Club Run

 Hi blog readers.

I don't want to say anything to loud, but look!  Another blog! Shhh, we don't want to frighten it away!  I had already 'prepped' my team at work, that if we had just a few kids then I will be leaving early, to get to club run.  Mind you, it's been quite a while since I got away during school term to run with the club, I almost thought, "I'm tired, maybe let one of the others go early instead"  I mean, my mind still thinks that this is the norm now, work = no run, school half terms = run.  Muscle memory, right, (is a brain a muscle... I should have paid attention in biology class).   

Anyway, I completed another run yesterday, with my club.  I wasn't leading, Tara was.  She had planned a route that she hadn't done before, it's always good to try new routes, keep things fresh.  There we 6 of us, Tara leading, J.J. who also hasn't been running for ages, Tina, Lesley and Mary.  Thank goodness Tara is quite happy to stick with the 60 60 routine that we have been doing!

We started off walking, well the carpark is quite dark, and there is this huge pothole just as we need to go through ally way, not as big as one in Godstone, but still an ankle snapping size hole!  Once out on to the roads Tara lead us up Birchwood! Up Birchwood! The first of a few hills!  My mantra, which I used to tell everyone to say while running up hills, just would not pop into my head.  "I hate hills!" is my new mantra.  Fortunately we are doing the 60 60, so we didn't have to run up the whole hill!

Once at the top we turned left.  It looked like we were doing one of my routes, but Tara did say that we were heading toward Leesons Hill, so maybe there will be another road that we will be turning down instead of the one I usually do. I was feeling pretty comfortable, the group were all still together, we were all running at the same pace.  That makes a change!  Usually group 1 is quite a diversity of runners.  But were have had some injuries and illnesses and work issues keeping us away from running!

We turned down Mapling Road, deffo still one of my routes, we turned left at the end of that, yup, deffo one that I have taken group 1 on.  But then instead of taking the next right we carried on straight.  Well, that's new.  This should be interesting.  Of course, now I am just following blindly, just 'enjoying' I want to say, the run.  The enjoyment was of course just being with my pals, my mantra, my new mantra, " I hate running" still escapes my lips.  

I can't really remember the 'lefts and rights' that we did, but I do remember the hills!  Tara did warn us there were a 'couple of little' lifts in the route, it's what we expect in Petts Wood.  There is always a 'little lift' somewhere on our routes, even on the flattest route.  What we didn't expect, not even Tara was to go slighty awry from where she had planned!  And guess what?  There was an unexpected hill involved! Oh well, there are supposed to be good, right!  We had ended up at St Mary Cray station! 

On our 60 second runs, some of them last just as we got to the foot of some of the ups, also some of them started as we were walking up the hills!  Boy, did I not like that!  I said out loud at one point "ok, run everyone, but I'm walking"  Tara said "Come on Old Girl, you got this!" Sigh, so I ran, but just not all of them.

We kept to the 60 60 mostly, all the way to the rec.  There were a few times I missed the start of a run, or, surprisingly the start of the walking bit, can you believe that!  I even suggested that once we were running back down Birchwood, we should ignore the 60 60 and and just see how we all do on the downhill. Me, I said that.  Maybe mojo is just peaking out from where ever it is hiding to remind me that I actually enjoy running!  It's good for you, it's free, it's mind easing exercise.  Plus with a club you get tons of friends and encouragement and banter and a whole lot of stuff!  What's not to like!

Beckenham Place parkrun

 Hi again blog readers.

It's me again!  I went running (obviously), at Beckenham Place Park parkrun.  A little bit of parkrun tourism, and the location was because there were a couple of milestone runners. That means cake!  You gotta love cake after a run!  

I was looking forward(ish) to this one as it was just a one lap route!  I don't think I have ever done a one l lap parkrun before. That means no one will be overlapping me, that will make a change.  There were only one other Normans Angel with me yesterday morning and that was NaggyNeighbour.  I had forgotten to mention that it may have been a bit muddy as I thought it would be on grass.  

We arrived there not knowing where the start was, fortunately it was quite near the carpark, perfect.  We arrived just a little late for the one of the group photos, but I managed to sneak in to a few others, just to show that I did indeed turn up. 

Naggy and I went over to the first timers briefing, that is where we found out that some of the route was not accessible and we were going to have to do a loop through the woody bit.  Darn it, that means I will be getting lapped! Oh well.

We went over to the start, everyone ready with the various watches and timers, their Stravas and other mapping tools, waiting for the off.  I found my place, at the back, let the fastest runners get to their place and then we were off.  Naggy set off at her pace, (She had already done a mile and some just before she met me by the car earlier) while me Auriol and Mary set off at our pace.  Both of these ladies were quite happy to stick to the 60 60 that we had been doing over the last two runs we did this week.

What we found on the route.  Mud, more mud and I believe there were also some slippery mud!  As you probably know from my last blog, I seemed to have turned back into a townie, the thought of getting wet and muddy was not what I signed up for!  I do remember a good few years ago I would have been the first to go right through the middle of the puddles, find the stickiest bit of mud to step into, laugh at the slipping that was going on. Not yesterday though. Yesterday I was squealing like a baby on RedBull, like the brakes on runaway train coming down the side of mountain!  I had no confidence in my footing, I slowed up completely and I was checking my Garmin after only 20 seconds on the run time to see if it was time to walk!  As you can imagine, I wasn't a happy bunny!  We had more walking time when the going was particularly slippy and going up hill we also walked.  Oh I didn't tell you that bit did I, there were hills!  Me and hills are not friends, me and hills fell out when my mojo walked out on me.  I couldn't even think about the mantra "Hills are are friends!"  It didn't enter my mind!  

Auriol seemed to be doing well and was ahead of me and Mary, but she stayed in 'radio contact distance' when I called out "Ok walk now" or "Run now"  As we were running I did think to myself "This could be a lovely run in the summer months!"  Of course that means at some point me and the Angels will have to go again to BPP to try again, hopefully when the whole route is opened, it will be nice to do a one lap parkrun!

We were just on the last mile or maybe less, we had just passed the little lake and was going down the other side of it.  I was fed up of slipping all over the place, my core was fed of trying to keep me upright (I had forgetten I had a core)  and I listened to the tiny voice in my head saying "just walk it now, it's not going to be one of your best or prettiest parkruns".  Mary was just a head of me and I yelled out "Just keep going, I have kind of lost it now".  Did she listen to me? Nope, just like us all in PWR, she came back and encouraged me to keep on going, she helped me to ignore the voice in my head to just walk it, so I carried on running as best as I could.  

We saw the finish line.  It was hardly hidden, in fact it was 'flying high'!  It was at the top of the last hill! ON TOP OF THE LAST HILL!  How mean was that!  I dug as deep as I could, trying to ignore my Garmin telling me it was time to walk again, I just wanted to get to the top, to the finish, to the cakes!  

At the top, by the finish was the PWR's celebrating Premas 250th and Steves 300th parkrun.  There cakes being passed around, the cameras was angled at the finishing line I had to look as if I was running, blimmin eck, who's idea was it to finish at the top of a hill!  It was blimmin lucky I didn't 'make room' for cake when I eventually got there.  I couldn't, not in front of all those people!  

By the way, there was plenty of cake going around.  I managed to get a bit of this most delicious piece of millionaires shortbread!  I even remembered to take some pictures, (still can't remember how to get them on here yet, but I will do soon.  Then it was time to get in the car and come home!  Hmm, that was a bit of a dilemma too.  The finish was not in the same place as the start.  Naggy and I headed off, looked at each other and said "Which way?"  We had to go and find Auriol to find the way back!

Loved it tho......well the shortbread, the finish, the getting back home, the smug mode that I had done another run on my week off.  And look, another blog to boot!

Oh! Hi Remember Me?

 Hello blog readers!

Let me tell you all about it!  You will never guess.  There I was minding my own business, when all of a sudden a bright light was outside the window.  I went to investigate like any good neighbour would do, I was suddenly drawn up by this beam of intense blue light!  It took me into this great big, bright room where they asked about "What do I know about Stars" "Why do you were a green top with Stars written on it"  "Who is my leader" "Where can I find a good Burger King"  It was horrendous.

They then put in this room with glass all around it which turned out to be like tv screens which they changed to look like places on earth and I had to play along to each scenario that was shown on these tv screens! Honestly!  I had to work, come home, eat, sleep!   Honestly! JUST HORRENDOUS

Ok, its a bit far fetched, I know!  I just can't give you any real reason why I have not blogged since....well, whenever the last blog was!  So here I am, blogging again. Now lets see if I can remember how this thing works!  I can't remember how to put the Garmin route in, I can't remember how to add photos in, but I shall look into to it all, again.

I have been running since the last blog, honestly, my Garmin or Strava will show that! Just not as much.  Usually, if I get a run in on a Tuesday, during school term weeks then I am simply too knackered to blog that night and then the momentum is gone!  

I am going to try and change that though.  I have noticed that if I run I blog, if I blog I want to run more.  It was my way of keeping the Mojo going.  Hmm?  Maybe my blogging is my Mojo!  That's a thought!

Enough of that anyway.  This week, during the half term, I have been on two runs already! Yup, two!  Both of them with the fantastic club that I still belong to Petts Wood Runners.  I hadn't been running for a good few weeks before Tuesday, (today is Thursday) I just didn't know how I would manage.  My parkrunning has been still going, ok apart from the last few weeks, and I have been running with my pals, NaggyNeighbour and SnappyHannah.  We had been doing a bit of parkrun tourism, our local parkrun is just sooo busy! I digress again!  Blimey, I've even forgotten how to blog!

Back to this week.  I was leading group 1 this week, yup, I am still one of the leaders at PWR.  I knew we had some runners coming back from injuries and whatnot. No, I didn't sigh with relief.....well maybe I did, it means I HAD to go at a nice easy pace. Anyway, I decided to do the easy route plus interval running, 60 60!  It gives us a good run, if a bit slow, but also gives us all that little bits of recovery time during the run.  I think we all did a great job! Pat on the back for all three of us on that day!

Todays run was led by Anne (I am sure I had a nickname for her but for the life of me I can't remember it) Anyway Anne is DiscoRich's wife.  She took us on the cinder path route.  The three of us who where out on Tuesday, Mary and Auriol, and Selena who is also suffering a bit, followed the leader.  I still decided to do the 60 60 though, Mary and Auriol also decided that intervals were better for them at the moment too. We followed Anne and Selena along the roads doing our 60 60.  I was impressed with ourselves as we were not that far behind them.  I knew Anne and Selena where also doing walk/run as well just not as disciplined as the three of us at the back.  We got to the end of the cinder path and Anne started to make her way around the 'lollipop', its just a road that goes all the way around a little estate.  It goes down, which means you have to run up!  The three of us who were doing 60 60 said we would go in the opposite direction and then meet them as they came up the last bit, where Selena said that she would be walking that part. 

I am sure were we all met up at the half way mark!  We might have well have followed them all the way around.  We made our way back to the cinder path we  stuck (kind of) to the 60 60 till we got back to the rec to meet the faster group that also started from them!  We beat them back! Not that I am boasting about that....obviously they took a much longer route.....still.....smug mode switched on!

I must say, if felt good.......at the end.  Getting up early on my days off is blimmin tough.  Running is blimmin tough...... but the stretching at the end and going home feeling accomplished is all that is needed to make me look forward to the next run!

See you all again......soon.....I hope....yes....soon.....I promi.......well we'll see.  No promises, no pressure just accomplishments!

Now, where is that spell checker?

I Can't Wait For Spring!

 Hello blog readers.

nice and cosy in my 
warm fleece!

Are you fed up with the dark and frosty evening?  I sure am.  I am so ready for the warmer, lighter evenings.  I may even encourage my group 1 members to get to a Tuesday night run!

I went along to club run on Tuesday, ok, yes, I forgot to put my name down as leader and yes, I didn't mention it in our Whatsapp group that I would deffo be there!  Anyway, there was only 1 person who put their name down, and then when no one else was on my list, they swapped to group 2!  What was I to do!  I had two options, I could run along with group 2 as well, bring up the rear end, be a sweeper, or I could run by myself! Hmm decisions.  I thought I would test the waters as we ran out of the gate. If group 2 didn't pull away from me that much, then I would run with them, otherwise I would just do a loop, albeit a small loop, back to my car.  

We ran out of the gate, and turned right, as we were all running along I was busy chatting with Mary and Ruth, but I noticed that the group were pulling away already.  That made my mind up.  Next time, next time I will really, think about sticking with group 2!  Hopefully there won't be a next time, because all of group 1 will be turning up each week!

So I did a really short loop back to my car and went home!  It's so cold! I was by myself, it was dark and I didn't have any music with me!  So I really wasn't feeling particularly motivated to do any more than that!

So parkrun yesterday.  I went, I dragged my ass out of my nice warm bed and into the cold frosty morning to Norman Park!  I made sure I was early so that I could get a parking space, I didn't want any excuses that I could have used to not run! I even texted my group 1'ers to say I was there!  I had arranged to meet up with J.J. too, extra security for me to get out and run!  It wasn't raining Saturday morning so I really expected her to be there!  RefMike was there too, as well as loads of other PWR's too!  

We walked over to the start, we listened to the notices, we clapped the milestones and then we were off!  Me and Jayne were introduced to Shevonne or Shev, she was running along with us, chatting away.  She mentioned that she was carrying her white stick!  She said she can't see anything in the dark and limited vision in the day, but on parkrun days (she said she has done around 20 or so) she attaches herself to someone, running at her pace and just runs beside them!  As it happened she was slightly faster that me!  But Jayne and Shev waited for a few seconds for me to catch up at some points on the course. There was one point I was running by myself on the second lap, I was feeling blimmin tired, cold, fed up with being chuncky and slow. I said out loud "I feckin hate running".....just as HeadbandTim ran pass me! "No you don't Old Girl, you love it" he said as he ran by me!

Jayne and Shev were again running on the spot as I caught them up again. No amount of persuasion would make J.J. and Shev just carry on!  I did feel slightly bad for them, but hopefully, when we come to that last straight they will just take off and get their time in.  

I did finish, it wasn't pretty, but I did it!  And HeadBandTim is right of course, I don't hate running!  Love it may be a bit strong of a word though!  But I know I will continue to run for as long as this old girls body lets me!

First solo Run of 2023

 Hello blog readers.

Look at me!  Running solo and blogging about it!  But I'm not going to crow....too much.  Mojo and discipline is very weak at the moment!  The only thing that is really strong is my strength for leading group 1. So I am just going to write this very gently, try not to beat myself up and just be happy that I actually went out and ran.

I tried very hard to run on Saturday.....oops....parkrun day.  I was up in time, even though for some inexplicable reason my alarm was switched off (it must have been my couch potato head that switched it off).  I forced my self out of my nice warm bed and into my running gear.  I drove all the way to Normans park, knowing there were no group 1's going to be there.  As soon as I drove into the carpark a rather lovely chap was running along holding the 'Car Park Full' sign!  Darn it.  I will have to go and find a parking spot on the nearby streets.  I drove out of the car park and headed for the nearest street, the rain started to gently fall.  The first street there were no spaces, the second  street there were no spaces.  I was getting further and further away from the park.  I knew I wouldn't make it to the start in time.  

I decided to go home, park up outside my house and then just run.  By this time, my car was just so nice and toasty, the rain had really started to come down, washing away the last bit of resolve I had of running that morning.  Not to worry, I shall go later in the morning when it stops raining, I thought to my self!  Did that happen? Nope!  I had busied myself with, drinking tea, getting housework done in readiness for my son and daughter in law to come for Saturday roast!

I had promised Wendimoo that I was deffo going the next day (Sunday) come rain or shine, I will do it! So that's what I did.  All by myself.  Oh my goodness!  The conversations I was having with myself after I got home from church was just manic!  

"Come on Old Girl, you got this"

"It's raining though"

"But you promised, rain or shine remember?"

"Yes but it's cold and wet"

"Oh look, it's stopped, get your arse out there now!"

"Flippin eck, ok lets get this done"  "I will just get the..."

"No, that can wait! GET OUT THERE NOW!"

"Ok, Ok, I'm on this, I got this, 40 mins running, then get stuff done"

Does anyone else have manic conversations with themselves....no?....Just me?  Hmm, it worked anyway, because before I knew it, I was out there with my Garmin at the ready, waiting for the Satellites to connect to me.  I still have my watch set for 30/30 Jeffing.  Ok, I can do this. No pressure, just running, get the Christmas and New Year binging out, I knew I would feel better.

Even as I was running along to one of my usual routes, I was thinking about all the short cuts, mainly because the sky looked like it was about to drop the wet stuff again.  I managed to pass them until I got to Turpington Lane.  Turn down there then on to Greenway and then back home.  Somewhere between Green way and Southborough lane I had convinced myself that turning right at the Harvester will give me my 3 miles for the day.  Usually I went all the way up Southborough Lane and turned right at the first Oxhawth.  Not today.  I was patting myself of the back that I had actually got out and ran, I didn't turn down the short cuts before Turpington, I was a winner!  Yes!

When I got home and back inside my house I looked at my geeky stats.  Not quite 3 miles! Was I disappointed?  No.  I had done sometime.  I did something by myself. I went running. I felt good! Do I deserve a pat on the back? Yes I blimmin do!  

Here's to the next solo run!  Thursday, I think. It will have to be after work!  But.....I can do it!  It's only 40 minutes right?

Oh by the way, Garmin is now showing me that I am at the same fitness age as I actually am! Yup, pat on the back for that, but tons of room for improvement!

New shoes with birthday tags, a quote from
Paula Radcliffe,
"Never set limits, go after your dreams, don't be
afraid to push the boundaries.  And laugh a lot - it's
good for you!"

Brand New Year!

 Hello blog readers.

Well, it's been a while!  It seems I have written that on the last few blogs!  Blimmin Covid, blimmin lockdown, blimmin chunky bits on my body, blimmin lost mojo! I am not going to write all that utter rubbish about a brand new year, brand new me!  Everyone knows that is rubbish, I am getting older, not newer! And I am going to be just as tough on myself...mentally that is, as I normally am..  I might try to not beat myself up to much....but like I said, I am still me!  Just need to find the discipline!

Anyway, I'm here.  I have been running (please refer to all other blogs, I used that exact same line, I'm sure!) I haven't just sat on my arse....well, not all the time!  Running with the PWR's is a great discipline for me, it means that I have to get out there!  I am the leader!  But other days it's been hard to get out.  Solo running is kinda well, buried deep into my boots! My headspace is just not full of running.  It's full of eating, sitting on my arse, watching crappy reels on Facebook or Insta!  My brain seems to only want to concentrate on 30 seconds of anything and then ready for the next!

Anyway, enough feeling sorry for myself.  It can't go on, and it' shouldn't go on!  We....I can't keep blaming everything on Covid and the lockdown. I can't blame some of it on work though.....during term time only of course!

So what's been happening.....hmmm. Well, I turned 60!  That was a huge mile stone!  I started running while I was just under 50 and I am still running!  So year, there you go Old Girl, a huge pat on the back!  I am still here!  It may not be planning marathons any more.....did I tell you I have done 2 marathons?...Oh ok....Just getting out and still doing something is just ok for me right now.

What a motley crew! 

We had our Woo Woo run last month!  That was great fun.  Group 2 came and joined us, RefMichael joined us too...he never misses it! And of course there has been plenty of club runs happening.  Our beginners course ended in September, we had a number of graduates that completed our course and some have joined us at PWR.

Yesterday I was at PWR again, leading.....from the back.....sometimes in the middle and believe it or not occasionally at the front! Woo hoo, get me! I was in my new gear too!  My PWR friends all clubbed together and presented me with a gift voucher for Up and Running, quite a sizable chunk too! No...not talking about me now....anyway I went shopping with the Old Boy, he was driving thankfully, and I bought, new shoes, 361, new running pants, new socks and a new running jacket (one that fits me..!) I had to put it all to good use,  so I did the easy route yesterday, just to get everyone warmed up, lulled into a false sense of security.... ooh maybe shouldn't have type that particular thought! But I really want to make a difference this year.  In my head at the moment I feel stronger.... I was going to enter races, but right now, I don't want to put that pressure on my very delicate resolve.  Just getting out little and often....that's the way to do it.  Lets just get back to running for running sake!

Hello!

 Hello blog readers

Well, that was a long break!

I have no excuses but laziness.  Not to say that I have not been running since my last post, just lazy in writing things up! Ok lazy in actual running too!

I have been totally absent from running during August, work commitments kept me away, either I was just too knackered after a very long day at work or lazitus when it came to park running!  Now I am back!  I have new bosses, completely free school holidays and totally looking forward to running.

That said, after having weeks off running getting back is just like starting over!  My first run, last Tuesday (I know I didn't write that one up either) was just a very short club (sort of) run.  I checked my list for who will be running in group 1, and I had no one booked in!  So, I decided to run from my house, save taking the car to club run and getting to run in group 2, which I knew I wouldn't be ready for.  I decided to just to a very small loop around my estate.  Just as I was about to get ready, I saw naggy coming back from her run.  I called out to her and she came over to see me.  She said she would come with me and she could use that as her 'cool down' run!  

It did feel pretty good to get out but boy, did I feel it.  I was just so pleased I decided to do just a small loop!  Naggy kept me motivated and we did the Jeffing run style.  Sometimes I ran through the walk part and carried on running, it felt good that I could 'break the rule' a bit.

What was next. Of course!  Our beginners course started last Saturday!  Now that does give my mojo a well needed boost.  Just encouraging others to get into this running lark is just such a feel-good thing to do!  We had about 20 or so beginners turn up, all ready to get fit for the winter and beyond.

Then yesterday, Tuesday, it was club run again.  I looked at my list and saw there were four other ladies booked on!  No excuse this time, a full club run as on!  I chose one of my easiest routes to do, it has a shorter version, which I thought would be the best route to do.  I haven't run 3 miles in just so many weeks I needed to know that we can cut short if necessary.

No clock watching, no waiting for my Garmin to tell me to walk, I had to just get on and do what I can to keep the 'troops' happy and satisfied with their club run.  As it happened, everyone was happy to do the shorter route.  It was just as well as one of ladies had to cut it even shorter to get home to her son who needed her.

So, I nice short blog for a nice short couple of runs.  

Here is a picture of our beginners group doing one of my favourite stretches.

Picture taken by Hannah Harrison.