Running down a dream

I’m not one to post non-knitting entries really, largely because my day to day life is pretty uneventful and doesn’t seem to be worth writing about. I don’t have any pets, I don’t have children, my job is mostly dull and when it isn’t it’s confidential so I couldn’t possibly discuss it and knitting is my primary hobby. This isn’t to say I am not happy with my life, I am, I just don’t think anyone else would be particularly interested in reading about it!

Here I am though with something eventful and interesting that I did and can post about, brilliant! On Sunday my husband and I ran the Jane Tomlinson 10K in Leeds. I have never run a 10K before and I must admit I never do any exercise to speak of beyond walking up the stairs at work and walking to the bus stop. I had planned to train but then never seemed to find the time and three weeks pre-race ended up having some abdominal surgery which really messed up any chances for practice and made me wonder whether I’d be running at all or if it might have to be a 10K walk.

I got up bright and early on Sunday morning and got dressed in my lovely running shoes (purchased when I signed up for the run but only worn once since!) and the sportiest clothing I could find. We went along to the mass warm up then got in position to start. When you run the 10K they give you a little plastic tag which fastens to your laces and when you run over a mat at the beginning and end of the race it records your start and finish time then you are sent an official race time. Mine was 1hr 14minutes exactly. I was very proud of this given the complete lack of training…admittedly a 7 months pregnant Paula Radcliffe ran it in 45 minutes but then she is a world record holding athlete! I did run/jog more of it than I walked though so that's an achievement.

I enjoyed the whole experience so much that I’m going to do it again and am signing up to the Abbey Dash (another 10K in Leeds) in November and possibly a 10K in Liverpool (Mr.Northernmonkey’s home town) in October. I’m going to train this time though, join a gym for general treadmill training and then try to get running on the roads (well pavement) once or twice a week so I can run the entire distance next time and hopefully know 5-10 minutes off my race time.

Here I am all dressed, numbered and ready to go!

The next post will include more knitterly progress, I have almost finished the second pattern repeat on my shawl and am nearly at the toe of my husband’s socks which I started some time ago and then abandoned in favour of prettier, patterned, not size 11 socks!! This does depend on getting my camera back from my mum of course, she still has it and without that all photos are of the camera phone variety.