#73 today!

Took car for a MOT (didn’t pass) in town centre and started my run from there.

Was very misty morning but was warm too.

My intention was to get a decent time today, stopping less often for photos and selfies and recorded my fastest solo run since end of July at 1:43′ 🙂
On Km 4 I saw Charlotte and Lee walking back from town.

I ran the ” footprint ” route twice (see shape of route on map) with a detour in the Quarry.

I started at a decent pace and completed my first 10k in 46 minutes and slowed down a little for second half of run.

Overall I’m very pleased with my run today, my legs were very stiff and achy but that was because of yesterday’s studio training session.

I tried to run some parts of the 7 Bridges Race course that I’m running on Sunday.

It’s a 10k race, so will be starting around fifty minutes before race starts in St Julian’s Car Park , run up town Walls to the Quarry swimming baths, run the 10k course by myself and join the start at 10am for the last 10k.

I did something similar back in in March, run #23 at Shrewsbury 10k.

1540km so far, 570km to go, getting closer to the three quarter mark, hopefully next wednesday 🙂

#74 was a special one today 🙂

Completed in 1: 36′ 34″ 

One of my favourite so far.

I love the 7 Bridges Road Race course and I was happy to run it twice today 🙂

Back in 2011 it was my first ever race and I’ve run every single one of them ever since.

I started in St Julian’s car park at around 9.05 am.

Was a beautiful sunny day but wasn’t too hot for running.

I calculated that I needed 53 minutes to run 11 km to get to the race start, have a couple minutes break and start the 10k race to finish the 13 miles.

I ran up Town Walls to where the race starts in The Quarry, level with St. Chad’s

and was about 200 metres short of 1km.

Later on I took a short detour by the Monument to make this up.

A few runners were already gathering by the start line, lots of familiar faces.

This race has the feel of a giant parkrun 🙂

I ran the course at a steady pace, at around 4.30/4.40 km 

A few marshals were wondering what I was doing running the opposite way, and I had to shout a few times “just practicing” or ” just warming up”

I got to the 9 km sign ( I was on my 10th) and according to my watch I still had 7 minutes to go to 10am and 1km to run, so I slowed down a bit, plan was almost perfect, I also had time to rest before race, but to my horror I started hearing the church bells !!

I had to sprint up the parkrun climb and got to the back of the runners as the marshall shouted 3.. 2… 1.. (that was close!!)

So I wasn’t as fresh and rested and this made race a bit harder than planned.

Was happy to finish in 44′, and in position 46 🙂

As I crossed the finish line ( which was moved this year) I hugged Julie, and my beagles too 🙂

I still had 50 metres to complete the 21.08 km so I took my medal, and as I stopped for Colin to take photo I went flying on my butt, I should have been embarrassed by it, but I wasn’t, I laughed, Colin took another photo and I ran the last few metres 🙂
Next run will be on thursday and it’s a landmark one #75 

#75 done this morning.

Three quarter of challenge is now complete 🙂

Was a beautiful sunny but cool morning, perfect day for a 13 mile run.

Run was almost effortless, just cruised at jog pace, enjoying the autumn sunshine and was excited to reach the 75 % mark. Took a few selfies and photos along the way.

Started at The old Percy Thrower’s, parked the car there and ran down Sutton Rd, up Wenlock Rd, down London Rd , Pritchard and Hazeldine Way and Roman Rd. 

Turned left on Grange Rd and Bank Farm Rd and onto Mousecroft.

Ended up back in Meole Brace, back to Wenlock Rd and up the length of Sutton Rd to finish the distance.

Earlier this year, run #55 I think, I mentioned how I was pleased to find a bridge in Montford Bridge, now I can also reveal that I actually saw a mouse (maybe it was a rat) in Mousecroft 😀

No toots or waves to mention this time.

Next run should be on sunday or maybe monday.

982.5 miles done and only 327.5 to go, easy peasy 🙂

#76 done early this morning in the company of Peter Hughes 

Weather was perfect for running. 

I met Peter in the Quarry by the suspension bridge, he’d already run a mile from Copthorne.

He needed to run for two hours as part of his training, so a 8’/mile pace was perfect for him and suited me fine too.

It was also good not to have to think of a route, I told him to take charge and he said that he usually makes it up as he goes along and I said that’s also what I do!!

We chatted along the way and time flew by quick, I didn’t feel I’ve ran 13 miles at all, that’s why I keep asking for company on my runs, it makes it so much easier 🙂

Finished in the Quarry in 1:45′ and Peter a bit before on Porthill as he had to run home back to Copthorne.

995 miles so far, on my next run i will pass the 1000 miles mark 🙂

Saw Rachel, Steph & Sarah running on km 3 and later again on km 7!! We also got a toot on London Rd from Jordan and that was on mile 7.

£887 raised so far, a bit behind my target of £1 per mile.

#77 done this morning!

 A landmark run because I just passed the 1000 miles mark of my challenge and only 301 left 🙂

Was a warm day, windy at times specially in the Bayston Hill area, always windy there!!

I picked a tough route, silly me 🙂

I parked at Radbrook Business park, ran through Mousecroft to Meole Brace, up Pulley and Bayston Hill towards Condover. A mile from there I decided to turn round becuase road was pretty dangerous and too many lorries where driving too close to me.

Ran back to Meole, up and down Roman Rd, down Longden Rd and into Town Centre.

By the Cornhouse I saw Lindy Bailey, she was running towards the Quarry and I was about to go up Town Walls. I decided to turn around and catch her up so I could run in the company of someone even for a little distance.

We ran together for over a mile from km 15 to 17 and she carried on towards Smithfield Rd and I turned onto Welsh Bridge and up The Mount (another climb!)

Completed my run 1 mile away from where I parked car, so I jogged back and cooled down.

Off to Wales now for a little break, run #78 should be on monday.

Next week will be a tough one as I will run three halfs and a parkrun.

I’m ahead of schedule by a couple of runs, which is good news 🙂

Time to say my thankyous : 

1. to all who encourage me and wish me good luck, like and share my social media posts
2. to all who sponsored me so far : nearly £900 plus gift aid raised so far 
3. to Gareth Connell from Purity Lifestyle Studio in Wellington for free massage on my calves
4. Joe Williams from UKRunChat for free entry at Shrewsbury Half Marathon and for posting my blog on UkSportsChat website 
5. Up& Running shop in Shrewsbury for big discount on new Running Shoes
6. Susan Bowes for selling her extra M.Drayton 10k and Derby Half entry and donating the money to Cancer Research uk
7. My Family for patience and support and for listening all day to my numbers and stats
8. My brother at La Lanterna restaurant for putting a poster up to raise a bit more 
9. To Joe Brocklehurst for looking after my legs for a discounted rate and also a complimentary treatment 
10. To Sandra ( my mother in law) for helping me raise from family and friends 
11. To Gareth Mapp at Lifestyle Fitness for letting me put up a sponsor form on notice board to raise cash from members and staff

RRR (beep beep)
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