PWR Midsummer Eves Evening Run!

Hello blog lovers

I am a bit late in writing this up, but that's nothing unusual these days!  I must do better!  So this run is one of my favs! Oh my goodness, I sound like a puppy dog, every run I do is one of my favs!.....if you had seen an old face book post that I shared, you will understand the reference! Here's that post I shared.

 But this really is a fav of mine.  I missed it last year as I was looking after my mother in law who was extremely ill.  Sadly she died last year, almost a year ago!

So this year I was right there, either volunteering for something or for running it!  I didn't mind which.  I ended up as sweep in our group!  Our group was actually quite large!  There were 57 of us in group A.  You see, all the groups were amalgamated in to about 4 groups.  Groups 1, 2 and 3 were now one group, 4, 5 and 6 were another 7 and 8 were one more leaving 9, 10 and 11 to make another group.  I think that's how it all went anyway, but everyone would be running at the slowest group pace, with a few extra loop backs for those that wanted to stretch their legs a bit more.

We all met at the rec, a little earlier that the 7:30 start so that we could grab a  yearly club photo, here, take a look at this.  This is just some of us!  Not every member runs on a Tuesday, some run on other days!  Great looking bunch, don't you think? That's us, the picture at the top of my blog!

But it was soon time to run.  We watch as all the other large groups ran out and then we all ran out, all 57 of us.  Our halfway destination is the pop up pub, which was going to be in one of our members front garden.  With Illustrious leader leading all of us out to Dog poo ally we snaked our way off the green and out of the rec.  I don't think I have ever run with such a large group on a Tuesday evening club run.  We did look brill.

Once in the woods we turned left to run along by the railway line, all the way to the top of Botany Bay Lane.  It was a challenge keeping us all together, but Illustrious Leader did really well in pacing and then waiting for the back runners who are normally in group 1.  But as it was still a club run we wanted to keep everyone happy, so Illustrious Leader had devised a cunning plan.......when we got to the little bridge she sent all those that wanted to run at their usual pace off on the left path, which of course will take in Goss Hill, while us more sedate runners continued to run up Botany Bay lane.  We will met them again at the top of the hill, well it was almost the top, we still had a little bit left to do.

At the bridge the group split in two, led by Wendy and Sue, who would be sweep for that section of the run.  Sue tried to get me to do Goss Hill, but I didn't want to shirk my responsibilities of being sweeper! That is was I said anyway!  We ran up to the meeting point, oh my goodness. was it hard, and was it warm!  But I managed to encourage Tracy and K all the way to the top!  It's a social run, so we just had fun. We regrouped, oh this is us by the way, looking as if we had been there for ages!

We all then ran up the rest of Botany Bay Lane and then passed Coopers school.  Our destination not too far now, we had one more quick regroup before we did the last bit. Here, just to show you how many 57 PWR's look like!

This is J.J. I think she was putting her
order in at the pop up bar!

 We just had to follow the road on the left and run down to Cricket Ground road, what a brilliant name for a road, I guess the Cricket pitch in front helped to inspire that name!

We ran along the road, the pop up pub really close now, one of the faster groups started to run past us, they will probably get there just before us.  We turned the corner and there was Woody, our club mascot, showing us the right house!  Just behind him was our resident camera man, KevinTwoBalls, and just there, was the pub!  I was so pleased!  Here take a look at this!

Yay, it's the Pub!!!!

Here's some more pictures of us enjoying al fresco style drinking before we all had to make our way back to the rec.  Our group decided to take the exact same route back but we were not longer 57, firstly I think a couple decided that as they live pretty near to where we  were, they would go straight home, and then after that, because some of runners were a little two long at the bar and their groups had already gone, others just wanted a nice leisurely one back to the rec!  So we really were running along as an all ability running club, from group 1's to, well I don't know who was in the faster groups, but it truly was an amazing evening.

Just a few more pictures of a great PWR Social Run!  Mid Summers Eve, Evening Run!

Some of us ended up continuing the theme of socialising and went to the local pub in Petts Wood!  A fabulous evening, well organised and so very well attended!

Geeky stats

Thursday American Football Special!

Hello blog lovers.

I am going to write three blogs, in completely the wrong order!  I need to write up about Tuesday, I also need to write up about this mornings run, but I think this core and speed session needs it's own special title!

So this evening it was ZippySherry's turn to lead the session.  ZippySherry does love a game! I  or I should say we, as I had picked up Tracy on the way, were a tad late again getting to the rec on time, but we were still in time to do the second warm up lap of the rec.  That was followed by the drills of course, and so after that the games begin!

The first one was called 'Hungry Caterpillar'  I had never heard of it before, but after she had explained in I realised that I knew it by a different name, 'The train run'.  It's where we run, one behind the other and then when ZippySherry blows her whistle, the person at the back has to sprint to the front.  Well, there were quite a few people at the core training today, and so to make it a bit easier she put us in teams, just so that we didn't have to sprint twenty people!  I happened to be in a group with some pretty faster runners!  How on earth did that happen?  It was going to be one of those evenings, I think!  I couldn't quite keep up with them and I got a stitch trying to run faster and had to just slow down and try to get rid of it!

After that little sprint session we went over to grab some water and then on to the next game.  Duck, duck goose!  Yup, that's right, all these adults were going to play duck, duck, goose!  I can't remember who was first, and who was last, but there were some quite strategic 'picking' going on!  I think most people had a chance to be 'goose' with maybe one or two people not being 'picked'.  It was a bit like being the 'last one left' when the whole choosing of the rounders game at school was going on!  Only this time, I was blimmin glad I didn't get picked!  As you can guess I didn't get picked!  But later on I think I paid my dues for not owning up quickly to being 'left out'!

It was the core next, with a nice big circle already there we started with the squats, lunges, planks and push ups!  With me being 'teachers pet' by demonstrating how to do a squat and a lunge! Hmm, I wonder if that was the reason.........hmm?

So after that it was time for the last speed session in a game form.  British bull dog, as I knew it, Sharks and fishes as ZippySherry said it!  I love this game.......actually......I loved this game!  So I am sure you all know the rules of Sharks/Bull dog, there is a game area, you are not allowed to go out of, you have, in the beginning, one shark/bull dog in the middle of the play area.  Fishes/Bull dog dinner, is all lined up on one side of playing area and have to run to the other side and not get tagged by middle shark/dog!  Sounds like fun don't it!  Well not if you are teachers pet!  The first 'wave' went well, Viral, he volunteered, maybe he could be the new teachers pet, he was the first middle one, he is quite fast, and you just knew that he will get quite a few 'tags' on the first round.  The second wave, well, I think it went ok, and maybe the third time.  But then getting back I kind of got tripped up!  I knew I was heading for the floor, it was either face plant or do a rolely poley!  I chose rolely poley!  I still got a graze on my arm and knee, but that's fine.  no face plant, no wrecked glasses!

I think then that every had been tagged and so we needed to have a lone middle person again.  Michael put his hand up to volunteer, the swot! Who's the teachers pet now!  So did the first wave, and maybe the second wave, but the third wave I was still out, I was behind Nigel but it seemed that Michael had his eye on Nigel, he went for him, Nigel manged to side step him but Michael was on a roll by then, the momentum of going for Nigel was there, all the energy moving forward, and then there's little old me! Not fast, not agile, and in the way of all that force coming at me!  It felt like a steam train, I was kind of tackled, American football style, to the floor! Literally swept of my feet by Michael!  Ok, so next time anyone asks someone to demonstrate the exercises, it won't be me!

I googled rugby tackle, but I think this
pictures captures it better!

It was ok really, I didn't get hurt, and it was all brilliant fun, would you believe!  Everyone had fun!  Anyway after that game we had a drink and then a cool down lap of honour of the rec before the stretches and then home!

I do recommend these sessions, honestly, they truly are fun!  Today it was a bit challenging for me with the whole falling over business, but I still got up and finished the game of bull dog, and then the lap of honour.  I shall be back next week too!  I love these sessions!  So next time, why not come and join in!

Saturday Parkrun

Hello blog lovers

I know it's not Saturday, but I have been a bit busy, kind of, since Saturday and I am now only just getting around to it.  But Saturday was kind of nice.  It was a warm morning, NaggyNeighbour knocked on my door to go running.  I was just about ready, even though the Old Boy was offering me tea!  I refused, it was far too late for tea!

I went over to Shalini's to see if she was coming, but she couldn't make it and then we drove over to pick up Tracy, she was already outside waiting, eager or what!  We drove over to Norman Park, our local parkrun.  We walked over to the other side of the park to the waiting mass and there in at the back of the pack with J.J. LittleJ and Kay was......Wendimoo!  I think we will have to christened her Boomerang Wendimoo!  She keeps coming back!  I do so miss our Wendimoo!  We all chatted and hugged, Michael and Carole came and joined in the big hug-a-thon, and then it was time to start.

The crowds moved forward and then we started running.  Wendimoo thought that she would run off and do fast one, we saw the back of her monkey feet for all of three minutes and then she came back, "Stuff it" she said, "I'm running with my mates" and she dropped back to run with us.  I was chatting with her as we ran along, asking her all about her new job, her voice over jobs!  I was keeping up with her as we were pulling away from J.J. and LittleJ.  She was chatting all the way, oh I have missed that!  When we used to run together on a Wednesday afternoon, her chattering helped Tracy and me get all the way around the park!  It just took your mind off the legs as and just kept you glued to what she was saying!  I am going to have to get a pod cast of her chatting!  Yup, that would do it!  A whole 5k's worth of Wendimoo chatting would do it!

Anyway, the first mile done at a slightly faster pace than I normally do and then I started to flag a bit.  Wendimoo kept going, she was enjoying the new path around the woody bit at Hook Farm lane end of the park! I slowed down and J.J. and LittleJ caught up with me, and then after that I was playing catchup with them as I fell behind them.

The next lap that is how it was, the three of us just running and talking, me kept on playing catch up of course. We were just before got play park end, where we started, and I saw that Wendimoo had ran back to join us in the last couple hundred meters (I am no good and guessing how far it is from the park to the finish funnel, but that far anyway!)  I was really suffering, I started walking and saying to the girls, "go on you go I will see you at the end"  But there were not having that, "Come on, we are nearly there, you can do it"  So I ran a bit more, they started to pull away tho as they saw the funnel, either that or I started to go even slower (it was a very warm morning!) but then I found 'that bit extra' that I always tell everyone about. 'That bit extra' that can push you to run that bit faster, to sprint, to keep on going, to take you to the finish, when you're dead on your feet!  Ok, so I wasn't quite dead on my feet, that would have been when I was doing marathon.......did I ever tell you I have done the marathon....twice?

Oh, and one more thing!  I blimmin ached!  Speed and corse sessions are working.....well, maybe just the core for the minute......oh my goodness!  There could be some abs hiding in my body afterall!

Anyway, I finished it, the parkrun, not the marathon......actually I finished the marathon too, twice, but well, you know what I mean....so parkrun done, a slow time, I missed out on the cake that Hannah had brought along to celebrate her 50th but that was ok, because me, NaggyNeighbour, Wendimoo, J.J., LittleJ, Tracy and K all went for a lovely coffee afterwards.  A most pleasant Saturday morning!

Geeky stats.

Now, Where's That Core?

Hello blog lovers

I used my core last week, I know I did, because I ached the next day!  In fact I ached right up until the Tuesday club run, so I know I used it!  And so here were are again, trying to coax my core strength from where ever it's hiding!  (A ton of blubber I expect!)

I did manage to get out running this morning so I really needed to push myself had this evening.  The fact that I just had my hair done should not stop me from going out and getting all sweaty and hot!  I I really wish I could pull off the 'sweaty and 'hot' looking' person, but I just end up looking like a wet lumpy beetroot!  But as I say, I shouldn't let the fact that my hairdresser did a fantastic job of making me look 'hot' (ok, so I can dream!) before I start my exercise, just sweep up my hair into my cap and get out there and do it!

Shalini wasn't too well this evening, so I only had to pick up Tracy!  I had forgotten that we were to ride our bikes to the rec actually!  I shall get my bike out and ready for next week, just a little bit of extra exercise before the session!  That would have been very handy today because I was just a couple of minutes late and we had missed out on the two lap warm up before the drills!  Tracy actually went out and ran one lap, I thought I would just throw myself into the drills and then go flat out on as much of the session as I could but listening to what my body is saying to me!  One little niggle, one little twitch of a pulling on a muscle then I will just slow it down and wait until it passes.  I am sure that will be fine!

After the drills then we start on the speedy sessions.  Now I know I should remember the different types energy that we use when we do different types of exercise.  There's the immediate energy, ATP as DiscoRich had said.  You need this for these speedy little '30's' which actually were 25's.  Meters that is.  Our first running bit is to run from the starting cone, keep increasing the speed til your at your fastest by the first cone, maintain that speed until the second cone and then decrease speed till the third cone, then jog all the way back to the start again.  There were about 20 or so of us at todays session and so we were put in to groups of 3 with same paced runners, and then we set off in 3's.  We kept this going until DiscoRich (he was the leader today!) decided that we had done that for about 10 minutes.  It was tough going, but I did what I could, maybe I could have gone a bit harder, but I think that maybe it was enough for this evening.

After that we went back to the benches, grabbed a quick drink and then we started on the core training.  Squats, lunges, planks, bicyles and push-ups!  I think my core was engaged in a couple of those, I know my thighs certainly got a work out! Oh my goodness!  I happened to stand next to Viral when were were doing these exercise.  the squats and lunges were fine, kind of.  We all did them together, Synchronised squatting and lunging.  But when I was doing my Squat Viral said "Lower, squat lower"  Oh my goodness, yup, there was the burn!  And then go into the lunges straight after that, oh my goodness!  But I know it will do us good!  When were were doing the bicycles, laying on our backs, we had to reach opposite elbow to opposite knee.  I was doing it fairly quickly, so my legs were not actually straightening out too much.  But Viral said, "Slower, stretch out your leg more"  Oh my goodness, and there it is again!  Core engaged, knackered!  Can you see the patten here?  If you want a good core exercises go stand next to Viral!  There was no pretending to try this harder this time, not that I ever would of course!  Sometimes though I know that in the past, I have done some of the exercises pretty quickly, so the core is just not engaged for long enough to be of any benefit!  I think next time I have a catch up moment in group 1 I shall do some of those squats and then a couple of lunges after!  That will help us all!

After the core section it was our usual par luufs, or relays.  This time a relay of three, so we were running for long sections each time!

A great session on a Thursday evening, and I am so glad that the rain held off!  Oh and the other two energy systems that we use, well I think its short term energy, what we need for maybe the 5k runs, and then there is the energy we need and use for the long term, stuff like half marathons and marathons and beyond!  It's amazing our bodies how it stores all this energy, and it's just a knowing how to keep those energy levels supplied to help us get the best out of what we want to achieve!  I am still learning, and I wish I knew how to tap into the energy that uses my fat cells to burn fiercely while I am just walking around doing my every day things!

Anyway, that's enough science, I am sure I haven't explained it at well anyway! But what I do know is that my muscles appreciated tonights sessions!

Club Run - It's A Windy One!

Hello blog lovers!

I don't know who did it but I suggest you go right back up stairs and turn summer back on!  What the heck is this!?  Wind, rain! Hail stones the other day!  Trees falling over, fences across the path!    I can't believe it's summer, or did I miss it....or has it not started yet?  Blimey, it's enough to make you get your long sleeved tops on again!

I woke up this morning to a dark sky, wind and rain!  It just wasn't very inspiring at all!  When I left the house to walk to my car this morning the neighbours fence was right across the path!  I had hoped then that the weather would improve during the day for when I wanted to run!

Well it did, kind of!  It was still so blimmin cold, and it was still overcast and dark outside.  Shalini had knocked at my door ready to go along to the rec and it had just started raining slightly again.  Hats, warm sweat top and long run pants was what she was wearing, I think I will do the same.  I was still in my day clothes!  I was really dragging my feet about going.  One of the most useful things about being a run leader is that I am needed!  Well, if I was ill or something silly like that then there will always be someone to cover for me.  But in my head, I need to be there!  So I went up and got changed into my running gear.

I knew I had a PWR member that was coming back to running after being out for a while, so I chose a nice and gentle route around the streets of Petts Wood, which is actually my plan B because of the weather!  Plan A was a nice gentle one through the woods, but I thought with the adverse weather we had I needed to get my H&S head on and choose another route.  So it was the easy winter route for us.  I had thought about the Cinder Path, which is kind of through the woods, but then what if branches came down,  maybe next time it was just raining I would opt for that one!

I had a count up of the runners in my group, only 8 this week, but then it is 'Move Up Tuesday'.  The fist Tuesday in the month we encourage those that want a challenge to move up to the next faster group!  Some of our group 1's had moved up. If they really don't like it that can come back to their usual groups....until the next month and try again!  It's a great way to challenge yourself, and you never know, you might find that you are quite comfortable in the next group!  I know that when we have another couple of leaders for group 1 then I shall push myself into group 2 and then hopefully the next group, maybe........its only a dream at the mo of getting me beyond group 2!

We set off after most of the other groups had left, we turned right at the gate and then ran up to Kings Way and then turned right up there.  This was our only hill, well, only noticable hill.  Carole shared a picture with me on Facebook this evening with the words "Don't think of them as' hills'; Think of them as 'mounds of opportunity"  I wish I had seen that before I had left for running club this evening, I could have shared those words of wisdom with the group!  Still fecking hate hills!  But maybe I could start looking at them with new eyes!

I didn't have any sweeps today, so I did catchup stops, and tried to really keep my pace at the slower end of the advertised pace.  I also encouraged the faster ones that kept with me to run back to the back of the pack until then run back to me, but everyone was just happy to wait and not do the loop backs.

And that is how group 1 did this route today.  We ran, we waited and then we ran.  Auriol was with me, but she is slowly getting her fitness back.  She knew that she could walk the three miles that we do in group 1 at the over all pace that we do in group 1.  She would just continue to walk on, and do do the catch up stop and then we would run passed her until the next stop. And so from there she could slowly build her fitness and strength up to start her back to running.  This is what we do in group 1.  Get people back from injuries, lazyitus and up to build them up to speed from the beginners group, for the next group!

We got around our route and back to the rec in under 50,  I counted them all in and I didn't lose any! It's always a bonus, not that I have ever lost any one!  So, geeky stats for you, and I am pleased to see that we did our three miles, I had noticed Della from one of the faster groups was doing loops of the field when we got back, to bring her Garmin up to 6 miles!  I know how she feels, seeing the ??.98 on your Garmin is just not on, you have to make it up the the round mile, or just a tiny bit over!

Geeky stats for  you all! I got the avergage moving pace to a good group 1 pace, now to work on the average pace over all!

Harvel 5 Picnic Day - With a bit of running!

Hello blog lovers.

One of my favourite runs of the year!  Mind you I think I say that about every run that I enter, because I just love them!  Anyway, this one is in my clubs GP races, not that I am competitive or anything, but it is good to be in for a chance of a placing in the club records!  This one is also at a very civilised time of 2 pm and it's on a Saturday too, so I don't have to miss church again!

It is such a popular event that our club has for the past couple of years organised a coach to get us all down there. This year it was the lovely CupcakeMoy who took control this year. I know it's only a short distance to Harvel, if you're driving that is, (I wouldn't want to run there that's for sure!) but it does mean that we can all enjoy the beer tent that is set up on the green and of course the two beer stops that is on route when we finally get around to actually doing the race.  As I said in the title it's Havel Hash House Harriers (5 mile run) Picnic day!

Human cones

We arrived on mass to meet up with other PWR's that were already there, after having a little walk from our coach drop off to the village green. Here, this is us, walking from our coach at the other end of this big empty field, waiting for cars to be parked there. Can you see it in the back?

Can you see our coach, right at the back?!

 Our flag was flying proudly between the ORR and the Zero to Hero groups! For the next hour and half more and more PWR's came along and pitched up their blankets and made ready for the picnic.  Some of the faster runners went straight for the bar!  And why not, it's only about 2 and a half miles to the water station, oops I mean the beer station when we do eventually get on and do this silliness that we had to sign up to, to be able to join in the picnic.

One of the fun things about this particular day is the portaloos.  Now, we all know runners get nervous and need to go, people hanging around for the runners need to go, so portaloos are and ugly necessity!  That doesn't mean the loos were tucked away some where at the back of beyond. They are on prominent show, the H.H.H.H have a competition among themselves, to decorate the portaloos,  this is what we had this year.  But also, being general election year, the gentlemen and the ladies could also 'take the piss' out of voting!  The urinals, I am told, had the candidates up for election, and you could vote by peeing in which ever pot you wanted.  The ladies were given she-wees so they could cast their vote.  I couldn't do this, I tried to use one of these she-wees at my first marathon.......oh did I tell you I ran the London Marathon......twice....2013 and 2015!  Anyway, I couldn't get the hang of the she-pee thing!

Which loo?

Or maybe these ones

This is just some of our PWR's, this is a 'before' the race picture, note the beer in the hands of some of the gentle men!  There were still some that didn't get in the picture, I think we would have needed a bigger camera because in fact PWR's had won the award for 'The most club members at the race' category!  It's amazing what the call of a free beer on route can do!

The gang

Soon it was time to walk over to where starting mats were, the sun was beating down on us and we were really all in good spirits, or beer or presecco or what ever tiffle they may have indulged in before the race, pre hydration I think they called it.  Here is the start of my selfie photos that I will be doing.  It was a blimmin hot day and I just couldn't see me smashing my pb!  Besides I am totally not up to fitness like I was last year! All I wanted really was to stay at least three steps ahead of the Grim Reaper......the last runner sweep!

Selfie at the start!

The sound of the starter gun went off and we all moved forward, as usual, slowly at first and the faster as we got nearer the mats that will record our time.  The group of PWR's that were with me soon stretched out before me and then I just kept on running by myself.  A couple more PWR's ran by me, every time I thought I was the last PWR then another came passed, Jane, Pherenice, and then Wendy, Michelle and Charley, I think! But then I really was the last one! Well, last PWR, there were still runners behind me...not many.

I got to the first 1 mile marker, and decided that I am going to just enjoy the run, take photos or every mile marker and have fun.  This was not a pb making day, it was way too hot!  So here is the first mile done, note that I am not looking to hot and red face, even though I was really feeling very warm.  I am sure it was around about here, or just a little further on, that the first runner came running back!  The chaps on their cycles, wearing sombrero's (I know, crazy right!?) came hurtling towards us, calling "Stay on the right, stay on the right" and he was gesturing with his hand, which was perfect for me because then I won't have to do the 'putting my hands up to see which is the left and which is the right!  The 'path makers' kept us separated  so that the first runner had a clear run back! Crazy!  I had only just got to mile one!

It was warm!

I was running for about half a mile on my own until I stated chatting to this young lady.  To be honest I can't remember if I caught up with her or she caught up with me, but there we were both running around the same pace, but we chatted along as you do on this occasions. and before I knew it we had come to the mile 2 marker.  So I took a selfie of my newest running buddy from another running clubby (I think I can get away with that?) It's just a little keepsake for me really, to add to my diary/blog, just so that I remember my day,  I thought that she would just start to pull away from me after this (she was so much younger than me!) but she just stayed where she was, by my side.  The marshals had said that the 'water' station was just a little way ahead.  I was thinking, "Hang about, I thought there was beer" but then he said "...or beer if you want it!" Phew!  Melt down avoided.

And what a 'water' beer station it was too.  At first when I approached the table, there were two, one on the left and one of the right, I saw a sign that said 'Beer on request' so I requested a beer, as I didn't see any on the table, ''No beer here" said the water marshal, "It's over there, at the bar!"  And when he said bar, he really did mean bar!  Take a look at this!

Love this bar, it does free beer for lycra wearers!

After that it became easier, well, I should say, I really just thought I am going to enjoy myself, chat with my new running buddy, Edwina from Rebel Runners, in the Medway.  We took pictures of the fantastic views just after mile three,

Getting pinker by the mile now!

but before that, some of her running club buddies had caught up with us.  There were really enjoying themselves at the bar, taking full advantage of the free beer and salty, savoury bar snacks too.  Oh, the ladies were not forgotten about by the way, if they ladies (or gentlemen) didn't like beer there was wine!  What a great run this is! But anyway, this is them, they caught up with us, so another selfie to add to the memories bank!

This lot!
The rabble that is the Rebel Runners!

Mile 4 seemed to come around pretty quick, I don't think it was because we suddenly put on a bit of speed! It's just that we kept on chatting and the mile just seem to disappear.  You know that after that it's only one more mile to go. Having someone to chat to all the way was brilliant, and having someone from another club to chat to was brilliant.  The running community are really a fabulous group of people!  Everyone one of the runners are just out here to have fun, whether it's getting a pb or not!  Because the time on the green after the run is just amazing!  Not a cross word, all those people having fun, enjoying being with each other, eating, drinking, running, sharing, laughing!  I wonderful day!

So nearly there

Oh the last picture, well of course, me and Edwina finished the race at the same time!  This is us with our medal, my chip time was 1:15:52, gun time for both me and Edwina was 1:16:26.  No garmin geeky stats as my watch was not charged! tut! Oh well!

Done it! Again! Love this race!

It was a perfect day, the coach ride home was entertaining.....they had a great singer to lead them all in song.....ok it was me...and after a few beers I really do turn into the 'pub singer'.

I need to say this though, because this happened on this day.  This fabulous day, where we are free to go about and enjoy our lives go about and run, drink, eat and share with friends in a wonderful place. To be able to be free to choose which church we can go to to give praise to Him! Terrorists decided to try and ruin our morale, terrorise Londoners, try to keep us from doing what we love to do!  Three disgusting people put a black mark on this day!  But Londoners will not let them put a black mark on the rest of our lives.  Just like Manchester, Londoners will continue to be free, to live our lives.  I pray for those who have been affected, for the families of the ones that were killed, and for those that saw the attrocity first hand.  I pray that as a nation we will continue to stand up together, all peace loving religious, against terrorism and terrorists, we will not bow down to terro. R.I.P. innocent angels!

Fun And Games In The Park!

Hello blog lovers.

I was at the second session of  'Party in the Park' this evening!  Ok, so there was no booze, but still great fun! Well, there wasn't any food, food is overrated at parties anyway. But boy I just didn't want it to stop! Music? Music....? no. No, there was no music, ok, so it wasn't a party but it was still bloody good fun! It was PWR's summer speed and core strength sessions.  I missed the first one because I was away for a short break, so I was really looking forward to this weeks session.  Illustrious leader was leading today, with the 'Iron fist in a velvet glove' leadership skills!

Our first activity was of course a two lap warm up of the rec. I was running behind everyone, well, Illustrious leader did say do the warm up laps at our own pace.  Half way around the first lap I suddenly remembered (after seeing a little flying thing) that I hadn't put on m Jungle Formula anti-bug spray!  I have already been bitten once this week, when we went through the woods, so I am taking no chances.  The little biters can bug-ger off!  So for my second lap I ran back to my car which I parked out side to go and get my bug spray and then ran back in the opposite direction to everyone so that I could catch up and continue running.

Then it was the drills, the skipping, the butt kicks and karaokas, you know the usual stuff.  then it was for some speed session.  Illustrious leader put us into two groups, a fast group and and less fast group, and we were to 'race against each other'  I know, it's crazy, who do you thinking will win!?  The faster group were handicapped though, and no, I was not their handicap!  Illustrious leader made a circuit about 10 feet wider than the cricket pitch, which the faster runners were going to run around, while us in the not so fast group would be running tight against the ropes that protected the sacred green on the pitch.  So we will be running less, but can we still beat them!  We had to do two laps, they could quite easily do it, if we let them.  I took the first lap, I had to run around, pass one corner post, pass the second corner post, by the time I got to the third corner I raised my hand for a second runner to begin.  All this time DiscoRich was chasing me down.  Of course he had the longer lap to do, it was pretty close!  It's the first time I have ever been close to beating any of the faster runners!  I do like this speed game.  We won by the way, us slower runners, we sat on the grass in a line while we waited for the other team to finish.  I think they tried telling us that there was thirteen of them and only 12 of us, or something like that!

We walked back over to our water and then it was straight into the core training exercises.  Squats, star jumps, lunges, push ups and cycling!  That was fun, it just shows me how unfit and how much my core strength has disappeared, if I ever had a core that is!  I think I am going to have to work out a little plan to do first thing in the mornings before I go off out!  I sure I can make myself get up just 15 minutes earlier to work on my core fitness!

After that it was relays.  A four way split relay, we all got into groups of 4.  The rec is used by everyone, we don't have sole use of the rec, so I.L. told us to run in a diagonal route to the other side of the rec to where our no.2 team was, we were to hand the baton the them and then they run to no. 3 and then they run to no 4. You all know how a relay works.  Before I realised the whole session was done and we were in a circle doing the cool down stretches!  Blimey, time flies when you are having fun!  The best darn party that you can have really, because you leave it on the most fantastic high, you've been with your mates and family (if they are in to running too!) and the best bit, no hang over in the morning! A great sessions led by Illustrious Leader this evening!

I put my garmin on, have to, it's exercise, even tho it's only in the green and doing core training!