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!