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

It's been a big year

A little while ago a trend started in my online FB 12wbt runners connect group. Everyone began posting collages of themselves at all the running events they've been in for the year. What an awesome idea I thought, and quickly jumped on the bandwagon and created my own. I also thought it was great opportunity to reflect on my achievements and to thank you all for the support and encouragement you've given me throughout the year! So hear goes:

It all started back on the 19th January when Raels & I decided to try out a local athletics club, so we entered ourselves into the 6 km New Years Resolution Run.  Being the first one of the year, I was bit sluggish and completed it in 39:59. Whilst it was a very well ran event and a lovely course, we were a bit disappointed with the attitude of those in the running club and won't be back.

Next up was the sunset series. A series of three 8km runs. This included a race around & through the Melbourne Zoo, The Tan and Princess Park. The zoo run was pretty awesome and one of my favourite events - will definitely be doing it again next year. Luckily throughout the three races, I improved my time at each one. 56:22; 53:21 & 51.22.

Run for the Kids was next. It's an event that has always been one of my favs as it raises money for the good friday appeal. So on Sunday 13th April I set off to run my longest ever - 15km's! It's a course so unique that it takes you through tunnels and over bridges taking in some of the best views around Melbourne. I was exhausted, but finally made it over the line in 1.58.

Next up was Run Melbourne on Sunday 27th July. This was a special one as it was the first race Peter signed up to do with me and we were also celebrating our sixth anniversary together. Pete of course smashed it, and I finished in just over the hour.

And finally, the big one... My first Half Marathon at the Melbourne Marathon Festival on Sunday 12th October.  And what a big day it was... The adrenalin, the emotion, the highs, the lows, it was the race that had it all, and I actually did it! Amazing.. 

City 2 Sea on Sunday 16th November was next on the agenda. The weather wasn't on our side for this one but it was a nice and flat 15k course that started at the MCG and finished in St Kilda.

And, finally, my last run for 2014 was the Sussan's Classic on Sunday 7th December. Again, weather was terrible, but it suited me as I smashed my 10k record and I'm now only a few minutes off cracking that hour!

So there you have it folks. Thank you again, for the support and encouragement you have given me a long way. It's what has motivated me and kept me going. Who know's what instal for 2015, guess you'll have to just wait and see,

Happy Running
xo

Susans Classic Re~Cap

Well folks, yesterday marked my final fun run for 2014. 

It was an early start, 5.30am to be exact and Melbourne was experiencing a massive down pour. It literally had not stopped raining the entire night... Vastly different from the extreme heat wave we experienced at the same event this time last year. So while the rest of you were sleeping and snuggled up in your doona's I braved the conditions and headed off to St Kilda to run the 10k course.

Ready to go !!! Huddling under a tree from the rain!

 The rain didn't let up for the entirety of the race and it was a bit on the cool side, but I was happy.. Give me rain rather than heat any day. It was a lovely flat course but thanks to all the rain, the last half a kilometer became a bit of cross country course. The course finished on a dirt pathway that was covered in pot holes and puddles, and we had to dodge our way through them making sure we didn't fall over at the same time. 

And we're off

I didn't quie sub the hour I was hoping to but I did beat my PB from Run Melbourne in July by 2 mins to run over the line in an 1.04. At the same event last year which was my first 10's I ran it 1.11 so I'm pretty stoked to think I've improved my time by 7 mins. 

It's all about the Bling!

So what's install for 2015 you might ask? 

At the stage, nothing. I'll probably do my favourite Run for the Kids, but that's pretty much it. As I've said before I really just wanna enjoy the running now and focus on getting quicker and trying to crack that hour for my 10k's and getting under the half n hour for 5k's.  I'm so close, so watch this space!

 

Until next time,

Night all and happy running xo

P.S. The Susan's Classic Women's Fun Run  raises money towards the Breast Cancer Network of Australia.  The BCNA provides support to Australians affected by Breast Cancer and provides Women with the very best support, information, treatment and care appropriate for their needs. It's a women only event, where women run in pink to honor loved ones that lost their battle and to also raise awareness.

Field of women