Inspiration, perspiration, and inebriation!

What a difference a few days can make.....

Earlier this week I was feeling a bit down and sorry for myself after giving up too easily in a session on the treadmill. Come Sunday evening, and looking back over the week, I am chuffed to say it's ended on a high note :-).

Re-motivation came in the form of inspiration from various people. A work colleague tried his best to show his support and encouragement by telling me a very scary story about collapsing at mile 12 of a half marathon. It was really nice of him to share his own lowest moment, but I can honestly say now that I won't be signing up for a half marathon in a hurry! He has though, for the Edinburgh Half, and I'll be eagerly following the progress of his own personal challenge.

The same day I got a text from my best friend who moved to a new life down under a few months ago. We had started our Women's 10k training together last year and though I didn't manage it, I am proud to say K did, and when I got my confidence back in the summer we kept running together, going along to parkrun (more of this in a moment) and joining the Glasgow Running Network. Losing her to the attractions of Australia was a bit of a blow but we are constantly in touch and one of our favourite subjects is comparing our running progress.

With an average temperature of 29 degrees at the moment though, K has had to revert to the treadmill (so have I, but not cos it's too hot outside...Oh if only, in Scotland!) and without planning to, or with anyone by her side to cheer her on and encourage her, she texted to say she had just done 21k, ie a half marathon, at the gym, much to her own disbelief! This was no mean feat, having started running just last year, and only ever done a maximum of 10k. Well, I am still completely in awe 4 days later at her achievement and as proud of her as a best friend could be. Only shame is that I can't give her a huge well done hug in person (probably just as well as I think I would hug her to death!).

Inspiration no.3 came yesterday when I returned for the first time this year to Glasgow's most welcoming and friendliest (in my wee opinion) running community, parkrun. Parkrun is a free, timed 5k organised by volunteers which takes place every week without fail (even on christmas day!) in Pollok Park on Saturdays at 9.30am. It's been going for just over a year, and I first went along in June last year after K had given it a try first. I've managed to get my personal best down from dropping out after the first lap (about 3k) on my first attempt to completing the 5k course in 34:27, and hoping to get faster this year.

But running the actual race is just part of parkrun. Equal satisfaction (and you might say even greater if you count watching people come in at the finish line with a huge smile on their face as satisfying :-)) is helping that week's race take place by volunteering. I've done it a couple of times now, and though nerve-wracking (big sweaty fellas lumbering over me as my frozen fingers make sure I type their finishing place correctly into the laptop, eek!) it's been made more than worth it by the friendships which are now forming with the other volunteers. It was a lovely moment proudly typing in A's finishing time on Saturday, who I had met my first time volunteering, and who is returning from his own setback due to injury.

The only reason that Glasgow parkrun happened was down to a lovely guy called Richard Leyton who had seen it work in England, and now living in Glasgow wanted to start it up here. So he is my final inspirational model this week, cos if he hadn't gotten up off his ass, instead of leaving it up to someone else, and decided to start parkrun with some fellow enthusiasts, then I wouldn't have gotten my ass up out of bed on many a Saturday morning...come to think of it though, shouldn't I blaming him rather than thanking him, for all those missed long lies? ;-)

And a big shoutout to all who came along on Saturday for the highest attendance so far, a whopping 267! To think it was averaging 50-60 this time last year - who says the residents of the West of Scotland are the unhealthiest in the UK! Check out the parkrun website http://www.parkrun.org.uk/glasgow/Home.aspx or facebook page http://www.facebook.com/glasgowparkrun?ref=nf if you fancy joining us next Saturday (pre-registration via the website and printing off a barcode from your welcome email is required if you want your official time recorded).

I've no doubt that thinking about all these inspirational people kept me going when I managed to run for 8k at the gym today, the most I've done on the treadmill so far! And that's despite the bottle of wine I had last night, but don't tell anyone....;-)