So this is my first blog and here I am introducing myself to the website and the North East athletics fraternity.
As you are already aware my name is Sarah, I'm 27 and I am a teacher (also head of department) at a school in county Durham. I started running about 4 years ago and have slowly but surely progressed as time has passed by.
As you are already aware my name is Sarah, I'm 27 and I am a teacher (also head of department) at a school in county Durham. I started running about 4 years ago and have slowly but surely progressed as time has passed by.
So... Why all of a sudden did I start to run at 23 years old? Well back in the days of those awful school cross country runs I hated running, in fact I used to walk the course with the odd casual jog past the teachers to avoid detention! I hated it; it was far too much effort. However, I loved being outdoors and I suppose I always have. Four years ago I discovered the treadmill at the gym, I loved how, after a 20 minute blast, you could feel so invigorated and proud of the achievement. Then, that spring, with the excitement of the longer lighter nights I asked my boyfriend at the time to come for a run with me. He categorically refused and said it was "gay". Needless to say, we didn't stay together for too much longer and in my despair I decided to rebel and give running a bash and.... I loved it! I loved it so much that I ran 3 miles every day for months! One day my best friend encouraged me to join Wallsend Harriers to try and improve and develop. I did just that and 2 and bit years later here I am writing a blog for other runners who may also be in running clubs; running strong with a massive group of big hearted, caring, supportive and talented club mates like I do at Wallsend.
Now, don't get me wrong I'm not an amazing runner, I find balancing my running with work very challenging as being a teacher isn't exactly a 9 to 5 job. I always try to get to planned sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings though and always (even when I'm hungover!) manage to smash out my long Sunday run (10 to 12 miles). Other times when I'm feeling stressed or energetic I will throw in a little run, but once the lighter nights arrive that will most certainly change.
My current big targets for the year ahead are to beat my 1:52:02 half marathon PB, do a sub 50 minute 10k and get around the Edinburgh marathon in one piece. I foolishly signed up to Edinburgh with the lasses at the club, but to be perfectly honest it's a challenge I feel like I need to undertake at some point in my life. I mean, who wouldn't want to tell the grandchildren in the future, "eeee I once ran a marathon!” So while I'm fit and ready I may as well give it my very best shot, just to complete it will be enough for me. As for my other targets, they have been hanging around for too long and as soon as I get them out of the way I can set some more. I was very close to my sub 1:50 target at the Brass Monkey half marathon this January, I was on target all the way at around 8:20 miling but the wind was so strong and blowing everyone everywhere! Being 2 minutes and 2 seconds outside my target in gale force winds was good enough for me, I know deep down I have it in me, I'm just waiting for the prefect conditions (if they actually exist!). As for the 10k target, I'm going to hold my hands up here and say I probably have never been fit enough to reach that... Until now.
My current big targets for the year ahead are to beat my 1:52:02 half marathon PB, do a sub 50 minute 10k and get around the Edinburgh marathon in one piece. I foolishly signed up to Edinburgh with the lasses at the club, but to be perfectly honest it's a challenge I feel like I need to undertake at some point in my life. I mean, who wouldn't want to tell the grandchildren in the future, "eeee I once ran a marathon!” So while I'm fit and ready I may as well give it my very best shot, just to complete it will be enough for me. As for my other targets, they have been hanging around for too long and as soon as I get them out of the way I can set some more. I was very close to my sub 1:50 target at the Brass Monkey half marathon this January, I was on target all the way at around 8:20 miling but the wind was so strong and blowing everyone everywhere! Being 2 minutes and 2 seconds outside my target in gale force winds was good enough for me, I know deep down I have it in me, I'm just waiting for the prefect conditions (if they actually exist!). As for the 10k target, I'm going to hold my hands up here and say I probably have never been fit enough to reach that... Until now.
In January this year, following the death of my group coach, the legend that is Terry O'Gara, I was feeling a little down. Terry knew my targets and was always so supportive of me in trying to reach them. The first training session without Terry tore me up inside. After not hearing his supportive and encouraging chants as I was struggling on the last hill rep or the fast last mile I decided enough was enough, I would move up to the next, faster group. Kev, who coaches that group, had been trying to get me to move up before Xmas, but I always passed it off due to fear of failure and of the unknown. This time I took him up on the offer and I went for it. Running with the faster group is so much more challenging and hard work but so exciting! Since then I have been running with Kev’s group every week. Don't get me wrong I'm always near the back but every session I do I see more and more 7:30 miles appear on my watch, numbers my Garmin was never used to displaying! So currently with my fitness levels I feel very confident that I have just what it takes to beat my sub 50 target and no matter what the conditions, I'm going to do it, not only for me but also for my late coach who knew my plans.
I could go on forever but this time I won't but I'm going to end my intro with a paragraph about why I actually run...
I don't know how many times a week I hear the usual comments, "I couldn't run to the corner shop' or ' you must be mental' from people who I work with or non-running friends in general. I still find it difficult to reply with any meaningful insight into why I actually run, all I know is that I do. When I'm running alone I love nothing more than to think, just think about nothing. I suppose anyone who runs knows what I mean unless you are knocking our stupidly fast miles and looking at your watch every hundred metres! I can have the worst day at work and then go for a run and by the time I get back I have forgotten what the issue was and I'm back to feeling normal with the extra addition of self-satisfaction.
People don’t get people who run but as far as I'm concerned, people who run don't get people who don't.
I look forward to updating you about my forthcoming marathon training, my Blyth 10k challenge and any other bits and bobs in between,
Over and oot
I could go on forever but this time I won't but I'm going to end my intro with a paragraph about why I actually run...
I don't know how many times a week I hear the usual comments, "I couldn't run to the corner shop' or ' you must be mental' from people who I work with or non-running friends in general. I still find it difficult to reply with any meaningful insight into why I actually run, all I know is that I do. When I'm running alone I love nothing more than to think, just think about nothing. I suppose anyone who runs knows what I mean unless you are knocking our stupidly fast miles and looking at your watch every hundred metres! I can have the worst day at work and then go for a run and by the time I get back I have forgotten what the issue was and I'm back to feeling normal with the extra addition of self-satisfaction.
People don’t get people who run but as far as I'm concerned, people who run don't get people who don't.
I look forward to updating you about my forthcoming marathon training, my Blyth 10k challenge and any other bits and bobs in between,
Over and oot