It has been a busy week of running with the weather showing who’s boss!

I began RED January this week, keeping it sensible. 3 seconds off a Parkrun PB though and I got to explore new running routes, so perhaps it wasn’t THAT sensible…

Monday 30th Dec

Rest Day – Did some cross training with my new resistance bands.

Tuesday 31st Dec

1.37 mile run to the gym and a 30 minute strength/core workout.

Wednesday 1st Jan

3.1 miles Huddersfield New Years Day Parkrun! It was the 3rd biggest Parkrun in the UK with over a thousand turning up – how bonkers is that?! I could definitely tell though. It was a struggle to park and there were people everywhere!

That being said, it was SO much fun! I saw so many friends and my time was 26.04. Good going for all the lovely people who were there.

Thursday 2nd Jan

3.3 miles. Today I had planned a 4 mile lunch run, but the wind was a bit too full on! So I adjusted the route to a 3.3 miler run to the park. Not quite what I wanted, but I have to get through a whole month of running so sometimes it’s best to be safe and healthy 🙂

Friday 3rd Jan

2 miles. I planned a short 2 mile run today as I wanted to save myself for the upcoming weekend. It wasn’t great and I had a bit of a sulk because I was sooo slow. It’s easy to forget though, not every run is amazing. Not every run is supposed to be and with my weekend coming up it’s good that I didn’t run hard and fast. Why are we so hard on ourselves?! haha.

Saturday 4th Jan

3.1 miles. Huddersfield Parkrun. I was ready for a PB. The legs were crying out for it. My dodgy cough had gone. Today was my day.

It was just really windy. Some of the uphill sections felt like you were wasting energy.

I pushed on though, feeling strong and positive. Then halfway through the final lap… SPLAT!!

A bird pooed on me. All over my top and my right hand. There was nowhere I could wipe it and there was also absolutely no way I could stop. So I carried on, unable to properly move my right arm comfortably but I did my best.

I was 3 seconds off a PB. 3 SECONDS. If it wasn’t for that bird, if it wasn’t for that wind I’d have smashed that PB. Next week!!!

Sunday 5th Jan

Long run Sunday! It has been a while since I have run ten miles, mainly due to December illness (grr!). Today I was determined to achieve it, even if I had to walk some of the way.

Fortunately, I managed to complete ten miles in a new route! It wasn’t easy, as I climbed up the Huddersfield hills and got attacked by the wind and the rain. I had several drivers look at me like I was a lunatic at one point!

However, us runners are stubborn and my body was strong enough to cope and push on.

My pace was very slow (10.27mins per mile on average) but I did climb nearly 1000ft in silly conditions. The last mile was a struggle as it never seemed to end, but it did!

Then I hobbled the short walk home where a power walker smugly marched past me. If only she knew! Hehe 🙂

Weekly miles: 22.87 miles