The Failed Escape!

Hello bloggers.

Another 'in the mind of a lone runner' style blog today.

It was a perfect sunny morning, I wondered if this would be the day. If this would be the day that freedom is possible.  I had planned everything carefully, making sure that no-one detected my plans.  My captors had left for the day, leaving me with only the usual chores to do, 'to keep me busy'.  It will soon be time!

As soon as I was completely alone I started to get things ready for my escape. Watch, to syncronise everthing, phone, for 'just in case', fast running shoes, with my running pants and tee-shirt, I wasn't planning on stopping for anyone! I grabbed my hat,  I needed to be able to blend in with anyone that I may meet upon!

I grabbed the keys to the car and made the first part of my escape. I drove along to Willet rec, a place where I knew I could safely ditch the car and carry on the rest of my escape plan on foot.  I tried to mingle with some other people that had managed to escape this far as well, but they had all planned to follow the leader, DiscoRich.  I thought about it for a split second, could I possibly manage to run with the crowd?.  There was so many of them, they would draw attention to themselves.  Could I risk it?  They all looked a lot fitter and faster than I me.  I decided I would try it on my own.

I said good luck to them all as they went one way and I went the other, in the opposite direction.  I set my watch, I have less than an hour to make my escape, any time after that and I will have to abandon my plans and go back, and try to get fit for another attempt. 

I came out of the rec and immediately saw that we all had been noticed!  A big yellow sign was on the lamppost warning of escapees "Runners in Road" it read, high on the lamppost.  Darn it, I will just have to go through the woods.  I ran to Poo Ally, I slowed down as I saw 'guards' there with the dogs.  "Try to blend in, don't show you're nervous" I thought, as I walked past the guards and the dogs! "Morning" I said "Morning" they replied.  I did it, they didn't suspect a thing.

There were more 'guards in the tunnel, a walked past them so as to not get the dogs excited, as soon as I was through I ran to the left and headed towards to rail station.  Maybe I can get a train, to take me far away, to be able to run and be free for ever!  Just then I saw a 'guard' coming from a path on the right, I picked up my speed at bit, I felt safe to do that as there was no dog around, well none that I could see. 

That was close! But in my haste I had passed the bridge that would have taken me to the station.  I am just going to have to continue through the woods, along by the rail lines.  Oh it felt so good, the fresh air, the ever so slight breeze.  The sun was just warming up the air temperature, promising a fine dry day!  Why would people be crammed into concrete boxes making money for 'The Man!'  One day we will all be free to do what we love to do, usually when we are around 65!

There were yet more 'guards' along the path by the rail lines.  I had to walk!  Two very big dogs with the guards.  I was sweating a bit now, I just hoped I still blended in, that I still looked like any other worker!  I felt as if I was losing my battle.  I ran down the path towards the river, maybe if I dart along the path to the left I can make my way to the next train station, Chislehurst.  

I ran along the river, listening to the water gently running down.  I smiled to myself as ran along, oh its so perfect, so peaceful.  The birds singing their song in the trees, squirrels playing and scurrying about.  It just felt so good, you could almost imagine a unicorn appearing from the field to come and and be petted!  This is what it's all about!

There was a guard along here with four dogs, four of them, bringing me back out of 'the zone'!  How will I get by? They seemed to be taking up the whole of the path.  I slowed down to a walk, said good morning to the 'guard' and gently got by two of the dogs.  The other two just seemed to stand in front of me on the path, not moving.  

A particularly nasty looking pug, that you know, if he wasn't bred with a face like that, he would have earned it in his field of work!  He wasn't backing down for anyone!  The Guard had called him back, though, even apologising for the mutt being in my way.  At least I had fooled her!  But I began to feel as if my escape plan was futile!

I came to the end of the path, but the path on the left hand side had a 'guard' at the entrance, there was only one way to go, up!  Up Goss hill, maybe I can still get away!  The hill seemed to grow in front of me, as I looked up "I have got to do this in one go"  I said to my self!  Maybe that will be enough to blend in, look like the retired people! Look like one of the guards"

I took a deep breath in and started up the hill!  A guard was coming down with a dog!  I can't stop and walk past, I just can't. I got to go for it all the way up and hope I get away!  It was tough going, my legs were burning and my breathing was going out of the window!  I tried to control my breathing, I kept telling myself that I could do this!  But I failed. I took at walking break, I was panting hard, I looked more like one of the dogs than the 'guards'!  I gave myself a telling off and I started up the hill again.  This time I didn't stop, I wasn't going to stop until I reached the top!

I felt like doing the 'Rocky' dance when I looked back down the hill, but then I remembered that I had just that one little stop!  No, no 'Rocky' dance for me this time!  I headed along the thin path, I hoped I wouldn't meet any 'guards' along here, it's too narrow, and by now I know that I look like an escapee!  I will be detected.

Emerging from the path I ran up Botany Bay Lane, "I could get to the road, try and get a bus or hitch a lift to freedom!  Just then another 'guard' appeared.  "That's it, I'm doomed" I thought, I walked up to her, looking as nonchalant as I could, but the dogs could tell something was wrong, they came up to me and sniffed me, and licked my hands.  The little one jumped up and put its paws on my legs.  I was so surprised when the guard let me go on my way!  Maybe I can do this!  Maybe I am a good actor and won't get caught.

I decided to play it safe and not try to go on to the roads, stick to the woods, I think the longer I am in here the better.  I turned right to run along the back of the school.  I was running along enjoying the sounds of the animals and birds, but then the sounds of the kids playing in the school fields brought me back, I felt sorry for them, as they are in the 'system', they are being taught how to make money for 'The Man!"  Maybe seeing me will give them hope! One day they can run free!  

Run free! What a thought!  I still got some way to go!  I got to the Board in the middle of the woods.  It was then that I started to wonder "The 'guards' and the dogs, were they herding me, is it possible that they have been in control all the time?!  I shook that thought from my head, it's not possible!  I was choosing which way to go, not them!  I ran along the top of the woods and then took the left path, running along side the road.  

The Wardens block is down here! Oh no!  I think they have been in control!  But how? I ran past the block, it was empty, not even the chief Warden was around, they must all be out looking for escapees.  I felt hopeless, with one last attempt to escape I ran down the side of the rail lines again, just in front of me two Guards with dogs just nipped into a less used path, maybe they were planning an ambush!

I ran quickly past them, hoping they were still getting in position for them to notice me go past, the last push now, have I made it?!  Is freedom just around the corner!?  I came back through Poo Ally and there was the chief guard, two dogs by her side, big dogs.  I can't run past these.  I will try my usual tactics of letting the dogs sniff at me.  The white one looked a little timid "Does he liked to be petted?" I said, he he pulled away, so I decided not to touch it, then the black one come bounding towards me, "Does this one?" I said,  as the dog was pulling at its leash!  It made a lunge for my hand, and nipped at it, just catching my knuckle!  Caught!  Life had found me again!  There is just no getting away from it.......yet!  I ran back towards my car which was parked in the rec, on the way I collected the yellow sign, warning of 'Runners in Road' At least thay may help on the next attempt.

I had waited to see if the others had made it. But DiscoRich and the others came back into the rec looking exhausted!  We stretched out our aching limbs and chatted about the route we took.  And then we made plans for our next escape!

Geeky stats.

Petts Wood and Knoll Ward Running by moosh001 at Garmin Connect - Details

.....And There's More!

Hello (again) blog lovers.

I went back to the core training sessions as well!  Well in for a penny and all that!  I will just have to see how these shins of my go.  Never having had shin splints before I am just not sure.  Maybe I was jumping the gun and reading too much into things, or maybe it was the start of shin splints.  So I decided I will just have to get on with it and see what happens.  If it becomes really painful, (unlike it is now, it really is only a little niggle) then I will see more advice on it.  I will continue to do the things I have been told so far though!

So, core training!  CoachHels is in charge of this evenings session.  And reading all about her session last week, I expect it is going to be a tough one this week!  There were quite a few people there about 16-18 of us.  I couldn't help but smile!  It does feel good to be back to my usual routine!

I wasn't sure how I was going to get on, whether I would just jog along and do as much as I dare, or really try and push harder straight away.  A case of 'just go for it'. Probably something not advised to do, but I did push a little harder than I thought I was going to, and it seemed ok.  Just the little complaining muscles, which wasn't feeling any worse, and didn't get any worse!

So what did we do!  We did the usual two laps of the rec before starting on the drills!  Some gay abandonment was going on when we were doing the skipping along, I can tell you!  then after that it was some running exercises.  First off it was running between cones, just building up, holding the pace before bringing it back down again.

Next it was running around the cricket crease in a big square, One side walking, then jogging, then running and finally sprinting, before doing it all again, for 3 minutes! My legs and knees seemed to be holding out quite well. But still, I couldn't help thinking that maybe a rectangle would be good, with the shorter sides being the sprint!

The core training section next, after some glugs of water of course, with triceps dips, leg swinging and squats, planks bicycle thingys, all to help with our core conditioning.  I know mine really needs conditioning.  I really abused it over the holiday! Busy making another fat layer with all the delicious food and drinks!

One more running section after that, and I still can't explain what it was, but I think our team got it right....in the end.....although I wasn't in the winning team!  It was great fun!  A great session and a fun session.  And.....it's good to be back!

Yay!!! I'm Back!

Hello blog lovers.

I can't believe it's been nigh on a whole month since I last jogged!  But I felt it was necessary and I have come back with renewed determination to just keep going!  The holiday put a few extra pounds around my waist line and I will have do do battle with that!  Soon I will have everything aligned and I can really start improving! (I am saying this publicly, so if you see a big fat chocci cake in my hands feel free to remove it and eat it, bin it or feed to your pet dogs!)

My first run back was actually on Tuesday.  I did group 0 with J.J., Wendimoo, Janet who I have decided to nick name J. (too long to explain why, but we do miss Kay!) and Kym.  All five of us were not really 'feeling it' on Tuesday.  The weather was Caribbean hot!  Melting ice cream before you can eat it hot!  I did ask everybody to bring water!

I was a bit apprehensive as to how I would get on, I really didn't like all those little niggles around the shin area, mainly on my right shin.  But you hear such awful things about shin splints that I erred on the side of caution and stopped running.  I was still thinking by this stage that I would manage to run in group 1 after as well,  With having weeks off rest I thought it would be a breeze!

We set off at a very slow pace, just so that we can warm up a bit, get our breathing right.  Of course we were going through the woods, I made sure I sprayed my self with jungle strength mozzie spray.  I can't believe how these little critters just make a bee line for me at the first opportunity!  Mind you, they plus side of the mozzie spray, it does enhance the slight tan I have!

In through Dog Poo ally and then immediately turn right to head up the hill to Chislehurst Road.  It became obvious to me then that maybe I was being a little too ambitions thinking about running with group 1 after!  The muscles that I had been relaxing by not running suddenly woke up and just let me know that they were not amused!  The muscles that had a weeks break from riding my bike, already were aching from a ride I did on Monday, also let me know that I am 50 something year old ex couch potato, who should be learning lawn bowls!

Not to be deterred I encouraged all the others to get going, and I will lead from the back!  I didn't think it would look to good to be looking a total wreck trying to keep in front!  But my lovely friends wouldn't think that anyway!  We all encouraged one another,  All of us there on Tuesday were either post holiday chubsters, or coming back from injury or just working on getting up to group 1 spec!  So I was in good.....nay great company!

We have a few walking breaks and and few stops to catch breath.  I lead them (from behind) all the way to the top of the woods.  I normally would have gone down the middle path and then back to the wreck, so that I could compose myself for the next run, but as I wasn't going to do that we carried along the top of the woods all the way to Botany Bay Lane. I was thinking of going down there, and then back along the rail lines to Dog Poo ally.

But the ladies weren't ready to finish yet!  Which I was pleased about, Kym was willing to give it a go as well.  We were not speeding along, just taking it nice and steady, chatting all the way.  So the extra bit was to go along the path that comes to the top of Goss Hill, and then enjoy the run down it. Left at the bottom along by the river (mozzies eat your heart out I've got the spray on) and then right up the path to the rail lines.

It really was a brilliant run with the girls.  We finished our run going along side the rail lines until we got back to the beginning and then along to the rec.  By the time we got back to the rec there were throngs of PWR's, all in shorts and sleeveless tops, some were standing about, some sitting on the bench some were just laying on the grass ready to hear from the leaders.

I heard a voice from the crowd, "Hi Donna, you have a trophy.....er...it's in the loo!"  The loo, by the way is the disable toilet that we have a key for that we can safely use to lock our jackets and things away while we go for a run, a lock up!  But my trophy, well, its a first place trophy, 1st place in the Group 1's Grand Prix!!  (just don't ask how many people were entered into last years GP)  I am hoping that there will be loads of group 1's for this years GP, otherwise I might just withdraw!  Here's a picture of my trophy!

When I got back from the rec, I called the Old Boy up.  He had been on some epic bike ride, in that heat!  In fact he was really suffering, what with doing some 'get out of here' hills on his ride, the last one proved just too much!  He had to walk up it.  I have never known him to get of his bike and walk up hills before, and I was a bit concerned.  So I arranged to meet him on route, on my bike, I had water on me and just to make sure he was ok.  But as I was going to meet him, I saw DiscoRich's group running along the path that I was taking, with his group 4 runners!  They were all looking pretty warm to!  I was thinking that maybe I should have bought barrel on my bike instead!  The St' Bernard's dog came to mind!

Geeky stats.

<iframe width='465' height='548' frameborder='0' src='//connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/821297360'></iframe>

Thursday Morning

So to todays run.  I turned up at the rec, the weather was a lot cooler than it was on Tuesday, quite cloudy, with the hint of rain to come.  I thought it would be quite muggy going through the woods.  As it happened though, there was only me for the group 1 run and about 7 or 8 in DiscoRich's group 2.  I think I am going to have to make that my goal, to be able to get fitter and stronger and faster (enough) to keep up with them when I am on my own!  It would be nice to see some different parts of Scadbury park!  But for today, I was quite happy to plod out on the route that I did on Tuesday.  A no pressure run, just to see how I get on with my solo running!  See if I can discipline myself to push just a little harder at times.

We all set off at the same time, group 2 were going in through Dog Poo ally as well, I trundled on behind them, and even just that little distance between the rec and the ally they were slowly pulling away from me.  But I soon caught up with them........as they ad to wait to cross the road, and then the bottle neck of the entrance to the ally!

As soon as we were through DiscoRich's group took the second turning on the right to take a diagonal type path to the Chislehurst Road while I took the path next to the rail lines.  The chatter from the group died down the further along the different paths we got.  All though these woods are extremely popular with dog walkers you are not inundated with mutts baking and wanting to sniff you or chase along with you.  The first dog walker I saw was just along this path and I wasn't to see another one until further along my run.

I was running along all alone, past the woodmans house (I am presuming this is the woodmans house by the way!) and straight up the path.  Not a soul around, just the chirping of the birds and the scampering of the squirrels.  It's so peaceful, but the air is just so muggy, I was expecting to be like a magnet to the mozzies around, I had forgotten to pick up my mozzie spray when I left.  I half expected to roll out of these woods looking like The Thing from the Fantastic four, although not skin like stone, but more like squidgy blobs!

I got to the centre path and carried on running along the top of the woods.  I decided to go on the other path, with the little smelly pond on my right, I wanted to see if I could see the heron today, or any other wildlife, but alas not today!  I got to the Botany Bay Lane and ran along the back of the school.  The children were out on the fields, I am not sure if they were supposed to be doing PE, as there were some in PE kit and some in full school uniform, complete with blazer!  

I started to think then about how much I hated any form of physical education!  Hated hockey, hated tennis, hated net ball and hated swimming most of all!  How I wished just then that I had paid more attention to my health, instead of buying cigarettes and chips during the lunch breaks!  I wanted to shout over at them, "enjoy your P.E. lessons, or become a couch potato like me!" Or at least, like I used to be, because look at me now!  Out running, so what if don't have anyone to run with, it doesn't matter.  So what if I am a slow runner, the fact is I am a runner!  Two marathons, half marathon distances, 10k's 5 ks and......and.......three 1st place trophies!

Yup, it's good to be back to running!

I finished my run following the same route as Tuesday, bumping into our canine friends and their humans who seem to favour this side of the woods, along Goss hill and the River, mind you, what canine don't like a paddle in the river!

I got back to the rec, used the loo, splashed cold water on my fact to cool down a bit and then did my stretches before the others got back from their run.  Most enjoyable!

Geeky stats

<iframe width='465' height='548' frameborder='0' src='//connect.garmin.com:80/activity/embed/821297401'></iframe>

Harvel Five Mile Run - 2015 4.18

Hello blog lovers.

Today was the last race in my clubs Grand Prix.  I really love taking part in this event,  and it's good that maybe, after todays race, some of the group 1 will be up for it!  This run is just so relaxed and friendly, and it is not that far to run in the gist of things!  As I said some of my running buddies in group 1 were taking part in this race too, I also know that they have also taken part in a couple of other events that are part of our Grand Prix (all though they probably didn't realise it)! But it is good that some of the others are on board, not that I am being competitive or anything,...no, honest really!  I just love this run!

Hels SingstarJo and me

SingstarJo was driving tthere, she picked up me, Hels and Jan and we headed to Meopham, where the race begins. We parked the car walked up to the village hall to use the loo. J just outside the hall is this wooden seat carved from a tree.  aA great first of my photo shots!  The race head quarters is on the green, Havel green, and there is such a great friendly, party type atmosphere going on.  With ice cream vans, cake stalls, burgers, and of course beer tents! I took a couple of pictures of the PWR's as they chilled before the race. here look

The Gang

More of the Gang

It was soon time to take the short walk to the start, just a very short walk up the road.  I remembered the last time I did this race, although I was started off with my running buddies, for most of the run I was by myself once they found their zone. Of course there was all the other runners, but no-one that I knew that I  ran along with.  However, today J.J. was running with me, she managed to get a last minute entry from one of the other PWR ladies.

Just some of our runners that ran
(others were in the loo queue!)

The Hash Harriers sure do no how to have fun, because of this! This amused me big time!  They decorated the portaloos, they had a competition to see which designer of each loo won a prize!  Fantastic!

From left to right,
The stink hole, the steamer, ?, the Sheik and the Skid Lid

We started our run from the back, just so that we don't get caught up in the rush!  J.J. and I started out over the mats at a nice steady pace.  The weather was just perfect, perfect for those sat back at the green waiting, it really was quite warm!  I was looking forward to getting to the shaded area in the woods.

With every step however, I could feel 'aches' in my shins, my right shin in particular.  I know I do run more heavily on the right side, but my left shin does have a very slight ache too.  I was beginning to think that I should start listening to my own advice that I give to people!  And also to listen to all other people that have said that resting after a marathon is essential!

But I so do love this race, in fact I just so do love running end of!  But I think I really do need to give this old body of mine a break!  Anyway, the first mile and a bit is on the road, the sun was beating down and the breeze that kept us cool on the green seems to have stopped or maybe even stayed on the green when really it is now that we need it!

The marshals were all very enthusiastic and encouraged us along our way.  The woody part of the run was a welcome relief from the sunshine, but I was totally amazed that already we could hear the marshal, just to the left of us, on another path saying "Runners coming!" as he called out for people along the path to make way!  That was just amazing!  They could be finished in 20 odd minutes!

Me and J.J. just took our time, I felt at though that I was holding her back, as I had to take a walking break....again.... But J.J. was quite happy to plod along.  This is her second race, and it was just lovely to be running with her.

There was to be two water stations or beer stations, which ever you fancied having, on this race.  We were half way round before we came to the first water station!  Boy was I looking forward to a nice glass of....water!  I know, it's unusual that I had the water!, If there is beer to be had, then I would normally be in there in front, but I am also aware, that it was blooming warm and I was still only half way round, I thought I would be sensible.

Half way 

We had our drink and then continued on our way, and if I am not mistaken we seemed to pass by a pub! There seemed to be quite a lot of people sitting outside enjoying beer cheering us all on!  J.J. got right into the spirit "Half way, yay!!" she called out as her hands raised in the air in excitement! That bought about another rousing cheer!

A gratuitous selfie

On the way round we were chatting to another runner, he was using us a pacing.  He ran to us, over took us then we over took him, each time chatting.  On the way up to the third mile marker we started to chat to young lady who only had been running for a couple of months, "There's the 3 mile sign" she said.  I encouraged her to run up to it "It's tradition, always run up to the markers"  I said.  It's something that I have done, it's my tradition really.  I always feel like I need to run the last bit of any mile!  Just like running the last bit of a hill! (again a tradition of mine)

And talking of hills!  The cheeky little blighter of a hill was about three quarters of a mile from the third marker!  I hadn't forgotten about that I knew it was coming up, but it is such a steep and short little hill, I just tried to ignore it! But I just couldn't run the last bit of it!

We were soon running the last mile but before that there was another water stop, "Water, beer?" asked the marshal, "No, just water please" said J.J.  "Does anyone actually have the beer?" she asked and then she turned around and looked at me just as I was sipping my beer!  Well, there is only one more mile to go" I said with a smile!

I'm not sure if it was my imagination or not but we did seem to pick up the pace slightly as we hit the road back.  That mile seemed to disappear quite quickly, I was looking forward to getting a nice cool beer at the end!  With the village green in sight J.J. seemed to find 'that extra bit' that is always left over as she stepped up a gear, I kept pace with her, maybe we could have a little bit of a race, just me and her as we head for the finishing mats.  Of course I didn't tell her.......she may have even gone faster!

Just a few yards left and she stepped it up another gear!  "Where did she find that?" I thought to myself, I stepped up a gear as I tried to keep pace with her.  Her legs seemed like that had all of a sudden grown about a foot as she sprinted to the mats, my little legs just wouldn't stretch out that far as I pushed to try and keep side by side with her!  She just touched the mats just half a second or so before me!  A good race! Although she didn't know!

And the Bling!  Its useful too! It's a bottle open!
Now where's me beer!

My legs were ok, but I can feel that they really need a break!  So I am going to take all the advice I hear and what I give out and I am going to have a break from any exercises!  Maybe I cant start writing a novel!  But whatever I do, I feel it is best I take a break, just for a week or two!

I have just looked back at my last Harvel 5 and I am a lot slower than I was back then!  I deffo need a break!  Get my head together, and start all over again!

Geeky stats, and J.J.'s and my official result in the Harvel 5 is.....  1:04:08, both of us, but my time is under J.J.'s time, as it should be!

Back To The Play Ground!

Hello blog lovers.

Can you believe that I am writing another blog....for today!  I still have to write one more, it was for yesterday, my cycle ride with the Old Boy!  But we got back late and things today was inundated with running, housework kids more running!

Today it was Sherrys session, and she had some games planned for us!  Playground games.  But as usual we had the two lap jog of the ground first!  I only did one lap, as I am taking it easy before the Harvel 5 on Saturday!

Then it was a a case of 'kicking butt' as we all kicked butt to the cricket crease and jogged back.  With a few other drills thrown in we were totally warmed up for our playground session!  The first game was Fruit Salad.  I was thinking "that sounds delicious"  But of course this is a training session, so there was no eating involved just running around.  We were each given a fruit, orange apple or pear.  When Sherry called out the fruit we had to run around the whole circle and get back to our spot, sometimes she called two out at the same time, just after I got back to my spot actually!

When she called fruit salad we all took off at the same time!  A great game and it got our heart rates up.

After that it was a brilliant game of British Bull Dog!  I used to love that game when I was growing up.  I felt good to be playing it again!  You can imagine the chaps in the group were last to get caught!  It took all of us to pick them off!

Of course then it was time to train those core muscles.  With planks, sit ups and side bendy things. Along with some lunges and stuff!  With one more game of British Bull dog to finish off the session of speed running and then into the cool down stretches!

A good session, a fun session, and I did take it easy!  The Old Boy came to the park just as we had finished the last game of Bull Dog, we were just going to ride to the pub for a well earned pint.  But the pub he chose was in Chislehurst, The tigers Head, and then after that he said we were going to go home via Summer Hill!  Oh well, I guess it will work off the pint!

Into The Veil!

Hello blog lovers.

You may want a a bucket standing by, its a bit of a romantic feel this one!

When I turned up at the recreation ground I found that I was the only one going to be running in my group.  Although the members of group 2 encouraged me to go with them, I know my capabilities.  "Maybe next time" I thought, although I didn't really believe I would be ready any time soon.

It was a gloriously sunny morning, and the talk on facebook was all about how perfect it was for a run, we have been too long waiting through the winter and spring months, all eagerly waiting for our warm summer days to start.  It was time for us to start our run and just to clarify, in my own mind, I started to run along with group 2.  DiscoRich's group had grown over the winter, with  some of group 1 fledging to join group 2.  I wondered again if ever I would get fit enough to join them.

Just by the short run up to the entrance of the woods, at Dog Poo Ally, I knew that I was right...this time...! not to continue on the run with them.  I was already out of breath and they were still on their warm up mile!  We parted ways as soon as we got through the other side of the ally.

From that moment on it was like a switched had been turned off from the 'outside world'.  The noise of the streets, the radios in cars and lorries, the children in their nursery at the rec, had all been switched off.  I waited for a few seconds more for the plane overhead to disappear and then just listened.  As the sound of the engines faded so the noises of the woods turned up.  The birds, the rustle from animals in the bushes, all heightened by the silence they were en captured by, that is the only way I can describe it. I knew this was going to be a wonderful run.  A run where I can just free my mind, not think about anything, just enjoy the total experience of solo running, a time where you can just drift off to far flung places, imagine different places, countries, times!.........

Running through the woods I had wondered if I would see the 'Woodman'.  I remembered the first time I saw him as he worked on some signposts at the top of the woods near his house.  I was with some girl friends as we enjoyed our Thursday morning run.  We all noticed him as he busied himself with the signposts that he was making, with the sweat just visible on his brow he  brushed it away as he stood to say good morning to us.  It totally threw me seeing him there, I don't know why and I ended up going the wrong way, but I didn't mind as we turned around and went back again, to use the other path, behind the woodman. Another chance to see him'  The other girls didn't see to mind either.

I smiled as I thought about that day.  I was running along the wooden path, the evidence that the he had been busy was plain to see.  The broken plank that had been there for what seemed like years had been replaced, along with a few others that needed replacing.  There would be no need to shout "Hole!" when I bring a group through here any more.

By the railway track I saw a couple walking with their dog, I slowed down to a walk.  I am always dubious about running towards dogs and their owners.  Either the dog may think you want to attack them or they will just think you are playing, but in either case the animal could still jump up at you!  "Morning" I said to the couple politely "Morning" they replied.  I think summer bring the best out in people, or maybe 'dog' people are particularly friendly.  I've never known a dog walker not to say good morning to me if I pass them through the woods.

I wanted to take another walking break, the morning sun was doing it's job perfectly, bringing me out in a sweat, but I decided to keep going.  The song birds filled my ears again and I was glad that no trains had come along to take that away from me.  The sky looked so blue and the clouds as white as white could be, just hanging in the sky like cotton wool.  I remember as a child wondering what it would be like to stand on a cloud, not knowing back then that they are just big clumps of.....of......gas?  But to me right at that moment, they were places where you could stand on, sleep on, bounce on, like huge cotton wool balls as you watch the world and the people underneath!

I smiled.  By this time I was at the little river. I stopped for just a few moments and peered into the river to see if I could see any wildlife.  No, nothing.  My hubby, the Old Boy, now he has a fisherman's eye, he could spot a carp or pike twenty foot away in a pond. Just a dark shadow in a dark pond.  He would point it out to me "There, there, just there, going into the Lily pads" I would peer into the pond, trying to make my eyes adjust as I followed the line his eager wagging finger points.  Very few occasions I managed to see what he was pointing at.

I carried on with my solo run, feeling totally free and invigorated, I needed to feel like that at least invigorated,  as I looked up at the hill. "One go, no stopping"  I said to myself you can do this.  I started up the hill, trying to remember everything that anyone has ever told me, and what I tell those in group 0 on Tuesday nights.  My worst thing is always my head, I have got to keep my head up.  As I was running up the hill another lone lady runner was running down, ear phones in.  I couldn't help feel sorry for her for missing the most important part of solo running through the woods.

Why would you want to miss out on the whole experience of our beautiful woods.  Even the sound of the running water is just music to your ears.  In that silence of being away from the bricks and mortar of noisy homes and businesses, and the tarmacked roads full of traffic, to listen to the flow of water running through a meadow is all the music you need and so very relaxing.  I got to the top of the hill and stepped through the gate to be greeted by a most unusual site! A Peacock! It was just a shock to see it wondering about, freely, pecking here, pecking there, looking as if it owned the place.  Of course he owned the place, everyone owns this place! It's just to beautiful to keep to oneself.  I reached into where I normally keep my Iphone, and searched frantically for it!

I stopped suddenly and couldn't help smiling to myself as I realised I had forgotten to bring it with me!  You see, I keep my phone....very close to my heart, and so my hand when into the top of the running shirt, 'feeling' around for my phone!  What if the woodman had been around, or anyone for that matter,  what if they had seen me with my hand inside my.....bra! I laughed out loud, and giggled to my self as I ran up to the top of the road.

I came out on to the road, and already I could feel the mood change from peaceful serenity to hustle and bustle.  The vans and cars sitting along side the kerbs, with their engines running, drivers busy talking with the passenger.  The fumes from the exhausts filled my nostrils, I could feel myself 'making a face' as I tried to turn away from them.

"Just this bit of road to do, and then I can get back to my beloved woods" I thought.  Running along to the main road I passed the entrance to the private estate.  Illustrious leader has taken us down here before.  I am going to do this now.  I turned right and ran through the estate.  The beautiful house towards the end of the road is simply stunning. It reminds me of houses and homes of a bygone era.

I daydreamed of what life would have been like in there during times before cars and planes.  Would the house have been for just one family, one very well off family.  Maybe they would have had staff to work for them.  I could image the children of the house playing hide and seek, the house seemed huge and I could imagine there were quite few rooms to hide in. Maybe it even had a secret room, or a basement, with tunnels!  My mind went into over drive thinking of the lovely huge house.

At the end of the road was where the entrance of the woods is, it was hidden behind two parked lorries.  Two different 'worlds' just a foot apart from each other.  The noise and fumes of the outside world and the peace and tranquillity of  inside world.  I squeezed my way past the park vehicles and entered again into the woods.

Which way should I go.  Should I stick with the same way the Illustrious leader went or shall I venture off somewhere different, albeit in the general direction of where I needed to be.  I opted for 'the adventure' and who knows, maybe the woodman would be repairing paths and fences along here.  I knew that he had already made safe a place near by where the stream was.  Just a little wooden structure that bridges across the stream, it hadn't been there for that long.

I ran past the backs of the house, the spiders had been very busy as I felt the soft almost invisible threads of the webs across my face.  I looked up through the trees and saw the sun light just reaching through and lighting up the thin strands as the spiders floated from tree to tree. Like a very fine lacy veil for a waiting bridge to be, ready to worn, it seemed as if the woods themselves lacing a the veil.  I felt more threads across my face as I ran along a narrowing pathway.  I was beginning to wonder if I had made a mistake, Maybe this path will just suddenly stop and go no further.

It  didn't get much narrower and I came to the end of the path, which then tuned left or right.  Going left wasn't an option as that looked as if it lead out into the private housing estate.  I could hear the main road, I knew my time in the woods would soon be over.  I turned right running along a wider path, keeping the noise of the traffic on my left I stayed as close as I could to the left hand side of the woods.

I saw the same couple I had seen earlier, down by the railway, walking along.  I greeted them with a smile again as I ran past them.  I was still on a path I hadn't ran along before, just taking pot luck with which way to go as the options of left or right came before me.  I hadn't seen the 'woodman' as yet, just the tyre tracks he had left behind at some point.

I saw a path that went to the left of me and I darted into there, again my face felt the fine gossamer threads of webs as I passed under the trees. I looked ahead of me and I saw another clearing, a clearing I knew well.  In the middle of this clearing is the sundial.  I turned left along the path and followed it through.  I would be passing by the Woodmans cottage soon, the  place me and the girls first saw him.  I smiled again to my self, there seemed to be a lot of smiling on this run.

Just then I had a mills and boon moment. I could see it all unfolding in my minds eye, of young love.  The well to do family in the big house at the top.  Her parents wanting her to marry the son the rich landowner in a neighbouring borough.  But on her daily walks through the woods she had met up secretly with her handsome woodman who lived and worked on the estate her father owned.

She would met him a midday by his cottage, and then one day they promised themselves to each other.  One day he will be able to marry her.  The woods seemed to come alive for them at just that moment, the birds sang sweetly as she made her way through the trees, which some formed an arch over her.  The spiders floated back and forth covering her with a beautiful lacy veil that shone like silver as the rays of sunlight breached through the trees drenched her in golden sunlight.  The animals scurried around in front of her dropping flowers at her feet as she walked towards her handsome woodman.

And back in the room!  I got to dog poo ally, the smell of the 'doggie bin' filled my nostrils and the moment was gone!

How I have really enjoyed my solo run today, it was amazing. As I started to run back to the rec  I thought  of why I was here, not in any universal  or spiritual way, this day was not about deep heavy thinking like that.  But why I was here, running through the woods.

It was seven years ago that the female section of my family all got together and walked our very first Race for Life, some of them that is the only time that have run or walked a race.  Yet here I am now, running, on my own for fun.  What if mum had never got cancer, what if mum was still here!  Would I have been running, would I have been cycling? Seven years and seven months ago she was cruelly taken from us, and yet here I am, running through these beautiful woods.

It is excruciatingly hard to say this, but I am fitter because 'the wind came and took' my mum , but that is a fact.  I would never have thought it was possible for me to run.  I always thought I was too fat, too unfit, weak ankles!   Yet, here I am seven years and seven months later, two marathons under my belt, quite a few finishers  medal's and even a couple of trophies for coming first place in club competitions (although not first in races, just in points accumulated!)  I can't say "If it wasn't for mum leaving us" but what I can say is "every cloud has a silver lining" but the cloud that has my mum sitting on is has diamonds around it!

Back at the rec I stretched and bent, and twisted my muscles back and forth,  I felt really good.  Is it because it is summer, has the great vibes of the woods done is magic, or was it because I left my 'brain' in the car while I took a solo run through the woods.  Who knows!

Geeky stats.

Club Tuesday! A Windy Day

Hello blog lovers.

Batton down the hatches, lash yourself to the wheel and splice the mainbrace!  It's a windy one! My goodness, what a very windy day!  And the bloomin rain!

Group 0

I wasn't sure what route to take for group 0, this risk assessment malarkey! Do I go through the woods and risk twigs and leaves falling on us from the winds, or shall I stick to the roads, with the possibility of dustbin lids flying at us, or other debris!  

You see, a bit of wind don't stop us runners, very occasionally we have cancelled when its been just to icy out side, but wind? No that wasn't going to stop us.  I sent out the email saying that we would stick to the road.  It took one text message back to bring me to my senses and realise what a silly idea that is when the woods are a much safer, nicer and in fact probably a less windier in the woods, as the (an this is a Wendimoo saying) "The trees break wind"......we we all though it was amusing.

Oh sorry forgot to tell you who was with me today, we had Kim and Wendimoo running today.  Wendimoo is coming back from injury.  She also though that going through the woods would be tons better.  We went in through the usual ally and turned left.  I was taking them up Botany Bay Lane.  Of course there is no getting away from hills.  Even if we do loops around the park, there is a slight incline, make it bigger and the are hills.  The woods are not different!  We just have to learn to love those hills!  I still haven't!

I have noticed that I can run to the top of them now!  I think I will try Goss hill again on Thursday!  Anyway I digress.  Both Wendimoo and Kim attacked the hill, they did well!  We took a break at the house before starting the other half of the hill!  From there it was just along the top of the woods and then back down, but after I took them just a little further along so that we can run past the sundial.

I think Kim is getting used to all these paths and routes as she said to Wendimoo "I think there is a bit of a hill just along here" as we turned right to run along the bridal path after reaching the top of  the hill!

We walked some, we ran some, and then we got to the flat bit by the sign in the woods.  I took them just a little further along till we got to the sundial and then ran past there to rejoin the middle path.

A much needed and welcomed run down all the way to Dog Poo Ally and back to the rec.  Fantastic run, and I'm glad I was persuaded to abandon my risk assessment and head for the woods.!  Wind! What wind?

Geeky stats

Group 1

SingstarJo was leading group 1 today!  This lady is totally on fire lately, Every time I switch on the computer she has smashed a PB, she has done this run, she has done that run!  Totally having having fun with races!  It's just brill to see!  Her next race is Saturday, The Harvel 5, which I will be joining her as well as a huge group of other PWR's.

Again I digress! So SingstarJo had this lovely route planned, Southborough, Blackbrook and finish off by going through Jubilee Park, over the bridge and then out of Little Thrift and back to the rec.  It will soon be time to keep all our running in the woods, but for now we just have to have little bits of the lighter parts of the woods and parks.  

I remember doing this route before.  On a Thursday when I didn't have any other group 1 runners, so I went along with DiscoRich and his crew (group 2's and 3s).  DiscoRich said they would do loop backs so that I wouldn't be running by myself! That time the route was in the opposite direction, and when we got to Blackbrook Lane I said to DiscoRich that his group was just way to fast, and I couldn't keep up, so I would continue on my own back to the rec.  That's how I know it was about 4 miles!  

Still, I know we can do it, we have done 4 miles with in the allocated time before in group 1.  We were running along Hazlemere, Great Thrift and on to Woodside, me and Illustrious Leader were sweeping,  Tendai was struggling a little, and we fell a little behind the main group.  Illustrious Leader was just up ahead encouraging DottieKat along who was also behind the main group.  It's the hills that does us!  Hills try and stop us in our tracks, but we plodded along and kept going.

Tendai hadn't been running for a a few weeks, so I suggested that if she wants I could take her via Jubilee park first and then run on to meet the main group along Blackbrook lane and then we can turn around and run along with them.  It seemed a great alternative, and we will actually get to run through the park twice!

I suggested this SingstarJo and I said that we will see her on route!  DottieKat also wanted to do the slightly shorter route too, so the three of us turned right on to Crestview Drive while the main group ran down Southborough Lane.  We ran along at our own pace, I think I was feeling fortunate that I was getting to run through the park twice instead of inhaling car fumes along the main road!

We ran all the way down to Blackbrook Lane and saw group 2 running up Thornet Wood lane.  They must have come up from Summer Hill! We turned left to start our run towards our group 1.  I said that as soon as we see them, we take a quick break and then do a U turn and start our run back to the rec.  We didn't get to far up the lane when we saw them, we took a short break and then I said "Run away, run away!" and we started running back to where we come.  

We got to Thornet Wood Lane again and carried on running, we then heard a call from the main group, we noticed that they were taking a catchup stop, so we took a break too.  Just then group 3 came from around the corner, also they also must have come up Summer Hill!  I think I am so glad that I am in Group 1.

As soon as our main group started running we ran as well.  They caught us up just as we got passed the Hotel and along the main path to Jubilee Park.  Tendai had, by now got into her zone and kept up with the main group as they ran through the park and back to the rec.  DottieKat was struggling with some niggling aches!  It's such a nuisance when your body starts to complain, because usually that is all it is!  It's just like my old body, my legs and shins and feet!  My feet! Well one in particular, cramping up!  Why is that tut.  I just stretched it out and carried on!

Anyway, we all got back to the rec, and I think everyone had a great run!  Group 1, those who ran with SingstarJo ran 3.95 miles and us in the breakaway group did 3.65 miles! So only just a little shorter!  

Geeky stats.