by Nigel Wass | Dec 10, 2024 | Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Blogger, Lincolnshire Heritage, Lincolnshire Wolds, Lincs Connect, LincsBlogger, LincsConnect, Rambling, Restaurant
WassOnCoffee Ramblings – A Railway Ramble from Lincoln
Wassoncoffee Ramblings – A Railway Ramble.
Rambling or drinking coffee was the choice recently on Monday? Why not do both was the decision.
Myself and friend Ian left Metheringham station at 07:30 on the train to Lincoln. We met up with a fellow rambler convert James to head out via the Witham to Washingborough route on a dry morning. It certainly was an early start for James, who had been there since 06:00 as he couldn’t sleep! I don’t know if it was excitement or nerves lol.
A spirited pace took us via the river Witham and Stamp End lock via the old Titanic Building, so called as when built it was to the same dimensions as the ill fated liner. As we followed the old railway line out of Lincoln, in the footsteps of the original main line from Scotland to London until the 1890s we passed quite a few commuters heading in to Lincoln on their cycles. None looked happy to be heading to work!
On reaching the old station at Washingborough we left the level route and climbed up through the village past the hotel. The climb was our first test of the day, and it finished very near the railway tunnel near Heighington. It is a very small tunnel, and most people will not know it is there!
We then followed the Spire and Steeples route to Branston, via Branston beck which is one of the few Chalk Streams in the area. On reaching Branston we enjoyed a good coffee and bacon butty at the old Library cafe and can certainly recommend a visit.
Our route then followed the villages via Potterhanworth where we encountered our first Sqad (Lincolnshire for mud). The farm estate village of Nocton then followed, formally Smith Crisps and now Dysons (yes, the vacuum cleaner man). Most of the Strawberries you consume this time of year are grown here in massive glasshouses.
The lane to Dunston followed via paths I had not walked before so a nice bonus. We could finally see Meg (Metheringham) which was our journeys end. We felt proud of our achievement. Twelve miles walked in under four hours was a good ramble and we arrived back in Meg before the rain.
The next instalment will follow soon.
by Martin Thomas | Nov 24, 2024 | Burton Road, Christmas, Covid 19, Covid-19, Doddington Hall, Domestic Abuse, Domestic Vio;ence, Immingham, Lincoln, Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Blogger, Lincolnshire Heritage, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, Lincs Connect, LincsBlogger, LincsConnect, LincsConnectChristmas, Museum, Restaurant, Rutland, ShopLincs, Stress, WhatsOnLincs
Lincoln Christmas Market
If anything is going to epitomise the Lincoln Christmas Market it has to be Lincoln Cathedral and Lincoln Castle. Castle Square was the original home of the market and over the years the market expanded to the Lincoln Cathedral, The Lawn and surrounding areas.
The Lincoln Christmas Market saw a huge expansion over the years that it operated. In my opinion, the expansion wasn’t particularly well managed with many stalls duplicated and triplicated. The expansion saw a significant rise in visitor numbers. This resulted in the Lincoln council ‘pulling the plug’ on health and safety grounds. In my opinion this was a big mistake as it dealt a huge blow to the local economy and the kudos of Lincoln City internationally.
The market was a huge asset to the city and the wider county. Local employment, small business income and tourism have all been affected by its closure. Its Christmas atmosphere, local financial income and kudos are missed in equal measures. However, with your comments added to this blog and lots of shares around your friends we may be able to encourage a rethink. It would be fantastic to see the market return to Lincoln.
Vienna
As a result of the closure of the market we (my wife and I) decided to seek an alternative to get us into the Christmas mood. That meant taking our custom elsewhere. ‘Another trail’ around the city looking at ice sculptures, knights, imps or monsters didn’t appeal. The first trail was fun but having the same idea rolled out several times a year didn’t inspire us. As a result, our research took us to Vienna.
Vienna has much to offer. Its history, fantastic architecture and many Christmas markets caught our attention. Following some research we planned a short break (4 nights) centred around visiting as many Christmas markets as possible. We managed 7 of the 9 Christmas markets and enjoyed them all.
Lincoln Christmas Market Inspired By Vienna
The Viennese Christmas markets took us to several different areas of the city. All but one was in walking distance (30-40 minutes) from our hotel. It struck me that Lincoln could certainly learn something from the Austrian idea. One of the markets was a local art market where artists and crafters had stalls to sell their gifts. Mixed in with the craft stalls were quality food vendors selling local hot foods and drinks.
The most important point to remember is ‘no duplication’ of stalls. There may have been several stalls selling Christmas tree decorations but they each had their own hand made unique products.
The atmosphere was relaxed and unhurried with enough stalls to keep shoppers interested for several hours. With food stalls and gluvine available visitors were able to spend several hours at the market to enjoy the atmosphere. Local cafes and restaurants also benefited from the increased tourist trade too of course.
Could Lincoln have a series of markets inspired by Vienna?
Market Locations
Just to be clear, the markets in Vienna were all on every day from lunch time until 9.00pm. That’s all 9 markets trading every day from mid November until Christmas! Each market has its own location with a theme. There was some duplication of stalls over the 9 markets but generally each one was unique.
Perhaps some good locations for Lincoln markets would be around the outside of Lincoln Cathedral to encourage shopping around The Bailgate as well as the market stalls. Another at The Lawn to encourage shopping on Burton Road. The Strait, Brayford, the arboretum and South Park would be a fantastic locations to encourage more local shopping. In addition there is Hartsholme Country Park, Whisby Nature Reserve, Doddington Hall, Newark Air Museum and Boultham Park. Perhaps a ‘music themed’ market at The Cornhill? The possibilities are many and varied.
Just A Thought
I wonder how feasible it would be to take inspiration from the Austrian idea? Personally I think it would be a great tourist attraction which would have the advantage of spreading tourists out around the city. Obviously local traders would benefit in their shops just as much as the market stall holders. The knock on effect for restaurants, cafes and hoteliers would be a welcome bonus too. Perhaps ‘flat rate’ taxi fares from market to market would also help another industry.
I would love to know your thoughts. If you have any ideas perhaps you could leave a comment below.
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Merry Christmas
Whatever you do from now until Christmas, I hope you have a very jolly time.
by Martin Thomas | Oct 19, 2024 | Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Blogger, Lincs Connect, LincsBlogger, LincsConnect, Mandarin Therapies, WhatsOnLincs
Social Media Trends
Social Media Trends – Does the ever changing face of our society leads us to reassess our social media habits?
It’s been a while since I put pen to paper (or rather, fingers to keyboard) so I thought I ought to post another blog. Despite what many might think, I’m really not a social media guru. In fact, my background is in health and fitness.
Like many others I’ve found social media to be an incredibly useful tool for connecting, advertising and marketing. As a result I’ve become reliant on the platforms to aid my business.
Social Media Trends – Our Favourite Platforms
Until recently my preferred platform was Twitter. However, since it has been under the control of its new owner there has been a marked change in the platform. Gone is the ‘fun’. It seems to have been replaced by toxicity and selfishness. It wasn’t too long ago that people (small and large businesses, charities and organisations as well as the general public) used to share experiences and support each other. That has changed now! Many larger companies employ other companies to look after their social media. As a result, the ‘personality’ has been removed from those companies and friendships have been cast aside in favour of ‘posting content’ to get views.
Smaller businesses and charities have followed suite and much of the camaraderie has been lost. Where ‘share and share alike’ used to be the norm, it’s now ‘post, post, post and me, me, me’. It’s sad to see. The question in my mind is ‘why’? Why have so many forgotten the benefits of working closer together and looking after each other that we learned during Covid?
Social Media Trends – Which Platform?
X (Formerly Twitter)
My experience has largely been shaped by Twitter. Facebook works for many people but I personally find the platform very confusing. I have a personal page (mandatory) and three business pages. Linked to those pages is Messenger, Instagram and Threads. When I get a notification telling me that there is a post for me I spend far too long trying to find it! Some of you may have noticed that companies are now using the tag ‘@followers’ on Facebook posts which sends a notification to all followers that there is a message for them. In reality, it’s just a way of pushing an advert to you. Again, the personal touch has been removed.
X – AI capturing
For those of you who didn’t know, X is now using AI to capture and analyse your posts. The information gained is being used to sell on to third party organisations for advertising and goodness knows what else! Huge thanks to Steve (one of my X followers and friends) who highlighted this for me. If you are an X user, here is how you can help to protect yourself against this intrusion:
- Go to your ‘Settings & Privacy’
- Select ‘Privacy & Safety
- Scroll down to and select ‘Grok’
- Turn off the switch and delete previous conversations
- Go to ‘Data Sharing With Business Partners and turn the switch ‘Off’
Threads by Meta
Threads
In my quest to find a replacement for the toxicity of X I’ve been looking at Threads. Yes, it is a social media platform that is based on ‘chat’ much the same as X. However, it lacks the facilities which are provided on X. There is no facility (at the time of typing this blog) to have group chats based around hashtags. That means there can be no special ‘Hour’ for hobby or group chats. That rules out its usefulness for the #LincsConnect Hour that I run on Monday evenings.
Unfortunately there are no facilities for creating lists either. As a result, it’s not possible to organise followers into trade or location lists. That’s the backbone of #LincsConnect so Threads is a non starter for me.
The Threads App is linked to Instagram. On a positive note, anything posted on Threads can be shared on Instagram. That’s handy but…
Threads, Instagram and Facebook are all owned by Meta. I feel very uncomfortable with the idea of one company controlling all of my social media and having access to all of my information. As we know, ‘information’ is money. I have absolutely no doubt that Meta will be harvesting my information to sell on the open market!
Bluesky
Bluesky
For those of us who have been using social media for some time, we’ll recognise the platform instantly. The reason for its familiarity is because it is run by Jack, the former owner of Twitter.
I signed up to Bluesky as soon as I heard about it. Unfortunately, in its infancy, it didn’t provide the facilities that I need. However, following some undesirable changes to the X platform I decided to give it another try. I was really pleasantly surprised. The platform is now instantly recognisable as the Twitter of old. All of the facilities that I need for #LincsConnect are in place so I’m now in the process of moving all of my accounts across from X.
Bluesky Security And Privacy
Unlike X, Bluesky prefers to keep its users secure and free from misleading accounts. This used to be the best feature in the old style Twitter. All X users will know that the current ‘freedom of speech’ has been taken to the extreme so pretty much ‘anything’ is allowed on the platform.
It’s refreshing to see that Bluesky has a more robust reporting system.
Bluesky Feeds
I think I may have become a Bluesky fan!
On the left side of your bio page you’ll see some tabs to help you navigate the site. Click/tap on the ‘# Feeds‘ tab then select the subjects that interest you the most. These feeds will be shown at the top of your page so that you can quickly skip around your chosen subjects at will. It’s a brilliant idea and is certainly worth exploring. Here is an example of the feeds that I’ve selected at the moment. I’ll be adding more as I use the platform more regularly. You’ll notice that there is a search bar towards the bottom of the picture so that you can search for additional subjects that interest you.
My favourite # Feed so far is ‘Only Posts’
Conclusion
Based entirely on my own experiences and requirements my preferred platform is now Bluesky. From what I’ve experienced so far it is very much a ‘personal’ platform. So far I haven’t experienced any professional social media companies trying to turn it into a corporate platform of ‘me, me, me’ posts. I really hope that it stays that way.
If you would like to join me, just follow these links: @MandarinLeisure and @LincsConnect
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Until Next Time…
Further Reading
by Martin Thomas | Aug 20, 2024 | Around Me, Hubbards Hills, Lincs Connect, Louth, WhatsOnLincs
WhatsOnLincs – Hubbards Hills
WhatsOnLincs – Hubbards Hills in Louth, Lincolnshire is a true gem in the Lincolnshire Wolds and is a ‘must visit’ if you’re in the area.
It’s certainly not the best picture I’ve ever taken but it does show an image of the park. This is part of the poster that is situated at the entrance of Hubbards Hills at Halfpenny Lane. There are two entrances (one at Halfpenny Lane) with the second entrance via Crowtree Lane (accessible from Edward Street). This map gives a location for finding the hills but more importantly (for the purpose of this blog) it gives a key to the facilities provided.
Car Parking
There is a pay and display car park ( postcode LN11 0QW) from the Crowtree Lane entrance which is very convenient for the cafe and toilets. The Halfpenny Lane entrance (postcode LN11 9QU) has free but very limited car parking. Hubbards Hills are very popular all year round so don’t be too disappointed if you can’t get a free car parking space.
Hubbards Hills By Bus
WhatsOnLincs – Hubbards Hills by bus: There are local bus stops at Crowtree Lane and Love Lane which give you a short but picturesque very short walk to the Hubbards Hills. I haven’t tried the bus route so I can’t comment too much on it. However, I do believe that the bus runs from the Louth bus station.
Hubbards Hills – Getting In
If you manage to park on Halfpenny Lane you’ll be level with the park paths and will be able to walk straight in. This lower level is accessible by wheelchair. If you look immediately right at this entrance you’ll see some steep steps which lead to the top of the hills. The path runs across the top of the park along the edge of the grounds of the Louth Golf Course. If you’re able to tackle the steps you’ll be rewarded with some beautiful tree top views over the park land.
Hubbards Hills Treetop View In Summer
There is no denying that the autumn colours are truly spectacular. This photo was taken as the sun went behind a cloud but is still beautiful nonetheless.
Early Autumn Hubbards Hills Treetop View
Hubbards Hills Treetop View In Summer
Early Autumn Hubbards Hills Treetop View
The path from the top of the steps is not paved and by its very nature, is riddled with tree roots. As a result you’ll need to exercise caution if you are visually impaired or unsteady on your feet.
From the top of the steps you’ll notice that there is a signpost offering additional walking routes. Remember though that this is the Lincolnshire Wolds so be prepared to have to tackle a few hills and rougher terrain.
Follow The Path
The path along the top the park runs the length of Hubbards Hills. The descent is fairly gentle and the track leads down to the single track, leading to Crowtree Lane. Turn left to make your way back into Hubbards Hills at the cafe and toilets entrance. As you turn left look for a small bridge on the right of the road. Cross this bridge and follow the path which runs parallel to the road.
If you park at the pay and display car park at Crowtree Lane entrance be aware that there is a descent from the car park to the paved path along the bottom of Hubbards Hills. It’s worth noting this small descent if you are planning on taking a wheelchair. It is accessible but you’ll need to take care.
WhatsOnLincs – Hubbards Hills At Water Level
The paved path running along the bottom of Hubbards Hills is most definitely wheelchair friendly. Grassy banks alongside are significantly steeper though. However, with that said, don’t let my words put you off. You’ll be glad you visited even if you can’t manage the steep banks, The River Lud is beautiful and well maintained (as is the rest of Hubbards Hills) by the charity trust who run the area.
During the summer Hubbards Hills is a magnet for families with young children. The river flows gently, is shallow and very clear. As a result it’s ideal for young paddlers while the family set up for a picnic. In order to get the best visual experience you’ll need to visit at least once every season.
Ideal For Paddling InThe Shallows At Hubbards Hills Summer View
In autumn it’s a lot less busy but regular visits will give you the best photo opportunities.
The Shallows At Hubbards Hills Early Autumn View
Shallows At Hubbards Hills
Hubbards Hills – Health And Safety
I’m no expert but looking at the condition of the banks, paths and bridges it appears evident to me that health and safety of visitors is a high priority for the trust as they maintain the grounds. Some of the trees have been taken down since I visited previously but the opening up of the stream area seems to have worked well.
Getting Out
this paved path (with the cafe behind you) will take you back to the Halfpenny Lane entrance and free car park. However, if you have time, do stay to enjoy this beautiful space. It’s great for children to play and explore, ideal for a picnic and a paddle but equally as pleasant to just sit, enjoy nature and contemplate.
Hubbards Hills is open all year so you can enjoy all of the seasons here. If you look at the map above you’ll see Louth town centre. Yes, it ‘is’ that close! When you’ve finished at Hubbards Hills do take some time to explore Louth too. It has a vibrant market every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Donations To Hubbards Hills
If you would like to make donations to the upkeep of Hubbards Hills please follow this link: www.hubbardshillslouth.co.uk
Until Next Time…
Further Reading In The WhatsOnLincs Library
by Dominic Thomas | Aug 18, 2024 | Lincs Connect
Lincs Angler
Hello and welcome to Lincs Angler.
My name is Dominic, I’m a multi-species angler from Lincoln, Lincolnshire.
18lb 6oz River Pike in the Dark
My angling adventure started sometime during 2007 when my grandad took me on my first ever fishing trip to a small lake/pond in Northamptonshire where I learnt the basics of wagler fishing.
Since then, my obsession with all things angling has propelled me into many different aspects of fishing with lure fishing becoming my speciality.
Since the passing of a close childhood friend in September 2019 my mental health took a turn for the worst. Fishing saved me.
With a new found love for freshwater predators, I soon found myself on the bank at every opportunity I had and quickly began to hone my skills and knowledge for predator fishing.
Covid Lockdown
Unlike most people, during the Covid19 lockdown I had a great time! I was able to spend hours and hours tying rigs, organising tackle, fixing and buying new lures before the announcement was made confirming that fishing alone was now allowed and would count towards our “daily exercise”.
Being no more than five minutes walk from the river bank, you can be sure that I fished every single day and in this period I managed to land two 20lb+ pike using 20cm+ lures amongst many other mid to upper double figure pike.
The Journey Continues.
Since these beginnings I have managed to secure sponsorships and turn my angling into a business.
Much more content to come so be sure to follow my journey!
Tight Lines!
Dominic
Follow me on: Instagram @Lincs.Angler Facebook @Lincs.Angler X (Twitter) @Lincs.Angler YouTube @Lincs.Angler
Sponsors
Many thanks to my sponsors for their help and guidance:
by Dawn Thomas | Aug 9, 2024 | Events, Health And Fitness, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, WhatsOnLincoln
Dawn’s Running Journey – Running In The Rain
Dawns Running Journey. The hardest part of running in the rain is often just getting started. Back in 2018 I was struggling with my mental health and motivation.
Last night I hadn’t slept well and had been listening to the rain hammering on the windows for most of the night. The alarm had gone off, I picked up my phone, delaying getting up while I pondered the merits of staying in bed or getting up for park run. I scrolled through Twitter @RunningMrJones was tweeting and I posed the question ‘should I run or stay in bed?’ He immediately replied by DM. He told me to throw back the covers and get to park run.
It was the push I needed and the start of my running journey in the rain.
Today 168 runners and 30 volunteers came together in the rain at Boutham Park, Lincoln. Approximately 200 runners and walkers choose to stay at home or do an alternative workout.
The rain definitely quietens a normal crowded running route.
Not Running In The Rain
Why did so many runners choose not to run this morning?
Maybe it’s the thought of just getting wet, but as another runner once advised “our skins’ are waterproof and clothes will dry”. Many runners find running in the rain enjoyable with the benefits often outweighing the hassles as long as you are properly prepared. Running in the rain will also help us prepare for a rainy race day, as well as build resilience, confidence and mental toughness.
It took me some time to embrace running in the rain but I can honestly say that now it’s just another run. But, you do need to be prepared.
Dawn’s Running Journey – My Tips For Running In The Rain:
1. Choose your clothing wisely. A good water resistant jacket and a hat are a must for me. A hat with a peak helps shield my face from the raindrops and if you are a wearer of glasses this may help you to see more clearly.
2. Don’t overdress. Check the forecast and specifically the temperature. Today it was 13C so a T shirt, shorts, jacket and hat were all I needed for running.
3. If you have a choice, don’t run in your best shoes. Ideally a pair of water resistant shoes with good traction, trail shoes or old shoes. Just ensure they have a good grip.
4. Water proof socks – the jury is out on this one as my feet were still damp after this mornings run. But they may have been because I didn’t avoid the puddles (See tip number 5)
5. Consider adjusting your stride and pace, be aware of the surface you are running on. Leaves can be slippery when wet and puddles may hide uneven surfaces so avoid where possible.
6. Protect your phone by placing it in a water proof case or plastic bag.
7. Skip the headphones and be aware of your surroundings. Listen to the rain. It makes so many different sounds depending on where you are on route and how hard the rain is falling,
8. Stay present and focus on your surroundings as mindfulness during running is known to lower stress levels and promote overall mental well being.
Good Luck Sophie
Others who love running and are regulars at park run are Tom and Sophie. Today was to be Sophie’s last run for a while. Now 38 weeks pregnant she is taking some well deserved rest to prepare for the birth of her and Tom’s second child. I am sure it won’t be long before we see Tom and Sophie back at park run, running and pushing the children round in a buggy or two. From all your fellow park runners we wish you, Sophie, a happy and safe birth.
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Tom And Sophie
Smile Every Mile
Finally, let’s take a moment to thank all our volunteers who stood in the rain to support and ensure the rest of us could run this morning. A special mention has to go to the young lad who attempted to stand under an umbrella whilst holding a sign to advise that the bowls car park was not in use today. You did a sterling job young man.
Next time it rains, come and join us. Its not that bad, honestly.
Todays Smiley Run Director – Andy
Happy Running
Running Journey – The Wolds Mini Mountain Marathon (WMMM)
Dawn’s Running Journey. The Wolds Mini Mountain Marathon or WMMM for short. Just the title would be enough to put most people off. However it’s not as scary as you may think as I have now completed five of them. It is a three hour orienteering course around the picturesque Lincolnshire Wolds, a designated area of outstanding Natural beauty. The idea of the WMMM is to visit as many controls as possible within the 3 hour time limit. There are 25 controls in total worth 10, 20 or 30 points each and this year the higher scoring controls were in easy reach. I issue a word of warning here, there are penalties for being late back so if you are not careful you could end up with 0 points!
Familiar Ground – The Massingberd Arms
I have now completed five WMMM and this was the second starting from The Massingberd Arms, South Ormsby. However, this did not mean it gave me any advantage on the course. In fact the only similarities are the start and the finish. I arrived, registered and collected the SI card which is used to register my arrival at each control. Following the welcome brief and introduction the maps, rolled and sealed were distributed. A few minutes to 09.00 we got the go ahead to open the map. Now was the time I had to make a quick decision on which route I wanted to take. All too quickly it was time to start with runners and walkers going in all directions.
WMMM 2024 Map Showing Controls
The Beginning Of The WMMM
I set off across the fields toward control number 50 along with many of the other runners. I soon found that the runners had spread out along the track hurtling towards their first control. At the first control I quickly checked the map before I took a left turn towards the second control. Now fifteen minutes in and the morning mist has turned into a fine drizzle. At this point I briefly wished I had brought a jacket. I had to reminded myself my skin was waterproof. I would have been too warm in a jacket, because despite the rain it was still warm, 19C. My only regret was I hadn’t worn waterproof socks and as a consequence my feet were soaked through and squelching in my trainers.
Lincolnshire Wolds
The route took me along a mixture of footpaths, bridleways and quiet, minor roads around the rolling hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds. I really love the views across the Wolds which are stunning, even in the mist and rain.
Having decided to take a longer route to avoid running through a field of cows I later found myself tip toeing across another cow field further into the run. I really do love cows but preferable from a distance.
Two hour point. Control No 52.
The Competitor In Me
On previous runs I hadn’t seen many other runners out and about but this his run was different. I could see runners in front, behind, coming in from the left or towards me which ever route I chose. It made the event a little bit more competitive as I attempted to keep a fellow runners within my sight. I aimed to overtake the runner in front only to find they were taking a different route. In reality it actually made no difference at all as I had no idea how many controls others had actually visited or which route they had chosen.
Decision Time
I visited 9 controls and had 31 minutes left when I left the trail and came onto the road and realised the finish was just up the hill to my right. It was time to make my final decision of the run. Could I get another control worth 30 points and still get back to the start within the 3 hours? Following a quick bit of maths I made the decision to go for it and turn round if the control appeared to be out of my reach. In the end I found it to be an easy run out and back.
The Finish Of The WMMM
Back on the road I decided to push up the hill, overtaking a couple of other runners and managed to finish with 13 minutes to spare. I had visited 10 controls, earning a total of 260 points. My final position was 22nd out of 38 runners & walkers. Considering I did not train for this, I haven’t run further than 10km in the last two years and no longer orienteer, I can be forgiven ( I hope) for being a little bit pleased with myself. I forgot to start my watch at the begining, but I definitely ran just over 17 km. I use the word ‘run’ loosely as I did ‘Jeff it’ especially on the hills.
The Massingberd Arms
It would have been rude not to stop for a drink and a chat with fellow orienteer’s in the lovely Massingberd Arms. I compared routes and overall scores with them before parting to dry off and head home.
Dawn’s Running Journey. Waterproof socks are highly recommended!
Happy Running
Dawns Running Journey – Not The Beginning!
This is by no means the beginning of my running journey, but a snap shot somewhere in the middle of it.
A few weeks ago Andy, Lincolns Park Run director asked the park runners “What’s your story?” Well mine is probably similar to many others who park run or walk each week.
I have been exercising for as long as I can remember, playing squash, badminton, cycling to school and then to work everyday. Like many I joined a gym (of which I have a love/hate relationship with even to this day) lifted weights, jumped around in classes and ran up hills. I even exercised throughout pregnancy, training on Tuesday and giving birth on the Thursday. Back exercising 6 weeks later with a baby in a running jogger much like many of the parents we see running around park run today.
Dawns Running Journey – Life Gets Interrupted
Life sometimes gets in the way if you let it. Before you know it you are juggling being a taxi service, work commitment’s, being a mum and a wife. The weight piled on as the exercise lessened.
So what changed?
In 2016 I had my photo taken with my son on his prom night. In that picture I saw a square, fat and frumpy woman. That was not who I wanted to be.
Like so many others I downloaded the C25K app and went running with Jo Whiley as my virtual coach. I started Park running with the Maternity Wing Park Run Group and then when my confidence increased I joined a running group. My first run was with the legendary Jim Diamond who taught me anything was possible with the right training and mind set.
Mental Breakdown – Are You OK?
In May 2018 I had a ‘mental breakdown’ for want of a better description. Everyday life was a struggle, but running helped, as did the support from family and friends.
One overdue thank you goes to Shirley who one park run morning asked ‘Are You OK?’. I wasn’t. A phone call later and lunch in the garden proved to be a turning point in my recovery.
Shirley and I crossing the Lincoln Park Run finishing line together
Dawns Running Journey – Recovery And Achievement
In April 2019 I went on to run my first 10K in over 20 years (along with the Maternity Wing Park Run Group). I’ve run a half marathon and many 10K’s since then, finally in 2022 achieving my goal of running one in under 1 hour.
Maternity Park Run Group complete the Lincoln 10k 2019
I’m ‘relatively normal’ now, but that ultimately depends on who you speak to!
As Andy says ‘Look around you, talk to others here and form new friendships’.
You never know whose journey you have interrupted and helped onto a different and more positive path.
More Blogs By Dawn
Happy Running
