Bromley parkrun.....again!

 Hello blog readers.

It's me again!  Only one run this week, I must try harder to get to a Tuesday club run.  I think the dark and the cold are really not inspiring me to push myself harder to get to club run on time.  Procrastinating!  I am the queen of procrastination! I procrastinate so much that it's almost bedtime when I get home from work, I then talk myself out of rushing to get changed and rushing in the car to the park to join group 1 at 7 pm.  I remember I did it once but I drove the whole way without putting my lights on my car!  Scary!

Anyway, here I am again procrastinating instead of writing up my bog!  How you put up with me I don't know!  So, I was again 'solo' running Bromley parkrun.  Naggy was saving her legs as today (Sunday) she did the Darenth 10k, apparently that has a hill that makes PWR 10k hill look like a bump!  No thank you, that has put me off applying for that one....in the future....!  SnappyHannah still had some things she needed to do so she ran earlier in the morning.

I arrived early at the park as I didn't want to miss out on parking, I know what I am like.  I would drive around the roads looking for parking then not find one and then go home! Would I run if I did that...? Right now I probably wouldn't.  I would just beat myself up and then moan at myself for being a lazy 'meadow lady'! So getting out early it has to be which is why I was sat in my car for a good fifteen minutes I would say.  

When it was time I walked along to the start of the run. I put myself in the middle of the crowd, I was thinking the penguin effect would help keep me warm!  It was blimmin cold!  I only had a short sleeved tee on and my running jacket! And yes Mrs K I had my knickers on too as well has my running pants!  I should have brought the gloves from my car though.  I just thought once I started running I should warm up, being early as I was, I was just chilling down!  There were some mile stone runners at Bromley yesterday too, my next one, 200, is still about 40 or so weeks away!  

When the count down started I was still in the middle of the pack I didn't want to move from the 'heat' in the middle.  Of course I would be getting passed as the mass of runners thinned out to a long column of runners.  I found it fascinating  when I passed the second building of the left side of the park, just how fast those at the front are!  I looked over to the right and I saw runners already going down the short straight, not just one or two either, there was a long line of runners!

I was still running 1 - 1 Jeffing all the way. but again I still ran the first three minutes.  I know it too,  I kept looking at my watch for the next walking section!  I was feeling pretty tired yesterday, I didn't think I would be breaking any records......don't laugh!  

I just needed to stay on pace and watch  kilometres go by.  By the time I thought about it I was on the second lap, "Just twice more to this spot" I thought to myself as I ran on down the long straight.  I couldn't spot any particular person that I wanted to 'catch' up to.  I am thinking, now, that it was probably phycological that I didn't choose an 'opponent' to race against.  Yesterday was all about trying to stay consistent. Consistent with parkrun run.  Trying not miss any Saturdays. Trying to stay consistent with my pace, trying to stay consistent with the Jeffing!  I must admit, I did miss a couple of running minutes, of course I beat my self up about that!

The last short straight down to the finish funnel I felt like it was a challenge.  I was knackered!  I didn't think that I pushed myself any harder than I usually did (again beating myself up because I didn't).  This chap caught me up on my walking section "Come on" he said "Don't let this 81 year old injured olympic race walker beat you" he said as he over took me!  "You usually do" I called after him as he started to make space between us.  My 1 min of running started again, "Go on Old girl, get back up to him, you can do it" I started to say to myself.  I pushed a little bit harder, doubts started to come in my mind as I saw the orange cones getting nearer.  Voices in my head saying "He's an Olympian, you ain't gonna catch him up" I stopped running. "Oh come on old girl, move it!" I think I said that bit out loud! Did I swear? Hmm I don't think so, but another telling off as I slowly started to catch him when I started running up again but I didn't quite make it as he crossed the line just before me!  He turned around in the funnel and said "Well done" as he shook my hand!  

It was well done.  I got out of bed, I got my running gear on and I got to the park!  That at the moment is all that is needed! One minute running, one minute walking. It's moving, it's getting the heart rate going, it's getting the cardio going and it's burning off the couple of pints I had on Friday night!

Me, in my car feeling accomplished

Bromley parkrun

 Hello blog readers.

Another run down and another blog blogged!  Well once I've written, which if you are reading it means that I have!  Blimey, I don't know what goes in my brain sometimes!

So, parkrun.  I did it, I did it alone too.  I had texted the Normans Angels Whatsapp group to see who would be running,  it seemed we were all running, but in different places and times!  Naggy was in Hastings, so she was doing the Hastings parkrun and SnappyHannah had a ton of work to do so wanted to get a run in earlier that 9 am.  So it was just me, on me own at Bromley.  Well, when I say on my own, there were 792 runners and walkers, over 70 of them were Petts Wood Runners, over 50 volunteers were mentioned in the email, park users, doggies, kids, birds. So not quite on my own!

I didn't think too much about todays run, I wasn't dreading it, wasn't particularly looking forward to it either.  I think that is quite a big step forward in my opinion!  Even the 'Run Lords' were looking out for me today, as I was driving into the park, I believe it was Jason running towards the road to hold out a sign that the carpark was full! "Oh no, I'm not going to find a place to park now" I thought.  I didn't think I would find a place outside of the park and then get back in time for the start of the run.  I probably would have gone home.  But just as if headed towards the main carpark I noticed just one space on the side of the road!  A space that a few years ago I would have thought it was way to small to try and squeeze into.  but I did it (It was quite a big space really, but all spaces look tiny to me if I have to park in them). 

So there I was, among the throng of people waiting to hear "parkrun!"  I am still keeping to the 60 60 even though for the first 3 minutes I ran, just because.....well I don't know really, I just did!  After that I more or less stuck to the 60 60.  There were a couple of times I walked on the running bit!  I had my music playing in my ears, I went for 60's today.  Some of it was a good beat to run to, some it it was perfect to walk to.

The first lap went by quite quickly. No, not in time, but metaphorically, As I have said in several of my blogs, I have a lot of empathy with sloths!  In fact the whole run seemed to fly by quickly.  Does this mean I am secretly enjoying running again?  I don't want to say it out loud in case it disappears again! but yeah, parkrun did not feel a complete ordeal.  In fact the only hard bit was escaping my duvet!  It wasn't a chore today! Hmmm that's good right.  I didn't crack any pb's obviously but I more or less stayed consistent.  Here's to the next parkrun!

A couple of pictures today.  One is of me running, taken by John Diamante and one is of three lovely PWR ladies, all of which ran to parkrun and then going on home or to run some more miles in prep for a huge run that is happening in April! In London! 

 

Tourisim parkrun

 Hello blog readers.

I nearly let this blog slide on by!  It's already Monday evening and I haven't bragged.....I mean blogged about my run on Saturday!  In fact, I nearly let Saturdays parkrun slide on by!  I hadn't text the Normans angels Whatsapp group to see if we were off touring some parkrun somewhere, it was already Friday.  But I had to  text Naggy  to remind her know about Bims  secret 60th birthday gathering that was happening later  on Saturday evening.  I had just carried on the text convo and asked about parkun.  She said that as no-one text on our usual chat group she was just going to let parkrun slide on by!  But between the two of us we got our act together, sort of, and planned to go to Danson Park, Bexley parkrun.  Of course we both forgot to let SnappyHannah know where were were going!  Two foggy brained, menopausal women, trying to remember where our running shoes are, or the fact that we are indeed runners in the first place is good going for us at the moment.

Anyway, Saturday morning came, the alarm went off! I wasn't best pleased, I was almost kicking my for texting Naggy on the Friday.  If I had let it be until after parkrun I could still lie in my bed, with my lovely arm duvet keeping me prisoner!  It was a bit foggy out....I think, or was that my brain,  it didn't feel cold though.  I was thinking it was going to be an ok run, maybe not speedy.... mwahhhhaaaaa!! As if I was ever speedy!  I think in some previous life I was a sloth!  I love sloths, I identify with sloths, I think they are they most cutest creatures ever!  

I met Naggy outside and we made our way to her car.  We arrived with plenty of time before the start.  I even remembered to take some pictures of us, look at this! 

Can you see!  I have remembered how to upload a picture too!  Anyway,  this is the two of us, two foggyheaded ladies, in a foggy park in Bexley.  It was rather busy as well, if I remember correctly, busier that it had been on previous visits.  There were pacers there, maybe that had brought in a few extra runners.  

Anyway, we were ready to run, the quicker we start the quicker we finish!  There I go again, thinking I'm all that with the speed!  Hahaha!  After the chap had finished the briefing the throng of people moved as one to the start. "See you at the finish" Naggy said as the runners in front started to thin out as they started their run.  "See you at the finish" I called after her.

My Garmin was running, my music was running, all it needed was for me to run!  I decided to keep with the 60 60 still, just for a bit longer, just to keep my mind thinking that I got a good hold of this running malarky again.  Keep it fun(?), keep it easy(?) keep it as the thing that I enjoy most in the whole world(?)  I know, the new mantra is is a work in progress, not quite slipping off the tongue.  I am trying to think all the right things first, if not do all the right things.

My music was in my ears helping me  keep the pace going, but up ahead I spied someone that I really wanted to be my target race.  She was running at the same sort of speed as me, but she was further along.  I decided to ignore the 60 60 and my pace and try to pick it up a bit to try and catch her up.  I should have listened to myself  though "No, Old girl, stay your pace"  I managed to catch her up and tucked myself in behind, make my break when I could.  Oh my goodness tho!  My breath was just all over the place!  How can anyone forget how to breath.  But that's what I did!  My heartrate went up, I know cos my Garmin told me!  My speed slowed down as I tried to gain composure!  Meanwhile, my 'target race' pulled away again.

It was like that all the way around, I caught up with her, I even over took her at one or to points along the way but I couldn't keep the lead.  So I just plodded along again, just enjoying being out.  And I was enjoying it,  if it wasn't for the running it would have been perfect! 

Bexley is a two lap course, but it is a fairly flatish course, sort of!  There is just that little bump the marshals have nicknamed 'Woo Woo Hill'.  The first time going up the hill I walked it, the second time around (Yeah, I know the second time smug mode!) I ran it, well most of it, ok some of it, I ran some of it!  It was still more running up the hill that the first time around!  I was determined to run some of it...if not all of it... maybe next time! If I couldn't catch up to my target race then a little bit of hill training will have to suffice.  

Once back out of the woody bit and running along to Joe's corner I could see my target again.  "I could do this" I thought to myself, and I picked up the pace again, but then just as I did that I had a phone call.  I could ignore it and call back later, but just lately me and my siblings are all just all keeping in touch, just to stay connected and support each other for these next few weeks.  I didn't want to not answer any call.  Of course it did mean I slowed down to a walk as I chatted away for a little bit.  My target race was pulling further away.  I was rather glad my brother rang really, it made a great excuse, I mean reason not to push myself to the finish to see if I could beat her.

After passing Joe's corner it's just the home straight from there!  I just know that through the gates Naggy will be waiting, it was just a guessing game at which tree she would be waiting at. Mind you, I don't think she was by the trees this time, I think she was nearer the finish funnel!  But I am writing this up Monday evening, the parkrun was a couple of days ago, she could have been totally speedy and over took me for all I can remember!  Menopause!  Why can't I have Runopause instead?