My 50th Parkrun

Apologies for my tardiness, but it has been a big couple of weeks.

A few Saturday's ago I reached my 50th parkrun. It's a bit of a deal in the parkrun community and Peter had been promising me for months that he would run this one with me. But little did I know what else the cheeky bugger had installed. It the most thoughtful thing I could have imagined.

He was at work til at least 2am that morning but that wasn't going to stop him. He was up at 6.30 to go through he pre-race routine. He even had a banana and energy drink waiting for me downstairs, and before we knew it were in the car and on the way. We stood and listened to the event briefing and then we were off and running. Apparently I run to slow and for 3 ks I had to put up with Peter jumping up and down running along side me yelling at me to run faster. I was finally able to convince him to take off, so he sprinted the 4th kilometre and a bit, then came back to grab for the last k so that we could cross the line together.

However, the biggest surprise was yet to come...

As we were standing around chatting to the rest of the red and blacks, he surprised me with a medal that he made up, to acknowledge my 50th.

I couldn't believe he went to so much trouble, so special and so thoughtful. It truly was a special morning -   so thank you Peter, your the best xox

Receiving my certificate as week later for joining the 50 club

Warragul Geoff Watt 10k Memorial Run

What a big month it has been. Over the last few weeks the focus has switched to hill training. But nothing could have prepared us for what we faced yesterday. I finally got down to Warragul to run in the Geoff Watt Memorial 10k run and was super excited as a number of my red and black running group buddies came down to join me. 

Elaine and I tackling the first big hill

It was an extremely tough course. Hot, windy and did i mention the hills? 

It seriously felt like we ran uphill for about 7km and down hill for 3ks. The hills seem to stretch on forever and it was by far the hardest 10k I've ever done. 

Almost at the top of the 3rd bill hill

Mum and Dad were awesome. Mum made red and black streamers and drove along side us up and back with water and yelling words of encouragement along the way. 

Dad also did the same and rode along side me most of the way, doubling back checking on friends that were behind and in front. 

Mum - the roving water station! 

Dad supporting me on the bike

Our coach even made it down for the day and finished well in front of us. He was awesome and doubled back to the last half a km and ran with each of us through to the finish line and blocked out the wind too. In true team red and black spirit, we all finished together as a team with the last runner coming in a the end. 

The team bring Kate home

So in closing I want to thank my running buddies for joining in the day and making it so special.. And of course to my support crew, Mum, Dad and Peter. Oh and thanks Glenda for the these top photos really sums up the day!!! 

BRING ON 2017!!

Absolutely Stuffed! 

Team Red and Blacks!

And a lovely lunch at our local country club to celebrate

It's been a while - am I bad?

Firstly apologies. I know I've just declared I'm back blogging again, but it's been a big month and I'm sorry for neglecting it. Friends have visited from interstate, we've been interstate on holidays, and I just haven't had time.

During this time there's been a couple of big runs and new ones as well, so if you're interested, please keep reading ...

All the way back on the 10th September,  I competed in my first relay event with the red and black running group for Essendon Athletics against St Bernards Athletic club in the Burke-Stobaus Challenge.

In teams of 4, each of us had to run the 4km loop around Maribyrnong River. Like with most team events, it was spirited and there was lots of support from across the other side of the river as we ran around the loop.

Was a great afternoon watching some of our champions in action too. The winner ran 4ks in 12.01 mins - incredible. Was a great event, and will be looking forward to other similar ones like this in the future.

On Saturday 24th September we drove out to the Yarra Glen Racecourse the very first Harvest Run.

It was a muddy and wet track to start with, but a very enjoyable 6km through the picturesque Yarra Valley finishing with a lap around the track. It wasn't the easiest of runs but shouldn't complain as some ran in the 13k event which started and Healesville winding through some massive hills with some stretching for over a kilmoter. Def made the right choice there, but who knows, maybe next year. 

During the last month I have I also clocked up a few more parkruns and are only 4 away from joining the 50 club. Keen to be a tourist again and travel to a few different parkruns. Still have Albert Park on the bucket list and perhaps a Diamond Creek or Coburrg might be thrown in there too .

I've also signed up to a couple more big runs over the next few months so need commit now more than ever.. This includes:

• 10k in the Geoff Watt memorial run, Warragul on 30th October
• 15k City to Sea on Sunday 20th November; and 
• 10k Carmans Classic on Sunday 4th December

If you're still with me, thanks for reading. I know I do so much better when I put in the effort so with that in mind - NO MORE EXCUSES - JFDI!! Big few months ahead. 

That's it, 

Happy running x

Park run no.44

Another Saturday and another Parkrun under my belt. Edging all that bit closer to my 50th...

Yesterday was a very special Parkrun as it was Maribyrnong's 2nd birthday with a superhero villan theme... Was such a fun morning and the perfect way to start the weekend. 

Our Red and Black Running team in their finest

In terms of my run. It wasn't the greatest. In fact - it was a major struggle... 

We had a very hard training session on thursday night with the red and blacks which included a 2k warm up, 4 x 100m run throughs then 3 x 1000m sprints with 400m recovery in between. So pulled a bit sore from that and was am still on the come back trail after a dose of bronchitis .. 

I started off really well, but only just managed to get through the run without stopping. Really struggled in the last 2k's. I knew from the start, it was never going to be a PB, was just happy to be back out there again. Hopefully will be up around my 29 mins soon.  

Official time - 32.56. Bring on Pacers next week.

Approaching the finish line

 Until next time - happy running x

And she's ba-ack

So the other night I randomly stumbled across this great old blog of mine and was having a good chuckle reading through all my old posts. It seems like only yesterday and although it's been well over 18 months since I last wrote anything, I thought it's time to document some of my highlights and start blogging again. 

Since my hara marathon all the way back in October 2014, 2015/16 has been pretty quiet in terms of participating in major fun runs. My main highlights included:

• Sunset series Melbourne Zoo Run
• Run For The Kids - 5k
• Melbourne Marathon Festival - 10k
• Run to the Dog trail run - 10k
• Run Melbourne - 10k

For me, Park run has definitely become the biggest part of my life and I can't wait for every Saturday morning to come around. Parkrun organise a free, weekly, 5km timed run around the world and are open to everyone of all standards... It's a great community event that also encourages everyone to have a coffee or breakky afterwards at a local cafe. 

Through this experience I've been fortunate enough to have met and made so many wonderful new friends and even got involved with another running group (Red and Black running team associated with Maribyrnong Parkrun and Essendon Athletics Club).  Joining Parkrun was the best decision I ever made, and would encourage you to jump on the bandwagon. You can also check out some of my Park run stats here.

So what's in stall next? I've signed up to the Womens 10k Classic in St Kilda in December but are now trying to decide whether to enter the Harvest Run, Melb Mara festival or something else in between to keep me motivated. 

Stay tuned, and I'll look forward to my bringing you all my running updates / news once more!

Night all and happy running x