Club Run - Group 1 Me leading....?

Hello blog readers.

I was kicked out of the house this evening, metaphorically speaking.  Kicked out by PWR's because I was leading!  No excuse to not run, I am a group 1 leader, it's my turn, I don't have a broken ankle, or recovering from a brain transplant!  Get out there and go running!  Also the Old Boy told me to get out there too!  "You've been slacking" was the impression I got from him this evening!  I think I have too!

So, here I am, writing me blog, went out, ran, come back! Bish bash bosh!  Oh you would also so like it if that was it, right!  But I will waffle on a little bit more!  My new job, it's still going well, which means I am still get up at a sparrows fart in the mornings!  I am not a morning person!  Seriously not.  Early mornings at work have taken their toll on my running!  But I am just going to have to get used to it....apparently its how the rest of the world carry on anyway!  I have been falling asleep by about 10 ish!  Tuesday IS running night, I WILL run!  Especially if I am leading!

My super duper Garmin was pinging away with all the messages of 'I am not going running this evening'  The weather had put most people off, it was raining so hard early during the day!  Just a miserable day, people just didn't feel motivated.  I am lucky, I don't need motivation, I just need it to be my week for leading and that's what got me out!  I came up with a route, it's one of my old routes done in revers.  We ran out of the rec, turned left and then left again!  I hadn't run this road all the way to Petts Wood for ages, I was reminded of the 'little challenges' when I completed the members 10k the other week.  It needs to be done again, in reverse of course. 

All the way round till we got to Petts Wood, with just the four us, as I said, me 'leading'.  Only I was leading from the back, I was doing both sweeping and leading today!  The runners I had with me were so much fitter and faster than me!  They really did pull me along....on the running bits, I just pulled them back on the walking bits.  When I looked at my Garmin we were sometimes running at 11:20 m/mi.  I kept up with them for as much as I could! 

We ran 3.14 miles this evening, getting back to the rec, second group back!  I really enjoyed my run, it was just what I needed!  I needed to know, that actually, even though I am  tired, I can still run, I am just facing new challenges, a few adjustments need to done, early nights really, but I can do it!  Bring it on! 

Here's my geeky stats.

Petts Wood Beginners Week 2

Hello blog readers.

I know I missed writing all bout week 1, but things have been happening, changes and what not, so I have been a bit lazy with blogging and even with one of club runs!  With the new job, I have been learning new things, downloading stuff......all by myself....most proud!.....to do with work!  It's been going spookily great! 

So yesterday was our second week of the Autumn Beginners course.  We have a good number of runners for this course, all eager and enthusiastic!  For the first three weeks at least, that is all you need!  I love looking at our newbies, all looking as if the next few weeks are an impossibility for them.  But then come the end of the course seeing their faces and listening to them chat to their fellow Autumn runners is just magical!

ZippySherry was leader for week two, I did the first week, but it did mean that I could stand and protect all our runners as they skipped, sideskipped, butt-kicked their way up to the line of cones while doing their drills!  What was I protecting them from? I hear you ask, it's the holes in the ground!  Two very nasty little holes, obviously done by our gorgeous little canine friends at some point.  It was one of these two holes that incapacitated me earlier in the year!  A sprain put me out of action and in crutches for a while, doing a full splat in front our a spring beginners!  They will forever be know now as 'Donnas Holes'.  Here this is me protecting the troops!

Mind the holes!

The runners did very well avoiding those holes and we were all soon warmed up enough to start our running section, 2 minutes of running and 4 minutes of walking!  Still very doable for the people that joined the course for the first time this week, 2 minutes of running is so doable!  I like the fact that with our beginners course we really do start off as gentle as possible, I can't think of anything worse than turning up to something and trying to run before you can walk.........err, um.....well probably the wrong catchphrase there, because we can all walk and we want to run!  But  you get the idea.

keep you're eyes open!

side skipping!

Some more pictures of us all doing the warm ups, courtesy of our LouLou. I am sure they all all enjoyed the skipping! And all the rest of the warm ups of course!  After that it was time for our running.  We only had 2 minutes of running and then 4 minutes of walking.  It seems a long time if you have never done any running before, but we know for experience over the years our beginners will look back on this and smile, especially after they have all completed a 5k parkrun without any walking or very few walking bits in there! 

For five reps we ran and walked our way around the rec and then we did our cool down stretches, we don't want any cramping or pains in legs!  ZippySherry lead them all through some great stretches that will help our muscles to relax and do they thing that they should be doing....healing, getting rid of that lac....lack,.....lag......what even acid it is that builds up in your muscles after exercises.

Stretch those muscles!

A great second session of our beginners!  I think that everyone there this time will be with us till the end! 

Petts Wood Runners Members 10k 2019

Hello blog readers.

What a beautiful day we had last week!  The sun was out, it was positively oozing happiness on all of us that turned out for the members 10k race.

Before I start though, just to say, I haven't been totally lazy since my last blog entry, I went running on the Thursday morning before this, the first Thursday since Kirsty passed away!  It seemed strange and surreal, a whole calender month had gone, virtually and that Thursday was the day I felt I could finally get my back side into gear!

But later on that day I had a job interview too!  Guess what?!  I got the job!  Childcare Leader at a Breakfast and Afterschool club!  Who'd have thought it!  I think Kirsty was having some words with the Big Boss upstairs!  I started the job on Tuesday!  No more sitting around twiddling thumbs!

I also did parkrun too before the members 10k!  Not particularly fast or manic.  But these days I am not fast anyways!  But I got out and did it, nice and gentle so as not to do any damage for the run and am about to tell you!

Members 10k 2019

So, as I am said, it was a glorious morning!  The sun was shining bright, I was feeling particularly happy and all seemed right with the world.  I knocked on the door for Shalini, drove to pick up SnappyH and then we picked up Tracy on the way to the rec.  As we walked into the rec the smell of bacon hit us, it was enough to make you salivate.  There were an array of cakes, some shop bought, but some made by our own PWR's.  The chefs behind the tables busy cooking up the bacon looked like they were from the most poshest of posh restaurants, looking resplendent in their aprons!

Caterers!
(picture by WendyLC)

  We were not ready for bacon butties yet, the volunteers were first in line for the tasty breakfast baps.  Before we took our walk to the start line PhysioMikeTheMod gathered everyone together, marshals, chefs and runners alike.  He then asked everyone to just spend a moment, an applause for Kirsty.  It was Kirsty who was the official 'Celebrity Starter' of our public 10k a couple of years ago.  Most people knew of or knew about Kirsty and everyone stood, clapping and remembering, giving respects to our Kirsty.  Well, you can imagine how I looked!  Some of our members looked exactly the same too!  Rest in peace now Kirsty, you will be missed by so many of us.

We had to walk to our start line, in Tent Peg Lane, near Jubilee Park. 

Walk to the start
(Picture by SnappyH)

It is not the PWR 10k route that  is sold out virtually every year, it's our own route.  Taking in the delights of Southborough Lane, a long road, an up hill road IF you come from the other end.  But we have the pleasure of running down to it, then along Blackbrook lane to Thornet Wood Road, which brings us in to Jubilee park and back to the start in Tent Peg lane.   We have to do that loop one more time before running over the walking (Troll) bridge and then running along Woodland Way, Great Thrift and Little Thrift, Hazlemere, turn into Crossways and to the rec.  We had to do a lap of the rec too, I am sure the bacon aroma was all over the park!

That's the route, it's a great route, for your psyche, because everything seems to come quickly.  The turn in Southborough, then Blackbrook!  And once you get into Jubilee you know that you are back to the start again and just have to do it one more time!  At least that is what I was telling myself!  We had Adam and, um.....my goodness, her name has escaped me, Emma, I think it was, well they were the tail runners, just so that we knew everyone had got back to the rec, and were not continuing to do loops around and around all day! 

The start! Groups 1 and 2 together
(Picture by Kev Howarth)

The first loop was brilliant, well, it always is, the lovely downward road all the way to Blackbrook, with all the right turns marshaled by our lovely club members!  Blackbrook lane is fairly flat, at least I don't notice if it has a 'rise' at all.  When I was running along Thornet Wood lane a trio of cyclists rode on by us. "Hello Spencer!" I yelled out as I recognised one of them!  He called back to me a lovely 'Hi' with a wave of his hand.  I carried on running when I noticed Spencer coming back to me, stopping me he gave me a big hug!  Some of my friends in the cycling community such as Spencer, even they knew about Kirsty, and he just wanted to let me know that!  I tell, you, I have some lovely people that I can call friends.

I soon got back to the start for the second loop, with the water station set up, I so needed that!  It was really warm that morning!  After a nice drink I started the run again, with Tracy and our two tail runners, chatting all the way!  This time that loop seemed just a little bit longer than it did the first time!  PhysioMiketheMod had been busy at some time prior to our run because chalked all along our route was distance markers, 1k, 2k, 5k, 6k!  That was very comforting to see! I was glad to get back onto Blackbrook lane.  Matthew came running up behind us, he was struggling a little bit and I chatted to him.  When I spoke to him afterwards he said he had a bit of a wobble in Jubilee Park, but after that he just knew he was going to finish! 

The water station was still there at the start line!  Oh my goodness, I was really warming up, I really needed water by then! Our club members do not budge until the last man or woman has run pass them!  This time though, instead of turning right, we turned left, we were going to be running over 'the Troll Bridge' turn left again when we got to the round about and then follow the road all the way to Crossways.....with a little dip into the Cul de Sac of Little Thrift

Little Thrift! 
(picture by Jan)

just to make sure that every meter was run on our 10k.  We also had to do a huge loop of the rec!  Of course by the time I got there most of them were well rested, eating bacon sandwiches and cakes, drinking tea!  But of course they never forgot to give us a big cheer as we ran around the last bit of our 10k.  Not only that, but they did the same for Tracy, as she came in a minute or so after me! 

What a fabulous morning it was!  Oh, by the way, I also won a little award!  I came first in group 1 this year!

Me with my award!
(picture by SnappyH)

Mind you there was only two of us!  Still, at least I did have some competition this time!  I am also a little bit late in writing this up!  This happened last Sunday!  My new job has been monopolising my time, whether its been actually working or I am catching early Zzz's by going to be bed early!  Early mornings have come as quite a shock to the system!  But I am sure I am going love my new role!

Here's some pictures of our 10k!

Running the green
(pic by SnappyH)

Registration
(pic by WendyLC)

These next three just show you what a happy bunch we are, these ones are from Kev Howard, Mr. Kevtwoballs himself.

Club Run - Me leading!

Hello readers.

It's my post holiday run!  I thought I would be some much worse than I was today, but actually if felt good.I know I ate loads on holiday, especially the breakfast.  I mean, really, who eats like they are on DownTown Abby every day!  Usually I eat a bit of fruit and muesli with some yogurt, of course on holiday, especially when it's bed and breakfast, you just eat it because it's there!  But then, I didn't eat lunch really, and didn't even have that many snacks.  But I still felt bloated!  Of course no running at all over the weekend!

So my first run back since Thursday, I was leading group 1.  It is also move-up week, which means as it's my lead I like to try and push a little bit harder, so it feels like we have all moved up.  That means hills!  I was looking around my routes for some inspiration and the only one that came up with some hills is, of course, Tillingbourne Green!  I thought about it all the way in the car to the rec.  The other routes just don't seem to have that little bit of extra undulations! 

After all the leaders were introduced and given out their routes, we all gathered at our meeting spots, paddles held high and we gathered in all our runners.  In my group there were only four of us, I am not quite sure how fast we are all going to be.  It's going to be an interesting run.  It also means that I really am going to have to push myself, no sneaking to the back having a cheeky walking pace. 

We set off out the gate and turn left, run to the end and then turn right, our first hill already, Birchwood.  I am going to have to try and run up this with no cheeky stopping, especially if the three other ladies are next to me, it means they are keeping up with the average pace.  I kept an eye on the pace, my watch was showing that we were bang on target of our slowest pace of 13:30 minute miles, I was perfectly happy with that.  We had a bit of a breather at the top, then walked a bit, mainly because just under the trees it's quite dark, the roots have pushed up the tarmac too, so it's a bit of a trip hazard.  We saw another group running towards us, I 'high-fived' them as they ran past.  We ran a little further to the crossing and RefMichael's group was there, waiting to cross the road, it looks as they are going to run Tillingbourne too!  After we crossed over the road we followed them towards the green, a nice down hill section. We were not that far behind them, I expected to bump into them again when we got to the end of the road, but they had turned right to run up the hill to Petts Wood Road.  We, however went straight over and then around the green.  It's quite a cunning little hill, the road leads up to the college gates, it's just a short incline but on the other side of this is a longer down hill section as it goes around the green hugging the outer edges of the grassy area.  You just know that as you are running down the hill, enjoying the easy momentum, you start thinking that you got to go back up to where we had started from!

All three of the ladies did really well, I had a cheeky walk but I did finish the green with a run to the others.  We had one more hill to do and that was the one to get to Petts Wood Road.  We had a bit of a harder run to get to the top, just for training, just for fun, just because we can.  We have to feel like we have done ourselves some good with our running.  We were really doing very well with our time, I said to them that if they wanted to run along this road, down to Crossways, then wait until we all came together again.  We were doing really well on time, there was only one thing for it and that was to go up to the top, finish the road and then run down Kingsway and back to the rec that way! 

We ran for 3 miles, a pretty good pace for group 1 and some hills thrown in.  We all kept together as a tight group, the only one that suffered slight was me!  I had to walk up some of  Tillingbourne Green!

So our geeky stats for a group 1, move-up week, hilly one!

Last Core Training and Speed Session

Hello readers.

It was the last of our Thursday evening sessions and I was taking the lead.   Usually at the end of these sessions there are just a few left, the light going, earlier start and holidays keeping people away.  I was planning on doing the magpie game, but there just wasn't enough of us to do it, so it was the pyramid game that I had in  mind, but first of that all important warm up.

I decided to the two laps in a different sort of way again, where I get all the people in a row from the fastest to the slowest, then I pair the fastest runner with the slowest, until we meet in the middle where they are equally matched.  Then I send the pairs in the opposite direction to round around the pitch, high five when then meet each other and then run back to the start, high five again, and then do that one more time.  It seems a good way to warm up and hopefully all finish without waiting for too long for everyone to get back.  Straight into our drills to make sure our muscles are fully warmed up and ready for the pyramid running!

I had set out a course while the runners were doing the warm up laps, five lines of 4 cones.  I am sure my course is short than DiscoRich when he sets out his course. Mind you, with only 3 in each group it might be better, we will deffo be required to run before we get out breath back!  With the faster runners stepping up first, each choosing a middle runner and a slower runner.  Should be a close contest!  I had to do the pyramid run to make up the numbers.  I don't think the team I was in the last one to finish though, but after that it was a fast pace 'race' to bring in the cones.  The faster runs had to run to the furthest cone collect it and bring it back, the middle one get the next and the slowest runner to pick up the second cone leaving he faster runner again to pick up the first cone.  Ingenious eh? Saves me collecting them, plus a little bit of extra running for everyone!

Then our core work out, with some squats, lunges, planks, push-ups and star jumps. I introduced a new style of lunge that I saw on the computer, I can't remember the chap that was doing it, but he said that it is better for engaging the glues, if there is anyone that needs their glutes engaging it's me!  It is also better for me, at least better than the whole right angle that you usually do. It's like a lunge forward and a reach down, keeping the back leg straighter, instead of the 90 degree angle.  Of course I gave everyone the option of doing that one or this new, glute engaging, knee friendly one!

A quick drink and we were ready for our par lufs (I am still not quite sure how to spell that) but its the relays for anyone that don't know what that is, I am sure you are all long time avid readers and know that. With 5 teams we had approximately 12-13 minutes of running.  I think I said to them all about 10, but I just can't add up, but as soon as everyone was running the would soon not worry about how much time is left......right? Of course I had to run to too, I didn't do my Garmin though, it was low on battery, I didn't want to over run our relays!

With some cool down stretches it was all over and done with for our 2019 Core and speed training sessions.  A great time.

An Evening Run Around

Hello readers.

This mojo maintaining stuff is hard, this fitness maintaining stuff is hard!  Why is it so easy to get fat and flabby, and so much tastier too!  But I have to keep it going.  I was supposed to get up early this morning and go for a run with Naggy, but the weather put us off, "Turn back over Old girl" said Naggy in a text "It's pouring out"  I snuggled back under my duvet with a huge smile on my face!  But only for an extra hour, I had plans this afternoon to go see my stepmum, lovely lunch at the Grovner Hotel in Victoria.  Now that was delicious!

On my way back though Pat text me to see if I would go for a run with her, PastorPaul has broken his toe, so there's no running for him for a while!  I thought "Why not, I was totally lazy this morning, I should go" So went I did! (Is that even grammar?")  Pat suggest a run around the local parks, but I like the discipline that I feel Normans Park gives me.  As I have made my way there I might as well make it worth while.  We got all out gadgets ready, music, Jabra, Garmin, Pat had her MP3 going.  I think I run better to a beat, I can concentrate on the music rather than that little voice in my head that says "I can't do it"

We have a quick warm up walk while Satellites connect and then 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Go!  Jabra counts down and we start running.  For some reason, Pat wanted to race ahead, I had asked her if she had done some warm up exercises already!  She did a few she said!  Well, I hadn't, apart from the warm quick walk, so we need to start off at a slower pace and then get up to pace.  I have Jabra set up for 12:30 m/mi, at the moment I don't really want to change that.  I have also got Garmin set up for run/walk 4 min/1 min.  That bit is to help my knees!  I must really find someone who can possible help with that matter.  I need a doctor who runs!  Can you imagine how many patients a doctor like that would have on his books!

So there we were, nice and steady, get the breathing sorted, get the pace sorted, just ease into a nice couple of miles, just perfect for an extra mid week run.  The fact that I am out running is good, think positive!   I ignored the first walking stop, ran straight through it, well, my knee hadn't given me jip so just keep going.  Pat seemed good with the pace too, now that I slowed her down!  What was she thinking, racing off ahead like that! Take it easy, build up, maintain, sprint if it's in there, or just take it easy till the finish!  All sounds pretty good, I have to stop putting the walking bits in there! Or at least the un-scheduled walking parts.  I actually missed the first walking minute and carried on through to the second running bit, I was feeling ok and my knee didn't tell me it didn't like it!  Pat seemed fine with it too.  

I was just saying to pat, this time last year if I had said that she would be asking me to go for a run with her she would have pee'd her pants laughing!  I can remember when she turned up at the beginners in her parker jacket and casual trousers, expecting with every week for it to be the last week! And now he she is, running pants, the most colourful ones she could find, running shoes and music to run to!  That's what PWR does for people!  What a bloody brilliant club we have!

Anyway, back to our running, we were running up the long straight, and the first mile nearly done.  We were running in the opposite direction that we would normally run if it was parkrun.  Well, I am going to miss the 500th park run birthday at Bromley this Saturday, the Old Boy has managed to book us a short break! I so wanted to do it, but me and Pat did our own 'widdershins' run.  It's good to mix it up a bit!  We only did two loops of the park but it was enough for both of us.  I particularly enjoyed the last run up the long straight of the second loop because I ran past my mental stop, the place where I said in my head, get there and then a quick walk, run to the end.  But I managed to run all the way to our official finish of our evening.  I must have looked a sight though, because I noticed that I had my tongue out, panting like a dog!  A bit like this I guess!

A blimmin good run, I am glad I got out.  I just got to stay positive, keep thinking positive thoughts and get my arse out there and do it!  

Club Run

Hello readers.

Getting back to normal, that's what they say isn't it?  I guess it is, it just doesn't feel normal anymore, but then it will never be the old normal, it's going to be the new normal.  I had run on Saturday, I did parkrun, the day after Kirsty's funeral.  I think I needed to do it, I needed to know myself that I can still get up and do the things I normally do.  Saturday morning was particularly hard for me.  I just felt drained, even my body was physically hurting.  I really didn't want to finish it, but Naggy wasn't having me not finish.  She kept with me, kept talking to me, until that last 500 meters or so, I just cried and cried.  It wasn't pretty, it was the first time I actually just sobbed and sobbed.  It was why I didn't write up my blog for that Saturday, it would have been just full of snot and tears, you didn't need to read that, and I didn't want to write it!  It also got a lot worse that Saturday, when I head about the death of someone else.  I was not a good day.

So today I felt a little bit stronger, I am sure my fitness level has dropped ridiculously, I know I haven't been trying hard of late, I need to just try and push myself, try and get back to at least somewhere where I used to be.  I wasn't leading this evening, Auriol was, me and Wendimoo were sweeping.  I have to just move slowly back to where I was.  Get some of those extra runs that I used to do, get my Psyche straight again.  What I need to say to myself is 'I can do it'.  moreover I got to believe it!

Sweeping for me at the moment is good, no pressure on me to look like I do this every day! I look like a total beginner, puffing and panting at the back as I make my way back to fitness again.  I deffo got to believe that I can do it!  That's the hardest bit for me at the moment, too much negative thoughts about 'I can't keep up, I can't run anymore, I am too slow'  Negative, negative! It's not what I should be listening to! So doing a job at the back, I can do, that's positive. 

I really enjoyed it today actually, we had some new people join us for the first time, one of them was a beginner from the course we had earlier this year.  In fact there were a few newbies this week, some went into higher groups, Shalini brought her friend along, Paul, he went straight into group 10 I think!  Yes, he had done some running!  It's good to have new members, we really are a great group, people just love being a member!

Auriol took us on a 3 mile run, running through the 'posh' side of Petts Wood and the 'poor' side of Petts Wood, or the crinkly crinkly side and the jingly jangly side of Petts wood (crinkly meaning notes, jingly meaning coins!)  She was taking it a bit easier as it was still very warm out, it will get even warmer as we run.  Who needs to spend money on a sauna when you can just go out running with your buddies!

Auriol had planned some nice catch up points and walking sections (thankfully!) I really needed them, everyone else was doing really well.  We did lose a couple of our gang of 13, as two of them decided to cut short their run.  The rest of us carried on, down and up Shepperton and beyond!  We came out on to Lakeswood Road, ran along their till we got Woodhurst Ave.  Do you know what, I didn't even realise where I was or what road I was running on.  I have had to look at my Garmin stats to check the route that we took.  Just following blindly, not thinking about which road to take, it felt pretty good.  We crossed over the high street and then went over the troll bridge, practising out nice and light running technique, Scooby Doo running!  We ran all along Towncourt and then turned right and right again to run to the rec to finish.  It was a really nice run, I enjoyed it, so that's a positive!

So as promised, the fourth time I am putting up this site, if you want to donate to a really fantastic cause please do this, the work that St Christophers does for the young adults is just amazing, I think you can ring fence your donation for St Christophers Young Adults. 

https://www.stchristophers.org.uk/donate

Also for this fantastic new charity set up by the Cystic Fibrosis Supporters, doing some great work too, trying to set up charity shops to help fund raise money on a regular basis for research!

https://cysticfibrosissupporters.org/

Chose your charity!  Or chose both, it's for people like Kirsty, lets try a beat this disease!

My geeky stats.

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