Tag Archives: running

The Bupa London 10k

Posted on 27 May, 2012 | Leave a comment

I ran a 10k race today. It was 28 degrees on the course and by about 3k I knew I’d have no hope of shaving 6 mins of my PB of 56 minutes.

By 4k, and after having watched the elite men nearly finished at 7.5k on the other side of the road, I was happy just to finish. I’m not sure I can say I enjoyed any of it which is a first for me.

I actually turned in a 59 minute time which is pretty okay. I was gutted initially but then realised about two thousand people didn’t even finish and decided to be less hard on myself. Frustratingly, I was on target and reached 7k at 38 minutes but the lack of shade and high temperatures finally got to me. It took me 21 minutes to do that final 3k. It was also pretty sweet to run part of the Olympic road race course and head up the Pall to finish with all the union jacks up.

Still, now I have a week off – boyfriend’s orders – and a chance to train up to the Run to the Beat half in late October. It might well rain for that one but I’ll be grateful to not be running in such high temperatures for a while.

Big kudos to my fellow running partners Soraya and Jo. We’ll smash the next one ladies!

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Posted in Training

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NYC running

Posted on 21 May, 2012 | Leave a comment

I just got back from New York. I landed at Heathrow this morning at 6.30. One thing I always struggle to get my head round is the weird affect travelling across time zones has on your perception of time.

For example, this time yesterday I was sweating it out by running up the Williamsburg Bridge. That seems a whole world away now.


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New York running isn’t quite all I was hoping. Central Park is an amazing clear oasis of shade, trees, clean air and taxis that don’t try to run you over. Switch to the streets of the East Village and it’s a whole different matter. Heat trapping concrete, no shade, heavy traffic, uneven sidewalks and a whole lot more people to weave past. I’ve never been more grateful for my trusty Free Runs.

I also took in FDR Drive/East River Park following it from East Houston down to the Brooklyn Bridge. The pollution from the freeway poses an interesting test but I guess regulars get used to that.

Don’t get me wrong: it was an amazing experience and an awesome introduction to the less touristy parts of NYC. I’m glad I kept my training going – I’m one week off of race day after all. Let’s just say I appreciate the little green paradise that is Regent’s Park all the more. I can’t wait for my sprint sessions tomorrow.

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Posted in Training

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My blog is dying (or how to make your life difficult)

Posted on 7 May, 2012 | Leave a comment

Wow – I don’t do anything by halves. I hate the phrase ‘go big or go home’ but I’m seriously feeling the side effects of trying to do everything at once. I’ve even had to miss two runs and take a sick day from work. Not at all like me.

I’ve done 5 pitches since Christmas, my team has grown, I’m going on holiday to New York next week, I’m training for my half marathon, I still do yoga and I need to move house. I might also be in the process of buying a house.

I knew this would be a big year and I knew I wanted it to be. It’s long been time to light some fires under myself and make some changes. It does worry me that these changes are going to break my routine though. They already have.

A few months back, I was posting twice a week. Not prolific but enough to keep me happy. I only managed 2 in April. I was also always on top of the new music that was doing the rounds and keeping an eye on upcoming nights out. Time and budget issues have pretty much put a stop to that.

Maybe I just need to get back in to the swing, maybe my new adventures will inspire some good new posts or maybe I’ll just not find the time again and this blog should come down.

I know I don’t give up easily and it doesn’t take long to write a post. I know I’ll also kick myself if I let my 2+ years of effort on this fade away. Can we agree to call it a temporary break in service?

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Posted in Weird musings

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