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!
Thursday, 1 June 2017
Tuesday, 30 May 2017
Club Run - I Had A Brill Weekend Away!
Hello blog lovers,
Well, yes, what more can I say! A weekend away with the old boy means I had to do some hard work working off all those extra calories. I have had 3 courses for at least three evenings running and a huge Sunday roast! Plus off course the extra drinking of the local ales! Yesterday evening I could only manage a bowl of cereal for my tea. If I do the crime (eating!) then I need to do the time (hills). Of course that means everybody has to come with me to do the hills, as I was leading. Poor Charley is still out of action, and Joanne is still a leader in waiting, which leaves just me of course! I could have pleaded for our Michael to lead group 1 today, but then I don't know if he is ruthless enough yet, to take them up Goss hill, which is the hill, which is the hill that I needed to do! I needed a steep little bleeder of a hill to work off these rolls of 'fluffyness' (as Tracy called it!) around my middle! I have a long road ahead of me, it's going to get brutal!
So, I am sure I do not need to lay out any excuses as to why I was running a little slower or sluggish today, if I do, please note that I had a sh.....shed load of food over the last four days, and no running involved! I drove to Tracy's house and then drove to Willet Rec. J.J. and Janet ran 10k on Monday, so they really were not feeling the love of doing another 5k this evening, especially as they both are still recovering from illness. K wasn't here today or Carole. Carole had done the 10k yesterday too, even after her surgery just a couple of weeks ago! I tell you, once this running bug takes hold of you, you really don't want to stop! You will always keep coming back!
The woods was our destination, and it always makes everyone happy, from the faster runners in our group to the slowest runners. Everyone just loves the freshness of the woods, the smells and the feeling of well being that you get when you just immerse yourself in His glorious creation! The greens of the leaves, the flowers, the singing birds and the scampering squirrels.....and other creatures! Even the the fine threads of the spiders web didn't freak me out, mind you if I had seen the spiders or if they had landed in my face it could quite easily have been a different story! Ewww!
After our count up of the runners in group 1, there were 20 of us by the way, a nice round number, perfect, we set off for the woods. We went in through Dog Poo ally, I waited just at the 4 ways point for the others to catch up, it's just inside the woods, after coming through the ally. There are four paths leading in different directions, left path, middle path, diagonal path and the right path. This evening I took them on the left path. It's one of my favourite ways actually, I don't know why, it's just a tad more interesting. Different surfaces to run on, it's not just mud and roots, we have a wooden pathway to run along, but it's also different elevations! Ups and downs, you know how I love a hill (not), but I know that hills do us good! And besides, running hills in the woods is so much nicer........unless it's Goss Hill.......which is the one we were going to do!
So there we were, running down to the bridge of the river, and then we took a little stopping break for our catch up. I said to them all as I point up the hill, "You will be pleased that I am not taking you all the way up this hill". It was the one that leads Tong Farm. I tell you, they were really quite pleased, especially when I said that we were going to be running along the river and it's flat! Of course I did tell them that we would have to go up Goss Hill! I'm sure I told them, yes, yes I did mention it, quietly!
The run along the river is really the 'calm before the storm' so to speak. The hill is a challenge, I have only ever managed to do this hill in one go once before, a couple of years ago, with the Old Boy literally pushing me! So it is my nemesis! The other hills in the woods I can do, well apart from the middle path! The middle path always gets be puffing out my arse too! So this summer I am going to try and get both of these hills under my belt! There, I've laid it out on the line, in print, for all to read......um, by the way, are there any group 1 runners reading this? I maybe able to get away with not doing it, if there are none! I didn't even think of this until just now as I am writing my blog, but yes, I think I need a summer challenge to do with my running club, and so this is it! I am sure there could be a couple of other group 1's that fancy challenging themselves to this too. But there were were, facing 'the wall' that is Goss hill, at least if feels like a wall when I'm running it! I send up the runners that were with me, at their own pace, while I held back for the others. Then sent them up, and then ran up it myself. I didn't manage to run it one go, but then, it wasn't on my mind to, I was in 'leader' mind, encouraging Tracy to keep on going. I think I used that as an excuse because Joanne was with her too! There were a few of them that ran up it in one attempt, a couple more did it in two attempts, a couple walked up, and some walked/jogged up! It is a tough little challenge for a social Tuesday run!
We ran along the back of Coopers school just as another group was running along here, I think it was group 6, I am sure some one will tell me which one. We got out on the other side of the skinny path, with its barbed wire fence on one side and greenery on the other side. I don't like this little path at all, I have nightmares about this path! I just hate it that there is barbed wire running along the top of the fence, I feel it's unnecessary on this path! Anyway, we all made it, safely, to Botany Bay Lane only to (almost) run into Karen's group! Petts Wood Runners are really living up to the name! We then ran along the top of the woods, with that one last small hill to do. This one I can do, and I challenged all the runners that were with me to get to the top, just the flat bit, in one go. Its no where near as steep as Goss, or as long, but after running this far you still need to dig deep. I did, and all those that were with did too. We took a breather, no one was talking, we stood, panting, breathing hard looking blimmin pleased with ourselves. We stood there for a few minutes waiting for the back runners to join us.
There was just one more ever so slight up hill that brought us to the top of the middle path. Here I divided the group again, faster runners to go with Joanne while Michael took up the middle I ran behind sweeping, keeping Tracy Kathy and Selina going.! We were virtually at bottom of the woods, when we saw Kate coming running up towards us, then Michael! Joanne had stopped on the path by the national trust memorial, with another path that went diagonally left and one path that beared right, which is the one that we were taking. Joanne wasn't quite sure, and so she stopped and waited for me, and then sent anyone running up towards us if they wanted to keep on running. The woods do look different in the different seasons even the differing light, but I am glad that Joanne waited for me rather than going on her way. We all continued together to Dog Poo ally and then ran back to the rec at our own pace.
A brilliant run, I loved it and so did everyone else. Yes it was tough, and yes we even had a complete newbie with us, but she enjoyed it too. So, geeky stats for your perusal!
Well, yes, what more can I say! A weekend away with the old boy means I had to do some hard work working off all those extra calories. I have had 3 courses for at least three evenings running and a huge Sunday roast! Plus off course the extra drinking of the local ales! Yesterday evening I could only manage a bowl of cereal for my tea. If I do the crime (eating!) then I need to do the time (hills). Of course that means everybody has to come with me to do the hills, as I was leading. Poor Charley is still out of action, and Joanne is still a leader in waiting, which leaves just me of course! I could have pleaded for our Michael to lead group 1 today, but then I don't know if he is ruthless enough yet, to take them up Goss hill, which is the hill, which is the hill that I needed to do! I needed a steep little bleeder of a hill to work off these rolls of 'fluffyness' (as Tracy called it!) around my middle! I have a long road ahead of me, it's going to get brutal!
So, I am sure I do not need to lay out any excuses as to why I was running a little slower or sluggish today, if I do, please note that I had a sh.....shed load of food over the last four days, and no running involved! I drove to Tracy's house and then drove to Willet Rec. J.J. and Janet ran 10k on Monday, so they really were not feeling the love of doing another 5k this evening, especially as they both are still recovering from illness. K wasn't here today or Carole. Carole had done the 10k yesterday too, even after her surgery just a couple of weeks ago! I tell you, once this running bug takes hold of you, you really don't want to stop! You will always keep coming back!
The woods was our destination, and it always makes everyone happy, from the faster runners in our group to the slowest runners. Everyone just loves the freshness of the woods, the smells and the feeling of well being that you get when you just immerse yourself in His glorious creation! The greens of the leaves, the flowers, the singing birds and the scampering squirrels.....and other creatures! Even the the fine threads of the spiders web didn't freak me out, mind you if I had seen the spiders or if they had landed in my face it could quite easily have been a different story! Ewww!
After our count up of the runners in group 1, there were 20 of us by the way, a nice round number, perfect, we set off for the woods. We went in through Dog Poo ally, I waited just at the 4 ways point for the others to catch up, it's just inside the woods, after coming through the ally. There are four paths leading in different directions, left path, middle path, diagonal path and the right path. This evening I took them on the left path. It's one of my favourite ways actually, I don't know why, it's just a tad more interesting. Different surfaces to run on, it's not just mud and roots, we have a wooden pathway to run along, but it's also different elevations! Ups and downs, you know how I love a hill (not), but I know that hills do us good! And besides, running hills in the woods is so much nicer........unless it's Goss Hill.......which is the one we were going to do!
So there we were, running down to the bridge of the river, and then we took a little stopping break for our catch up. I said to them all as I point up the hill, "You will be pleased that I am not taking you all the way up this hill". It was the one that leads Tong Farm. I tell you, they were really quite pleased, especially when I said that we were going to be running along the river and it's flat! Of course I did tell them that we would have to go up Goss Hill! I'm sure I told them, yes, yes I did mention it, quietly!
The run along the river is really the 'calm before the storm' so to speak. The hill is a challenge, I have only ever managed to do this hill in one go once before, a couple of years ago, with the Old Boy literally pushing me! So it is my nemesis! The other hills in the woods I can do, well apart from the middle path! The middle path always gets be puffing out my arse too! So this summer I am going to try and get both of these hills under my belt! There, I've laid it out on the line, in print, for all to read......um, by the way, are there any group 1 runners reading this? I maybe able to get away with not doing it, if there are none! I didn't even think of this until just now as I am writing my blog, but yes, I think I need a summer challenge to do with my running club, and so this is it! I am sure there could be a couple of other group 1's that fancy challenging themselves to this too. But there were were, facing 'the wall' that is Goss hill, at least if feels like a wall when I'm running it! I send up the runners that were with me, at their own pace, while I held back for the others. Then sent them up, and then ran up it myself. I didn't manage to run it one go, but then, it wasn't on my mind to, I was in 'leader' mind, encouraging Tracy to keep on going. I think I used that as an excuse because Joanne was with her too! There were a few of them that ran up it in one attempt, a couple more did it in two attempts, a couple walked up, and some walked/jogged up! It is a tough little challenge for a social Tuesday run!
We ran along the back of Coopers school just as another group was running along here, I think it was group 6, I am sure some one will tell me which one. We got out on the other side of the skinny path, with its barbed wire fence on one side and greenery on the other side. I don't like this little path at all, I have nightmares about this path! I just hate it that there is barbed wire running along the top of the fence, I feel it's unnecessary on this path! Anyway, we all made it, safely, to Botany Bay Lane only to (almost) run into Karen's group! Petts Wood Runners are really living up to the name! We then ran along the top of the woods, with that one last small hill to do. This one I can do, and I challenged all the runners that were with me to get to the top, just the flat bit, in one go. Its no where near as steep as Goss, or as long, but after running this far you still need to dig deep. I did, and all those that were with did too. We took a breather, no one was talking, we stood, panting, breathing hard looking blimmin pleased with ourselves. We stood there for a few minutes waiting for the back runners to join us.
There was just one more ever so slight up hill that brought us to the top of the middle path. Here I divided the group again, faster runners to go with Joanne while Michael took up the middle I ran behind sweeping, keeping Tracy Kathy and Selina going.! We were virtually at bottom of the woods, when we saw Kate coming running up towards us, then Michael! Joanne had stopped on the path by the national trust memorial, with another path that went diagonally left and one path that beared right, which is the one that we were taking. Joanne wasn't quite sure, and so she stopped and waited for me, and then sent anyone running up towards us if they wanted to keep on running. The woods do look different in the different seasons even the differing light, but I am glad that Joanne waited for me rather than going on her way. We all continued together to Dog Poo ally and then ran back to the rec at our own pace.
A brilliant run, I loved it and so did everyone else. Yes it was tough, and yes we even had a complete newbie with us, but she enjoyed it too. So, geeky stats for your perusal!
Tuesday, 23 May 2017
Club Run - Full Circuit In The Woods!
Hello blog lovers.
A glorious evening for running, and running is what we were going to do. I picked up Shalini and then we drove to pick up Tracy. It seems as if I go around collecting new recruits to PWR! Well, I do like to share the love. At the rec there were already quite a few PWR's all milling around, chatting, laughing, stretching and warming up. Then it was time for the leaders to give out their routes and pace.
I also introduced a 'Leader in training' Joanne, my new FaceBook friend, to help lead group 1 today, while J.J. and Janet sweep. I am hoping that we were going to have enough light so that we can do the whole 3 miles through the woods without having to run any on the roads. Last week we managed to get most of our run done through the woods, with just the last bit running along Birchwood.
So we had a count up, Old Girl style, I just get everyone in a circle and get them to shout out the next number from 1. And that way we all know how many are in our group. Eighteen of us actually, eighteen keen runners, looking forward to doing battle with the midges in the woods. Yes, its that blimmin time! Flippin love midges.....not! Why I have to have such a bad reaction to the little sh......shtinging things I don't know! I must go and buy some jungle formula anti midge biting things to spray all over me.
So my route was to go around the whole of the woods starting on the left side and then coming down on the right. We all ran together from the rec to the woods and then we had a little safety chat. It's about earphones! I spoke to a chap on Sunday about earphones, and he was just a tad 'forthright' when asking his question! But I tried to be as pleasant as possible about the whole earphones thing. As they already had them for this week, then just put in one earphone! Next week however, I will have to be a tad bossy! NO EARPHONES unless it's those bone conductors ones, we are a lovely social running club after all!
We ran and called out ROOTS, LOW BRANCH, as we ran along the left path all the way to the walking bridge. We had a bit of a wait there for our back runners, I tried to get the group interested in doing some easy exercises up the stairs. Just running up the stairs to the first landing and then back again. Well I recieved some very blank looks, so I decided to show them. Cue music, # dun na naaa, da na naaa, da na naa, da na naaa, da na na na na na, na naaaaa" (it's the rocky music, now go back and sing it to that!) I stood up on the landing with my hands held high. Nobody followed me! So I tried to show them one more, it's a harder one, jumping up the steps, in a squat like fashion! Yeah, all I can say is that I tried, nobody tried to emulate that either.......by the way, I only managed three!
By this time the back runners had caught up and we continued to run along by the rail lines and then down the path that leads to the little river......and then up again, to Botany Bay Lane! I have cakes to run off, going for afternoon tea needs to be paid for in blood sweat and tears. When we got to the gate at the top, J.J. told me that I had neglected to collect my glass of champagne when we went for tea!! That's calls for a bigger punishment! I am going to have to try and push my self up Botany Bay Lane to the bridle path! How could I have let that slip my fingers! I guess it was a good thing really, as I was driving, and driving the Old Boys car too!
I had decided that as Joanne is with us, and she is as keen as punch, pulling at the bit, to be a leader, I thought this would be a brilliant way for her to 'learn on the job' so to speak. We ran along the top path to the map at the top of the woods, just at the top of the middle path. J.J. Janet and Auriol all know the way back to Dog Poo ally, straight down, all the way down, straight as a dye, as the saying goes. Joanne felt comfortable, the others all felt comfortable in fact the even took a selfie! Look!
I felt totally confidant that I will meet them back at the rec. I was going to take the faster ones for just a little bit extra. we took the other half of the top path and ran along towards the main road, and then followed the path, right, to run down towards the rail lines. We were going at a nice pace, just settling into the zone, and the the burst of pink flowers came in sight. I told the girls about Rhododendron Walk, the only place in the woods where they grow, making this lovely pink floral walkway. Of course the girls wanted to do down there, with the pace we were doing I was pretty sure we would get to Dog Poo before it was too dark.
We didn't bump into the slower group, they were already back at the rec by the time we got there, but they were only on their second stretch. I was glad to see that the group 2 lead Michael, had remembered that we in group 1 have the patio and he was doing his stretches on the grass! Know your place......, of course I am joking.........or am I, I hate blimmin midges!
Geeky stats
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| I had to get this picture! Look at their shirts! That's what its about! |
A glorious evening for running, and running is what we were going to do. I picked up Shalini and then we drove to pick up Tracy. It seems as if I go around collecting new recruits to PWR! Well, I do like to share the love. At the rec there were already quite a few PWR's all milling around, chatting, laughing, stretching and warming up. Then it was time for the leaders to give out their routes and pace.
I also introduced a 'Leader in training' Joanne, my new FaceBook friend, to help lead group 1 today, while J.J. and Janet sweep. I am hoping that we were going to have enough light so that we can do the whole 3 miles through the woods without having to run any on the roads. Last week we managed to get most of our run done through the woods, with just the last bit running along Birchwood.
So we had a count up, Old Girl style, I just get everyone in a circle and get them to shout out the next number from 1. And that way we all know how many are in our group. Eighteen of us actually, eighteen keen runners, looking forward to doing battle with the midges in the woods. Yes, its that blimmin time! Flippin love midges.....not! Why I have to have such a bad reaction to the little sh......shtinging things I don't know! I must go and buy some jungle formula anti midge biting things to spray all over me.
So my route was to go around the whole of the woods starting on the left side and then coming down on the right. We all ran together from the rec to the woods and then we had a little safety chat. It's about earphones! I spoke to a chap on Sunday about earphones, and he was just a tad 'forthright' when asking his question! But I tried to be as pleasant as possible about the whole earphones thing. As they already had them for this week, then just put in one earphone! Next week however, I will have to be a tad bossy! NO EARPHONES unless it's those bone conductors ones, we are a lovely social running club after all!
We ran and called out ROOTS, LOW BRANCH, as we ran along the left path all the way to the walking bridge. We had a bit of a wait there for our back runners, I tried to get the group interested in doing some easy exercises up the stairs. Just running up the stairs to the first landing and then back again. Well I recieved some very blank looks, so I decided to show them. Cue music, # dun na naaa, da na naaa, da na naa, da na naaa, da na na na na na, na naaaaa" (it's the rocky music, now go back and sing it to that!) I stood up on the landing with my hands held high. Nobody followed me! So I tried to show them one more, it's a harder one, jumping up the steps, in a squat like fashion! Yeah, all I can say is that I tried, nobody tried to emulate that either.......by the way, I only managed three!
By this time the back runners had caught up and we continued to run along by the rail lines and then down the path that leads to the little river......and then up again, to Botany Bay Lane! I have cakes to run off, going for afternoon tea needs to be paid for in blood sweat and tears. When we got to the gate at the top, J.J. told me that I had neglected to collect my glass of champagne when we went for tea!! That's calls for a bigger punishment! I am going to have to try and push my self up Botany Bay Lane to the bridle path! How could I have let that slip my fingers! I guess it was a good thing really, as I was driving, and driving the Old Boys car too!
I had decided that as Joanne is with us, and she is as keen as punch, pulling at the bit, to be a leader, I thought this would be a brilliant way for her to 'learn on the job' so to speak. We ran along the top path to the map at the top of the woods, just at the top of the middle path. J.J. Janet and Auriol all know the way back to Dog Poo ally, straight down, all the way down, straight as a dye, as the saying goes. Joanne felt comfortable, the others all felt comfortable in fact the even took a selfie! Look!
 |
| The breakaway group! |
I felt totally confidant that I will meet them back at the rec. I was going to take the faster ones for just a little bit extra. we took the other half of the top path and ran along towards the main road, and then followed the path, right, to run down towards the rail lines. We were going at a nice pace, just settling into the zone, and the the burst of pink flowers came in sight. I told the girls about Rhododendron Walk, the only place in the woods where they grow, making this lovely pink floral walkway. Of course the girls wanted to do down there, with the pace we were doing I was pretty sure we would get to Dog Poo before it was too dark.
We didn't bump into the slower group, they were already back at the rec by the time we got there, but they were only on their second stretch. I was glad to see that the group 2 lead Michael, had remembered that we in group 1 have the patio and he was doing his stretches on the grass! Know your place......, of course I am joking.........or am I, I hate blimmin midges!
Geeky stats
Monday, 22 May 2017
Chislehurst Half Marathon
Hello blog lovers.
This is the second year for this race, it's still a new race. Last year we had some great reviews and people were back again this year for a replay! It's a challenging route, with lots of hills, running through the paths and trails of Scadbury Park. And just like last year the sunshine was just as warm! A perfect morning for watching the race, but I know I would struggle in that heat!
My first job was in the registration dept! Me, J.J., LittleJ, K, Carole and Helena! We all worked together perfectly! There was a possibilty of 600 runners that could turn up you can imagine the scene in the room. Three tables, 600 numbers laid out, 550 on the preregistered table and rest with me and Carole on the 'On the day registration'. Everyone settled into their jobs, IllustriousLeader has surrounded herself with some fantastic volunteers, even if I do say so myself.
At first it's all just nice and calm, just one or two people coming in to the the room to collect their number, which were posted on some sheets attached to the window. At first just one person came over for the pay on the day numbers. And then it started to get busy, people were coming asking for their bib numbers, not knowing they had to look on the sheets at the window, well there were loads of people around them! Helena soon let them know of the lists that were pasted on the window and sent them there! Carol and I had a nice time on the late entries! Nice and quite, just a few questions were thrown our way, about earphones in particular, but if we couldn't answer the question than I went out to seek the answers!
But that wonderful buzz about the place was there, the excitement was there, the anticipation was there. It's just magical, every thing just falls in place with everyone knowing what was needed to be done. It all goes like clock work, over 480 runners was processed in that one hour and twenty minutes, which included a few late entries! The last runner collected their number about 09:20, talk about cutting it fine! There were quite a few no shows! Maybe they had forgotten they entered! The baggage team were at the back, in the changing rooms, they were busy, they said it was like handling baggage at Heathrow airport! I had been down there earlier and they were busy setting out numbers, so they knew where to place the bags.
Three, two, one, go! the runners start to move over the timing mats. It did look blimmin gorgeous out there, I am sure they were going to have a wonderful race! As soon as that was over, we all sat down on our arses! Well, not quite, we had time to tidy the registration room up, move some tables to the outside and then go and get a cuppa and a sausage or bacon roll! A team needs to be kept fed and watered! After we had eaten and enjoyed our coffees and teas, it was straight back to work. Water to be placed on the tables ready to be dished out, medals to be taken out of the bags and laid out on the tables, ready to be placed over the returning runners. And the bananas to be brought out, and separated, not to mention rubbish duty as well! Putting up those yellow bins was like a Kyrpton factor test........ok slight exaggeration there!
So far so good. The were people milling around waiting for their relatives to return, people setting up the massage tables, the St. Johns Ambulance guys, hopefully they won't be needed! And then we just waited, and waited. The first runners were due approximately one hour and 30 minutes or so after the start time, we were all ready in our places, SingstarJo with team medals, J.J. and team water and bananas! Me? Well, would you believe I was handed the microphone and was told "You're on mic duty, we've had a bit of problem and DiscoRich and Ralph needs to get it sorted" That's how we roll on marshaling duties, one minute you're ready to dish our bananas and the next minute you own the mic, squeaky voice being amplified to call out the runners names and numbers as they come over the line. Of course I was being very enthusiastic with my new job, I wanted to do the best I could so I tried to keep the crowds cheering as each one came over the line. I am not sure, but I felt as if holding the microphone just empowered me for just a few minutes, I am sure I sang a couple of bars of some tune or other! I am so sorry people, let me assure you, I sound so much better when there is music to drown out my cattawailing! At least to me I sound bloody brilliant! I feel it could be the last time holding the mic in public.........other than a karaoke of course!
So they started to come in, maybe not quite as quick as they expected, it was a hot day, and of course the slight teething problem as well, it's a very interesting route! These guys here were on the water station, and they saw each runner, what.....four or five times I think. It's the way the route goes, if you see it on the map you can understand it.
Just one, then two, then three runners came into the football grounds. At first it was silent, the someone started to clap, well I expect all our marshals were shouting and cheering, but now we could hear it. I got on to the mic and got the crowd going with the cheering and the clapping! We kept it all going until he crossed over that line! Brilliant, and not a bad result at all! I am sure I bored everyone silly with my calling out of all the numbers. Some of them ran so fast by me I was getting all discombobulated!
We still had a couple of people out in the field, but the trophies needed to be given out. So DiscoRich got on to the other mic and started to hand out the prizes to those that came first in the age categories! But I think maybe I was over enthusiastic in my job because it seems I had worn out the batteries of the speakers! Still, DiscoRich made sure everyone heard what he was saying!
We still had out sweeper to wait for, she was sweeper for the CHM for last year and was looking forward to repeating it this year. After three and half hours later the crowds started to dwindle, people were drifting off and going home, after four hours we started to wonder where they were. We knew that our sweeper was with just one other entrant. But, we couldn't get hold of her! Another little hiccup in an otherwise perfectly orchestrated running event! Just as we were about to send out some teams to start running the route in reverse our sweeper and the last runner came in! Kate, her name is, the last runner, and the sweeper, well, that's our own ZippySherry! She wasn't that zippy on Sunday, but she was and is still a Hero for keeping with that runner and not cutting it short, after four and a half hours, it really was a long day!
I didn't get a picture of ZzzzzippySherry! I am hoping someone did, it was a very long day, and poor ZippySherry needed to pop to the ladies as her first stop!
This is the second year for this race, it's still a new race. Last year we had some great reviews and people were back again this year for a replay! It's a challenging route, with lots of hills, running through the paths and trails of Scadbury Park. And just like last year the sunshine was just as warm! A perfect morning for watching the race, but I know I would struggle in that heat!
My first job was in the registration dept! Me, J.J., LittleJ, K, Carole and Helena! We all worked together perfectly! There was a possibilty of 600 runners that could turn up you can imagine the scene in the room. Three tables, 600 numbers laid out, 550 on the preregistered table and rest with me and Carole on the 'On the day registration'. Everyone settled into their jobs, IllustriousLeader has surrounded herself with some fantastic volunteers, even if I do say so myself.
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| me and Carole on late entrants |
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| team registration |
At first it's all just nice and calm, just one or two people coming in to the the room to collect their number, which were posted on some sheets attached to the window. At first just one person came over for the pay on the day numbers. And then it started to get busy, people were coming asking for their bib numbers, not knowing they had to look on the sheets at the window, well there were loads of people around them! Helena soon let them know of the lists that were pasted on the window and sent them there! Carol and I had a nice time on the late entries! Nice and quite, just a few questions were thrown our way, about earphones in particular, but if we couldn't answer the question than I went out to seek the answers!
But that wonderful buzz about the place was there, the excitement was there, the anticipation was there. It's just magical, every thing just falls in place with everyone knowing what was needed to be done. It all goes like clock work, over 480 runners was processed in that one hour and twenty minutes, which included a few late entries! The last runner collected their number about 09:20, talk about cutting it fine! There were quite a few no shows! Maybe they had forgotten they entered! The baggage team were at the back, in the changing rooms, they were busy, they said it was like handling baggage at Heathrow airport! I had been down there earlier and they were busy setting out numbers, so they knew where to place the bags.
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| The start and finish of the ChisleHurst Half Marathon |
Three, two, one, go! the runners start to move over the timing mats. It did look blimmin gorgeous out there, I am sure they were going to have a wonderful race! As soon as that was over, we all sat down on our arses! Well, not quite, we had time to tidy the registration room up, move some tables to the outside and then go and get a cuppa and a sausage or bacon roll! A team needs to be kept fed and watered! After we had eaten and enjoyed our coffees and teas, it was straight back to work. Water to be placed on the tables ready to be dished out, medals to be taken out of the bags and laid out on the tables, ready to be placed over the returning runners. And the bananas to be brought out, and separated, not to mention rubbish duty as well! Putting up those yellow bins was like a Kyrpton factor test........ok slight exaggeration there!
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| Looking gorgeous Ladies! |
So far so good. The were people milling around waiting for their relatives to return, people setting up the massage tables, the St. Johns Ambulance guys, hopefully they won't be needed! And then we just waited, and waited. The first runners were due approximately one hour and 30 minutes or so after the start time, we were all ready in our places, SingstarJo with team medals, J.J. and team water and bananas! Me? Well, would you believe I was handed the microphone and was told "You're on mic duty, we've had a bit of problem and DiscoRich and Ralph needs to get it sorted" That's how we roll on marshaling duties, one minute you're ready to dish our bananas and the next minute you own the mic, squeaky voice being amplified to call out the runners names and numbers as they come over the line. Of course I was being very enthusiastic with my new job, I wanted to do the best I could so I tried to keep the crowds cheering as each one came over the line. I am not sure, but I felt as if holding the microphone just empowered me for just a few minutes, I am sure I sang a couple of bars of some tune or other! I am so sorry people, let me assure you, I sound so much better when there is music to drown out my cattawailing! At least to me I sound bloody brilliant! I feel it could be the last time holding the mic in public.........other than a karaoke of course!
So they started to come in, maybe not quite as quick as they expected, it was a hot day, and of course the slight teething problem as well, it's a very interesting route! These guys here were on the water station, and they saw each runner, what.....four or five times I think. It's the way the route goes, if you see it on the map you can understand it.
Just one, then two, then three runners came into the football grounds. At first it was silent, the someone started to clap, well I expect all our marshals were shouting and cheering, but now we could hear it. I got on to the mic and got the crowd going with the cheering and the clapping! We kept it all going until he crossed over that line! Brilliant, and not a bad result at all! I am sure I bored everyone silly with my calling out of all the numbers. Some of them ran so fast by me I was getting all discombobulated!
We still had out sweeper to wait for, she was sweeper for the CHM for last year and was looking forward to repeating it this year. After three and half hours later the crowds started to dwindle, people were drifting off and going home, after four hours we started to wonder where they were. We knew that our sweeper was with just one other entrant. But, we couldn't get hold of her! Another little hiccup in an otherwise perfectly orchestrated running event! Just as we were about to send out some teams to start running the route in reverse our sweeper and the last runner came in! Kate, her name is, the last runner, and the sweeper, well, that's our own ZippySherry! She wasn't that zippy on Sunday, but she was and is still a Hero for keeping with that runner and not cutting it short, after four and a half hours, it really was a long day!
I didn't get a picture of ZzzzzippySherry! I am hoping someone did, it was a very long day, and poor ZippySherry needed to pop to the ladies as her first stop!
Saturday, 20 May 2017
Parkrun!
Hello blog lovers
Well I got up this morning, which was good! I really wasn't feeling it! But I thought to myself that if I get there at least, I know I will force myself around! It just wont be a PB chasing parkrun, that's for sure. Well, we had a bit of a celebration yesterday, me and J.J. and Kirsty, and of course, Friday night is date night, so I continued when I got home and went out with the Old Boy.....and my sister in law!
So, big excuses laid out before you! And so I left the house, I walked all the way over to NaggyNeighbours house to see if she was coming and then we both walked all the way to Shalini's house, but she wasn't coming! Then it was time to get in the car to go and get Tracy! Tracy wasn't coming either......I had forgotten that she was away!
At the park I parked my car and me and NaggyNeighbour started our walk all the way to othe other end of the park. I have done a parkrun already just collecting (or not collecting) parkrunners! I'm exhausted! (hmmm, I don't think I can get away with using that for an excuse really) So we wandered over to the start and met up with our pals! We stayed at the back, and we also got told off! We were chatting while the race director was talking! Sorry about that!
And then we were off. I started my Garmin and then just started running. As usual I found it hard! It don't ever get easier! That's something I don't share with the beginners, not while I am standing out in the front introducing myself! I feel it's probably not the sort of thing that you can share when lots of eager eyes are looking at you, hoping to get them running through a 5k! Yup, it's tough, especially when you had celebrations the night before, just as well I didn't have our usual curry either! I remembered to drink some water before I left, I was hoping that would be enough to re hydrate myself, the sun was shining, it's going to be a warm run! Nope, it's never easy! Running is fun, honest, the buzz you get after every run, whether it's a 1 mile or 68 mile ultra, is just so amazing, and you just want to continue to feel like that always! There are times when I am running, and I am having a great time, chatting to everyone, laughing, smiling. And there are times when I just want to stop, but I have never done that, so far. After running now for some 9 years I have never not finished a race! I feel quite proud of that! But it still don't make it any easier, oh why doesn't it get easier!
I have been looking back at my blogs, from when I first started writing them, and the theme all the way through is that it's not easy, but I continued. That is what I did today, I continued, I didn't quit, I couldn't quit! It's just not in me to quit. Anyway, I started running with Claudia, one of our graduates who has now become a PWR along with her hubby! She wasn't going to do parkrun today, she was only going to do a couple of miles! But I think she is getting that feeling, that little niggling voice that starts ever so quietly in your head, "Just go along and do parkrun, if you going out for 2 just do the extra and do 3"
We ran the first lap together chatting away like you do, and then on the second lap she was talking about the 'slope' that we had to run over. I couldn't even think about what this slope was talking about, but I said that we were on our second lap and we were just running towards the river, where we take a right turn to run across the grass, then just as we were nearing the right turn she said "Oh this is it, I couldn't remember if we did this on the first lap" And that is why it's good to run with buddies, because chatting away to them, you just don't know how far you have come!
I started have leg issues when we got to the other end of the park, I can't explain what it was, just little shooting pains in my upper quad and just below my knew, little spasms of achyness that kept almost made my knew fall from underneath me. Nothing serious, but enough to make me walk a bit more, especially after it gave way a couple of times! Claudia started to pull away and seemed like she was on a mission. J.J. and LittleJ caught me up and I was chatting to them as we ran along, but again the silly leg was hurting! I can only think it's a trapped nerve, it's what LittleJ said if may be! I know I have had a bad back a while ago, maybe that has something to do with it! So I just took it nice and easy, running behind the ladies. We were just getting near to the finish funnel and J.J. and LittleJ said "Go on then, sprint it" To be honest, I didn't think I could, just like when Stephen said to me "sprint finish" But it was there, just under the surface! So I did sprint it, not full out, but just enough to show that I can still run just that little bit faster when I want to!
Geeky stats.
Well I got up this morning, which was good! I really wasn't feeling it! But I thought to myself that if I get there at least, I know I will force myself around! It just wont be a PB chasing parkrun, that's for sure. Well, we had a bit of a celebration yesterday, me and J.J. and Kirsty, and of course, Friday night is date night, so I continued when I got home and went out with the Old Boy.....and my sister in law!
So, big excuses laid out before you! And so I left the house, I walked all the way over to NaggyNeighbours house to see if she was coming and then we both walked all the way to Shalini's house, but she wasn't coming! Then it was time to get in the car to go and get Tracy! Tracy wasn't coming either......I had forgotten that she was away!
At the park I parked my car and me and NaggyNeighbour started our walk all the way to othe other end of the park. I have done a parkrun already just collecting (or not collecting) parkrunners! I'm exhausted! (hmmm, I don't think I can get away with using that for an excuse really) So we wandered over to the start and met up with our pals! We stayed at the back, and we also got told off! We were chatting while the race director was talking! Sorry about that!
And then we were off. I started my Garmin and then just started running. As usual I found it hard! It don't ever get easier! That's something I don't share with the beginners, not while I am standing out in the front introducing myself! I feel it's probably not the sort of thing that you can share when lots of eager eyes are looking at you, hoping to get them running through a 5k! Yup, it's tough, especially when you had celebrations the night before, just as well I didn't have our usual curry either! I remembered to drink some water before I left, I was hoping that would be enough to re hydrate myself, the sun was shining, it's going to be a warm run! Nope, it's never easy! Running is fun, honest, the buzz you get after every run, whether it's a 1 mile or 68 mile ultra, is just so amazing, and you just want to continue to feel like that always! There are times when I am running, and I am having a great time, chatting to everyone, laughing, smiling. And there are times when I just want to stop, but I have never done that, so far. After running now for some 9 years I have never not finished a race! I feel quite proud of that! But it still don't make it any easier, oh why doesn't it get easier!
I have been looking back at my blogs, from when I first started writing them, and the theme all the way through is that it's not easy, but I continued. That is what I did today, I continued, I didn't quit, I couldn't quit! It's just not in me to quit. Anyway, I started running with Claudia, one of our graduates who has now become a PWR along with her hubby! She wasn't going to do parkrun today, she was only going to do a couple of miles! But I think she is getting that feeling, that little niggling voice that starts ever so quietly in your head, "Just go along and do parkrun, if you going out for 2 just do the extra and do 3"
We ran the first lap together chatting away like you do, and then on the second lap she was talking about the 'slope' that we had to run over. I couldn't even think about what this slope was talking about, but I said that we were on our second lap and we were just running towards the river, where we take a right turn to run across the grass, then just as we were nearing the right turn she said "Oh this is it, I couldn't remember if we did this on the first lap" And that is why it's good to run with buddies, because chatting away to them, you just don't know how far you have come!
I started have leg issues when we got to the other end of the park, I can't explain what it was, just little shooting pains in my upper quad and just below my knew, little spasms of achyness that kept almost made my knew fall from underneath me. Nothing serious, but enough to make me walk a bit more, especially after it gave way a couple of times! Claudia started to pull away and seemed like she was on a mission. J.J. and LittleJ caught me up and I was chatting to them as we ran along, but again the silly leg was hurting! I can only think it's a trapped nerve, it's what LittleJ said if may be! I know I have had a bad back a while ago, maybe that has something to do with it! So I just took it nice and easy, running behind the ladies. We were just getting near to the finish funnel and J.J. and LittleJ said "Go on then, sprint it" To be honest, I didn't think I could, just like when Stephen said to me "sprint finish" But it was there, just under the surface! So I did sprint it, not full out, but just enough to show that I can still run just that little bit faster when I want to!
Geeky stats.
Thursday, 18 May 2017
Weekly Double?
Hello blog lovers.
This morning it was such a beautiful morning! It was warm and sunny! Perfect for walking your dogs through the woods, but maybe a run through the woods would be a little challenging! There were six of us in group 1 this morning, me, J.J. and it's J.J.'s last Thursday morning run with us too as she has to be a commuter into London from Monday! We had Kay, Tracy and PinkLadyJo and Ruth! A nice little number of ladies to be runnig around the woods!
There were quite a few Thursday runners this morning in all three groups, I do so enjoy the morning runs, at any time of the year! The woods look so different from season to season. I had notice on one of our Tuesday runs that the Rhododendrons were out which means that they will be out along the path by the house in the woods. That is where we will be heading for today.
The two other groups left the rec and we we soon after them, going through Dog Poo ally and taking the left hand path. It does have hills, of course it has hills! The only way to get to the top of the woods to run to the top of the woods! I was also on a mission to see how far this way through the woods will be. Last week the light started fading just to much for us to stay in the woods in the evening, I am hoping that by next Tuesday the will be sufficient light for a complete woody run and not just half a run in the woods and half on the roads!
It had been raining last night and yesterday, I was expecting some big muddy puddles, but I was pleasantly surprised. The floor of the woods was so very passable, even for the runners who really do not do mud at all! I was running ahead, sometimes with J.J. sometimes with Ruth, until we got to the bridge. We had a little break there, by the bridge, while we waited for the others to catch up. Then it was the lovely down hill run. It is so much easier to just keep on running and running down hill! If I could run down hill for 26 miles I am sure I could totally beat my London Marathon times (still living the dream!) We had to run up once at the river, it's a lovely(?!) steep part, it can really work you legs and your cardio getting up to the lovely house! A quick break there before we carried on up to to the bridle path. But along here it was just so lovely, I just had to take a selfie, here, this is what a took.
We continued our run all along the top of the woods, at the back of Coopers school. I was thinking about the Rhododendron Walk, I hope it's all going to be in bloom, I am sure it will be! J.J. seems to be in the right running gear as she is wearing virtually the same colour as what the flowers are! We were running down the side of the woods now, and I just trod on a root, and my ankle just twisted slightly! Typical runner of course I decided to just carry on running! Surprisingly it was fine! Do you know, back in the day when I never ran, couch potato today, I am sure I would have been holed up for a least a week, bandage wrapped around the ankle, demanding to get a second opinion from doctors. But not now, not anymore. Maybe my ankles have become stronger over the years! Who knows, or maybe I just don't want to ever stop, I just love this life so much! As we were nearing the wood cutters house I can see the tell-tale pink blobs up ahead. Yes! That is where we will be running now! I took some photos, here look, can you see what we mean about J.J. matching the flowers!
This path takes us through to the middle path of the woods, it is slightly shorter than going the big loop but it's beauty makes up for missing out on that. We were soon through the woods, just a little bit wet feet, but feeling totally refreshed! Love running through the woods, it really does make you feel good!
So the double! Well, I was all set to do it, I even managed to persuade Tracy to come along to the rec, to do it! 'It' being the summer core training and speed sessions! But our glorious British weather has delayed the start until next week! Sliding about in the rain on wet grass is not very inspiring! So, actually, it's not a double......but I would have done.....I was looking forward to it even, was just about to go and get ready, if it hadn't been cancelled!
Geeky stats.
This morning it was such a beautiful morning! It was warm and sunny! Perfect for walking your dogs through the woods, but maybe a run through the woods would be a little challenging! There were six of us in group 1 this morning, me, J.J. and it's J.J.'s last Thursday morning run with us too as she has to be a commuter into London from Monday! We had Kay, Tracy and PinkLadyJo and Ruth! A nice little number of ladies to be runnig around the woods!
There were quite a few Thursday runners this morning in all three groups, I do so enjoy the morning runs, at any time of the year! The woods look so different from season to season. I had notice on one of our Tuesday runs that the Rhododendrons were out which means that they will be out along the path by the house in the woods. That is where we will be heading for today.
The two other groups left the rec and we we soon after them, going through Dog Poo ally and taking the left hand path. It does have hills, of course it has hills! The only way to get to the top of the woods to run to the top of the woods! I was also on a mission to see how far this way through the woods will be. Last week the light started fading just to much for us to stay in the woods in the evening, I am hoping that by next Tuesday the will be sufficient light for a complete woody run and not just half a run in the woods and half on the roads!
It had been raining last night and yesterday, I was expecting some big muddy puddles, but I was pleasantly surprised. The floor of the woods was so very passable, even for the runners who really do not do mud at all! I was running ahead, sometimes with J.J. sometimes with Ruth, until we got to the bridge. We had a little break there, by the bridge, while we waited for the others to catch up. Then it was the lovely down hill run. It is so much easier to just keep on running and running down hill! If I could run down hill for 26 miles I am sure I could totally beat my London Marathon times (still living the dream!) We had to run up once at the river, it's a lovely(?!) steep part, it can really work you legs and your cardio getting up to the lovely house! A quick break there before we carried on up to to the bridle path. But along here it was just so lovely, I just had to take a selfie, here, this is what a took.
We continued our run all along the top of the woods, at the back of Coopers school. I was thinking about the Rhododendron Walk, I hope it's all going to be in bloom, I am sure it will be! J.J. seems to be in the right running gear as she is wearing virtually the same colour as what the flowers are! We were running down the side of the woods now, and I just trod on a root, and my ankle just twisted slightly! Typical runner of course I decided to just carry on running! Surprisingly it was fine! Do you know, back in the day when I never ran, couch potato today, I am sure I would have been holed up for a least a week, bandage wrapped around the ankle, demanding to get a second opinion from doctors. But not now, not anymore. Maybe my ankles have become stronger over the years! Who knows, or maybe I just don't want to ever stop, I just love this life so much! As we were nearing the wood cutters house I can see the tell-tale pink blobs up ahead. Yes! That is where we will be running now! I took some photos, here look, can you see what we mean about J.J. matching the flowers!
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| J.J. could almost become invisible down here! |
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| Gorgeous, init!? |
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| Just running the walk! |
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| Coming out the other end. |
This path takes us through to the middle path of the woods, it is slightly shorter than going the big loop but it's beauty makes up for missing out on that. We were soon through the woods, just a little bit wet feet, but feeling totally refreshed! Love running through the woods, it really does make you feel good!
So the double! Well, I was all set to do it, I even managed to persuade Tracy to come along to the rec, to do it! 'It' being the summer core training and speed sessions! But our glorious British weather has delayed the start until next week! Sliding about in the rain on wet grass is not very inspiring! So, actually, it's not a double......but I would have done.....I was looking forward to it even, was just about to go and get ready, if it hadn't been cancelled!
Geeky stats.
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Club Run - Through the Woods
Hello blog lovers.
This evening we went straight through the middle path of the woods. It's a nice uphill challenge for everyone. Mind you, where ever we go it's a nice little challenge! But through the woods it's always a little extra challenge. We are so very lucky where we are, because of the lovely woods, around us. Although we are not that far from the Metropolis that is London, having this wonderful country side just on our doorstep is just so great, we can party in the heart of London and be back in our home town within 30 minutes, and just a few minutes walk away we have this lovely quite woody space to walk, run and breathe in!
Last week, the first week after the beginners graduated, we had 30 runners in group 1. I wasn't sure how many we would have this evening. Maybe some of them would move up this week, maybe some more of out beginners will come and join us! After all the leaders gave out a brief description of the routes/pace/distance we all gathered at our stakes for a count of heads. There were 23 of us.......at the beginning, after a coupe of re-counts! So after a quick safety brief we set off for Dog Poo Ally. When we ran through the tunnel Sherry was just by the left hand path with her group, doing a safety brief about running through the woods. I stopped my group just on the middle path and waited for the rest of my group to join us.Once there one other person had joined us, she was a little late, which means that we had 24 intrepid explorers running through the woods this evening. We were going up through the middle of the woods, I had run this route on Thursday morning and I noted how long it took us to get right through the woods, up the hilly road to the top, just to the point where we have to cross over. I knew we had plenty of time to get there before the light started to really fade too much. It is quite a hill to do, the middle path isn't steep but it does just go on and on with no break! I was blimmin struggling, that's for sure! It was very humid and I was 'glowing' for Britain! It never feels like it gets easier. Even after all these years you think it would! I even had to have a little walk up the hill, just for a few seconds, just so that I could look behind me and see where the back runners were. But what I didn't tell them is that once we got to the top of the woods it wasn't quite over with the hills! We were going to pop out of the woods into the posh housing estate! The one with the big house that inspired me to write almost a romantic novel of one of my solo runs!
I had them all run to the top of the hill while we waited for the back runners. I don't think any of them wanted to do a loop back to them as they would have to run back up again! It was still fairly bright out and I thought that we could probably continue our run through Scadbury Park instead of running on the pavement. We just had enough light to run through there, we crossed over Leesons hill and then continued our run on the pavements. I was feeling totally knackered by then! In fact, just running up that first hill in the woods I was blimmin knackered, so you can imagine what I was like just as we hit Birchwood Road. Thank goodness it was all down hill. I called back to my sweepers, J.J. and LittleJ, that I will not stop now and I would see them all in the rec. I didn't have middle sweeper but with most of the group keeping up with me while the rest of the group was with J.J. and LittleJ we had everyone covered.
I ran with the front runners till we got back into the rec. There were already a couple of groups back, including Michaels group 2! It was Michaels debut leading today! It makes my heart swell when I think back to last year when Carol and Michael first joined our beginners course and now Carol getting a pb with her parkruns and Michael becoming a leader! Brilliant!
My group collected on the green, Michael had taken the spot on the patio, the other half of the patio had already go the nursery's wooden fence out, the bit that my group normally take! It's just as well the midges are not out yet! We would have made for a tasty treat for them! We had a stretch out, and a count off! All present and correct! No one was lost in the woods! A lovely run, and now with the warmer weather and longer days our runs will be going through the woods!
Geeky stats for you.
<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/1737716843' title='Group 1 club run (leading)' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>
This evening we went straight through the middle path of the woods. It's a nice uphill challenge for everyone. Mind you, where ever we go it's a nice little challenge! But through the woods it's always a little extra challenge. We are so very lucky where we are, because of the lovely woods, around us. Although we are not that far from the Metropolis that is London, having this wonderful country side just on our doorstep is just so great, we can party in the heart of London and be back in our home town within 30 minutes, and just a few minutes walk away we have this lovely quite woody space to walk, run and breathe in!
Last week, the first week after the beginners graduated, we had 30 runners in group 1. I wasn't sure how many we would have this evening. Maybe some of them would move up this week, maybe some more of out beginners will come and join us! After all the leaders gave out a brief description of the routes/pace/distance we all gathered at our stakes for a count of heads. There were 23 of us.......at the beginning, after a coupe of re-counts! So after a quick safety brief we set off for Dog Poo Ally. When we ran through the tunnel Sherry was just by the left hand path with her group, doing a safety brief about running through the woods. I stopped my group just on the middle path and waited for the rest of my group to join us.Once there one other person had joined us, she was a little late, which means that we had 24 intrepid explorers running through the woods this evening. We were going up through the middle of the woods, I had run this route on Thursday morning and I noted how long it took us to get right through the woods, up the hilly road to the top, just to the point where we have to cross over. I knew we had plenty of time to get there before the light started to really fade too much. It is quite a hill to do, the middle path isn't steep but it does just go on and on with no break! I was blimmin struggling, that's for sure! It was very humid and I was 'glowing' for Britain! It never feels like it gets easier. Even after all these years you think it would! I even had to have a little walk up the hill, just for a few seconds, just so that I could look behind me and see where the back runners were. But what I didn't tell them is that once we got to the top of the woods it wasn't quite over with the hills! We were going to pop out of the woods into the posh housing estate! The one with the big house that inspired me to write almost a romantic novel of one of my solo runs!
I had them all run to the top of the hill while we waited for the back runners. I don't think any of them wanted to do a loop back to them as they would have to run back up again! It was still fairly bright out and I thought that we could probably continue our run through Scadbury Park instead of running on the pavement. We just had enough light to run through there, we crossed over Leesons hill and then continued our run on the pavements. I was feeling totally knackered by then! In fact, just running up that first hill in the woods I was blimmin knackered, so you can imagine what I was like just as we hit Birchwood Road. Thank goodness it was all down hill. I called back to my sweepers, J.J. and LittleJ, that I will not stop now and I would see them all in the rec. I didn't have middle sweeper but with most of the group keeping up with me while the rest of the group was with J.J. and LittleJ we had everyone covered.
I ran with the front runners till we got back into the rec. There were already a couple of groups back, including Michaels group 2! It was Michaels debut leading today! It makes my heart swell when I think back to last year when Carol and Michael first joined our beginners course and now Carol getting a pb with her parkruns and Michael becoming a leader! Brilliant!
My group collected on the green, Michael had taken the spot on the patio, the other half of the patio had already go the nursery's wooden fence out, the bit that my group normally take! It's just as well the midges are not out yet! We would have made for a tasty treat for them! We had a stretch out, and a count off! All present and correct! No one was lost in the woods! A lovely run, and now with the warmer weather and longer days our runs will be going through the woods!
Geeky stats for you.
<iframe src='https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/embed/1737716843' title='Group 1 club run (leading)' width='465' height='500' frameborder='0'></iframe>
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