Andrea Hendy writes:
It’s been some time since my last blog, so I like to take you back to December 2019 and the Eagles Xmas party. I was away and not able to attend in person, although I had entered the ballot for a VLM place.
To my surprise I was one of the lucky ones that had their name pulled out of the hat (thanks Kelvin you are a star) and was over the moon about the news.
2020 looked to be an exciting running year for me with a place for VLM and a place for the Eiger Trail. A race in Switzerland I had been trying to get into for a couple of years.
Then the world changed for all of us as Covid struck thick and fast, and turned the whole world and our lives upside down and round and round for no less than two years.
Pretty shite to be honest, and I am sure for most of you too. I will try and cheer this blog up, but I am afraid it ain’t looking good.
Kept up the running and did my own training during pandemic times, although there wasn’t anything to train for. I tried to keep the running varied with a speed session, hills, and suchlike. Run a lot in Richmond Park which for sure saved me from losing the plot.
I did the Virtual London Marathon in October 2020. That was a great day, with many of my Eagle friends coming out to cheer me on along the way. It was a very wet day, and it rained all the way. Despite the wet I really enjoyed it though. Was so grateful for all the Eagles who came to support or run with me.
Since then, I have had a few injuries and spent many months not running at all. Had to defer last year’s VLM due to injury and had to pull out of The Eiger trail too, which I was supposed to do this weekend. Needless to say, I lost a lot of my form and fitness in general.
I also lost my running mojo which is not something I ever had trouble with before.
I guess all the injuries, the long times of not running at all, the slow recovery as well as the pandemic are to blame.
Now when I run, I do mostly enjoy it. So, the mojo is coming back a little bit. Probably because I am getting a little of my form back and finding it less hard to run. It’s been hard work though, and I am not sure if I ever get a sub 25 min parkrun again. For the moment times don’t really matter too much to me. What does matter is that I am out there again. As long as I can run, slow or fast, that’s all I care about right now. I am not putting any great expectations of speed or performance on me, just running for enjoyment and I will see where it takes me.
So, if you are out (and I hope you will be) on Sunday 2 nd of October along the VLM route, supporting me and all the other Eagles I will be delighted to see you, however, do bring a packed lunch – a big lunch I suggest - as you will have to wait for me that little bit longer.
Looking forward to the day and to experiencing Mile 23 from the other side which will be exciting.
That’s it for now guys.
Happy running