Not Flagging Yet

I apologise for the title of this weeks post it is the best I could come up. It is a reference to the both the amazing energy Kathy is showing in completing 19 events already and the fact that on 24th she took part in the City of Salford Womens Race in the company of Linda Edmondson who created Kathy's wonderful 70 @ 70 banner. GO KATHY!

Telford Town parkrun 23rd November 2013

A lovely cold frosty morning with a little bit of ice under foot which I enjoyed. The only problem was with my friend Dave who thought he only had one lap to do so as we approached the end of the first lap he was just about to go into the finishing area. I asked him where was he going and he was shocked when I said oh no you don't, you've got to do another lap. It completely knocked him for six and I then  had to nag him all the way round. Although one or two dropped out just in front of us I made it quite clear he was not and this week he was going to complete the 5k,we might see him again hopefully. 

City of Salford Womens 5.5 mile Race, Sunday 24th November

On Saturday John and I stayed the night with Linda and Neil Edmondson who fed and watered us well. Sunday weather was quite good. There was 145 who took part in this ladies only race.
The course was  a nice run around the streets with its lightly graded uphill, atmosphere was good with plenty of encouragement from the public, we had a very good sweeper who will be running in the Telford 10k next month. It was nice to see Gillian Fowles and Fiona Dillon from the Whitchurch Whippets, when I came in my usual place I had such a cheer from everyone, and a big thank you to Linda Edmondson who very patiently ran round with me.  Although it said mementos to all finisher we didn't mind as the money was going to the local childrens hospice. 

Event 1      StraLugano 5K     28/09/2013

Event 2      StraLugano 10K   29/09/2013

Event 3      Bournemouth parkrun   39.48    05/10/2013

Event 4      Supersonic 10k (Bournemouth)   1:22:00    05/10/2013
Event 5      Speed of light 5k  (Bournemouth)    0:46:15   05/10/2013
Event 6      Telford parkrun  38:45 12/10/2013
Event 7      The Bells of Pattingham, Seven Miles 1:49:00 13/10/2013 

Event 8      Shresbury parkrun 38:40 19/10/2013
Event 9      Birmingham Half Marathon  3:20:37  20/10/2013
Event 10    Bupa Great South Run (Portsmouth) 2:38:18
Event 11    Telford Town parkrun 45:36 9/11/13
Event 12   Shrewsbury parkrun 37:08  02/11/2013
Event 13   Cannock Rotary 10K  1:24:01  03/11/2013
Event 14    Mad Jack Five Mile Attingham)  1:22:00 9/11/13
Event 15    Kingsbury Water Park 10k  1:29:00 ish 10/11/13
Event 16    Telford Town parkrun 0:42:48 16/11/2013
Event 17    Coventry War Memorial Park 10K 1:17:00 17/11/2013
Event 18    Telford Town parkrun 48:37 23/11/2013
Event 19    City of Salford Womens 5.5 mile race 1:06:54 24/11/2013

Sent to Coventry

Telford Town Park Saturday 16th November.
Although it was a cool morning I still enjoyed the 5k running with Maria Beers who produced a PB 
My time was 42.48

Kathy att the start of the parkrun, the number 15 on her back recording the number of events she has completed in her 70@70 Challenge

Coventry War Memorial Park 10K 17th  November
As I was enjoying my porridge and honey, listening to 5live on the radio every road and motorway was closed for one reason or another but I was not just going to give up so I rang the AA for any information but they knew less than we did so I  packed a food parcel and away we went. When we reached the M6 at Brownhills the fog had lifted and sun came out. After John had been panicking we reached Coventry in plenty of time to collect my number.


This race was organised by a sport company  MCC and at 10.30 the race director guided us across the common which was a good 3/4 of a mile. John gave up halfway and turned back to go in to the cafe, eventually after a pep talk the race started.

It was 3 laps  and one of the loveliest parks I have ever run in, the autumn colours was awesome. There were a few hills and great support from the public. I really was enjoying myself and towards the end there was lots of support from many fellow runners who waited for the last few to come. I was not last, the only problem was that there was no back up and on the third lap marshalls had disappeared.

I jumped the queue to get my T Shirt and insisted I had a medal because people had entered on the day they ran out of T Shirts and medals but I stood my ground. The official asked if I was entering next year as he was going to look out for my entry and gave me a very stern look.
In spite of that I loved the race and would do it again.

Event 1      StraLugano 5K     28/09/2013

Event 2      StraLugano 10K   29/09/2013

Event 3      Bournemouth parkrun   39.48    05/10/2013

Event 4      Supersonic 10k (Bournemouth)   1:22:00    05/10/2013
Event 5      Speed of light 5k  (Bournemouth)    0:46:15   05/10/2013
Event 6      Telford parkrun  38:45 12/10/2013
Event 7      The Bells of Pattingham, Seven Miles 1:49:00 13/10/2013 

Event 8      Shresbury parkrun 38:40 19/10/2013
Event 9      Birmingham Half Marathon  3:20:37  20/10/2013
Event 10    Bupa Great South Run (Portsmouth) 2:38:18
Event 11    Telford Town parkrun 45:36 9/11/13
Event 12   Shrewsbury parkrun 37:08  02/11/2013
Event 13   Cannock Rotary 10K  1:24:01  03/11/2013
Event 14    Mad Jack Five Mile Attingham)  1:22:00 9/11/13
Event 15    Kingsbury Water Park 10k  1:29:00 ish 10/11/13
Event 16    Telford Town parkrun 0:42:48 16/11/2013
Event 17    Coventry War Memorial Park 10K 1:17:00 17/11/2013

Another Weekend and Three More Events

Telford Town park 9th November

Maria Beers had been coming to theWrekin Road runners beginners group and I had promised her that if she turned up to do the parkrun I would stay with her and nag her across the line and she did it, well done Maria. Our time was 45.36  

Mad Jack 5 miles 9th November

Time was marching on because I was going to do the Mad Jack 5 mile, with my back up team  Janet Pugh who changed my number and John taped my trainers on. Away we went to Attingham on a lovely sunny morning where starting time was 11am. There were 353 entries and after a pep talk the race started, I never heard the start and realising they were off I thought I had better get going. Across the very wet and soggy fields until I reached the big tree on the ground, I had a couple of goes then decided to go round it but managed the other two. 

I loved running around the River Tern, back into the woods with all the lovely autumn colours when I was met by this young man who insisted on running with me and helping me through the pool.  I felt very restricted and I felt I wanted to do my own thing but I was very good and kept my mouth shut.I had a lovely welcome from Wrekin Road Runner members and was pleased with my time of 1:22. I loved it and would do it again, I had  a nice bottle of red for the 0/70.
 

Kingsbury Water Park 10k   10th November

John and I arrived at Kingsbury water park with a lovely blue sky and sunshine. There were about 200 entries. We had two minutes silence and we were off, straight into heavy mud and it was like this all the way round. This race was a two lap and had everything - dogs on long leads, excitable horses, deep water and hills. I had just got to two miles when the winner passed me - at least I knew I was on the right trail. The second time round it was quite heavy going owing to the amount of runners going before me, not to worry I knew I could finish it, now I came across this very grumpy man who insisted on giving me some verbal. I was very tempted to push him into the mud . As usual  the marshalls had gone off so I just kept going to the end. I was pleased with my time as I wanted to do it under 1:30 and managed this with a minute to spare.

There was a  lovely medal, plenty of bananas and chocolate goodies. After the race a very big motorbike  man came over to me and gave me a donation for Macmillan which I thought was very kind of him. I loved it and would do it again. [if only to find that grumpy man and have a go at him]

If Kathy's exploit inspire you please consider making a donation to MacMillan via her just giving page or she is more than happy accept donations in person if you see her at an event somewhere.


Event 1      StraLugano 5K     28/09/2013

Event 2      StraLugano 10K   29/09/2013

Event 3      Bournemouth parkrun   39.48    05/10/2013

Event 4      Supersonic 10k (Bournemouth)   1:22:00    05/10/2013
Event 5      Speed of light 5k  (Bournemouth)    0:46:15   05/10/2013
Event 6      Telford parkrun  38:45 12/10/2013
Event 7      The Bells of Pattingham, Seven Miles 1:49:00 13/10/2013 

Event 8      Shresbury parkrun 38:40 19/10/2013
Event 9      Birmingham Half Marathon  3:20:37  20/10/2013
Event 10    Bupa Great South Run (Portsmouth) 2:38:18
Event 11    Telford Town parkrun 45:36 9/11/13
Event 12   Shrewsbury parkrun 37:08  02/11/2013
Event 13   Cannock Rotary 10K  1:24:01  03/11/2013
Event 14    Mad Jack Five Mile Attingham)  1:22:00 9/11/13
Event 15    Kingsbury Water Park 10k  1:29:00 ish 10/11/13

Kathy's Committment

Shrewsbury parkrun 2nd November 2013

I was at Shrewsbury Quarry on Saturday, the weather was great when the sun came out. I really enjoyed the run and got used to the hills in the quarry. There was a good atmosphere and thanks to Janet Pugh for coming with me. I finished in 37.08    
 
Cannock Rotary 10k  3rd November 2013

 Kathy and Sam Jones at the Cannock Rotary 10K

Although it was a cold morning the sun came out and made me feel good and raring to go.
It's one of those races where you start at a cross roads. As 11am approached Richard  the starter  came along and gathered us all up and as soon it was safe he gets us on the main road. There was no messing about, the horn goes and off we go. The first half mile is downhill and that's it, it's mainly all  hills.  We were to always keep to the left because of the amount of heavy traffic. I had done about half a mile when these three young lads came and overtook me and then suddenly stopped in front of me. The pattern was repeated three times so I got a bit fed up with this and made an extra effort to pass them and keep running, not letting them catch me up, then I caught another three young ladies up who had suddenly realised this is no fun run, so I had to get going to pass the. At last I now could get in to my rhythm, nice and steady,  past another man,he was no problem. When I passed mile 4 a marshal on a bike came up to me and asked if I was OK? I gave him such a look  as to what's going on ??  No it's OK love he said,the three lads had dropped out after the mile and sat down and had a fag, the girls were walking as they had had enough and he was wondering if I was going to finish. No commitment I thought to myself so I just kept going up the hills, I really enjoyed this race as there was very good marshalling with their flags. The heavy traffic never bothers me because of the good marshalling. We had a very nice goodie bag.

Kathy on the road

Event 1      StraLugano 5K     28/09/2013

Event 2      StraLugano 10K   29/09/2013

Event 3      Bournemouth parkrun   39.48    05/10/2013

Event 4      Supersonic 10k (Bournemouth)   1:22:00    05/10/2013
Event 5      Speed of light 5k  (Bournemouth)    0:46:15   05/10/2013
Event 6      Telford parkrun  38:45 12/10/2013
Event 7      The Bells of Pattingham, Seven Miles 1:49:00 13/10/2013 

Event 8      Shrewsbury parkrun 38:40 19/10/2013
Event 9      Birmingham Half Marathon  3:20:37  20/10/2013
Event 10    Bupa Great South Run (Portsmouth) 2:38:18
Event 11   Shrewsbury parkrun 37:08  02/11/2013
Event 12   Cannock Rotary 10K  1:24:01  03/11/2013