6 years to this day (Sunday 21st June 2009) I ran my first ever race at the Aycliffe 10k. Runners will understand how clearly you remember your first race. On the previous Thursday I heard about this race on the Quakers Running Club announcements. Described as a small, flat and friendly local race so I thought why not. I had only been running at QRC for a couple of weeks and didn't own a Garmin. Just my vest, some shoddy shorts and some scruffy old trainers. I remember at the end of the race nearly chucking up and needed fluids badly. But the accomplishment of taking part in your first race, no matter what the distance is the start of the racing bug. Then onwards I have ran parkruns, 5k's, 10'sk, half marathons, 20 mile, marathons, cross country, fell races, relay races, a beer mile and a 24 hour relay race. I've battled many Albert parkruns with Michael and Simon. Had many epic smackdowns with the vet Brian, Dale and Ewan. I have shared plenty of marathon training miles with Peter, Keedy, Gary, Monday group and many others. Battled hills with Scouse Dynamo Michael. Had some gut busting speed sessions with a good bunch from Quakers. Here is to my next journey as I attempt to conquer Amsterdam in October.
I've got 100's of photos from what I've participated in over the last 6 years. Below are a few of my favourites. I could add loads but here are a few.
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| My 2nd race @ Great North 10k 2010 |
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| Where the parkrun journey started at Albert Park parkrun |
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| Clay Bank East fell race |
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| Edinburgh Marathon 2012 |
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| Me and Charlotte running the Great North Run together |
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| Cookie, Me & Boy Wonder @ Darlo parkrun |
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| London Marathon |
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| London Marathon |
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| Darlington 10k 2009 |
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| Me receiving QRC 'Most Improved Athlete' |
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| Northern Cross Country 2013 |
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| Trimpell 20 2011 |
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| Northern Cross Country 2013 |
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| Cross Country @ Whitby 2013 |
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| Me & Craig Downs @ Albert Park parkrun April 2013 |
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| Dean pacing me @ Redcar Half Marathon |
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| Chris, Jonathan, MJ & Me @ Last years Adidas Thunder Run |
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| The Beer Mile! |
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| Last year @ The Great North Run |
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| Me running a parkun pb (18:14) @ Albert Park 2 years ago. That pb still remains there! |
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| Brass Monkey 2010 |
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| Brass monkey 2011 |
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| Carlton Bank Fell Race 2013 |
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| Carlton Bank Fell Race 2014 |
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| Me and Lucy negotiating the terrain at Clay Bank |
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| Darlington 10k 2013 |
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| The cast of Emmerdale! |
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| Guy Fawkes 10 2009 |
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| Possibly my first fell race at Guisbrough three tops |
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| Another fell race |
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| A severely hungover Hamsterley Forest 10k |
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| Me and Keedy at Edinburgh Marathon |
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| Hamsterley Forest Marathon last year |
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| Leeds Abbey Dash 2012 |
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| Durham Dales Challenge 2010 |
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| A post marathon pint after gaining a pb @ Edinburgh Marathon 2012 |
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| Kilburn 7 just after my holiday in 2010 |
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| A post race beer after Marathon of the North 2013 |
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| A cold and snowy Albert Park parkrun |
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| Mermaid 10k |
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| Mulgrave Castle 10k last year |
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| Stewart Park relays last year |
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| Me a little too far at the front @ Richmond 10k 2010 |
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| My 1st marathon @ Edinburgh back in 2010 |
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| Spring Coast 5k |
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| Team Dark training for our Thunder Run |
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| Me and Peter training for Edinburgh marathon @ Trimpell 20 2011 |
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Still my hardest running achievement to date, running 110k at the 2011 Adidas Thunder Run
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| and today I'm back to where it all started 6 years ago |
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