One down, nine to go

So the 10 x 10k challenge kicks off with the Run Eton 10k at Dorney Lake.
Dry, cold and windy. Good organisation (arrived 40 mins before and small queue at registration and
no queue at loos, later arrivals not so lucky).
This is a fast, flat course, 2 laps of 5k up between the two lakes and back down the side of the right hand one. It's all tarmac so pb very possible.  Only unpleasant bit was the turn at the top where inbound and outbound runners are sharing a coned off path.  Not the place to stop and walk in pairs, but someone always does.
So did I get a PB?
Officially, no.
Unofficially, kind of. My previous best 10k comes up as 6.16 miles on my garmin, and this one 6.22. So my time was slower (by 8 seconds) but my pace, at 10:14, was faster.

Add to that most of the footie results going the way I wanted them to, I am one happy bunny.

2014 Challenge

I have been mulling over a 2014 challenge, something to focus me, stretch me and stop me languishing into bad running habits (i.e. skipping runs).

I will get my 100th parkrun milestone (mar/apr)

I will run another half marathon

I will complete the Jantastic challenge.

I will not do 14 in '14 like some of the other FL parkrunners

I will - tada  - complete 10 x 10ks (with medals) and  (at least once) will beat my PB.

First one Saturday 1st February, wish me luck.

Learning to read?

So this morning's news brings the revelation that young children must use phonics to learnt to read.
It perplexes me that so often a useful tool morphs into a compulsory tool. Surely all children are different and an approach based on variety would be better? I remember when my son was in reception asking his teacher how she had taught him to read (he picked it up very quickly). Her reply? Using every tool that was available including phonics, word recognition, reading practice and story telling.
English is a complicated language and letters make different sounds depending on the other letters around them (rat/rate). And it absolutely must be fun so that children stay engaged which is why storysacks for example work so well.

off soapbox :)

Let's get this blog back on the road!

Yesterdays run was a mere 2.15 miles, the shortest run I have done in a very long time. In true Oscar acceptance speech style, I would like to thank:
1. Surrey County Council and their streetlighting contractor Skanska for the random location of barriers and bollards which blocked my path forcing me onto the muddy bank
2. Surrey County Council (again) for random disappearance of pavements along the busy A30 requiring me to cross said road just to stay safe
3. The idiot drivers who felt that I should not only get wet from the rain falling from above but also from the needless speeding through puddles so I got wet from below too
4. BBC weather for getting it wrong again (they said it would clear up briefly so I took my chances and it didn't happen).
5. My family who took ages to come to the door and let me into the warm.

Today's run was 10.1. So close to race pace. Onwards and upwards!