It’s 20 parkruns and counting for Milton as he notches up 100km in eight months

Thinking of taking up running in the New Year? Milton Lindsay did just that in 2016 and has seen the weight drop off and has completed 20 park runs at Eaton Park. Here he looks back at those first steps and how he is looking forward to further progress in 2017.

Inspiration came like a bolt out of the clear blue sky that spring afternoon.

 I had just turned 55 and was sitting on the sofa taking stock when the drudgery of daytime TV was pierced by a Machiavellian inner voice nagging me to revisit the cross country exploits of my youth.

This random craving defied all logical explanation. After all, my last long-distance running effort, some 40 years previously, had ended in abject failure and humiliation.

At the annual fifth form cross country championship in a Luton park a teacher, in a rare act of mercy decided to put the race stragglers out of their misery.

Rather than allowing them to sully the event, he ordered the no-hopers back to their classrooms. As I traipsed through the school gates one of the younger pupils asked why I had returned early. I lied that I had won the event with plenty in hand – a guilty secret I have harboured for years.

Perhaps my lowest point came at the school sports one year, when after a worthy effort in the 100 and 200 metres events I was coerced into taking part in the 1500 metres to make up the numbers.

Protests of incompetence fell on deaf ears and inevitably, I trailed in last by some considerable distance after running the last of the four laps in splendid isolation. Watched by an audience of hundreds, I collapsed gasping like a fish out of water after the finishing line. One of my classmates, no doubt delighted to see his house captain get his comeuppance, later said how amusing he found it to see me taking it easy during the race on such a hot day. I would have hit him had I been able to summon the energy.

For years, I had kidded myself that I was suited only to sprint distances, rather like a racehorse bred for the purpose. Put me in the Nunthorpe and I’ll take my chance but the Derby – no thanks, I’ll leave that to the stayers. My pedigree simply was not suited to the extended tests, I reasoned. 

But despite a distance running CV that was beyond embellishment I found myself donning kit and trainers and heading out to nearby Earlham Park in Norwich.

Will you sign up to the first Marriott’s Way Marathon?

For many people Marriott’s Way is a much loved running route – it has been one of my training mainstays, whether that’s part of a short loop of used as a training route for a half or full marathon.

But as well as just training along it, a new event will give you the chance to run either a full marathon or a half.

Marriott’s Way Marathon and Half Marathon    February 19 2017

The First Marriott’s Way Marathon takes place on Sunday February 19 and has been organised by Kevin Marshall, who runs his own personal training business and who is also the man behind the Norfolk Coastal Marathon, and the Peddar’s Way Ultra.

The full marathon starts in Aylsham and finishes at Sloughbottom Park in Norwich, while the half starts at the old railway station at Whitwell, near Reepham.

TRIBE Freedom Run – Norwich

Books and race reviews

TRIBE Freedom Run – Norwich

Saturday December 10^th 2016

The Freedom Run weekend was an initiative begun by TRIBE to support the Unseen charity in the last quarter of the year.  Unseen do an amazing amount of important work to give a lifeline to people enslaved – in jobs they don’t get paid for as sex workers or manual labourers, often trapped in places they don’t want to be. Unseen provide a telephone line and source safe houses for as many people as can contact them. Have a read of their website – there are some amazing, moving stories on there.

http://www.unseenuk.org/

The day dawned with a hint of rain in the air but unseasonably warm temperatures – a far cry from the expected minus degrees we would normally have mid December!

Oh yes, that’s me with my eyes closed

Preparation for the weekend has been immensely complicated –…

View original post 481 more words

Simon Wright interview part 2 – my favourite run routes and why I love running in Norfolk

Former Norwich South MP Simon Wright recently revealed to Runnorfolk how running had helped him overcome the trauma of losing his seat in the 2015 General Election. In the second part of our exclusive interview with him, Simon talks about some of his favourite running routes.

Helping the ‘Unseen’ – why Suze is running to make Saturday special at her next Parkrun

When Suze Sharman heads to Catton  parkrun on December 10, she is hoping it will be a special Saturday for 1000 different reasons.

The 33-year-old from Norwich is one of 40 people nationwide selected to be a Tribe Freedom Run ambassador for the running/cycling nutrition company Tribe’s charity event.

And that means that across the country the weekend will see dozens of 10k runs taking place in a bid to raise £10,000 for its chosen charity Unseen, which campaigns against modern slavery.

Last week, on November 26, saw her and husband Mark scoping out the park ahead of the charity event, which is where Runnorfolk caught up with her.