Juneathon Update - Not so good

Oh dear, I signed up to Juneathon with all good intentions to run and exercise everyday in June. Trouble is I have been suffering from mild shin splints and my regular running/fitness routine had gone out of the window. So here's my five excuses for not keeping up with the Juneathon action plan.

1) I was out of routine
2) My regular running buddies have been away or busy
3) I have been busy with work
4) The kids have been ill
5) I've been out socialising  - not good for early morning runs

But...... I have upped my yoga routine - 2-3 times a week, and ran whenever I can when we have been away in the campervan. I did a great circular run on The Gower a couple of weeks ago, some Fartlek training in the local park and today I did a fab 10k run on Black Down (Beacon Batch - the highest point in the Mendips). Despite having a bit of a sore heal, I had a great run. It was all off-road - just how I like it, and with plenty of hilly. But it was worth it. Amazing views across to South Wales and lots of fun running DOWN the hills. A good day. So though June wasn't my best month for running, I have finished the month on a high and hope to continue through July. So thanks Juneathon for keeping me motivated through June.

National School Sport Week

It's National School Sport Week this week, and schools across the country will be taking part.

For many people school is often the first introduction to running and becomes something you either love or hate. I was a sprinter at school all those years ago. I wasn't that brilliant - but certainly preferred sprinting compared to long distance. Yet when I was recommended by my school to join the local athletics club I only went a few times and stopped going after about a month as I didn't like it. Hey ho such is life. Now I prefer long distance, but still look back to those school sports days with fond memories.

My mate is a P.E teacher and has been planning her school's sports week for months. She has so much enthusiasm for sport - I wish she was teaching at my daughter's school. Lets hope there are plenty more PE teachers out there like her that inspire kids to get out there and take part.

Learning to read is a national problem

Just came across the Evening Standard's campaign to raise awareness about the charity Volunteer Reading Help. It's all about helping children to read in London.

While this is a great idea, this is a national problem and there are already systems in schools where parents can volunteer to read with other children in their primary schools. I have been volunteering at my daughter's school for three years as a Better Reading Partner. The difference a little bit of focussed reading makes to a child is simply amazing, not only with their reading but also with their overall confidence. Why does it take a London based newspaper to raise awareness that there is a reading problem in the UK?

Running & Mud

I know it's the summer and we're supposed to be basking in hot sunshine, but with Glastonbury this weekend and the Wimbledon fortnight upon us, sunshine inevitably turns to rain and with rain we have mud and this year like every other at Glastonbury, there's mud and lots of it. So as most of the population of Bristol heads over to Glastonbury for the annual mud bath, a few sneaky Bristolians have been enjoying themselves on the mudflats of the River Avon. Check out the Bristol Festival of Mud . Looks like loads of fun. Thanks to the team at Yoho Media for the video. So what has this got to do with running. Well nothing really apart from our obvious obsession with mud and getting dirty. The growing popularity of the Sodbury Slog and the Mud Runner Adventure Series just proves it.

Usain Bolt - Running Man

Usian Bolt is the latest - and fastest - in a long line of sprinters from Jamaica who have left the opposition in their wake over the last few years. There are many theories to explain the phenomenon - some scientific and some less so. In this programme, Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere takes a jog across the island to put those theories to the test.

Usain Bolt: Running Man -http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b011w8b1/

An inspiring story for any sprinting hopefuls.

A Bad Run

OK so I signed up to Juneathon a couple of days ago with the intention to run every day, blog every day and log every day through June. I missed the first week as I was away - well that's my excuse - and the website does say you can do any form of exercise, so it doesn't necessarily have to be running.

So keen to get back into my running regime after a bit of a layoff due to shin splints I went to yoga last night - a fantastic class. I came back feeling a foot taller. Today I went for an early morning run and that's where it all went wrong. It was my usual 7k route which includes some hills and I struggled pretty much all the way round. Well certainly on the hills. I mean I slowed up to the point of going backwards. What's going on with me. My legs felt like lead weights. Maybe it was just a bad day. Maybe its my age. Maybe I'm premenstrual. I don't know. Anyway what ever it is lets hope the running improves. If I can run these hills in the cold months of January I should certainly be able to do them now.

OK now I have ranted I feel so much better. I do find though that some days I run with a spring in my step and other days, well…….. it’s a struggle. Does this happen to anyone else? Please don’t tell me it’s just me!

7k 48mins

Britain's Park Story & the value of nature

Described as 'the lungs of the city - historian Dan Cruickshank reveals the history of our public parks in the BBC programme 'Britain's Park Story'. Did anyone watch it last Sunday? If not here's a link to BBC iplayer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t9qv8/Britains_Park_Story/

Cruickshank travels the country to discover the evolution of the nation's urban public parks, a story of class, civic pride, changing fashions in sport and recreation which helps re-evaluate the amazing assets they are.

Talking about the importance of our parks and open spaces, there have recently been two interesting features in The Guardian - Managing parks and green spaces despite budget cuts and The true value of nature is not a number with a pound sign in front a live debate in response to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs National Ecosystem Assessment. Both are certainly worth a read.

Many thanks to the Bristol Parks Forum for forwarding these links and GreenSpace UK

Half Term Hols - Croyde Bay Run

So I haven't blogged for a while as I have been away for the half term hols in the camper. Managed to do just one run while I was away. Roughly a 5k run from the campsite in Croyde to Baggy Point and back. The route included running through sand dunes (a good test for the recovering shin splints), a steep climb up Middleborough Hill, weaving between caravans in the sea-front holiday park and part of the South West Coast Path. Probably not my favourite coastal run as I had to negotiate running through Croyde on a busy day, but it was great to get on the coast path - once I found it. I asked a guy in one of the surfing schools where the coast path was and he didn't have a clue. Couldn't believe it! Thankfully his colleague had more local knowledge. Didn't see anyone rock climbing at Baggy. Probably too early for most climbers.

Need to get back into regular running now I'm back in Bristol. Just came across Juneathon. Could be a good way to up the running.