My Adventures, The Coach To 5k Course with Grantham Running Club !!! | DanielMarshallAdventures

Over the past Few months I have put up a few posts about Grantham Running club, and i mentioned at the start of the Coach to 5k that i would write about the course as a whole as the finish line, so here we go !!!!

12 weeks a go i started the biggest challenge in my life, 12 weeks a go, I was unfit, and very nervous about the challenge ahead.

I had attempted to Join the running club in 2016, only a few weeks after the coach to 5k has ended and at the time Running was something not on my mind, until I looked on google about things to do In Grantham.

Should i have looked the club up sooner, I can honestly say that everything happens for a reason, and that no i should of not, at the time which I will explain later on.

I had only attended 3 run sessions in 2016 when i decided that i was struggling to much and it was not for me.

As 2017 started it was a year that i needed things to change in my life, diet, fitness, strength and a whole bunch of things.

I noticed the club was putting the course back on, and so i attended my first session,
The idea of it being the group met on a Monday and Wednesday for 12 weeks.

Shock and fear took over my emotions when i arrived at the tennis club as around 80 people turned up. The running sessions was held at the Tennis club, this was great to see 2 businesses networking with each other (:


me being well me, I kept myself to myself as i do not cope well in big groups.
The group got split into people wanting to aim to do 10k and 5k,
The 5k group set out, going through  running furrows which is a pubic foot path, on the right a sports field which i think is owned by a school, to the left, a railway bridge, and as you go down the path, you are surrounded by the lovely nature.
This then opens ups to many streets and heading towards manthorpe.
We was told it would be 2 mins of walking and 1 min of running, just to get everyone used to it.

I think we did around 20-25 mins, we make sure before and after every session to always stretch our muscles, as with any form of exercise you do you always need to warm up and cool down.

And as the weeks got going, we extended the time of running, and the 5k group was split into 3 groups, Group A being the group that wanted to do the 5k as a faster pace.

By week 4 we was doing 20mins of running without a break, and i was starting to really struggle with maintaining my pace.
I would have stages of feeling great followed by sharp pains, that for me going at the pace i was i just could not keep it going, it became go full pelt for a minute and cause more pain or just stop.

Stop not being who i am hehe, for the next few weeks as we reached our first 5k distance, the run leaders were helping me by reminding me to slow down and i started to get used to it.

Penny who helped me in 2016 with the running was someone i kept looking up to for inspiration as she was a amazing run leader, pushing us but also having great laughs and helping us reach our goals.

By week 7 we was already going off road, through narrow paths, uphills and seeing the wonderful views of Grantham, as we set off, around Great Gonerby.

I noticed in our Facebook Group that people was talking about going on their first park,run which is global event, helping encouraging people to enjoy running.
In Grantham there is one held at Belton house most weekends.

It is a 2 lap course which is 5k, so i thought with already reaching 5k i would give it a try.

It was not what i expected, with over 300 runners, and you have no idea how to control your pace with so many people around you, you think your going at the right pace until you reach the second lap and then it hits you.



I told myself i never wanted to do a park run again, well i have now done 4 so yeah that happened lol, ill explain more about why i decided to keep going back later on.

I came back after a horrible park run to do the best running since starting at the club, and i was well happy.

Then i suffered my first, minor leg pain, because i do so much physically activities, it took its tole, and only for a week i had to miss running, tennis and gym, to me this felt like longer as i love everything i do, and missing out and being around people just made it worse.

again i came back even stronger as i went on my second park run and managed to get a time of just under 30 minutes.




But that could not of happen if it was not for some of the amazing runners from the group who i got talked to, who kept pushing me, to keep going.
I feel that the i enjoy sport more when i am being competitive i want to always achieving more and more, and although the park run is tough, i still want to keep going to more because i know if i can control my pacing i can do awesome (:

with only 3 weeks left to the end of the course , we all had some surprises and different challenges.
One of which was the club got invited to go to Ropsley

The idea was to run at a different location but then able to all get together to have a BBQ !!!



The Pub may not be much from the outside but it has a wonderful sitting area inside and a big outside space for when its nice in the summer.



We was told there would be 3 routes we could choose to be in, 5k, 6 miles and 10k i think not sure 100 percent on the route mileage.
Anyway i was over hearing the fun, of what the run leaders were discussing about the routes.
Our run leader, had this big map and was being told go down here, turn left do this and that lol
All i can say is i am not surprise we ended up doing over 5 miles instead of 5k, even i would of been confused where we was going from a map and remembering it off by heart hehe (:

This was the toughest run i had ever faced, in blazing heat about 25 degrees, with no shade, and no wind.

Straights that seemed like a mirage that went on forever, massive uphill parts, all of us was really struggling,
Most of our groups set off at their normal pace thinking it would be ok as we was going to do 5k well at one point if we had not turned out some signs we would of done 10 miles lol.





Trust me when i say that from that picture it may look nice but its such a demanding course.
The countryside itself yes is amazing.
I was glad i went for the experience, and the atmosphere of talking to people.
I was to tired to even think about food with not feeling great either because of the sun, some of the runners can do great in the sun and love in but nope not me anything over 20 and i really struggle.

I managed to get a drink and sit down, while everyone was getting food and it was really tempting as there was burgers, sausages chips and much more.





I would like to go again maybe once i know i can run in the heat and that i have got at least 10k under my belt !!!

Which leads me onto my next challenge the coach to 5k and 10k was invited to do one of the running club sessions starting from the normal location of the meres leisure centre in Grantham.
The task was to run Through the canal and see how far you could reach within 20 minutes and then beat it next month.

This was even more important to me then Ropsley as this was my revenge course.
I had run down the canal 2 times before last year when i had joined the club and struggled.
So I needed to know how much progress i had made since then.

Half way through as with some of the run sessions i got a bit of pain but shock it off and was like even if it hurts i am doing this, and in 20mins i managed to reach 3k.

I was drained when our runner leader which was led by penny for the session said come on your running it back !!!!

I was like your kidding right, nope you can do this Daniel and you know what because she kept me talking most of the way and pushing me to keep going, i some how ran faster on the way back.

which meant not only did i get much further then i did last year, but i ran 7k in total !!!!

the first time ever minus the over 5 mile run which i did a lot of stops and walking on.

entering the last week, penny was not letting it off so easy as we ended up doing another 7k run.
This time Through even more narrows paths, more steep hills, and in very tricky hot weather.

Overall with struggling a little i just managed to keep pushing and complete the run, with some great laughs and adventures along the way !!!



Half way through the run our run leader took some amazing pictures that are now wonderful memories of the adventures of the running.




 I think even though i have 2 more pictures to show that i am in, and you would think that the one upcoming would be the one to remember, be more important. i think i love this picture the most because, it was a picture i look ok in lol, but also it was such a wonderful adventure day, Proving that we can all run more then just 5k !!! (:

So the last run of the course was up, and it had already been a hot week, with the last run being around 25 degrees, Taking more off road routes, I really struggled with this run the most, to say a few days before that i ran 7k and i could not even manage 3k, it really surprise you how much the heat can affect your performance.
Although it was another great run, with of course another epic photo of  some of the runners (:



 Onward to the weekend which saw the running club come Together, at the Tennis club once again for the Graduation of the runners taking part in the coach to 5k, and 10k, a epic BBQ and our very own Grantham Running club Shirts !!!!

I turned up wanting to look smart as i feel important events like that you just need to be hehe,
The tennis club staff were at hand, Inc The Manger Sarah Patton who also completed the coach to 5k, so well done for someone who on multiple times said she Didnt want to go hehe, but she did and achieved, showing shes not only a great tennis player, manager but a runner (:

The tennis club also arranged ratchet and balls for the kids that came along with their parents.
on a day where i am dressed not for tennis, and a day to rest and enjoy myself, i could not tear myselt away from Joining in (:
Playing against some of the run leaders and kids, making sure everyone got a go, but also being a little bit competitive wanting to show how good my tennis was haha (:

After a bit of tennis we all went over to the best Hog Roast in the world, stacks of meat, served to everyone, and it tasted epic, is all i can say.


I did not want to be cheeky and ask for more so i only had one lot.
It was not to long before i left everyone chatting and enjoying the food while yes i went to play more tennis ahh me hey what you going to do (:




here is just a selection of runners enjoying their food (:





After a hour we all got called as it was time for our shirts (:
A speech was said which the only thing missing was a mic so we could all hear it properly.
Names were read out, and everyone getting claps for achieving the course.

A bunch of people could not attend due to different reasons, which other people collected on their behalf to give to them at a later date (:

It was time for the group photo, and the thing about things like that is I wouldn't say hate being in photos but i get really shy, i also do not know how to act.
A few people went to hid in the back of the group so i followed but nope the run leader i look up to was not having none of that (:
I got made to be at the front and to be a part of the photo which in the end i am glad i was as i now have something to look back on, instead of being a group photo with me not in it lol.



Overall In my Opinion you just could not meet a more wonderful and caring community in Grantham.
Its amazing to see how much dedication and hard work, the club has put into, Building a community.
How its evolved over the years, and how little it costs to join a club,
Some may say why would i pay just to run with a group of people !!!???

I can tell you now, it will change your life forever being with the running club, sure you could run by yourself, and with headphones in, but being involved in something much bigger, its just such achievement for 24 pounds a year, you get to run on a weekly basis around Grantham, exploring, being a adventurous and outgoing person.

You get to have discounts on Races to compete in, the club also hosts many events across the year, like BBQ, Bowling and much more.
The experience of meeting new people and making friends is its own reward.

I could honestly say that i could not manage what i have done without the club, without the runners in the groups, the run leaders and the fun times.

For 24 pounds a year, you can not find anything in Grantham, for less with such benefits to your health its truly outstanding !!!


I enjoy ever moment that i am now continuing  with the club on my next adventure which is making my way to 10k (:

What breaks us only makes us stronger and at times i really struggled with the running, and i will probably struggle even more, but that is the whole part of the journey no matter what sport or physical activities you do, if you are not willing to push yourself to always achieve better in life then you are not trying hard enough.
Its the same with my tennis and gym, at points i wanted to give up, and heck i almost did, but because i had been open with my issues, and started to build a community around me.
They had my back and helped me snap out of worrying so much.

My next Targets for the running is to not only reach 10k but work on my speed with the park runs and aiming by next year to get myself under the 25 min mark !!!!

So i leave you with a collection of bonus pictures and the advice of  Weather your worried about your health or even running do not be, ok do not jump into trying to do 5k if you have not run much like i did last year, but if a running club near you does the same and has a course to work on getting in shape, and working your way to running more then what are you waiting for get out that door and have the most epic adventure of your life !!!!!!! hehe
This has been my adventure of the last 12 weeks thank you Grantham running Club, and the local community, and thank you readers for reading this very long post (:

Bonus pics !!!!!!!!!!!













Grantham running club Links
https://www.facebook.com/GranthamRunningClub/
https://twitter.com/GranthamRC
http://www.granthamrunningclub.co.uk/

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The Toughest Physical week Ahead | DanielMarshallAdventures

I was planning on right a big blog post in a few weeks to describe The Journey with Grantham Running club.

But with so much going on i thought i would explain a few things.

It all started last week really, I had been Training at the gym with my friends for about 6 months now, every month a new training scheme would be in place and our goals would get higher.
Before i started doing a lot of running, my goal was to increase my strength, which was working, but because i was putting my body under so much stress, having tennis and running often the next day, i found myself not having the drive or even the strength to lift what i could.
About 3 weeks a go my friend said he was trying this challenge, which meant using a few different equipment and also pushing everything up, I decided to go along with the challenge and that is when i Decided the workout load was to much and something needed to change.
I sat and worked out the best days i could go, and what equipment i liked using but also how it was going to benefit me.

The one thing i am still rubbish at is names of the gym stuff, so i think not 100 percent sure but the machine i love using is called the dip assist.
I think its the one i love the most out of everything i can use at the gym, and because my grip on things still is not there, like pulling yourself up or hanging onto something for a while, its like a middle ground for me.
What it does is you have a seat sort of thing you kneel on, which is set not to move until you use your body strength to move down.
you grip 2 handle bars and the main focus is on your upper arms using them to bring yourself to the top and back down again.
I normally set out to do 10 lifts, 4 times, and after i have used to my hands do go numb for about a minute but you can certainly feel the difference in your arms.
So the routine i set myself is 3-4 sessions a week, at half a hour, and sometimes 2 sessions a day, but only once or twice a week.
Doing a small bit of cardio, and leg strength just to keep on top of them, as they are used for running.
Rowing, for 5 mins, and then different weight equipment for arms etc.
I do give it my all in that time, and do challenge myself to push the weight up every week.
Rome was not built in a day and sometimes people said oh look already how much muscle i have gained.
Then for it to go a week later, at the moment My muscles have become bigger then in the last 6 months of training and hope to keep on top of it.


The true fact is, i only now have the drive, and knowledge on what i must achieve, thanks to my friends, When i Joined i had not much clue how to use anything yet alone push myself to improve,
i do miss hanging out with them but we all create our own paths and sometimes, what method of improving one self may not work for another you have to create your on path.
Every time i go now i seem very happy, even having a laugh with the awesome team at Feel Good Fitness, and again that is one part that makes me keep going is the hard work the staff put into the place, the challenges, and getting new protein shakes in hehe (:

Phew!! i feel like that was a blog post on its on lol.

Moving on, I am missing some bits out because i want to put them in on the progress post about GRC

Tennis is next on the list, Twice i was looking forward to my first team match at Grantham Tennis Club and both times i have had a call saying its cancelled, so now hopefully this Thursday coming i can play the match.
So I decided to head down the next day and play the social matches they have on at the club.
4 matches i had and in one of them, were 2 amazing top class players, with the fastest serve i have ever seen, and just amazing team work,
I drive myself to get better and better with playing people who are better then me, some people it makes them feel worse about their game but me, i am like if they can do it so can i.
which in another game i had, a chap did a amazing low cross court shot, which i really ran for and was like here have the same shot back !!! hehe.

The last game i took easy, and I had myself another Park Run the next day.
So its still the same day as the park run i am writing this (:
This one i made sure, i got plenty of sleep the night before, made sure to do lots of stretches before the run started, and i honestly felt like this was the one that i would do great as i felt my physical best.

Now for people who have never ran a timed event before with at least 300 people will say its no different to running the same distance with a small group of people just having a jog around the countryside.
You would be so, so wrong,  The brain is the most Frustrating part of it all.
Put me on the countryside run doing 5k, without seeing the course set out in front of you, and talking with people, i do awesome at, put at a place where is a lap event and you can see the course in front of you, wooo, does it mess with you.

The course at belton house, is a 5k run which is 2 laps, it has 4 long straights, 3-4 smaller sections, with is very uneven, and much narrow so fighting for space with the other runners, and then a loop section which is like the final part of the lap, which you think is small, and then suddenly you get half way round and start to struggle.

I Hated the run the first time i ever did it, and swore i would never do it again, 3 runs later and here i am.

So i set off, trying to pace myself, which is very hard, when you a selection of extremely good runners going miles ahead of you, your first instance is to match their pace but telling your brain, no is a battle.

I got half way around the first lap, and noticed a fellow member of the tennis club ahead, and stupidly decided to try and match their pace, worked well up, even slighting passing by, until i started the second lap and hitting massive pain barriers.
I stopped about 5 times, for at least what felt like over a minute each time.
The first turn really caught me as the grass was really thick, my feet felt heavy like i had weights on them, and the more i tried to run through it, the heavier it felt.
After stopping at that section, for a rest, i struggled to keep going, but did as i wanted to finish the park run.
I had in the back of my mind that it felt i was in more pain and doing much worse then my first ever park run.

The last turn was coming up and i gave it everything.
I was shocked when i got home to only be 27 seconds behind my PB of the second time i did the run,
and i clocked in at 30.27.
It made me think, i must have been going at some pace to allow for all the stops i took, and if i did not stop, i know that time would of been around 27.
which just shows, when your in pain, seconds, feel like minutes.

Your brain starts telling yourself your a failure and that you would do worse when in fact i did awesome (:



Feeling Drained and my feet hurting, i got a bite to eat and soaked my feet.
after about a hour oddly i felt great again, so i went out for another social at the tennis club, a few hours later, and had some more great games (:

So now the rest of the week incs, the final 2 sessions of the coach to 5k with the running club, going to gym i think twice this week, maybe 3, doing some more tennis, ready for the match on Thursday, and then on Saturday is our kind of Graduation of the running course.
The final like get together sort of thing was meant to be the 24th but turns out there was no parkrun on that day, as it was going to be park run then BBQ in the evening.
Now its like a park run to end the running course on a high sort of thing, with the BBQ being the weekened after.

So to me this week is a very demanding week, some of the previous run sessions i have struggled with because both of the shoulders were hurting due to playing tennis either the day before or the same day, and when your serving you can pull those muscles when running.
so me being me i like to give the tennis and running my all, even more so with completing the course, so i hope my body pushes through it and i end up enjoying the week.

Being active has certainly made me feel better mentally and physically, i could never expect to be able to keep up with the running, as normally i am a quick runner, but after about 2 mins, that is it, i cant run anymore, so its been great to get over the fear of that and to be as active as i am.
Although i love what i do when i am on the computer, like editing photos, writing these blog posts etc, i still find the place that makes me feel like i am going to be low, cry and not want to do anything is home.
I could not be where i am today without my friends, They give me drive to do well, being a part of these events and meeting amazing people gives me the drive, seeing people do well also has the same impact but its also nice to help back (:

At some point i really want to ask someone in the gym, if they can film me working out so i can show you lot, what its like.

This year so far has gone way past what i wanted and so much more and i hope it can carry on and i can keep making friends.




I hope you enjoyed this post, as much as i did writing it (:
if you are a part of a club, let me know,  if you do running and have entered bigger events like 10k + whats its like, is it much harder etc.

Any questions please contact me on social media, as i mentioned in my last post i am getting a lot of spam, i am also getting a lot of people, commenting 10 times over inc nasty comments, which are being monitored so please the best form of communication between you lot commenting and me replying is either Facebook or twitter links below (:

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Making Leaps & Bounds, My Second Park run Experience at Grantham | DanielMarshallAdventures

So only the other day i wrote about The Grantham Running club and how i managed not once but twice reaching 5k in one week.

Well it has not even been a full week and i have now completed 5k 3 times with my second park run experience yesterday which was the 20-05-17

On Thursday i went from feeling super happy, to miserable, not being able to enjoy playing tennis, or keeping my mind off bad thoughts.
Friday was just as bad as not only did the weather decide it was going to rain heavy but i picked up a nasty cold.

I let the people who was also going to the park run that i will let them know if i was going.
around 8pm i was not feeling any better but i thought if i dont go all i will do is sit in bed all day, feel more miserable and depressed.

I got to the park run in the morning, not setting myself any high goals due to not feeling great, as long as i got around my time of just under 37mins, from my first ever park run i would be happy.

One of the leaders penny, who has been a amazing run leader had been telling me weeks a go in the sessions to learn to pace myself.

She was also doing the park run today, and i have to say i now am aiming for her time and she is so quick.

Recently i made friends with someone, who understands about mental health, and have been getting along great with, so we set off, at the same pace, so i could control my pace and also have someone to talk to (:

Halfway around the first lap i started to slightly increase my speed nothing stupid like i did the first time were i nearly collapsed starting the second lap.
this time even though it was hard because of my chest and cold, i tried to focus on my breathing, taking note of my pace.

On the running sessions of this week and in the park run i noticed that the talks of pacing finally kicked in when i notice how fast my legs are going and know when to go much slower.

I kept looking back on the first lap of the park run, to make sure my friend was ok, and i was not going to fast.

on the straight to start the second lap, i got in the zone and more and more increased my pace.
I did however have to stop for multiple times as i could hardly breath but this was only for a few seconds rather then nearly a minute from the first park run.
I was also not in as much pain as i was the first time.




Just ahead of me i saw another friend, who i knew matched my pace, so i cranked it up and ran towards him.

He told me he went off to fast at the start and was struggling so i tried the best i could to keep motivating him and running with him so we could finish the run Together.
there were times in the second lap we were both struggling, but without helping each other, it would have been so much harder, and i knew myself i would of gave in the towel.

Only a few turns were left, i was saying to him come on we can do this think about the cake you can enjoy hehe.

Another chap who i didnt know was alongside us also giving us the drive to keep going.
its amazing, that its all in your brain, that your body can take so much more.
That having the people cheer you on and push you suddenly gives you extra tank of speed.

the first time i did the park run when i saw the loop to the finish i thought i could run the whole thing, but you dont realize the loop is much bigger then you think.

So this time i waited till i was level with belton house which is half way and gave it everything.
i even managed to come across the line running, before sinking into the grass completely wiped out.

I was so happy as not only did i know i did so much better then last time but i managed to complete the course, running at the end instead of walking.

The last time i did the course i must have lost about 3 minutes just walking to the finish line.

after resting for 10mins, i felt great, happy, not even tired, not feeling upset, the only thing i felt was my cold getting worse... whoops (:





Me and a few runners went to get some breakfast, talking about the run, the running course as much more.
I went to order some chips but sadly had to get a chocolate cake instead, which turned out a good thing lol, because it was to soon to get chips.

I kept looking at my phone waiting for a text to come through so i could see my results.
so instead i waited till i got signal, signed into park run, and my face just lit up and i was over the moon.
to say it was only my second park run, to say i was battling with a cold, and to say that i left last time, so upset because i struggled so much, what a difference this time was, proving that i do not just improve but make leaps and bounds

Belton House parkrun results for event #70. Your time was 00:29:59.Congratulations on completing your 2nd parkrun and your 2nd at Belton House parkrun today. You finished in 152nd place and were the 115th male out of a field of 361 parkrunners and you came 6th in your age category SM25-29

even my friend who i was running with towards the end, got his Personal best,  and was only just behind me.It was so hot as well, but  at least it did not rain,  Even Suzie Sparkles From Gravity Fm, did her second park run. Park run is a amazing free event, that its great to see so many runners,enter and enjoy themselves, its hard but its a good challenge. I have to admit from going off road with the running club the past 2 sessions that i enjoy the challenge of the bumps, the terrain, getting the strength to run uphill. For some reason even though it hurts to start with i am better with the off road running, then on flat ground. The park run at belton is tricky for me because its mostly flat, with the odd little bump. The most hard part is seeing the course, as you enter a turn, a straight and think i can do this. a few minutes later it feels like a mirage, what seemed like a small straight feels much longer. That for me throws me off big time, when i am with the running club its different. Although your told where abouts your running and for how long, there is no visable course. your also in a much smaller group, and get to talk more with each other. Park run is a global thing that is free, and just shows how keen people are to get out there. Enjoy themselfs and take park in something that can really help with your mental health. Penny who is the run leader in the coach to 5k group, gets around 20mins in the park run. which is just so so fast, and i have now said to her watch out as i aim to beat that. I aim by my 10th park run, to be getting 24 mins, and by the end of 2017 to be near penny,s time. which will be hard as i know she will keep getting faster as well (: I want to thank the people of the park run who take their time out to set this up. i also want to say a big thank you to the amazing photographers who capture such High quality images, and manage to capture so much as well. As you have been seeing in this blog the images are from the park run, which i will leave the links at the end of the post. Another of my running friends took some pictures, and then put this on my photo lol To think where i was in fitness last year to where i am now, i just keep getting stronger. I will be looking forward to the last few weeks of the coach to 5k with the running club. and then carrying on with the club after. i thought i would have to be miss a session on Monday due to having my first tennis match. At Grantham tennis club, but its had to be cancelled and now the next match will be played, at the club on the 8th June, so i have to get a lot of practice in for that (: Thank you for reading Photography of the event https://www.flickr.com/photos/126222129@N05/sets/72157680998153643 My social links  https://www.facebook.com/dmpphotographyuk/   https://twitter.com/DanMediaP https://twitter.com/HLincolnshire https://twitter.com/DMPWORLDMUSIC https://twitter.com/DanielMVlogs https://www.instagram.com/dmpadventures/ http://dannytheexplorer.tumblr.com/ http://dmpuk.weebly.com/

  

Hitting my Target of running 5k with Grantham Running Club | DanielMarshallAdventures

This is my third  blog post on the amazing Grantham Running Club.
I am writing this because of the achievement i have come away with so far this week.
The picture above was taken at the end of the run Tonight which is 17-05-17
I did not even know till i got home and looked in the group that this was took lol, i was that tired and wet from the rain i just wanted to get home (:
One of the runners brought in some amazing treats, for us to try (:


 We had such a selection to choose from which inc Mocha Brownies,Gluten free Brownie with fruit and seed Peanut butter truffles 
Vegetarian Vegan Gluten-free
It has been raining  heavy all day,  i commented in the group that i was not going.
I have to admit just seeing the pictures did tempt me but also i had nothing better to do so i thought to heck with it and i am so happy i went .

This week i managed to run my first 5k, which was around 5.5k, as we had a barrel of laughs getting lost in the woods and having to run a loop extra to find the rest of our group.
we went off road, on very narrow paths, bumps, uphill and fast downhill slopes.

I came away tired and hurting, but so pleased and after todays run that smile got even bigger as despite the heavy rain i managed to run 5k yet again.

I have been told so many times, that i can do it i just have to pace myself.
I realized that after managing the 2 runs thats its all in my head.
since the start of the course i had not been able to pace myself, if i started getting pains and struggling to breath i had to either stop, or run like mad, for a min causing more harm to myself but managing to get further then i would have.This has been the case with most things in life, i either go full on or no effort at all.
If it was not for some of the run leaders, telling me off in a joke way and controlling my pace, i would not be able to even manage to complete 5k.

Sometimes in life i just need that little push, of confidence, that little bit of control and then i settle and really do well.

Like with many others in the group we have already completed 5k  and thats with still  having about 4 weeks  left which is 8  sessions due to it being twice a week.

I think the idea is to get everyone to run 5k and then in the last few weeks start to increase the running speed.

with running between 5k and just over it means we are already running at a fast pace and the session normally being around 40mins,

I am super pleased with myself because of how much my life has changed in just under a year.

2016 as i mentioned in other blog posts was a bad year,
from January till june i had to suffer bad from my depression because i had to be put on a waiting list to even get help from the mental health service.
In those months i hardly ate, i hardly left my room, nearly everyday i would be crying for hours, going insane and at points did not want to live.

Due to my own actions 2016 was a bad year however it needed to be, because something happened at the end of July that started me on the right path and where my journey has lead me to this point in my life.
I started opening up about my mental health, i started to hit the gym and get stronger, i ate better, and slowly i was pushing back the depression and aniexty and starting to grow up and live my life.
in 2016 i had drive but it was not enough because i was not mentally nor physically fit.
I will always suffer from mental health issues but because i have built the community around me.
Its given me new found strength, its makes me happier and i have more drive to do well in life.

They say when you cant look back because of a massive moment in your life for worse or good, that you feel free, and that you can craft your own destiny.

I do think about the past a few times but i do not let it make me fall to pieces like it used to do.
I do not think of being in the past but how i can change as a person and grow my new life.
I am me at the end of the day and weather i talk about stuff that sometimes should not be said i would rather have a bad image then keep things bottled up.
The only thing i ever wish i could change it being able to talk to my ex as a friend, and things did not end the way they did.
I am happy she managed to move on and be with someone who can understand her better.
and that for myself the break up needed to happen so i could grow up, learn to cope by myself, learn new skills and find parts of me that i knew was there but was not confident enough to bring them out.
i can not change the past, and if i had the chance to i would not, things happen for a reason, and for nearly a year i could not understand this.
Life is a journey, that is all about discovering yourself  and until you are put into a situation where you have nothing and learn to build your life back up you start to notice little changes at first.
Like new foods you like, foods you hated put now love, finding skills you didnt know you had, and understanding why you have been put on this journey.

the past may think, or what rubbish, etc but until you have been down that road you can not even comprehend how it feels.
I have surround myself  with people who understand about mental health, i have made true friends that understand me, i have people who believe in me and are willing to help.

all my life i have never had friends, because people did not understand me, i was also in a bad place for many years , but now i have learnt to stand up for myself, i have learned to try in life, and keep pushing even through the bad times, and i feel happyier then i ever have in my life because i am proud that i have discover who i am, what i am good at, and what to aim for in life.

To end the day and this blog post on a happy and surprising note.
I got a email from Grantham Tennis Club, asking if i would like to be part of a team, to play matches.
In Mens Doubles,
these are more then just social matches at the club, this is being a part of a team and having a experience i have always dreamed of having.
so on Monday the 22th may 2017 i will be heading to Washingborough  to play my first ever team game  !!! 
the last 2 weeks have been a battle because, i had a minor leg issue which meant i had to miss a lot of tennis, and a few running sessions.
But i came back even better then before i had the issue.
what breaks us only makes us stronger and that is so true !!!!!!!!

I hope the rest of the year keeps going like this, i am also off to my next parkrun this weekend hoping to do much better then my first one and with only 4 weeks left of the running club, hoping that my leg pain does not come back (:

Thank you for reading.
if you have ever had a change in your life that has been hard but you like the new person you are now, feel free to explain what made you change.
if you apart of a running club, or a sports team i would like to know, and how will your doing !!

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My first Park Run Experience In Grantham Run to 5k | Daniel Marshall Adventures

On Saturday 6th May 2017 was my first ever park run being held at belton house in Grantham.
I have been running on the coach to 5k With Grantham running club now for 7 weeks.
and noticed a lot of people saying about getting a 3rd run in and that people was going to park run.

This was the next step to see if i was ready to do with 5k with a lot bigger crowd.
I think there was about 300 people overall, a lot different to around 80 of the running club.

i was already entering with a slight pain to my left leg, which still hurts as i am writing this and off to the doctors to see what it is.

It decided to rain a bit on all the days to rain why that day lol !!!

9 o clock hit and we all set off, i set off in pain but pumped, and about 5mins in knew i had set off to quick, as i was getting a few more pains.


i kept looking back to where my group was and could not see them, to be fair there was a lot of people.
halfway round the first lap, i was really struggling, to say that i had almost managed 5k the other weeks in the group.

a few bends before the first lap finished i had to stop for a few seconds, as i was struggling to breath and was gripping my stomach.

as i approached, the end of the first lap, one of the members of the club was cheering us on, and said come on daniel you can do it.

This then gave me a boost of confidence, but it only lasted for a few mins, as the pains came back.
for some reason, running at the same pace, or even slower, was making me give up more, but running full pelt, for even a minute made me hurt more yes but also gave me that lift to keep pushing.

like the first lap but even more i had to stop, and i almost starting crying as i could not handle the pain.
i just kept bolting forward through it, before there was a loop to the finish line.
I gave it everything i had, moving faster then i ever had been going.

Then it hit, half way round the bend i stopped and froze, i could not feel my legs, i felt dizzy like i was going to pass out.
i got moving after a few mins, but i was staggering all over the place not been able to even walk in a straight line.


 

as you can see in the picture above i am in the background holding my jacket, and all i wanted to do was get to the finish and sit down.

everyone was asking if i was ok, but it was like my brain was on auto pilot i could not think of anything, or what i was even doing.

I was told to do some stretches and my body just would not do them.
at this point all i wanted to do was cry but i kept it in, not wanting to draw attention.
i then went with a group of people from the running club to have something to eat, which did make me slightly better, but still did not feel right.

I later got home had something more to eat and tried to rest.
so if it did so much pain why would i want to do the park run again?
well we all have off days where we cant not do something we have been doing so well at for a while.

other then being in pain, i loved the experience, running in the fresh air, being a part of in my mind a competition.
what can i say i like a challenge, i like giving it my all, i like being competitive,  even if i over do it and end up making myself ill.

I finished the run, in just under 37 mins, people that had been doing it for a while was getting around 20mins, and i was just like how on earth.
but i think if i did not have my leg pain that i was trying to shift the running to other parts of my leg, and stopping, i would of got around 30mins.
showing that i do have the strength deep inside i just have to find it.

I have come a long way from when i first started to run last year, and i hope to keep going.
I am aiming to enter the parkrun again in 2 weeks time, aiming to complete the coach to 5k, and then see where life takes me.
I have to say though if anyone wants to see the amazing photography of the people running in the park run please do so here.
its how i managed to find pictures i was in (:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/126222129@N05/34354716151/in/album-72157680363339693/

so if you ever have fear of entering events like park run, just try to take it your own pace, easier said then done, as the atmosphere just takes over.

Try to just focus on running, not passing people, not thinking off other around you, just keep saying you can do this do not give up and then be proud of whatever the result, because you are the one that decided to get out of bed and try something different to come out of your comfort zone (:

Thank you for reading
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Grantham Running Club, Park Run & Mind over Marathon program | DanielMarshallAdventures

About 6 weeks a go I wrote a blog post about The coach to 5k With Grantham Running Club.
I was going to write another one, but at the end of the course to reflect how it went.

I have decided that because its going so much better then i ever expected to do a update but to also talk about mental health, and the mind of marathon program.

The start of the course, saw us do 2 mins of running, followed by a minute walk and this was repeated, 5 times over.

Each week, we ran longer, faster, and taking different routes around Grantham.

Some weeks would be uphill, on mud, through small paths, to test your endurance, your breathing control, how you cope going uphill etc.

Depending, if you was to enter a race of somekind, it does not mean that it would be all flat line.
So instead of turning up and struggling, this course helps you learn how to tackle it.

The first 3 weeks, we ran no longer then 5mins at a time, and after the session, i felt amazing to the point i did more, going back home.

after a few weeks the 5k group split into 3 groups, group a which were for people who could do the runs at a faster pace, and the other groups doing a slightly less pace.

We all run differently, and there is no shame in that, some weeks you will feel you can run faster and some you cant, you have to go at your own pace.

Every single person in all 3 groups aims to reach the point of getting to 5k,

On the forth week i was starting to struggle in the faster group, getting a lot of pains, but my feet was also hurting.

I was told that because i do tennis 3-4 times a week, and on days where i also do the running, that i could be doing to much, that my body is telling me to rest.

Going to the gym, was also not helping with my shoulders either, as again i was doing 3-4 times a week.

So while i do the running, i have cut down a day both the gym and the tennis.
I love all 3 things but in life you have to make sacrifices.
otherwise you end up burning yourself out, and doing more harm then good (:

This then ties into the mind of marathon program.
we have our own facebook group where we can comment, things etc.
I noticed someone from the group posted about the program.
It follows a group of people who suffer from mental health, weather that is depression, anxiety and other things.
And helping them each week, to run, to aim to enter the marathon.





Because although, your problems will not magically disappear any form of sport helps with your health, makes you feel happier,it a way to connect with people that can become your friends.

As i mentioned in other blog posts, which we will take depression for example.
It not only affects your brain but your body, saying to yourself or someone saying to you, get over it, just do it, really is the worst thing you can ever say.

If it was that easy, then people would not suffer from it.
For me there are days where, i wont leave the house, i get frustrated and often sit crying for hours because i want to get out, but my body cant even move, it takes all my energy just to get moving so that i can have something to eat.

So do go from that to running, its an incredible achievement.
Its already not a easy task but for the person who suffers from mental health problems it can feel even worse.
After watching this program, it really made me push more with the running, i went to the session feeling like a new person, and i was.

Week 5 saw a massive jump from 8mins of running non stop to 20 mins without a walking period.
Somehow like many of the others in the group, we managed it, it was tough it was brutal, it hurt but after doing it, you feel over the moon, happy, you come away better then when you arrived,

After searching on goggle about the program, i have seen responses saying its helped them talk about their mental health issues.
I wish more people would, its not nothing to feel bad about, plus more people who do not suffer from a problem at the moment need to understand, how those who do, how it affects them.

Their is a lack of funding for mental health, there is a lack of understanding, and doctors need to educate themselves and not to tell people just to get over it !!!!

I explained in a video which you can see here



About how although, i have had the community help me and i have had such wonderful experiences in the last year, its all been me who has gone out their to get them.
I am the one who come out of the comfort zone, to connect with people, to help people.
I am the one who has the drive, out of this world, drive that i say to myself i have to do this.

It has not been easy and often have major set backs, in confidence, feeling i am not worth it, that i can not do it, and that i should give up on everything.
But what breaks us only makes us stronger, and in so many times in my life that has been true.

Its took over a year to get to where i am, the person i am but i am happy with how i have opened up.

I work on my strength and my cardio, to be better in body and mind.
just a few days a go i went to Feel good Fitness Gym in Grantham, went on the watt bike classes that i had not been on in a few days and came away with this result.



 I did do a bit of arm weights, and leg stuff before going on the class so this is my overall result of the time i started to the end.

The class it hard, but the competition side of me comes out, pushing myself to do well.

Going back to the running, 03-05-17 was the biggest test in my life.

Group A was told that, we are going to be going uphill a lot, and instead of 22 mins, its now going to be 30mins.

Not only was the time of running a lot longer, but with the challenge of battling to go uphill.
I struggled a few times because when going off road through woods and it being uphill, your feet all of a sudden feel like a ton, your putting the same effort in but going a lot slower.

My chest was hurting but i pushed through it, and as soon as we was on flatline again i was back at 100 percent.

Some of us also did more mins, worth of running as what we do as a group is, those who are at the front of the pack, after about 10mins in you loop back to the back, so it gives chance for others to catch up and show support.
What this means for the front runners is you cover more ground, because your having to go back to where the others are.

and because somehow, which i still dont believe myself, that the past 3 sessions i have been able to keep upfront, the session the other day, i ended up doing 35mins.
This meant that although we are only half way through the course we almost managed to reach the 5k mark already.
as seen from this image, of a runners watch, which i was next to this person most of the time so i did the same amount.



I felt over the moon when i got back, and saw this posted as i had no idea is was so close to 5k,
it was not only an achievement for many others but for me, as last year when i joined the club, i could not manage 3k,

My latest challenge is a park run event this Saturday In Grantham.
Parkrun is a organisation with events all around the world.
They are free events where you run a course, with loads of people, at the end you get your result, so that you can see how well you have done, and aim to beat it the next time you go.
In Grantham these events are every Saturday, so if i can do it and like it, i will aim to go on more.

If you suffer from mental health then please get in touch, as i like to help and listen, we all stand a better chance of helping each other.

The people who do suffer with this will always understand each other better then those who dont.

I want to thank Grantham Running club for this amazing experience, they are a amazing club, which is only 24 pounds a year to join !!!!!
running, is amazing, it makes you feel alive, and its always better to run with people then by yourself (:

Thank you for reading and i do hope that this post can really help people, try something different and show that your a lot stronger then you think, its all in your brain, and it does not matter how long it takes to do a small thing, at least you have done it !!!! (:

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