Running Review 2017

Its been a year... a complete desertion of the mojo, a niggling hip injury and a tad of achilles tendonitis has meant that the training has gone for a long walk... even that didn't run away, just gently sauntered into the sunset...

However, I am and will always be a medal whore, so whilst I've not run consistently I have got my sorry arse out of bed for runs and events.  The inaugural Wirral trail half marathon started the year, a gentle cold slog along the Wirral Way, flat with squelchy bits... The glory of the MadDog 10k - with its awesome goody bag - containing a bag, well rucksack.  The National Trust run around around the grounds and deserted airfield near a Tudor mansion - Speke Hall.  The horror of the BTR half marathon... BTR Half, guess what, still no explanation... let alone an apology!

The double header of the Spring 5 & 10K in Sefton Park showed how cock-ups should be dealt with - a shortage of t-shirts meant that names were taken and a little while later a very posh looking bag turned up with a t-shirt in.  It's simple when you care.

Rock n Roll marathons have a good reputation - the warm up 5k on the Saturday, the ease with which I could drop down to the half from the full, the water stations with water, the bands... and being able to support jiminy cricket as she did her first full 26.2.  The medals are stunners, as ever, and the bonus medals for completing two runs in the weekend and doing last year and this just make you smile... and result in you heading off to parts foreign...

Interwoven with these were two Rough Runners - imagine Total Wipeout, hybridised with a 10k but instead of the warmth of Argentina, in both Edinburgh and Manchester... The water was not warm.  The river crossing was interesting.  The sight of someone with a compound fracture of their leg was mildly offputting...  There was also the Kessel Run, a virtual run with a hunk of junk as a medal... Also the Tony Barnes Memorial 5 miler won a special place in my heart... for serving curry at the finish!!!



The great north run is an event rather than a run, lots of people, lots of love, the Red Arrows and Newcastle - the stay in the caravan, the charity meals and tent all are part of the weekend of fun.

Then, as jiminy cricket had seen the world rocker medal that you get if you run two events in different countries we headed to Lisbon, with a tropical heat wave hitting... 34 C, 93 F, was warm... who am I trying to kid, it was unpleasantly hot, they ran out of water... but had a mini-bus delivering supplies to the back markers (of which I am not ashamed to say I was one).   My main thought at the end of it?  I was very glad I wasn't doing the marathon... Lisbon RnR

We beat the reaper... Reaper and got some funny looks on the way there and back...

Then our nerdiness took over for the Santa Dash (unfortunately done by BTR - so the end was crowded to a worrying degree) Batman-Santa, Robin-Santa

And finally we let it all go to our heads with the annual turkey trot...



And the full year... Five half marathons, a lot of sweat, nothing close to a PB and hopefully the glimmerings of the mojo returning...





So, the plans are being hatched for next year... the early races are in the calendar (and some of the ones we try and do every year).  We have adventures and I can guarantee there will be medals...

TTFN

Paul






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