Today is the last race in my clubs Grand Prix events for this year! It's not over yet! This year, juts as last year it was at the ever popular Ditton Turkey run, hosted by the Maidstone Harriers. This is a great event, and people really get into the spirit of Christmas with the whole fancy dress theme going on. There were turkeys (stuffed I might say, with cotton wool not sage and onion) perched on top of heads, there were elves and father Christmases, There were fairies fluttering (both male and female!) and snowmen melting (well it was quite a mild day considering it's December!)
I woke to a very lovely morning, the sun was shining, and it looked like it was going to be staying around for the whole day. It was going to be a civilised start to the day, no getting out for 7, so I managed to have breakfast and a cuppa, before setting off to meet DiscoRich and Illustrious Leader at Willet Way Rec. DiscoRich is kindly doing the driving today.
We arrived at H.Q. well in time to get out numbers and running chip and to use the loos. We met up with a few Pettswood runners, and then some more and then some more! As you can see, even some of our runners got into the spirit of things and went fancy dress, I.L. and I even donned a Santa hat!
Some in fancy dress
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| PWR's |
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| And more PWR's |
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| And yes more PWR's |
I got just a tad chilly waiting for the off, so to keep myself amused I took this 'Hold the phone up and shoot' style picture.
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| Over head shot |
Once we got going however, it was perfect. I remember last year there was quite a few muddy, very wet muddy places on route. I had remembered this year to bring a change of shoes and socks, just in case! I was running along with 3 of our club members, I.L., Jane and, if I'm not mistaken with her name, Debbie. We were running behind some 'fairy' runners with very colourful wings on their backs.
The route is a very pleasant route, hardly any road running, just sticking mainly to paths and trails.
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| Just one of the trails |
Although this is a Grand Prix event, I am still going to take things easy, as there is not many from my group competing in the events, so I was planning on taking photos and enjoying my run. (Yawn!! as per usual then Old Girl, I hear you all say) Yes, as per usual. Running is fun, it gets you out, it gets you socialising and you get to run through some amazing country side!
Anyway, enough defending/excusing my running prowess. After a while the rest of the PWR's ladies got on and did their own thing, each having their own agenda, whether it be just to finish, or chasing that PB, but they were all in front of me. I expect I am the last PWR back here. But I know I am not the last runner. I had passed a few people and right now I was on the tail of the fairies. We seem to over take each other, again and again.
The Marshals were out on the field pointing the way and giving encouragement. It's not everyone's cup of tea, standing out in December in the middle of fields and paths, pointing puffed out, sweaty runners to the finish line! But at least the marshals today have the sunshine with them.
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| Some of the marshals, and a runner with a fab top that was being coverted! |
One Fairy, who I found out was called Mel, was doing so well! She hadn't stopped at all, even going up the hills! She just carried on marching through! Head down! I so wanted to say to her "head up" but she was doing really well in her own style! And besides, maybe she will tire and I can get in front of her again! Competitiveness jealousy getting in there! But this was the last time I was to see her, as she disappeared through here, His very own home grown temple! For that is what it looked like as we ran towards this fantastic clump of tall trees, reaching high into the sky, creating this temple effect as the trees bent to almost form a steeple effect.
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| The Temple |
We ran towards the 'temple' and I was just awe struck! Praising His Name as I ran towards it. I just had to stop and take some pictures, but these pictures just don't do it justice! It looks pretty awesome when you're actually running towards it. One of the other fairies caught me up and said "That should make for a pretty good picture" That's when she told me that the girl in the picture was her friend, Mel!
Although the route is not in laps, we do touch on the same road twice! For little ol' me, who is just useless at directions, it was very confusing! I didn't notice it last year, as I was running along with two other ladies chatting, but this year, running along on my own-some, taking in the sights, I noticed the barn that we passed earlier, and running down the road, I noticed the path, zig zag style, that I had problems running up the first time! So I was quite pleased to hear that actually, I am nearly to the finish, and there is no need to go up the zigzag.
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| Zigzagging up, just the once! |
I got my phone read to capture the finish line! I decided I wasn't going to stop and take it, I would just point and push and hope that I get it while still running. Here, take a look! Not too bad, at least you can see the word 'finish!'
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| The Finish! |
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