Fifty things... Run a 10K Race

Well, I did it!

I ran my first ever 10K race in 1hour and 14minutes (does it sound quicker if I call it 74 minutes?) this Sunday at the Market Drayton 10K 2013.

The winner of the race, athlete Chris Davies, set a new course record of 30minutes 39seconds. (He has also finished our Telford Parkrun 5K in 14mins 50secs). This does make my time look pitiful but I was by no means last and I am really proud that I ran the whole 10K without stopping to walk. I have seen some video footage of myself running past and I have to admit that yes I do plod along at the speed of slow. My new target is to speed up a bit - get comfortable with running a respectable 10min mile pace with some energy left for a good final push.

I have a photograph that really sums up the whole 10K experience for me. This is my daughter waving her medal in triumph and just over her shoulder in the background is me, crossing the finish line with a slightly pained smile on my face.

Although for a few moments after finishing I thought I might be sick and if I had not had my daughter's boyfriend to hold onto I may well have fallen over with the light headedness I was experiencing, it did not take long to recover and I felt AMAZING. The sense of accomplishment (and probably a good few endorphins) gave me such a great feeling of positivity and contentment. I was soon posing for photographs and enjoying the company of family and friends who had also taken part in the running or marshalling (and giving much needed support on the way round)

It was a very uplifting and emotional experience taking part in the race - being 1 of 1700 runners, each with their own motivations and goals. The elite athletes (Chris Davies proving himself to be the 'elitest' of the elite), the incredible people raising money for charity in various fancy dress get ups, and the participating masses all sharing the same course, all pushing themselves to achieve what they set out to do. I loved it.

Image by Bryan Dale - www.racephotos.org.uk

My husband finished in 55mins 39secs  but paid a high price for his sub 1hour time. He is suffering with knee pain which  he thinks is Iliotibial Band Syndrome - a common complaint in runners. Luckily there is a wealth of advice on the internet about how to prevent and treat the condition.

I probably shouldn't be laughing at him!

I still can't quite believe that I did it. The whole thing took on a dreamlike quality as soon as it was over but the lingering sense of accomplishment is something I am going to try and hold onto for as long as possible. It was this sense of "I can do anything" that gave me the courage to step on the scales this morning, take stock of the weight I have allowed to creep on and start to do something about it. I want to be in the best shape possible for my next running challenge - to run 5K in less than 30 minutes. 

And perhaps for my pre-race prep next time I will base my activities more around sport science than baking!

Pre 10K race prep - make runner biscuits!

Indigo

I was recently sent a family board game from Ravensburger to review. I must admit that when I looked inside the box, I was a little perplexed. The game is called Indigo. It is very beautiful with lavishly illustrated playing pieces and board based on tessellating hexagons with glass beads that look like jewels. It has an exotic, almost other worldy feel to it but I was at a loss as to what it was all about and how to play. I left it to two of my teenage daughters to puzzle it out.

As with just about every board game I have ever encountered, the instructions are quite difficult to get your head around. Usually, the best way is to start playing a trial game with instructions close at hand and work it out as you go.

Indigo is for 2-4 players aged 8+. The idea of the game is fairly simple: to collect gems using route tiles to move them across the board towards your gateway. However, the route tiles create intricate pathways along which the gems are moved. The player with the highest value of gems at the end of the game is the winner. It is a game of tactics with the potential for collaborative play in the best interests of more than one player.

It did keep my girls amused for some time and everyone agreed that it is visually stunning which makes it a pleasure to play (as long as your brain can cope with those convoluted pathways!)

Market Drayton 10K Road Race

There are a lot of signs like this that have popped up in various locations around the town where I live.

The route for the Market Drayton 10K Road Race passes right by my house. In previous years I have sat on my front wall with the neighbours and cheered the participants as they ran/jogged/walked past. I wondered what it would be like to take part and wished that I was amongst their number, pushing onwards towards the finish line.

This Sunday, I will be amongst their number and will know exactly what it is like to take part with each breathe, each step and each pain I experience. I am not looking to set any records. This being my very first 10K I am guaranteed a personal best time as long as I finish, and that is all I am aiming for - to finish, and to enjoy each and every punishing kilometre!

Numbers ready

I only started running seriously last September when I joined a Beginners Group with my local running club. I still have to pinch myself when I think about how much progress I've made since those early training sessions. I have loved the journey it has taken me on - learning about myself and what my body is capable of. I have loved meeting new people and spending time with my daughter who runs with me. I have loved how my husband and two more of my daughters are now getting involved. When I run on Sunday I will be celebrating all of this.

I am very proud to be taking part in the Market Drayton 10K. Not only has this race been voted the Number 1 10K race by readers of Runner's World, it is a fantastic example of community pulling together and achieving something amazing. Now all we have to do is hope for some good running weather!

Lovely days

There are some especially lovely days...

... when I am really glad...

... that I have a good collection of vases!

Mamia Easy-Pants

My little boy will be three years old in couple of months. He is my only son -  a lovely little late in life miracle after five daughters. I have totally enjoyed the opportunity to buy 'boy' clothes - especially the tiny underpants. We have dinosaur underpants, super hero underpants, robot underpants.... None of them have had much use. He has not been a very co-operative potty trainee.

Finally, I feel I am making a little headway with the process. He still won't tell me when he needs the toilet but I can easily recognise the 'need a wee' dance and the look of concentration that precedes a poo. If I pop him on the toilet, he will perform and be very pleased with himself. However, he is far from being reliable. This is where the pull-up style of nappy is invaluable. It gives me peace of mind when I need it without feeling as though we are taking a backward step. The whole potty training thing can be a lot more relaxed.

Of course the trainer pants cost money and put an extra strain on an already tight household budget. For this reason I was delighted to be asked to try out some Easy-Pants and wipes from Aldi's Mamia range.

You cannot fail to be impressed by the awards the products have received from such institutions as Practical Parenting and Pregnancy and Mother and Baby. You also cannot fail to be impressed by the value. At an everyday price of £2.99 for a pack of 20 junior Easy-Pants and just 79p for a pack of 80 wipes, this represents a considerable saving on the branded alternative (unless you happen to be lucky enough to find them on special offer!)

But how do they actually compare in practice to the branded products?

I have been using the products for a few days now. The wipes are nice and thick and generously sized with an easy to use lid to prevent drying out. The Easy-Pants are a comfortable, neat, snug fit and thus far have not let me down in terms of their functionality. I really can't fault them.

HABA 75th anniversary - Sleepy Princess

Sleepy Princess from HABA is a game based on the classic fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. The set consists of a double sided playing board, a pretty in pink wooden princess, a royal bed, a dice, a pile of mattresses, blankets and cushions and of course, a pea.

There are two versions of the game detailed in the instructions. In the simple version, players take it in turns to throw the dice (starting with the youngest) and work together to collect bedding items to pile into a stack on the bed in the correct order of mattress, blanket, cushion. If players land on a washing machine symbol on the game board, a bedding item has to be removed from the bed. The game is over if the stack topples (all lose) or you succeed in placing all the items in the pile (all win).

In a competitive version of the game, a maximum of four players each choses a bedding set of a particular colour. Taking it in turns to move around the board, the players pile their bedding onto the bed (or off!) according to the square they land on. The winner is the first to place all their pieces. If the pile topples, the player whose turn it is must take all the fallen items and begin again.

I love that in the second version, the instructions state that the player with the longest hair goes first - very princessy!

This is a game that encourages turn taking, correct use of a dice, a certain amount of hand-eye co-ordination and of course learning to be a gracious loser.

The bedding is gorgeous - bright and cheerful, well made and appeals to a love I have of all things miniature. The bed is made from four pieces of cardboard that slot together. I do worry slightly that it will be prone to damage (on standby with the sellotape!). As it is in my nature to worry, I will also worry about losing the pea which is small and rolls.

My children were just as happy (happier even) playing with the pieces and making a nice comfy bed for the princess as they were actually playing the game.

See also:

HABA Biofina playfood Sliced Cheese Variety

HABA Mini Memory

HABA 75th anniversary - Mini Memo

There is not a lot to say about this Mini Memo game from HABA apart from that I absolutely love it. Sixteen pairs of delightfully illustrated small chunky tiles for playing the classic matching memory game,  all fitting into a lovely little tin for storage. Great for travelling or keeping the kids (and adults!) entertained between courses when dining out. I shall definitely be popping it in my handbag for when a distraction technique is warranted.

Lightweight, compact, sturdy - perfect.

See also:
 HABA Biofina Play Food Sliced Cheese Variety
HABA Sleepy Princess