From Running Show to Running Punks - and a new half marathon for Northampton
We caught up with some old friends at the National Running Show at the NEC
It’s time to face facts. We may not be fully obsessed about running, but we’re not far off!
As well as producing a running podcast and this newsletter, we spent this weekend parkrunning, visiting a running show, doing a Sunday long run and recording another episode of Running Tales.
What happened to the fast cars and new clothes that a normal mid-life crisis is supposed to bring?
Saturday saw us trooping off to the fantastic National Running Show at Birmingham’s NEC, but not before we managed to sneak in a quick parkrun at Bedworth.
After a couple of false starts due to the icy conditions, we arrived at the picturesque Miners Welfare Park in Bedworth, near Coventry.
The event’s Facebook page warned of tricky conditions, with the apt message: “Today is not a day for a personal best.”
But despite the beautiful course containing a smattering of ice, it was perfectly safe and we enjoyed a well run and upbeat pakrun.
Then it was off to the NEC, where there was simply too much to see, do and - frankly - write about.
But we did enjoy catching up with some old Running Tales friends, including Steve Edwards, who is aiming to run 1,000 official marathons in an average time of less than three hours 30.
Steve has already ticked off 951 marathons, but on Saturday he was acting in his role as an ambassador for Every Run Counts, a new project which aims to change lives through running and walking.
With free interactive games and rewards, along with virtual challenges, it’s definitely one to check out.
And if you want to find out more about Steve and his challenge, then check out our Running Tales chat with him (Season 1, Episode 20)…
We also bumped into Northampton Saints Wheelchair Rugby player Gerry McCrory, who was working in his role at the Ice Bath Company.
And no, we weren’t brave enough to give it a go!
We then met Rachel from Wild Moose Swimming (intriguing but given the current cold weather not top of any wish lists!) and dabbled with alcohol-free beer (we’re with Marvin Gaye - Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing!).
We also caught up with Susan Wheatcroft from Virtual Runner UK. Susan and her virtual runs were essential to Michelle’s early running career, giving her plenty of encouragement as she started off on her course towards marathon running.
They also provided an essential distraction and fitness boost to loads of people during the pandemic - and continue to do so today.
We spoke to Susan about Virtual Runner way back in the early days of the podcast - Episode 7! Those were the days!
But perhaps our Running Show highlight was the Inspiration Stage where we lucky enough to see the brilliant Fitz Koehler and to hear why she loves being a race announcer and how she beat breast cancer.
We also heard from ultra runner Gary Robbins and the inimitable former British sprinter Kriss Akabusi.
As part of his talk, Kriss told how he anchored the British 4x400 relay team to victory at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo, overtaking American Antonio Pettigrew on the anchor leg.
If you went to the Running Show, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Let us know what you got up to in the comments section below.
Happy running,
Craig & Shell
This week on…
The podcast:
This week on the Running Tales Podcast, Craig spoke to the Dr Ashley Morgan, the Queen of running group sensations The Running Punks, which has inspired thousands of people online and in-person to go running.
Dr Ashley has been running for more than 30 years, but until she found the Running Punks she kept the sport as a solitary pursuit.
These days she's very much part of that inclusive community, leading runs on Sunday mornings and taking part in an active online community that talks about everything from posh bog selfies to record reviews (with some running thrown in on occasion!).
Dr Ashley is also a strong voice for women's equality, insisting there is nothing intrinsic for women to fear from running in the dark - and that it is men who need to take responsibility for their actions.
You can find Running Tales at www.runningtales.podbean.com and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Substack:
In case you’ve missed them, we’ve covered a couple of important stories this week on this Substack newsletter.
We had an update on the story of parkrun’s appointment of former Sun newspaper editor, David Dinsmore, as a trustee.
Our piece looked at how former Secretary of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, Sue Roberts - whose brother died in the football stadium disaster - had called for Mr Dinsmore to step down.
You can read it here: David Dinsmore ‘must go’ - sister of Hillsborough victim calls for ex-Sun editor to stand down as parkrun trustee
Last Saturday, Ms Roberts took her protest to Birkenhead parkrun, where she competed but refused to hand over her barcode.
We also covered the news that tickets are now on sale for the all new Great Northampton Run.
The event, which supersedes the Northampton Half, will be a closed-road half-marathon starting in the town’s historic Market Square.
The new route will also take in the town’s three main sporting grounds – the football stadium at Sixfields, rugby at Franklin’s Gardens and cricket at The County Ground.
Running Tales’ very own Michelle Lewis, who works as a fitness instructor and running coach at Step Forward With Lewis, will lead a warm-up at the start of the race.
Hopefully if you are subscriber, you will be getting our updates direct to your email, but remember to check your Junk folder if you haven’t been seeing them.
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Your running this week:
Whether you have a big race coming out, an important milestone or are just out for a run round your local area, we’d love to hear what you’re up to.
Just let us know in the comments below.