Up and Coming News

So May is here and we've been celebrating the 7th birthday of Up & Coming Runners on a Monday night with our "5K your way" run. We've had some great photos of gazebos, daisies, signposts and all manner of number 7's (including human ones) that you've found whilst doing your runs, so thanks for joining in with those.  Make sure you balance this with some cakes to celebrate!

Keeping your mojo going during recent times has been really hard for people and the priority has to be to keep safe.  With club sessions and races cancelled it is a challenge to get motivated so it's great to see you all getting involved in the alphabet challenge, Star Wars run (thanks Steve) and mile time trial and how it is helping keeping people going.  If you can motivate yourself to get out and run it will make the events seem more enjoyable when we can start to do them again.  Don't give yourself a hard time if you're struggling, just aim to go our for a gentle run and see how you feel.  For added support share a selfie with your EGRC mates - your banter and support definitely keep everyone going, so thank you.  For more tips on keeping motivated at this time (and a delicious cake recipe!) check out the Well Runner page

I asked some of the run leaders what they were looking forward to doing when we can run together again and here's some replies:

Anna Thomas: It would be great to tick two here ... I'd love to do a park run in Elgin (north Scotland) that would satisfy the fact that I'm missing my Saturday morning 5K and that fact it is the local one to my twin sister.  I have done it once before a couple of years ago.  I made the rookie mistake of not checking the website first so I was an hour too early - late starters on the other side of the border.  Also managed to "encourage" my nephew to come along too (it's flat and for a 19 year old a breeze surely?) not sure he's forgiven me to this day!  Definitely on the "to-do" list is a little more park run tourism.  Have to say Pomphrey still has the best post run refreshments!

Donna Williams:  If i could run just one race this month it would be the Bristol 10K.  It was my first proper race back in 2017 and I always love to run in my home town.  The support is always great which matches the atmosphere.  I even like the section along the Portway where you get to pass lots of the other runners going the other way.  I love looking out for fellow Emersons Green runners and also get a glimpse of the home of football, Ashton Gate!  The finish through the centre and past the Hippodrome is always amazing and I cannot wait for my next opportunity to run this race.

Debra Parsons:  I'd like to be able to run Colby park run this month. It's held at a national trust site in West Wales and you run a loop through the estate on trails through the trees surrounded by bluebells.  I'd combine that run with the Wales half marathon where you run from Pembroke to Tenby.  Some evil hills on the route but the stunning coastal views make up for it.

Stay safe everyone

Deb