So today I celebrated my first parkrun milestone! 50 runs totaling 250km run at parkrun since 14/06/14 (19 months)! The celebration was only enhanced by the fact I got to share this milestone with my amazing wife, Mel! As many of you know she is my rock and the reason I can do a lot (ok all) of the training and events I do!
My very first parkrun was at Cleveland in a time of 28:25, then a couple later I went to Wynnum and did a 35:22. Not blistering at all, but it was to be the start of my very long and at times very painful running journey through an ironman to now! My journey includes 35 at Capalaba, 6 at Wynnum, 5 at Cleveland, 1 at Main Beach, Noosa and Sirromet. My current 5km personal best is now a respectable 20:17 at my home run Capalaba, I will have to visit Cleveland & Wynnum to improve those PB’s very soon. I also have a goal to break 20 minutes, however that will have to wait for winter (its far to hot & humid to be running that fast at the moment!
I have during my journey introduced my family, 2 daughters and my wife to parkrun. Both my little girls (9 & 8) have come along 6 times each and are now finally interested in achieving the milestone of 10 junior runs! My amazing wife, Mel’s journey only started in 3/1/15 (1 year ago) and was complete in a time of 35:52. She has subsequently run 40 at Capalaba, 4 at Wynnum, 2 at Celveland and 1 at South Bank, Kawana and Minnippi. Her current personal best over 5km is 29:24! She has some very big goals for 2016 and I am providing some guidance and assurance that all these goals are acheivable if we all work together as a family to acheive them!
Mel is a massive inspiration to myself, most of her running has been complete with little or no guidance from myself (until recently). During 2015, she took it upon herself to meet new like minded people through Capalaba parkrun and they have helped her and guided her through the path to 50 parkruns. The road ahead is bright and together the ladies at Capalaba parkrun (the Pink Panthers) can acheive anything. They inspire & support each other in ways I doubt they even understand. They are the group that always offers a high five, when you need it, a little cheer when the going gets tough, the help you need when packing up or setting up! As a bystander their support they offer each other and the community around them is truly inspirational!
If you’ve never been to a parkrun I totally recommend it, you won’t regret it!
Also in January I completed my first ever Strava climbing challenge, 4000m of elevation gain in January. As it has panes out I did it comfortably and have ridden over 6000m now. Injuries have slowed my running which has allowed me to increase my cycling!
Celebrating these milestones is vitally important to any training program! Make sure when you acheive goal you have set out celebrate them, even if it only with a small treat like coffee & cake, but bask in the glory for a second. Then get straight back into it and target your next goal!
Till next time build consistency, keep smiling and live to Tri!
SO, YOU WANT TO BE AN IRONMAN? 