Black Park 5k ParkRun, Saturday 7th April, 2012
Time: 32.02 minutes
I can’t have been putting that much effort in as I still time to wave?! Thank you to the photographer George Mardall who has let me use this picture (and well done to the lady next to me who completed a half marathon the week before in aid of charity and to the girl in front who had a stitch and to the other two ladies on completing their first ParkRun and for not being sick / legs giving way from that last bit of effort at the end?!!). Back to that later, got to get through Friday first.
Friday: ParkFit. Easter Special. Now I grew up believing that if something was “special” then it meant a treat or something nice. WRONG! It meant even more hard work at ParkFit and made worse by the appearance of an Easter Egg….how could it be worse I hear you cry? Well, it was not a gorgeously enticing velvety chocolatey one….it was hard, cold, plastic and everytime it was put down on the ground in front of your team, stop what you are doing…and burpees (not burping!), which are meant to be a light footed jump down into a squat followed by an effortless leap into the air to a star jump. I got myself into a sumo wrestler type squat followed by something that seemed to resemble one of those ghecko’s that live in the desert and on the wildlife documentaries you see them lifting their left front paw and back right at the same time to cool down followed by the alternate paws in a quick dance like succession. I couldn’t even get that dance like bit right!
Oh and then there’s the bit where you have to squat down whilst your partner swings their leg over your head and once you see the foot land on the floor, your turn to jump up and “leg over”. I did tell my partner I would forgive him if he kicked me in the head as soon as I had regained consciousness in the hope he would offer me the same grace….luckily we never put it to the test!
I wouldn’t say I found it easier than the first session but I do think I survived it better?! I won’t get carried away and say that maybe I am actually getting a bit fitter, it’s probably a case of “must try harder”….andI thought when my school days were over I’d never hear those words again?!!
In the afternoon I went out for a leisurely walk with the dog but kept finding a new turn which was very exciting. Some 6.46 miles later….home!
Saturday: ParkRun. My knees were trembling from nerves and legs like jelly as I walked to the start line – everyone had the right kit….looked like real pros, what on earth am I doing here….well, too late, I am here (pat on the back for that one) and hey, someone has to finish last…?!! And I had Bubbles with me. The main reason for bringing her was to ensure that if I did finish last then at least I wouldn’t be alone?!! She was a complete star.
I can confirm that “races” are not very sociable events. Why? Well if you are me, and can’t run and talk at the same time without the chat bringing your brain back into engage mode, and therefore the truth of what you are actually doing kicks in, it is something like this: I am running race, I have ages to go, do I hurt? Can I breathe? Do I need to stop? But why do I need to stop, I don’t hurt, do I, can I breathe, I can when I don’t talk, am I breathing….am I there yet? You get the idea, so silence is the most sensible option, however, I am obviously not sensible having entered into the race in the first place but also I really struggle to keep quiet for any length of time! Apparently, one day when very young, I was so busy chatting away that when I fell off my chair I just continued chatting away from under the table?!
And I didn’t finish last. In fact I got a bit carried away which is really stupid as this was the only run I could have taken easy as I had no personal best to beat, and now the pressure will be on for any future events to beat a fairly OK time! That’s no excuse not to enter though. I had never heard of ParkRun before but they take place all over the UK, they are run every Saturday by volunteers and are free to enter. You get all ages, sizes, fitness levels (sprinters, runners, joggers, wagers, walkers!), with dogs, with prams…didn’t see a zimmer frame but I wouldn’t be surprised……if there is one near you, it really is a fun thing to do as a challenge to yourself…..tempted….?!
Sunday: A day off for travelling to France and wondering if exercise in France is any different than in the UK?!
Monday: Of course it’s no different, there just seem to be more flies to breath in whilst jogging?! But there is still that feeling when you have got out there and achieved whatever it is that you set out to do….and that really is a lift to your confidence? Self esteem? Well, that seems to be different every time depending on your mind frame but I think I am beginning to enjoy getting out there and doing things…..beginning being the key word here, it is still one step at a time.
I think the rest of the week will just hold jogging, table tennis and if the sun comes out, tennis……if I can make myself understood by the “keeper of the key” to let me onto the court?! Vive la France!
Posted 9th April
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