Monday 28 December 2009

The Starting Blocks...


“...we know who you are...” was the phrase that summed up meeting my local road running group, a phrase their Road Captain confirmed would become familiar once I'd started my 10k everyday challenge. I'd been invited on a casual run with them and although I knew the name & voice of their Road Captain, Paul we'd not met - I was meeting Paul and some of this team for the first time.

Today was Monday and although I knew the challenge was getting closer, the finality of it struck me when Paul answered a start date question with, “...its this Friday.” Instantly my heart leapt at the adjustment in wording. The 1st of January 2010 seemed days away but “this Friday” was like walking into a road sign.

The road running team took me on a meandering 10k through country roads passing through delightfully frosted and frozen farm fields. Each team member taking some time to run and talk with me about my work, the challenge and how I'd planned to cope with it. The topic of the first run had been on everyone's lips and I was pleased to report it was planned to be a special start.

The first run route had gained the support of a local hotel “Ramada” with a special guest starting it – Lady Sarah McCorquodale, sister of Diana Princess of Wales who was affectionately nicknamed “The Queen of Hearts.”
Lady Sarah McCorquodale, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire and like her sister active in charitable work such as MacMillan Nurses and more.

The first run route I thought would be best to include and remind our community of the important historical land marks in Grantham (also shown on the route map under “view notes” next to distance):
Margaret Thatchers Birth Place - Margaret Thatcher is a famous Prime Minister of England.
North Parade – part of the old Great North Road from London to Edinburgh putting Grantham on the map and made it a successful town.
Original “Little Gonerby School” - one of the oldest schools in England.
Kings School – One of the oldest Grammer Schools of England & schooled Issac Newton.
Grantham House – where they designed, invented & implemented of the Bouncing Bomb used for World War 2.
St Wulfrums Church – the largest Church in England due to it originally being built as a Cathedral but during construction the Cathedral plans changed to Lincoln.
Watergate & High St – part of the Great North Road that passed through Grantham & the main transport route in England.
Angel & Royal Hotel – one of the oldest hotels in England with a carriage, stable & court yard set up as the centre piece of the hotel.
Catlins – a very old Bakery & Cafe said to be a stopping point for King George.
Issac Newton statue – famous scientist who defined, explained & calculated gravity & its laws.
Frederick Tollemache Statue – another Minister who's historical details I've struggled to find.
Grantham Train Station – part of the “Mail Line” and another transport system to support the success of Grantham; it still hosts Steam Trains from time to time.
London Road – part of the old Great North Road. The industrial estates & buildings that crowded its edges made Grantham a successful textile & engineering town.
Aveling Brafords – largest employer for Grantham for I believe about 100 years building giant trucks & excavating vehicles we now know around the world.
Marcos – spring field road homed a huge industrial estate for Marcos Gun Manufacturers who played an important part in both World Wars 1&2.

I'm excited about the first run as anyone would be starting a challenge, race or tournament. My excitement includes a sense of awe and pride having planned the route around places that have helped and shaped our town and country. Being a Brit we're generally modest, though few still identify themselves as Brits these days – this start has therefore left me wishing we were a bit more patriotic about our origins, local community and country as a whole.

That's it for now, only 3 days left. I have some radio interviews before and after the first run so I'll be listing when & where on twitter & facebook. Please take the time to click and follow, share the 10k-everyday idea and encouraging others to following is as good as donating.
You can find micro blogging of this challenge at:
www.facebook.com/tbridle, www.linkedin.com/in/tbridle, www.twitter.com/timbridle

Send a friend request with 10k-everyday in it and I'll accept.
I hope all that read this have a great New Year, that your wishes and challenges come true. Be well, Tim

3 comments:

  1. Good Luck Tim!
    Even though we are not in Grantham we are thinking about you and the challenge.
    We enjoy reading your blog and will log on after your first run to get the up date.
    All the best to you, Penny, Lucy and Amy for 2010.
    Lorna

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  2. Looks like you've gained a lot of traction over the past few weeks and I look foward to reading more about your challenge as the new year begins. Best of luck and stay well!
    Lori in TX

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  3. Only an hour to go now Tim.
    You must be full of nervous energy - keep it reined in a bit today - you will still have 364 more runs where you can unleash it.

    Good Luck
    Paul Davidson

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