very late October and November roundup!!

The important bit -  I'M NEARLY DONE!!!!!! 28.6 miles to go and I'm going to finish at parkrun on 20th December. It was going to be the 13th, but some key people who I really want to be a part of it will be away so I've pushed it back. This means I won't run as many miles in the next 2 weeks, to try and stretch it out, but I've got a 10k tomorrow (in a Santa Suit!!) and a 10k next weekend to keep me busy.
Please can anyone who is free on the 20th come along to parkrun to run it with me -I'll be at the back running it with Ryan so even if you're not a runner then give it a go! or if you're a speedy runner then come back and run it in with Ryan when you've finished!! He's excited about it - even more so that I'm now doing it on the Christmas fancy dress day - he's got a Rudolph costume all ready to go!! :) There will be cake afterwards too.... ;)


The race report bit -
October was my big race - the Great Birmingham Half Marathon. All I wanted was to enjoy the atmosphere and get a better time than my first half. Pleased to say that I did both!! It was a lovely sunny day, and great fun heading up with other Malvern Joggers, then meeting up with some Run Mummy Run ladies. Kept my mind off what I was about to do!! Here's me a few miles in when I found my sister-in-law and brother-in-law who were there to cheer me on. And another after the finish with my friend who I managed to catch up to at mile 12 - I didn't know where she'd started so was thrilled to find her and run together for a bit. It was great to have company after the finish until I met back up with those I came with, who had all finished before me. They were waiting for me with beer- was a welcome sight! :)  I finished in 2:23:16, which was a 20min pb!

November saw me do 2 races, the first was the Guy Fawkes 5 mile with my friend Claire. This was her first proper race (after the mud run we did over the summer) and we'd only run the distance twice in training. We ran it round together, which is so much more fun than racing on your own!! She did brilliantly and ran it 7min faster than we'd ever run 5 miles before, and we had some yummy food and a pint after to celebrate. Here's us with our medals!! :)

The second was this past weekend at Croome - a 10+k (worked out as 6.5 miles) off road run round the grounds of the gorgeous National Trust property that is on our doorstep. Not that we could see any of it due to the heavy fog!! By the first mile our hair was as wet as if it was raining, and it was so cold it took until halfway round for me to feel my arms again, no more tshirt runs for me this winter!! :) So this one I ran round with my Joggers running buddy Shona. We run together on Wednesdays (club run night) and have recently moved up a pace group, which has been fun! So having run most of my training runs and recent races with friends, I didn't fancy this one on my own- it really is so much nicer with company. Especially this one as it was hard work through all of the mud. Very sticky, squelchy, pull-your-shoes-off mud. For over half the race! There was a stream, and 2 evil hills too, but we did it, and now have a time to beat for next year. :)
The best bit of this race was the atmosphere - lots of familiar faces from local running clubs, and one of my fellow Joggers finishing his 1000k challenge. When I first started going along to the Joggers I saw that he was doing 1000k - and ALL in races! it made me keep quiet about my own 1000k since mine's training as well, though I've since come to realise that 1000k in any form is a lot for someone coming back after a long break from running and starting from scratch. I'm proud of how far I've come, and the fact I've rediscovered my love of running through doing it. :) Here's some pics of the mud!!

The other great thing about November has been parkrun. It started by Natalie running her 10th - with a pb of 38:36, then discovering in the last few weeks that she loves to marshal with her favourite volunteer Eddie. :) It's lovely to see her clapping as we run past, though this morning she had rather cold toes! :( Then out of the blue one Friday, Ryan announced he wanted to run the following day! We had 2 weeks of him getting round both laps- lots of puddle jumping and support from some of the faster parkrunners, both as we were lapped on the first lap, and by those who came back to run it in with us (thanks Trevor and Megz!!!) :) He's finished 5 of them now, and had a week off today because he's a bit tired (he was a marshal instead), but can't wait for my 1000th k run. :) Everyone in the parkrun community is so supportive of Ryan each week when he runs. It means so much to us, and thinking of Ryan smiling as he runs is a real help to get me out the door on those days where it's a bit of a struggle.If you are a parkrunner reading this- thank you for all of your support!!!!!
 Here's some photos from recent weeks- Ryan soaking wet on the swings after lots of puddle jumping, evidence of that puddle jumping, and dressed up for Wally's 100th parkrun!

The not as interesting stats bit:
October's distance: 130.8k/81.3 miles
November's distance: 135.8k/84.4 miles

money raised so far: £675.38 !!!!!

Can we get to £1000? I know it's the wrong time of year to be asking but even £1 will help! HemiChat funds £10 for every family member attending an organised meet. The last few months have seen hemi families meeting up for Disney on Ice, going to Lapland, a mum's night at the Manchester Christmas markets, and a trip to the donkey sanctuary. All of these are chances for children with hemiplegia to meet others like them, and for parents to spend time talking to others who understand what it is like raising a hemi child. Thank you for all you have helped me raise so far, it really means a lot. x

The countdown is on!!!  2 more weeks!!!!! :)
(and if anyone asks- I'm not stopping running next year, I already have 4 races booked!!! )

3 months to go! September roundup

Not quite sure where September has gone.... but back to school for the children has meant a bit more running time, especially for the long runs which I need to train for the Great Birmingham half marathon I'm running in just over 2 weeks!!

I managed 148k of running which is my highest monthly total this year! Here's what my chart looks like as of last night, I'm down to the final 322k (200miles)!!

I only did one race in September, but it was my favourite so far - the Worcester City 10k.  It was local to me, which helped, but right round the city on all closed roads, which was an experience!! My gps watch wouldn't pick up a signal at the start, so I didn't know how fast I was going and just ran how I felt, which was pretty good! I was hoping to run under 60 minutes, my best time before that had been 1:01 so I was close, but the early race start doesn't always agree with me so I wasn't sure I could do it. Turns out it was a fast course and I finished with a huge pb of 55:32 which I am thrilled with. The crowd support was amazing (especially from All Saints Church!!!) and it was great to run with friends. After the race I was lucky enough to stumble upon a queue of people getting their race numbers signed by the amazing Paula Radcliffe. I managed to get mine signed, and asked for a quick selfie as well - thanks Paula!!! :)

Ryan enjoyed cheering for everyone in the race, but the highlight of the day for him came afterwards when we met Batman and Robin!!!  These guys were fantastic- so friendly and Ryan loved them. If you have a moment, go check out the work they're doing to raise money for a sensory garden at a home for autistic children.  I'm looking forward to seeing them again in Birmingham as they're running that too! https://www.justgiving.com/sponsorbatmanandrobin/  Thanks guys for the photo!!

October will see me doing 'the big one' - running the Great Birmingham half marathon with 20,000 other people. I'll need lots of support to get myself up 'the hill' at mile 11.....  look out for me on tv!! :) I'm also doing a 5k with a friend the week before up at Ragley Hall. In November I'll be racing in the Guy Fawkes 5 mile run in Tewkesbury, and a 10k+ race at Croombe Park, and I've just signed up for a Santa Run 10k in December with some friends.

Thank you to those who have donated to my justgiving page so far, and if you haven't signed up to run my virtual 5k yet then go here: https://www.facebook.com/events/300800403439173 and join in the fun!! The medals came today, they're lovely!!! Thank you to DS Medals and Trophies for such a great and speedy service. :)

500k!! HALFWAY!!!

On Wednesday I reached halfway with 500k.  This morning's 10 mile run puts me at 522k so far, 136 of those in August. 456 of those have been in the last 4 months, so I am feeling very good about getting the last 478 done in the coming 4 months.

This has been a good running week. On Monday I joined in with the Malvern Joggers Pubathon, raising money for the local Community First Responders by running 10+ miles and making 12 pub stops. Had half a pint of Guinness in every other pub and was still standing at the end. :)  On Wednesday I hit halfway, Saturday was Ryan's first parkrun (that he finished) and today I ran 10 lovely miles on the Malverns. :)

Ryan's been wanting to run both laps of our local parkrun all summer. It's a 5k (3.1 mile) course, every Saturday at 9am, completely free and run by amazing volunteers. He's tried it a few times but his leg gets sore so we've stopped after the first lap but this week he was determined and he did it!! It took us 55min, a mix of running and walking, and he's now sporting a huge blister from his splint rubbing :( but he's so pleased with himself and we are so proud of him. The parkrun community is amazing, so supportive - all the marshals were there to cheer us on, lots of support from the speedy runners when they passed us on their second lap, and a group of the lovely Malvern Joggers came back to find us and run in with Ryan. It meant so much.

Coming up in the next 2 months:
On 21st Sept is the Worcester City 10k, which should be fun. I might be running a 24hr team race next weekend but still waiting to hear on that one, and as usual- getting the runs in towards that 1000k goal.  I'll keep running parkrun with Ryan and Natalie, though I do worry he will be too tired for it with starting back to school this week.... but I hope not!
On 19th October I run the Great Birmingham Run (half marathon) - that one's on tv so you can watch for me! I'll be wearing my hemi racing top!!

What Hemichat has been up to this summer:
Meets have been taking place all summer, at places such as Drayton Manor, Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Hastings seafront, Peppa Pig World..... with many more events on the calendar for the coming months. Funds raised for the charity help these meets to happen, and allow children with hemiplegia to spend time with each other, as well as letting their parents meet and become friends and offer support to one another.
You can 'like' Hemichat's Facebook page to see more about what we're up to. :) https://www.facebook.com/Hemichat?fref=ts

July roundup, parkrun August!

It's been a good running week to end July and begin August. :)  Despite the hilly start with West Malvern on Monday and British Camp to the Wyche and back on Weds..... I had a lovely run with Natalie on Thursday, quickly followed by another lovely run with a good friend! :)

Today's fun came in the form of a family parkrun.  I'd said I would do 'parkrun August' and run all 5 this month, including when we're on holiday in 2wks time, and the children have all been keen to do it with me, so Mark got the honour of running with all 3 of them, with the idea that I'd double back when finished and find them to help run the rest together. What fun to wake up and realise that it was raining and not looking likely to stop!!! Hmmm.... Still, we headed off and were encouraged by the Worcester parkrun Facebook post which assured us that the course was dry.... for now.  Things started off well, but about 10 minutes in the heavens opened, and what was a dry course (ours is 2 laps of woodland trail) turned into a swamp!! Having done last week's in the very hot sun, I can say hands down that I preferred the rain, and it seems my body does too, as I came in with a massive PB of 26:55!! Very pleased with that as I was just hoping to stay under 30 minutes.

I had wanted to get a few more miles in today, so as soon as we were back I headed out for a 'cool down' run. I didn't look at my watch and just ran - it's nice to do that every so often and I was very pleased to see I'd run just over 5k again and managed to do it in 29:11.  My speed is slowly coming back. :) Rest day tomorrow after 23 miles this week!


So July -
I managed to run 81.8 miles, which is 131.6 kilometers. I got out and ran 20 times over 31 days, this included a 10k race, a 5k mud run, and a 5k parkrun.  I also started running with the Malvern Joggers on a Wednesday night. They're fab, we do around 5 miles in my group and I really look forward to it each week now (might help that we go to the pub after a run for a quick pint and some chips....). I am loving the running right now, and feel really excited to tackle August and eat away at this distance challenge a bit more!

Here's an entertaining photo of my friends and I after our mud run a few weeks ago. It was on a day like today that was just POURING with rain.... but was so much fun! And here's the state of my running kit!

August is going to be about getting the miles in. I'm at 395k right now, and plan to be over 500 by the end of the month.  I need to up my long runs in preparation for my half marathon in October. Monday's run will be 9 miles, hopefully round the Severn Way for a change of scene. :) I'm looking forward to the parkruns, especially on holiday when we do the Lanhydrock one!

I'd love to set the challenge of running 100 miles this month. It'll be tricky with a week on holiday - I do plan to run while we're away, but it may not be the 20+ miles I've been doing each week recently! Though if anyone fancies setting me the challenge then I'll take it up- if I can get to £500 on my JustGiving page by the end of next wk, I'll do it. Now's your chance to donate if you haven't already, I'll see where the total is next Sunday evening!

Remember, all money goes straight to HemiChat for the fantastic work they do linking families of children with hemiplegia. Natalie, Ryan and Lucas are very excited to be joining in with the running this month, they'd love to hear that they've helped get people to donate too, so if you leave them a message on my page I'll make sure they read it!

Til next time,
Emily

Evesham 10k race report

Exciting news is that I've hit 300k!! :) 30% done with the challenge, and I've run 30 miles already in July. Happy days. :)

Today I ran the Evesham 10k with 3 friends. Now, these friends are all speedy speeders, and I'm much happier just getting the distance in without worrying about times or working too hard at it.... but when you start racing and you've got the chance to run with someone for a while to distract you from the pain that is running 6 miles faster than you'd like....  :) Thanks to Kerry for keeping me going!! Really pleased with my time of 1:01:53 as it's 8 minutes faster than my previous 10k time. Next 10k race is in September and I hope to get under 1 hour. 2 months of training should take care of that, just need to get the speed sessions in!

The best part of today was seeing Ryan and his siblings and friends taking part in the fun runs after our race.  Ryan has been really tired all weekend -turns out he's been playing with the playdoh at school and has glutened himself, probably by not washing his hands before sucking on his fingers/thumb which is a new thing he has started doing. So this morning he was saying he didn't want to do the race as his tummy hurt and he was tired, but when he got there and got to put on his race number and see all of his friends, he got very excited.  :)

He ran really well, though I'm still trying to work out if his bumping a poor little girl sideways was an accidental wobble due to his unsteady running gait or deliberate due to Ryan's overexcited behaviour before the race (I did apologise to her dad!!) but he gave it his all and was very proud to finish and collect his goodies. :)  Natalie and Lucas ran too, the race was 500m and has finished their 1000 Miles of Smiles pledge of 5 miles each. Most of this has been scooting, with the 2 races they've done as part of it. Please do sponsor them for such a great job, you can use my Just Giving page as all money will go direct to HemiChat.

Here's some photos from today!

Next up is lots of training and a 5k mud race next weekend! It's the Race for Life Pretty Muddy, and if you'd like to sponsor me and my 3 friends for this amazing cause then please use the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/crazy-quartet-racers/  My 5k will count towards my distance challenge, but we'd love to get a good amount raised for Cancer Research UK.

Thank you to those who have donated to my Road to 1000k recently. It means SO much to so many, THANK YOU! x x x
Emily

Halfway report!

I wish I could say I was halfway through the miles.... but not quite there since I missed a few months with my hip.  I'm halfway through the year though and very pleased to say that I'm 25% there with the distance. Tonight's 3.73miles puts me at 157.9 (typical)miles, which is 252.6km.  And yes, all the .2s and .9s matter as they all add up!

So far I've done 2 races- a 10k and a half marathon.  Here's 2 of the official photos from the half. I love the one of Ryan and the acorn. If you look on Acorn's facebook page you'll spot him in some of their advertising, and he even made the paper (with Mark and Lucas too!!).

Today I started a 16wk training plan for my next half marathon. It'll get me out 4-5 times a week which will make those miles add up quickly. :) I'm going to be brave and join the local running group too now that it's a bit easier to fit in on a Wednesday.


Still to come in the next 6 months:

-the next 750k!! That's 124k (77 miles) a month and my favourite time of year to run is pretty much here.

-lots of races!
Evesham 10k and Race for Life Pretty Muddy 5k in July
Worcester City 10k in September
Great Birmingham half marathon in October
any others I like the look of ;)

-2 month long 'challenges'
August will be 'parkrun month' where I'll do all 5 parkrun races - that's 9am on a Saturday!! Even when on holiday
November will be a runstreak - I'll run every day for the whole month. Hopefully get a race in too.

-a virtual 5k for you to join in and get yourself a medal!! (coming very soon!!)


Thank you all for the support as always, and if you are local and see me out on the roads, give a wave! :)
Emily x

Half Marathon - done!! :)

It was HOT!!! and it was hard work, but I did it - I got round. :) My Garmin said 2:40, my official chip time came through as 2:43 though, as I forgot my Garmin was on auto-pause and stops timing when I stop running. So I had 3 minutes at drinks stations ;)  They were worth it!! :) And now I have a time to aim for when I run the Great Birmingham half in October. Training for that starts in a week, this week is recovery and boy do I need it! I was lucky enough to have a day at the spa with a friend today, but you'll be proud of me that I not only took my running gear but actually used it - only 2 miles, but my knees took a beating yesterday with all of the road running, so I needed to go easy.

The children ran the 1k fun run with Mark yesterday and loved it. They took their medals to school today to share, and Ryan's been wearing his since he came home too. :)
Here's a few pics:

Next race is Evesham 10k in 3wks time, followed the week after by a mud run - I'm doing the 5k Pretty Muddy with some friends - it's a Cancer Research UK event and we have a joint fundraising page -https://www.justgiving.com/crazy-quartet-racers/  if you want to donate. I'll be counting the miles from this one but want any sponsorship that week to go to CRUK who do amazing things.  :)

Ryan was casted for a new splint on Thursday. His current one doesn't fit quite right and is giving him blisters and making him walk badly. We get his new one in 2wks and he is very excited because he's chosen Superman for the design - it'll have superman up the back where his current one has Bugs Bunny. He picked this after the day at Cadbury World with HemiChat where he saw one of the other boys with a superhero on theirs. :) Will post pics when he gets it.

Thank you so much for the donations this week and previous. I'm over 20% to the goal of £1000 pounds (and 23% done with the distance challenge!!) and I can't wait to see both numbers going up as the months go on. :)
Emily x