Blaydon XC

Yesterday afternoon Dawn text me and asked if I wanted to go and spectate at Blaydon Cross Country. Enjoying my new found love of running and loving last minute plans, half an hour later she picked me up and we headed to Blaydon!

Once we got the car parked we arrived just after the men' s heats started and I was looking forward to cheering everyone on, particularly my brother-in-law Craig! Joanne told us she was standing next to the blue tent. Dawn and I thought it would be easy to find her but it turned out that most of the tents were blue! A quick phone call and navigating our way under tape without running in front of any of the runners, we found our way to the tent Joanne and Toni were at :-)

Well done Craig!

Joanne and Craig

We cheered everyone as they passed us and it wasn't long before we saw Craig. We took photos of some fellow beer tenters as they passed also. We then headed over to the finish line to see the runners as they reached the end! Everyone did really well and it was great to be there to support my fab bro-in-law!

After the race we got some photos with some other members of the Great North Run Beer Tent Group :-) then some of us headed to the metro centre for some food! Another fab day involving running (one of these days it will be me competing haha - though not cross country!) how my weekends have changed hehe!

Running with Rachael!

Yesterday morning my friend Rachael and I went out for a run. Rach completed the GNR last month and I'm super proud of her. Yesterday was the first time we went out running together and I really enjoyed it.

Before our run!

It was a lovely day and Rach was super supportive when I was struggling. I hadn't been out for a week and I felt it. We ran slowly and completed 2.45 miles in total. I ran slightly further without slowing down to a walk but then didn't run for such long durations as I kept getting cramp in my calves. I bought a foam roller last week but haven't been using it much! Definitely think I need to get into a routine.

Rachael ran all the way and I kept walking in between (same pace as running) and it was nice to have some company as I ran. I do think I talked too much and struggled to keep my pace as slow as I'm used to and therefore think I overdid it a bit :/

When we got back to my house we had a delicious snack of Nutella on toast and strawberry  milkshake (and felt like children again! :)

After!

My thigh and hip are hurting today as I don't think I stretched enough when I got back yesterday (too busy chattering and thinking about Nutella!) Rachael was really supportive and I am glad we went together. We will be doing it again soon! :)

Gibside Fruit Bowl

On Sunday I went to Gibside with Joanne, Craig and Toni to support the Gibside Fruit Bowl. I'm a National Trust member but haven't been to Gibside previously so I was looking forward to it.

We got there nice and early and met up with some of the Beer Tenters, which made a good photo opportunity!

Once the race started we cheered the runners on and took some photos. Once they ran past us (the first time) we took the opportunity to take in the scenery and explore. It was quite a nice day for October and we enjoyed walking around while waiting for the runners to pass again. Toni had lots of fun running along (in her wellies) and seeing how long it took her to run between trees! I raced her, but even in her wellies, she beat me!

We watched the runners finish the race and then headed to the cafe for a nice cup of tea with the beer tenters. We had a lovely morning and it was great to support the runners. I haven't been out running much at all this week as I've started a new job and am settling into a new routine. I am going out for a run with my friend Rachael on Saturday morning and I am really looking forward to getting back out!

Moving forward!

I didn't run as much as I would have liked last week as I went to Birmingham (to find out why click here!) so I was happy to be going back to my running 'group' on Monday. It's not much of a group as I'm still the only one there but I really enjoyed it!

I would have thought I'd have felt uncomfortable being the only one going but it means that I am getting really good coaching and the session is tailored to me. I ran for 6 minutes at a time on Monday (walking in between) which is the most I've done so far! In fact I didn't even think I could run for 6 minutes yet! Just goes to show what you can do with the correct support. All together in the session on Monday I ran 3.1 miles (a 5k!) with a little bit walking in between! Words cannot describe how proud this session made me feel!

I had my new trainers on (for the first time) and although my feet did get slightly numb towards the end of the session I think they might be better than the other ones!

This morning I got up with the intention of going for a run but I really couldn't be bothered! I decided that giving up wasn't an option so I got my running gear on and went out!

After the success of Mondays session I didn't know which week of the podcast I should listen to so I decided to go out without my iPod. I ran until I got tired then walked. I was impressed to see that I managed to run for 6 minutes again (and did so a number of times!)

I really enjoyed my run. The other day I didn't like running on my own, but today that was just what I needed! I enjoyed not having my iPod as I was able to listen to the tweeting birds and monitor my own breathing better. There were quite a few people out walking their dogs when I was out this morning. I went for a run round the lake and people said morning and smiled (I always love how friendly people are when round the lake!) One older man said hello the first time I seen him, then when I passed him again (we were going opposite directions round the lake) he smiled at me "keep going!" This was at a time I was almost ready to give up running and walk again, but his supportive words gave me the motivation I needed to keep going a little longer! :) I was so proud of myself once I got home and I'm really glad I went out. It was only a 2.1 mile route but I ran most of it so I'm happy! Looking forward to going out again in a couple of days!

A weekend of running good fun!

On Saturday morning I went out for a run with my mam and we followed the podcast (my iPod worked fine, unlike Tuesday! So that was good).

We completed two miles (combination of running and walking) and I really enjoyed it! I don't mind running on my own but I much prefer running with someone. I tend to go too fast when on my own then can't do as much. When I'm with someone I like to keep talking (who'd have thought I like to talk!! Haha) so I can't go so fast if I want to still be able to breathe!

Joanne, Craig and the children came for lunch and we had more running related conversations! What did we talk about before running?! Haha. After they left I got ready for an exciting night out! On Saturday evening I met up with some of the beer tenters for a social gathering. Dawn and I arrived together and we ordered cocktails from happy hour whilst waiting for the others to arrive. We had a brilliant night, chatting, laughing and dancing! Some people were driving as they had the Newcastle Stampede the next day, but it was fab that they still came out! We all had a lovely evening and it was nice to meet some more new faces.

Some of the group that were out - me, Dawn, Sarah and Adelle

Dawn and I decided to go and be a two woman photography/cheerleading squad at the Stampede on  Sunday! We took lots of photos and then met up in the Border Minstrel after for a drink. Dawn and I opted for Tea as we were so cold from cheering everyone on! It was a great day, though I still have no desire to do it next year! Well done to everyone who completed it! We then went for lunch in Gosforth and talked more about running :-)

Kelly, Kelly and Alex!

Dawn and I went to the metro centre to take my trainers back as my feet get numb after running a couple of miles. After trying nearly every pair of trainers in the shop I finally came out with a new pair! Hopefully these will be better (but they did say it could be because I am new to running, so I guess I better stick at it!) :)

All in all a fabulous running themed weekend! Enjoyed every second :)

What a difference a month makes!

This morning I went for another run, with the intention that I would be listening to week 3 of the NHS podcast again. However, a few minutes into my run my iPod started shuffling itself (despite being locked) so I decided to turn it off and just 'go with the flow'.

I was still walk/jogging as with previous runs but I found it really difficult today. I think this was partly due to the lack of guidance/other people to motivate me, and partly due to the sun being so bright and so low in the sky. Normally I wouldn't complain at all that the sun is shining brightly, but it doesn't make for pleasant running conditions (not when it's so low anyway!)

Also, my legs started hurting today and I couldn't feel my toes on either of my feet by the end. I did about two miles (run keeper stopped before I got home! Grr) and normally my feet are fine. I think my trainers might be too tight across the top of my feet (either that or I've started running differently). I made sure I didn't tie my laces so tight today after my sore toes on Sunday, but this doesn't seem to have helped.

Today was definitely a difficult run, but I don't regret it. In fact, I'm still rather proud of myself for getting up and going out! Making the most of morning runs before I start my new job (then I will be running in the dark!)

Off to Birmingham tomorrow for a conference on Thursday (Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists) and have a busy day on Friday, so unlikely to get out running again until Saturday! I can't believe how much this bothers me haha. As little as 4 weeks ago I still hadn't even been for a run! What a difference a month makes!

Sunny Sunday running!

This afternoon I went for a run at the beach with my sister (Joanne), brother-in-law (Craig) and some of the lovely people we met on the Great North Run Beer Tent Group on Facebook. We had a lovely time!

I lost my phone on Friday and have been feeling pretty fed up since. I almost didn't want to go out this afternoon but decided the fresh air and nice company would do me good! I am so pleased I made myself go as I am so proud of my achievement today!

GNR Beer Tenters :) (thanks to Aidan for photo)

Before the run

We started off running along the beach, but as the tide was on its way back in, the sand wasn't firm enough so it wasn't long before we had a group vote and ran on the path! I was glad, as running on the sand was hurting my ankle (I sprained it back in March), and it doesn't hurt when I run normally.

Joanne stayed with me as I was slower than everyone else since I'm a newbie runner! I definitely did more running today than I normally do! (My big sister is a mean personal trainer! Haha). The weather was lovely although perhaps slightly too hot for running!

After 1 and a half miles we stopped briefly to discuss the rest of the route. Kelly, Joanne and I all said we would head back the way we came and everyone else went further along before looping back round to join us. I was almost ready to give up a number of times but Joanne and Kelly were so supportive and encouraging! Also I didn't want everyone else to catch up since they'd gone further than us (they still did though! Haha). It definitely made me push myself further than I usually do as the atmosphere with being out with other people was great!

Towards the end of the run, I couldn't feel my toes in my right foot (not sure why as this hasn't happened before) and my calves were quite sore, but I'm ok again now!

Once we all got back we went to the pub for a cold drink and a chat, which I really enjoyed! It was lovely chatting to everyone :)

I then spent the rest of the afternoon and evening with my family (and had lots of running resulted conversations with Joanne and Craig!)

I've had such a lovely day today and it made me realise that although it's annoying and inconvenient that I lost my phone, a day like today is priceless! This afternoons run really made me feel better (once I got my breath back!)

I'm so glad I didn't give up (and that other people wouldn't let me!) and I'm super proud I kept moving for 48 minutes! (my personal best!)

Autumn Jog

First post of the month. First jog of the month!

This morning I decided to go out for a jog to start my day. After my success on Monday evening I decided to skip week 2 of the podcast as week 3 was closer to what I did at running group on Monday (I know you aren't supposed to skip weeks but I want to challenge myself a little and didn't want to do less than the last time).

After the warm up walk I had to jog for 90 seconds, which felt like it was over no sooner than I'd started. That made me feel good, as last week I struggled with 60 seconds!! After my next walk I had to jog for 3 minutes. I struggled slightly with this but pushed on through, after the walk the cycle repeated. The second 3 minute jog was very hard! Partly as I was getting tired and partly as I was running into the wind. Part of me wanted to give up and walk at 2 minutes (and let's face it who would have known if I did?!) but I kept going until the lady on the podcast told me I could walk again. I was so proud of myself for not giving up! In total I walked/jogged 2.27 miles (as run keeper tells me). I was pleased with this and felt energised for the rest of the morning. I still can't believe that I am enjoying jogging so much! To think that just a few weeks ago I would have laughed if you'd told me that I would get up and go out for a run!  This just goes to show that Henry Ford was indeed right.. "If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right" - I used to say "I can't run" which is exactly why I didn't. Now that I have decided I can run, I am proving to myself that is true! (And enjoying it in the process!)

I enjoyed being out in the autumn air this morning. The leaves are falling from the trees as the season changes. I love the autumn colours so I took a photo of some fallen leaves.

Also, following my mam's suggestion I used a safety pin to attach my front door key to my clothes and found this to be rather successful! Saves me buying anything fancy for now haha (though I am buying running things quite often - including a health and fitness magazine from asda last night - think I'm going a little mad hehe!)