I hope this update finds you all well and looking forward to the weekend. My weekend is going to involve a trip to Windsor Castle and an overnight stay in a lovely hotel which was the prize I won a few weeks back. I am very much looking forward to it. My weekend will not involve any running.
Staying true to my word, I have not run a single step for nearly 2 weeks. Frustrating in the extreme I have to say. The swelling of my knee has finally subsided and the pain has dulled to the occasional twinge but I will not be tempted to trot until I have been to 'the knee man' next Tuesday.
Charlotte has given me the details of a natural remedy that has got rave reviews. Her Dad has been using it and it has helped him. Being the hippy chick that I am, I am always happy to try the alternative treatments and remedies so I have ordered some of said remedy and I will give it a go. Watch this space!
Talking of Charlotte, it's her birthday today. Happy Birthday, Charlotte. I feel sure you will be celebrating in style! Have a great day/weekend/year!!
Now, for anyone who doesn't already know and with apologies for those who have already been bored with this news, Jack and I did take part in the Disability Challengers River Run last Sunday. I had delayed my decision about taking part until the morning of the event and I decided to take on the 5k walk. Jack took part in the 5k run.
The weather was abysmal. What started off as light drizzle soon turned to heavy, persistent rain that continued throughout the walk and the race.
Jack and I arrived nice and early and so picked up his race number and our shoe tags that would record our times.We returned to the car to prepare ourselves for the challenge ahead which included making a 'running' playlist for Jack's phone.
The walk set off an hour before the race so I left Jack in the relative warmth and dryness of the car and made my way to the start of the walk. There were quite a few walkers, some doing the 5k and some doing 7k. There was a quick welcome speech from one of the organisers and then a really moving tribute to the organisation by a Mum of a disabled boy who had benefited hugely from the work of Challengers. The positive impact of the organisation on the whole family was told by this mum and I think everyone was moved by her passionate words. She spoke from under the shelter of a huge umbrella as the rain was now pouring down.
The walk then started. I had decided that, if I couldn't run, I was going to really push myself and step it out. I set off at a very brisk pace and kept that pace up all the way around. I was so determined to get a reasonable time that I eventually finished a full 9 minutes ahead of the 2nd person to finish. I was amazed to be honest and I took the organisers by surprise as they hadn't expected anyone to finish so quickly! I was delighted of course. Delighted and very wet. The 'showerproof'' running jacket that was having it's first outing was completely useless. So much so that I returned it to the shop the next day and got a refund.
Then there was a bit of hanging around, getting progressively wetter and colder, and then the call came for the runners to go to the start line. Jack being Jack, wandered over wearing his Superdry casual shoes as he doesn't own a pair of trainers at the moment, and then he took part in the warm up before strategically placing himself at the front for the off.
Russ and I saw him off and thought we'd see him in about 30 minutes. Incredibly, 22 minutes later Jack appeared in the distance. We couldn't believe it to be honest. We both cheered him on to the finish line where his time of 23 minutes had given him 2nd place and a bottle of prosecco for his efforts. He was exhausted but really pleased with himself. It was a fantastic effort and who knows how much faster he would have run if he had had a pair of trainers!!
Between Jack and I we raised just under £100 for Disability Challengers which we are both very happy about. Thank you to those very generous people who sponsored us and encouraged us to do our best.
The next event is a 4k adventure 'run' incorporating obstacles and so on and then a 10k at the beginning of December. Oh, I do hope I'll be able to take part.
White Lodge have confirmed that I don't need to worry about Silverstone just yet. I am under no pressure from them at all to make a decision about taking part in the run which is great because it gives me loads of time to work on my knee and fitness and see how things go.
Wishing you all a happy weekend.
A x
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