Last parkrun Of The Year!

Hello blog lovers.

So this is is, the last parkrun for 2017.  How have I done over the year? Well, pretty poor really!  I haven't improved my times at all.  But it was still good to be at parkrun for the last of 2017!

I have decided that I will try and try and try to do my best!  No more laziness, no more listening out for quiet little voices in my brain to keep me going, no looking for anyone else to kick me up the bum, as I have said to our beginners on both of our courses this year, all the hard work is what you put in yourself, alone. We are there to show you how to get started, to warm ups, to cool downs, to pacing yourself, to showing you that there is still a little bit of extra energy inside when you think there isn't.  We show that listening to encouragement, goes a long way,  motivation from your running buddies can get your so far, but if you don't get yourself out of the door then those things are useless!  So from the 2nd January (I always chose the 2nd as I am usually still drinking well into the 1st of Jan, there will be no more smoking, no drinking, no sugar, no chocolate or fatty foods. Takeaways will be cut down to just a treat for special reasons, snacks will be out of the door.  If I am to improve on my parkrun times then I am going to have to knuckle down, I need to stop looking for excuses, I need to work hard, me, just me!  Can I do it, who blimmin knows, but I will try my hardest again, with this time taking no prisoners.  It could get messy!  Last time I tried to push myself real hard at parkrun with NaggyNeighbour pacing me I nearly threw up!

It was also some milestone parkruns for a couple of our PWR's, Chris and Matt, 200th and 250th!  There will be cake.......well for those that can get around in time!  Our usual crowd were not with us, J.J., LittleJ, Tracy, Carole and Michael, but I am sure they will be back to it in the new year.  K was there and so was PinkladyJo.  With all the preliminaries done we set off for the last parkrun 2017, and for me it will be the last of the year too!

The weather was just perfect for running, considering it was December, my temp gauge on the car said it was 12 degrees!  I had on about three layers, I had left on layer, my windproof jacket in the car, by the time I got to the top of the park the next layer was coming off and I tied it around my waist!  The last 3 months had taken it's toll, since the wedding my smoking has really subsided at all, and it noticed!  The little 'food baby' that I had been 'nourishing' was also making it self know as I was feeling bloated and fat!  "Look to next year Old Girl, next year could be your year......if you try"

I was running around thinking about this year.  This year marked 10 years that my mum had died, the reason I started running in the first place! Ten years ago when mum first told us that "Everything is all right, I am just under the doctor for something"  Well that something turned started an era of changes, changes I didn't like, changes that if I could stop in it's tracks I would have done. Ok, it wasn't all bad, there were some fantastic highs in there that would never have happened if that one awful thing didn't happen.  I wouldn't be running for start. I wouldn't have done the London Marathon for a start, TWICE! I wouldn't be a leader in a fantastic running group!   I would be the big fat Old Couch potato that I had been up till that point.

So, enough self pitying, enough negativity.  I ran parkrun, I finished parkrun, in 41:08 official time, (I forgot to put my Garmin on) and that's it.

Happy New Year to all of you who read my blogs, I really do appreciate your support and comments and encouragment over the year!  Here's to a brighter, faster, fitter 2018!

Last parkrun Before Christmas

Hello blog readers.

Well, the last run before Christmas and what a day to do it.  The weather is perfect, its quite mild out.  All though I had a night in for a change, I wasn't feeling it, I was tired.  The Old Boy had gone to work in the night and I just couldn't sleep.  But I had to go, it was RefMichael's 50th parkrun and also it was Matts 250th!  It was also fancy dress, but I had forgotten my Santa hat, bleary eyed and tiredness made me forget.

I was by myself driving to Normans park, the other ladies were ill or shopping, but I knew that the rest of the regulars would be there, and I wasn't wrong.  J.J., LittleJ, Carole, K, Jo and of course Michael, as well as tons of other PWR's, in fancy dress of course!  Christmas parkrun is a colourful affair. 

The usual safety speech was given and the milestone runners names were read out!  Not it's time to run.  I wasn't sure how I was going to do, I've not really been in my keep healthy regime, smoking, eating way too much sugar and of course 'Christmas cheer' is all around!  Just get around it and see how it goes.

All us group oner's stayed together for just a few metres and then me and J.J. just started to edge a bit in the front of the group, and just ran on together.  We were running a bit faster than our usual group 1 pace, I wasn't sure if we could keep it up, I know I couldn't, maybe next year!  Next year I will pull myself together, find the mojo to keep me going.  I need to get fit, for me!  Yes next year.  For this parkrun, I think I will just get around as best as I can.

We ran and walked around the 5k course, thinking about the cake and brownies at the end!  That will at least help to keep us motivated.  Doing that last lap was tough, I do really need to take a bit more care of my self.

So I do believe I was faster than last week, of course!  Last week it was very cold and very slippy and icy, so of course I was going to been that, thank goodness!

Michael

Santas 250Th

Geeky stats.

Woo Woo Run - 2017!

Hello blog readers.

It's the last official club run before Christmas, and as started from last year, we are going on a festive lights and spirits run!  The weather was just perfect for it too, especially after the weather forcasters predicted freezing fog and minus tempertures!  It was positively spring like!

The Old Boy dropped me off today, well if I was partaking in the 'spirit' part of our run it was best I didnt get behind the wheel afterwards!  He dropped me off outside J.J.'s house and I went to knock for her, and she was ready!  We were, in fact, a little early so to say 'Cheers to a good run' we had a nice glass of warming sherry, just to help keep us warm while walked and then waited for the off at the rec.

There were quite a few people there, not as many as usual but then it is the last run up to Christmas and people are doing last bits of shopping, wrapping or even office Christmas parties!  It was time for the leaders to give their little talk, both me and RefMichael went to the front, he had already said last week that he would be joining us this week!  He had such fun last years and he just didnt' want to miss out this year!  A few of our usual pals were missing and we do miss them, LittleJ, Carole and Tracy!

I had already plotted out our route this morning, I was hoping that it would include some fabulous lights to 'woo woo' our way through.  I wanted to keep St Georges Road till last, as that down there is spectactular!  I am hoping over the years the whole of the road will be included in the light show!  And so our run started.  All 14 of us in group 1, 2, 3, headed out of the rec and turned left, then at the top of the road we turned left again!  We ran along there until we got to the memorial hall, it was all up hill but we had the lights on the houses to distract us.  I don't think I explained the rules correctly about the woo woo run, which are, when we get to a very festive lit up place then we 'Woo Woo' and send that messge back to the back of the group like a 'mexican wave' It worked so well last year. Oh and of course, every stop or catch up then the hip flasks come out!  Just to keep us warm of course.

There was one exception of the 'Woo Woo-ing' and that was when we got to Hannahs house, ok, there wre lights out side her house and in her window we could see her big tree all lit up, but of course she got preferential treatment, being a PWR herself she got the full chorus of "We wish you a merry Christmas"  She looked out of her window and brought the kids to see what this wonderful noise was coming from outside her house!  I did notice the lack of good cheer coming forth, no mince pies or warming, now, how did naggy neighbour put it, 'Gluwein' for the carolers. Well I am sure that is very nice, what ever that is, but on offer for this evenings medicinal purposes were Jack Daniels, Harveys Bristol Cream and a lovely look pink gin going around!  Oh and for those who still wanted to participate, but prefer non alco stuff, RefMichael brought along some Diet Coke!  We took the first of our photos outside Hannah's house, well, actually we took them opposite her house!  Their lights were a tad um, bigger!

We ran along Beaumont road and kept going until we got the the end then turned left to run along there.  There were some more lovely houses all looking festive with the lights all twinkling, I must admit I do love a twinkle!  Pretty twinkling lights, glitter cards or in my case a glitter phone case, and of course diamonds, nothing twinkles more that diamonds,I do like diamonds, diamonds are so beautiful!! (That's a subliminal message for the Old Boy, just in case he is reading this and hasn't got my Christmas present yet!) But twinkly lights,  always brings a smile to my face and all the faces of the runners too, there were plenty of 'ooo's and ahhh's' going on!

I saved the best road till last, St Georges Road, I took group 1 along here last week, when we ran for half a mile more than we usually did.  We came in from the other end too, so the excitement of seeing them was a lovely gradual build up as we got closer and closer the the lights.  It really is a spectacular show, there is one tree with this 'rain drop's effect, as the lights ran down the tree in pretty rain drops!  Of course I had to capture the moment on my camera!  Now I don't have a fabulous camera, it's only my Iphone and I am never sure whether to use a flash or now, so I just did both!  Here, this is us lot, nearly finished our run.

After we tore ourselves away from the twinklyest roads in Petts Wood we ran back to the rec, we were 'buzzed' by group 12 as they had finished their run.  I think they were on a shorter run, or they ran like Santa's reindeer to get back slightly earlier than they usually do as they were heading over to One Inn the Wood, As for me, after I led all three groups back to the rec for a nice stretch, I went home!  The lovely Auriol and Nigel gave me a lift back home, perfect just perfect!  A great, friendly, social run last run before Christmas run!

Here's our geeky stats.



p.s. I just found out what Gluhwien is.....we know it as .....mulled wine!  Hmmm I think next time I shall bring a thermos flask out with me, now that could be lovely and warming!

Thursday Run - Somedays Require Chocolate

Hello blog readers.

This morning I got up really looking forward to running.  It was a lovely morning, sun was shining it was warm.......is what I would love to say!  But still, it was a lovely morning, and to be fair, it could have been a lot colder.  The weather had been pretty horrid and I thought the woods would be just a tad sticky for us, so there would be no going through the woods today.  I was taking my group up the cinder path, it's on tarmac and we can get a good run done, better than tippy toeing in and around the mud!  I needed a run, I've had a week off remember.

I picked up Tracy and we made our way to the rec.  I was just a couple of minutes late, I saw the faster groups run out of the gate, it looked like they were on their way to woods, I was thinking maybe I should change my mind!  In through the gate and I saw my group waiting for me, Paula, Kay and Becks!  I had forgotten she was down this way so it was a lovely surprise to see her.

I started my Garmin and we set off straight away, I didn't change my mind by the way, the Cinder Path is where we were going, you never know, it can still be an adventure in there!  I had layers on, one less than I left the house with, as it was warmer than I thought it was going to be, I left my jacket in the car. Just running along Crossways I started to warm up, I was thinking this run is going to be good, a great temperature to run in, for December!

We crossed over the road, ran down Tudor way and then headed for Shepperton.  Time to get away from the traffic, it may not be the woods, but it does look like it!  Running along with Becky and Paula, Kay and Tracy behind, we splashed through a couple of puddles and kept up a steady pace.  It felt good to be out in the fresh air.

We ran to the end of the path, Paula and Becky started going around the little loop, I waited for Tracy and Kay to catch up and then we went around the other way to meet them.  There was this fantastic 'Deer' on the top of someones porch, it looked magnificent, shining gold in the sunlight!  I am sure it must be a full sized model, I can tell you, we were all totally well jel!

We soon met up with the other two girls who were coming in the opposite direction and we quickly did a U turn and began our run back along the road to the Cinder path.  I was really into the run, just thinking about nothing, just running, I didn't even realise I had passed the little bit of path that avoids the bank, I saw the stables just in front of me and then I realised just how far along the path I had ran.

At the end of the path, well, almost the end of the path, where it divides, we waited for the other two, well I don't want to go and lose Tracy again do I! Then we ran back to the rec.  It really was a lovely morning for running, just what I needed.....that and chocolate, which I have just enjoyed while writing this up!

No second run for this evening.......the beef casserole with dumplings ambushed me!

Here's my geeky stats.

Club Run......And Others!

Hello Blog readers.

I know it's been an absolute age since my last blog till now.  I have been running, honest, but I have also had a week off due to a cold! But first I will talk about this evenings run and then just add some notes and photos of the other ones!

So this evening, after my absence, I wasn't quite sure how I would be, but group 1 is just perfect from people coming back from illness, injury and just about anything, or even just coming along for fun!  To be honest, most of my regular runners are away, or injured or some have even moved on up to the next group! I wasn't even sure if I would have a group 1 this evening. But when it was my turn to describe my route and pace, the only thing I said was "Who here is wanting to run in group 1?"  I was quite surprised to find two lovely ladies, and then also Auriol was going to come and join me, that was four of us. Group 2, once they were gathered together, were also a small group and I thought that it would be great to go along and join them instead!  So the two groups gathered together and we were just about to discuss a route when the group 3 leader Illustrious Leader, came up and wanted to 'borrow' a runner or two for her group, in the end it was group 2 and 3 that amalgamated leaving us 4, me, Auriol, KC and Gemma.

That was fine I had a route, an unused route in mind, one that I hadn't run before or even mapped out.  It included St Georges Road, a road where the residents, I feel, are in competition with one another when it comes to the Christmas lights!  They are just stunning down that road.  Of course I took my group down there, I was thinking all the time about the route that I was going to take, and I also was taking into consideration who was in my group which then dictated the pace as well as the distance! 

We started running, I thought I had started my Garmin, I know, I should blimmin double check! I took them down to the end of Crossways and then over to Willet Way, which is where I found out that I hadn't actually started my Garmin at all! Any that's where St Georges Road leads off from.  I couldn't believe it when we started running down there, the lights on the houses are stunning! What an effort they have all made!  I am glad that I decided to go along this road, this road is deffo going to be part of my Christmas "Woo, woo" run next week!  It was running down this road, well, at the other end of this road, that the satellites found me!  Fortunately KC (well, I am sure that what she said her name was) had her FitBit going so our run was at least going to be recorded from the beginning, but right now, according to Garmin our run started from the other end of St Georges Road.

Now, from this point I was winging it, I wasn't quite sure how far it was between this point b, to point c, and then from point c to our final destination back at the rec.  But it don't matter, we were all running pretty well, a tight group.  So point b (St Georges) we headed for point C Crescent Drive.  And this is the road that I had a huge smile on my face for the rest of the run.  This is where I found out about Gemma, one of our fab four. Gemma is an inspiration, in just about 20 weeks she has lost an incredible 7 stone! Seven stone, people!  And now she is here, toning up, getting fitter.  I tell you, I was flabbergasted!  I mean, my gast was truly flabbered!  This young lady was keeping up with us, with no problem after going to the gym the day before, working out!  It's great to see such determination.  It does make you think about your own goals and struggles, as well as the achievements so far.  Just because you have reached your goal, there is no reason to sit back and think "I've done it".  Sometimes after marathons, people kind of relax, some even get the marathon blues!  I know I did after my first marathon.  It's so important that once you reached one goal, then you just go on and make another!  I am glad Gemma decided to take up running after losing all that weight, I think she said that the doctors told her she needed to lose the weight or else......... Now that is scary, she said that she had surgery to help, "cheating" she said, but I think it was a life saving surgery! And now she has the hard work in front of her, to tone up, inside and out!  By the smile on her face I am hoping that the love of running is growing for her!

From Crescent Drive we turned right to run along Southborough Lane going towards Petts Wood.  We were nearly back at the rec, we had done well over our usual group 1 run distance so I decided that we we run down Kingsway to get back to the rec!  A great run this evening, and so much warmer than I thought it would be!  Here is a couple of pictures of us on St Georges Road!

Geeky stats.

The Rest of my running!

The run or actually the walk that I did before this was last Saturday 9th December, I had forgotten to take my Garmin with me, but I didn't plan to run anyway, I was there to support LittleJ do her 100th parkrun, and besides, I was just getting over a cold, so I wasn't feeling good anyway!  But our LittleJ has been told that she mustn't run anymore, but she is determined to still keep up her exercises and is going to continue to do parkruns, even if she has to walk.  And it seems she is getting faster with each walking parkrun that she does!  Fabulous, here is some pictures of that fabulous pictures of that day.

Before that it was Thursday morning run with the usual gang.  A lovely run if I can remember rightly, we all chose to do the extra bit of running down Goss Hill, well, who wouldn't eh, we struggle running up it, and it so feels good running down it, it just has to be done!

Here is a photo of us all, we had one of the faster runners with us too, he was recovering from injury, so was sweeping at the back.

And so I am fairly up to date, well apart from one last blog, but I need to write that up separately, as it's all about the beginners!  So look out for that one!

Until next time blog readers!

Club Run

Hello blog readers.

This evening was quite a pleasant evening for running.  Yes it was chilly, and at least it wasn't raining, the sky was fairly clear and I was so looking forward to it.  NaggyNeighbour didn't make it this evening, that awful thing called work has got in the way.  So I was driving and picking up Tracy on the way.

After the leaders gave out the details of their routes all the runners gathered around their leader for a quick count up.  I had 6 in my group, with 3 new people, one of which was a returnee and two were complete newbies (one of those was from our beginners group!)  I was so pleased that we had some more beginners joining us!  It's always great news when we get our beginners joining us.

My route was one of the challenging ones though, but I felt sure that they would be able to cope with it, in for a penny in for a pound, as they say.  Oh that reminds me, our newbie was called Penny and she arrived with the returnee Peter, and the other new person from the beginners course was Michelle. And so with Tracy and K and me that made the 6 of us.

I had forgotten to switch my watch on to get the satellites on my watch!  I just started it and hoped that it wouldn't be too long before it did.  We ran out of the rec and turned left then to the end of the road and turned right to run up Birchwood. That was our first hill, I kind of said that we are starting our 'Christmas toning' runs, meaning that we are running to get into that little black number, or that nice shirt and trousers for the chaps, looking good for Christmas! 

My group was split three ways this week, I had a job trying to keep us all together as well as keeping us all warm.  I had 2 runners up the front, 1 in the middle and two at the back.  I kept slowing the pace down a little, and taking some extra walks to try and keep us all together.  It was working pretty well.  We got to Kevington Road, which is where I like to do a little bit of hill training, just for fun and only for those that want to of course.  Lets see how many time we can get up and down the hill before the sweepers get to the top of the little hill!  It wasn't too long before the sweepers got to the top of the little hill, and just 3 of us had only done the hill twice!  So not too bad.

We continued our run back to the main road, looking at which houses had their decorations up.  Some had, some had some lovely decorations, and one house, OMG, had the most amazing chandelier hanging down, obviously not a Christmas decoration, but it is an absolutely gorgeous thing to look at.  The chandelier was before we got to the little hill training, mind, but I thought I mention it, it was, is, totally stunning! 

Anyway, back on the main road and we have the lovely nice flat bit all the way to the big roundabout at Petts Wood road, where we were running to.  Once there we ran all the way down to Crossways.  It seemed like a pretty swift run, I am wondering if it was psychological because I had forgotten to push the start button on my watch and it seem we were only running for the 38 minutes showing on my watch, but of course I knew we had been running longer than that because we ran up Birchwood!

Fortunately Peter had his Garmin going and it said that we had ran for 2.85 miles, nearly the 3 miles advertised, I usually run all the way into the rec, across the car park, pass the pavilion and just along the path, that takes us to the 3 miles!

So here is our geeky stats.

Brighton 10K 2017

Hello biog readers.

Sunset at Brighton 2013

The alarm went off around 6:15 plenty of time I thought, to wake up, get dressed and walk to Petts Wood!  Of course, any other Sunday then I wouldn't be feeling like I had only just had a five minute nap in 24 hours.  You see, only the day before, Saturday I wouldn't have had my family around for a curry, a few cans, loads of tears and hugs, because that Saturday we were all together to remember and to raise a glass to our mum who had passed away exactly 10 years ago!  It was totally emotional, in fact the past 4 months have been a total emotional roller coaster.  What with my daughter getting married, my other daughter coming back, it's been full on!

So there I was, with the hangover from hell and preparing to think about walking to Petts Wood to catch the coach, thankfully the lovely Old Boy said he would drive me, boy was I so pleased about that!  The street lights were still on, it was cold and so very quiet out there!  We drove to Station Square where there were two coaches waiting to take around 100 PWR's to Brighton!  I was on coach 2, the party bus, although at 7 am on a cold Sunday morning, there wasn't too much partying going on!  As we were driving to Brighton the sun started to come up, it looked like it was going to be a beautiful day!  I sat chatting to Geraldine all the way, before we knew it we were coming into Brighton!  We had to get there early because our coach was allowed to park down on Madeira Drive, about 800 meters from the start/finish line!

We had plenty of time to use the loo, acclimatise to the cool sea air and to just warm up or relax before the run. The sun was shining but there was still quite a chill in the air.  We walked down to the start line, some had black sacks over themselves to try and keep as warm as they could.  I wasn't that organised!  Right on the dot the runners at the front started to go, it was a full 3 minutes before I crossed over the mat.  The PWR's that I was standing with soon disappeared among the crowd, I was running by myself this year!  My running buddies from group 1 wasn't with me this year! Just then Ruth and Rachel came up behind me, they usually run in group 2, so for a while at least I could run along with them. I soon started to fall back from them, I think the night before was definitely not doing me any good.

Running along I was warming up nicely, I decided to take my top layer off, I realised then that we are in November, the air was still blimmin cold!  Oh my goodness, but I didn't want to stand still and put my jacket back on, I just knew just a few more metres down the road, with the running and the sun shine I wouldn't even notice my arms feeling so cold.  I remembered what it was like the first time I did this run, just 2 years ago, we had wind assisted all the way down to the turn around corner, this year I had the sun shine.  Well, if I couldn't have the sunshiney smiles from my group 1 buddies, J,J., LittleJ and Wendimoo like last time, the the bright beautiful sun will have to do! Just a mile in, which was 13 minutes of running for me, I saw the first of the faster runners coming in!  Can you believe that? He was running so fast, the guys on the bikes were telling us all to stay on the right side of the road as the entourage made way for the front runners.  I couldn't image what time he would be getting in, the guy on the bike seemed to be totally amazed at the speed he was going.  There was a gap of about 20 to 30 seconds, maybe, before there was another runner!  I was totally amazed at this.  There was I with still five miles to go and they were heading back towards the start/finish line.  I knew that they had to run right down Madeira Drive and then do a u turn at the end, but in my mind at that moment was, "Wow, they only got one more mile to do!" I think with the extra bit up Madeira Drive though, it would be more than a mile.

Without my buddies though I forgot to take loads of selfies on route! I got to turn around corner and started the run run back, running along right by the sea, listening to the waves as the crash on to the pebble beach.  I started to get a bit thirsty, but in my memory from the last time, I felt sure they would have a drinks station at half way mark.  I was beginning to struggle a little from this point, and I thought about how it was in 2015 when we all did it in the wind.  We all had smiles on our faces, that's when I remembered I should start to take some selfies! This is just after I ran around 'turn around corner'

 And this is at the 4k mark!  Yeah I know, only 4k and I was struggling!  But, there was last night, did I mention that!?

I caught up with a couple of ladies I was talking to while I was running away from the start, a lady running for CRY, she said she had not run before this race and was only a couple of weeks in doing the couch to 5k!  Another lady that was just in front of me, she hadn't done any running at all, she said something about doing it because her sister said, or put her name down!  Mind you, they were still both faster than I was, because although I caught them up they still pulled away, just ahead of me.  It was just running down the prom that my knee decided to let me know that it didn't like what I was doing!  So now, not was thirsty but I had to deal with this knee wanting to just collapse and rest up!  It was niggling a bit too, I just chose to ignore it, the water station will be just up ahead, just before we go back on to the road. I took another selfie at the 5k mark and then carried on.  I was so going to enjoy that water!  Just a few more metres before we went back on to the road......and no water station! None, not even any evidence that there was even a water station there and they ran out of water! Nothing!  Have I remembered wrong, did I imagine it? I am sure I didn't, but then, my memory is not the most reliable thing in the world!

This is me just before where I thought the water would be.

The next 5k was the hardest, running on empty, dehydrated, dodgy collapsy knee, running by myself and the most horrendous headache going! Hmmm.  I started to think that I shouldn't have drank so much the night before, me and my family do love a get together.  Then I started to remember why we were all together last night,  well, that started the tears again.  From that point I forgot to take out my phone to get any more selfies.

I kept looking towards the pier, that's where the finish is, that is where I will be ending up, all though I will be running pass the finish line, running towards the marina!  Such cruelty, but I guess it's better than throwing a hill in there some where! I started to think about the fish and chips that some of us are going to, Harry Ramsdens, which is just almost opposite the pier.  We won't have far to go to be fed and re-hydrated!  Apparantly they serve beer there!  That's what I shall think of, that is what I shall think of, that is what I shall think of!  It was tough going for me.  The pier was just by my side now, oh thank goodness, it's nearly all done!  Last time we did this the official photographers captured a brilliant picture of Wendimoo, J.J., LittleJ and me by the Big Wheel, although I was kind of hid behind the girls!  This time however, there was no big wheel and just me!   I tried to do a little jump in front of the photographer, I think I managed to get two feet of the ground at the same time, but looking through the photos he didn't manage to capture it! Still, I felt pretty proud of myself that I could give a little jump around that point!

And now I was at the point where there would be loads of spectators, loads of PWR's either walking to their lunch place, running down the road on the right of me towards the finish at the coaches, which I will have to be running pass, twice!  I have to look good, I have to try and look good! This stupid knee was hurting, but I just pushed through it, my hips were aching too, but I know that is because I just have not done enough training!  I need to get my head together and get back to it!  I wasnt wrong, I saw so many black and white shirts, quite a few called out to me to keep going, that spurred me on even more.  I could do this.  I managed to pass the girl who had never done any running before this race!  That spurred me on and of course I gave myself a telling, "Don't feel proud you passed her on this bit, Old Girl, you should have done that way back there" I said to myself.  I got to the second turn around point, and now at last I was heading back to the finish line.  This is it, just keep going now.  KevTwoBalls got his phone out and started to take some pictures of me as I was running passed he coaches again.  This is what he captured, at least I was still smiling!

our coach just
on the right there!

I ran passed the finished PWR's with cheers behind me, I kept going for a little longer and then slowed down to a walk, I thought maybe they had all stopped watching and started getting read for their lunch, but I head them again, "Go on Old Girl, keep going" Just then Nicola and Sacha came along the side of me, one on each side.  They ran with me for a little bit telling me to keep on going.  Then they left me to finish.  I still had a hundred metres to go, then another PWR came along side of me, I think it was Ange, but this time I was feeling nauseous but I didn't want to slow down, she just ran next to me keeping me going, then I could hear the announcer and my escort left me along to finish.  I decided to try to just get this finished and picked up the speed slightly, well as much as I could.  I was praying I wasn't going to throw up in front of everyone, but just push a little bit more, just a little bit faster, I can do this, I can do this!  I finished it, I crossed the mats and just bent over and almost threw up.  I burst out crying for ony a few seconds before I realised where I was.  I stood up quickly and became dizzy!  What have I told everyone at group 1 to do when we do that lovely bend over stretch, "Come up slowly, slowly, let your head be the last thing that comes up!"  I had to hold on to the barrier for a few minutes, just to recover a bit.  I could see in the corner of my eye that I was in sight of the ambulance people!  "Not now Old Girl, for feck sake, don't throw up now"  I didn't want to be the first PWR to be seen by paramedics in the history of Brighton 10k, I am not sure if there is anyone with that particular  fame!  I just remembered then to turn my Garmin off, but when I looked I had already done it!  Runners instinct, before you collapse, turn your Garmin off!

Then,  picked up my bag of goodies, wanting a nice banana and some water!  Well, no bananas but the water was there, and some other stuff!  But I was handed a banana by the lovely PWR that ran with me, I am sure it was Ange!  I am dreadful with names!  Then it was time to recover, refuel, rehydrate and rejoin all my running buddies for a fabulous fish and chip lunch, a few beers at the pub All Bar One before we all headed back towards the coaches where there was this fantastic singer on board! Ok, it was me, getting my buddies in a singalong!  I think KevTwoBalls was so impressed, he is thinking of getting technology for next time so that we can load up music for a karaoke on the way back! A couple more beers at the Daylight once we got home saw the end of a perfect day!

I got my medal, (well, I have had much  better medals.) Here, this is it

I can only think that the medal designer was on holiday when they designed it, but its bling, it's my bling and I think I earned it! These are some of the pictures that were taken of the day, it was a beautiful day and I had a great time with my running club, the best running club in the country!

Yeah, we hit the beach after!

Just a couple of beers!

Sunset at Brighton 2017

Track Day - Oh and Thursday Morning!

Hello blog readers.

Thursday Morning

I again was able to do a double today, this morning I met up with my running pals at the rec.  There must have been about twenty of us there, but in my group there were four of us, me, Tracy, IllustriousLeader and Paula.  I was glad that I.L. was here, because if I was needed to leave early then I could just run back and leave the group to finish their run.  So IllustriousLeader was the leader this morning.  I just asked her that morning and so she had to think on her feet and come up with a route, just like I did on Tuesday evening!  

We went in through Poo Ally and then then turned left, it seems that I.L. is going to take us down Botany Bay Lane, but she also said that she is going to go up Goss Hill.  I was secretly pleased actually, because that is the way that I was thinking of going if she wasn't here anyway!  We may be slower than a gang of tortoises running through treacle but we don't shy away from these little challenges!  Once we got to the top of Goss Hill though, we had a little break.  And then the curiosity came over us.  We often get to the top of this hill and look at the path on the right and wonder where it goes.  IllustriousLeader has often been heard to say, "I often wonder where that path goes to"  So the curiosity had to be satisfied, as there was four of us we decided to go along this path, we had a chat about where we thought it would bring us out.  Lets see exactly where it does lead us.  

At first it the path lead towards where we thought it might lead to but the it started to go down hill, well that was to be expected but it also started to bear right!  That only means one thing, that we will be coming across Goss hill again, and we will have to run back up it!  We came across a pond, just a small one, we had to run over a little wooden bridge. It looked like the pond was dammed up, maybe it's part of the river at the bottom.  We ran around it and then started to run back up. Now we can see Goss hill, the path that we just ran up and we came out at the top of the hill, just by the path that took our curiosity!

We continued our run along the usual route, along to Botany Bay lane and then up to the path that goes behind Coopers School.  It was a great run, I ran at the back with Tracy keeping her motivated (I think, "Get those legs up" I am sure is very motivational screeching)  We got to the Middle Path and then ran all the way down non stop, chatting away to Tracy!  We got back to the rec, I had to leave though and didn't have time to do the stretches.  A great run, we my mates!

Geeky stats.

Thursday Track!

These sessions I always try and push myself that little bit harder.  I know last week I wasn't as hard on myself as I should have been. But todays sessions is one of my favourites, it's running to the whistle!  No counting how many laps I had done, or trying to figure it out by looking at the distance on my Garmin.  It's all about listening out for the whistle.  Karin was driving and we picked up MonkeyFeet Mr. S on the way.  It's good to see that he is getting back to his running, monkeyfeet and all!  All though coming out with said monkeyfeet in his hand rather than on his feet was rather brave!  It is November after all!  

There were loads of PWR's at the track, all ready to do this evenings session, it was to run for 4 minutes, 30 second rest times that by 5!  Not only that, but Mike had us do the first 2 minutes running one way and then the second 2 minutes running in the opposite direction.  I should think it was so that we all ended up at the finish/start line at the same time! Now don't that sound pretty darn easy!  Of course we had to do our warm up of 8 minutes of running, plus our drills and strides as well. Also when we were having our 30 second rest PhysioMiketheMod had us on the floor, sitting leg straight out and 'running'! Well our arms looked like we were running, and then we were doing clams in another rest, and also standing on one leg while our arms were air writing something I.  L.O.V.E.   R.E.E.V.S.I.E.!  I think PhysioMiketheMod forgot how to spell 'running'!  

I enjoyed this session, it was good fun! I even managed to 'beat' some of the faster runners back to the start line!  I am not sure if it was because I was doing a slower first 2 minutes and then running like hell leather back just so that I could beat them all!  I was pleased that I ran when I should have ran, and also that I didn't make too many grunts and groans as I tried to pick myself up off the floor after those little exercises, even though I am sure there was a few!

Geeky stats.

Club Run - Marathon Draw!

Hello blog readers.

Yesterday, in the wet, drizzly evening we all still met up to run.  We didn't meet up at the rec as usual though, as we were having a 'social' afterwards.  The occasion for the social, well, Petts Wood Runners have been allocated marathon places for some of our lucky PWR's.  Six of the places are from PWR's totally manning a water station at this years marathon and our club were given these places!  Amazing!  I was thinking about chucking my name in the hat, but I chickened out!  I didn't get a ballot place, but unlike last year when I was totally pleased that I didn't get a place, this year I was only slightly disappointed.  Yet when it came to throwing my name in the hat for the draw for one of the VLM places, I chickened out!  Hmmmm.  Maybe I am not ready to do another one after all!

But that of course didn't stop me from getting excited and celebrating with all my buddies after our usual club night right!  And talking of which, I shall now tell you all about it. I wasn't down to lead, I know, it's strange, but we did have another leader lined up, but train delays kept him from getting to Bickley Manor in time for the run.  I had a suspicion it had something to do with what happened in Knockholt Station, the believe a murder happened!  That threw all the trains into turmoil! 

So I was there, with NaggyNeighbour, she drove, and I said that we should get there a little bit early as the car park gets pretty full.  As I wasn't leading, I still hadn't heard about what had happened to the trains and it was still quite early, this happened!

I know, so unusual.....its only a half!

Well, it was only a half!  I have had a can before a race, during a race and after a race!  The Harvel 5 is usually very social!  Anyway, It's totally doable, in the rain, in the dark, from a different start/finish venue, only trouble is, I of course didn't think or plot a route for this evening, as I wasn't down to lead!  But that's fine, I decided on a straight, out and back!  I was just going to head for Petts Wood, as soon as it my Garmin hits 1.5 miles I shall turn around and come back exactly the same way!  Three miles done, nice and easy, and no tricky left or right turns. 

The rain came down slightly heavier than it had been when we arrived, I was hoping that it didn't get any worse.  I was glad it wasn't that cold out, strange really considering we are now into November.  There were quite a few people in the car park, all ready to get going, but first in the car park, in the drizzle, we all stood in silence for a moment, to think about and pray about a fellow runner from Orpington Road Runners, who died last Tuesday on their club run. Rest in peace Andy Whitefield, I didn't know you, but no doubt we had probably run past each other on a Tuesday night club run!  My condolences to your family, God Bless.

So there I was with my paddle (the new posts) with my number 1 written on, I gave out my route, which was easy, it was run away from Bickley for a mile and half and then run back just three roads involved! Even if I had two pints of lager and a packet of crisps I would still be able to do this and not get lost!  Michael was sweeping for me, there were 8 of us in our group, a nice even number. We set off in the light drizzle, and then we ran! We ran for about 1.45 miles, that got us to Top Oxhawth, after we ran along bottom Oxhawth! Hmm, ok so it was four roads!  By this time however, the rain really started to come down even harder.  I think my group were ready to get back, just as well that is exactly where we were going!

We ran back exactly the same way, obviously in reverse, From Top Oxhawth to bottom Oxhawth, along Southborough lane, down Blackbrook Lane and onto Thornet Wood Lane.  When we were half way down Blackbrook I asked Michael to lead the faster runners, as he had swapped sweeping with Auriol, and then I relieved Auriol so that she could get back into the dry with the others.  A great run, and then.......well then it was time to chill, chat and relax with our club members, have a few drinks and then.....make the draw for the marathon places.  There were a few very happy and very shocked runners!  I couldn't quite hear all of the names being called, I was at the back (nearest the bar) so I missed a few names.  But I found out the next day who was running!  I was so pleased to hear that our social secretary had won a place!  She has done marvellous things for us in the club since she has become our social Secretary, she so deserves a place.  A few that I can remember is, Ralph, again a well deserving winner for all he has done for the new parkrun at Hobblingwell.  But well done everyone who won a place!  Now the hard work begins, unless you're going to wait until after the Christmas festivities!

This is after we have got back....notice the pint in my hand!

Double Beginners!

Hello blog readers.

I have been a bit lazy writing up me blogs! So I have squished together to beginners reports, for the last two Saturdays.

28th October 

That was a real good session.  We had a special 'guest speaker' that came along to to have a chat with our beginners.  PhysioMiketheMod!  He is a wealth of information and advice for anyone that is starting out running, or even for someone that has been running for sometime.  We had a usual two lap walk around the rec and then PhysicoMiketheMod shared some of his information.  Talking about running technique, running style and breathing!  Yes, I know we all learn how to breath as soon as we 'pop out' but a bit of control and discipline is needed for when you are trying to run and breath efficiently to help keep up your energy levels!  It's all very informative.  And then we started our running!

We kept it in the rec, because then everyone could take advantage of PMtM, captured in the rec.  And also if he could see anyone that was struggling a bit he could nip in and give some more advice and encouragement.  Running for eight minutes, we were, and some of our beginners were so surprised and very proud of what that had achieved so far! Of course I am not surprised!  I knew they all could it!  If they have got this far then they will go on to finish the course and graduate at the Bromley parkrun.  

I took some pictures of this session, here they are!

Don't forget those hips!

Clams, not just delicious to eat, but
good for your glutes too!

So, we just gonna watch, or shall
we try it?

4th November

So, Saturday just gone! Oh my goodness, what a morning it was!  I woke up to rain soaked windows!  I so just wanted to curl up in my duvet and go back to sleep.  But being a leader is a great motivator, because I knew I had to get out there and lead!  I knew that once I was there, wet, it will be fine! I picked up Tracy on the way too.

This was to be the first time out on the streets for our beginners, I wasn't sure how many there would be, I mean, if I was tempted to turn over and stay in the warm, I was wondering if our beginners were thinking the same!  But when I got there.....or I should say, after I got there the beginners started to arrive, along with our hardy PWR's.  There must have been about 20 beginners and almost as many PWR's.  It was almost a 'one on one' pairing for our beginners!

Sherry, being the kind and considerate one, thought the beginners would prefer not getting wet feet for a change, because we would be running out on the streets anyway.  I think I would still have gone around the green, get a good warm up, wet feet!  We're hard, we can 'hack' it. And besides, once your feet are wet, your body warms up your socks and you don't notice it!  Honest!

But we still did our warm up walk and silly walks out on the streets of Petts Wood.  So just imagine, 20 beginners, 15 or so PWR's  all gaily skipping along, kicking butt and doing side steps. Usually we are running with the houses surround us in a little cocoon that is our rec. But that morning we were on the outside, showing all of Petts Wood what we have been doing, we emerged from the green like beautiful butterflies!  Ok, so a bit of poetic licence, we probably looked like little frozen drowned rats!

We left the rec at Townsend and worked our way around to the entrance in Crossways.  by then we were ready to hit the hill!  It was the first time to show our new group the hill!  Some already knew it, but others just didn't even think they could get up there walking, let alone running!  The stint in the rec these past weeks should hold them in good stead.  All that informtion, all those evenings/mornings running will get them up the hill with miles and miles still left in their legs.  And it was just as well because some of them would be doing the loop three times!

I was with the group that did it just twice!  And would you believe it, the second time they went up the hill they ran it so much better than the first time.  It was because by then they were totally warmed up, totally relaxed, mainly because they knew the hill finished pretty quickly.  I was with one young lade, she was running with her son.  She was struggling a bit, with a bit of a sore knee, but her son kept her going!  It's just so heartwarming to see the children encourage the parents to get fitter!  I had a smile on my face every time he said something encouraging to his mum!  Just so sweet!

We finished our session at the rec, to do some cool down stretches, just as the rain started!  I did as many as I could, as I didn't want them all to get to cold.

Another fabulous session!

Double Day

Hello blog readers.

It's been a couple of weeks since I've done a double Thursday, I wasn't sure how I was going to to.  The first of course is the morning run.  It was a bit foggy when I work up, and I just knew it would be a bit chilly, but it actually didn't feel that cold out, it still felt quite mild. I met up with everyone in the rec, there were about 15 or so of us.  DiscoRich divided us very expertly into our groups.  There were four of us in my group, me, Tracy, IllustriousLeader and Paula.  I was going to take them on the easier route around the edge of the woods, Tracy is still nursing a sore tendon and I was planning on running in the evening at track, but I still had a good run.  Both me and IllustriousLeader took it in turns to lead and sweep!  First I led then I.L. lead.  That way it meant that Tracy always had someone with her.  Well, I didn't want her to get lost, not in the woods, I would definitely not find her if she went on walk about.

I think everyone had a good run, some faster bits, some slower bits.  We got back to the rec, the fog was quickly disappearing and it looked like it was going to be a good day.

Geeky stats.

Track Session

These dark nights, it's so much harder to get out and do stuff for myself.  It's fine getting out when I am leading, but actually getting out for myself, well it's pretty hard.  Just thank goodness that NaggyNeighbour was going and Mr.S wanted to be picked up too!  

We were there quite early for a change, I think it's because Naggy wasn't quite sure of the start time!  But that's fine, it gives us a chance to acclimatise to the cool the evening air.  It's still quite mild really, perfect running conditions.  The session was 400 metre run, rest for 90 secs, ........that was what was said on the Facebook page, but then PhysioMiketheMod changed it to 60 sec rest.  We had to do that 12 times.  I am not sure how many times I did it, but I did try and do my best.  With the 'not feeling it' and a niggling sore knew I just knew I was going to struggle.  

But there is one thing, I am glad I went'  I may not have done as much as everyone else but I still went out and did some exercises.  I went out even though I just wanted to curly under my blanket and keep warm while watching crap t.v., I still got myself ready to go out and run.  

Next week I shall have to start throwing in mu solo runs again, I gotta keep this weight down and off me, at least until December this year!

So geeky stats for Normans Park Track, it was good running also side Dina Asher Smith,.....ok totally behind her then........ok, to be able to run in the dust clouds left by her......actually even her dust clouds disappear just as quick, but being in the same running track is very good! 

Club Run - Spooky Times

Hello blog readers.

NaggyNeighbour drove us this evening, we picked up Tracy and got to the rec! There were already loads of people there, a good turn out considering! It was an interesting night to go for a club run! All Hallows Eve, running along dodging, ghosties and ghoulies! One PWR even came along with his face painted!  Although no one came in black, well, most people were wearing hi vis or had lights on them. Maybe next year I will try to remember to bring some 'treats' so that I can give out some sweets to the kids, it will make a change from taking sweets from the public! At least that way we won't get egged, I do believe that another group had to dodge 'egg missiles'!  They went down the same road that we were heading down!  So they  'cleared' the way for us!

Anyway, I gave out my route and the pace, and distance, as indicated on the new paddles! Yes, that's right!  We have these new 'paddles' with a great big number printed on them, obviously the one that I was holding was the number 1, it also has on it the pace, the distance in miles and kilometres, depending if you are old money or new money! I stood by the side with my paddle held high and waiting for all of my group 1's to join me!

I had one new person that joined me, she hasn't been running for quite some time, I really wasn't sure how she was going to do.  But if you don't try, you don't know.  If it's not right for her then there is always the beginners course in the spring next year!  It's not that far off really!  So I had 9 of us in the group, Michael was joining us this evening, it's always lovely to have him with us but I am missing some of my regular crew!  Tracy is with us and Kathy and Auriol. 

I had planned on running up Birchwood but when I found out that I had a newbie with me I decided to do my nice and easy route, up Kingsway and then it's fairly flat after that, all the way to the rec.  Unfortunately with just the the run from the rec to Kingsway our newbie decided that she just wasn't ready for group running.  Tracy suggested to her that she comes along to the next beginners group.  I just hope that she wasn't too disappointed.

We carried on our run and we bumped into group 2 who told us that some little darling ghoulies had thrown eggs at them!  Kids being kids, but I wonder how they would have felt if the eggs were taken from them and thrown at them!?  We ran and walked all the way around the 3 mile route today, and we were all pretty tight together, even though there is still a gap between the front runners it wasn't that much this evening! 

It was a great run, I had fun, it was good seeing all the kids out with the buckets, the houses decorated, although, I do think that we have succumbed to the hype of halloween, trick or treat!  How did that happen? Oh well!

Geeky stats.

Blogs! At Least 3!

Hello readers!

Well, it's been a stressful and a happy week or so!  Daughter getting married must be THE highlight of the year!  The wedding went off without a hitch and of course the bride looked gorgeous!  Here, take a look for yourselves!

Before the wedding though, last Thursday on the 19th of October, I managed to get a run with my pals in the morning.  We had a great time, just the 5 of us, I took a picture of us when we got to the little river, here, this is us about half way through our run.

Paula, K, PinkLadyJo, me and Tracy!

I didn't run again until the Saturday morning, the day after the wedding!  I know! Crazy eh!  But it was the beginners session.  I wasn't sure who was going to turn up from PWR's as it's the school holidays, so I just had to be there to make sure they had someone to encourage them.  It was only doing the repeat of the week before, so we ran for 6 minutes and then walked for 2.  There were actually loads of PWR's there, including DiscoRich who was thinking that he would be leading the beginners.  Michael even turned up with his whistle, just in case too!  I tell you, it makes you proud to be part of a great team and a great club, the way we all just muck in and get on and do things!

My next run was of course the club run, I had actually already written a blog about that.  I just wasn't feeling up to trying to remember all about the other runs.  I am still trying to remember what happened on them now!  So now, I am up today!  This mornings run.  It's Thursday, so it's a nice gentle run through the woods.  The weather wasn't too pleasant, we had that fine rain coming down.  I made sure that had my old 'muddy woods' shoes on.

Tracy was with me, I picked her up this morning, and we met up with Auriol and loads of other runners!  But they were all in the faster groups, 1 2 and 3 (for some reason on a Thursday morning, group 1 is the faster group!) I was just going to do a small loop around the woods, I wasn't feeling to well anyway, I think I have a cold starting! Tracy is suffering a little too, with an pain in her leg!

We all left the rec, we were last out and we headed for poo ally.  I took the left path planning to run all the way up Botany Bay lane, rather than going to Goss hill.  I knew that Tracy would be a little behind but we could always do loop backs.  I also make sure I wait at where the path meets other paths, I don't want Tracy getting lost in the woods!

It went well, we had a good run, with a few stops and a great chat.  I do like Thursday morning runs, and I am quite glad I went as this evening the cold bug has taken hold and I feel blimmin rotten now!  Sniffles, sore throat and headache!  Oh well. No track for me this evening, just curling up in my blanket with a lempsip!

Geeky stats for this morning run are not here!  I had forgotten to put turn on my Garmin!  I also had my tee-shirt on back to front and according to Tracy I just looked as if I wasn't 'there'!  And that was just the beginning of the cold!

Oh, and because I don't have any geeky stats, here are some mushrooms we saw on our run last Thursday!

Club Run!

Hello blog readers.

This evening is our club run!  It's also half term and that means that some of our members go away for a few days during the school holidays, so numbers were depleted in all groups, but in my group the numbers were really down!  When I had a count up there were only 2 of us!   So I made an executive decision that we will join group 1.5 and swell their numbers as they were somewhat depleted too!  Just then three more people joined us, one of the new group 1 ladies from last week, one of our regular group 1 ladies and a chap who usually runs in group 6!  But he decided to run along with us in group 1.5 as group 6 had already gone!

Newly qualified LiRF Joanne was our leader in group 1.5 and I was sweeper along with IllustriousLeader.  I knew that a couple of my group 1's will find it a little challenging this evening and I didn't want then to feel as if they were holding anyone up.  I could always take my group members on a shortened version of Joannes route!  We were kind of doing the route that I was going to do anyway, with just a couple of different roads thrown in.  So I knew that the group 1's can do this.

Joanne was a fabulous leader, she kept a tight reign on the front runners, not letting them pull us along too hard.  The route was a nice route, with no hills, maybe just a very small incline, quite doable for us, even running at a slightly faster pace!  It was a fun filled run, we almost lost our group 6 runner to the Orpies, 'someone' thought that the group that was running along was our group 6 but it turned out that it was ORR's!  There was also some quizzing going on apparently as some of the members swot up on their general knowledge!

We in group 1 did take a couple of the shorter routes and got back to the rec a few minutes before the rest of the group, ready for the stretching, which Joanne delegated to me to do!  I loved it, and it also showed our group 1's what it's like in the next group up, whether they are ready for it, or even if they could actually move up to group 2! 

Geeky stats.

Solo Run

Hello blog readers

I got home early and decided I needed a run.  With a weekend of very little running, a little too much drinking on Friday and indulging in  chocolate I really needed to get out.  The wedding is just a couple of days away, I am panicking just a little, "Is everything done, have we done all that we need to do"  I don't want my little girl to miss out on a thing!  She's a good girl and a very good mum.  I am immensly proud of her.  And now soon, very soon, she is going to be a wonderful wife to a very lovely man!  So, no pressure to make sure it goes all as planned! A plan that she herself has done!

I was in the house for only a few minutes before I went upstairs to get changed and out of the house.  It was still light out, but I think it will be dark by the time I get back, it's only 6 o'clock and I am thinking about getting home in the dark!  Where has the summer gone!  I miss the summer already, happy feelings, warm feelings, getting together with friends and family.  That's what I love. Still, time moves on, seasons change.  Maybe I should try and embrace autumn and winter. 

I was running along Farringdon Avenue, thinking about all sorts, getting emotional, stressing, when I heard a 'beep beep'  it was NaggyNeighbour!  I stopped for a few minutes to chat with her, talk about the wedding, saying how my mum would have loved this wedding!  Still, it is what it is, it's going to be a wonderful day watching my little girl say 'I do' to her man!  I carried on up the road feeling a little lighter, but still with thoughts racing through my mind!

I struggled all the way around my 5k this evening but I came back thinking 'At least I did it'  it's no big achievement, but it was a little bit of me time!

Geeky stats

Club Run - Enter The Newbies!

Hello blog readers.

This evening was one of those evenings when I just felt like I wanted to sit on my recliner, with my blanket over me watching crap t.v.  But I didn't, thank goodness I am a leader!  If I wasn't then I think I would most certainly have cried off running this evening.   

So to shake out any residual 'I don't want to be here's' my route included Tillingbourne Green!  It's a fabulous hill (did I just really say that.....write that?) It's a hill that when you have completed the little circuit you think to your self, "Yes I did it!"  This evening however was a little different!  When I arrived at the rec, and all the leaders had given out their route, pace and distance I went over to our pole to await all those running in group 1 this evening.  I was amazed to find not 1, not 2 but 4 newbies which included 2 returnees!  Kate, Hannah, Jasmine and Tendi (I think it's spelt like that) as well as our regular lovely ladies, Tracy, Auriol, Selena and Clair, so that's a lovely 9 of us running this evening.

I wasn't detered though, I still want to do the tough little route of Tillingbourne, well, it's only a couple more days before my daughters wedding.  I am trying to balance my weight, I don't want to lose anymore weight at the moment, because I don't want the dress that I bought to hang off me, but then I don't want to put it all back on either!  It's tough this 'maintaining' lark! 

There were quite a few runners this evening spread over all our 12 groups!  Our club gets bigger and bigger every year, we are such a popular club!  Even our own PWR 10k event is normally sold out weeks before the date, it's a 'most do' on runners lists of 10k's.  I wanted to get started pretty quick, so after having a count up, a quick welcome to the new comers (trying desperately to remember who's who) we were off!  Out of the gate, chasing one of the faster groups, I had to call a couple of my group back, just in case the got caught up in the faster group!  We crossed over the road and then group 2 passed us by, they were going to be running up Birchwood too!  Again I had to just gather my group in together, just like a mother hen, so as not to lose anyone!

We ran up Birchwood and then took a little break while we caught our breath and then continued on our way, turning right at the top.  I was hoping that the hills will not frighten off our newcomers, I feel sure that if they do this and look happy about it then they will deffo be back next week.  There really is no escaping hills in Petts Wood, so a baptism of fire will deffo be a good thing!

We crossed over the main road and then headed for Tillingbourne, it's down hill mainly, until we get to the green.  I pointed at the 'little' hill that we had to run up, some of them said "What we running up there?"  I didn't want to say to them that it was the smaller of the hills on the Green!  Why let them worry about it until it was necessary! Not that they would worry anyway!

The run around the green was good, the main body of the group all kept tight together, then I sent up the faster group 1's to run at their own pace.  Some people like to just run as fast as they could up hills, just to get it done, others like to take it nice and easy a steady pace all the way up, which is a very good way to get up hills.  I know some panic and start walking, I know that, because I used to do it myself, in fact I still do when I see a particularly nasty little hill!  The ones in the woods always get me puffing hard and getting me to walk some them!   But this little run around the green, up the longer hill I did it!

We had to run up one more hill to get to Petts Wood Road, and then we could enjoy the down hill all the way to Crossways!  All the ladies thought that was the end of our run, that we would run along to the rec from here.  But of course I do like to make sure that we have done a 3 mile route, and going along Crossways from here would leave us short!  There was only one way to go and that was up the last hill of the run.  I ran at the back with Tracy and I sent the faster runners up at their own pace along with Auriol, she had done a brilliant job of sweeping and now it was time to just let her have a little stretch of the legs and get a bit of speed going!

We ran up to the memorial hall, passing the fish and chip shop which smelled so good! Then we turned right and then right again so that we were running down Kingsway to Crossways!  Now our run was over as we made our way back to the rec to do some cool down stretches!  A fabulous run with some fabulous ladies, all still had a smile on their faces, so I feel sure they will be back next week to continue with their running!

Geeky stats.