Festive Fun!

Hello blog readers.

December has been very quiet on the old running front!  But I have done some at least.  The weather has really battered about my old mojo, so much so that it's all gone into hibernation!  It's going to take some kick ass screaming to get back out there!

But I have done some running since the Secret London Run back in the beginning of December, ok so not a lot of it!  But it's all  festive fun!  The first one after the SLR was the Woo Woo Run.  Oh my, I do love this run.  Our group 1 in PWR invented this run a few years back.  I choose a route that goes through this lovely road where the neighbours are outdoing each other in the festive lights department!  It is truly magical down there! Of course that road received loads of 'Woo Woo'. Oh one other thing, just to make the run a little more fun, we bring along a hip flask of something tasty!  I had some brandy in mine!

It really was a brilliant fun run, most of us wore something festive too, from Christmas running tops and leggings to complete fancy dress!  Or maybe that was just me!  I had on my Christmas leggings and two Tutus!  It's the only time of the year that I get to wear a tutu and get away with it!  Maybe next year I will get myself a tiara and dress up as a special 'fairy from the tree'  I love a tiara!

Here's some pictures from our run that night!

Ok, so the pink jacket is me!
I was putting my key in my back
pocket! Honest

Lovely lights

Cheers!

My next run was on Christmas eve.  Well it was Tuesday club run!  But this time we met at 09:00 that morning.  I had volunteered to lead that run, if I hadn't my mojo would have just stayed in bed, hiding under the duvet.  As I have already said, the weather has been truly awful, the woods would have been a complete mud fest.  I know I wasn't ready for that!  I know in the past I have embraced the whole mud thing but right now, I just knew I wouldn't have enjoyed it.  I needed to, I need to keep on enjoying running.  So my route was the Cinder path.  It's still off road but also it's in the woods, along the tarmacked path.  But to make it special, to make it super Christmassy, I brought along the Old boys Bose speaker, I carried it on my back in a bag and we had full on Christmas songs playing as we ran our 3 miles at group 1 pace run.  We still had a bit of mud, we still had to run through some water too, not too much though, just a couple of puddles left.  But that was great fun.  Trying to sing and run was fun too.

Here's some pictures from that run.

follow the
music!

Runners

Merry Christmas

On the Cinder Path!

The last one for this blog I did yesterday.  It was parkrun, in Normans Park.  Boy, if there was a time I needed motivation to get out of bed it was yesterday!  I woke up and looked at my WhatsApp groups to see who would be running. Silence! Absolute silence from everyone!  Now, I could quite easily have just snuggled back under my duvet, but no.  I started the ball rolling with a message. "Who's running today?"  I wrote.  If only just one person from any of my WA groups says they are running then I will get up.  LouLou was the first to say that she was!  So that was it, that was all I needed, I said it, I asked the question, someone said yes, so I had to go....right?!

I checked my group again, CarolWithAnE said that she and RefMichael was going, then SnappyH said that she was going!  A few of our 'gang' were going to be there!  Brilliant,  I need my buddies.  I am glad I have my buddies!  I am glad I have PWR!  It really is the only thing that keeps me running!  I am sure I would quit if I was by myself!

It's the winter route, so almost three times around the park.  I don't know if you know Normans park or not, but there is a small river that runs right through the middle of it and then goes off into the woods.  It's a most peculiar little bit of water because it just 'pops up' in the middle of the park, I am guessing it goes underground at either end, but not yesterday!  Yesterday it decided to cross over the path to get to the middle of the park!

We start our run at Hook farm end of the park, just a few meters along the path.  It's a popular parkrun and so it was quite busy.  I met up with all my buddies, SnappyH and CarolWithanE and RefMichael.  LouLou and Terry were there and so was Debbie.  Just what the run doctor ordered!  After all the preliminaries were done we started our run, of course I always go to the back of the pack, pace my run at my pace.  The crowd start to move, slowly at first and then a bit faster and then........almost to a stop!  We had hit the water and the mud!  Everybody thought it better to go through the water rather than the mud, although there were a few brave soles that embraced that particular joy of parkrun!  "Come on everyone, embrace parkrun and all there is to offer" I called out trying to encourage everyone to just splash through that stuff! If not to go through the mud!  No, I didn't go through the mud....still not ready to fully immerse myself in mudfest just yet!

But I did run it, I did enjoy it and I did not get a pb, obvs! But I really did enjoy it!  The next park run is News Year Eve!  Will I make it?  I said maybe!

Until next time people!

Christmas PWR Yule!

Hello readers.

Last night, straight from work I met up with my PWR pals to go for a nice, run in London!  I had my christmas leggings on, my two tutus, my PWR buff!  But I forgot my running top and my bells!!! I had real bell envy when I met all the other PWR's on the platform at Petts Wood.  Some had bells on their jumpers, some had them on their wrist and some had them on their ankles!  Totally envious!  But I was truly happy to be on the train, looking forward to meet the rest of the crew!  There were around 80 of us booked in, but unfortunately there were also some that had to cancel too, due to unforeseen circumstances.

This is us at Charing Cross train station!

We travelled to Charing Cross, our meeting point was at Covent Garden, we were to meet our guides and the rest of the PWR's.  Let me tell you, we made for an impressive sight!  Most of us had some sort of festive theme going on in our running gear, whether it be just a Christmas hat or leggings to full blown fancy dress...... a storm trouper to a Deer riding a reindeer!.......the mind boggles!

We marked ourselves in with the tour guides, our guides was name was Emma.  She never stopped smiling, she must be the most smiliest person ever!  It really did put us in a brilliant mood for a nice gently jog through London.  We were going to be hearing about some traditional Christmas traditions.  Some I can remember, some I can't, some I can only half remember!

There was an absolutely fascinating story about the Cantonia Crapper!  Seriously, you got to go googly the shit ......literally...on the web.  Mind you he wont be added to my manger nativity scene!  Also the yule log, kids making a log a pet and feeding it!  Really!  Two different types of logs which will make me smile when I tuck into my Yule log this Christmas!! Another story was told when we arrived at Shepherds Market (I think that is what it was called) about a certain politician and a 'Lady of the night' getting caught while business was being transacted!

We made an absolute sight when we ran through the streets of London, I just love it! I really do.  Mind you, some of the people on the streets didn't even bat an eyelid!  Maybe they just see too many weird sights!  We were a very colourful crowd though, singing at the top of our voices too!  We were all in such great spirits!

So many lights to see, all of them were just spectacular, from the 'Spirit of Christmas' lights to the 'Peacock feathers' but of course Carnaby street were just wonderful!  This year it was 'all creatures great and small under the sea'  Stunning, but even more 'betterer' was the fact that everything recycled, even the lights were environmentally friendly, energy saving bulbs!  There were lights that twinkled only when you put coins in (I think cash going to homeless) to understated straight lines, I believe those were on Savile Row. 

Spirit of Christmas

I so enjoyed my time running through London, not only seeing the great displays but being with my lovely running buddies from PWR.  We do have a brilliant time when we all go out!  Can't wait to do it all over again!

Here are some more pictures, curturesy of SnappyH, she loves a photograph!

Anables

Cartiers!

What A Weekend!

Hello blog readers.

I know it's been a while!  This job of mine is killing my blogging!  No more sitting up till midnight to finish off blogs!  I will try and get this one done asap!  If you are reading it and it's still Sunday, I did it!

I am cramming two blogs into one!  First to talk about is our beginners group!  They completed their nine weeks of training and graduated yesterday with a parkrun at Bromleys Norman Park!  They really did so well!  At least 20 of our beginners were there in the cold morning, waiting in the car park for their fellow graduates.  RefMichael and ZippySherry were there as well as some of our regular PWR volunteers to the beginners group!  An amazing number of graduates!  They were all really so very pleased with themselves, as they were chatting away with each other.  We gave them stickers, one at the front and one at the back, just so they could be easily spotted by our photographers and other PWR's who were running among them.

Once everyone was there we walked to the finish funnel so they could see how it all worked out and then we had them skipping, butt kicking and side skipping to the start line, and fortunately it is the winter route, so we didn't have to go across the park!  Once we were there we all lined up, listened to the RD about the rules and then......off we went!  I was going to take it nice and easy, especially as I had a race the next day.  I say race, for me it's never a race, it's a 'get around and try and look as if you enjoyed it' run!  So at the back is where I was going to stay.

It was great to see CarolWithAnE back to running, I though maybe I would be able to keep up with her, but there was no way I was going to do that!  She is like a coiled spring at the moment and was just going to be doing her thing!  Auriol was just behind me so I thought I would run with her.  She is also coming back from injury, I am sure I could keep up with her without knackering myself for my run then next day!  Fortunately she was doing a timed run walk.  With a 2 minute run and 5 minute walk.  I deffo could do that!  In fact it was perfect.  The beginners were all in front of me so I would be able to see if any of them would struggle but I seriously doubt they would! We have helped them on their way to running paradise!  They had this!

Me and Auriol just did our thing around the 5k route of Normans park, chatting away as we do, and romped home feeling totally relaxed, just what I needed before the 10k the following day!  Here are some pictures of our Autumn 2019 Beginners Course!

Brighton 10k

An now for todays race!  I mean, run!  We had to run 10 glorious Kilometres today!  Last year I did this and I wasn't feeling too well at all!  A night out left me with a mega hangover!  So I was already failing then.  But today, no such thing!  I was feeling positive, but feeling positive and trying to put that into practise is not my strong point.  

There was not a coach this year, as it wasn't on the Grand Prix list of runs to do and there wasn't  many PWR's in the line up, there were enough to get noticed though! There were also some PWR supporters to as we saw Olivia say hi to us all! Both me and SnappyH got a lift to Brighton with LouLou and Terry.  Door to door!  So I was totally relaxed and organised.....well, almost organised......just before they got to me I was just walking up my path and realised I hadn't picked up my Garmin which was charging! Oops, a quick sprint back to get it and no-one was none the wiser!

A straight forward drive to Brighton, parked the car in someones drive. Apparantly people let out their drives, just like they let out their homes!  Amazing, it meant that we had parking not too far from the sea front!  Perfect!  We walked to the start and met up with some of the other PWR's, got the team photo of course!  It will probably be the last time we are all together!  Then a hunt for the loos.

We found some more PWR's and had a quick Team Photo, it's obligatory! Here, this is us!

It was soon time to go to the pens, I was in green wave with SnappyH, Loulou and Terry so we went right to the back.

There didn't seem to be as many there this year, or was it that I was imagining it!  anyway at the back I was, then the crowd in front of me surged forward as they gave the off!  I had my Garmin ready to push the button as soon as I crossed over that mat!  LouLou and Terry ran ahead, me and SnappyH stayed together for just a little longer!

People passed us by and then SnappyH found her pace and started to run ahead, I was the last runner!  I can't remember when I have been the last runner!  Usually there are a few people behind me!  Oh well, if I am last it means I will be making the second to last person happy!  I just kept on running, walking when I wanted to and back to running!  I tried to remember to thank the marshals as I ran by.  Sometimes it was a bit difficult when they were looking at their mobile, or sitting on the wall on the other side of the street!  It just made me realise that my club have the best marshals going when we lay on our own 10k!  Of course most of the marshals were clearly enthusiastic as they cheered us all along, encouraging us to keep going!  It's also so great that the residents of Brighton also cheer us on, having my name on my top, hearing them call to me is a great encouragement.  

I managed to pass the second from last person! I think it was where we ran along by the buildings, obscuring our view of the sea.  But I was no longer the last person.  I could see SnappyH up ahead, I just need to keep her in my sights, not let her get to far ahead and the last person far enough behind me so that there will be no surprise sprint finishes!  A tough run.  But I've done it before, with a hangover, as well as feeling not too well!  Mind you, I wasn't feeling to well today, I think I am coming down with those 'baby bugs you get from schools'.  Kids are full of germs! But its just as well I am not racing, I am running, so I shall just have fun, enjoy the scenery, with a smile on my face!

Now this race, it's a straight out and back route, with a little bit of psychological running when you get back to the start/finish, because you have to run pass that for another half mile then do a 'u-ee' at the top and run to the finish.  It's always a tough bit of the course for me! Getting to the very first turn around point though is a good thing.  I always feel like I am on the way back, which of course I am.  I was still ahead of the last person, I kept checking behind, I could also see SnappyH up there, on route too. I wasn't going to be able to catch up with her but I didn't want the last person, Myra, (I heard her friends calling to her), to catch up to me either.  It was my own little challenge to myself.  And I am sure I would be her challenge too!

Running along by the seafront again is always nice.  I can't believe the weather this year!  It's just perfect running condition.  I wished I was fitter and lighter, I could get a PB if I was!  But I wasn't going to be that pressure on me. Run for running sake, just because I can, just....because!  And there's a medal at the end.  I learned a long time ago that I wouldn't be in the trophy awards any time soon.....unless it was by default.  A few years back I had won my group Grand Prix......because I was virtually the only one competing in my group!  Nowadays the groups are slightly different, with everyone having to challenge themselves a bit.  I still can't do it though because there are quite a few Sunday races that I just won't be able to get to.

Anyway, back to the 10k.  Where was I? Oh yes, on the way back!  I am not saying that I was having a fine old time running, I mean, for a start I was almost last.  Last year there were quite a few behind me! Surely I couldn't have lost that much fitness? Also, no inflatable ducks, chickens or turkeys to compete against!  Where is everybody.  It certainly felt different from the previous years I have done this race! A little lonelier!  I believe SnappyH felt exactly they same!  I kept my run/walk going, sometimes even yelling at myself to keep on running!  I haven't done that for a while!  I really do need to kick some ass and get moving soon, that's for sure.

Running back on the road, I knew there was only just over a mile to go to the finish........and then run past the finish for half a mile or so before heading back to the finish!  I tried not to let it get to me, I tried not to think of that bit of the route.  I wanted to just enjoy the weirdly nice weather we were having for the Brighton 10k.  No wind, no rain, it wasn't that cold either!  I even started the run with my jacket tied around my waist!  The public we still cheering us on, some were saying "How many more is going to come up behind us"  I almost told her that there was probably just one left, but thought "nah, lets just get this done".

I focused my gaze on the pier, knowing that with every step I will be be closer, the pier will get bigger and bigger.  My run will soon be over and I can look forward to fish and chips!  The lady and gentleman with the cow bells were cheering me on "You can never have enough cow bells" I thought to myself, smiling as I recalled a comedy sketch on the telly!  I think I will have to have another blog writing down all my thoughts when I run!  I do seem to think of some weird stuff!  but can never remember to put it down in a blog!

At the pier now, runners with their medals cheering me along, not long to go.....so everyone is saying!  But I am still feeling positive.  A lot better than I felt last year when I had go to this point!  I was still smiling and, weirdly, feeling good about the whole run.  Well, apart from the usual atmosphere that is generally about!  I do miss that. The whole getting to Brighton on the coaches, sleepy heads nodding off in seats, a quiet murmur from hushed voices. Even the start line seemed weirdly quiet as well!  Oh well,  I couldn't dwell on that, I was just pleased that I was feeling pretty much ok!  No puking up at the end for me!

Running pass the start/finish line, I tried not to look at it, just the people finishing!  I could see Terry not, I checked my watch and saw that he had got in just under the hour! Very good going for him!  I saw some other PWR's as I ran along beside the home stretch, longing for the time that I will be running along there!  I still had to go out for half a mile before I even turn around!  I checked behind me to see where there last runner was, I knew she was keeping pace with me, I just needed to keep her at a safe distance where there was no possibility of getting into that whole sprint finish thing and suddenly losing my position of second to last!

This last bit seemed to go on for ever!  Have they some how managed to stretch the road!  I am sure it wasn't as long as this last year!  I think I say that every time I do this bit, I guess that is my psyche getting to me!  I say SnappyH coming back on the home stretch, which means that I didn't have that far to go to turn around cones!  I just needed to keep on going, keep on smiling!  After all, this is for fun!  I got to turn around cones, I could see the camera man sat there, you just know he is going to be snapping away!  I had to try and look as if I had just started out!  Smile!

I swept around the cones and headed back to the finish line I could see Myra coming up the other side.  We smiled at each other and we high fived when we got near to each other.  Respect, 10k is a challenge to people, even for me still, always looking to try and better your last pb!  I had to keep on top of my game, I knew Myra had reeled in a couple of meters on me.  I think I was still in the safe zone of no last minute sprint finish.

I could hear the guy on the microphone now and the lady as they started to call out the winners of each category so they could give them their trophies!  Yup, the race is all but over now, just a little bit more, the cameras will still be flashing away, I must remember my smile as I cross over the finish line!

Did it!  Done it! Beat it!  Beat last years pb anyway!  Still got to beat my over pb for this course!  maybe next year!  A great race, but.....there was just that little bit lacking this year.......maybe the party bus really does bring the party atmosphere to races!  We really are an awesome club!

Oh there was of course a little matter of food and treats!  We found ourselves a little American diner, complete with...well him

and an Elvis...sort of.

  While we dined on burgers, chips and this lovely beauty!

Geeky stats.



most photos from SnappyH 

Club run

hello blog readers

It’s been a while since I last blogged!  I have been running though, just been lazy with the writing!  But there has been a shortfall on my running as well, I won’t lie about!  Sometimes running is just so hard to get started!  I really do need a huge kick start to get me going!

Which is just as well I was leading group 1 yesterday evening because that for me, is total mojo hunting, ass kicking, motivation right there to get me out of the house! Even with the thought I might have to walk home after the run couldn’t dissuade me from getting out of the door (my car is sick). The old boy  was going to give me a lift to the rec but fortunately for me, he said I could have his car instead! Whoop whoop, it meant that I could also pick up SnappyH.

As it was move up week I decided to use the easy route, it’s just a tiny tad over the 3 miles but such a nice flatfish route. It was just as well too because there was a newbie with us, she had never been running before!  Well, this will be a challenge for her!  There has been a few people over the years who have joined group 1 on a whim, some quite within the first hundred yards while others kept up with the struggles and now in higher groups......or even leaders!

There were 8 of us, with Alison and K doing the sweeping. We ran out of the rec and then turned right. We turned right again to run up the hill, after that it really was all flat, well! Apart from the other hill on Shepperton of course.

So there it is. A short and sweet blog for a short and sweet run.

Beginners Week 4

Hello Blog readers.

Yesterday we had a fourth session of beginners running!  I was leading!  I just love doing this, watching each runner as they achieve their potential.  They are even surprising them selves!  It does your heart good in more ways than one when you start running, leading, encouraging others!

I think there were about 20 runners that morning, with some of our fabulous PWR's to help all those runners to keep on going!  Sometimes you have just have to forgo parkruns or racing to come and chat with these new budding runners!  Getting back to just running for running sake, running just because you can, is sometimes where you need to be!  And there is no better place to do it that than with the beginners! 

So there we are, with our magnificent PWR's volunteering, running around with our beginners we had a fab time!  We really did!  The weather held off, it had been raining sometime beforehand so it was a bit squishy in places, but that just makes for a nice soft underfoot, a massaging each step you took.  As usual we started with our two laps of walking. Walking is a great way of getting to know more about our beginners.  Time to chat, help them put aside all negative thoughts about whats going to come next.  Time to breathe, wake up a bit, get the lungs working, ready for the running.  After that we had a drills to get our muscles warmed up. Then it was the running.  With 4 minutes of running and 2 minutes of walking, so began the step up to becoming a fabulous parkrunner and (hopefully) a PWR.

Everyone really did well, of course they were all thinking "When does this get easier"  Well, readers, we all know the answer to that don't we?  We just think about that fabulous feeling after we have finished the session, the run, the race!  Which ever one we have signed up for!

We end with our usual drills and that was that! All done until next week.....apart from the homework during the week!

Loving these sessions, love PWR!  What more can I say!

Club Run - So Wet!

Hello blog readers.

This evening it was club run, I wasn't leading, in fact I was that close to not even going!  The weather has been totally barmy.  Huge dark clouds this afternoon, lightening, and torrential rain!  I thought it was in for the rest of the day!  But thankfully it cleared up.  I was hoping to be running with a friend of mine from the club, a huge motivator for me to get my backside out of the door, but then I had a message saying there it wasn't going to happen!  By then I had already text Wendimoo and Auriol that I would be coming!  Oh my goodness readers, I was so close to staying under my lovely cosy blankets!  But Wendimoo has a very persuasive way about her and I got myself ready!

It was just slightly raining by the time I got outside J.J.s house, I felt a bit more relaxed about our run, maybe it won't rain anymore.  All through the annoucements it kept off, it wasn't even that chilly!  I felt sure we were going to have a nice dry run!  So with my running mojo hiding again, poor Auriol who was leading, having a sore knee and a couple of the the other runners in our group all wishing that actually they were home, we did set off!  Wendimoo was there, it was good to see her, so really, I was glad I came out.....mainly because she had nagged me to get out!

After all the announcements had been done we set off for our run.  Auriol went with her plan B route, easier on her knee, plus, if the rain did come down hard we could take a short cut home!  Everyone was up for that!  We ran along Crossways towards Petts Wood Road and crossed over.  The rain just started to come down just slightly.  "Maybe it won't get any worse than this" I thought to myself! Well, all the thoughts in the world could not stop the rain from falling down even more!  We ran along Willet Way and then down Priory Avenue, then on to St Johns and out on to Tudor Way.  Auriol had some sprints planned for us to do on the other side of the tracks!  But by the time we had gone under the bridge the rain was coming down quite hard!  It really wasn't pleasant!  I know this is typical British weather, and we should just suck it up and deal with it, but, I really didn't want to!  I think the others were just about grinning and bearing it all.  Auriol took us along to where were would start our sprinting, a loop of Nightingale, Lakeswood and Woodhurst, but it really was very wet, sprinting in that would not have been fun.  We opted to just head straight back to the rec from there, via Crest View.

We were all like drowned rats by the time that we got back.  There were another couple of people from another group who had decided to cut short their run too.  But do you know what, not one of us said 'I wished I hadn't come out"  It's amazing really, even though we didn't like being out in the cold, wet dark night and while we were running we were wishing that we were at home, we all still said "Well I am glad I came!"  We are the most weirdest people I think!!

Beginners Week 3 - RefMichael is Back!

Hello blog readers.

Saturdays seems to come around pretty darn quick!  But it's good, because I love Saturday mornings, I love watching the beginners realise, that they can do it! They can finish this course!

I got there with Naggy, she is still on sidelines encouragement as she heals from her broken toe, RefMichael was there, raring to go, Sherry was busy with the clipboards, we still haven't managed to get emails to all our beginners.!  One day, it will all happen so perfectly it will be scary!  All our lovely beginners were there, I am sure feeling even more amazing than they were that first week!

After Sherry introduced our RefMichael to all the beginners he got straight down to business and put them through their paces.  First with the warm up routines of skipping, butt kicks, sideskipping and karaokas (?) I think that is how and what you call that funny little twisty run that we do! Then it was our 3 minutes of running and 3 minutes of walking!  Same amount of run/walk ratio!  There were a few nervous giggles and chitter chatter going on, but, when I looked at all of them I knew they would all do so well!  I felt sure that from this week on they will go on to surprise themselves and really start to feel confident about their running!

The running section started and everyone was just so eager to get going they almost always forget about pace!  There is one chap that just wants to run off at speed but fortunately one of our PWR volunteers got along side of him to keep him focused on building stamina rather than speed!  Speed will come a bit later!  We always have a great turnout of PWR's to help with our beginners!  Even though it's RefMichael, ZippySherry and me, who are the leaders, we really couldn't do without our regular army of volunteers that come along.  Some forego their parkrun every week others come and join us every other week!  Brilliant, love our club.  I am sure the beginners appreciate them running along side them too.

Our running was soon all over, the chitter chatter turned to "Oh my goodness I didn't think I could do that" and "I was dreading this week but it wasn't as bad!"  It really isn't as bad, as long as you follow the program, you can and will run a 5k! 

RefMichael led them all through the cool down stretches gave them their homework to do and then sent them over to me, I still have some email's pinging back to me as incorrect, so I tried to upload them directly onto the google doc as they were standing there!

I am so looking forward to next week!  It's going to be brilliant!

Club Run - Group 1 Me leading....?

Hello blog readers.

I was kicked out of the house this evening, metaphorically speaking.  Kicked out by PWR's because I was leading!  No excuse to not run, I am a group 1 leader, it's my turn, I don't have a broken ankle, or recovering from a brain transplant!  Get out there and go running!  Also the Old Boy told me to get out there too!  "You've been slacking" was the impression I got from him this evening!  I think I have too!

So, here I am, writing me blog, went out, ran, come back! Bish bash bosh!  Oh you would also so like it if that was it, right!  But I will waffle on a little bit more!  My new job, it's still going well, which means I am still get up at a sparrows fart in the mornings!  I am not a morning person!  Seriously not.  Early mornings at work have taken their toll on my running!  But I am just going to have to get used to it....apparently its how the rest of the world carry on anyway!  I have been falling asleep by about 10 ish!  Tuesday IS running night, I WILL run!  Especially if I am leading!

My super duper Garmin was pinging away with all the messages of 'I am not going running this evening'  The weather had put most people off, it was raining so hard early during the day!  Just a miserable day, people just didn't feel motivated.  I am lucky, I don't need motivation, I just need it to be my week for leading and that's what got me out!  I came up with a route, it's one of my old routes done in revers.  We ran out of the rec, turned left and then left again!  I hadn't run this road all the way to Petts Wood for ages, I was reminded of the 'little challenges' when I completed the members 10k the other week.  It needs to be done again, in reverse of course. 

All the way round till we got to Petts Wood, with just the four us, as I said, me 'leading'.  Only I was leading from the back, I was doing both sweeping and leading today!  The runners I had with me were so much fitter and faster than me!  They really did pull me along....on the running bits, I just pulled them back on the walking bits.  When I looked at my Garmin we were sometimes running at 11:20 m/mi.  I kept up with them for as much as I could! 

We ran 3.14 miles this evening, getting back to the rec, second group back!  I really enjoyed my run, it was just what I needed!  I needed to know, that actually, even though I am  tired, I can still run, I am just facing new challenges, a few adjustments need to done, early nights really, but I can do it!  Bring it on! 

Here's my geeky stats.

Petts Wood Beginners Week 2

Hello blog readers.

I know I missed writing all bout week 1, but things have been happening, changes and what not, so I have been a bit lazy with blogging and even with one of club runs!  With the new job, I have been learning new things, downloading stuff......all by myself....most proud!.....to do with work!  It's been going spookily great! 

So yesterday was our second week of the Autumn Beginners course.  We have a good number of runners for this course, all eager and enthusiastic!  For the first three weeks at least, that is all you need!  I love looking at our newbies, all looking as if the next few weeks are an impossibility for them.  But then come the end of the course seeing their faces and listening to them chat to their fellow Autumn runners is just magical!

ZippySherry was leader for week two, I did the first week, but it did mean that I could stand and protect all our runners as they skipped, sideskipped, butt-kicked their way up to the line of cones while doing their drills!  What was I protecting them from? I hear you ask, it's the holes in the ground!  Two very nasty little holes, obviously done by our gorgeous little canine friends at some point.  It was one of these two holes that incapacitated me earlier in the year!  A sprain put me out of action and in crutches for a while, doing a full splat in front our a spring beginners!  They will forever be know now as 'Donnas Holes'.  Here this is me protecting the troops!

Mind the holes!

The runners did very well avoiding those holes and we were all soon warmed up enough to start our running section, 2 minutes of running and 4 minutes of walking!  Still very doable for the people that joined the course for the first time this week, 2 minutes of running is so doable!  I like the fact that with our beginners course we really do start off as gentle as possible, I can't think of anything worse than turning up to something and trying to run before you can walk.........err, um.....well probably the wrong catchphrase there, because we can all walk and we want to run!  But  you get the idea.

keep you're eyes open!

side skipping!

Some more pictures of us all doing the warm ups, courtesy of our LouLou. I am sure they all all enjoyed the skipping! And all the rest of the warm ups of course!  After that it was time for our running.  We only had 2 minutes of running and then 4 minutes of walking.  It seems a long time if you have never done any running before, but we know for experience over the years our beginners will look back on this and smile, especially after they have all completed a 5k parkrun without any walking or very few walking bits in there! 

For five reps we ran and walked our way around the rec and then we did our cool down stretches, we don't want any cramping or pains in legs!  ZippySherry lead them all through some great stretches that will help our muscles to relax and do they thing that they should be doing....healing, getting rid of that lac....lack,.....lag......what even acid it is that builds up in your muscles after exercises.

Stretch those muscles!

A great second session of our beginners!  I think that everyone there this time will be with us till the end! 

Petts Wood Runners Members 10k 2019

Hello blog readers.

What a beautiful day we had last week!  The sun was out, it was positively oozing happiness on all of us that turned out for the members 10k race.

Before I start though, just to say, I haven't been totally lazy since my last blog entry, I went running on the Thursday morning before this, the first Thursday since Kirsty passed away!  It seemed strange and surreal, a whole calender month had gone, virtually and that Thursday was the day I felt I could finally get my back side into gear!

But later on that day I had a job interview too!  Guess what?!  I got the job!  Childcare Leader at a Breakfast and Afterschool club!  Who'd have thought it!  I think Kirsty was having some words with the Big Boss upstairs!  I started the job on Tuesday!  No more sitting around twiddling thumbs!

I also did parkrun too before the members 10k!  Not particularly fast or manic.  But these days I am not fast anyways!  But I got out and did it, nice and gentle so as not to do any damage for the run and am about to tell you!

Members 10k 2019

So, as I am said, it was a glorious morning!  The sun was shining bright, I was feeling particularly happy and all seemed right with the world.  I knocked on the door for Shalini, drove to pick up SnappyH and then we picked up Tracy on the way to the rec.  As we walked into the rec the smell of bacon hit us, it was enough to make you salivate.  There were an array of cakes, some shop bought, but some made by our own PWR's.  The chefs behind the tables busy cooking up the bacon looked like they were from the most poshest of posh restaurants, looking resplendent in their aprons!

Caterers!
(picture by WendyLC)

  We were not ready for bacon butties yet, the volunteers were first in line for the tasty breakfast baps.  Before we took our walk to the start line PhysioMikeTheMod gathered everyone together, marshals, chefs and runners alike.  He then asked everyone to just spend a moment, an applause for Kirsty.  It was Kirsty who was the official 'Celebrity Starter' of our public 10k a couple of years ago.  Most people knew of or knew about Kirsty and everyone stood, clapping and remembering, giving respects to our Kirsty.  Well, you can imagine how I looked!  Some of our members looked exactly the same too!  Rest in peace now Kirsty, you will be missed by so many of us.

We had to walk to our start line, in Tent Peg Lane, near Jubilee Park. 

Walk to the start
(Picture by SnappyH)

It is not the PWR 10k route that  is sold out virtually every year, it's our own route.  Taking in the delights of Southborough Lane, a long road, an up hill road IF you come from the other end.  But we have the pleasure of running down to it, then along Blackbrook lane to Thornet Wood Road, which brings us in to Jubilee park and back to the start in Tent Peg lane.   We have to do that loop one more time before running over the walking (Troll) bridge and then running along Woodland Way, Great Thrift and Little Thrift, Hazlemere, turn into Crossways and to the rec.  We had to do a lap of the rec too, I am sure the bacon aroma was all over the park!

That's the route, it's a great route, for your psyche, because everything seems to come quickly.  The turn in Southborough, then Blackbrook!  And once you get into Jubilee you know that you are back to the start again and just have to do it one more time!  At least that is what I was telling myself!  We had Adam and, um.....my goodness, her name has escaped me, Emma, I think it was, well they were the tail runners, just so that we knew everyone had got back to the rec, and were not continuing to do loops around and around all day! 

The start! Groups 1 and 2 together
(Picture by Kev Howarth)

The first loop was brilliant, well, it always is, the lovely downward road all the way to Blackbrook, with all the right turns marshaled by our lovely club members!  Blackbrook lane is fairly flat, at least I don't notice if it has a 'rise' at all.  When I was running along Thornet Wood lane a trio of cyclists rode on by us. "Hello Spencer!" I yelled out as I recognised one of them!  He called back to me a lovely 'Hi' with a wave of his hand.  I carried on running when I noticed Spencer coming back to me, stopping me he gave me a big hug!  Some of my friends in the cycling community such as Spencer, even they knew about Kirsty, and he just wanted to let me know that!  I tell, you, I have some lovely people that I can call friends.

I soon got back to the start for the second loop, with the water station set up, I so needed that!  It was really warm that morning!  After a nice drink I started the run again, with Tracy and our two tail runners, chatting all the way!  This time that loop seemed just a little bit longer than it did the first time!  PhysioMiketheMod had been busy at some time prior to our run because chalked all along our route was distance markers, 1k, 2k, 5k, 6k!  That was very comforting to see! I was glad to get back onto Blackbrook lane.  Matthew came running up behind us, he was struggling a little bit and I chatted to him.  When I spoke to him afterwards he said he had a bit of a wobble in Jubilee Park, but after that he just knew he was going to finish! 

The water station was still there at the start line!  Oh my goodness, I was really warming up, I really needed water by then! Our club members do not budge until the last man or woman has run pass them!  This time though, instead of turning right, we turned left, we were going to be running over 'the Troll Bridge' turn left again when we got to the round about and then follow the road all the way to Crossways.....with a little dip into the Cul de Sac of Little Thrift

Little Thrift! 
(picture by Jan)

just to make sure that every meter was run on our 10k.  We also had to do a huge loop of the rec!  Of course by the time I got there most of them were well rested, eating bacon sandwiches and cakes, drinking tea!  But of course they never forgot to give us a big cheer as we ran around the last bit of our 10k.  Not only that, but they did the same for Tracy, as she came in a minute or so after me! 

What a fabulous morning it was!  Oh, by the way, I also won a little award!  I came first in group 1 this year!

Me with my award!
(picture by SnappyH)

Mind you there was only two of us!  Still, at least I did have some competition this time!  I am also a little bit late in writing this up!  This happened last Sunday!  My new job has been monopolising my time, whether its been actually working or I am catching early Zzz's by going to be bed early!  Early mornings have come as quite a shock to the system!  But I am sure I am going love my new role!

Here's some pictures of our 10k!

Running the green
(pic by SnappyH)

Registration
(pic by WendyLC)

These next three just show you what a happy bunch we are, these ones are from Kev Howard, Mr. Kevtwoballs himself.

Club Run - Me leading!

Hello readers.

It's my post holiday run!  I thought I would be some much worse than I was today, but actually if felt good.I know I ate loads on holiday, especially the breakfast.  I mean, really, who eats like they are on DownTown Abby every day!  Usually I eat a bit of fruit and muesli with some yogurt, of course on holiday, especially when it's bed and breakfast, you just eat it because it's there!  But then, I didn't eat lunch really, and didn't even have that many snacks.  But I still felt bloated!  Of course no running at all over the weekend!

So my first run back since Thursday, I was leading group 1.  It is also move-up week, which means as it's my lead I like to try and push a little bit harder, so it feels like we have all moved up.  That means hills!  I was looking around my routes for some inspiration and the only one that came up with some hills is, of course, Tillingbourne Green!  I thought about it all the way in the car to the rec.  The other routes just don't seem to have that little bit of extra undulations! 

After all the leaders were introduced and given out their routes, we all gathered at our meeting spots, paddles held high and we gathered in all our runners.  In my group there were only four of us, I am not quite sure how fast we are all going to be.  It's going to be an interesting run.  It also means that I really am going to have to push myself, no sneaking to the back having a cheeky walking pace. 

We set off out the gate and turn left, run to the end and then turn right, our first hill already, Birchwood.  I am going to have to try and run up this with no cheeky stopping, especially if the three other ladies are next to me, it means they are keeping up with the average pace.  I kept an eye on the pace, my watch was showing that we were bang on target of our slowest pace of 13:30 minute miles, I was perfectly happy with that.  We had a bit of a breather at the top, then walked a bit, mainly because just under the trees it's quite dark, the roots have pushed up the tarmac too, so it's a bit of a trip hazard.  We saw another group running towards us, I 'high-fived' them as they ran past.  We ran a little further to the crossing and RefMichael's group was there, waiting to cross the road, it looks as they are going to run Tillingbourne too!  After we crossed over the road we followed them towards the green, a nice down hill section. We were not that far behind them, I expected to bump into them again when we got to the end of the road, but they had turned right to run up the hill to Petts Wood Road.  We, however went straight over and then around the green.  It's quite a cunning little hill, the road leads up to the college gates, it's just a short incline but on the other side of this is a longer down hill section as it goes around the green hugging the outer edges of the grassy area.  You just know that as you are running down the hill, enjoying the easy momentum, you start thinking that you got to go back up to where we had started from!

All three of the ladies did really well, I had a cheeky walk but I did finish the green with a run to the others.  We had one more hill to do and that was the one to get to Petts Wood Road.  We had a bit of a harder run to get to the top, just for training, just for fun, just because we can.  We have to feel like we have done ourselves some good with our running.  We were really doing very well with our time, I said to them that if they wanted to run along this road, down to Crossways, then wait until we all came together again.  We were doing really well on time, there was only one thing for it and that was to go up to the top, finish the road and then run down Kingsway and back to the rec that way! 

We ran for 3 miles, a pretty good pace for group 1 and some hills thrown in.  We all kept together as a tight group, the only one that suffered slight was me!  I had to walk up some of  Tillingbourne Green!

So our geeky stats for a group 1, move-up week, hilly one!

Last Core Training and Speed Session

Hello readers.

It was the last of our Thursday evening sessions and I was taking the lead.   Usually at the end of these sessions there are just a few left, the light going, earlier start and holidays keeping people away.  I was planning on doing the magpie game, but there just wasn't enough of us to do it, so it was the pyramid game that I had in  mind, but first of that all important warm up.

I decided to the two laps in a different sort of way again, where I get all the people in a row from the fastest to the slowest, then I pair the fastest runner with the slowest, until we meet in the middle where they are equally matched.  Then I send the pairs in the opposite direction to round around the pitch, high five when then meet each other and then run back to the start, high five again, and then do that one more time.  It seems a good way to warm up and hopefully all finish without waiting for too long for everyone to get back.  Straight into our drills to make sure our muscles are fully warmed up and ready for the pyramid running!

I had set out a course while the runners were doing the warm up laps, five lines of 4 cones.  I am sure my course is short than DiscoRich when he sets out his course. Mind you, with only 3 in each group it might be better, we will deffo be required to run before we get out breath back!  With the faster runners stepping up first, each choosing a middle runner and a slower runner.  Should be a close contest!  I had to do the pyramid run to make up the numbers.  I don't think the team I was in the last one to finish though, but after that it was a fast pace 'race' to bring in the cones.  The faster runs had to run to the furthest cone collect it and bring it back, the middle one get the next and the slowest runner to pick up the second cone leaving he faster runner again to pick up the first cone.  Ingenious eh? Saves me collecting them, plus a little bit of extra running for everyone!

Then our core work out, with some squats, lunges, planks, push-ups and star jumps. I introduced a new style of lunge that I saw on the computer, I can't remember the chap that was doing it, but he said that it is better for engaging the glues, if there is anyone that needs their glutes engaging it's me!  It is also better for me, at least better than the whole right angle that you usually do. It's like a lunge forward and a reach down, keeping the back leg straighter, instead of the 90 degree angle.  Of course I gave everyone the option of doing that one or this new, glute engaging, knee friendly one!

A quick drink and we were ready for our par lufs (I am still not quite sure how to spell that) but its the relays for anyone that don't know what that is, I am sure you are all long time avid readers and know that. With 5 teams we had approximately 12-13 minutes of running.  I think I said to them all about 10, but I just can't add up, but as soon as everyone was running the would soon not worry about how much time is left......right? Of course I had to run to too, I didn't do my Garmin though, it was low on battery, I didn't want to over run our relays!

With some cool down stretches it was all over and done with for our 2019 Core and speed training sessions.  A great time.

An Evening Run Around

Hello readers.

This mojo maintaining stuff is hard, this fitness maintaining stuff is hard!  Why is it so easy to get fat and flabby, and so much tastier too!  But I have to keep it going.  I was supposed to get up early this morning and go for a run with Naggy, but the weather put us off, "Turn back over Old girl" said Naggy in a text "It's pouring out"  I snuggled back under my duvet with a huge smile on my face!  But only for an extra hour, I had plans this afternoon to go see my stepmum, lovely lunch at the Grovner Hotel in Victoria.  Now that was delicious!

On my way back though Pat text me to see if I would go for a run with her, PastorPaul has broken his toe, so there's no running for him for a while!  I thought "Why not, I was totally lazy this morning, I should go" So went I did! (Is that even grammar?")  Pat suggest a run around the local parks, but I like the discipline that I feel Normans Park gives me.  As I have made my way there I might as well make it worth while.  We got all out gadgets ready, music, Jabra, Garmin, Pat had her MP3 going.  I think I run better to a beat, I can concentrate on the music rather than that little voice in my head that says "I can't do it"

We have a quick warm up walk while Satellites connect and then 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go!  Jabra counts down and we start running.  For some reason, Pat wanted to race ahead, I had asked her if she had done some warm up exercises already!  She did a few she said!  Well, I hadn't, apart from the warm quick walk, so we need to start off at a slower pace and then get up to pace.  I have Jabra set up for 12:30 m/mi, at the moment I don't really want to change that.  I have also got Garmin set up for run/walk 4 min/1 min.  That bit is to help my knees!  I must really find someone who can possible help with that matter.  I need a doctor who runs!  Can you imagine how many patients a doctor like that would have on his books!

So there we were, nice and steady, get the breathing sorted, get the pace sorted, just ease into a nice couple of miles, just perfect for an extra mid week run.  The fact that I am out running is good, think positive!   I ignored the first walking stop, ran straight through it, well, my knee hadn't given me jip so just keep going.  Pat seemed good with the pace too, now that I slowed her down!  What was she thinking, racing off ahead like that! Take it easy, build up, maintain, sprint if it's in there, or just take it easy till the finish!  All sounds pretty good, I have to stop putting the walking bits in there! Or at least the un-scheduled walking parts.  I actually missed the first walking minute and carried on through to the second running bit, I was feeling ok and my knee didn't tell me it didn't like it!  Pat seemed fine with it too.  

I was just saying to pat, this time last year if I had said that she would be asking me to go for a run with her she would have pee'd her pants laughing!  I can remember when she turned up at the beginners in her parker jacket and casual trousers, expecting with every week for it to be the last week! And now he she is, running pants, the most colourful ones she could find, running shoes and music to run to!  That's what PWR does for people!  What a bloody brilliant club we have!

Anyway, back to our running, we were running up the long straight, and the first mile nearly done.  We were running in the opposite direction that we would normally run if it was parkrun.  Well, I am going to miss the 500th park run birthday at Bromley this Saturday, the Old Boy has managed to book us a short break! I so wanted to do it, but me and Pat did our own 'widdershins' run.  It's good to mix it up a bit!  We only did two loops of the park but it was enough for both of us.  I particularly enjoyed the last run up the long straight of the second loop because I ran past my mental stop, the place where I said in my head, get there and then a quick walk, run to the end.  But I managed to run all the way to our official finish of our evening.  I must have looked a sight though, because I noticed that I had my tongue out, panting like a dog!  A bit like this I guess!

A blimmin good run, I am glad I got out.  I just got to stay positive, keep thinking positive thoughts and get my arse out there and do it!  

Club Run

Hello readers.

Getting back to normal, that's what they say isn't it?  I guess it is, it just doesn't feel normal anymore, but then it will never be the old normal, it's going to be the new normal.  I had run on Saturday, I did parkrun, the day after Kirsty's funeral.  I think I needed to do it, I needed to know myself that I can still get up and do the things I normally do.  Saturday morning was particularly hard for me.  I just felt drained, even my body was physically hurting.  I really didn't want to finish it, but Naggy wasn't having me not finish.  She kept with me, kept talking to me, until that last 500 meters or so, I just cried and cried.  It wasn't pretty, it was the first time I actually just sobbed and sobbed.  It was why I didn't write up my blog for that Saturday, it would have been just full of snot and tears, you didn't need to read that, and I didn't want to write it!  It also got a lot worse that Saturday, when I head about the death of someone else.  I was not a good day.

So today I felt a little bit stronger, I am sure my fitness level has dropped ridiculously, I know I haven't been trying hard of late, I need to just try and push myself, try and get back to at least somewhere where I used to be.  I wasn't leading this evening, Auriol was, me and Wendimoo were sweeping.  I have to just move slowly back to where I was.  Get some of those extra runs that I used to do, get my Psyche straight again.  What I need to say to myself is 'I can do it'.  moreover I got to believe it!

Sweeping for me at the moment is good, no pressure on me to look like I do this every day! I look like a total beginner, puffing and panting at the back as I make my way back to fitness again.  I deffo got to believe that I can do it!  That's the hardest bit for me at the moment, too much negative thoughts about 'I can't keep up, I can't run anymore, I am too slow'  Negative, negative! It's not what I should be listening to! So doing a job at the back, I can do, that's positive. 

I really enjoyed it today actually, we had some new people join us for the first time, one of them was a beginner from the course we had earlier this year.  In fact there were a few newbies this week, some went into higher groups, Shalini brought her friend along, Paul, he went straight into group 10 I think!  Yes, he had done some running!  It's good to have new members, we really are a great group, people just love being a member!

Auriol took us on a 3 mile run, running through the 'posh' side of Petts Wood and the 'poor' side of Petts Wood, or the crinkly crinkly side and the jingly jangly side of Petts wood (crinkly meaning notes, jingly meaning coins!)  She was taking it a bit easier as it was still very warm out, it will get even warmer as we run.  Who needs to spend money on a sauna when you can just go out running with your buddies!

Auriol had planned some nice catch up points and walking sections (thankfully!) I really needed them, everyone else was doing really well.  We did lose a couple of our gang of 13, as two of them decided to cut short their run.  The rest of us carried on, down and up Shepperton and beyond!  We came out on to Lakeswood Road, ran along their till we got Woodhurst Ave.  Do you know what, I didn't even realise where I was or what road I was running on.  I have had to look at my Garmin stats to check the route that we took.  Just following blindly, not thinking about which road to take, it felt pretty good.  We crossed over the high street and then went over the troll bridge, practising out nice and light running technique, Scooby Doo running!  We ran all along Towncourt and then turned right and right again to run to the rec to finish.  It was a really nice run, I enjoyed it, so that's a positive!

So as promised, the fourth time I am putting up this site, if you want to donate to a really fantastic cause please do this, the work that St Christophers does for the young adults is just amazing, I think you can ring fence your donation for St Christophers Young Adults. 

https://www.stchristophers.org.uk/donate

Also for this fantastic new charity set up by the Cystic Fibrosis Supporters, doing some great work too, trying to set up charity shops to help fund raise money on a regular basis for research!

https://cysticfibrosissupporters.org/

Chose your charity!  Or chose both, it's for people like Kirsty, lets try a beat this disease!

My geeky stats.

<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/3996758469' title='Bromley Running' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>