Before:

Running towards the 5k point:

And just about to go over the finishing line:

I think I’ll enjoy this race more if I do it again next year, as not knowing the course meant I was constantly looking up head to see where everyone was headed and the long stream of people running in blue t shirts seemed to go on forever, which was very daunting. The course itself is almost completely flat starting at The Arena in Rhyl and heading out 5k along the prom past the golf course and then turning back to finish back at The Arena. I was really happy with my times for each of the first 5k and felt encouraged by running literally with the wind on my back. The downside was the second you turned around to come back the wind was against you bringing the sand with it. This meant I spent most of the last 5k walking as every time I attempted to run it felt like I was being blown away and most of it with my eyes almost closed for fear of sand getting in them! On the plus point, I’ve been told the free sand exfoliation has made my skin glow! Despite this, I’ll definitely look into signing up for next year’s race

Starting time:11.10
1k mark: 11.17
2k mark: 11.23
3k mark : 11.29
4k mark: 11.37
5k mark: 11.45
6k mark missed because of sand!
7k mark: 12.01
8k mark: 12:11
9k mark: 12.19
10k and finishing line: 12.29

For a fun run, this race has a very serious side to it, as the majority of runners will have a loved one’s name on their back to show who they are running in memory of and before the race a 1 minutes silence will be held for those no longer with us.

I’m running in memory of Nana Helen who died almost 3 years ago from mouth Cancer. Whilst the Cancer meant she found it hard to talk or swallow, her eyes were still very much alive with fun and love right to the end. I don’t have to look for in my family to see the effect cancer has on people’s lives, my other Nan has battled breast Cancer and when Grandad died it was suspected he had Parceatic Cancer, so on the bottom of my race number, it should read ‘because one day it might be me’.

My dad has recently said that he believes there is a natural cure to Cancer, however, this will still not be discovered without research into it. So please help me raise as much money as possible by clicking on this link.

17 East Parade, Rhyl – 01745 331 868

I had had a bit of trouble when looking for somewhere to stay in Rhyl for the Cancer Research race, as the official Rhyl tourist website seems to be out of date listing businesses that have closed down, as suggestions for where to stay. So looking to save a bit of money by using Ecashback I had a look at a site called Alpharooms, that I used a couple of years back to book the hotel we stayed in in Edinburgh. Luckily I found the Kensington still had rooms available and from the map provided looked close enough to the event start and all local attractions.

The main difference I have found when staying in privately run hotels and B&Bs from staying in a chain is that you get a much more personalised service. The greeting received upon arrival was extremely warm and welcoming and when I explained I was running the race the day after, it was no trouble at all to extend the checking out time so I could return and have a shower before heading home. The room was very comfortable and had freeview installed, so I happilly watched Soccor Saturday before heading out to explore. Much to my delight I discovered The Arena where the race was to take place was directly opposite the hotel, so the following morning I was able to relax with breakfast and then watch everyone else start to arrive before heading over to join in

There has been a lot of debate over the last week whether Nick Griffin as the leader of the BNP should have been allowed on Question Time. Whilst I appreciate the concern that the publicity this will cause will prompt more visitors to the BNP website and therefore prompt more people to support the party, I do agree that as a political party with 2 seats in the European Parliament, they have the right to be invited on to the show.

For any of my readers, who have never have the displeasure of Mr Griffin, this is he:

I was actually disappointed that the show wasn’t longer as the amount of BS that came out of his mouth should have been enough to put any potential supporters off him. My personal favourites were refusing to discuss the allegation that he denied the Holocaust as it was a criminal offence, despite having Jack Straw promise him on national television that he could discuss this, and that he belives there are none violent KKK sections. His comments about Islam proved to me how ignorant he was and made me feel the need to smack him over the head with an English translation of the Koran. Having disputed many of the attributed quotes and actions discussed, that are all freely available on Youtube, I wonder how many of the quotes from tonight’s programme he will deny making in the coming days. Afterall, this is the leader of a party that tells it’s members to lie and hide their real agenda:

I’m now off to find out how to donate to the fund suggested by an audience member, to deport Mr Griffin and his supporters to the South Pole as it’s a colourless landscape.

Enjoy all the suprises lined up for you xx

There was an article in Runner’s World this month about common training hints and tips that are often taken to be gospel, but seeing if the reverse could help. This amused me as I’d gone to bed on Friday night without making the usual weekly attempts at hydration and eating a filling meal to give me the energy needed for the run. However, once at the run, I did feel that I pushed myself harder than on previous weeks and whilst still walking up the hills, definitely ran for more of the flat parts of the course. For this I was rewarded by taking half a minute of my previous best and as usual spent the rest of the day analysing how I could perform better at the next outing.

Graham did exceptionally well taking almost 2 minutes of his pb and still walking for parts of the course. The usual photographer was missing this week, instead this week’s volunteer took some wonderful shots of the scenery in the park, but most of those of the runners were of the runner’s backs, as seen in the below one of me, and for once Gra avoided the camera completely.

Next week, I’ll be taking a break from the Bramhall run as I’ll be in Rhyl for the Cancer Research 10k on the Sunday, but Gra is still planning to go and taking Tom along as well

Well apple juice to be more precise, I’d been all psyched up for the run on staurday morning, but my downfall was a glass of apple juice before bed. Turns out the juice had gone off and I spent Friday night/ saturday morning throwing it back up again, so no run for me this week

…even if i didn’t get my spreadsheet finished