The Week Of The Reunion

This week was all about the countdown to the weekend (I must add - I do actually love my job!) It was for a good reason though. My best friend, and running partner in crime, moved to Australia two years ago and this would be the first time I had seen her since she left. Having your closest friend on literally the other side of the world has been hard at times, but this weekend would make it all worth while. 

MONDAY: Body Pump class

TUESDAY: after a busy day at work my urge to run was low. I eventually stuck my run gear on though, and my procrastination did at least mean the rain had stopped lashing by the time I got out the door, and I logged a steady 5.5 miles at 8:09 min/mile average pace.

WEDNESDAY: my energy levels were a little low again today, but I knew I wanted to run a few extra miles today since my weekend plans meant I would be missing out on my traditional 'Sunday long run'. I targeted 7 steady miles and finished at the gym for Body Pump - feeling much more energised for completing both. 

THURSDAY: Body Attack class

FRIDAY: Rest Day

​SATURDAY: the start of a bitterly cold but exciting weekend. If I thought last Saturday's Lincoln parkrun was cold, today it was absolutely Baltic, with a sparkling of frost gracing the park. Although the conditions were harsher, I seemed to cope better with the weather today. Whilst it was still a shock at first as I started to run, I seemed to adapt quicker, and I pushed myself to an improved 21:13 finish. My quest to return to a sub 21 minute time before the end of 2017 remains, but I shall keep trying! Post parkrun I then headed to Doncaster to meet my friend; a bundle of nervous, emotional, excitement - somewhat like heading to a big race!

SUNDAY: after spending Saturday afternoon and evening catching up with each other, today my friend and I took on the Doncaster 10k. It seemed like fate that the first ever Doncaster 10k had fallen on this weekend, and in my friend's hometown. The bitter weather was a bit of a shock for my friend (and still me!), and I had also rather optimistically bought us matching running vests to wear (see image) which were so perfect for the occasion we just had to brave them (my friend especially so!) My friend is a speedster and my aim was to try and keep up with her, not for time purposes really, but we both just wanted to try and run together if we could. A full race review will follow soon, but in short we achieved our goal, running through the streets of Doncaster together and finishing side by side, ending in a massive emotional hug at the finish line (seems a bit of a theme for me these days!) Running with my friend really pushed me and I actually managed to set a new PB of 44:02, which was a nice bonus! The memories of this day and the meaning of it matter to me so much more than my time though, and as I hugged my friend at the end, and throughout the whole weekend in fact, it felt like we had never been apart - a real friendship.