2020 - The (unexpected) first half

-

The year began with four goals:

1 - The parkrun 20202020 Challenge.
2 - Run the Deck Challenge.
3 - PB at 5k and Half Marathon.
4 - A 75 mile ultra.
5 - 2020 miles in the year.

It all started so well...

I began by ticking off the first two sub 20 minute parkruns at Folkestone and Ashford. I also jumped straight into my Run the Deck Challenge. This involved letting the distance of my runs be guided by a shuffled deck of cards (Ace =1, Jack 11, Queen 12 and King 13.1).

On February 1st I did my first official marathon of the year with the Ranscombe Winter Marathon. At the beginning of March I ran around all 72 of the Creative Folkestone Artworks.


Just over a month later I finished the deck of cards with a Queen on March 9th. This was also the day I ran my long awaited race against the tide. I started when the sea was fully out leaving a vast swathe of sandy beach at Mermaid's Bay. I then ran laps as the water began to creep further up the shore until the beach had all but disappeared.

By this time I knew I was moving from Folkestone to Lewisham in London. This would give me more parkruns to explore and offer new routes to run. However it was with a heavy heart that I said goodbye to my Bald Monkeys. Thankfully we have continued to Zoom with coffee and cake most Saturday mornings.

We moved house on March 31st as lockdown began. Parkrun was cancelled for the foreseeable future. I was left with a choice. I could abandon the 20202020 Challenge or push on and run them solo as (non)parkruns. Obviously I chose the latter.

Further sub 20 minute parkruns took place throughout April, May and June in seven different locations. Just short of half way at the mid point of the year. It needed more research into the course, but I managed to work them out. I came within 2 seconds of my 5K PB at Dulwich, but that still eludes me as does the half marathon PB.

Sadly the MAF 75th anniversary event in London was cancelled as was my ultra. Instead I started an A-Z of London. This took me to different location in the capital beginning with the letters of the alphabet in order. Each run had to start and finish at my home. I had reached Y by June 30th so just Z to go.

Other runs included running along the Ravensbourne River from its source to the Thames, running to all the blue plaques in Lewisham and Greenwich, and visiting all the Railway Signs painted by Lionel Stanhope.


As a consequence, and despite lockdown, I've managed to keep running regularly and have completed 1100 miles in the six months well on course for the 2020 I'm aiming for.

There have been no serious injuries so far. However, I am experiencing tightness in my hips, calves and groin which at times has been painful. Sadly I can't book a sports massage. Less sadly and more stupidly I have stopped stretching which would explain a lot.

So lockdown seems to be lifting, but there may yet be a second wave. Will parkrun restart this year? Will races be held again in 2020? I doubt it personally. I'm planning for nothing to change and if it does it will be a bonus.

So what do I need to aim for before December 31st?

Eleven more parkruns in under 20 minutes.
920 more miles.
A 'Z' to complete my London A-Z.
Knock 3 seconds off my best 5k of the year.
Run a Half Marathon PB

Oh and I am also hoping to do Run the Clock in August. 24 one hour runs on 24 different days. Each one starting at a different hour beginning with midnight and going through the day until 11pm. By the end I will have run every minute of the day.

Maybe I'll start stretching too......

Popular posts from this blog

Human v Horse

-
Image
The trail is ankle deep in mud. There are large U shaped holes in the ground. My brain is working overtime to relay information from my eyes to my legs to avoid breaking an ankle. I'm descending at speed through pine forest with shouts of 'Horse!' echoing behind me.  Moments later I hear the heavy breathing of a quadruped moving at speed. The drumbeat of hooves on turf are replaced with the splashing and squelching of the sodden earth. I feel a warmth on the back of my neck, almost imperceptible, likely imagined. Turning my head I risk a fall, but I need to see my foe. I glimpse the auburn mount bearing down on me, helmeted rider perched atop. I dive to the side of the trail just in time. The speeding steed is past in a moment. I watch as horse and rider gallop on and vanish into the shadows.  This isn't a recurring nightmare - that's the one about leading parkrun and then getting lost - nor is it my experience of participating in an anti-hunting protest. This was h...
Read more

A bridge too far?

-
Image
A post on Facebook caught my attention. This is how many of my running adventures begin. Bex Band, founder of the women's adventure community Love Her Wild had walked across all the bridges in Greater London. Obviously this meant the Thames River. Less obviously there are 33 bridges in total starting at Hampton Court and ending at Tower Bridge. Of these, 26 have pedestrian access and she had crossed them all. 'Hmm, that would make a good run' was my first thought. Seed planted. A couple of months later on a mild, bright January day I travelled to Richmond. My first run was Richmond parkrun with my friend Vicki and her pal Nicola. 3.1 miles, no dear and a warming coffee later, I ran the nine miles to Hampton Court. Twelve miles done and I was ready to start my run! My goal was to cross each bridge when I came to it. That meant crossing Hampton Bridge and a sign denoting entrance to Surrey before turning and re-crossing it to begin. Yes, I am a pedant. Hampton Court Bridge I ...
Read more

Great Lakeland 3 Day

-
Image
We had been descending for close to a mile. It was a steady descent, more than runnable. A chance to stretch out the legs. At the bottom we stopped at the checkpoint to refill out water bottles from the fast flowing stream when cramp struck.  I watched as my friend Matt grimaced in agony and beads of sweat fell from his brow. The muscles of his inner thighs had completely spasmed. He was unable to move. We were nine miles into day two of our three day Lakeland adventure with fifteen miles and numerous summits still to go. It was a relief when after a few minutes he was able to take a few hesitant steps. Disaster seemed to have been averted. We continued along a flat road before beginning our next ascent. Suddenly, Matt let out a cry and fell to the floor writhing in pain. The cramps were back. The day seemed to be over and we began to discuss how to get back to the campsite. ----------------- Matt, his wife Kelly and I had booked onto the Scarpa Great Lakeland 3 Day that is held in...
Read more