Today I have lots to say (not a rare occasion) so have decided to write three short (ish) blogs in one.
Parkrun change
A few weeks ago it was announced that Killerton was going to alter the Parkrun route slightly, the change would mean a flatter start and detour away from the hill at the end of the third mile. This news made me very happy. The reality of the new course however is not quite as I hoped. The start is great, no longer off up a slope makes for a quick get away, but the ending, this is tough. Sure no hill, but we used to get in to the last field and head to the finish. Now you run round the edge of the field away from the funnel, before running over tufty speed sapping grass to the end, and I don’t care what they say, the new route is longer. Seems my pb will be a long while coming!
Onwards
With Cardiff and Great West Run done, what is next. Usually I train for an event and then leave it ages before entering another and then start training again. This time I plan on doing things differently. My next event is in March, 20 miles of tough cross country. Too far away to start training for that, but what I want to do is keep up the mileage, run more off road, do hill work, partake in other exercise other than just running and enter one event per month preferably off road. This week I have made a good start with this. Tomorrows long run will be off road as much as I can, this week I have cycled twice, swam, walked, metafitted (high impact exercise class), done a hill session and entered a 10 mile cross country run, now all I have to do is keep that up for five months!
Worst Wednesday
As many of you know, I am lucky enough to work from home, but occasionally I am released in to the community to work. This past Wednesday was one such day. I was asked to help out at a course in Dartmouth which is about an hour away. After some research I realised I could stop in at the forest for a run on the way back, I was really looking forward to it. My work attire was planned around being able to wear my sports bra without it being noticeable, to ensure no flashing to other forest visitors whilst changing in to running kit! Wednesday morning dawned, wet, dark and miserable. Eight minutes from my destination, disaster struck, on a narrow country lane in the middle of nowhere I hit a rock on the side of the road, within seconds I had a flat tyre.
Thank goodness I had a phone signal, not always the case in rural Devon. Hubby was summoned. Unfortunately he was an hour away, this left me sat in the car, watching the buses, lorries and cars squeeze round me, with my heart firmly lodged in my mouth waiting to be hit. Then hubby called. Why don’t I call the AA? This had not even occurred to me, I have never had breakdown coverage before but have it provided due to having a new car. A quick call to the AA and despite not being able to answer questions like
- Where are you?
- Is it safe where you are to change the tyre?
- What size tyres do you have?
my knight in shining armour was with me in 10 minutes closely followed by hubby. Having a new car also means no spare tyre provided so it was off to the nearest tyre place for me Mr Visa and Mr AA, two hours late I arrived at the course. This is when the fun really started. There was two technicians in the room, fixing the Internet. The Internet is crucial for our courses, on top of this everyone had apple lap tops, an added complication we could have done without. Even when the Internet was working eventually, it had as much speed as a tortoise going up hill in treacle, enabling only three of the lap tops to run at one time. It was a very long day. The day was brightened however by the trainer confiding in at lunch that even when he thought his day could not get worse, it did, his flies had broken!
Suffice to say my forest run didn’t happen, instead I headed home for a Malibu and Coke!
shazruns 
oh gosh, hate when i route is long/shorter than they say… the colour Run that C and i did was 4,91km!!! like WHY? grrr… totally throws you!
OH GOD, your flat tyre sounds like a nightmare! i DREAD the thought, like you, my car doesnt have a spare either just a little plastic bag with a repair kit that i am petrified to use… on that note, i think i may just use my Tesco vouchers to get some roadside assistance for the winter months!
IT is always an issue, i have yet to go to a conf. or a course wehre my Mac just logs on, i now just use my phone as a WIFI hotspot, so much easier š
I AM BACK! cant wait to hear about your training, you need to motivate me darling š come more half marathons!!!! *wicked chuckle*!
God you trying to kill me? No halves for the moment just a 10 mile cross country this Sunday.
We also used our phones as a hot spot-well the trainer Did but seeing as work don’t provide me with an iPhone just a crappy flip thing I refuse to use mine!
Flat tyre thing was horrendous, I’ve been driving for 33 years and has never happened before, don’t mind if it never happens again!
Now you get rid of that cold, get your feet off the table and RUN,
*laughs* moi?
10miles cross country is basically a half I’m told…. Is that true? I know it’s not easy… But CC is so much nicer to do!!! Pops you will rock! Watch that Achilles!
It’s a good thing I didn’t wear a Sport bra tonight… I was so tempted to run but my throat is so sore it would have just been stupid… But stoked I got out and enjoyed it!!!
A flat tyre and bad internet? That is so not good!
I am a bit sad that the route has changed. I liked the old route (even with the hill).
Flat tyres and bad internet – I dread both! The only time (touch wood) that I have had a flat was when I biffed something in my dad’s car on the way to Beer. Not fun, but I managed to change the tyre and drive carefully home.
How about the Drogo 10 for hills and cross country? (I promise I am not trying to kill you).
Sorry Steph just found you in my spam folder! Yes I thought about the Drogo 10 but Madam had cross country that day so cant do it I’m afraid, unless I can get someone to take her! Well done you for changing the tyre v impressed.