Santa Fun Run

Today our youngest and I will be taking part in the Portsmouth RNLI 5K Santa Fun Run.

And we'll be carrying a stocking filled with mini candy canes to throw to the supporters who brave the cold in order to line the race route and cheer us runners on!

Virtual Race Month

Although I am taking part in one 'real life' XC race and one Santa fun run this month, December seems to have otherwise become the month of participating in virtual races.
I am taking part in these virtual races:

• Run Mummy Run:http://www.virtualrunneruk.com/enter-rmr-race GLOW IN THE DARK race bling, oh yes!
• This sold out Christmas race series:http://www.virtualrunneruk.com/enter-dec

Look at the cute virtual race cards I got sent which show the charities benefitting from each race:

Do you participate in any virtual races?

junior parkrun

Our youngest decided that running 5K at the senior parkruns was a bit much for him but he quite fancied running the 2K junior parkruns. I wanted him to be able to enjoy running and the closest junior parkrun was nearly an hour away which isn't feasible for us. 

So, like any (crazy) parent of a running family would do - I volunteered my time as an event director in order to set up one here! 

It ended up taking a year and requiring the support of the local parkrun ambassador but, I now have funding,  the support of wonderful team of run directors, a fabulous core volunteer team, a lovely junior parkrun site, and a proposed (but still to be confirmed) start date in late January. You can find out lots more info about the free weekly junior and senior parkruns by clicking here.

Back of the Pack

This is a lovely article about the importance of runners at the back of the pack. Click here to be taken to the article on the Rules For Running site.

Bupa Great South Run

This will be our son's first chip timed race, and seeing his excitement when he opened the envelope containing his timing chip is a memory that I will treasure forever.  Thank you so much to everyone online and offline who have donated to our Lymphoma and Diabetes charities for this race  - you are all superstars. #runningfamily

You know you're a running family when...

You know you're a running family when:

1. Breakfast conversation includes discussion of running plans for the evening.
2. Your 11 year old informs you of where he wants to run on the weekend. 
3. Running gear takes up a large part of your wardrobe and shoe rack.
4. Social events are planned around the family race calendar.
5. You can eat treats without feeling guilty.
6. You have a sneaking suspicion that you're addicted to earning race finish line bling.
7. Your children's Christmas wish lists have running related items on them.
8. You have more than one running playlist that you listen to on a regular basis.

How do you know you're a running family? Let us know in the comment section here or on G+ and I will add them to this post.

Morning Stroller Push

This is a wonderful video of a dad out running whilst pushing his daughter in her stroller. You can read more about Calum's love of running by clicking here to be zoomed over to his website. 

Like mother, like son.

This photo makes me smile every time I look at it. My son and I will be experiencing The Color Run together this weekend, and I can't wait for it!

Singapore Challenge

This is a yearly race in Singapore with a father and child focus and it has the most amazing race bling.  There is a lovely article written by a father who ran the race this year which you can read by clicking here

The parkrun Tourist Tool

I found a link to this on Twitter. It is a tool which shows you the closest parkruns to you, location on the map, travel time and directions. I don't know if it is an official parkrun product but I have tested it out and it works well. Click on this link to use the tool for yourself.

September Virtual Runner Race Series

The September Virtual Runner race series entries has opened!

Enter before 26th September at 5pm to join the September 2014 virtual races, and choose whether you would like to run 5k, 10k, half or full marathon distance, triathlons or any distance for the Cycle event.

Pay £5 entry fee via Paypal (for UK Entries Only, International Entries please Enter Via International Race Button £10 entry fee applies) – please contact for alternative methods.

Run, Walk or Cycle your chosen distance between 1st September 2014 and 30th September 2014. You can enter more than once, just simply enter again by paying an additional entry fee. There is no limit on the number of entries you can submit (as long as payment and race proof has been received).

Submit proof - Photo with running app, Garmin, running device etc and wait for the post to arrive with your medal!

Click here for more info and to enter.

Eddie Izzard: "Join in with parkrun or we'll tickle you."

parkrun is a volunteer led free timed run which cannot happen without the volunteer support from runners and friends.

A virtual 10k fundraiser run (with post run bling).

This virtual 10k is very simple to join and participate in - you don't even have to run the 10k all in one go so it is suitable for runners of all abilities:

You run your 10k any day between Saturday September the 6th and Friday September 12th and you have officially been a part of the UKRunChat 2014 Challenge.  You will receive a medal and your entry fee will go to charity.

If you are building up to 10k at the moment then you can still take part!  UKRunChat will accept your cumulative runs to make up 10k within the 7 days that the challenge runs.  All you have to do is click here to send a photo (s) of your running app UKRunChat sharing your time(s) during the challenge week.  UKRunChat will then add your 10k to the total ran by everyone who takes part over the seven days.   

If you take part then please fundraise by sharing the community fundraising link which you can find by clicking here.

If you want to be a part of this unique challenge then please click here to sign up.

The Global Magic Mile

The Global Magic Mile is one which runners of all ages worldwide can take part in anytime between the 27th July to the 6th August.

"The Magic Mile is a free running challenge pitting runners against the clock over the iconic distance of one single mile.  It's an event that is open to runners of all abilities. Participants run one mile in an organised Magic Mile event, or other mile event, or run their mile solo in their own time wherever they like." (quote from Marathon Talk)

It is being hosted Marathon Talk and we have signed up as part of the UK Run Chat (@UKRunChat) team.  There will be friendly Team Blue vs Team Red pre-race banter on the #ukrunchat hashtag with the big banter session planned for an hour from 8pm (BST) on the 6th.

The Magic Mile is FREE and you can register for it on the Marathon Talk website by clicking this link and join the UK Run Chat team by clicking this link.

Running Hot

So the severe weather warning that had predicted thunder, lightning, rain and hail for today ended up as a day of blazing hot (22 degree Celsius) sun instead. It made for a very hot race but good fun all the same. I did make sure I was well hydrated and ran slower when I felt the need.

I am not sure I can get my head round how endurance marathoners manage to run in temps almost twice that temperature though....

What's the hottest temperature you have ever run in, and what coping techniques did you use?

Stormy Weather

I am going to be be running the Race For Life this weekend, and a severe weather warning has just been posted....I am hoping it doesn't turn into an actual race for my life! Are you running this weekend, and if so where?

Great news!

You can now add R:ACE as your running club on parkrun simply by following the link to "manage my profile" and updating your club details by choosing us (look for: Run - for fun - Adults, Children, Everyone) from the parkrun club database drop down box.  The link to manage your profile can be found in any of the parkrun newsletters, in any of your run results emails, or in your registration confirmation email. We look forward to running with you, wherever you are. 

Taking measure

Today my youngest and I went to measure out a proposed route for a future junior parkrun. He and a few of his friends have been the catalyst for all the work required to get a junior parkrun off the ground - they love the freedom and sheer joy of running but struggle to complete 5k so a 2k junior run seemed like it would be the ideal solution. 

We had a lovely morning together, first walking to the site and then walking out the route in various different ways until we got the 2k laid out in a way which will allow marshals to keep the runners in view at all times without the run being 'hamster wheel' boring. 

We also found a perfect spot for equally important aspects of the weekly timed run - the run directors pre-run talk and the finish funnel!