Last Rec Session!

Hello blog readers.

This evening was the last rec session for 2018!  How can that have happened!  It only just seemed a couple of weeks ago that we started back to the rec to do our speed and core sessions!  Of course this means from next week it's back to Track!  Hmm.  I must do this!  I must do this!

DiscoRich took the session, the last session.  He had some fun stuff for us to do.  The last sessions are always particularly good fun because there are are trophies to win!    We had to start at 7:15 pm, as by the time we had finished the night would have taken over.  Our summer light just seems to go so quick!  DiscoRich had us all running around the rec for a warm up just the one lap, usually it's two.  But then, he put us into two teams.  He put all the faster runners in one group and all the not so faster runners in another group.  We thought we were only doing one warm up lap, but actually, DiscoRich had something else planned.  A train run for the second lap! Now a train run is when you run with your team in a line, one behind the other, and then the back runner sprints to the front and sets the pace, then the next person who is at the back runs and so on and so forth.  It's a great way do some some sprints, and of course when you are in front you can slow the pace down or speed it up if you want!

Two laps of that particular exercise and by then we were all pretty warmed up ready for the next one.  The one DiscoRich had us doing then was called Mountains and Valleys.  This involved the little cones, one team were mountains then other team were the valleys.  The valleys had to make sure that all cones were turned upside down, while the mountains had to make sure that all cones were the right way round.  Simple!  I was on the Valley team, we had the harder job, because we had to actually pick them up while the other team just had to knock them back over with just a foot or a hand.  The losing team then had to do five burpees which the other team took great delight in watching and jeering!  We did that twice.......and twice we lost! (Um, I did try to grab loads of cones and then throw them on the floor just as the whistle went for the second time of playing too......still lost)

Pink team lost! Blue team were sooo jeering!

After that, the cricket pitch came into play, as we had to run around there, at varying speeds until we were sprinting around the entire pitch, each corner to corner!  Well, I don't think I managed the very last one, but I really did try hard!

After that DiscoRich had us doing a game of 'Rock, Paper, Scissors'  All players playing against everyone.  If you won your game then you collected a point, the loser .......more burpees!  The winner then went to another winner to play again.  The first to get to 10 was the winner!  That was fun, and while we were playing that game, DiscoRich was busy setting up the next racing game.

As this is the last of the rec sessions the 'Egg and Spoons' were back.  We all do really love this race.  We were in three teams of four, the 'Egg and Spoons' at the ready, by the way, they are wooden items, so much more economical, don't you think!  I was in a winning team this time, well, it was a draw with DiscoRich's team!

With just a last lap of relay to do, but this time, we were in threes, so there was four teams.  We had to do a whole lap of the rec and then hand over the baton to our team mate.  A whole lap, meaning keeping  about a meter from the white painted line around the green, not cutting it short by going through the middle!  I tried desperately trying to keep up with the first of the runners to start.  Being on the outside edge I was in a tricky position anyway,  but I thought I would 'squish' up to the insider runner once we started.  I didn't really want to get too much on the inside of the rec, but everybody kept 'squishing and squishing towards the inside lane.....even the one who had the inside lane kept squishing until she was almost running around the cricket pitch, which was not quite the whole of the rec.  As I kind of.....well, tried to help my team win in the cones game, I decided that I was going to try and do a 'proper' lap of the Green, hugging the white line as much as I could.  Flipping 'eck it  was tough!  Not only was I trying to run further than all the other first runners, I was trying to stay as close to them as possible!  I got back to the bench puffing like a blimmin steam train, passed my baton on to my team mate who had a heck of a job trying to catch up!  Still, I felt better about trying to do the whole lap!

So as I have said, this was the last of the 2018 rec sessions, and there were two trophies to collect.  One trophy was for the best skill in the Egg and Spoon race, that particular trophy came to little ole me!  The other trophy was for the most improved runner!  That one went to Emma!

A great workout, a great fun last session and I have a trophy!  I forgot to switch on my Garmin though!  Oh well!

But this is a picture of my 'Egg and Spoon' trophy, much coveted by everyone, I believe Tracy won it last year!

Club Run - I Am Still In Group 2

Hello blog readers.

It's club run again! Woo hoo!  You gotta love club run!...... What?......Uh?.......Where have I been since last Tuesday? I hear you asking!  Well let me explain.  I had to rest my hair!  It's true, you just ask my hairdresser!  It was her rules for her doing my hair!  I know right!  But then, I did have this wonderful stuff on my hair last Thursday, Keratin blow dry, or what ever it was called.  It's marvellous stuff, I had it done on Thursday, so I couldn't go running Thursday evening or Saturday.  The stuff on my hair need to just stay dry, and not sweaty!  So I've had a few days off from my running.  Oh by the way.....I am totally thrilled with my hair!  Supercurls Hair Extensions - Clare did an excellent job of it!  I am so pleased with it! It's the first time that I am getting 'Salon blow dry' at home, doing myself, how cool is that!  So now that I have shamelessly plugged my hairdresser I am going to right about my run!

This evening I was again, running in group 2.  Now that I have a full compliment of leaders for my group 1 I can get on with the business of moving on up!  WendyLC was our leader in group 2 and she had a great route planned out.  I can't believer that we are losing the light but WendyLC still lead us in the woods for just a short bit before bringing us out on to Chislehurst Road.  It was getting pretty dark in the woods, it amazes me that the nights draw in so quickly, it just seems to be coming to a close to quickly!

We seemed to have ran through the woods way to quickly, literally just, touching base with the woods before we were out onto the pavements.  Now in group 2 there are some, well, some people who just need a quiet word in their shell like, a gentle kick up the backside, dragged out by their running shoe laces to move on up to group 3.  So as all us great leaders do, we let them just run on up ahead a bit.  Well Wendimoo was one of these lovely fast speedy types (from group 2 pace) and she was up the front running along the road.  There is this path that leads through the woods and unto Leesons hill. Wendimoo ducked into the woods woods a little prematurely and we ended up running along to someones front garden!  You can see that on the geeky stats at the end. 

We got to the right place in the end and continued our running along the roads, watching as the night sky got ever darker!  I think next weeke we will  be needing fluerescent tops and lights to finish our run!  These roads tough, well, it seemed to pull the group along at a fair pace! The front runners we running far faster than a group 2 pace that's for sure as us at the back were running faster than the advertised pace!  Brilliant, I do need to be pushed and pulled along! And all those feelings that I used to feel in the old group 1 came back "Oh blimey, I'm holding the group up, I hope they don't have to wait long for me" Only now, I can dismiss those thoughts really quickly, because we at PWR do nothing but encourage all our runners.  I knew I could do it, I just need to push myself a little harder to keep up with them. 

We came back out on the main road and the turned left to run down to the roundabout.  We crossed over and ran along to Grosvnor Road and then we turned right to run along Willet Road.  Now along here there are some little cul-de-sac roads, which is where our great and fair leader sent all those speedsters, the group 3 dodgers, to give them a good run while us group 2 running the perfect pace just kept on running the straight road.  It worked perfectly, they were playing catch up and also they couldn't do the last cul-de-sac! 

We were not that far now from our road, Crossways.  Once here WendyLC let us all off the leash and we upped the speed for a speed sprint finish to the rec.  I finished on a sprint, there is always something left in the bank to do a sprint finish! 

A great run, loved it.  Although I still look lovingly at my comfort blanket of group 1, I know they are all doing well under the leaderships of Auriol and C.C. (Carole)  and I am sure when Charley is back she will look after them all just as well.  See you soon group 1, when it's my time to lead, but hello group 2, I am feeling good!  Although, I was just slightly tempted to join group 3, but let me just paddle around ankle deep of group 2 first!  I know my place.....for now!

Geeky stats.

Club Run - Traveling To A New Venue!

Hello blog readers.

Well, it was hardly travelling to a new venue, but for one night only, we had to change our start and finish venue for our club run.  Some 'visitors' decided that they wanted to 'share' the recreation green at Crossways, our usual meeting point for our club run.  With their caravans parked all over the lovely managed greens and in the car parks we thought it may be best to leave them to their 'peace and quiet' while they enjoyed the facilities!  Our meeting point for this evenings run was at Petts Wood Park, Eynsford Park, not to far from our usual place, and plenty big enough space for everyone to meet at.

I picked up J.J. while Tracy picked up Wendimoo and SnapperHannah.  Our usual friends were there as well, RefMichael was leading group three, while Auriol was leading group 1.  You know what that means!  I was moving up again!  I decided to join group 2, J.J. and Wendimoo also came along as well as CookingCarole! (C.C. for short, she has some amazing baking skills!)  WendyLC was leading group 2, and I was looking forward to it, probably still at little apprehensive as well.  It's the whole comfort blanket thing, I can hide in group 1, even while leading!  It's easy to hide, because you can stop running when you want to, to check up on the back runners!  But with running with a faster group I am going to have to keep up. I knew I would be at the back, but I was determined to try and keep up as best as I could.  As J.J. said "It's good to push ourselves"  She's right!  We do not push our selves too hard in group 1, occasionally I pus myself a little harder at parkruns, but then, parkruns there is nobody leading me on a course and I am generally not at the very back. 

WendyLC had a route planned from the new location that took us through the woods and then onto the Cinder Path.  So we still got some lovely time running through the woods, away from the cars spewing out their gasses from the exhausts.  That first mile, nay, that first half a mile is such a blimmin killer!  I tell you, my lungs and my heart and my legs just want to stop!  My head is telling me "You silly ole woman, what you doing" my legs quickly fill with lead, and my lungs really want to just jump out of my chest and go home! 

By the time we got to the end of the Cinder path I was very much warmed up and my breathing was tons better.  I was still at the back of the pack though!  WendyLC took us down Crofton road, and it was down, A nice gentle slope back towards Petts Wood.  From the top to all the way to walking bridge, I think J.J. and I managed to run, non stop, with our leader WendyLC.  The others WLC let off the leash to run at a fast pace, on the promise they run back to us (by the way, I didn't see any of them running back!).  WendyLC said that we had a mixed bunch in group 2, some normally would have been running in groups 6 and some in group 4.  But they were here in this group building up after being away from running for a while!  It's not only group 1 that take care of the injured!  We are such a caring club!

We ran over the bridge to Beaumont and then ran all the way to the end, oh did I say I ran none stop on this bit, *smug mode*  Yes, it is deffo good to push ourselves,  I really didn't want all those faster runners to be waiting for me!  Oh the pressure! From the end of Beaumont we ran on to St Johns and then we ran to Station square.  We were not going to be running back to Eynsford just yet.  We still had a few more roads to do.  We pass the One in The Wood pub, where group 12 were starting and strangely finishing their club run this evening, and then we ran over the walking bridge. J.J. and I were getting a bit tired, we was thinking that we would be just heading down the high street and back to the park.  Now, when I think of it, I think anyway we got back to the park from here would be about the same distance!  But heading away from what we feel is the right way to go, down Southborough Lane was where we headed.

We ran along Crescent Drive, the faster runners again given the green light to run ahead of our leader.  Half way down here we could hear another group catching us up, group 6!  We were on the left hand side of the road, and they were on the right side of the road.  Most of group 6 passed by us but me and J.J. seemed to be keeping pace with a couple of their back stoppers!  It gave us a really bit of boost.  We saw them all turn right in to Shepperton where the entrance to the park is, "Come on then Old Girl, keep going, pick it up, faster, faster"  J.J. started to encourage me from my right shoulder!  I started to push it a little as we ran to the park, then a little more and more!  We were doing a pretty good pace, deffo at least group 6 pace!  It's just a pity that we can't keep that up through a whole club run!

So, a new location, for one night only, a slightly new route and a new leader!  A brilliant run, and I don't think I was too far behind all the others!  Here's our Geeky stats. Oh, the 'visitor's enjoyed their stay at the park and have moved on to pastures green.  The lovely volunteers of cleaneruppers were busy tidying up the park for the more user friendly visitors of the park.

<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/2932975931' title='Club Run ' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>

Parkrun Day! - Chocolate!

Hello blog readers.

Chocolate!

You gotta love parkrun day, and today was perfect conditions!  It was at least 10 degrees cooler than it was last week, do you think that is our summer done with?  Anyway, I didn't need to bring my water with me.  I collected NaggyNeighbour, we decided to take the car, with me driving.  Naggys dog, Chocolate crossed over the rainbow bridge on Wednesday, we are all very sad!  So, this run, this blog is dedicated to Chocolate!  It was Caroles idea, she dedicated her run to Chocolate, so I am dedicated this to Chocolate, a wonderful soppy, friendly, uncomplaining pooch.  We shall all miss you Choky wocky!


We me up with all our running buddies, J.J., LittleJ, K, Carole and RefMichael, Auriol and Nigel (who seemed to have collected a buggy with two nippers in) SnapperHannah (she loves snapping off pictures) and Tracy. I just wished I was feeling a a bit better than I was.  I went out with the Old Boy last night, we went for a curry and a pint or two.  Nothing out of the ordinary, it's not anything new.  But this time I just seemed to be suffering a little bit.  Cramps in my tummy and........well......gas!  Maybe I am not cut out for curries anymore.  So running around parkrun today was a bit difficult....and I made sure I was not around too many people! 

I played cat and mouse with this parkrunner, she overtook me then I overtook her, we kept it going all the way around virtually.  I was really feeling sluggish! I did as best as I could, I know I could have done better, I know it!  But with the bloatyness of my belly and just wasn't 'feeling' it.  I could see Auriol ahead of me, she was run/walking around todays parkrun too, but I just couldn't catch her up.  SnapperHannah was ahead of her!  She is really doing well!  I didn't see any of the others, mind you, I was spotted, there were several 'Hello Old Girl' from our Petts Wood Runners!  And Naggy saw me when I had got to the end of the little river to do the 'U' turn back around.   I looked behind me but I couldn't see any of my other pals.  I knew that some of them were walking.

My cat and mouse partner was behind me again, and as we were at the top of the park, near the start line, I decided I needed to keep her there now, I just kept on running as best as a I could, feeling the way I was!  With just the last little bit too do I heard my pals calling me, "Come on Old Girl, keep going, pick it up, get those legs up!"  Just then my cat and mouse partner flew pass me, I mean she was like jet propelled!  I almost was spinning in her wake!  Stunned I tried to pick up the pace, there was no way I was going to beat her.  Just then I heard some other footsteps closing in on me "Oh no you don't" I thought and I tried to pick it up a little bit more.  Then a young girl ran in front of me, with another young dude behind me!  I just had to stay ahead just a little bit more!  I managed to keep him behind me as we went through the finish funnel!  Although I don't think he quite understands the funnel protocol of 'stay in place, don't push in front, because he kept running pass me through  the funnel and even one other person in front!  Oh well, it's just as well it's parkrun, a great friendly non competitive run for all!

Geeky stats and some more pictures of Chocs!

Just Chillin

Chocs with her boys!

What? What?

We shall miss you chocci!!

Hard Core Four!

Hello blog readers.

I was leading this evenings core training and speed session at the rec.  I had no idea how many would be turning up, you see, it's been raining all day!  I woke up this morning to the gentle sound of the rain outside the window, and I thought "At last, a bit of rain to clear the air! But the rain just kept on coming.....all day!

Still we are hard core runners, we don't let a bit of rain come between us and a good speed session.  But then all the messages on my friends whatsapp group about who was coming and who wasn't started.  But I still went along, after all I was the leader!  How would it look if only 1 person showed up and I didn't!

I drove to the rec, because I had to get some bits and bobs for Kirsty afterwards, so I needed my car.  When I parked in rec I could see no one there!  Not one person....well not one person ready to do our Thursday evening session! Hmmm, I wonder if this was going to be a wash out.  The fact of the matter it had actually stopped raining and there was blue skies up above and just perfect temperature for running.  The ground was a bit splishy splashy, but I know last week it was so warm, we were praying for a little bit of rain!  After a couple of minutes of me wondering if anyone else was going to turn up when Auriol parked her car beside me.  Well, that's two of us, I  thought I would give it a couple of minutes and if no-one else turn up then me and Auriol would probably call it a night too!  But then DiscoRich and Illustrious Leader pulled up in their car. "Just the four of us" said DiscoRich, "We best get on with it then!"  Well, that told me and Auriol, we were all ready to go home!

So, with just the four of us we started off on our 2 lap warm up around the rec.  Now with the rain came the drop in temperature too, it was going to take a little bit more than two laps to warm us up, so our drills was next, try and get our muscles ready for the sessions.  We seemed to be flying through everything, It's not going to take an hour for us to get through what I had planned!  With only 3 pairs of ears to reach I really had command of the 'group'.  Ok we an do this.  I was trying to think about how I could play my magpie game with just four of us. But actually it worked out just fine.  It was tough as it's just us running with no let up!  But that's what we are at the rec for, some good ole running.  So my game of magpie went ahead.  I even had the new rule in place, and the rules of the game are.

1.      4 teams each standing same distance away from the next,
2.      1 person (in our case there was only 1 person in each team) ran to collect a cone and put it in                their own nest,
3.      Once everyone had two cones then they could chose to steal from the left or right two cones                 only, run to their opposite opponent and steal everything, put it in the big nest.

We did that for about 10 minutes or so.  It was pretty hard going because there was no break, no team member to tag and get them to do some running.  It was good fun though, and I am sure there is yet another rule that I can add into the mix to make it more interesting, but maybe I shall wait until it's a well attended session before I do.

After that we did some strengthening.  Now because the ground was quite damp I remembered some exercises that we could do using the fence or benches.  We did some Triceps Dips, and then we did some push ups from the benches, followed by some static squats against the wall finally we did a plank, on the driest bit of concrete that we could find.  All in all a pretty good strength programme I thought, keeping our bodies off the wet grass!

Par luffs were off the agenda as our usual end of the session so we had some Pyramids instead, using just one team, after all this is a little social group as well! 

So, with just the four of us we blimmin managed to have a good speedy, strengthening session!  I am pretty pleased with myself that I didn't go home! Hard Core......plus we managed to finish the session before the rain started again, and boy when it did come down it was torrential!

Here's a couple of photos I took of us four at the rec.

Me, Illustrious leader, Auriol and DiscoRich

Look at them perfect planks!

Club Run - Blindly Follow!

Hello blog readers.

The evening was still so very warm but there was also a little bit of rain!  I think it must have been too hot because there was just not enough rain to cool us down. It had more or less stopped by the time I got to J.J.'s house, and just as well, she was all set to get back out of her running gear and chill. "I don't think so J.J., get your shoes on, we're going running"  Feck knows where that assertion come from but J.J. duly got her shoes on and came running!

I was leading this evening, and I wanted to take them on the route that I have been desperately trying to remember for months now.  Its the mob mate route, I have done it three times so far.  Twice with me trying to find my way around and getting lost, and once with Paula, last Thursday, she remembered the route with no problems.  The last time I did this route was only yesterday, and I got lost!

But I was confident, I had made all the mental notes in my head, I know usually my head leaks out information faster than a water through a colander!  I gave my little speech about pace and distance and I also threw out a disclaimer "I may very get lost!" Just in case,  people wanted to try the 'move up week' move to group 2.  Illustriousleader was taking group 2, I think I heard mention of hills!  It's what brought Claudia over to my group! 

So all ready with the fantastic seven, we started our run.  We passed by the walking crew as we went in through Dog Poo ally.  I know the route very well till we get into the middle of Jubilee Park.  I am quite confident in that!  My group kept on following me, no one really can recall the route from when they did it last years mob match or this years, so it really was down to me.  So then I start to recall my little notes that I made about each turn point, each path that I need to take. 

It's amazing how it all just comes to mind when you can put names to the paths,  the sharp left hand bend is 'Bench 2 with information board and arrow"  straight on down there keep on, no turning left or right just keep on going.  Then the 'Shadynook' is next, a nice path in through the trees on the right.  Of course during the day it's a lot brighter, but now it's getting very overcast and the light is not so good.  I think it is not long now before we start looking at pavement routes again!  How comes?  The kids have only just started their summer holidays!  It's all going too quick! 

After the shadynook there is a cross ways in the paths but I remembered 'The little bridge'! Yes get in there!  Who says 'forgetfulness goes with this blimmin menopause shit!  Get in there! And then once we gone over that bridge it all just fell into place, "Littleton Place" and then though to JanetsGate!  Continue on to Kays Post and the rest is just plain sailing, over the wonky board walk and right to Tent Peg lane!

It was hot though, the rain had stopped, with just a few tiny drops to tease us, I did do some walking stops on route!  But I think we did some pretty good running as well, we still managed to get in under the hour!  I took them back over just one bridge, the one that's near Tent Pet lane, and the straight out on to the roads back to the rec.  I thoroughly enjoyed it today, or is it that I was so blimmin relieved I didn't get lost or lose anyone!  It was good running with my pals, we do have a laugh when we all together, we look out for each too!  Thanks pals, loved it!

Geeky stats. and nate, not once did I get lost!

Extra Monday!

Hello blog readers.

When your pals put on the whatsapp group "Who wants to run in the morning?" and you can't come up with excuse not to go! Hmmm, so I got up this morning put on my running gear and went to meet my pals.

There were only three of us, Carole, whos' suggestion it was, and Wendimoo.  I looked at them both when I got there and said "So where do we go?"  They both sort of looked at me and said "I don't know, where do you wanna go?"   So I thought we could try the mob match route again.  Paula is not here this time to help me, and both Wendimoo and Carole and not completely confident going through the woods.  This time I am going to have to try and remember everything, with hopefully something filtering through from both of the other girls!  We can do this!  Running with out a map! Yeah, hardcore!

We went in through Dog Poo ally and turned left.  So far so good!  I was feeling pretty confident!  Well, it's not as if I've not been through this part of the woods before!  We ran along to the bridges and up and over all three of them, this time with no one falling up them!  Poor Wendimoo still has a bruise from the last time!  Then we were in Jubilee park.  We could see the path that we need to be running back on and the path stretched out in front is our way to that path.  I nice loop of Jubilee, seriously, how difficult can it be!  The fact of the matter, and just keep this between you and me, I do lose my sense of direction in this park! I don't know why!  I think it's because I have not really explored it!, There are several entrances to the park, and when I come across them I am just totally surprised as to where I am!  But, last time I took mental notes, I think I got this, I really do think I got this! 

See, water!

So in through the gate by the car park we go.  All the way up to the bench, not the first one, the second one, the one with the information board just behind us.  I was so pleased that I found it.  We were running pretty well, it was really warm but we all brought water with us, I was thinking that maybe we should have brought food with us as well, and maybe a flare, just in case!  We were chatting as we ran along, putting the world to rights, having a laugh and just enjoying being out. 

I was trying to do some quality running to, but I just kept losing it, it was warm, my legs hurt, my shoulder hurts, but I kept on persevering.  I stopped again and got annoyed with myself! "Oh just keep going to lazy bloody woman" I shouted out loud!  Dear Carole wasn't having any of that "No, no, no" she said "Don't be so hard on yourself, your here, your out when you could quite easily have been on the sofa"  She's right of course, although I would have had an extra hour in bed!  And then that lead into another brilliant discussion on meditation!  I am no good an meditating, I am no good at emptying my mind.  I just fill it with utter nonsense if I am trying not to think of anything!

Look at Wendimoos
shapely leg!

Ah, the shady path!  I remember this, we found it, we got this far!  Yup still on track.  It was a welcome shady bit of our run, the morning sun was relentless in its glory!  Summer is beautiful, I do love it, but trying to run in it is tough! (mind you any weather and I will find an excuse, right?)  After this bit of our run is when it went slightly wrong.  I went along a path that took us to another entrance to the park, not the one that I wanted! Hmm, so where now.  We went back to where I though we came from and then chose another path!  Guess what, it lead to exactly the same place! Hmm, There was something I was missing!  Back to the Shady path and then I saw the little bridge! Is that where I am supposed to go, is this the way?  It was the only way left to us and as the girls pointed out, it does run parallel to Southbough Lane, towards the Catholic School entrance, the one that I wanted!

BINGO!  Done it, running over the little bridge and we were back on track, 'Littleton' point, so called because it was where Littleton marshaled for the mob match, and that led on to LittleJ Gate, and K School!  Perfect.  We found our way without a map, put the world to rights, encouraged, soothed, laughed and generally 'bigged' each other up on a perfect run.

Hardcore Runners!

We decided to run back through the woods instead of coming out on to Great Thrift, just because we were not in any particular hurry, and made our way back to rec to do some stretches.  Fabulous run, loved it!  Here's our geeky stats, can you see where we got lost!

<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/2910661369' title='Monday morning Running' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>

Double Thursday and Just the One Saturday

Hello blog readers.

I managed to get out on Thursday morning as Kirsty still in hospital. There were a few of us running in the morning.  I wanted to try the mob match route again, so that I can take group 1 there on Tuesday.  Last time I completely messed up, but this time Paula was quite sure of the route so, with her pointing the way and me making mental notes I feel, well, ok about leading this route on Tuesday! I shall check my geeky stats again though, just to make sure!

There were just the four of us, me, Paula, Wendimoo and Tracy, a nice group, and perfect for trialing this route for Tuesday.  We went in through Dog Poo Ally and the turned left.  Running through the woods this time in the morning is quite a challenge, its the way the light falls on the floor of the woods, it makes looking out for the roots of the trees a little tricky. Running back this way is different, a lot easier to see, but for a group 1 route I was planning on popping out of the woods before Dog Poo ally. 

This route includes the bridges, three of them, three lots of steps up, three sets down.  I had made up my mind that I will be running up each set of steps, but walking down them so as not to fall.  That first set of steps blimmin hurt!  I could feel it on my thighs!  Boy do I really need to get in shape!  The second and the third set hurt just as much as the first set of steps!  Wendimoo managed to fall UP the steps!  No damage done, just a little graze on her leg! 

Going through Jubilee I reminded myself to stay focused.  I know some of the way, it's just when we get to the sharp left turn.  Last time I missed it and we ended up on Blackbrook lane!  I have made mental notes now, it's by the bench with the information board behind it, thats the sharp left hand turn, then keep running along the path until the shady path!  Sounds easy doesn't it?  Lets hope it all pans out!

It was straight forward after we got to the shady path, well when I say straight forward.... we met a woman walking her dog by a crossways.  We we going one way and the other lady was going to the right.  Both Paula and I were in front, path finding and all that, Wendimoo and Tracy were bring up the rear.  Now Wendimoo does love a chat, she just chats along and it helps with her breathing!  Tracy just followed the sound of her voice, she was busy looking down at the path, she saw a pair of legs that went to the left, and she followed them!  Wrong Tracy, we were going along the right hand path!  After Wendimoo called her back they caught us up!  It reminded me of when I lost Tracy around Crofton School!  I daren't lose her in Jubilee Park, she will never find her way out! Still we all managed to get back to the entrance of the park, just by Tent Peg Lane.  I checked my garmin and made the decision to run back over just one bridge, its the shorter way back to the rec, that will make it a perfect distance for group 1.

We only had one bridge to cross and when I ran up the steps my thighs were not so on fire as on they were the first time, still, I was pleased not to be doing the other two bridges.  We ran out into Little Thrift and then on to Great Thrift heading towards the rec. 

A brilliant run, and we were back within in the hour!  Certainly doable for next Tuesday!

Thursday Core Training

Auriol and Nigel were in charge, they had planned the session between them.  It was a bit....um.....concerning shall we say when I saw written on one of the facebook posts that RefMichael should be 'just slightly worried'!  Hmm, what had they planned for RefMichael, because whatever it is it will include us!

I decided to ride my bike over to the rec, and also to get Tracy to ride her bike too, it's all extra exercise and that can't be bad for us can it!  We arrived to applause and 'well done' from our fellow Thursday night crew!  I changed my shoes (I took my Spesh to the park) and then caught up with them as they ran the first warm up lap.

After that it was drills, Nigel threw in some upper body drills, or boxing movements I should say!  We were just punching in the air, but by Jove did my arms suffer doing that!  After that it was our usual drills.

The first speed session was a game Auriol found on the Internet, with two teams and loads of cones!  A long line of cones was put in a line and then two short lines  some distance apart to indicate 'home'.  The idea was to run up to the long straight line of cones, half were upside down and the other half were the right way.  Each team was to run all together turn the cone either upside down if you were on the 'Upside down' or turn them the right way up if you were on that team.  Now I am sure there was a tactic, but do you think I could figure it out.  Anyway, both times we did the game I happened to be on the side that lost!  Oh well.

After that we did some core training, and it seemed as if Nigel is after a six pack, because nearly all the core training centred on the core!  I guess that is the idea of core training!  Still, we did a few squats and a plank!  Then it was the parluffs, the relays, everyone loves the relays!  It was a great session.  Next week guess who is in charge!? Yup Me!

Saturday parkrun

Up to date now.  I did parkrun yesterday, still with my 'do as much as you can before' attitude I took my bike to parkrun, Naggyneighbour did as well.  I couldn't persuade Tracy to ride 'allll that way' to parkrun, she took her car!  I again took my Spesh, I did the week before but I rode it with my normal running shoes.  I found it difficult because I have cleats on my shoes and it just awkward to ride with normal shoes. 

I was feeling in a better place than I was last week, but I still fat and bloated still, and the weather! Oh boy the weather!  It was just so warm!  So now I have lined up several excuses for a slow run I shall begin!

Like I said it was warm, and the ride up to Norman park warmed me up even more. We locked our bikes in the pavilion , grabbed the water, I had a feeling I was going to be finishing with an empty bottle!  The race director gave his speech and then we were off.  It was clear from the start that I wouldn't be keeping up with Carole (not that I could anyway) and Naggy was well away.  I saw Auriol a head of me so I just thought I would be plodding along by myself.  Just then Tracy come up by my side. "I'm going to keep up with you today" she says.  "Ok" I said.  I really wasn't going to running fast.  We managed to catch up to Auriol and we all ran along together.  Then Tracy started to fall behind, but she kept us in her sights.

It was a game of chase with the three of us,  Auriol running ahead, me catching up, Tracy catching up to me and Auriol, and even overtaking on the odd occasion!  I was sweating out of every part of me that could sweat!  My water was very much needed.  Auriol was using some of hers to pour over her face!

We kept a slow pace going all the way, Auriol on the last short straight went ahead and then I came in after her with Tracy coming in just behind me!  It was a slow run!  But at least I was out doing it! I could quite easily have just rolled over in bed to have an extra hour or so sleep!

There, the finish of a long winded blog!