Hello blog lovers.
So far, I am on target for my 31 activities in January, but it is only day 5! This morning I met up with the usual Thursday runners at the rec. There were a few missing, they still on holiday or looking for their running shoes which probably hidden under all the wrapping paper and Christmas stuff! Anyway there we all were, all the speedsters were there and me and Tanya! We were a group of our own.
Tanya hadn't been running for a week, and my bit of cold is holding me back slightly, (getting the excuses in while I can!) so I thought we would do the shorter route through the woods today. I think Tanya was pleased with that I know I was. The weather was blimming freezing this morning, in fact when I looked at my car the numbers on the clock showed -3.5 degrees! Brrrr, blimming freezing! But it didn't put me off, I am determined, I want to do this and I will do this!
So me and Tanya were the first to make our way out of the rec, it was just too cold to stand around, I didn't think anyone else would be coming in my group anyway. We made our way to Dog Poo ally and then turned right to follow the path towards Orpington Road. The ground was virtually solid! I probably could have worn my new trainers through the woods really, but that's fine, I am sure I will do fine in my muddy oldies!
The cold was really affecting my chest, shifting gunk and muck from my lungs. I am not sure if it's all down to the cold virus or because I was extremely naughty half of last year with the smoking! Probably a bit of both! We ran most of the way to the top before we walked for a bit to catch our breath. The woods always put me in a good place in my mind, it feels so fresh and free! you can lose yourself, you hear yourself think and you can chat with your running buddies!
It wasn't the fastest run of this particular route, but none the less still most enjoyable. I am slowing, very slowly beginning to fall in love with my running again. I won't 'jinx' it anymore by saying anything else about that! We ran all the way (walk/run) to the top of the woods. We could go down the middle path but that really would be a short short route. No, that just wouldn't do. So I led us along the back of the woods to Botany Bay Lane. Then we ran down it! No turning right to go along to Goss Hill, this is the shorter route. It will be half a mile short of our usual Thursday run, but I am happy with that!
I had a bit of a shoe lace issue when I got to the river so I put my foot up on the ledge to do it up only to be greeted by the three dogs that were there. Their owner was having a cheeky ciggie break while the dogs paddled in the water. The dogs came up and started putting their noses on my shoes, have a good look at what I was doing, and then the next minute I had one of the dogs come right between my legs and gave me a cheeky kiss on my nose as I was doing up my shoe!
I think we should all be like dogs, just come on up and say hi, poke your nose in, see what's going on and if the occasion calls for it, give a cheeky little kiss! No doubt you will get a slap around the ear'oles for even thinking about doing that now days! Anyway we continued our run up to the rail lines. My glasses were steaming up nicely! I had to carry them in my hand, I couldn't see far ahead but what I could see at least, wasn't blurry!
We soon got back to Dog Poo ally and was back at the rec. All done for the morning, and now ready for my track session later!
Geeky stats.
For the last few Thursdays I had lazyitus real bad! I thought it could almost be terminal for my running mojo. But a nice relaxing Christmas break does the world of good for mojos! It was a good crowd at Track this evening with a few newbies including J.J. She was coming along this evening to see what it's all about! She also is determined to get fitter, thinner and healthier! We have both kicked the dreaded ciggies to the kerb! She has never been to a track session before but she spoke with PhysioMike and he told her that she can do just as much as she wants and then just step of the track when she has done enough! It all sounds so simple and easy doesn't it! If only it was! Nothing worth having is easy to come by. You have to work at it! Otherwise it will be like doing the treadmill while sitting on the chair. Or having the travelators like those they have have Tesco's and airports all over public places! Wouldn't that be good! When you want to stop you can just step off!
But not this evening. This evening is all about hard work, it's all about what we can do, as individuals can do for our selves but with the support of all those who are a track and with PhysioMike in charge of the whole session.
I must say, it was blimmin cold, I mean blimming cold. The frost was building up nicely on the cars, everything was twinkling away like we were all staring in Frozen, Live! I know, excuses coming up! But it's true, it's a reason, honest! The cold does effect my breathing! Especially with this cold. I say cold, I was feeling worse yesterday, with headache and stuff, but today I am just left with this cough and drippy nose! But I will still work hard. I seem to use that word a lot, 'but', I shall have to try to think of a new word which means the same, kick 'but' while kicking butt! My fat butt! You see I am delirious! It was cold out there, and I am rambling!
So the session that PhysioMike had planned was slightly different to what he was going to get us to do. He wanted to make it a bit more interesting, especially after Christmas holidays! So it was tempo running for 15 minutes, running at your parkrun pace! I think both me and J.J. managed that bit! But then straight after that, and I mean literally, straight after that it was hard running for 5.15 mins rest for 90 sec and then hard running for 1.45 mins. Blimey, it really looks easy now that I've written it down, but really, it wasn't! It was tough!
I felt disappointed in myself that I walked when I should've been running! Normally at track I have managed to run all the running bits, but today I just couldn't do it! I told myself off and told myself to get a 'blimmin move on' and just kept trying and trying to keep up. We had to do the 5.15 mins, rest 1.45 min rep three times, and then we did some relays after a little break. The relays were only 60 meters but we had to do 8 each. We got ourselves into teams of three and then began the relays. No timing this time, just do 8 each!
I could see that 60 meters is no distance at all, and I just pushed myself that little bit hard to hand over the batton to Ali. She ran as fast as she could to J.J. to hand the baton to her and then J.J. ran it to me. Eight times, at least I think I did! I had lost count, especially listening to the faster runners saying 'That's 4' I worked so hard I just couldn't count as well! When PhysioMike said at the end that we all ran even faster on the 60's even after all that running we done before, I realised that yes, I did run faster, even when I thought I hadn't anything left!
Both me and J.J. left the Track feeling really pleased with our selves. It was hard, it always is, but that's why I go. A brilliant session this evening with some fantastic people and fantastic coaching from PhysioMike aka as Mike The Mod! Who by the way is doing two marathons in two weeks, Brighton and London while running with his 'Scooter'! You can go and sponsor him as he is raising money for some worthwhile charities!
Geeky stats.
Thursday, 5 January 2017
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Just A Very Short One!
Hello blog lovers!
Well, I guess I can tell you now what my plan is for January! Its to run every day! Well, at least to get 31 active, cardio, sessions between 3rd (when I started running again) and the end of the month! That's my plan, as well as the whole dry January thing, and the diet thing, and......well I am going to tell you about that very soon!
Just because I am going to doing something every day, it doesn't mean that it's going to be all running, and if I am doing a run then it won't necessarily be from 3 miles! Today's run was just a tad over a mile! But I did the interval running, and it's a mile running that I don't normally do! So for me, it is an extra mile! A faster mile than I have been doing, but looking at the geeky stats, not my fastest ever mile! I am blaming weather, the cold, my fatness, my chubby legs, recovering lungs.....oh and me! I know it's all me that has to blame for the way I am......well apart from the cold, I can't do anything about that! I tried keeping away from all those with the lurgy, but some of them did reach me! And the weather, I can't be blamed for that, even though I am on the 'hot line' to the Big Boss upstairs from time to time!
My 1 mile route is all round the estate, one big loop. Ok, small loop, but it is the second activity of my 31 activities of January 2017. I really do mean business this time, and I really hope it's not the whole 'January thing' because I really want to get fit and slimmer! There I've said it, I want to be slimmer, I am fed of my chunky thighs, bingo arms and goodness knows what's going on around the middle! Muffin top, they call it, mine is more like and explosion from the Quatermass experiment, of an atom bomb proportion!
I did it, I ran it, and no, it wasn't my fastest as I've said, but it's a start. And, more importantly.....I enjoyed it! I am enjoying kicking ass with fatness! Officially day 4 (which is when the no smoking and no drinking began) but day 2 of active activities! Geeky stats enclosed! Eat that fatness!
Well, I guess I can tell you now what my plan is for January! Its to run every day! Well, at least to get 31 active, cardio, sessions between 3rd (when I started running again) and the end of the month! That's my plan, as well as the whole dry January thing, and the diet thing, and......well I am going to tell you about that very soon!
Just because I am going to doing something every day, it doesn't mean that it's going to be all running, and if I am doing a run then it won't necessarily be from 3 miles! Today's run was just a tad over a mile! But I did the interval running, and it's a mile running that I don't normally do! So for me, it is an extra mile! A faster mile than I have been doing, but looking at the geeky stats, not my fastest ever mile! I am blaming weather, the cold, my fatness, my chubby legs, recovering lungs.....oh and me! I know it's all me that has to blame for the way I am......well apart from the cold, I can't do anything about that! I tried keeping away from all those with the lurgy, but some of them did reach me! And the weather, I can't be blamed for that, even though I am on the 'hot line' to the Big Boss upstairs from time to time!
My 1 mile route is all round the estate, one big loop. Ok, small loop, but it is the second activity of my 31 activities of January 2017. I really do mean business this time, and I really hope it's not the whole 'January thing' because I really want to get fit and slimmer! There I've said it, I want to be slimmer, I am fed of my chunky thighs, bingo arms and goodness knows what's going on around the middle! Muffin top, they call it, mine is more like and explosion from the Quatermass experiment, of an atom bomb proportion!
I did it, I ran it, and no, it wasn't my fastest as I've said, but it's a start. And, more importantly.....I enjoyed it! I am enjoying kicking ass with fatness! Officially day 4 (which is when the no smoking and no drinking began) but day 2 of active activities! Geeky stats enclosed! Eat that fatness!
Tuesday, 3 January 2017
Post Festivities Club Run! From Couch to Group 1
Hello blog lovers!
Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a great time, nice and relaxing family time, or time with your mates! At Club run today, its the first Tuesday of the month, which means it's Move Up Week! It means that all those that want to try for the next group up can do so and not feel as though they will hold anyone up, because the leaders will be going at the slower end of their advertised running pace!
Well for us in group 1 and being the post 'feasting to excess' run of the year, our move up is from the couch to group 1! Well it is for me anyway. I haven't ran since the Tuesday before Christmas! The WooWoo run! And I really have over indulged in everything! Including ciggies!! But that is all now behind me. I have my right frame of mind, goals set, and I feel totally focused! I am also planning getting extra help with my training and fitness levels, but more about that in the next week or so!
So today. Ready, dressed (in my new running leggings, which by the way are just a tad to small, but I am going to sort that!) and really looking forward to going. I drove on over to J.J.'s house and met up with her and LittleJ. We had a chat before we all went over to the rec. It was pretty cold out, I made sure I was well wrapped up, even putting on my winter cycling jacket! It helps to keep the wind out! With my buff and gloves I felt ready.
I was a bit apprehensive about this evenings run, I really had over indulged in everything, my middle was feeling rather pudgy. But I did weigh myself this morning and the scales showed that not as much damage had been done as I expected! Now lets see if my breathing would be off!
I gave my little route speech and then when all the other leaders had said theirs we were ready to go! I had the usual count up, there were 9 of us in group 1 this evening, all very pleased and looking forward to the nice slower, easier route that I had planned! The only real incline was Kingsway. We al ran up there and then when I stopped and turned around to see if I needed to slow the pace down a tad I saw that we were all together! No one was behind or struggling! That's brilliant!
We had a little walk just to get control of our breathing after the undulation and then continued to run on through Petts Wood and over the walking 'Troll' bridge. Lets see if we can keep it nice and quite over the bridge after stuffing our selves with Turkey, pigs in blankets and profiteroles! I for one was finding it difficult to run lightly that's for sure! But it was still fairly quiet over the bridge, so not too bad. We continued running all the way around Crestview before having a next walking section.
We were all still together, I was beginning to get warmer as well, though my gloves still on, I had a feeling they will be off soon! Carole and Michael we up the front with me, J.J. and LittleJ were sweeping but we were all in a nice compact group. We crossed over the road and ran down Crescent Drive, with just a very short walking section before we got to Shepperton Road. We ran all the way up to the top of road, I decided that we were going to turn left and run under the bridge on Tudor way.
When we get to the memorial hall again I shall see how far we had done and the time we had run it. Then it would be a decision whether to go the short way or the longer way! Guess which one we went for! Yup, the long way! Well, why not, we still had plenty of time and we had only covered 2.2 miles so we could easily fit in that last mile we need to make it a perfect group 1 distance! And it seemed that everyone was well happy to go along with it, even getting a "Yay" from Kelly!
Michael and Carole were totally on form this evening and they pushed on a head so I sent them to do the little loop of Little Thrift and then by the time they got back we would all be together again. With the last push to the rec some of us had that little sprint to the gate!
It was a perfect start to the New Year, although some of my group 1 were all ready on their 2nd or 3rd run of the year! But now, from this point I am going to keep on running. Get more healthy, get fitter, this is the year! My new running pants and going to pull on easier and easier as the weeks and months go by!
Geeky stats
Happy New Year to you all! I hope you had a great time, nice and relaxing family time, or time with your mates! At Club run today, its the first Tuesday of the month, which means it's Move Up Week! It means that all those that want to try for the next group up can do so and not feel as though they will hold anyone up, because the leaders will be going at the slower end of their advertised running pace!
Well for us in group 1 and being the post 'feasting to excess' run of the year, our move up is from the couch to group 1! Well it is for me anyway. I haven't ran since the Tuesday before Christmas! The WooWoo run! And I really have over indulged in everything! Including ciggies!! But that is all now behind me. I have my right frame of mind, goals set, and I feel totally focused! I am also planning getting extra help with my training and fitness levels, but more about that in the next week or so!
So today. Ready, dressed (in my new running leggings, which by the way are just a tad to small, but I am going to sort that!) and really looking forward to going. I drove on over to J.J.'s house and met up with her and LittleJ. We had a chat before we all went over to the rec. It was pretty cold out, I made sure I was well wrapped up, even putting on my winter cycling jacket! It helps to keep the wind out! With my buff and gloves I felt ready.
I was a bit apprehensive about this evenings run, I really had over indulged in everything, my middle was feeling rather pudgy. But I did weigh myself this morning and the scales showed that not as much damage had been done as I expected! Now lets see if my breathing would be off!
I gave my little route speech and then when all the other leaders had said theirs we were ready to go! I had the usual count up, there were 9 of us in group 1 this evening, all very pleased and looking forward to the nice slower, easier route that I had planned! The only real incline was Kingsway. We al ran up there and then when I stopped and turned around to see if I needed to slow the pace down a tad I saw that we were all together! No one was behind or struggling! That's brilliant!
We had a little walk just to get control of our breathing after the undulation and then continued to run on through Petts Wood and over the walking 'Troll' bridge. Lets see if we can keep it nice and quite over the bridge after stuffing our selves with Turkey, pigs in blankets and profiteroles! I for one was finding it difficult to run lightly that's for sure! But it was still fairly quiet over the bridge, so not too bad. We continued running all the way around Crestview before having a next walking section.
We were all still together, I was beginning to get warmer as well, though my gloves still on, I had a feeling they will be off soon! Carole and Michael we up the front with me, J.J. and LittleJ were sweeping but we were all in a nice compact group. We crossed over the road and ran down Crescent Drive, with just a very short walking section before we got to Shepperton Road. We ran all the way up to the top of road, I decided that we were going to turn left and run under the bridge on Tudor way.
When we get to the memorial hall again I shall see how far we had done and the time we had run it. Then it would be a decision whether to go the short way or the longer way! Guess which one we went for! Yup, the long way! Well, why not, we still had plenty of time and we had only covered 2.2 miles so we could easily fit in that last mile we need to make it a perfect group 1 distance! And it seemed that everyone was well happy to go along with it, even getting a "Yay" from Kelly!
Michael and Carole were totally on form this evening and they pushed on a head so I sent them to do the little loop of Little Thrift and then by the time they got back we would all be together again. With the last push to the rec some of us had that little sprint to the gate!
It was a perfect start to the New Year, although some of my group 1 were all ready on their 2nd or 3rd run of the year! But now, from this point I am going to keep on running. Get more healthy, get fitter, this is the year! My new running pants and going to pull on easier and easier as the weeks and months go by!
Geeky stats
Tuesday, 20 December 2016
Christmas Festive WooWoo!
Hello blog lovers.
Well this is the last Tuesday club run before the big day! I do love Christmas, everyone is in good spirits.....or is that just me? And talking of spirits, for a little festivee cheer a couple of us bought along a little sample in a couple of hip flasks! So me and J.J. supplied the festive cheer.
Well, it's Christmas! I got Tracy to pick me up and we drove to Jayne's house. Wendimoo was already there and LittleJ turned up just after us! Oh, yes, this will be Wendimoo's last Tuesday club run! She is moving oop north the day after Christmas! We shall so miss her so much! So another reason to bring along a last little drinky to our Wendimoo!
I decided on the 'Pistol Route' It looks like a 'starters pistol! Get ready, get set, go! for Christmas! Are you all ready!? I was hoping that there were going to be some lovely lights in the gardens and houses for us to enjoy. I know there were a few good displays along Crescent Drive, but I'm sure there's not as many as there has been! There were quite a few PWR's this evening in fancy dress, or Santa and elves hats, or dressed as puddings, and sparkly skirts! Any excuse for a dress up and we are there! I had my Santa hat on! I may just invest in a sparkly skirt! I am sure I say that every year!
After all the leaders gave out their routes we were on our way! I led them out of the rec and then turned right towards Petts Wood road. We were going to get the hill.....ooops the incline our of the way in the beginning. It will be a good warm up but if we are not warmed up once we reach the top then at least we can have a bit of a rest and 'snifter' from the couple of flasks! Either Jack Daniels or Harvey's Bristol Cream! Very warming! At first everyone was a bit shy, but for those that were not driving back home after our run, well we soon got into the festive spirit! In fact some even had a sample of both! We invented a new cocktail! The Christmas WooWoo.
Now I shall tell you where the 'WooWoo' came from! Once we were at the top of the hill, and having a little festive rest. Liz had come up with this idea of a 'mexican wave' with all 12 of us in group 1 today. When we come across some really cool looking Christmas lights we were to 'do' the Mexican wave! Starting from us in the front going backwards! What else can you do on a festive run! Once we were suitable 'warmed' up we continued our way, running the other side of the 'barrel' of our starter pistol route! It's virtually all down hills and flat now. But we still found good reason to stop and take a nice warming drink!
I think everyone on our route could hear us as we 'WooWooed' our way around. Every festive lights we see we mexicaned waved our little hearts out! It really was such a fun run today, and a warming run! I am glad that it was such a good one, just to remind our Wendimoo what a great club we are, and great mates we've become. That way she just has to come back and see us! And she can also run our own 10k in October, it will be great training for when she does the London Marathon in 2018!
We got back to the rec all in good spirits, pun intended! And still with a great festive air about us! I can't believe this is the last time before Christmas now! I am so looking forward to the day itself, I am a big kid when it comes to Christmas! Watching all my kids and grandkids opening their presents, and the Old Boy! Huge turkey dinner, lovely cooked by the Old Boy! Family all around, silly games, sharing, laughing, playing, talking, loving! Yup, I love this festive time of year! God bless you all and have a very merry Christmas!
Geeky stats. Oh and how many times have I written 'festive' in this blog?
 |
| Group 1 girls and boy! |
Well this is the last Tuesday club run before the big day! I do love Christmas, everyone is in good spirits.....or is that just me? And talking of spirits, for a little festivee cheer a couple of us bought along a little sample in a couple of hip flasks! So me and J.J. supplied the festive cheer.
Well, it's Christmas! I got Tracy to pick me up and we drove to Jayne's house. Wendimoo was already there and LittleJ turned up just after us! Oh, yes, this will be Wendimoo's last Tuesday club run! She is moving oop north the day after Christmas! We shall so miss her so much! So another reason to bring along a last little drinky to our Wendimoo!
I decided on the 'Pistol Route' It looks like a 'starters pistol! Get ready, get set, go! for Christmas! Are you all ready!? I was hoping that there were going to be some lovely lights in the gardens and houses for us to enjoy. I know there were a few good displays along Crescent Drive, but I'm sure there's not as many as there has been! There were quite a few PWR's this evening in fancy dress, or Santa and elves hats, or dressed as puddings, and sparkly skirts! Any excuse for a dress up and we are there! I had my Santa hat on! I may just invest in a sparkly skirt! I am sure I say that every year!
After all the leaders gave out their routes we were on our way! I led them out of the rec and then turned right towards Petts Wood road. We were going to get the hill.....ooops the incline our of the way in the beginning. It will be a good warm up but if we are not warmed up once we reach the top then at least we can have a bit of a rest and 'snifter' from the couple of flasks! Either Jack Daniels or Harvey's Bristol Cream! Very warming! At first everyone was a bit shy, but for those that were not driving back home after our run, well we soon got into the festive spirit! In fact some even had a sample of both! We invented a new cocktail! The Christmas WooWoo.
Now I shall tell you where the 'WooWoo' came from! Once we were at the top of the hill, and having a little festive rest. Liz had come up with this idea of a 'mexican wave' with all 12 of us in group 1 today. When we come across some really cool looking Christmas lights we were to 'do' the Mexican wave! Starting from us in the front going backwards! What else can you do on a festive run! Once we were suitable 'warmed' up we continued our way, running the other side of the 'barrel' of our starter pistol route! It's virtually all down hills and flat now. But we still found good reason to stop and take a nice warming drink!
I think everyone on our route could hear us as we 'WooWooed' our way around. Every festive lights we see we mexicaned waved our little hearts out! It really was such a fun run today, and a warming run! I am glad that it was such a good one, just to remind our Wendimoo what a great club we are, and great mates we've become. That way she just has to come back and see us! And she can also run our own 10k in October, it will be great training for when she does the London Marathon in 2018!
We got back to the rec all in good spirits, pun intended! And still with a great festive air about us! I can't believe this is the last time before Christmas now! I am so looking forward to the day itself, I am a big kid when it comes to Christmas! Watching all my kids and grandkids opening their presents, and the Old Boy! Huge turkey dinner, lovely cooked by the Old Boy! Family all around, silly games, sharing, laughing, playing, talking, loving! Yup, I love this festive time of year! God bless you all and have a very merry Christmas!
Geeky stats. Oh and how many times have I written 'festive' in this blog?
Saturday, 17 December 2016
Park Run - Last one For Me This Year!
Hello Blog lovers
Thats, right, you heard it, I am finished with parkrun.......just until next year of course. I am wanting to do my 50th parkrun around the 14th January......just so that I am fully over the New Year and Christmas festivities! But todays parkrun was a great one!
I picked up Tracy, I was running a little late! She was already waiting outside for me, probably hoping that I wouldn't turn up. The weather wasn't inspiring at all! In fact the only thing that was inspiring was the fact that it's Tim "The Old Scrote" 200th parkrun and he is bringing the most delicious looking cake baked by Tim's Mrs. Here, look at this!
Anyway, not that I was only running for cake......who am I kidding......cake is one of the reasons I run! I just love the stuff! Anyway with that on my mind, and a promise from the Old Scrote him self, a piece of that cake will be at the end of my parkrun today! Tracy was going to have to run on her own, cake is all I am running for today!
Because we were a little late we had to run from one side of the park to the other, just like last week actually! Which I hadn't even blogged about! Naggy Neighbour did the same to me a couple of weeks ago, she drove to parkrun but she had booked her car into the garage for its MOT, which meant we had to run from Chatterton Road to Normans park........the other end of Normans park! Because we were running a bit late then too! She had me running all the way! Boy was I knackered! Anyway, I had Tracy doing the same nice warm up jogging to the beginning! We had about 5 minutes before we started off! Not bad really, at least we didn't have to wait around and cold on this misty morning, before we started our running.
The 1, 2, 3, go, was given and we all surged forward, Tracy had Kay to run around with her, so she wouldn't be alone, Michael and Carole were there too, They are just so fit these days, their parkrun times are just incredible, considering they only started running from our first beginners course this year, back in March, well! What can I say! Brilliant! Anyway, there was me, in the middle of this group of wonderful people, thats the parkrunners, as well as Carole & Michael, and Tracy and Kay! So there was me, or is it I, well, grammar is not my fortay, as you already know, I was running along, going at a good pace because I was up there with the big boys ands girls! But I kept it going for just a little while, don't think about the pace, just do it!
Anyway, of course I slowed down a bit after a while, it's what I do, but I still have it in mind that I want to take a few seconds of my fastest time for this year, and indeed take into the new year! This time I had my Garmin, unlike last week. By the way, I totally didn't get anyway near my fastest time last week either! But I carried on running around. This week I didn't actually talk and run to anyone! It was just me, I passed a young lady who had hurt her foot and I offered to get her back to a bench, but she had plenty of people to help her. That was on the first lap, I carried on from there, just me and my thoughts. I knew Tim 'The Old Scrote' was somewhere in front along with all our PWR's that turn up to parkrun every week. It was fancy dress week too, so even if they were in front of me I probably wouldn't have recognised them!
Well as usual I did some walking, but I feel sure I did more runnig! I feel sure of it! I was feeling pretty bright this morning, only 1 pint of lager last night and an irish coffee.......after my curry......but I was feeling pretty good, pretty awake. I was hoping this would be enough to knock a few seconds of my fastest time this year!
The second lap I just concentrated on getting around, no pressure on myself just keep on doing as much as I can. When I got to the long straight I was joined by on if the chaos that comes to track, not that I've been for a few weeks! But he was chatting to me for the rest of the way. Keeping me going. I managed to run to the end of the long straight and done of the shirt but too. I took a walking break. Just a few moments later a young lady cane past me while I was walking, and she said "I was trying to keep up with you, but you run too fast" and then she passed me! Well, that just sent off signals in my brain! It was a challenge! I just had to get back in front of her!
So I stepped up the gear and I ran pass her saying "I'm sorry, but I just had to!@. My pacemaker just laughed at me!! I wish I could remember his name!
I was soon in the last short straight towards the funnel. I didn't stop running. I even had a sprint finish after my nice young pacemaker said "sprint finish?"
I went through the funnel collected my token and then noticed my time! Darn it. No faster time this week. Just look at my geeky stats below! But then my results came through on the rank! Putting me well over a minute faster than my Garmin! That's not right. I know people usually complain that official results are usually slower than what they have, but this time I am thinking, "no wY, I am going with my geeky stats". Seriously, I have not run faster yet!! That will have to come next year.
My official parkrun time was 37:11 mins. But my Garmin says 38:33 mins. That is my time today
I shall add geeky stats later when my computer has rebooted itself!!
Thats, right, you heard it, I am finished with parkrun.......just until next year of course. I am wanting to do my 50th parkrun around the 14th January......just so that I am fully over the New Year and Christmas festivities! But todays parkrun was a great one!
I picked up Tracy, I was running a little late! She was already waiting outside for me, probably hoping that I wouldn't turn up. The weather wasn't inspiring at all! In fact the only thing that was inspiring was the fact that it's Tim "The Old Scrote" 200th parkrun and he is bringing the most delicious looking cake baked by Tim's Mrs. Here, look at this!
Anyway, not that I was only running for cake......who am I kidding......cake is one of the reasons I run! I just love the stuff! Anyway with that on my mind, and a promise from the Old Scrote him self, a piece of that cake will be at the end of my parkrun today! Tracy was going to have to run on her own, cake is all I am running for today!
Because we were a little late we had to run from one side of the park to the other, just like last week actually! Which I hadn't even blogged about! Naggy Neighbour did the same to me a couple of weeks ago, she drove to parkrun but she had booked her car into the garage for its MOT, which meant we had to run from Chatterton Road to Normans park........the other end of Normans park! Because we were running a bit late then too! She had me running all the way! Boy was I knackered! Anyway, I had Tracy doing the same nice warm up jogging to the beginning! We had about 5 minutes before we started off! Not bad really, at least we didn't have to wait around and cold on this misty morning, before we started our running.
The 1, 2, 3, go, was given and we all surged forward, Tracy had Kay to run around with her, so she wouldn't be alone, Michael and Carole were there too, They are just so fit these days, their parkrun times are just incredible, considering they only started running from our first beginners course this year, back in March, well! What can I say! Brilliant! Anyway, there was me, in the middle of this group of wonderful people, thats the parkrunners, as well as Carole & Michael, and Tracy and Kay! So there was me, or is it I, well, grammar is not my fortay, as you already know, I was running along, going at a good pace because I was up there with the big boys ands girls! But I kept it going for just a little while, don't think about the pace, just do it!
Anyway, of course I slowed down a bit after a while, it's what I do, but I still have it in mind that I want to take a few seconds of my fastest time for this year, and indeed take into the new year! This time I had my Garmin, unlike last week. By the way, I totally didn't get anyway near my fastest time last week either! But I carried on running around. This week I didn't actually talk and run to anyone! It was just me, I passed a young lady who had hurt her foot and I offered to get her back to a bench, but she had plenty of people to help her. That was on the first lap, I carried on from there, just me and my thoughts. I knew Tim 'The Old Scrote' was somewhere in front along with all our PWR's that turn up to parkrun every week. It was fancy dress week too, so even if they were in front of me I probably wouldn't have recognised them!
 |
| The Crew, I wasn't in the picture, this was either early or after they all came in! (if latter then I was late then too) |
Well as usual I did some walking, but I feel sure I did more runnig! I feel sure of it! I was feeling pretty bright this morning, only 1 pint of lager last night and an irish coffee.......after my curry......but I was feeling pretty good, pretty awake. I was hoping this would be enough to knock a few seconds of my fastest time this year!
The second lap I just concentrated on getting around, no pressure on myself just keep on doing as much as I can. When I got to the long straight I was joined by on if the chaos that comes to track, not that I've been for a few weeks! But he was chatting to me for the rest of the way. Keeping me going. I managed to run to the end of the long straight and done of the shirt but too. I took a walking break. Just a few moments later a young lady cane past me while I was walking, and she said "I was trying to keep up with you, but you run too fast" and then she passed me! Well, that just sent off signals in my brain! It was a challenge! I just had to get back in front of her!
So I stepped up the gear and I ran pass her saying "I'm sorry, but I just had to!@. My pacemaker just laughed at me!! I wish I could remember his name!
I was soon in the last short straight towards the funnel. I didn't stop running. I even had a sprint finish after my nice young pacemaker said "sprint finish?"
I went through the funnel collected my token and then noticed my time! Darn it. No faster time this week. Just look at my geeky stats below! But then my results came through on the rank! Putting me well over a minute faster than my Garmin! That's not right. I know people usually complain that official results are usually slower than what they have, but this time I am thinking, "no wY, I am going with my geeky stats". Seriously, I have not run faster yet!! That will have to come next year.
My official parkrun time was 37:11 mins. But my Garmin says 38:33 mins. That is my time today
I shall add geeky stats later when my computer has rebooted itself!!
Tuesday, 13 December 2016
Club Run - Seeing The Lights!
Hello blog lovers!
It's a 'soft' evening, as my Old Boy would say! A gentle misting of very light rain was coming down. But I don't think it will last for our entire run! Besides, we won't notice it, we're hard core! I picked up Tracy and then we drove to J.J.'s house LittleJ was already there. It's our routine now, we go there for a pre chat before our chatty run!
We all walked over to the rec, still chatting, and waited for the rest of PWR to arrive. It was strangely mild for a November, I know the weather has been so much colder already this winter, surely we can't be over winter yet! Over the next 10 minutes the rec started to fill with all the PWR's. It was soon time to make the announcements and tell everyone of our routes this evening. Our route was going to be the fairly flat route, with just the one hill.....ooops I mean incline, going up Kings Way. Then it's on towards Petts Wood and the 'Troll Bridge'. Of course I told them all to run over this as quiet as possible. They must have flew over the bridge because I couldn't hear a thing!
We ran around Crest View road, my group of 10 started to split into two groups. So I had the faster runners run all the way to the end of the road and then to turn around and head back and run all the way to the sweepers, and then run with them till we got to the end of the road. These loop backs work so well. It keeps the faster runners nice and warm, they don't cool down and the back runners don't feel like they are keeping anyone waiting around. It's a win/win
We used this technique all they way along Crescent Drive and Shepperton Road. It's a great way to keep everyone running together and having little breaks together. At the rec I had in mind to go to Tudor way from here, and then do the undulations of Great Thrift and Hazlemeer. But once we got to the end of Shepperton I decided that we would go the easier route of Beaumont which is over the bridge.
I am so glad that I did though. The Christmas lights down there are just so lovely. I am going to try and find some other little 3 mile routes around here to find some more Christmas lights. My group all stopped under a tree lit up with blue lights. I just had to get a picture of them all! Here, look at this, don't they all look angelic, J.J., LittleJ, Tracy, Michael, Carole, Martina, Anne-Marie, Becky then other name escapes me....it's my age I think!
We were nearly back at the rec. Once we were on Tudor Way and asked Michael to lead the way with the faster runners back to the rec, and then I took up sweeping duties after saying to J.J. and LittleJ they they should run back to the rec at their pace. Me and Tracy will finish this together. Nice and steady run, perfectly and evenly paced. I tried to use a beat that PhysioMike has on his phone. It's a metronome thingy, but it works well. We ran all the way to the gate like that. Tracy was pleased with herself. She was in two minds whether to come out tonight. I am glad she came out tonight, its the determination that keeps us going. I know 2017 I shall be back fully in my right frame of mind, I shall be back to running and cycling and losing weight! It needs to be done! Determination and hard work! That's what I have planned!
So geeky stats, and you will see that the numbers also include time doing our stretches!
It's a 'soft' evening, as my Old Boy would say! A gentle misting of very light rain was coming down. But I don't think it will last for our entire run! Besides, we won't notice it, we're hard core! I picked up Tracy and then we drove to J.J.'s house LittleJ was already there. It's our routine now, we go there for a pre chat before our chatty run!
We all walked over to the rec, still chatting, and waited for the rest of PWR to arrive. It was strangely mild for a November, I know the weather has been so much colder already this winter, surely we can't be over winter yet! Over the next 10 minutes the rec started to fill with all the PWR's. It was soon time to make the announcements and tell everyone of our routes this evening. Our route was going to be the fairly flat route, with just the one hill.....ooops I mean incline, going up Kings Way. Then it's on towards Petts Wood and the 'Troll Bridge'. Of course I told them all to run over this as quiet as possible. They must have flew over the bridge because I couldn't hear a thing!
We ran around Crest View road, my group of 10 started to split into two groups. So I had the faster runners run all the way to the end of the road and then to turn around and head back and run all the way to the sweepers, and then run with them till we got to the end of the road. These loop backs work so well. It keeps the faster runners nice and warm, they don't cool down and the back runners don't feel like they are keeping anyone waiting around. It's a win/win
We used this technique all they way along Crescent Drive and Shepperton Road. It's a great way to keep everyone running together and having little breaks together. At the rec I had in mind to go to Tudor way from here, and then do the undulations of Great Thrift and Hazlemeer. But once we got to the end of Shepperton I decided that we would go the easier route of Beaumont which is over the bridge.
I am so glad that I did though. The Christmas lights down there are just so lovely. I am going to try and find some other little 3 mile routes around here to find some more Christmas lights. My group all stopped under a tree lit up with blue lights. I just had to get a picture of them all! Here, look at this, don't they all look angelic, J.J., LittleJ, Tracy, Michael, Carole, Martina, Anne-Marie, Becky then other name escapes me....it's my age I think!
We were nearly back at the rec. Once we were on Tudor Way and asked Michael to lead the way with the faster runners back to the rec, and then I took up sweeping duties after saying to J.J. and LittleJ they they should run back to the rec at their pace. Me and Tracy will finish this together. Nice and steady run, perfectly and evenly paced. I tried to use a beat that PhysioMike has on his phone. It's a metronome thingy, but it works well. We ran all the way to the gate like that. Tracy was pleased with herself. She was in two minds whether to come out tonight. I am glad she came out tonight, its the determination that keeps us going. I know 2017 I shall be back fully in my right frame of mind, I shall be back to running and cycling and losing weight! It needs to be done! Determination and hard work! That's what I have planned!
So geeky stats, and you will see that the numbers also include time doing our stretches!
Sunday, 11 December 2016
The Lost Sheep!
Hello blog lovers.
Here is a little Christmas Story.
It was a bright morning, very unusual for the time of year, you could feel the warmth of the sun. But the air was still chilly! Everything about this morning was very peculiar. Let me introduce myself, I am a shepherd and my name is Pie. I was with my other brothers, Germain, also a shepherd and Chris! We were in a place called Ditton, and many strange things were happening. There were people around looking very colourful indeed. Maybe it is some kind of festival. There were stripey people, and people were shouting "Where's Wally?" at them.
We, me and my brothers, were tending our flock of sheep, all nice a peaceful like, here, look I took a selfie of me with a couple of my ewes!
All of a sudden this chap with wings and a halo appeared from no where, making the day even more brighter, if that was possible. We were so scared! Particularly me, I am afraid of my own shadow. I always arrive after my brothers, sisters, friends, just so that they can make sure the way is clear.
"Behold Shepherds" said this chap "Behold, I am Angel Gabriel and I bring you good news, A baby is born this day, He is the Saviour of the world. Follow yonder star and you will find where the baby is" Well as you can imagine, I was terrified! My brothers, although a bit scared, they of course were keen to go and find this baby, I just wanted to run and hide. I am sure I saw a place where they were serving tea and coffee, I may just rest there till they come back, I am afraid I over did it with the jollys these past two days and wasn't really 'feeling it' ! But then I noticed that one of our tiny little lambs was missing. "You go ahead without me, I shall see you back here later" I called to my brothers, "I will go and save the lamb!" I said, trying to act all cool! By then they were joined by some others. Some very fine looking geezers with crowns on their head and a few other of these angels and the Inn keepers too along with donkeys! I watched as the whole group disappeared among the very strange and colourful people, and sprouts! Yup that's right big huge green sprouts......and turkeys......lots of turkeys!
A stream of people were all heading in the same direction, maybe they were following the star too! But I had a mission, I had to find my lost lamb! Let them go and follow some bright star that some Angel told them about, my missing lamb was most important. I looked everywhere for it. I was running for about 1 and half miles or so keeping my eyes peeled. I looked at my time recorder (Garmin) and I saw that it had stopped, dead! I had no idea how far I had ran all ready, I was guess it was about 1 and half miles as the last time I looked at my time recorder it said 1.34 miles. With my tunic slowing down my running I decided to hitch it up instead, and run along showing off my 'breeches'. It was hard going, but then just up ahead I saw my little lost sheep! He was trying to hide in some leaves.
As I got closer to him I think he heard me and ran off before I could get to him. I was beginning to think this little lamb was just as frightened of the Angel Gabriel as I was!
I ran on some more, being heavily laden with my cumbersome costume. It was getting wet and caught up on stuff. The ground was difficult to run on and I kept stumbling over things, bricks and roots. My ankle started to complain a little! But this is a most important job, I had to get the lamb, keep it safe so I ran on. I spotted some people, soldiers I think, looking rather bright in yellow tabbards. Standing next to one of them was a child and in his arms was my little lost lamb! "Very clever" I thought to myself "Fancy trying to disguise your self as a knitted childs toy wearing a PWR buff, very clever, but I have spotted you."
I ran up to the boy but my lamb jumped out of his arms and ran off again.
I was getting very warm as I tried all sorts to try and run fast without undressing in public! I tried tying my skirts up, I tried hoicking it up some more under the tie belt, I even tried tucking it in to my breeches! But it still came down and wrapped around my ankles! Just up ahead I saw a watering hole, "I shall stop a while and refresh myself, maybe the inn keeper will have a room for the night" But then I remembered the Inn keeper was also following the star! "I will stop and have a drink at least before I continue on my way" I thought to myself. It seems as if the yellow tabbard soliers are in control. Just then on the grand table I saw my little lamb drinking from one of the cups!
I quickly downed my water and tried to grab my lamb! Too late, it had ran off!
I had no idea where I was, or where I was going, but at least I wasn't following the crowdor the star. There was no one in front of me and no one behind me! I am safe, apart from some rather friendly yellow tabbard soldiers (marshals) pointing to pathways and roads. I don't know why they were doing that, some of the paths were nothing but more than huge mud hols filled with cold water and very sticky, slippery mud! Why would anyone want to run along there, only crazy people would do that! But there was no way of getting away from them. They seemed so friendly too, cheering me and clapping! Maybe they had heard of my quest, after all and were impressed with my efforts to save the lamb, some of them even mentioned my flock of sheep!
I could see up a head of me one such soldier, and with him I could see my lamb. He had a blue cow bell attached to him!
Now pretending to be a cow?! "No lambsey, no! You are way to small for that" I thought to myself. I tried to creep up slowly to my lamb but the soldier rang the bell, and cheered as did all the other yellow tabbard wearing soldiers! My little lamb startled, jumped out of his hand an ran off again.
By this time I was feeling really tired, my feet were wet, my tunic was wet and I hadn't got a clue as to how far I had come. I was sent up hills and down hills, along muddy paths and roads. One such road led to a fine looking home, and just behind a rock I could see my lamb.
There were no soldiers about, there were no people about. I again crept slowly, slowly getting nearer to my lamb, but he spotted me and once again escaped my clutches. The road lead to a path behind some other dwellings. I looked closely at one of the back gardens and I could see my lost little lamb!
But with one little 'baaa' he sprang back over the fence and ran off in front of me! The people who lived there was most amused by this!
I didn't spot my lamb again for a while. But I came across this ancient stone with an arch structure embedded in it, just placed by the foot path. Maybe the lamb was taking shelter from the sun, or having a nap!
I almost managed to grab him as I ran towards it. Surely I must catch him soon, it cannot keep on running! I am exhausted and in need of food! I knew I should have eaten something earlier. Those sprouts and turkeys came back to my mind!
I came out on the road again. It felt good not to be stumbling over roots and bricks. My poor ankle! I could hear some more cheering in the distance, but the cheering was not from the yellow tabbard cladded soldiers, no! This was different, there were more voices in the mix, and one a particularly loud voice as if it was being amplified! I was intrigued. No longer afraid, I was way beyond that now! I decided I will head for this noise and see what it's all about! I then heard my name being called out "Welcome Shepherd Pie" I looked over and there in the distance was my lamb, he was with my flock of sheep! Not only that, but The wise men, Angel Gabriel with a host of other angels, my brother Germain Shepherd and Chris with the inn keepers of Petts Wood Runnersville. They were all there, they had followed the star as it lit up and shone brightly in the day over Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus! I was here, seeing the baby! I need not have been afraid after all! Whether I am fast or slow, I still got to see baby Jesus! Brave or scared, I followed the lamb!
I realised then that actually I was not saving the lamb, the Lamb had saved me! He had been guiding me the whole way! But it was still a strange topsey turvey day, with running sprouts and turkeys, and Mary looking noticeably masculine while Joseph some how had some feminine charms under his beard!
There were also other residents of Petts Wood Runnersville here today as well, I managed to capture the moment, although there were still a few more around that didn't get in the picture
A video of the event was shot by Mike Reeves!
Here is a little Christmas Story.
It was a bright morning, very unusual for the time of year, you could feel the warmth of the sun. But the air was still chilly! Everything about this morning was very peculiar. Let me introduce myself, I am a shepherd and my name is Pie. I was with my other brothers, Germain, also a shepherd and Chris! We were in a place called Ditton, and many strange things were happening. There were people around looking very colourful indeed. Maybe it is some kind of festival. There were stripey people, and people were shouting "Where's Wally?" at them.
We, me and my brothers, were tending our flock of sheep, all nice a peaceful like, here, look I took a selfie of me with a couple of my ewes!
All of a sudden this chap with wings and a halo appeared from no where, making the day even more brighter, if that was possible. We were so scared! Particularly me, I am afraid of my own shadow. I always arrive after my brothers, sisters, friends, just so that they can make sure the way is clear.
"Behold Shepherds" said this chap "Behold, I am Angel Gabriel and I bring you good news, A baby is born this day, He is the Saviour of the world. Follow yonder star and you will find where the baby is" Well as you can imagine, I was terrified! My brothers, although a bit scared, they of course were keen to go and find this baby, I just wanted to run and hide. I am sure I saw a place where they were serving tea and coffee, I may just rest there till they come back, I am afraid I over did it with the jollys these past two days and wasn't really 'feeling it' ! But then I noticed that one of our tiny little lambs was missing. "You go ahead without me, I shall see you back here later" I called to my brothers, "I will go and save the lamb!" I said, trying to act all cool! By then they were joined by some others. Some very fine looking geezers with crowns on their head and a few other of these angels and the Inn keepers too along with donkeys! I watched as the whole group disappeared among the very strange and colourful people, and sprouts! Yup that's right big huge green sprouts......and turkeys......lots of turkeys!
A stream of people were all heading in the same direction, maybe they were following the star too! But I had a mission, I had to find my lost lamb! Let them go and follow some bright star that some Angel told them about, my missing lamb was most important. I looked everywhere for it. I was running for about 1 and half miles or so keeping my eyes peeled. I looked at my time recorder (Garmin) and I saw that it had stopped, dead! I had no idea how far I had ran all ready, I was guess it was about 1 and half miles as the last time I looked at my time recorder it said 1.34 miles. With my tunic slowing down my running I decided to hitch it up instead, and run along showing off my 'breeches'. It was hard going, but then just up ahead I saw my little lost sheep! He was trying to hide in some leaves.
I ran on some more, being heavily laden with my cumbersome costume. It was getting wet and caught up on stuff. The ground was difficult to run on and I kept stumbling over things, bricks and roots. My ankle started to complain a little! But this is a most important job, I had to get the lamb, keep it safe so I ran on. I spotted some people, soldiers I think, looking rather bright in yellow tabbards. Standing next to one of them was a child and in his arms was my little lost lamb! "Very clever" I thought to myself "Fancy trying to disguise your self as a knitted childs toy wearing a PWR buff, very clever, but I have spotted you."
I was getting very warm as I tried all sorts to try and run fast without undressing in public! I tried tying my skirts up, I tried hoicking it up some more under the tie belt, I even tried tucking it in to my breeches! But it still came down and wrapped around my ankles! Just up ahead I saw a watering hole, "I shall stop a while and refresh myself, maybe the inn keeper will have a room for the night" But then I remembered the Inn keeper was also following the star! "I will stop and have a drink at least before I continue on my way" I thought to myself. It seems as if the yellow tabbard soliers are in control. Just then on the grand table I saw my little lamb drinking from one of the cups!
I had no idea where I was, or where I was going, but at least I wasn't following the crowdor the star. There was no one in front of me and no one behind me! I am safe, apart from some rather friendly yellow tabbard soldiers (marshals) pointing to pathways and roads. I don't know why they were doing that, some of the paths were nothing but more than huge mud hols filled with cold water and very sticky, slippery mud! Why would anyone want to run along there, only crazy people would do that! But there was no way of getting away from them. They seemed so friendly too, cheering me and clapping! Maybe they had heard of my quest, after all and were impressed with my efforts to save the lamb, some of them even mentioned my flock of sheep!
I could see up a head of me one such soldier, and with him I could see my lamb. He had a blue cow bell attached to him!
By this time I was feeling really tired, my feet were wet, my tunic was wet and I hadn't got a clue as to how far I had come. I was sent up hills and down hills, along muddy paths and roads. One such road led to a fine looking home, and just behind a rock I could see my lamb.
I didn't spot my lamb again for a while. But I came across this ancient stone with an arch structure embedded in it, just placed by the foot path. Maybe the lamb was taking shelter from the sun, or having a nap!
I came out on the road again. It felt good not to be stumbling over roots and bricks. My poor ankle! I could hear some more cheering in the distance, but the cheering was not from the yellow tabbard cladded soldiers, no! This was different, there were more voices in the mix, and one a particularly loud voice as if it was being amplified! I was intrigued. No longer afraid, I was way beyond that now! I decided I will head for this noise and see what it's all about! I then heard my name being called out "Welcome Shepherd Pie" I looked over and there in the distance was my lamb, he was with my flock of sheep! Not only that, but The wise men, Angel Gabriel with a host of other angels, my brother Germain Shepherd and Chris with the inn keepers of Petts Wood Runnersville. They were all there, they had followed the star as it lit up and shone brightly in the day over Joseph and Mary and baby Jesus! I was here, seeing the baby! I need not have been afraid after all! Whether I am fast or slow, I still got to see baby Jesus! Brave or scared, I followed the lamb!
I realised then that actually I was not saving the lamb, the Lamb had saved me! He had been guiding me the whole way! But it was still a strange topsey turvey day, with running sprouts and turkeys, and Mary looking noticeably masculine while Joseph some how had some feminine charms under his beard!
There were also other residents of Petts Wood Runnersville here today as well, I managed to capture the moment, although there were still a few more around that didn't get in the picture
A video of the event was shot by Mike Reeves!
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