Midsummer Eve Club Run!

Hello blog lovers!

Today I was really looking forward to our club run. Today is the day where we all join together and really look like a formidable running club.  It's our two 'drinks station stop, then Pimms at our Kit mans, MidSummers Eve', Run!

We have seven running groups in our club, group 1 being the 'Beginners Group' and group 7 being the fastest group! We combined together to make three for this evening, 7,6 and 5 will run as one group, 4 and 3 will run and 2 and 1 will run as another. We ran out together, all heading for one point in Chislehust, to the first drinks station, with, obviously, slightly varying routes and distances to keep it challenging for everyone (and so we can time ourselves to arrive at the same sort of time)

When we have our Midsummers Eve run (yes it really is midsummer!), it's not just your ordinary H2O that is on offer, oh no, we provide your squash as well, (thats undiluted orange juice to my USA readers) to flavour it up, I do believe there were two different flavours today, plus we had a choice of ....... beer or even a shandy! Perfect for running, I believe! It certainly kept me moving!

Our  group, today, were heading through the woods, which were still quite wet and muddy in places. I could hear all the girls in front and behind me squealing as they are trying to find the safest, less muddy, places to cross, as the boys just squelched through the middle of them, with the beer on their minds, no doubt!

Our route took us through 'Poo Ally', left along the railway tracks, and up to Botony Bay, a hill I have yet to conquer, with out stopping to walk! But today I did it! I ran and squelched and squealed non stop to the top of the first part, where we normally stop on our first official regroup. I made it to the top!

I didn't quite make it the rest of the way, to the first drinks station though, with me walking on a couple of parts of the hill and the road.  The drinks station wasn't that far to go.  After we all congregated there, the other groups drifted in.  It was soon time to run to the next drinks station.

Our Illustrious leader was trying to gather up her 'flock' of runners, so this where I introduced my infamous whistle! My whistle has stopped taxis in their tracks that have driven passed and missed our hailing, my whistle has brought my kids home from the woods when I needed them home for their dinner. And tonight, it got everyones attention. Our Illustrious leader was able to call in groups 1 and 2 without hardly raising her voice!

On to the next station. This was at Scadbury park. Again I seemed to have kept pace with the front runners, (a shandy is a good incentive to keep moving, it seems) I was impressing myself. Even Nagging Sister noticed that I had kept going! We were going through some more of the fantastic  woods that we have here. The path, which we took, runs parrallel to the road, so muh nicer to run through here than the road. It's a route we have taken in our group 1 before but when we popped out of the woods, onto the the road, instead of going right to head back to the meeting/start point, we turned left to go to Scadbury park.

Our Illistrious Leader held another regrouping here, (it also gave a little time for the drinks station to be organised at Scadbury park!) We were waiting for the sweeper to be popping out of the woods behind us.  "Just run up to the park" she said to us "And if you see the blue car then go on in to the park, if not just turn around start running back to us until we all catch up again" So, while our Illustrious leader waited with another runner for the sweeper and anyone else that was behind, we all headed to the next drink stop.

We arrived at the park and we could see that the blue car was there! "Fantastic, we don't have to run back", I thought to myself! We ran across the  long grassy path, towards the blue car and we saw.......hmm, , shall I name him? Yes I will!, we saw Jonathan! He was our sweeper!, and there he was busy pouring out drinks!

"How did you get here" we asked him "Oh I got a bit lost, we couldn't see where you went and we just kind of took a short cut" he said! "Oh but our Illustrious leader is waiting for you at the end of this road" we informed him as we pointed in the opposite direction of where he came from! Well guess what? I volunteered to run back to let her know that Jonathan was at the drinks station! I know, can you imagine me, doing extra bits of running, and after a fizzy shandy!

The next stop from here, though was our Kit mans lovely garden. By jove, I will name him too! He and his wife derserve recognition! His name is Mike. He and his wife have this amazing garden, just beautiful. He opens his garden once a year and collects donations for the Harris Hospice! Amazing! So a big huge thank you to these guys for letting us trample all over their amazing velvet lawn! I hope we didn't didn't do too much damage to your lawn.

Here in Mikes garden also, we held our prize giving. I had the privilege and the pleasure of presenting prizes for our  Pettswood Runners members only, 10k race, to six of our runners who were the fastest in their particular groups, with Nagging Sister helping me. (and Mr. S. heckling me! Did I go on then, Mr. S?)

I had fogotten to take my garmin this evening so no geeky stats, I think I was probably a little nervous and worried about what I will be talking about! Obviously I didn't wan't to be going on and on like I do in my blogs, after all they all had to get home some time this evening!

A great day, a great run and a fanastic time in Mikes garden, drinking Pimms.

Club Run - Post L2B

Hello blog lovers,

Today was club run night. I do love running with my club, and it seems just at the moment this is the only running that I am doing!

But today I am feeling fat and bloated! I think it was all the celebratory drinks that we had after me and my team completed the  London to Brighton bike ride! But running through the woods, I was hoping all the scenery and smells (and huge muddy puddles) will keep me suitable focused on the running.

I heard our illustrious leader mention "That hill!" Some of our club members are running the Orpington 10k race on Sunday, and this is good practise for that.  Now, the only hill that I can think of going through our woods that can be called "That hill!" is Goss Hill. I mentioned it to Nagging Sister, because she had decided to run with Group 1 today, but I don't think she heard me!

We headed off to 'Poo Ally' and then turned left, running along side the rail way line.  I was thinking to my self, "It's either going up to Botony Bay, or it definitely is Goss hill" So when Illustrious Leader turned left when we reached the little river, I knew it was 'That Hill' 

The weather was perfect running weather, not too hot, not too cold, the going, however was sticky in places. When I noticed I.L's footwear earlier at the Pavilion, I knew that she was planning on coming to the woods, and dug out her old trainers! We were all like gazelles, tippy toe-ing all along the muddy puddles, looking for the firmer ground. Good exercise, I thought, and kept us all looking very ladylike, and sound like it too, with the "ewww, yuck, ohhhh, aaaggghhh" echoing from the woods, but obviously not from the only chap that was running with group 1 today, (he obviously not too bothered about England playing the Ukraine tonight......by the way we beat them! 1-0 whhooo hoooo!)

Any way, I digress again. I expect you are all wondering if I made that hill today?! You got to be kidding! Over 50 miles cycling on Sunday, another 16 miles on the bike yesterday, fat and bloating feeling today! I am surprised I actually ran at all today! But I was quite surprised that the hill didn't seem that long today, not as threatening as it has done!  I am sure, when the time is perfect, I will be flying up that hill, non stop!

Just a couple more smaller hills, of course......I didn't quite manage to run up these either, but from the top of here it was down hill all the way, and I ran all the way, (of course you did, Old girl, you virtually rolled down!) Through 'Poo Ally' and back to the rec, where we were to run around to make it at least just over the 3 miles running today.

An enjoyable run, just what I needed after a busy weekend!

Geeky stats.

Club Run - Lethargy, Get Out Of Here!

Hello Blog lovers.

After a drought of exercise, during this 'drought with hose pipe ban' period we are having, I finally got out for a run.

The weather has been appalling! It seems to have been raining now for weeks and week, non stop, without a break. I think I will have to count the days its been raining and then go and read the bible to clarify things! But I feel sure that it won't be raining for that long again!

Nagging Sister wasn't feeling too well today, she stayed at home. "This weather don't help put you in a good frame of mind" she said. And I do know exactly what she means! Continuous rain! It's enough to get a duck down! But this evening it seems to have stopped! It feels bloomin cold though, so a long sleeve running top is in order, and just in case I shall be taking my rain jacket as well!

We have handed keys back to the Pavilion, our club has grown and grown in the the last few years, and it was becoming quite a squeeze for all of us in the little nursery room! We have enjoyed the nice and warm space during the winter months, and have appreciated the room to have our bags locked up. So now, we still meet at the pavilion, only these days, there are more runners turning on on foot, rather that by car and bikes! and also I think, backpacks will mark us out as 'The Running Club to be in' as we will all look so fit!

Our illustrious leader was taking us through Jubilee Park. It's better than running along the roads, but it is only a very short part of our 3 and 3/4 mile route this evening, and then it's back on the pavements.  I am so looking forward to going through the woods again! But this rain is just making it so difficult, it will be so muddy going though there!

We had a couple of stops on our route today. The first one was just as we got out of the park. There we discussed the Orpington 10k, but I am not sure if I will make it. My other sister is having her 50th birthday party the evening before! Probably not a good idea to run if I have been celebrating too much!

It was back on the pavements. We all kept up quite well with the main group. I was at the back, where I usually am, and only had about 3 or four short 'unofficial' walking stops! So maybe absence makes the legs get stronger!  We ran up Southborough Lane, and then turned right into Oxhawth! So close to home! If I hadn't had my car, I could have just ran on home! Well, actually I was having quite a good run. So even if I didn't I would have still carried on!

When we got to the round about at Tudor way, our illustrious leader gave the instructions run as fast or as slow as you want back to the rec. She took over the sweeping duties and I just picked up the pace just a tad more before I got Crossways and then I started my sprint. I was smiling as I was running towards to the sign, well at least I was smiling inside. I was feeling very good. Lethargy hopefully on the way out, lets keep on praying that the sun will finally shine on through these rain clouds.

As we got into the rec I looked at my Garmin, 4.11 miles! Well, I am pleased with that!

Geeky stats for you.

Club Run!

Hello blog lovers.

It seems at the moment, I am only getting one run in a week! And that is with the club. But what a run today! 90% at least through the woods!  Just love the summer!

Nagging Sister didn't turn up today, she was at the XFactor, O2 Areana!  I just hope she is not audisioning herself! She is worse singer than me!  Mr. S was there today, but I hardly recognised him with 'clothes' on. He is tapering, and he came to the club in his 'civvies' He will be running for quite a distance. You can check his run out on his blog page, 'The Magic Forest'  He loves running the ultra stuff.

Anyway, I am digressing again, why I do that I don't know. We were heading into the woods via 'poo ally' and the straight up to the top of the woods! Now so far, I have not managed to run this length of the woods yet, up hill, without a short breather! No matter where I start from. Whether it be a mile away, half a mile, or even from 'poo ally' itself! But today I ran the whole way up, and I was so relieved that our illustrious leader was taking our first break there! "Oh thank you, thank you!" I said, and then the next breath, telling anyone who was listening to me, that I finally made it to the top without stopping!

From here we were going across the top. But our illustious leader was taking the first path on the left. This path is quite tricky running down it. Its full of tree routes. I remember trying to ride down here with Nagging Sister back in 2008! Before I knew about the top path was there. We all managed to get down there with no-one going ass over tit!

There was another hill to contend with, but I failed to keep on running up there!  Our illustrious leader did mention before we entered the woods that depending on how we all looked, she will take us up Birchwood and back down again. on the other side. I wasn't quite sure, as was one of two others, of what she meant. But when I saw her pointing to a path in the woods then I knew where she was heading! Along side the railtracks until we pop out of the woods near the new bridge.

Then its back dow Birchwood Road! "As fast or as slow as you like" says our illustrious leader.

I still had a little bit for a sprint. I started a little ealier than I last time we came down Birchwood, I was just hoping there were no cars coming up the road as I was feeling like I could push it a little bit more.

Run done. Garmin stopped. And I felt, ok! Even on this silly diet, which by the way, I failed to stick with it last week, which is why I am attempting it again. So far so good!

Geeky stats.

Club Run - What Was That Strange Thing In The Sky

Hello blog lovers.

Ok, so I am going to do the typical British thing and talk about the weather, or at least moan about it. I know we have had the rain, and boy, has it really come down in the last few weeks. But the sun, wow! Back in 'couch potato days' I would have forced my amble bosoms and huge ass into a tiny bikini and fried myself out in the garden, frightening the local wild life to death!

But after keeping myself inside or under an umbrella (we all know the sun is not good for your skin) it was club run time. Now I must tell you, I am doing this ridiculous diet at the moment, I am sure you are not supposed to be doing any exercise with it, I am only doing this for about 4 to five days at the most, and I wont be recommending it to anyone either! It is something I decided to do! But I shall let you know how it goes. It is only day two, and I was hungry when I went running this evening, not only that, but the two miles yesterday, hmmmm, is there any more excuses that I can use for todays run?

Back to club run. Groups all sorted, and it seems the whole of the Pettswood Runners will be running through the woods!  It sounded really good to hear those words, "We will be running through the woods" Again, back in the bad old days of 'couch potato days'  I used to hate the woods. For a start if I was in the woods then I wasn't in the car, and if I was in the woods it was because I was walking! It was some form of exercise back then, and even that became less when we lost our little pooch. 

There were were, all running, and what I had forgotten about, and probably some of the other runners , as well, was that when it's hot then you sweat, you get thirsty, you require water! I had forgotten all of this. The rain has put me in a complacent mood where  the weather is concerned!  Hot days make for a hard run, (especially after a very fast 20 mile bike ride yesterday, which the Old Boy has told me I had a moving time of 1 hour and 35.5 minutes) so I was struggling. I felt my legs were very heavy as we, first, hit the pavements to get to the woods.

My Garmin had lost satellites just before I pushed the start button, there are so many Garmins about at our club, I just didn't notice mine beep at me! I kept checking it, it helped to keep my mind off my sore legs.  We finally got to the road that takes us through the woods. But first there was the two bridges to run over! My watch still hadn't found satellites! All the way down and the up to Botony Bay and Tongs Farm where the first regroup was.

I managed to run most of this, even the hill, and I wasn't the last up it. But from here on up. And from this point, when we reached the top of the hill, that my Garmin kicked in!  I was at the back of the group, and I remained at the back!  We had another bit of running in the woods, a lovely downhill section. Of course the hazards of running through the woods is the woods themselves, the tree roots that grow.  It makes you lift your feet a bit more, but  one of our runners today didn't quite manage it and tripped over. He was ok, nothing hurting, not twisted ankles, just dirty knees!

Just the last bit of pounding pavements to do before we are back to our start point! And I even managed to sprint just the little bit of Cross ways that we had to do.

Geeky stats, with the first mile and a bit missing. But according to Nagging Sisters geeky stats we ran this route in 42 minutes. Yes, she ran with group 1 today, she was 'testing' the ride, run, ride, thing today as we both came along on our bikes!

Club Run - AGM And Celebrations!

Hello blog lovers.

As it was the AGM we were all meeting up earlier for our group runs. But about 6:30 in the evening the rains came again! Will it ever stop raining!! The mere mention of a drought and hose pipe ban then the heavens opened! And It just hasn't stopped!  It's a wonder we have so many running clubs really, in this country. Our weather can be so very demoralising.  I even rang Nagging Sister to try and get her to talk us out of it, but she more or less said, "Get you fat ass out there and run woman!"

Sigh!! So here I am blogging again, so you know her quick rant on the phone worked!  I really wasn't in the mood, but when she arrived to pick me up, the rain had stopped! Maybe it will be a good day after all.

Our Illustrious leader was busy preparing the hall for the AGM so she left her husband in charge of group 1. We set off, out the other gate for a change, with a destination of Crofton Heath! That's up hill, but it is all down hill on the way back, just when I need it!  It started raining, again, and the thought popped into my mind, again, "Why am I doing this", it has to look totally ludicrous to those who have never jogged or ran before! A group of people, all sizes, all ages, all abilities leaving Willet Way Rec, running, for fun!

I'm here now, and I will just get on with it. I checked out my Garmin and saw that our leader today was running slighter faster than our Illustrious leader would go, but I thought maybe this will be a good thing, the sooner we finish, the soon we get to the AGM and the soon to ....... celebrate and welcome new committee members!

He took us a slightly different way than his wife normally takes, he took us through the park. Now to get to the path that takes us to the road to run back on, we have to go through just the edge of the woods! You remember I told you it was raining, In fact it has been raining since 1948!, and it is still raining now! You can imagine the muddy path and puddles that we were splashing through then.  I was desperately trying not to fall over, I didn't fancy a mudpack around my back side, not this evening, not when we have things to do after! Mind you, are mud baths supposed to be good for you!

"I saw some nice white trainers" Said our leader "And now we all look the same, lets carry on, and I promise there are no more muddy paths" Ah, that was his game! He still has the mob match on his mind, where, indeed, we did look pretty awesome all looking the same!

At the top of the path, for those wanted to, can do the little loop around, and for those who wanted to, can stand and stretch out, or do some other sort of training thingy, (I must find out what is the best thing to do if we do not do the little loopy bit!) but I guess standing around and just bouncing on the spot is probably not the thing.  When we saw the others coming back, (yes I stayed behind) then we just carried on, they didn't stop, it was just heading back now, all that lovely down hill section.

Do you remember I told you that our leader said there would be no more muddy paths, well he had forgotten the tiny little bit that we had to take, just to add extra muddiness on our shoes, before we started pounding the pavements again.

I stayed up with the leaders for some of the way, but I soon flagged again. I no I am getting fitter and faster, I just want to know when it starts to get easier! Some days there are runs that you just fly by, you get into the zone and the miles just pass by, and there are other days where doing .5 of a mile and you are looking to see how far to the end!

I was so pleased to see the last stretch of road. My sprinting bit. I am not even going to ask my self, "do you have it in you to sprint Old Girl" because this has become my thing! My thing that I do, whether its a 5k or a 10k or, well who knows how far I can run yet, but I will push myself to sprint, always the last few metres!

My geeky stats

Mob Match AT 9 AM!

Hello bloggers,

Sorry for late delay in blogging, but I have been very busy, with cycling and more cycling!

But this is Park Run, a mob match between my running club Pettswood runners and Beckenham Running club! Now we do always have a great affection for mob matches, and we normally do try and turn out as many runners as we can. Last we beat them on the whole who has the most runners out in the fieled! It was usually us!

Was yesterday any different! No! We definitely won on the numbers game, I'm just not sure if we won anything else, I am sure there are some Pettswood runners who are reading this that can add some comments to let you all know!

This is my first park run in quite a while, the add 'fun' of the mob match only added to my......excitement! (read as nervousness) as I really wanted to do well. All the hard work I have been doing in the running and cycling, I just wanted it to show in this timed official event! Even by just a few seconds, I wanted to beat my time for the last time I ran this!

I cycled to Norman Park and met Nagging sister at the entrance, she rode her jalopy of a bike that I had dropped off to her the day before. After saying hello to the other PWR's we made our way to the start.  I always like to start from behind. I have decided that I would rather try to pass people than to have them fly past me.

As the count down started I could feel the tension, then it was GO. We all set off, I kept at the back as planned, even though there were a few others behind me. Then I noticed the 30 min pace, with her bright yellow jacket on, I thought I would be able to keep up with her. She was running along chatting to her friend. I was very naive, thinking that as her and her friend looked ......erm.....a bit older than me, I thought I could keep up! Silly mare. I should realise by now, all sorts of ages, all sorts of size from all walks of life can still beat the hell out of me on a 5k course. Whether they are 12 to 120 years old! Its just what you put into doing what you love that you can get the best out of yourself. So, I paced myself again. I kept looking at my watch, the first half mile running at 9. something minute miling. Do I slow down, or do just carry on until I feel I cant run anymore and need a quick walking break. Arggghhh decisions! I decided to just run my own 5k, with a view of beating my last park run time.

The first lap went fine. As usual, seeing all the front runners, racing past as I am still nearly finishing the first lap is quite demoralising. But I said to my self, "Being here has helped boost the PWR's numbers game!" which was consolation enough.  The second lap I felt a bit more relaxed. The pressure off myself, for now, as I kept on running, with the occasional stop, just as we do on a Tuesday night club run, but its a fast walking stop, and not a regrouping stop!

It felt good to be running down the last long straight, being encouraged not only but my own fellow PWR's but by the Beckehham runners, and just all the other park runners!! Runners/cyclists really are the nicest people!

Just the last tiny bit, up towards the tunnel, to get my token and to register my time. The sprinting starts now, I put on a bit of speed, puffing and panting, pushing hard, PWR's urging me on, other park runners saying "Go on Pettswood, nearly there" totally focused on the tunnel. "Please let it be a PB, please let it be a PB!"

Through the tunnel, turn of my garmin! Done! I turn off my Garmin!

My geeky stats for my Mob Match. Check out my Cycling blog for the second half of my exercise today.

P.s, by the way, it's official, I did reach a PB on this course! I beat my record by 58 seconds! Official Park run time was 33.53