Park School Half Marathon Challenge

On the run up to my 50^th Birthday I was lacking motivation with my running and felt I needed a challenge to inspire me to keep going. So I embarked on a monthly half marathon challenge for each month of my 50^th year to raise funds for Park School.

Park School is a Blackpool Council and Young People’s Department Community Special School for boys and girls aged 4 to 16 years and is situated off Whitegate Drive, Blackpool. The children have moderate and/or complex learning difficulties with varying degrees of associated social, emotional and behavioural needs including complex learning difficulties, austic spectrum disorders, speech, language and sensory difficulties. Parks mission statement reads ‘we grow together, learn together, we will achieve our best together’. All donations greatly received.

My first one 27th February 2011 Great North West Half Marathon (02:10:59) perfect weather conditions and within walking distance from home made this the perfect start to my challenge.

27th March 2011 Liverpool Half Marathon (02:03:16) This race is so much better now that it starts and finishes in the same place, the Albert Dock. However at £27.00 to enter it’s not the cheapest half marathon and the severe congestion at the start maybe one could expect, but at the finish as well can be a bit off putting. Still it is a fabulous route around one of my favourite cities with great support along the way.

9^th April 2011 Coniston 14+ this is the one we all love to hate!! Even with the increased mileage we still succumb to this race in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. This year the hot weather made it particularly tough for me although Mike kept me entertained with his ‘antics’, (hugging and kissing) some of the supporting ladies on route! Thankfully towards the end Mike had disappeared into the distance and I was able to concentrate on getting to the finish. Ellis, (my son), likes to run the last mile in with me, (I think to encourage a sprint finish!!?) Therefore seeing him was a welcoming sight as I knew that the finish was not far off.

15^th May 2011 Shell Chester Half Marathon (02:01:09) Chester is another of my favourite places and as I was travelling on my own I managed to arrive early to park on the race course car park (later this proved to be a problem). I wasn’t alone for long when I met up with the ‘loveable couple’ and tagged along with them until the start. After the gruelling Coniston run this half marathon seemed a lot easier. The route was fairly flat, scenic and quite enjoyable. Anyway by the time I got off the car park Carmel and Mick was at home, (and enjoying a bubble bath by all accounts!!) and they only left about 5 minutes before me, it took me 2 hours to reach the main road.

June 2011 Freckleton Half. I’d travelled to Scotland the day before to a championship dog show with Luca (my Italian Spinone) were he’d won best of breed and, after popping the champagne on my return I wasn’t up to running Freckleton.

16^th July 2011. Yorkshire Wolds (Bishop Wilton) Half Marathon. (135:38) The British summer did not dampen the spirits of the 300 runners that completed the Bishop Wilton Half Marathon. A gruelling course that took the runners in and around villages in the Wolds, with some incredibly tough climbs and steep downhills (last one being Great Givendale), the difficult terrain makes this quite a tough half marathon (York Running Club).The race is part of an equestrian event and local show and I’ve completed it a couple of times. Mike came with me this year and despite the heavy rain we had a lovely day. All finishers are rewarded with a pottery mug for their efforts!!

21^st August 2011 Leek Half Marathon. (02:27:29) this is definitely one of the more challenging half marathon courses, with the majority of the route ran along quiet country lanes. Taking in Meerbrook village and then on past Titlesworth Reservoir with an ascent up to ‘the roaches’ through Upper Hulme Village. The last half mile is up hill into the park and the finish. You really have to be prepared for this one for it to be enjoyable!!

18^th September 2011 Garstang Half Marathon (02:13:52). An old favourite and not much travelling involved which I liked. It was good to see and catch up with some of the local runners. Followed by a visit to the Priory in Scorton on the way home.

16^th October 2011 Bridlington Half Marathon (02:07:27) Beautiful beaches and a stunning coast line this is a great half marathon. Starts and finishes on the promenade and takes in the villages of Sewerby, Flamborough and Bempton. Bridlington would make a nice location for a wrinkly holiday.

Hopefully Conwy is the November’s planned half, and I’d welcome ideas for Decembers half as the one’s I’ve seen are all down south? Catforth is Januarys and I need to complete a further one in place of Freckleton. Sponsorship monies have dried up of late and if you feel you could support me no matter how small your contribution please e-mail me at helen-luca@hotmail.co.uk or telephone me/text on 07760160998.

Written by Helen Jolly

Submitted: 20^th October 2011

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor