We agreed that we would find a fast and flat road course for her first 10k timed run, but in my excitement for finding the LeahGlow in the Park run at a local Park (Polesdon Lacey), I neglected to check the course information and it turns out that Polesdon Lacey is neither flat, nor road!
January has been just wet non-stop, and when it hasn’t been raining it has been windy, like proper rip up your fences windy (our poor fence!), the morning of the run, it poured with rain, and according to race organisers they lost most of the course markers throughout the day, replacing these little less than an hour before the run was due to start.
With our regulatory required head torches, and not so required neon outfits we made our way to the start line, with over 400 runners expected and 99 running on the night it was a quiet start-line, everyone bunched up close trying to bounce a little warmth into cold legs. This was the first event that I have ever been to without a warm-up, just a quick word from the organisers on course safety and we were off!
Before we had even hit the 1k marker I had started apologising to Evita for my mis-sell of the event. The path had quickly turned to trail, then to a mix of grass and mud, our road trainers were not providing the traction required for the mixed wet terrain. Around the 2k marker a steep rocky decline had slowed the pack in front to a walk, and we held hands as we clambered the steps down. It was somewhere between 3-4k that I thought maybe I would not be running the full 10k, which was confirmed when both Evita and I were on our hands and knees trying to stay upright up a hill, which can only be accurately defined as a small mudslide (I so wish I had taken pictures), the only thing keeping me moving up that hill was the need to keep ahead of Evita, whom I was certain would throttle me if she caught up!
We made sure to run the final 1k, and a token sprint finish, before bowing out of the second lap! Although for a short while, we were on the podium!
Glow in the Park 5k – Polesdon Lacey 25/01/2014 (49:26)
#Janathon Day 17 - 15 minutes cross trainer plus free weights/core bag workout
To warm-up I completed a 10 minute interval pattern on the cross-trainer before completing 2 sets of 8-12 reps on the Chest Press, Seated Row, Pulldown and Leg Press machines (remembering to rest for 45 seconds between each set). To keep my heart-rate up I moved to the Summit trainer/stepper and completed a 6 minute mixed hill climb.
Moving into the free weights and conditioning zone, I completed 2 sets of front squats with a 5kg corebag and 2 sets of Squat & Press with 4kg dumbells, before jumping onto a static cycle for a 8 minute mixed hill climb, maintaining around 80-90rpm, by this point I was lovely and 'glowing' (a sweaty mess!).
To complete my workout, we focused on core, completing 2 sets of 12-15 reps of Oblique crunch with knee lifts, forearm and side planks, focusing on maintaining correct form.
#Janathon Day 9 - 60 minute Full Body Gym Workout
Leah had arranged a Christmas get together to run the Cafod Nativity Run. It’s an annual run, held on Clapham Common and this year included a nativity toddle, a 5k and new for 2013 a 10k.
The selling point for this race was not only the chance to Run with the Team Naturally Run girls, to meet some of the bloggers who I have been following for the last year or so (although I have to admit that it felt slightly like I was meeting celebrities) but to top it off, Leah has arranged medals for us all, our Team Naturally Run Bling.
Cafod encourage runners to dress in a Festive or Christmas outfit, we saw some amazing costumes including a 6ft Christmas tree. Leah had also arranged a group costume, we were all decked out in matching Elf Costumes, and Lucy’s boyfriend Glen even had a little matching Elf costume! Leah’s costume was adorned with a few extras including a tiara, a sash and wand, as her lovely boyfriend (fiancé) had proposed.
The run itself was a mix of paths, tracks and little trails in the park, I hadn’t realised that it was meant to be shaped like a snowflake! It was a nice run for our spectators as we doubled back several times to the bandstand and it meant Tim and Katy were able to get some great pictures! (the pictures are great, me not so much!)
I ran most of the run with Leah, Lauren and Charlie, it was really fun running with a group and in costume, especially as every time we passed a marshal they congratulated Leah the ‘Bride Elf’, I think most presumed it was a Hen Party!
Around 7.5k I slipped back into a slightly slower more comfortable pace, the heavy felt costume was a little much and I was struggling to keep cool at a faster pace.
I crossed the finish line in 1:05:01, I had been beating myself up on the last km and knew I was going to be the last elf to finish, but as I approached the finish line the girls were all cheering and I felt like amazing, it was a new experience to run with a big group and I was delighted to finish, be thrust a hot chocolate, some water and a mince pie before joining the rest of the girls for a group photo, Team Naturally Run won Best Group Costume!
Left to Right - Lucy, Lauren, Lissy, Billie, Zoe, Becs, Beki, Charlie, Leah, Ashley, Kiera, Harriet, Charlie, Me
Leah gave us our beautiful medals, and we had a glass of champagne and then onto a little restaurant for a well-deserved breakfast!
With thanks to Leah and Katy for the Photos! Nativity Run Clapham Common 14/12/2013 (1:05:01)
