvel Pattison decided to make an appearance 10 days early.

He weighed in at 8lb05oz at 7.33am on Sept 11th. As newborns sleep a lot and I had organised a few days off work it gave me a bit of extra time to sort out some finer details before the Shepley 10k like putting out the signs and the course markers. Plus I had time with my boys, I got to take them to school which i had missed and I got to help Sarah-Jane with Flynn too. The Saturday before the Shepley 10k I had to miss parkrun again which was gutting but I still had some setting up to do. It's amazing how much parkrun means to you when you start going regularly and when you miss a parkrunday for other events it's a weird feeling. 

The day of the Shepley 10k came and no matter how early I get to my events there is always people already there waiting for me, to sign in etc. As this was the first Shepley 10k we had a great turn out of 40 pre-registered entrants and 6 on the day sign ups. As it was a mixed event we had about 4/5 people on bikes and 3 walkers which in the end worked well.

The only hiccup we had was I had slightly altered the route at the start and failed to mention it so we all ran about 11k instead of 10k. And yes I did too even though I knew the route, it seemed fair, I even did a bit of Marshalling on the way. We had a timing system for this event which was being managed by Sarah-Jane who was doing an awesome job juggling all three boys, the timing and handing out the prizes and T-Shirts. She had some help from other family members who came to help and support us. Without their help it could have been a very messy affair, especially as torrential rain was forecast for the morning. Luckily it stopped just in time for the start and held off until an hour after everyone had finished. Everyone finished safe and sound and really enjoyed it despite it being very hilly. I used signs that used the words FUN RUN so there was a number of comments from people asking if they had missed the FUN section of the run, which made me chuckle a lot. We look like we are going to raise a lot of money for the St Paul's Church in Shepley and it might result in an annual event too. 

Since the Shepley 10k Flynn has settled in nicely apart from becoming lactose intolerant which had kept Sarah-Jane up a lot at night until we were given lactose free milk from the Doctor. With Flynn needing a bit more attention and me giving Sarah-Jane a bit of a rest, my evening runs have suffered a bit and I only manage 1 a week, if that. When I did manage a run I managed to beat my Shepley PB which gave me confidence to try and beat my parkrun PB. Before I could try to beat my PB it was Dexters turn to run with me at parkrun, he really likes it but he does like to complain when I make him run, but when he watches from the sides he really wants to run. I guess that's what 5 year olds do it's always the other thing they want or want to do. 

This week was special as Sarah-Jane was taking part in her first 5k and first parkrun ever, she was planning on walking with Flynn in his buggy. That was the plan but she met a friend at her first parkrun and together they would jog on the downhills and walk on the uphills pushing and helping each other along the way. I finished with Dexter and left him with grandma and his brother Clark whilst I went back to run in with SJ and Flynn. I was ever so proud of her for taking part and even more proud when I realised how much jogging she had done. All of this and just 10 days after giving birth to Flynn, this I thought needed some recognition so I tweeted it to Nicola Forwood from the parkrun show (my favorite podcast). So when she gave us a mention on the show I think I grinned for at least a couple of days. 

During the next week I only managed 1 run again but again I beat my Shepley PB which was now at 22.34 which was only a few seconds off my parkrun PB. Shepley being a hilly run makes the smaller uphills of Huddersfield parkrun seem easier and should result in a new PB. So when parkrunday came around and parkruns 9th birthday to add to the day I knew it was going to be a good day. There was a great atmosphere and my friend work and his son came too, and with SJ walking with Flynn and Dexter this time there was a great buzz at the start line. I shuffled my way nearer the front so I could try for a new PB and I got off to a great start with my first sub 4 min km. I crossed the finish line and had completed the 5k in 21.53 a sub 22min run I was ecstatic, I had knocked 30+ seconds of my PB. I said hello to a couple of other friends who had finished then ran back to catch up with SJ and the boys. She was doing great and to help I ran with Dexter to the finish and waited for SJ to cross the line. She completed her 2nd parkrun and beat her last time by 30 seconds to, we were all very pleased and proud of each other. Flynn had a special outfit for the parkrun anniversary which SJ had made and the Huddersfield parkrun Facebook page used a photo we had uploaded which was very nice of them. There was a great selection of volunteers too which who were great as we went round and kept our spirits high all the way round. As usual we went round to grandmas afterwards for a breakfast fry up which is great.

This past parkrunday we had 2 new runners with us my sister Jodie and her daughter Izzie in her buggy. They walked/Jogged with SJ, Flynn and Dexter and I ran on my own again. SJ beat her PB again this week and by a staggering 2 mins well done you and I'm very proud of you. And well done to Jodie and Izzie on a great first timer time. 

We also had Nicola Forwood running at Huddersfield parkrun this week and I introduced her to Flynn afterward too. I did it in a graceful way "err Nicola this is Flynn..........and this is my wife"  Kerry Noble event director for the day came over and rescued us from a slight bit of embarrassment. At least all the focus was on Flynn and not on my slightly blushing face. It was great to meet her and hope I didn't keep her from her breakfast too long. 

With all the changes in our life recently it's great that the parkrun routine hasn't changed too much and that parkrunday is becoming such a big family event and with the anticipated debut of Nana (my stepmother Janice) coming soon, after recovering from Cancer recently it can only get bigger and better for us and for parkrun. Before you know it we will have my Mum and Dad running too and my little sister Jess and Matty her boyfriend.

This week I signed up for the Huddersfield half marathon next April 2 weeks after Yorkshire warrior 2014 and then in June it's Total warrior not to mention Tough Mudder in September. 2014 is already stacking up that's not including the Huddersfield 10k again and Shepley First School Fun Run and the Shepley 10k to organise again.

Keep running everyone....

Insanity training, holiday and parkrun

It's been a while since I have posted on my blog and I only thought about it a couple of times over the last 3 weeks. Not because I'm losing interest in it but because I've barely had time to sit down and rest never mind write a blog. Especially as I'm not the quickest of bloggers, a good blog can take me a few hours at least. I get stuck into it then have to stop and do something then lose my train of thought for a bit and it takes a few minutes to get it back. 

These past few weeks we have been in holiday in the south of France with almost all the family at various points. We were staying at my Dad and Stepmum's place in 30+ temperatures with a pool and these views which was great. 

Before the holiday, I started a new workout programme that Sarah-Jane had brought home from someone at work. It's called Insanity and is interval training over 60 days with a workout every day except 1 rest day a week. The workouts are about 45 mins long and after the first couple they definitely live up to their name. By the end of the first week I had got used to the workout a bit more but bits of them were still Insanity. I was still doing my runs along side the workouts and even after a week of Insanity I could tell they have already had an effect on my running. I felt stronger and strangely taller, and on my final run before the holiday even my cardio felt better even if it was only a slight difference.

I carried on with insanity whilst on holiday and in the south of France temperatures the sweat was pouring off me. At the end of my workouts I would jump in the solar shower at the side of the pool then dive in and do a few lengths to cool down. Nothing was more refreshing than diving into a pool after a very warm workout and I'm sure it had a good effect on my muscles too.

It was really satisfying to be able to carry on doing my workouts on holiday and I even managed a few runs as well. My runs started with a mid 26 minute run in 30c temperatures which wasnt the best decision I had made, it drained my energy very quickly. Even though it was a slower than normal 5k time, it was a minute quicker than the same time last year when I was just starting out on my running/fitness regime.

I went on to do 2 more runs and improved my time each time and finished the holiday runs with a time of 25.01. I was slightly annoyed I hadn't broken the 25 minute barrier but considering the heat I was still happy. Whilst on holiday we had the chance to recreate a photo from last year and before I started running. So here is my before and 1 year on photo we did to compare my body shape.

With all the runs, the daily workouts, the swimming, and the 2 rounds of golf, you could have mistaken this relaxing holiday for something else. But that is what it was, a lovely relaxing 2 weeks of fun and sun and lovely company. 

So when we got back home and back to the British summer and lower temperatures I was interested to find out how much if any difference all the exercise has had on my running. I was interested to compare my running against my normal route to see if there was any time difference and/or if I felt a difference.

So Thursday after coming home I went out for a run and was slightly sluggish to start with, the 1st km was 4.59 and a little disappointing but I tried to up the pace. The next couple were better in the mid 4 minute area and when I reached 4km I noticed something. Normally at this point I would be slowing and not looking forward to the last uphill, but I was still going strong. I was keeping my pace and  my cardio was a lot better and I powered up the last hill and when my brain slowed me down at the top of the hill I noticed it and picked up the pace again without issue. I was heading down again to the 5k mark and was trying to push to the finish hoping for a low 24 minute time but at the end my app called out 23.34 min. I was slightly surprised and not at the same time, but very happy I had managed to beat my PB by a whole minute. This also was encouraging for parkrun on Saturday I wanted to come back off holiday and attempt a new PB at parkrun and having beaten it in training was exciting. When Saturday came I asked Dexter if he wanted to run this week hoping he wouldn't but I had to ask. Luckily he said no, so I could now go out and run my socks off hopefully beating my parkrun PB which is set at 24.34 mins. 

So at the start I noticed a friend of Rob and me, Steve. He was near the front so I squeezed in next to him to say hi, and see what he's been up to. This was his 2nd parkrun, his 1st being the week previous whilst I was on holiday. I asked him how it went the week before and without pausing he said he had done it in 20.54 mins. I was impressed but jokingly said he was a show off, which he followed up with saying he was trying for a sub 20 minute time this time. So again a show off comment was returned, but I wished him luck and after a quick gossip we got ready to run. As always Sarah-Jane and the boys had got in their position at the playground to watch me pass and cheer me on, which is always great. Clark's talking is improving all the time and so is his voice so the his cheers are becoming louder and louder which on lap number 2 made a couple of the other runners around me giggle a little at my cheer leaders.

At Huddersfield parkrun this week we had pacemakers of 20 mins, 24 mins, and 30 mins I think. So when I was on my last km and the 24 min pacemaker hadn't passed me I new I was on track to beating my PB. With a few hundred metres to go I was almost certain I was going to beat my time so I wasn't to bothered when a couple of people passed me with their sprint finishes. I would come to regret not pushing that last 200 metres as I crossed the line in such a surprising time and it could have been better. My time was 22.28 min which is another minute faster then the other day. I know it could have been faster as I had settled on beating my PB rather than running as faster as I can, but there is always next time. That is one of the best things about parkrun, it's there week after week for you to try as hard or as little as you want. I was really pleased with my time even if I was a little annoyed at my finish, and I have in the space of a year (give or take a few weeks) taken 5 minutes off my 5k time. I met up with Steve afterwards and checked to see how he got on with his target. He did it with a great time of 19.46 mins, which he put down to following the 20 minutes pacemaker then sprinting off near the end. Which I guess is the way to do it, so well done Steve and hope to see you again next week.

Looking back at my times over the last few weeks and how they have improved, and how I've felt whilst doing them. I have come to the conclusion that the Insanity workouts have a lot to do with it but not everything. I think I had just become comfortable at 25 minutes or just under, so didn't push myself as much as I could have. Either way I'm liking the results that have come from doing Insanity and I'm looking forward to the second half of the 60 day workout plan and training for the Shepley 10k. We will have too see what effect Insanity has on my 10k times, my PB at the moment is just over 52 minutes. 

Last week also saw the opening of registration for Yorkshire Warrior 2014 which is very exciting but more on that later.

Keep running everyone

Barnsley parkrun, Huddersfield Carnival and Insanity

This past weekend Huddersfield parkrun was cancelled because the Huddersfield Caribbean carnival was on. So I had to get my parkrun fix elsewhere, and that's how it feels, a fix in a good way. I'm only 6 runs in but the whole routine of getting up and going for a run within the fun and friendly atmosphere of parkrun plus having the rest if the day still is just great. So after debating between Bradford parkrun or Dewsbury parkrun I went with Barnsley at Locke park. Mainly because its our 2nd closest, I had no idea what it was like or what it's average numbers were. So I looked online to find its average attendance and directions to the park so I was all clued up ready for Saturday morning.

On the day the plan was for me to run the 3 laps of the park whilst Sarah-Jane walked round with Dexter and Clark in his buggy for the first time in about a year. Then when I had finished I would catch them up and run with Dexter until he finished his 3 laps. On arriving at the start finish line that plan was scrapped as there is, in Dexters eyes and a little in mine, a great playground. So Dexter decide I could go on my own and he would play in the playground and cheer me on. 

There was a small but close group of runners at Barnsley parkrun, I say small but there was just under 100 and after a few 50 & 100 club presentations we gathered at the start. As I was unfamiliar to the group I had no judgement on where to start from for my average time, unlike at Huddersfield where I knew roughly to start with and exactly with the new penning system. So I placed myself about 2/3 back and when a guy next to me started talking about getting a DNF result today I knew I was in the wrong place but never mind. We were off and after a little shuffling and a slow start I was off at my fast pace. I wanted to keep track of people on the first lap as I had no idea where I had to go, but soon realised that the route had small arrows stencilled on the floor for you to follow. I still kept in touch with the people in front of me but I had no idea what pace I was on as I couldn't hear my Endomondo app. I really tried to keep my pace up and for the first 2 laps I did I even over took a few people. On the second lap I came upon a lady who was encouraging a chap trying to keep him going and for a while it was working but he eventually drop back but she kept going. She start helping the next person she came up to telling them to dig deep and keep it up, and this time it fell on deaf ears. Just at the start of the uphill on the 3 lap I came up behind her and she heard me and saw me coming so start cheering me on and then said something that at the time didn't register. But every time I think about it now or when telling people about my latest parkrun makes me giggle like a school boy. She heard me coming up behind her so to encourage me she said come on you can do me on the hills. Which I did but I did have to dig deep to get to the top of the hills. The uphills at Barnsley are deceptively tough but the long downhill to the finish is a welcomed sight once you've reached the summit. I reached the finish in a pleasing 25.24 and because of the heat and the unfamiliar route I was happy. Locke park was a lovely little park and would definitely do Barnsley parkrun again.

From parkrun it was home for a shower then some lunch and then my mums, for the Huddersfield Carribean carnival. This is an annual event held in the park where Huddersfield parkrun is held and attracts thousands of people to see the parade and enjoy the festivities in the park. There is dancing, fairground rides and stalls selling whistles, food and drink. 

With the weather being as nice as it is the carnival was busier than usual and the park was crammed, there must have been about 15000 people if not more. We left Sarah-Jane and Clark at my mums with Nana (Janice) whilst the rest of us went across to the park and the boys (Dexter and Liam) went on some of the rides.

 They had a great time and by the time we got back to my mums we had to quickly grab some food then we had to get home so Sarah-Jane could get ready to go out to a work friends retirement party. After she had gone I got the boys settled down watching DVD's in their room, after a busy day I knew it wouldn't be long before they were asleep. They managed to keep going until 7.30pm then I found them like this.

On Tuesday I started a new (to me at least) fitness workout called Insanity. I never thought I would follow a fitness workout DVD but I also never thought I would run regularly either. So far I think I've lost about 4 pounds in sweat in just 2 sessions and gained sore legs but I feel great so far just another 58 days to go. I'll keep you up to date on my new fitness scheme as I go.

Keep running everyone

Happy 1st Runniversary

This past Sunday was my 1st Runniversary, so this weekend was full of activities just to emphasis the difference a year makes. Saturday morning was Parkrun then it was off to my mums to finish off the decking I had made her. Then Sunday morning consisted of a bike ride with Dexter and a visit to the playground, then an afternoon of gardening. Followed by my Runniversary run following the route of my first run a year ago.

My run at the bottom of this photo was my first this time last year
 

Saturday morning we all set off for Parkrun Huddersfield and Dexter was determined to run further and faster, or at least that was what he had been saying all week. We arrived at Greenhead park a little later this week so there was already a bunch of people lined up at the start. Dexter and I quickly did our stretches and Mummy and Clark went off to the playground and their first vantage point to cheers us on. Parkrun were using a new penning system at the start so the faster runners were at the front and the slower ones were at the back. It worked well and we all got started without too much jostling about avoiding slower runners. We managed to get to 1km before Dexter started to whinge about needing to slow down. As I know him and what he did last week I know he was just winging because he's 5 and nothing else. I kept him going until 3km then I said he could have a little walk and a rest before we would start running again. He was really good and started running again and then at 4km we had another walking rest for about 100 metres. I knew he had lots of energy still but I didn't want to push him to far that he wouldn't get out off doing it again. The main reason I knew he had lots of energy still was whenever we went past some Marshals who are brilliant and are always cheering you on, he would grin from ear to ear and speed up a bit. As we got close to the cafe and the area all the finishers gather in the buzz seemed to help Dexter and a few people started to shout his name to encourage him. It helped and we rounded the final corner with the finish line in sight, and a lady we passed also cheered Dexter on and I told him to sprint across the line which he did and got a great cheer too. He has finished his 2nd Parkrun in 35.33 which is  4.30mins quicker than last week, he did brilliantly.

 

On Sunday Sarah-Jane took Clark into town to do a little shopping so Dexter asked if we could go for a bike ride. Now when he said this he meant I would be on my bike and he would be towed around in the bike carriage we have. So we did and we rode up to the playground near his school and whenever I ride my bike I always forget that you use a different set of muscles compared with running because when we got there I was surprisingly tired for such a short distance. Dexter had a great time and 1 of his friends from school also came up to play in the playground, and it was funny listening to them and the way they play together. When there at school you don't get to see/hear them play with their friends so it was interesting seeing them interact.

 

As it was my Runniversary Sarah-Jane and I unintentionally recreated my first run from this time last year. The plan was to run around the block exactly the same as I did last year to see the difference a year of running has made. The unplanned debacle that followed was exactly what happen last year too. I kept saying I was going for a run but things kept distracting me, like gardening, some housework and playing with the boys.

It wasn't until Sarah-Jane said 'right stop it and just go for a run' that I actually did. That's how it was last year too and if it wasn't for that push from her last year I don't know if I would be blogging about my running and all the stuff that has happened in the last year. Now last year I did the 1km run around the block in 6.07mins which as a time isn't too bad I've done 6 min km's since then. It was the end of the run and the aftermath that was key, I didn't even manage to run the full 1km just I stopped at 0.98km and the run completely took it out of me and I was still recovering a couple of hours later. This year I decided to see how fast I could do it now and how long it would take me to recover. Well I completed the 1km in 4.05min which was 2 mins quicker and after about 5mins at home I was fine again. It was a great feeling but I still have a way to go before I could keep that pace up for 5km or 10km which I would love to be able to do. I can keep a 5min to 4.30min pace going comfortably now, so lets see how I'm getting on this time next year.

 

As you do on anniversaries you tend to look back at the last year and reflect, and that's exactly what I did this weekend. If you had told me last year that I would be running at least 10k a week I would have said 'yeah whatever'! The thing is its gone way past just that, and that's what more surprising. I've taken part in 5 organised 5k runs, 2 10k runs, and a 10 mile muddy run. If that wasn't enough I've even organised a 10k run which raised £1400 for my sons school and I'm in the process of organising another 10k run to raise money for the local Church. I find myself looking at places differently now too, I catch myself planning runs in my head when I see places that would be good 5k or 10k routes.

 

Lets just hope that this next year will be just as good

Keep running everyone.