Walney Fun Run 2015

Last Sunday was the Walney Fun Run, our running group's event of the year, not to be missed! Last year both boys did the Disability Mile run with me and Andy ran the 10k. The picnic afterwards was unbelievable and we all had a thoroughly good time.

Imagine then our dismay last Sunday morning when we got up to heavy rain (blowing sideways!). Hopes were slightly dashed, but the forecast promised that the rain would leave at 10am in time for the Disability Mile to start. Sam was running it again this year with me for company.

We arrived at the registration/finishing field as set up was still going on. Andy signed up as a running marshal helping to keep an eye on the WWC cubs this year (including William) in the 5k event. As soon as William was given his running number by our run leader I took him over to the registration tent to collect his timing tag. Meanwhile, Charlie and Chicky Cheetah also made an appearance, much to Sam's delight.

10 o'clock came and went and the rain stayed unfortunately! The Disability Mile start got slightly changed due to a flood at the gate so Sam and I headed out on the road to start there instead. The rain was still coming down so he ran in his raincoat. The mayor of Barrow set us off and we headed up the road. Sam was right at the back for most of the road section, with me steering him round the huge puddles. We reached the turning point and headed towards the beach path. No sooner had I got him round an enormous puddle but he ran straight through two more! Kids!! At least he was running I suppose! We actually overtook some of the other runners and he didn't stop until we reached the finish. We turned into the finishing field and headed across it to the sound of the 5k and 10k runners cheering Sam on. As usual it was a wonderful feeling and Sam received his medal when we crossed the line and had a photo taken with the mayor.

We couldn't stop though, as I had to get back round to William and Andy as they had our bags and we had to get William ready for his 5k run. Running shoes on (brought him in wellies), number pinned, hoody discarded, pep talk from the run leaders and a warm up later, and he set out with the cubs to the starting point. The 10k runners went first followed by the 5k runners. I was waiting with Sam a little further down the road ready with the camera phone! Saw William and the other cubs head off up the road then we moved down to the finishing gate to wait for them to come back in. The weather improved eventually and it started to feel warm! 

Spotted William coming in and we gave him a cheer. He looked very determined and his running watch showed a definite sprint finish when we looked at his times later. I grabbed Sam and we dashed to the back of the finish to collect and congratulate him. We didn't find out till later but his official time was 37.36 which is fantastic! We also heard some lovely comments about how well he was running so I was a very proud mum. Andy came into the field with the last of the cubs and we headed over to get a hot dog for William who had been promised one by Andy.

After the run was finished, we all got our things together for the picnic. I didn't think it could get any bigger than last years, but oh my, as a group the WWC outdid themselves in the goody department. The picnic was enormous, the sun absolutely shone for us and all the kids ran around giddily playing with hula hoops. Perfect end to the day!

SSAFA Saunter 10k at Holker Hall

Sunday 21st June was not an early start for a change! We left the house at a reasonable 9am and managed to hit two car boot sales before arriving at Holker Hall for 10.30am. We did this run last year and had the most epic picnic afterwards with the Walney Wind Cheetahs. This year they added on a children's run as well so the whole family could get involved. The weather had been looking iffy all week in the run up to the run and picnic so we were pleasantly surprised to find that it was only overcast and the rain stayed away!

The fun run was up first, 2km long, and the organisers kindly moved it to start half an hour before the main race which meant that parents were able to watch before heading off themselves. Andy ran with Sam and since the run was around the grounds of Holker and traffic free, we let William run independently. Both boys did really well, 2 laps round the course and then back to the finish for a medal and a goody bag! William of course finished before Sam did but ran back out to cheer his brother into the finish.

The main run started at 12pm and as usual, I set off too fast. My ankle was sore from running hard for a parkrun PB the day before and I could feel it through every foot fall. After 1km or so I was beginning to think that the 10k was a bad idea and that I'd have to walk the majority but after about 4-5km the ankle really loosened up and I was able run without pain. The route was last year's route in reverse, with a short section through woodland to finish. A few bits of gravelly path here and there, but mostly on paths. Was hoping to spot a dear here or there, but wasn't to be!

I managed to finish with a time of 1.05.01 which for me was quite reasonable, especially with the dodgy ankle! Got a lovely new medal to add to the collection and a goody bag too.

After the runners were all back we had a huge group picnic and we managed to eat a lot of cake as usual!

Grasmere Gallop 2015

Should have blogged this one last week but haven't had a chance! 

This was our second time at the Grasmere Gallop, we ran the 5.7k fun run last year and got thoroughly soaked. But we still enjoyed the run, and having decided the weather couldn't be any worse for this year, we booked camping at Ambleside again and the fun run. Well, the rain held off this time, but someone turned up the wind. It was very hard to believe it was June, just look at that sky!

A very large contingent of Walney Wind Cheetahs attended this time. We had runners in the fun run, 10k run and the 17k run. Just before 11am we all met up at the muster point and were piped to the start line in the village. I was running with William and Andy was running with Sam. We all set off together, headed for Red Bank. William did a brilliant job of getting up the hill and I was pleasantly suprised to find that the wind had died down quite a bit on the route. 

When we were partway up Red Bank, we dropped off on a trail down to the lake shore and had a quick drink at the water station. Then we carried on along the path till we reached the road again then it was pretty much all downhill from there. 

William was flying down and unfortunately had a fall, grazing his knee and hurting his elbow and hands. After a few minutes of crying and limping, he managed to regain his running feet and carried on down the hill, through part of the village and onto a path which led to the finishing field where he managed a sprint finish just ahead of me. 

As last year, we got a nice chunky medal and a traybake! William finished in 48 minutes which was 7 minutes off his time from last year, even with his fall. 

We headed back out to the finish and waited for the others to come in. Sam and Andy came back in about 59 minutes, which was slower than last year, but sometimes that's the way it goes with Sam! 

Unfortunately it was too windy and cold to enjoy the group picnic we'd had planned so we headed back to our campsite and spent a bit of time by Lake Windemere. 

Crazy Cow 10k and Crazy Calf Fun Run

On Sunday we were lured out to the Preston area for Andy to take part in the Crazy Cow 10k in Penwortham. I say lured because it was the promise of an unusual reward that got him signed up. A cowbell! That's right, we made a 3 hour round trip so Andy could run for a cowbell. That's how bonkers dedicated we are. I was so jealous!! There happened to be a one mile fun run as well, the Crazy Calf, which the boys took part in so all was good.

The weather fairies were not doing their job on the last day of May though and it was cold and wet when we left the house and cold and wet when we arrived in Preston. Luckily, the children's registration had been set up in the cricket clubhouse so we stayed warm and dry for a bit!

When it was time for the children's race we headed out to the path where it would start from. Conveniently the rain had stopped a little while before. I was running with Sam and William ran on his own as I'd checked the route was safe when I registered them. Andy saw us off then headed back to the finish at the cricket club to wait for us to arrive. William positioned himself at the front of the start and Sam and I were a little further back. Soon we were off and it was a really nice little course on a tarmac path through the woods.

The run was well marshaled by mooing and cowbell ringing individuals. Sam and I eventually emerged onto a gravelly path near the finish where there were some HUGE puddles and he decided to jump through about three of them.

Soon we were at the finish and the boys each got a medal! Unfortunately William managed to fall over whilst running over to get his medal so was not a happy bunny for a little while, but he managed to run his fastest mile yet in 10.46 and came in 19th out of 50 participants. Sam was a bit slower due to quite a bit of walking this time and came in 38th place in 13.50. Fantastic effort from them both.

After the boys finished their run we got them changed out of their wet shoes and into wellies and said goodbye to Andy who wandered off to the start with our fellow Wind Cheetahs who were also taking part. We stayed near the finish whilst they set off. The boys amused themselves by throwing pebbles into the stream and generally faffing about. We found a spot on the other side of the stream in a field to watch the runners coming back in. Andy made it back in record time for him, 54.03 so was very pleased. And he received his cowbell too! Andy said it was a nice, flat run and that he would do it again (although it will be my turn for a cowbell next!).

We didn't stop long after seeing the other WWC through the finish line, it was just too cold! William took charge of Andy's cowbell and we were rather grateful when it fell on the floor of the car after about 15 minutes into the journey home!

Pearl Izumi Fun Run

Last Friday we were given a brilliant opportunity. The Pearl Izumi Cycling Tour event came to Barrow for the second year. It was a huge success last year, with the roads around the town centre blocked off and lots of spectators. This year, due to a gap in the afternoon's proceedings our run leaders worked their magic to fill that gap with a children's running event, to showcase our local running groups and also a disability run as well. We were very excited for the boys to take part, running as WWC Cubs in the primary age event. They were even given fabulous new WWC running shirts with 'Cubs' on!

We decided to bus it into town for the event due to road closures and possible parking panic, but the boys love taking the bus so it added to the excitement. We got dropped off just outside the course and went to wait for the group. The sun was out but there was a brisk wind about so it wasn't the warmest but everyone was in a fab mood and the children were very excited. After a lot of pics were taken it was time to watch the disability cycling set off, then the secondary school and disability runners. Those at secondary had to run two laps and the primary schoolers had to run one lap of the 1.2km course.

Once they had finished it was time for the primary school children to run. I lined up with Sam at the back whilst William chose to be on the front starting line! Sam held my hand for all of a few seconds before letting go and that was it then, he just kept on running. He wasn't the fastest but he was definitely taking the atmosphere (and the changes to the town centre) in. William stayed well ahead and didn't stop either.

On the approach to the finish I could hear the commentator welcoming William into the finish and Sam and I weren't far off ourselves! When we did reach the end, the commentator welcomed Sam as well and offered a high five, which Sam gladly gave him. Judging from his expression below I think he was a little amazed at the clock on the arch!

All in all, a very good afternoon. Really proud of both the boys and quite excited to have been able to run the course myself! And what a fabulous opportunity to give our community's young runners, an experience they won't forget!

2015 Challenge Update and Other Good Stuff

Well, I missed the chance to write up about how our challenge was going at the end of April, thanks to the Dalton and Liverpool 10k races! Thought I would take the opportunity to update now and post about other fab things that have happened recently.

As of this post, we have run a total of 607 miles this year between us, leaving 1408 miles left to run! So far for the month of May, Sam is beating the rest of us in terms of mileage, probably helped by the fact that he has been going to his school running club on a Friday afternoon! He's running 4-5 kilometres up to 5 times a week and loving it.

Sam was also picked again to run for the school's cross country team in a competition that took place last week. It was a relay this time so I was even more nervous than before as he'd need to hold and pass over a baton as well as try and run the whole thing. I needn't have worried after all, he did fantastically. Kept hold of that baton and kept running, even when he wasn't holding my hand.

William followed us round the course as well to cheer him on. I heard this little voice about 3/4 of the way round shouting 'I'm still behind you mummy'! I think he is already planning on taking part in cross country when he reaches Sam's year.

We are still taking part in the Walney Wind Cheetah cubs sessions on a Monday and Wednesday evening. The boys are loving the running and the games. Sam has been taking part in the games as well more this year and is even starting to do one of the stretches after the run....progress!

And of course we love parkrun on Saturdays. William got a fantastic PB of 37.14 last Saturday. He worked really hard for that and showed a lot of PMA (Positive Mental Attitude!) which we were really proud of. He's only 5 minutes off my own PB now so I had better get faster, and quickly!

Our final organised race of the month will be the Crazy Cow 10k at Preston where Andy is running the 10k and there is a fun run for the boys to take part in as well. I'm very jealous he'll be rewarded with a cowbell!
 
Loads of good runs coming up in June as well, in fact every weekend in June is taken up with a race! The Grasmere Gallop, Liverpool Rock and Roll Half Marathon, SSAFA Holker 10k and the Walney Fun Run. Hopefully they will all get us nearer to completing our challenge!

2015 Challenge - March Update

Ok, I know it's now April, but the kids have been off school and we had the autism run at the weekend so I've only just had time now to write a March update for our 2015 challenge of running 2015 miles this year!

As of the end of March, we are now down to 1712.5 miles left to go! We've run a total of 105.5 miles this month, managing just a few more miles in March than we did in February.

We've had a great month of running, including Andy and Sam's 50th parkrun, the Port Sunlight runs and the Jacob's Leg It 10k. And not forgetting of course our virtual 5k Run for Autism.

We have an interesting month ahead for running and we should be increasing those miles now, not least of all because we'll be back running on Walney on a Monday and Wednesday night with the Walney Wind Cheetah Cubs group! Can't wait! Light evenings running along the beach path with friends... you just can't beat that! And the games section in the middle of the session makes it even better.

We've got other events coming up this month too. Andy is taking part in the Ulverston Sprint Triathlon on Easter Sunday, I am running the St George's Day 10k at Great Langdale whilst the boys run in the fun run and we're all taking part in the Kendal Colour Dash too!