Category Archives: Ladybirds

It’s been a while

It’s been a while since I last posted here, 4 months in fact which is far too long.

I have had lots to say but with things going on with my white blood cells, a sore shoulder and back mixed together with menopausal stuff well truthfully I often didn’t want to talk to anyone let alone write my blog

Things are looking up now, my white blood cells are behaving, my shoulder and back improving by the week and the hot flushes that I thought might kill me, seem to be under control with a magic pill from the Doctor!

During all this time I have done some wonderful things with Geoff and my friends ……

I managed to Run the Cambridge half with hardly any training and was very happy with my time

After the long cold winter months I finally got out to do my first Audax of the year with Geoff, it was, in fact, my longest ride to date 142 miles, a permanent route called the Pork Pie and very hilly might I add.

This year we did the Daffodil Dawdle as a run/walk which was amazing we covered the 18 miles in 6 hours about 2 hours quicker than when we just walk

Then I had an awesome week in Mallorca with Geoff and friends from SWNC, I had been worried I would not be able to do the planned rides which included Pug Major, due to my back, but with a few painkillers I achieved all I set out to do

Straight back from Mallorca to run the GEAR 10k an amazing event with all the ladybirds and my Norwich running friends, I was a little slower due to my back but I did it.

Then to celebrate Linda’s birthday we had Chase the Train 10km my back was quite sore for this and if I am honest I hated the first 3/4 miles on a narrow single track but when we switched over to the opposite side of the track the path widened and I enjoyed the final 5 miles but what really made this run special was the ride back to Aylsham on the tiny steam train

Another 200 km Audax enjoyed with Geoff from Long Melford, I really enjoy these longer rides.

And then just for fun, I met up with my lovely Norwich running friends at Debden winery for the wine run, 6 wine tasting stops around a 10 km mainly off road run. I would estimate we drank 30 shots of wine, after crossing the finish line you received a huge glass of wine with your medal, we then enjoyed a really fun happy afternoon with a BBQ and yes you guessed wine !!

I am still having problems with my back when I run but it is much improved, I can only hope it keeps improving so I can start training for Wissey half soon as I miss my running so much …….

GEAR 10k

IMG_8341I love bank holidays especially now I fill them with fun events with friends.This May day weekend was no exception.

My friend Gina came over to stay for a few days and the fun started with the GEAR 10k 

This year was the 10th Anniversary and the 4th year I would be running it, along with many other Lynnsport Ladybirds and Ryston Runners in fact it was a total sell out with over 1500 runners. Even the predicted bad weather could not stop the excitement building!

By the time we had walked into town the predicted wet weather had arrived, I have never seen so many umbrellas at a running event, the atmosphere was amazing though and not even the pouring rain was going to spoil the day.11188230_920641781312019_4608564301251447602_n

Finally it was time to gather in the starting pens, so off with the jackets and away with the umbrellas amongst much talk about how mad we all must be! then horror as 10.45 came and went with no starting gun, the roads were now becoming quite flooded and we were all eager to be on our way then 10 mins later looking like drowned rats we were off…..

IMG_8440A nice flat course meant many of my friends, including Gina  were hoping for P/B times, as usual I just wanted to get round in under an hour and even though I achieved this with a time of 58.08 I was alittle disappointed  as I felt I could have done better. My big mistake was running in my glasses because after 10 mins in the pouring rain I could hardly see a thing and had to carry my glasses the whole way round 🙁

Even in such bad weather conditions Gina and many of the Ladybirds got the P/B times they wanted and none of this would have been possible without the fantastic marshals who braved the weather too and of course Geoff who was there to cheer us on and take photo’s 🙂

Needless to say the sun came out at the end and we were rewarded well for braving the weather with a totally fab medal and another fun day spent with friends 🙂

Lincoln 10k Road Race

After enjoying running the Lincoln 10k last year  I decided to enter it again this year.

Lincoln 10kThis would be my first real running event since my achilles injury.

What I didn’t expect was a stinking head cold on the day or Geoff to be home to drive me there cheer me on and take photo’s 🙂

Once again it was a fabulous day with well over 6000 runners, many  I knew from the Ryston Runners and  5 other Ladybirds. too.

The route was well supported , we had perfect weather conditions and some how I managed to get a P/B time of 56.14

Unfortunately I had told Geoff to expect me to finish in around an hour so he missed me at the finish line!

A Great start to this years running events 🙂

Hump Day

We all have a day in the week that we dislike, for most people its the Monday blues but for me its  Wednesday or Hump day, that I struggle with.

Screenshot 15:05:2013 23:05Then early this year I joined the Ladybird running club which meets on a Wednesday evening and it changed everything.

I love Wednesdays now and spend all day knowing that I shall be going out for a run with a great bunch of Girls 🙂

Today the cold, windy, wet, winter like weather had made me feel especially miserable but once I got out running all was forgotten and I came home feeling happy and full of the joys of spring 🙂

The runs are in many places that I have never been so I am collecting a few new running routes too, tonight we were at West Lynn and almost 6 miles of road running was achieved.

Now its all down hill to the weekend 🙂

ps Thursdays is one of my favourite days this could be as I am still high from running on wednesday nights 🙂