What is YOUR FAVOURITE surface to run on???

Hi there! Welcome to the latest post from the Running Geek! I recently posted to twitter (follow me @fatrunnerste) and asked which was your favourite surface to run on- if you could only pick one surface to run on for the rest of your life, what would it be??? 

Well, the response was AMAZING! I could not believe that 893 people voted! So if you voted, I thank you for your worthwhile contributions.

Comment below on what your favourite running surface is!!!

Understandably, the winner was trail running- mainly for the views, followed closely by road running then in joint third (a long way behind) were cross country and fell surfaces with 4% each. 

This really got me to think what was my favourite surface and I have to admit that road is my best one... but it also made me remember some great times I have had on each of these surfaces!

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Road- Most of my races have been on road, so that's obviously going to be my favourite. However, the one that springs to mind would be the Great North Run where I clocked 1 hour 26 minutes- my pb for a Half Marathon. It was special for many reasons, but mainly because I had been trying and trying all year to break the 1 hour 30 barrier for a half marathon but hadn't managed it, so to cross the line having smashed it by 4 minutes was very special!

Trail- Despite the fact that most of my races have been on road, my 10k pb actually came in a trail 10K- I know- hard to believe! However, this great personal event came in the Gin Pit 10K on a warm weekend morning in the same race as none other than running legend Ron Hill! I actually beat the runstreak hero clocking a time of 38 minutes 40- if only I could get this time now!!!

Cross Country- If you have never tried cross country, I urge you to have a go! It will sap your energy, and you'll be crying by the end and caked (I mean CAKED!) in mud, but it will give you great strength to use in the following season! After the cross country series I completed, I followed it up with my best road performances in the following summer. 

Fell (Mountain)- OMG, simply OMFG!!! Nothing can describe this, or the pain of it, until you have had a go. I used to be a very competent club road runner. When they asked me to help the club out by entering the Kentmere Fell Race on a rainy October Sunday morning I jumped at the chance. Little did I know what was to follow! Searing pain in my thighs soon ripped through my entire body, it felt like I was climbing the Empire State Building, so much so I simply had to walk most of the way up the mountain. When I finally got to the summit, feeling like I was on death's door, fellow club mates who I usually smashed on the roads were either miles ahead of me, or were tearing past me on the downslopes! It was my worst time for a 10K, but I felt like I had achieved so much! 

Comment below and let me know what is your favourite surface to run on!!!!

The runstreak is currently up to day 17- but I have a holiday quickly approaching... do I postpone the runstreak and enjoy the holiday- or carry it on manfully? Comment below to let me know what I should do!!!!!!!!!

Story of 5 years... IN ONE POST!

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING THIS WHEN THERE ARE SO MANY RUNNING BLOGS OUT THERE! YOU WILL PROBABLY REGRET IT AND THINK YOU HAVE WASTED YOUR TIME BUT I AM SAYING THANKS ANYWAY!!!!

Hi there and it has been pretty much 5 years (give or take) since my last blogpost on The Running Geek. So why are you starting another post now I hear you cry! Well, truth be told I had wanted to start another running blog to help reignite my running career... so I clicked onto blogger to review this one, and it turns out that 5 years ago I was on a runstreak- up to day 15. Well, dear reader I am actually also on a runstreak as we speak and what day am I on???

You can follow The Running Geek on Twitter @fatrunnerste 

You got it... DAY 15! I just had to resurrect this blog- it was almost like divine intervention (or something like that!).

...why are you writing another post after 5 years?!

So where was I 5 years ago, and where am I now?

Simply put 5 years ago, I was a very competent club runner marathoning at 3:15, half marathoning at 1:30 and running 10Ks around the 40 minute mark. In the October of 2014 I had just completed the Rivington Trail Half Marathon in a respectable time of 1 hour 31 minutes and was looking forward to the Windermere Marathon in May 2015. That was the peak of the mountain.

Ever since then, whereas other aspects of my life has seen a resurgence- career change, marriage etc, my running has pretty much fallen off the precipis. A string of injuries has blighted the last 5 years. With constant injury brought with it a gradual dejection and rejection of my best sport. I had definitely fallen out of love with running. Consequently, I have put on 2 and a half stones in weight and cannot touch my previous times.

...My running fell off the precipis...

However, it has all not been doom and gloom. During that period, I have completed 30 ParkRuns at my local Bolton course and still could hold my own in and around 30th to 50th position. Having kickstarted my running with my current runstreak, I feel I am making my way to the end of the tunnel and have even entered my hometown 10K- the Bury 10K which takes place during mid September 2019.

Whereas my previous attitude to running was all about times, times and more times, my new mindset is now focused on pure enjoyment and listening to my body. I am sure that this has reignited my love for my favourite sport and you know, I might well eventually complete that Windermere Marathon...

You can follow The Running Geek on Twitter @fatrunnerste