Author: MarathonMannUK

When it comes to find an amazing place to run, it doesn’t come much better than St Aidan’s RSPB Nature Park. It was originally a massive open-cast coal mine that got ruined in a big flood in the 1980s. Over the following decades the area has been reconstructed as a massive and beautiful wetland nature reserve. The reserve has an extensive network of public footpaths and the paths are flat and wide. Dominating the RSPB visitors centre is a reminder of the park’s heritage, an enormous crane, a dragline known as as Oddball, which is so large it was simply left in place when decommissioned. It is now a listed building and a visitor attraction in it’s own right (open to the public about 4 times per year).

I have decided to only run the mandatory 10K each day to the end of the month so toady, we drove to the RSPB car park and ran the course of the St Adan’s 10K. This race is at the end of the first week in July, giving me a chance to rest before I race it. I ran round the course with Helen my wife today and we both ran relatively sedately saving ourselves for the big event.

We decided to join the RSPB today because what they have done here is a truly wonderful thing, giving nature a chance in this once ruined environment. We use this park so much, usually not driving and feel we ought to give something back.

“And God said, ‘Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.’” Gen.‬ ‭1:20‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬

Richard is running 10K every day during June, to raise money for a public access defibrillator to be situated at Rothwell Baptist Church.  To sponsor him and make a donation, please visit his Just Giving Page.

As someone who is supposed to have an exemplary heathy lifestyle, my love of cake is something that surprises and sometimes infuriates people.  When I am seen eating cake some think that I can eat as much as I like, willy-nilly, and still end up as thin as a rake.  This is not true.  A work colleague of mine regards refined sugar as an addictive toxin and he’s probably right but I take the line that what really counts is a diet that consists of a range of different foods in balance (this is not rocket science, my grandmother told me that).

Running 10K every day does use a lot of energy though and so I need to make sure I eat enough.  I think I am allowed some cake but I need to eat lots of healthy stuff as well.   According to Buddy the Elf, the main essential food groups are “candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup” but we humans have to take a more balanced approach and eat at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day.

Why talk about cake though?  Well, yesterday I was serving cake, including an amazing home made chocolate cake at Rothwell Baptist Church’s Cafe Friday (some of which I ate).  This morning, after parkrun we went to a charity coffee morning and I ate more cake.  I still have two pieces of coffee cake that I brought home from Church so, I know it’s tough, but I am going to have to eat some more cake tomorrow!

I have heard that some people run because they like cake but does running really give you licence to eat cake with a clear conscience?  Who knows because the world of diet seems to be beset with faddy new theories all the time.  I rely on the fundamental laws of physics which means that to stay the same weight,  energy in must equal energy out.

As for me, when I stop running 10K every day I will have to be careful to stop eating as if it’s the last food on earth all the time.   In the meantime I AM running 10K every day so I shall eat cake.

“Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do.” Ecclesiastes 9:7 NIVUK

Richard is running 10K every day during June, to raise money for a public access defibrillator to be situated at Rothwell Baptist Church.  To sponsor him and make a donation, please visit his Just Giving Page.

I imagine “ginnel” is probably a Yorkshire term and if you are from other parts of the country you might not know what I am talking about.  Little secret hidden ways that take you between or behind houses transporting you across town without sharing your space with cars or most other people for that matter.  You only discover them if you are a runner or walker because they are like hidden streets in Harry Potter, not exactly invisible but simply not noticed by passing muggles in their metal boxes.  When you are running “round the houses” in the morning through most residential areas, you can run down the middle of the road because it’s so quiet but if you venture onto the main roads then you had better watch out because drivers believe the speed limits haven’t come into force yet!

The ginnels are useful because they take you completely away from the traffic.  I didn’t want simply to replicate yesterday morning’s run by the canal, beautiful as it was, so I simply plodded around the houses and though my favourite ginnels and down a few I hadn’t used for years.

Only 9 days left now and feeling OK despite overdoing things earlier in the week.  A nice gentle few runs over the weekend including parkrun in the morning.  No heroics!

“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” Luke 8:17 NIVUK

Richard is running 10K every day during June, to raise money for a public access defibrillator to be situated at Rothwell Baptist Church.  To sponsor him and make a donation, please visit his Just Giving Page.