Festive Fun!

Hello blog readers.

December has been very quiet on the old running front!  But I have done some at least.  The weather has really battered about my old mojo, so much so that it's all gone into hibernation!  It's going to take some kick ass screaming to get back out there!

But I have done some running since the Secret London Run back in the beginning of December, ok so not a lot of it!  But it's all  festive fun!  The first one after the SLR was the Woo Woo Run.  Oh my, I do love this run.  Our group 1 in PWR invented this run a few years back.  I choose a route that goes through this lovely road where the neighbours are outdoing each other in the festive lights department!  It is truly magical down there! Of course that road received loads of 'Woo Woo'. Oh one other thing, just to make the run a little more fun, we bring along a hip flask of something tasty!  I had some brandy in mine!

It really was a brilliant fun run, most of us wore something festive too, from Christmas running tops and leggings to complete fancy dress!  Or maybe that was just me!  I had on my Christmas leggings and two Tutus!  It's the only time of the year that I get to wear a tutu and get away with it!  Maybe next year I will get myself a tiara and dress up as a special 'fairy from the tree'  I love a tiara!

Here's some pictures from our run that night!

Ok, so the pink jacket is me!
I was putting my key in my back
pocket! Honest

Lovely lights

Cheers!

My next run was on Christmas eve.  Well it was Tuesday club run!  But this time we met at 09:00 that morning.  I had volunteered to lead that run, if I hadn't my mojo would have just stayed in bed, hiding under the duvet.  As I have already said, the weather has been truly awful, the woods would have been a complete mud fest.  I know I wasn't ready for that!  I know in the past I have embraced the whole mud thing but right now, I just knew I wouldn't have enjoyed it.  I needed to, I need to keep on enjoying running.  So my route was the Cinder path.  It's still off road but also it's in the woods, along the tarmacked path.  But to make it special, to make it super Christmassy, I brought along the Old boys Bose speaker, I carried it on my back in a bag and we had full on Christmas songs playing as we ran our 3 miles at group 1 pace run.  We still had a bit of mud, we still had to run through some water too, not too much though, just a couple of puddles left.  But that was great fun.  Trying to sing and run was fun too.

Here's some pictures from that run.

follow the
music!

Runners

Merry Christmas

On the Cinder Path!

The last one for this blog I did yesterday.  It was parkrun, in Normans Park.  Boy, if there was a time I needed motivation to get out of bed it was yesterday!  I woke up and looked at my WhatsApp groups to see who would be running. Silence! Absolute silence from everyone!  Now, I could quite easily have just snuggled back under my duvet, but no.  I started the ball rolling with a message. "Who's running today?"  I wrote.  If only just one person from any of my WA groups says they are running then I will get up.  LouLou was the first to say that she was!  So that was it, that was all I needed, I said it, I asked the question, someone said yes, so I had to go....right?!

I checked my group again, CarolWithAnE said that she and RefMichael was going, then SnappyH said that she was going!  A few of our 'gang' were going to be there!  Brilliant,  I need my buddies.  I am glad I have my buddies!  I am glad I have PWR!  It really is the only thing that keeps me running!  I am sure I would quit if I was by myself!

It's the winter route, so almost three times around the park.  I don't know if you know Normans park or not, but there is a small river that runs right through the middle of it and then goes off into the woods.  It's a most peculiar little bit of water because it just 'pops up' in the middle of the park, I am guessing it goes underground at either end, but not yesterday!  Yesterday it decided to cross over the path to get to the middle of the park!

We start our run at Hook farm end of the park, just a few meters along the path.  It's a popular parkrun and so it was quite busy.  I met up with all my buddies, SnappyH and CarolWithanE and RefMichael.  LouLou and Terry were there and so was Debbie.  Just what the run doctor ordered!  After all the preliminaries were done we started our run, of course I always go to the back of the pack, pace my run at my pace.  The crowd start to move, slowly at first and then a bit faster and then........almost to a stop!  We had hit the water and the mud!  Everybody thought it better to go through the water rather than the mud, although there were a few brave soles that embraced that particular joy of parkrun!  "Come on everyone, embrace parkrun and all there is to offer" I called out trying to encourage everyone to just splash through that stuff! If not to go through the mud!  No, I didn't go through the mud....still not ready to fully immerse myself in mudfest just yet!

But I did run it, I did enjoy it and I did not get a pb, obvs! But I really did enjoy it!  The next park run is News Year Eve!  Will I make it?  I said maybe!

Until next time people!

Christmas PWR Yule!

Hello readers.

Last night, straight from work I met up with my PWR pals to go for a nice, run in London!  I had my christmas leggings on, my two tutus, my PWR buff!  But I forgot my running top and my bells!!! I had real bell envy when I met all the other PWR's on the platform at Petts Wood.  Some had bells on their jumpers, some had them on their wrist and some had them on their ankles!  Totally envious!  But I was truly happy to be on the train, looking forward to meet the rest of the crew!  There were around 80 of us booked in, but unfortunately there were also some that had to cancel too, due to unforeseen circumstances.

This is us at Charing Cross train station!

We travelled to Charing Cross, our meeting point was at Covent Garden, we were to meet our guides and the rest of the PWR's.  Let me tell you, we made for an impressive sight!  Most of us had some sort of festive theme going on in our running gear, whether it be just a Christmas hat or leggings to full blown fancy dress...... a storm trouper to a Deer riding a reindeer!.......the mind boggles!

We marked ourselves in with the tour guides, our guides was name was Emma.  She never stopped smiling, she must be the most smiliest person ever!  It really did put us in a brilliant mood for a nice gently jog through London.  We were going to be hearing about some traditional Christmas traditions.  Some I can remember, some I can't, some I can only half remember!

There was an absolutely fascinating story about the Cantonia Crapper!  Seriously, you got to go googly the shit ......literally...on the web.  Mind you he wont be added to my manger nativity scene!  Also the yule log, kids making a log a pet and feeding it!  Really!  Two different types of logs which will make me smile when I tuck into my Yule log this Christmas!! Another story was told when we arrived at Shepherds Market (I think that is what it was called) about a certain politician and a 'Lady of the night' getting caught while business was being transacted!

We made an absolute sight when we ran through the streets of London, I just love it! I really do.  Mind you, some of the people on the streets didn't even bat an eyelid!  Maybe they just see too many weird sights!  We were a very colourful crowd though, singing at the top of our voices too!  We were all in such great spirits!

So many lights to see, all of them were just spectacular, from the 'Spirit of Christmas' lights to the 'Peacock feathers' but of course Carnaby street were just wonderful!  This year it was 'all creatures great and small under the sea'  Stunning, but even more 'betterer' was the fact that everything recycled, even the lights were environmentally friendly, energy saving bulbs!  There were lights that twinkled only when you put coins in (I think cash going to homeless) to understated straight lines, I believe those were on Savile Row. 

Spirit of Christmas

I so enjoyed my time running through London, not only seeing the great displays but being with my lovely running buddies from PWR.  We do have a brilliant time when we all go out!  Can't wait to do it all over again!

Here are some more pictures, curturesy of SnappyH, she loves a photograph!

Anables

Cartiers!

What A Weekend!

Hello blog readers.

I know it's been a while!  This job of mine is killing my blogging!  No more sitting up till midnight to finish off blogs!  I will try and get this one done asap!  If you are reading it and it's still Sunday, I did it!

I am cramming two blogs into one!  First to talk about is our beginners group!  They completed their nine weeks of training and graduated yesterday with a parkrun at Bromleys Norman Park!  They really did so well!  At least 20 of our beginners were there in the cold morning, waiting in the car park for their fellow graduates.  RefMichael and ZippySherry were there as well as some of our regular PWR volunteers to the beginners group!  An amazing number of graduates!  They were all really so very pleased with themselves, as they were chatting away with each other.  We gave them stickers, one at the front and one at the back, just so they could be easily spotted by our photographers and other PWR's who were running among them.

Once everyone was there we walked to the finish funnel so they could see how it all worked out and then we had them skipping, butt kicking and side skipping to the start line, and fortunately it is the winter route, so we didn't have to go across the park!  Once we were there we all lined up, listened to the RD about the rules and then......off we went!  I was going to take it nice and easy, especially as I had a race the next day.  I say race, for me it's never a race, it's a 'get around and try and look as if you enjoyed it' run!  So at the back is where I was going to stay.

It was great to see CarolWithAnE back to running, I though maybe I would be able to keep up with her, but there was no way I was going to do that!  She is like a coiled spring at the moment and was just going to be doing her thing!  Auriol was just behind me so I thought I would run with her.  She is also coming back from injury, I am sure I could keep up with her without knackering myself for my run then next day!  Fortunately she was doing a timed run walk.  With a 2 minute run and 5 minute walk.  I deffo could do that!  In fact it was perfect.  The beginners were all in front of me so I would be able to see if any of them would struggle but I seriously doubt they would! We have helped them on their way to running paradise!  They had this!

Me and Auriol just did our thing around the 5k route of Normans park, chatting away as we do, and romped home feeling totally relaxed, just what I needed before the 10k the following day!  Here are some pictures of our Autumn 2019 Beginners Course!

Brighton 10k

An now for todays race!  I mean, run!  We had to run 10 glorious Kilometres today!  Last year I did this and I wasn't feeling too well at all!  A night out left me with a mega hangover!  So I was already failing then.  But today, no such thing!  I was feeling positive, but feeling positive and trying to put that into practise is not my strong point.  

There was not a coach this year, as it wasn't on the Grand Prix list of runs to do and there wasn't  many PWR's in the line up, there were enough to get noticed though! There were also some PWR supporters to as we saw Olivia say hi to us all! Both me and SnappyH got a lift to Brighton with LouLou and Terry.  Door to door!  So I was totally relaxed and organised.....well, almost organised......just before they got to me I was just walking up my path and realised I hadn't picked up my Garmin which was charging! Oops, a quick sprint back to get it and no-one was none the wiser!

A straight forward drive to Brighton, parked the car in someones drive. Apparantly people let out their drives, just like they let out their homes!  Amazing, it meant that we had parking not too far from the sea front!  Perfect!  We walked to the start and met up with some of the other PWR's, got the team photo of course!  It will probably be the last time we are all together!  Then a hunt for the loos.

We found some more PWR's and had a quick Team Photo, it's obligatory! Here, this is us!

It was soon time to go to the pens, I was in green wave with SnappyH, Loulou and Terry so we went right to the back.

There didn't seem to be as many there this year, or was it that I was imagining it!  anyway at the back I was, then the crowd in front of me surged forward as they gave the off!  I had my Garmin ready to push the button as soon as I crossed over that mat!  LouLou and Terry ran ahead, me and SnappyH stayed together for just a little longer!

People passed us by and then SnappyH found her pace and started to run ahead, I was the last runner!  I can't remember when I have been the last runner!  Usually there are a few people behind me!  Oh well, if I am last it means I will be making the second to last person happy!  I just kept on running, walking when I wanted to and back to running!  I tried to remember to thank the marshals as I ran by.  Sometimes it was a bit difficult when they were looking at their mobile, or sitting on the wall on the other side of the street!  It just made me realise that my club have the best marshals going when we lay on our own 10k!  Of course most of the marshals were clearly enthusiastic as they cheered us all along, encouraging us to keep going!  It's also so great that the residents of Brighton also cheer us on, having my name on my top, hearing them call to me is a great encouragement.  

I managed to pass the second from last person! I think it was where we ran along by the buildings, obscuring our view of the sea.  But I was no longer the last person.  I could see SnappyH up ahead, I just need to keep her in my sights, not let her get to far ahead and the last person far enough behind me so that there will be no surprise sprint finishes!  A tough run.  But I've done it before, with a hangover, as well as feeling not too well!  Mind you, I wasn't feeling to well today, I think I am coming down with those 'baby bugs you get from schools'.  Kids are full of germs! But its just as well I am not racing, I am running, so I shall just have fun, enjoy the scenery, with a smile on my face!

Now this race, it's a straight out and back route, with a little bit of psychological running when you get back to the start/finish, because you have to run pass that for another half mile then do a 'u-ee' at the top and run to the finish.  It's always a tough bit of the course for me! Getting to the very first turn around point though is a good thing.  I always feel like I am on the way back, which of course I am.  I was still ahead of the last person, I kept checking behind, I could also see SnappyH up there, on route too. I wasn't going to be able to catch up with her but I didn't want the last person, Myra, (I heard her friends calling to her), to catch up to me either.  It was my own little challenge to myself.  And I am sure I would be her challenge too!

Running along by the seafront again is always nice.  I can't believe the weather this year!  It's just perfect running condition.  I wished I was fitter and lighter, I could get a PB if I was!  But I wasn't going to be that pressure on me. Run for running sake, just because I can, just....because!  And there's a medal at the end.  I learned a long time ago that I wouldn't be in the trophy awards any time soon.....unless it was by default.  A few years back I had won my group Grand Prix......because I was virtually the only one competing in my group!  Nowadays the groups are slightly different, with everyone having to challenge themselves a bit.  I still can't do it though because there are quite a few Sunday races that I just won't be able to get to.

Anyway, back to the 10k.  Where was I? Oh yes, on the way back!  I am not saying that I was having a fine old time running, I mean, for a start I was almost last.  Last year there were quite a few behind me! Surely I couldn't have lost that much fitness? Also, no inflatable ducks, chickens or turkeys to compete against!  Where is everybody.  It certainly felt different from the previous years I have done this race! A little lonelier!  I believe SnappyH felt exactly they same!  I kept my run/walk going, sometimes even yelling at myself to keep on running!  I haven't done that for a while!  I really do need to kick some ass and get moving soon, that's for sure.

Running back on the road, I knew there was only just over a mile to go to the finish........and then run past the finish for half a mile or so before heading back to the finish!  I tried not to let it get to me, I tried not to think of that bit of the route.  I wanted to just enjoy the weirdly nice weather we were having for the Brighton 10k.  No wind, no rain, it wasn't that cold either!  I even started the run with my jacket tied around my waist!  The public we still cheering us on, some were saying "How many more is going to come up behind us"  I almost told her that there was probably just one left, but thought "nah, lets just get this done".

I focused my gaze on the pier, knowing that with every step I will be be closer, the pier will get bigger and bigger.  My run will soon be over and I can look forward to fish and chips!  The lady and gentleman with the cow bells were cheering me on "You can never have enough cow bells" I thought to myself, smiling as I recalled a comedy sketch on the telly!  I think I will have to have another blog writing down all my thoughts when I run!  I do seem to think of some weird stuff!  but can never remember to put it down in a blog!

At the pier now, runners with their medals cheering me along, not long to go.....so everyone is saying!  But I am still feeling positive.  A lot better than I felt last year when I had go to this point!  I was still smiling and, weirdly, feeling good about the whole run.  Well, apart from the usual atmosphere that is generally about!  I do miss that. The whole getting to Brighton on the coaches, sleepy heads nodding off in seats, a quiet murmur from hushed voices. Even the start line seemed weirdly quiet as well!  Oh well,  I couldn't dwell on that, I was just pleased that I was feeling pretty much ok!  No puking up at the end for me!

Running pass the start/finish line, I tried not to look at it, just the people finishing!  I could see Terry not, I checked my watch and saw that he had got in just under the hour! Very good going for him!  I saw some other PWR's as I ran along beside the home stretch, longing for the time that I will be running along there!  I still had to go out for half a mile before I even turn around!  I checked behind me to see where there last runner was, I knew she was keeping pace with me, I just needed to keep her at a safe distance where there was no possibility of getting into that whole sprint finish thing and suddenly losing my position of second to last!

This last bit seemed to go on for ever!  Have they some how managed to stretch the road!  I am sure it wasn't as long as this last year!  I think I say that every time I do this bit, I guess that is my psyche getting to me!  I say SnappyH coming back on the home stretch, which means that I didn't have that far to go to turn around cones!  I just needed to keep on going, keep on smiling!  After all, this is for fun!  I got to turn around cones, I could see the camera man sat there, you just know he is going to be snapping away!  I had to try and look as if I had just started out!  Smile!

I swept around the cones and headed back to the finish line I could see Myra coming up the other side.  We smiled at each other and we high fived when we got near to each other.  Respect, 10k is a challenge to people, even for me still, always looking to try and better your last pb!  I had to keep on top of my game, I knew Myra had reeled in a couple of meters on me.  I think I was still in the safe zone of no last minute sprint finish.

I could hear the guy on the microphone now and the lady as they started to call out the winners of each category so they could give them their trophies!  Yup, the race is all but over now, just a little bit more, the cameras will still be flashing away, I must remember my smile as I cross over the finish line!

Did it!  Done it! Beat it!  Beat last years pb anyway!  Still got to beat my over pb for this course!  maybe next year!  A great race, but.....there was just that little bit lacking this year.......maybe the party bus really does bring the party atmosphere to races!  We really are an awesome club!

Oh there was of course a little matter of food and treats!  We found ourselves a little American diner, complete with...well him

and an Elvis...sort of.

  While we dined on burgers, chips and this lovely beauty!

Geeky stats.



most photos from SnappyH 

Club run

hello blog readers

It’s been a while since I last blogged!  I have been running though, just been lazy with the writing!  But there has been a shortfall on my running as well, I won’t lie about!  Sometimes running is just so hard to get started!  I really do need a huge kick start to get me going!

Which is just as well I was leading group 1 yesterday evening because that for me, is total mojo hunting, ass kicking, motivation right there to get me out of the house! Even with the thought I might have to walk home after the run couldn’t dissuade me from getting out of the door (my car is sick). The old boy  was going to give me a lift to the rec but fortunately for me, he said I could have his car instead! Whoop whoop, it meant that I could also pick up SnappyH.

As it was move up week I decided to use the easy route, it’s just a tiny tad over the 3 miles but such a nice flatfish route. It was just as well too because there was a newbie with us, she had never been running before!  Well, this will be a challenge for her!  There has been a few people over the years who have joined group 1 on a whim, some quite within the first hundred yards while others kept up with the struggles and now in higher groups......or even leaders!

There were 8 of us, with Alison and K doing the sweeping. We ran out of the rec and then turned right. We turned right again to run up the hill, after that it really was all flat, well! Apart from the other hill on Shepperton of course.

So there it is. A short and sweet blog for a short and sweet run.

Beginners Week 4

Hello Blog readers.

Yesterday we had a fourth session of beginners running!  I was leading!  I just love doing this, watching each runner as they achieve their potential.  They are even surprising them selves!  It does your heart good in more ways than one when you start running, leading, encouraging others!

I think there were about 20 runners that morning, with some of our fabulous PWR's to help all those runners to keep on going!  Sometimes you have just have to forgo parkruns or racing to come and chat with these new budding runners!  Getting back to just running for running sake, running just because you can, is sometimes where you need to be!  And there is no better place to do it that than with the beginners! 

So there we are, with our magnificent PWR's volunteering, running around with our beginners we had a fab time!  We really did!  The weather held off, it had been raining sometime beforehand so it was a bit squishy in places, but that just makes for a nice soft underfoot, a massaging each step you took.  As usual we started with our two laps of walking. Walking is a great way of getting to know more about our beginners.  Time to chat, help them put aside all negative thoughts about whats going to come next.  Time to breathe, wake up a bit, get the lungs working, ready for the running.  After that we had a drills to get our muscles warmed up. Then it was the running.  With 4 minutes of running and 2 minutes of walking, so began the step up to becoming a fabulous parkrunner and (hopefully) a PWR.

Everyone really did well, of course they were all thinking "When does this get easier"  Well, readers, we all know the answer to that don't we?  We just think about that fabulous feeling after we have finished the session, the run, the race!  Which ever one we have signed up for!

We end with our usual drills and that was that! All done until next week.....apart from the homework during the week!

Loving these sessions, love PWR!  What more can I say!

Club Run - So Wet!

Hello blog readers.

This evening it was club run, I wasn't leading, in fact I was that close to not even going!  The weather has been totally barmy.  Huge dark clouds this afternoon, lightening, and torrential rain!  I thought it was in for the rest of the day!  But thankfully it cleared up.  I was hoping to be running with a friend of mine from the club, a huge motivator for me to get my backside out of the door, but then I had a message saying there it wasn't going to happen!  By then I had already text Wendimoo and Auriol that I would be coming!  Oh my goodness readers, I was so close to staying under my lovely cosy blankets!  But Wendimoo has a very persuasive way about her and I got myself ready!

It was just slightly raining by the time I got outside J.J.s house, I felt a bit more relaxed about our run, maybe it won't rain anymore.  All through the annoucements it kept off, it wasn't even that chilly!  I felt sure we were going to have a nice dry run!  So with my running mojo hiding again, poor Auriol who was leading, having a sore knee and a couple of the the other runners in our group all wishing that actually they were home, we did set off!  Wendimoo was there, it was good to see her, so really, I was glad I came out.....mainly because she had nagged me to get out!

After all the announcements had been done we set off for our run.  Auriol went with her plan B route, easier on her knee, plus, if the rain did come down hard we could take a short cut home!  Everyone was up for that!  We ran along Crossways towards Petts Wood Road and crossed over.  The rain just started to come down just slightly.  "Maybe it won't get any worse than this" I thought to myself! Well, all the thoughts in the world could not stop the rain from falling down even more!  We ran along Willet Way and then down Priory Avenue, then on to St Johns and out on to Tudor Way.  Auriol had some sprints planned for us to do on the other side of the tracks!  But by the time we had gone under the bridge the rain was coming down quite hard!  It really wasn't pleasant!  I know this is typical British weather, and we should just suck it up and deal with it, but, I really didn't want to!  I think the others were just about grinning and bearing it all.  Auriol took us along to where were would start our sprinting, a loop of Nightingale, Lakeswood and Woodhurst, but it really was very wet, sprinting in that would not have been fun.  We opted to just head straight back to the rec from there, via Crest View.

We were all like drowned rats by the time that we got back.  There were another couple of people from another group who had decided to cut short their run too.  But do you know what, not one of us said 'I wished I hadn't come out"  It's amazing really, even though we didn't like being out in the cold, wet dark night and while we were running we were wishing that we were at home, we all still said "Well I am glad I came!"  We are the most weirdest people I think!!

Beginners Week 3 - RefMichael is Back!

Hello blog readers.

Saturdays seems to come around pretty darn quick!  But it's good, because I love Saturday mornings, I love watching the beginners realise, that they can do it! They can finish this course!

I got there with Naggy, she is still on sidelines encouragement as she heals from her broken toe, RefMichael was there, raring to go, Sherry was busy with the clipboards, we still haven't managed to get emails to all our beginners.!  One day, it will all happen so perfectly it will be scary!  All our lovely beginners were there, I am sure feeling even more amazing than they were that first week!

After Sherry introduced our RefMichael to all the beginners he got straight down to business and put them through their paces.  First with the warm up routines of skipping, butt kicks, sideskipping and karaokas (?) I think that is how and what you call that funny little twisty run that we do! Then it was our 3 minutes of running and 3 minutes of walking!  Same amount of run/walk ratio!  There were a few nervous giggles and chitter chatter going on, but, when I looked at all of them I knew they would all do so well!  I felt sure that from this week on they will go on to surprise themselves and really start to feel confident about their running!

The running section started and everyone was just so eager to get going they almost always forget about pace!  There is one chap that just wants to run off at speed but fortunately one of our PWR volunteers got along side of him to keep him focused on building stamina rather than speed!  Speed will come a bit later!  We always have a great turnout of PWR's to help with our beginners!  Even though it's RefMichael, ZippySherry and me, who are the leaders, we really couldn't do without our regular army of volunteers that come along.  Some forego their parkrun every week others come and join us every other week!  Brilliant, love our club.  I am sure the beginners appreciate them running along side them too.

Our running was soon all over, the chitter chatter turned to "Oh my goodness I didn't think I could do that" and "I was dreading this week but it wasn't as bad!"  It really isn't as bad, as long as you follow the program, you can and will run a 5k! 

RefMichael led them all through the cool down stretches gave them their homework to do and then sent them over to me, I still have some email's pinging back to me as incorrect, so I tried to upload them directly onto the google doc as they were standing there!

I am so looking forward to next week!  It's going to be brilliant!