Running For Runnings sake?!: 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!