This week we had some very good news for parkrun! London Mayor, Boris Johnson, has announced his programme of funding in order to increase community sports participation in London, and he has awarded parkrun £130,000 to help support the set up and running of up to another 23 parkruns in the area. This is excellent news, and certainly a sign of things to come in terms of funding and development for parkrun as a whole. It is great that government and councils are working parkrun into their plans now, and that parkrun is being recognised as the outstanding community organisation that it is. A huge congratulations to all involved! Take a look at http://www.london.gov.uk/media/press_releases_mayoral/mayor-announces-further-funding-community-sports-participation for the full break down of funding allocation.
On a local level I will be looking to involve Newcastle parkrun with government and council initiatives in order to increase sport participation and also volunteering participation within the North East. Hopefully we will be able to secure some local funding for continued support and promotion of Newcastle parkrun and all we have to offer. If you are a key decision maker within a business or educational organisation and think that your institution would benefit from a free weekly exercise initiative, or from continued professional and personal development through volunteering, then do get in touch and I can come along and introduce parkrun and encourage employees and learners to get involved.
I would like to say a huge thank you to all parkrun volunteers who have braved the snow recently to keep Newcastle parkrun running as usual. We had 30 runners when the snow first fell, and then last week we had 45 runners that turned out to run in below freezing conditions. Well done to all that ran and helped out.....we are all incredibly dedicated, or possibly slightly mad! Videos from these two events can be seen on the Newcastle parkrun facebook page (search 'Newcastle parkrun', or click the link at the right hand side of my blog page. This weekend we are set for another snowy and icy parkrun, which will go ahead as usual, providing the course route is safe to run on. We are still looking for volunteers for this Saturday and so if you are free and willing please register online at www.parkrun.org.uk/newcastle/home.aspx and then email newcastlehelpers@parkrun.com to let me know you would like to help out.
I will be delivering a workshop at Newcastle College this evening based around Character Strengths, which is an area covered within Positive Psychology. A strength is something that is morally valued, displayed in behaviours, thoughts, feelings, and actions, and contributes to fulfilment for self and others. Charcter strengths (as classified by the Values in Action classification of strengths) include such things as creativity, leadership, integrity, kindness, self control, and gratitude. Strengths are useful within recruitment in order to match candidates to job roles. They can be utilised when building teams, in order to group complimentary characters together, and jobs can be seen to be valued more when strengths are used within the role. Strengths provide a sense of direction, increase experience of positive emotions, and improve confidence and well-being. To find out what your top strength is visit http://www.viahappiness.org/ and take the test.
Thanks,
Niyc xx
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Wednesday, 17 November 2010
Maps, stress and shoeboxes!
I did a course a while ago on mind mapping and had a go at drawing one this morning as part of an assessment within my Certificate of Education (training to be a lecturer). Mind maps are kind of like a spider diagram, but more complex. They consist of a putting a central idea in the middle of a piece of plain landscape paper and then drawing coloured branches radiating from the centre with particular themes written along the branches. As the branches get further from the centre they get thinner, and the writing along the branches gets smaller and changes from capital letters to lower case. Mind maps are useful for developing creativity and offer a heirachal representation of information. They use both the left and right brain, allow for greater knowledge retention than note taking, and are useful when attempting to solve complex problems. I found it quite time consuming producing my mind map this morning and definitely find it easier to write an essay, but I enjoyed the challenge and understand that with a bit more practice mind mapping will come naturally and will be an effective tool to use. Many people use it within business meetings, when studying, or when brainstorming ideas. I have uploaded a copy of my mind map to twitter at www.twitter.com/niycpidge
I have been doing a lot of studying recently, and was in London again at the weekend for my masters degree. We looked at the topics of mindfulness, neurochemistry, and biological psychology, all of which were interesting and offered some new information. The biological psychology lecture coincided with some reading I have been doing into the effects of stress, and how it can be reduced.
Cortisol, which is the body's stress hormone, is produced by the adrenal gland, and is vital for dealing with stressful situations and producing the 'fight or flight' response. Cortisol tends to be highest in the mornings, tapering off towards the end of the day. However, when stress is experienced, cortisol levels are higher throughout the day, and can result in physiological changes such as digestive issues, lowered immune system, and increase fat storage around the midriff. Light physical activity has been known to help relieve stress and reduce cortisol levels, although with higher intensity training cortisol production is actually increased to help regulate blood sugars (with good nutrition this should not have negative impact). Governments are now looking at programmes to reduce stress in the workplace as a high proportion of absences are stress related. Current research suggests that reducing caffeine, getting good quality sleep, and experiencing more positive emotions can impact favourably upon stress levels. This is an area within which I am beginning to develop training and coaching which looks at what can be done to reduce stress and promote positive emotion in individuals and also within the workplace. Get in touch if this is of interest to you!
Newcastle parkrunners have suprised me recently......even with the days getting darker and colder, we have had a few record attendances, with our top turnout being 152 runners. Well done everyone! Im really pleased with the way Newcastle parkrun is growing and reaching a wide variety of people and im sure numbers will continue to increase. We will be continuing parkrun as normal over the festive period, and there will indeed be a Newcastle parkrun at 9am on Christmas Day, and also New Years Day (whether everybody will be sober or not is another matter!). We will be hosting a Christmas Brunch on Saturday 18th December, immediately after the run, in the Cafe in the park, where all runners and volunteers are encouraged to bring along a sweet or a savoury item to add to the table. Similarly we will be hosting a 1 year anniversary event on Saturday 15th January, again immediately after the run and in the cafe in the park, where Sweatshop, Lucozade, and Nike will be present to help us celebrate! Please do come along to both of these events and join in the community spirit of Newcastle parkrun, whether you have participated in a run yet or not.
I will be making up a shoe box this year for Operation Christmas Child, to send out to St Lucia which has just been hit by a hurricane. One of the girls at work has family in the area that has been hit and her Dad's house is one of only two left standing. If anyone would like to contribute a shoe box full of things for a child at christmas then give me a shout (via facebook, twitter etc) and I can organise getting it sent for you. Have a look at http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/ for more information and ideas on what to pack in your shoebox.
Thanks,
Niyc xx
I have been doing a lot of studying recently, and was in London again at the weekend for my masters degree. We looked at the topics of mindfulness, neurochemistry, and biological psychology, all of which were interesting and offered some new information. The biological psychology lecture coincided with some reading I have been doing into the effects of stress, and how it can be reduced.
Cortisol, which is the body's stress hormone, is produced by the adrenal gland, and is vital for dealing with stressful situations and producing the 'fight or flight' response. Cortisol tends to be highest in the mornings, tapering off towards the end of the day. However, when stress is experienced, cortisol levels are higher throughout the day, and can result in physiological changes such as digestive issues, lowered immune system, and increase fat storage around the midriff. Light physical activity has been known to help relieve stress and reduce cortisol levels, although with higher intensity training cortisol production is actually increased to help regulate blood sugars (with good nutrition this should not have negative impact). Governments are now looking at programmes to reduce stress in the workplace as a high proportion of absences are stress related. Current research suggests that reducing caffeine, getting good quality sleep, and experiencing more positive emotions can impact favourably upon stress levels. This is an area within which I am beginning to develop training and coaching which looks at what can be done to reduce stress and promote positive emotion in individuals and also within the workplace. Get in touch if this is of interest to you!
Newcastle parkrunners have suprised me recently......even with the days getting darker and colder, we have had a few record attendances, with our top turnout being 152 runners. Well done everyone! Im really pleased with the way Newcastle parkrun is growing and reaching a wide variety of people and im sure numbers will continue to increase. We will be continuing parkrun as normal over the festive period, and there will indeed be a Newcastle parkrun at 9am on Christmas Day, and also New Years Day (whether everybody will be sober or not is another matter!). We will be hosting a Christmas Brunch on Saturday 18th December, immediately after the run, in the Cafe in the park, where all runners and volunteers are encouraged to bring along a sweet or a savoury item to add to the table. Similarly we will be hosting a 1 year anniversary event on Saturday 15th January, again immediately after the run and in the cafe in the park, where Sweatshop, Lucozade, and Nike will be present to help us celebrate! Please do come along to both of these events and join in the community spirit of Newcastle parkrun, whether you have participated in a run yet or not.
I will be making up a shoe box this year for Operation Christmas Child, to send out to St Lucia which has just been hit by a hurricane. One of the girls at work has family in the area that has been hit and her Dad's house is one of only two left standing. If anyone would like to contribute a shoe box full of things for a child at christmas then give me a shout (via facebook, twitter etc) and I can organise getting it sent for you. Have a look at http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/ for more information and ideas on what to pack in your shoebox.
Thanks,
Niyc xx
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Positive Psychology
I was in London at the weekend again for the second weekend of my masters degree course. I study at the University of East London which is based in Stratford, the home of the 2012 Olympics. The course is really interesting so far and its nice to catch up with friends in London when im there.
Positive Psychology is a relatively new branch of Psychology, which has been around for the last 10 years or so. It is the scientific study of what allows people and communities to thrive. In the past Psychology has been centred around mental illness and why things go wrong, whereas Positive Psychology focusses instead on well-being and optimal human functioning.
I have been reading some really interesting books recently, one that is worth mentioning is Dan Gilbert's 'Stumbling upon Happiness', which sounds suspiciously like a self help book, but actually takes a more theoretical and philospohical approach to the idea of happiness, and looks at why it is that people always think that doing certain things will make them happy. It's a really funny and well written book and definitely worth a read! Taking a quote from the book........'If on a particularly slow Tuesday you feel compelled to dissect your own eyeball', I suggest you decide against it and read this book instead. http://www.randomhouse.com/kvpa/gilbert/
The area of research that I am most interested in is how exercise can impact positively on well-being. Throughout my academic and practical career I have witnessed the positive impact that exercise can have, and my experience, as well as scientific research, shows that participation in physical activity can build self esteem, reduce stress levels, and increase happiness. My undergraduate dissertation looked at the impact of practising feelings of gratitude on athlete well-being, and I am hoping to write my postgraduate dissertation on how a weekly community run (namely parkrun) can promote flourishing. This project idea is very much just an idea at the minute though!
Last weekend we had yet another record turn out at Newcastle parkrun, with 143 runners turning up at 9am to run the 5km course around the Town Moor. It's really great to see continued growth in numbers, and to know that so many runners are enjoying it. Last weeks results can be seen at http://www.parkrun.org.uk/newcastle/Results/LatestResults.aspx and as you can see the field ranges from those competitive (and very fast) runners that complete the course in 16-17 minutes, to those who jog and walk the route in around 45 minutes. Newcastle parkrun is on every Saturday at 9am and I suggest you give it a go, not only to improve your fitness, but also to make yourself feel good.....its a great start to the weekend, and is completely free. If you don't fancy running then why not come along and help as a volunteer? Just email me at newcastledirector@parkrun.com to get involved. We have a mobile coffee van at the finish line so runners and volunteers can enjoy a drink and have a chat too.
I have been doing some early morning training this week, getting up at 5am and doing half an hour of running and cycling. I love being up so early, although it makes you feel a little mad when you leave the house and there are still stars in the sky! Early morning cardio is great for fat burning, especially if you train on an empty stomach. I really think it sets you up for the day too and energises you.
Hope that you are all good!
Niyc xx
Positive Psychology is a relatively new branch of Psychology, which has been around for the last 10 years or so. It is the scientific study of what allows people and communities to thrive. In the past Psychology has been centred around mental illness and why things go wrong, whereas Positive Psychology focusses instead on well-being and optimal human functioning.
I have been reading some really interesting books recently, one that is worth mentioning is Dan Gilbert's 'Stumbling upon Happiness', which sounds suspiciously like a self help book, but actually takes a more theoretical and philospohical approach to the idea of happiness, and looks at why it is that people always think that doing certain things will make them happy. It's a really funny and well written book and definitely worth a read! Taking a quote from the book........'If on a particularly slow Tuesday you feel compelled to dissect your own eyeball', I suggest you decide against it and read this book instead. http://www.randomhouse.com/kvpa/gilbert/
The area of research that I am most interested in is how exercise can impact positively on well-being. Throughout my academic and practical career I have witnessed the positive impact that exercise can have, and my experience, as well as scientific research, shows that participation in physical activity can build self esteem, reduce stress levels, and increase happiness. My undergraduate dissertation looked at the impact of practising feelings of gratitude on athlete well-being, and I am hoping to write my postgraduate dissertation on how a weekly community run (namely parkrun) can promote flourishing. This project idea is very much just an idea at the minute though!
Last weekend we had yet another record turn out at Newcastle parkrun, with 143 runners turning up at 9am to run the 5km course around the Town Moor. It's really great to see continued growth in numbers, and to know that so many runners are enjoying it. Last weeks results can be seen at http://www.parkrun.org.uk/newcastle/Results/LatestResults.aspx and as you can see the field ranges from those competitive (and very fast) runners that complete the course in 16-17 minutes, to those who jog and walk the route in around 45 minutes. Newcastle parkrun is on every Saturday at 9am and I suggest you give it a go, not only to improve your fitness, but also to make yourself feel good.....its a great start to the weekend, and is completely free. If you don't fancy running then why not come along and help as a volunteer? Just email me at newcastledirector@parkrun.com to get involved. We have a mobile coffee van at the finish line so runners and volunteers can enjoy a drink and have a chat too.
I have been doing some early morning training this week, getting up at 5am and doing half an hour of running and cycling. I love being up so early, although it makes you feel a little mad when you leave the house and there are still stars in the sky! Early morning cardio is great for fat burning, especially if you train on an empty stomach. I really think it sets you up for the day too and energises you.
Hope that you are all good!
Niyc xx
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Masters and a marathon!
Well I have definitely been busy recently! I started my Masters degree a few weeks ago, studying Applied Positive Psychology at the University of East London London
We had another record attendance at Newcastle Newcastle
I took on two long distance sports events this summer to raise money for The Princes Trust charity. The Princes Trust helps disadvantaged young people into education and work, and the money I raised goes towards funding the work of the charity in the North East. I met a guy on Sunday who had been helped into work by The Princes Trust, and he credited the charity with effectively saving his life. He has a job at Marks and Spencer now and has career opportunities ahead of him. He actually shook my hand and thanked me for raising money for the charity, which really moved me. It’s not often that you get to meet somebody that the charity you support has directly impacted upon, and it makes the hard work and effort even more worthwhile to know that the money being raised is helping people locally.
I said after I had finished the Great North Bike Ride and Great North Run this year that I wouldn’t be competing in any major events next year and was intending on exercising for fun instead. That lasted around 3 weeks and I have since signed up for The Edinburgh Marathon(!) which is in May 2011. A marathon is 26.2 miles, and a totally different ball game from a half marathon. I have been sent a 4 month training plan from Dave Daniels who is a volunteer and runner at Newcastle
Thanks,
Niyc xx
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Race report
So last weekend was the 30th annual Great North Run. To be honest I was feeling really rubbish the week before the run and had been advised by many not to to it, but that was never going to happen so I ran anyway and really enjoyed it! I worked at the Great North Pasta Party the day before the race and got plenty of provisions in the form of waters and power gels, which definitely came in handy.
On the morning of the run, I had toast and a banana for breakfast around 2 hours before the race start time. Leaving this 2 hour window allows for any food to be fully digested before the start of the run, and provides the body with vital carbohydrates to be used as energy. I walked to the start line and managed to climb over the 6 foot fence (!) to my start area, where I luckily bumped into my friend Taryn in amongst the other 55000 runners. The Great North Run has such a good atmosphere and you are filled with adrenalin and excitement both before and during the race.
I started out well, and kept a good pace for the first 55 minutes, when I reached the 10km (6 mile) marker. I didnt even realise how long I had been running for as the atmosphere and all of the runners really carry you along and keep you focussed. Its great seeing all the supporters as you run under central motorway and across the Tyne Bridge. After 6 miles I settled into a steady run, and was pretty happy with managing to run up all of the hills without walking at all. The weather was cool and pretty wet, my favourite conditions for running! When I got to 9 miles I focussed on running to the 10 mile marker, where I knew a few of the Newcastle parkrun volunteers and runners would be waiting to cheer runners on at the Fetch everywhere point. As I ran past Lesley and Sue and the others I got a great sense of achievement and a rush of motivation to carry on. It really is brilliant seeing all of the supporters at the side of the road, standing in the rain, offering drinks, ice pops, jelly babies, and baby wipes to runners, and it definitely spurs you on.
With only 3 miles to go I was set to finish in under 2 hours, although I was beginning to find the hills more difficult, and was walking to the top of a few of them. Running mantras can often be useful in maintaining motivation during long distance running, and I often found myself repeating, 'I'm up that hill', to myself in my head while running up the more difficult areas of the course. The 11th mile was really diffcult, but when I got to the final mile I knew the finish was so near and so I pushed on to the finish line. My legs felt really heavy on the way to the finish line but I kept going and finished with a time of 2 hours 11 minutes. Im really pleased with this and had a really good run considering I was feeling unwell beforehand! It just shows what your body is capable of if your mind is determined enough.
After the run it was nice to relax and have a few days off training to recover. I doubt I could have done much training given that my legs were so sore! Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) often affects athletes after a big event where the muscles have been used intensely, and can occur a few days after the event itself. Ice and ibuprofen can help, although its almost nice to have a little bit of aching to remind yourself how hard you have worked and how much you have achieved.
Im really pleased with my run, and happy to have raised over £500 for The Princes Trust. I think the next challenge will be the 2011 Edinburgh Marathon, so watch this space!
Well done to all that completed the 30th Great North Run, a half marathon really is a great achievement!
Niyc xx
On the morning of the run, I had toast and a banana for breakfast around 2 hours before the race start time. Leaving this 2 hour window allows for any food to be fully digested before the start of the run, and provides the body with vital carbohydrates to be used as energy. I walked to the start line and managed to climb over the 6 foot fence (!) to my start area, where I luckily bumped into my friend Taryn in amongst the other 55000 runners. The Great North Run has such a good atmosphere and you are filled with adrenalin and excitement both before and during the race.
I started out well, and kept a good pace for the first 55 minutes, when I reached the 10km (6 mile) marker. I didnt even realise how long I had been running for as the atmosphere and all of the runners really carry you along and keep you focussed. Its great seeing all the supporters as you run under central motorway and across the Tyne Bridge. After 6 miles I settled into a steady run, and was pretty happy with managing to run up all of the hills without walking at all. The weather was cool and pretty wet, my favourite conditions for running! When I got to 9 miles I focussed on running to the 10 mile marker, where I knew a few of the Newcastle parkrun volunteers and runners would be waiting to cheer runners on at the Fetch everywhere point. As I ran past Lesley and Sue and the others I got a great sense of achievement and a rush of motivation to carry on. It really is brilliant seeing all of the supporters at the side of the road, standing in the rain, offering drinks, ice pops, jelly babies, and baby wipes to runners, and it definitely spurs you on.
With only 3 miles to go I was set to finish in under 2 hours, although I was beginning to find the hills more difficult, and was walking to the top of a few of them. Running mantras can often be useful in maintaining motivation during long distance running, and I often found myself repeating, 'I'm up that hill', to myself in my head while running up the more difficult areas of the course. The 11th mile was really diffcult, but when I got to the final mile I knew the finish was so near and so I pushed on to the finish line. My legs felt really heavy on the way to the finish line but I kept going and finished with a time of 2 hours 11 minutes. Im really pleased with this and had a really good run considering I was feeling unwell beforehand! It just shows what your body is capable of if your mind is determined enough.
After the run it was nice to relax and have a few days off training to recover. I doubt I could have done much training given that my legs were so sore! Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) often affects athletes after a big event where the muscles have been used intensely, and can occur a few days after the event itself. Ice and ibuprofen can help, although its almost nice to have a little bit of aching to remind yourself how hard you have worked and how much you have achieved.
Im really pleased with my run, and happy to have raised over £500 for The Princes Trust. I think the next challenge will be the 2011 Edinburgh Marathon, so watch this space!
Well done to all that completed the 30th Great North Run, a half marathon really is a great achievement!
Niyc xx
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Target fundraising amount reached! THANK YOU!
I havent updated my blog for a while as I have been working away at Bestival on the Isle of Wight. I have been working at a few of the festivals over the summer (alongside my full time gym work) to help me save up the £6000+ for my masters degree which starts next week. I am nowhere near being able to afford it yet, but hopefully will get there! The weekend was fun, but the 18 hour shifts and almost total lack of sleep have hit me hard. Sleep and rest is one of the key elements of the week prior to completing a long distance event, and you need both to help your body store enough energy and carbohydrates to facilitate your exercise on race day. I have kept exercise to a bare minimum this week and will not be running until the run itself.
There are 3 days to go until the Great North Run and I have just hit my target fundraising amount of £500! Im really pleased with this and very grateful to all those that have sponsored me. Thanks to the following for helping me reach my target:
Dad, Luke, Sam, Kimbo, Neal, Ian Johnson, Graham Keddy, Sarah Garnett, Alan Findlay (Pin Point Recruitment), Alan Fidler, Sarah Caine, Kevin Lister, Jan Campbell, Lee Dixon, Jacqui Patterson, Stefanie Pendleton, Sara Hepburn, Darren Biggs, Martin Wardle, Sarah, Rach Maxwell, Sunny, Gaff, Dani, Mark and Davina, Rob O'Neill, Aunty Elaine, Tove, Hannah Bayman, Bex and Matt and Finn, Ian and Sue, Tony Liu, Tony Winder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, Becca, Sara Wilson, Jane and Phil, and finally, Ricky Knight (Pickled Egg Events).
Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!
Hopefully I will be able to continue past my target amount now and continue raising money this week. If you would like to sponsor me please visit www.justgiving.com/niycpidge and show your support.
Thanks,
Niyc xx
There are 3 days to go until the Great North Run and I have just hit my target fundraising amount of £500! Im really pleased with this and very grateful to all those that have sponsored me. Thanks to the following for helping me reach my target:
Dad, Luke, Sam, Kimbo, Neal, Ian Johnson, Graham Keddy, Sarah Garnett, Alan Findlay (Pin Point Recruitment), Alan Fidler, Sarah Caine, Kevin Lister, Jan Campbell, Lee Dixon, Jacqui Patterson, Stefanie Pendleton, Sara Hepburn, Darren Biggs, Martin Wardle, Sarah, Rach Maxwell, Sunny, Gaff, Dani, Mark and Davina, Rob O'Neill, Aunty Elaine, Tove, Hannah Bayman, Bex and Matt and Finn, Ian and Sue, Tony Liu, Tony Winder, Paul Sinton-Hewitt, Becca, Sara Wilson, Jane and Phil, and finally, Ricky Knight (Pickled Egg Events).
Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated. THANK YOU!
Hopefully I will be able to continue past my target amount now and continue raising money this week. If you would like to sponsor me please visit www.justgiving.com/niycpidge and show your support.
Thanks,
Niyc xx
Thursday, 2 September 2010
Cross training
I used yesterday as my cross training day, and did a 1hr 15min bike ride, which worked out at around 12 miles, with lots of hills. I also did 3 miles on the bike this morning, and will be doing a run this afternoon; probably intervals for 10 minutes, followed by 6 miles steady which will take around an hour in total.
The reason I am incorporating a day of cross training (ie. training other than running, commonly cycling or weights) into my Great North Run training is because running can be very high impact, and places a lot of stress on the joints in the legs. By cycling or doing some other low impact exercise for one session a week, the risk of injury is reduced whilst allowing for an aerobic workout to still take place. Runners often favour using a cross training session because it improves the heart muscle and also blood volume when carried out at high intensity, and can subsquently improve running performance as a result. Training is sport specific though and so the majority of any event training should be specific to the discipline, distance, and pace of the event you are training for.
Alongside physical training it is also important to prepare yourself mentally for the challenge that you have signed up for. Especially at an elite level, mental skills are what sets winners apart from the competition, and psychology can play an important part in achieving goals within your sport, whether it be seriously competitive, or just for fun. I am currently working with model Monica Harris to develop her mental skills in the run up to the Models Fight Night that she has organised. Monica and the other girls have been in training all year and will be fighting on Thursday 23rd September, to raise money to send children that have been abused on the holiday of a lifetime. Find out more at http://www.modelsfightnight.co.uk/ and read Monica's blog at http://www.monicaharris1.blogspot.com/
The main mental skills that are to be controlled and optimised within sport are anxiety, confidence, concentration, mental preparation, team emphasis, and motivation. Elite athletes will tend to possess lower levels of anxiety, greater levels of confidence and a greater ability to focus and concentrate on the task at hand. They will tend to be be more mentally prepared and will be highly motivated, with a sense of sportsmanship and team playing exhibited alongside a drive to achieve individually. It is important to develop mental skills alongside physical skills in order to give yourself the best foundation to perform well.
Where running is concerned, and in particular when training for a long distance event such as The Great North Run, motivation is key to getting out there and putting in the miles. It can be all too easy to put off a training run 'until tomorrow', or to stop after a few miles because you cant be bothered, or dont really fancy it today. Motivation is what will help to get you running and stay running, and it can be improved very easily, using simple techniques that help get you 'in the zone' through increasing what is known as intrinsic motivation; the desire to achieve for inner accomplishment, rather than external rewards.
Simple things that you can do to improve motivation to run include setting yourself manageable goals. These can be broken down into long-term, mid-term, and short-term goals, and then even into micro goals, where you first challenge yourself to get out of the house, then get running, then complete a mile, then complete your full training run etc. Planning routes that are scenic and offer a lot to look at while you run also helps to motivate, as does running with a partner or other people.
Get along to Newcastle parkrun and get involved with the great atmosphere and ability to track your progress over time www.parkrun.org.uk/newcastle Have a look at BBC Look North's feature on Newcastle at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-parkrun/192057907103?v=app_2392950137&ref=ts
If you would like to sponsor me for the Great North Bike Ride which I completed in a time of 4 hours 25 minutes, and the Great North Run, which is on Sunday 19th September, please visit www.justgiving.com/niycpidge I still need over £200 to reach my target so please do donate.
Thanks
Niyc xx
The reason I am incorporating a day of cross training (ie. training other than running, commonly cycling or weights) into my Great North Run training is because running can be very high impact, and places a lot of stress on the joints in the legs. By cycling or doing some other low impact exercise for one session a week, the risk of injury is reduced whilst allowing for an aerobic workout to still take place. Runners often favour using a cross training session because it improves the heart muscle and also blood volume when carried out at high intensity, and can subsquently improve running performance as a result. Training is sport specific though and so the majority of any event training should be specific to the discipline, distance, and pace of the event you are training for.
Alongside physical training it is also important to prepare yourself mentally for the challenge that you have signed up for. Especially at an elite level, mental skills are what sets winners apart from the competition, and psychology can play an important part in achieving goals within your sport, whether it be seriously competitive, or just for fun. I am currently working with model Monica Harris to develop her mental skills in the run up to the Models Fight Night that she has organised. Monica and the other girls have been in training all year and will be fighting on Thursday 23rd September, to raise money to send children that have been abused on the holiday of a lifetime. Find out more at http://www.modelsfightnight.co.uk/ and read Monica's blog at http://www.monicaharris1.blogspot.com/
The main mental skills that are to be controlled and optimised within sport are anxiety, confidence, concentration, mental preparation, team emphasis, and motivation. Elite athletes will tend to possess lower levels of anxiety, greater levels of confidence and a greater ability to focus and concentrate on the task at hand. They will tend to be be more mentally prepared and will be highly motivated, with a sense of sportsmanship and team playing exhibited alongside a drive to achieve individually. It is important to develop mental skills alongside physical skills in order to give yourself the best foundation to perform well.
Where running is concerned, and in particular when training for a long distance event such as The Great North Run, motivation is key to getting out there and putting in the miles. It can be all too easy to put off a training run 'until tomorrow', or to stop after a few miles because you cant be bothered, or dont really fancy it today. Motivation is what will help to get you running and stay running, and it can be improved very easily, using simple techniques that help get you 'in the zone' through increasing what is known as intrinsic motivation; the desire to achieve for inner accomplishment, rather than external rewards.
Simple things that you can do to improve motivation to run include setting yourself manageable goals. These can be broken down into long-term, mid-term, and short-term goals, and then even into micro goals, where you first challenge yourself to get out of the house, then get running, then complete a mile, then complete your full training run etc. Planning routes that are scenic and offer a lot to look at while you run also helps to motivate, as does running with a partner or other people.
Get along to Newcastle parkrun and get involved with the great atmosphere and ability to track your progress over time www.parkrun.org.uk/newcastle Have a look at BBC Look North's feature on Newcastle at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Newcastle-parkrun/192057907103?v=app_2392950137&ref=ts
If you would like to sponsor me for the Great North Bike Ride which I completed in a time of 4 hours 25 minutes, and the Great North Run, which is on Sunday 19th September, please visit www.justgiving.com/niycpidge I still need over £200 to reach my target so please do donate.
Thanks
Niyc xx
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Great North Bike Ride!!
Sunday was the 10th anniversary of, and my first time competing in, The Great North Bike Ride. The morning started with a lot of stress trying to fit the bikes into the car and make it to the pick up point for 7am. We didnt incidentaly make it, although luckily the buses and bike lorries were still at Tynemouth loading up when we got there at ten past. We had taken the front wheel off Taryn's bike to fit it into the car and so she had to run to the lorries with bike in one hand and wheel in the other! I had her brake pads and other essential pieces in my pocket and luckily there was someone with a tool kit and the know how to put it all back together before we loaded it onto the lorry. Thanks to that man whoever you are!
We got up to Seahouses for 9:20am and started the ride around 9:30am in sunny weather, with a lot of wind! The first 15 miles or so were difficult, with the wind blowing sideways as I tried to pedal forwards.....I think i was wobbling around and zig-zagging for a lot of the way! I stopped at Warkworth to refuel with a banana and lucozade powder, and half wished I could join those riding for fun that had stopped for lunch in the pub! By this time Taryn had lost me, and I jumped back on the bike to finish the rest of the ride. The second half of the ride was easier, as I began to recognise where I was riding through. I've never been as happy to see Ashington and Blyth in my life!
The last 10 miles were really fun as I picked up the pace and headed for the finish, back at Tynemouth where we had started. The ride had been difficult: my back and shoulders were really hurting, and at points my hands were so numb that I couldnt change the gears: but it didnt seem like I had been riding for over 4 hours as I must have been really focussed and full of adrenalin. I completed the ride in a time of 4 hours 25 minutes which I'm happy with as I have never cycled or exercised for this length of time or distance before. Taryn was waiting for me at the finish, where I went to pick up my race tshirt and medal before heading home.
I'm really pleased with having completed the Great North Bike Ride and would definitely recommend it to anyone considering entering either as competitive event, or just as a fun bike ride to do in a group without riding for a time. Thanks to Lynn Lucas and all of the guys who helped to organise and manage the event, it all ran really smoothly and gave me, and I'm sure all of the other riders too, a great sense of achievement.
I managed to come away without any cuts or bruises, and although my back was aching for the rest of the day and I was pretty tired, I didnt have any muscle soreness or stiffness which I'm pretty impressed with. I had a day off training yesterday and am straight back into it today, as have my second event, The Great North Run, in less than 3 weeks. I ran 3 miles to work this morning with a heavy rucksack, in a time of 24 minutes, and will be doing an hour class at The Barre later tonight.
I really need to get my mileage up this week for the run and will be looking to incorporate a hill run, intervals session, and cross training session into this week, along with a long run at race pace on sunday.
Thanks to those of you that have sponsored me so far. Specifically my dad, Kimbo, Neal, Ian Johnson, Graham Keddy, Sarah Garnett, Alan Findlay from Pin Point recruitment, Alan Fidler, Sarah Caine, Kevin Lister, Jan Campbell, Jacqui Patterson, Stef Pendleton, Martin Wardle, Sarah, Sam, Rach Maxwell, Gaff, Sunny, Dani, Mark & Davina, Rob O'Neill, Aunty Elaine, Tove, Az, and Peter Conroy. THANK YOU!
I have passed the half way mark for my fundraising and have 2 weeks and 5 days to raise the rest (and more if possible). Please sponsor me at www.justgiving.com/niycpidge
Thanks
Niyc xx
We got up to Seahouses for 9:20am and started the ride around 9:30am in sunny weather, with a lot of wind! The first 15 miles or so were difficult, with the wind blowing sideways as I tried to pedal forwards.....I think i was wobbling around and zig-zagging for a lot of the way! I stopped at Warkworth to refuel with a banana and lucozade powder, and half wished I could join those riding for fun that had stopped for lunch in the pub! By this time Taryn had lost me, and I jumped back on the bike to finish the rest of the ride. The second half of the ride was easier, as I began to recognise where I was riding through. I've never been as happy to see Ashington and Blyth in my life!
The last 10 miles were really fun as I picked up the pace and headed for the finish, back at Tynemouth where we had started. The ride had been difficult: my back and shoulders were really hurting, and at points my hands were so numb that I couldnt change the gears: but it didnt seem like I had been riding for over 4 hours as I must have been really focussed and full of adrenalin. I completed the ride in a time of 4 hours 25 minutes which I'm happy with as I have never cycled or exercised for this length of time or distance before. Taryn was waiting for me at the finish, where I went to pick up my race tshirt and medal before heading home.
I'm really pleased with having completed the Great North Bike Ride and would definitely recommend it to anyone considering entering either as competitive event, or just as a fun bike ride to do in a group without riding for a time. Thanks to Lynn Lucas and all of the guys who helped to organise and manage the event, it all ran really smoothly and gave me, and I'm sure all of the other riders too, a great sense of achievement.
I managed to come away without any cuts or bruises, and although my back was aching for the rest of the day and I was pretty tired, I didnt have any muscle soreness or stiffness which I'm pretty impressed with. I had a day off training yesterday and am straight back into it today, as have my second event, The Great North Run, in less than 3 weeks. I ran 3 miles to work this morning with a heavy rucksack, in a time of 24 minutes, and will be doing an hour class at The Barre later tonight.
I really need to get my mileage up this week for the run and will be looking to incorporate a hill run, intervals session, and cross training session into this week, along with a long run at race pace on sunday.
Thanks to those of you that have sponsored me so far. Specifically my dad, Kimbo, Neal, Ian Johnson, Graham Keddy, Sarah Garnett, Alan Findlay from Pin Point recruitment, Alan Fidler, Sarah Caine, Kevin Lister, Jan Campbell, Jacqui Patterson, Stef Pendleton, Martin Wardle, Sarah, Sam, Rach Maxwell, Gaff, Sunny, Dani, Mark & Davina, Rob O'Neill, Aunty Elaine, Tove, Az, and Peter Conroy. THANK YOU!
I have passed the half way mark for my fundraising and have 2 weeks and 5 days to raise the rest (and more if possible). Please sponsor me at www.justgiving.com/niycpidge
Thanks
Niyc xx
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Exercise, nutrition, psychology.
Yesterday I cycled the 17 mile round trip to see Adam at KB Cycles to get the bike I'm now using for the Great North Bike Ride adjusted and serviced. The gears and chain were oiled, the brakes tightened, and the seat moved forward to make it more comfortable to ride, and I can notice the difference already. I would definitely recommend KB Cycles for any bike related purchases, advice, or servicing http://www.kbcycles.co.uk/ The 17 mile ride took me 1 hour 30 minutes and was a really nice route which runs along the riverside for a lot of the way.
Whilst I have done a lot of miles this week on the bike, my running has been left behind a bit. It's quite difficult trying to train for two different endurance events at once, especially since cycling shortens the hamstring muscles and actually makes it more difficult to run. I did a short 20 minute run this morning, and will do at least another 30 minute jog later today, with some fast intervals beforehand to improve my fitness level. Intervals are a really good way to increase fitness quickly, and I usually incorporate these into my workout for one session a week. Even though my two events are long distance (I will be on the bike for 4-5 hours, and running for just under 2 hours), not all of my training is long distance. By doing interval sessions, which involve incorporating bouts of sprinting with short recovery jogs in between, the anaerobic threshold is pushed upwards, which means that in general you can then exercise more comfortably for longer, without feeling out of breath.
I usually like to have a breakfast of oats, with an activia yoghurt, and fruit such as blueberries and strawberries. The oats are a good source of carbohydrate and fibre, and provide slow release energy so they keep you feeling full for longer. Fruit such as blueberries are a great source of antioxidants which act to neutralise harmful free radicals that can cause cell damage. Free radicals are atoms which have an odd number of electrons, formed when oxygen reacts with certain molecules, and can produce a chain reaction of damage to muscle and other tissue. Because more oxygen is used when exercising, more free radicals are produced, meaning that the exerciser is at greater risk of cell damage. To combat this, the body's antioxidant defence system works harder in athletes, and foods rich in antioxidants should also be included in the diet in larger amounts.
I find nutrition really interesting and definitely believe that what you eat impacts upon energy levels and wellbeing. A combination of physical exercise, good nutrition, and a positive psychology, definitely works to make you feel good. With only 3 days to go until the Great North Bike Ride my diet consists mostly of carbohydrate (70-80%) with at least 600g per day being advised. This, along with a few energy gels during the ride, will allow my muscles enough stored carbohydrates in the form of glycogen to get through the 54 miles with plenty of energy. If you would like to sponsor me please visit www.justgiving.co.uk/niycpidge
Thanks,
Niyc xx
Whilst I have done a lot of miles this week on the bike, my running has been left behind a bit. It's quite difficult trying to train for two different endurance events at once, especially since cycling shortens the hamstring muscles and actually makes it more difficult to run. I did a short 20 minute run this morning, and will do at least another 30 minute jog later today, with some fast intervals beforehand to improve my fitness level. Intervals are a really good way to increase fitness quickly, and I usually incorporate these into my workout for one session a week. Even though my two events are long distance (I will be on the bike for 4-5 hours, and running for just under 2 hours), not all of my training is long distance. By doing interval sessions, which involve incorporating bouts of sprinting with short recovery jogs in between, the anaerobic threshold is pushed upwards, which means that in general you can then exercise more comfortably for longer, without feeling out of breath.
I usually like to have a breakfast of oats, with an activia yoghurt, and fruit such as blueberries and strawberries. The oats are a good source of carbohydrate and fibre, and provide slow release energy so they keep you feeling full for longer. Fruit such as blueberries are a great source of antioxidants which act to neutralise harmful free radicals that can cause cell damage. Free radicals are atoms which have an odd number of electrons, formed when oxygen reacts with certain molecules, and can produce a chain reaction of damage to muscle and other tissue. Because more oxygen is used when exercising, more free radicals are produced, meaning that the exerciser is at greater risk of cell damage. To combat this, the body's antioxidant defence system works harder in athletes, and foods rich in antioxidants should also be included in the diet in larger amounts.
I find nutrition really interesting and definitely believe that what you eat impacts upon energy levels and wellbeing. A combination of physical exercise, good nutrition, and a positive psychology, definitely works to make you feel good. With only 3 days to go until the Great North Bike Ride my diet consists mostly of carbohydrate (70-80%) with at least 600g per day being advised. This, along with a few energy gels during the ride, will allow my muscles enough stored carbohydrates in the form of glycogen to get through the 54 miles with plenty of energy. If you would like to sponsor me please visit www.justgiving.co.uk/niycpidge
Thanks,
Niyc xx
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Overcoming obstacles!
Well! What a day yesterday was........with less than a week to go until the Great North Bike Ride I found out that my bike had been stolen! I had been training using the same bike for almost 6 months and had been feeling comfortable and confident when riding it for long periods of time. Now I will be doing the ride using a borrowed bike which will inevitably be more challenging and a lot less comfortable.
I headed out into the rain yesterday and did a 22 mile ride on the afore mentioned borrowed bike, managing to get myself three or four decent puncture wounds from the pedal and a few scrapes before I had even got out of the car park at work! It probably wasnt the best idea to try out a new bike for the first time in Newcastle's finest monsoon weather, but the ride on a whole was really enjoyable. My friend Taryn and I did the 22 miles in just over 2 hours, tackling a good few hills and puddles along the way. The bike was quite uncomfortable on my wrists and I'm not used to the gear ratios yet, so I will be doing a few more shorter training rides this week to get used to these things in time for Sundays 54 mile Great North Bike Ride.
This morning I did an hour class at The Barre, which is a small city studio complete with ballet barre that offers a workout design based on a combination of pilates and dance, using small, compact movements that work each area of the body in turn. The classes at The Barre are quite challenging and always fun. Natalie and the other girls that take the classes are excellent and are always on hand to correct your form if something isnt exactly right. Classes at The Barre are a brilliant fat burner and really good for strengthening and toning muscles, giving a lean dancer-esque look. I'm using them as cross training and strengthening for my events since May of this year and have found them really effective http://www.the-barre.com/
Today I also did a 6 mile bike ride which felt fairly easy after the 22 miles I did yesterday! If you would like to sponsor me for the Great North Bike Ride this Sunday, and the Great North Run on September 19th, please visit www.justgiving.com/niycpidge
Thanks
Niyc xx
I headed out into the rain yesterday and did a 22 mile ride on the afore mentioned borrowed bike, managing to get myself three or four decent puncture wounds from the pedal and a few scrapes before I had even got out of the car park at work! It probably wasnt the best idea to try out a new bike for the first time in Newcastle's finest monsoon weather, but the ride on a whole was really enjoyable. My friend Taryn and I did the 22 miles in just over 2 hours, tackling a good few hills and puddles along the way. The bike was quite uncomfortable on my wrists and I'm not used to the gear ratios yet, so I will be doing a few more shorter training rides this week to get used to these things in time for Sundays 54 mile Great North Bike Ride.
This morning I did an hour class at The Barre, which is a small city studio complete with ballet barre that offers a workout design based on a combination of pilates and dance, using small, compact movements that work each area of the body in turn. The classes at The Barre are quite challenging and always fun. Natalie and the other girls that take the classes are excellent and are always on hand to correct your form if something isnt exactly right. Classes at The Barre are a brilliant fat burner and really good for strengthening and toning muscles, giving a lean dancer-esque look. I'm using them as cross training and strengthening for my events since May of this year and have found them really effective http://www.the-barre.com/
Today I also did a 6 mile bike ride which felt fairly easy after the 22 miles I did yesterday! If you would like to sponsor me for the Great North Bike Ride this Sunday, and the Great North Run on September 19th, please visit www.justgiving.com/niycpidge
Thanks
Niyc xx
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Newcastle parkrun #32
This morning was week 32 of Newcastle parkrun and we had a record turn out of 113 parkrunners. As Event Director for Newcastle parkrun I am always up and about early on a Saturday to ensure that everything is organised and set to go for the start of the run at 9am.
Today I arrived at the park for 8:20am with all the Km signs and other parkrun kit, and made sure the volunteers were happy with their responsibilities which had been assigned earlier in the week. I did the pre-run briefing talk over the megaphone which involves thanking the volunteers and parkrun sponsors (Nike, Lucozade, Sweatshop, London Marathon), explaining the run route, and making runners aware of any hazards on the course. At 9am the runners are off and I head over to the finish area to wait for the first finishers to come across the line. parkrun is ideal for everybody and we attract a range of runners from those who are really competitive and come over the line in around 16 minutes, through the steady runners and joggers, to those runners who are just starting out and prefer to alternate walking with running for the 5km course.
Today my friend Bex came along and ran Newcastle parkrun for the very first time. She got a time of 23:12 which is really excellent, and something to be proud of. She brought along her boyfriend Matt and baby Finlay to watch and cheer her on. Its great seeing the range of people that parkrun attracts, and seeing everybody enjoy soaking up the atmosphere is really uplifting.
BBC Look North are running a feature on Newcastle parkrun during next week, and I was interviewed for it this morning. The feature will be part of a TV news mini series that looks at how to improve fitness in the build up to the Great North Run. Its excellent to be able to get some media attention for Newcastle parkrun, and hopefully the number of parkrunners will continue to increase as a result!
In terms of my fundraising for the Great North Bike Ride and Great North Run, I have received some generous sponsorship from the members of the gym I work at, for which I am very grateful. I also cycled over to The Princes Trust North East office yesterday to pick up a collection tin so any loose change that anybody has can go to a worthy cause. Whilst I am on my way to reaching my target fundraising amount, I still have a long way to go! If you would like to sponsor me, please visit www.justgiving.co.uk/niycpidge and donate online. Thank you!
Today I will be doing a 3 mile bike ride and also a 6-8 mile run and then enjoying some well earned rest!
Niyc xx
Today I arrived at the park for 8:20am with all the Km signs and other parkrun kit, and made sure the volunteers were happy with their responsibilities which had been assigned earlier in the week. I did the pre-run briefing talk over the megaphone which involves thanking the volunteers and parkrun sponsors (Nike, Lucozade, Sweatshop, London Marathon), explaining the run route, and making runners aware of any hazards on the course. At 9am the runners are off and I head over to the finish area to wait for the first finishers to come across the line. parkrun is ideal for everybody and we attract a range of runners from those who are really competitive and come over the line in around 16 minutes, through the steady runners and joggers, to those runners who are just starting out and prefer to alternate walking with running for the 5km course.
Today my friend Bex came along and ran Newcastle parkrun for the very first time. She got a time of 23:12 which is really excellent, and something to be proud of. She brought along her boyfriend Matt and baby Finlay to watch and cheer her on. Its great seeing the range of people that parkrun attracts, and seeing everybody enjoy soaking up the atmosphere is really uplifting.
BBC Look North are running a feature on Newcastle parkrun during next week, and I was interviewed for it this morning. The feature will be part of a TV news mini series that looks at how to improve fitness in the build up to the Great North Run. Its excellent to be able to get some media attention for Newcastle parkrun, and hopefully the number of parkrunners will continue to increase as a result!
In terms of my fundraising for the Great North Bike Ride and Great North Run, I have received some generous sponsorship from the members of the gym I work at, for which I am very grateful. I also cycled over to The Princes Trust North East office yesterday to pick up a collection tin so any loose change that anybody has can go to a worthy cause. Whilst I am on my way to reaching my target fundraising amount, I still have a long way to go! If you would like to sponsor me, please visit www.justgiving.co.uk/niycpidge and donate online. Thank you!
Today I will be doing a 3 mile bike ride and also a 6-8 mile run and then enjoying some well earned rest!
Niyc xx
Friday, 20 August 2010
A little bit on me........
At the minute I'm working at a gym in Newcastle, instructing and also assessing people that are training to become Fitness Instructors and Personal Trainers. I love what I do, and love being active and doing exercise every day! My background is both fitness and psychology based, and I find Sport Psychology and Positive Psychology really interesting. I aim to tie together the practical aspects of my training with the academic side of my work in order to provide a service which covers a range of aspects, from exercise and nutrition to mental skills training and new industry research on positive psychology, and also sport and exercise related topics.
I am doing two long distance sports events this year to support the work of The Princes Trust charity, who help disadvantaged young people into education and work. I am doing:
I bought my bike from KB Cycles in Newburn, in April of this year (having never been on a bike for nearly 10 years!). I have been training casually ever since, using my journey to and from work as an ideal opportunity to put in some miles. I am yet to cycle the full Great North Bike distance of 54 miles so only time will tell how I find that........
In terms of running, I again use my journey to and from work as training time (often complete with heavy backpack!), and also run for fun as well. I am Event Director for Newcastle parkrun; a free, weekly, timed, 5km run, for all ages and abilities, set up and managed entirely by volunteers. parkrun is a nationwide not-for-profit organisation that has the aim of building communities through running. Newcastle parkrun is on every Saturday at 9am in Exhibition Park, Jesmond, and runners and volunteers can register at http://www.parkrun.com/ or www.parkrun.org.uk/newcastle You can find us on facebook (search 'newcastle parkrun') and also follow us on twitter (@newcparkrun). Whilst I never get a chance to actually run at Newcastle parkrun, as I am usually there running the show instead, it is definitely an excellent tool to use when training for a long distance running event such as the Great North Run, as it allows you to see your progress over time via your automatic online run record.
I ran to work 3 miles this morning with a 5kg rucksack and am going to do a 14 mile bike ride this afternoon to ensure I am developing my fitness within both the running and cycling disciplines, in preparation for my two events in a few weeks time.
If you would like to sponsor me, please visit www.justgiving.com/niycpidge
Thanks,
Niyc xx
I am doing two long distance sports events this year to support the work of The Princes Trust charity, who help disadvantaged young people into education and work. I am doing:
- 54 mile Great North Bike Ride on Sunday 29th August
- 13.1 mile Great North Run on Sunday 19th September
I bought my bike from KB Cycles in Newburn, in April of this year (having never been on a bike for nearly 10 years!). I have been training casually ever since, using my journey to and from work as an ideal opportunity to put in some miles. I am yet to cycle the full Great North Bike distance of 54 miles so only time will tell how I find that........
In terms of running, I again use my journey to and from work as training time (often complete with heavy backpack!), and also run for fun as well. I am Event Director for Newcastle parkrun; a free, weekly, timed, 5km run, for all ages and abilities, set up and managed entirely by volunteers. parkrun is a nationwide not-for-profit organisation that has the aim of building communities through running. Newcastle parkrun is on every Saturday at 9am in Exhibition Park, Jesmond, and runners and volunteers can register at http://www.parkrun.com/ or www.parkrun.org.uk/newcastle You can find us on facebook (search 'newcastle parkrun') and also follow us on twitter (@newcparkrun). Whilst I never get a chance to actually run at Newcastle parkrun, as I am usually there running the show instead, it is definitely an excellent tool to use when training for a long distance running event such as the Great North Run, as it allows you to see your progress over time via your automatic online run record.
I ran to work 3 miles this morning with a 5kg rucksack and am going to do a 14 mile bike ride this afternoon to ensure I am developing my fitness within both the running and cycling disciplines, in preparation for my two events in a few weeks time.
If you would like to sponsor me, please visit www.justgiving.com/niycpidge
Thanks,
Niyc xx
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