Back in 2022, our summer holidays were spent exploring the West Midlands – Coventry, Leamington Spa, Wolverhampton, Birmingham. An odd choice of location, you might think. But our adventures were all planned around the Commonwealth Games – we cheered on competitors from 66 out of 72 countries (only missing out on Kiribati, Bangladesh, Vanuatu, Turks and Caicos, Tonga and Montserrat), across 12 different sports and multiple different venues. We marvelled at Ozzy the Mechanical Bull – now located in Birmingham New Street – and fitted in a parkrun too.

We had a fantastic time – and the sun was nearly always shining.

Our last event, late into Sunday evening on the last weekend of the Games, was the final of the women’s cricket at Edgbaston – gold to Australia.

But we’ve not been back for more cricket since then – despite passing through Birmingham and visiting Ozzy on several occasions over the last two years.

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As last week progressed, and the weather forecast looked promising, we decided to gamble on the weather and booked some tickets for the first international cricket of the summer – England Women taking on Pakistan in a T20 international at Edgbaston.

But? Despite a reduction in miles as race day gets closer, I still had to fit in a long-ish training run on Saturday. I needed to ready to leave for Birmingham at 11.30am – no delays!

How was this going to work?

Another early start meant I could fit in a few miles before parkrun, although clearing a fallen tree from the parkrun course mid-run caused a slight delay in proceedings.

Then, with parkrun completed, I managed almost 5 miles along the towpath, before hitting my deadline and heading home for the quick turnaround. I’d run out of time – a few miles short of my goal in running miles.

But no need to panic.

A power walk to Edgbaston from Birmingham New Street rounded up my distance.

Job done.

And then I could relax, rest my feet, enjoy a picnic and watch some cricket in the sunshine.

Despite a dodgy start for England, all was well in the end and victory was secured.

A perfect start to the cricketing summer. And a good way to keep my training on track.

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50 for 50 #40: 50 posts for my 50th birthday to be posted before I’m 51.