I heard about the Thunder Run months ago. Didn't think I was good enough to do it solo and didn't have anyone for a team, not just that it was sold out. So that when out the window. Couple of weeks ago I join Notfast Running Club and find out they was in the Thunder Run so was going to go along and see what it was all about. Wasn't till after that I found out someone had to drop out and I got asked would I like to find the team of 5. I jumped at it and said YES please. After that it was like counting down the days to the event and getting the kit ready for it. There was talk about going to the local ParkRun from the Thunder Run on the Saturday and I was well up for that, did a bit of research on Conkers ParkRun e.g course record, how many people have done under 17min, the course and how many people do it each week. Friday the day before the event was here and thanks to Andy for given me a lift to the Thunder Run. Did not take lot to set up my tent and get me bits in it. It was lovely to meet some of that Notfast member and family member I've not see before and they were all very friendly and up for an enjoyable weekend. It was a hot day so I waited till the end of Friday to have a run around the course. I've got to say I love it with all the twists and turns, dodging in the trees. The lap was about 10k. Took me just over 38minutes to get ground so that gave me an idea of what I would be doing roughly on the Saturday. Don't think it was long till after that then I headed to bed. Saturday morning up bright and early with several other people. I couldn't just sit down so I had to walk around. More or less everyone was up and ready for the day. The magnificent 7 (7 runners from Notfast) headed to Conkers ParkRun with a lot of other Thunder Run runners with the same idea. The route is best described as an out and back loop but it is very scenic and takes in the Ashby Woulds and Donisthorpe Woodlands trail paths with a small section running adjacent to the Ashby Canal.
Last year there was a 387 strong field of the weekend the Thunder Run was on which was there highest they've ever had but this year smash that with a total of 524 runners. I'm happy to report that I was 1st back in a time of 16.08sec smashing my previous best ParkRun time of 16.48sec so was very happy. The other six runners made their way around the course altogether.
So in the words of bob: Magnificent 7, We came, We saw, We Conkered ParkRun.
After that we all headed back for the start of the event where I would be starting off for are team of 5. (There was also team of 8 and solo runners) I like to think I started off well and not to fast so that I would be good for my other runs. The event was massive so many people cheering, the best bit was that they were cheering my name as I knew quite a few people from different clubs. One thing I do love about this sport is the magnificent people you get to meet. Everyone in my team members were running great and it was all about enjoying it too. I was given the opportunity to try and win some shoes for my team. But the only thing was it meant I had to jump in before it was my turn. I did think about it and though should I have to go. (it was a hard decision for me) but I wouldn't know unless I tried so I had a go. Competition was between 6-7pm and you had to run uphill for 100m stretch. You'd think that would be easy but you had to run just over 5K to get to it to start off plus on top of that I had done the 5k in the morning and 2 laps already.
I was so close, but very happy with my time. I apologise to my team for not winning you new shoes (wink wink) as you can see the three teams above me what teams of 8 so they could've been running on fresh legs. Once that was out the way I missed my next turn so the order would be back to it should've been. After I had completed that lap you could put me down as being a little miserable, but that's due to the fact that I was tired. I got in a little bit of a kip and I felt great again. I was in and out of a sleep most of the night. I had a run at 2am and started off with a long arms sleeved top and vest on. But it didn't take long into running that I found it was way to hot to have on so I had to take it off. But before that running through the woods somehow caught my head torch on a branch breaking it off my head peace and not just that it turned itself off. So I was there trying to look for it in the pitch dark and somehow finding it. Ended up running the rest of it with it in my hand which didn't bother me too much. As the sun came up in the morning it beginning to get hot again. They did seem to be a bit more of a breeze which was nice. In total I managed to run 6 laps for are team (times roughly being 37, 39, 41, 43, 41 and 39min) Anna would ran our last lap to complete the event, running in fancy dress which was carnival I joined Anna for the last 8K of her run and everyone else joined us in their fancy dress for the last bit to finish together which I though was fantastic and everyone look great. Not long after I was able to receive my medal and I and the rest of the team can now where the T-shirt proudly. Are team managed to do 25 laps in the 24 hours and we were managed by Colin who did a great job. I'd like to say a huge thank you to Notfast running club for having me on there team and of course to everyone that cheered me on and all my team mates. I've already had been asked would I do it solo, answered so that I don't know. Would I do it in a team answer to that is easy a big
fat yes.
Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope you enjoyed
