'Mature' runners.

BIW, we always think the Germans are supert efficient, so interesting that snowfalls may catch them out.

Red, you do manage impressive mileage. I have managed to pass 1000 miles for the last 4 years, and hope to make it by the skin of my teeth this year (84 to go, which should be doable).

Sarnie, in many ways, off-road is easier - less stress on the joints, so do give it a go. Like TE, I live in the New Forest, and with all the rain we have had, parts have got very muddy, but one of the benefits I've found of running with a club is that I have got to know lots of routes on gravel trails, which are fine even after the rain. I couldn't get out with the club on Friday, as we had the grandsons over. Ran just over 5 miles on Saturday, and 7.6 yesterday though, so December is off to a reasonable start.

Well done on the CC6, TE. I was thinking of going, but OH needed to decide on flooring for the Conservatory, so I went to look at it with him, and ran later. Sad about your member who died - I saw him mentioned on the web-site. Great that he remained so active until a couple of weeks ago though, and what a fitting tribute to remember him at the CC6.

Good long run mcs.

No running today. Tight right adductor.

Chairing a meeting this evening.
JJ

Hope you enjoy meeting your chair JJ 

I had a jolly good pootle at lunchtime and got home just before the rain came lashing down.  5 miles in total with 3 faster ones in the middle.

Been swimming.

Should be  running club run tomorrow evening but shall be in Aberystwyth working during the day and unsure whether I'll be back in time.

A rest day today, and spent lots of money on second class postage stamps and Christmas Cards.

I did the mini santa dash with the grandson on Sunday. He really enjoyed it and walking around afterwards with the medal and the race number on he told anyone who asked  that he had won the race. I only worked it out the next day that, at 4, the meaning of winning is lining up, running all the way round and finishing and nothing to do with position. It was a good day running with the son and the grandson and only one of us runners has to pay bus fare.

Somehow  we managed to tangle our feet on ths first corner and both ended up on the tarmac so I will give the skinned knees and wrenched back till wednesday before running again.

Today at about 2:00 the sun came out here and briefly it felt like spring. It was nice but did not last.

Chucked it down all night here and got nicely soaked running to work.......felt easy this morning running on the flat after SUndays hilly efforts. Derek sounds like you had fun with the family.

Glad grandson enjoyed himself, Derek, but a shame about the skinned knees.

Bright and dry at the moment here, mcs, and we stayed dry last night.

Club run was a 'meet and great' where you get paired up with another runner (in theory, the fastest there is paired with the slowest, 2nd fastest with 2nd slowest etc. but a lot of people inadvertantly or intenionally pus themselves in the wrong order!) You then run round a block of about a kilometre until you meet your partmner, then turn and run back, hopefully getting back to the start at the same time. There were recoveries when we got back to the start, but pleased that my moving pace for 3 miles was 8:39, 8:34 & 8:56.

Morning all,

I'm all hill-repped out!  Did 10 of the blighters (about 400m just pushing the pace as much as I could) with 2 miles warm-up and cool-down.  6.5 miles in total and I was ready for a cup of strong coffee 

Nice pace Diana!

Derek, that sounded great fun (apart from the skinned knees of course).  I'm with your grandson - anyone who completes a race is a winner 

Bright and sunny this morning, but a cold wind. I don't know what session we have tonight, as the 2 month schedule is not yet on the club web.

Derek, good that you and your Grandson enjoyed the mini santa dash. These races are becoming very popular. Did your wear santa outfits?

Diana, that was an interesting session, and good pace running.

Red, hill reps are meant to be tough, but I think 400 metres is a touch too far when doing hard efforts, especially 10 of them. You should gradually build up the number of reps.

Raining very hard when we got up but it turned to snow on the way to work, the flakes were really big so I could hardly see to drive. All stopped now and it seems to be melting, hope so anyway. I hate driving in the snow.

Diana - yes Germany is very efficient at most things, when it snows the ploughs are out by 5am and the Autobahns are kept clear all day except if the snow is exceptionally heavy. By law, house owners and tenants are required to keep the paths outside their properties free of ice and snow from 7am onwards. Rather difficult for me if it's still snowing when I leave for work at 6am!

 That was us before the start. The grandson smiled like that all day every time he saw santa  and there were 8000 of them there.

Derek, that's a great picture I hope your grandson continues to enjoy his running!

8,000 was a very big field. I didn't realise these santa runs attracted so many runners. I hope that many, for whom it was their first race, get the bug and continue running.

Nice pic! Hopefully the youngster will be a life-long runner.

Thanks Terence, BI. I am going to have to start looking for some races for him or failing that just go down the parks more regularly. I did notice a couple this summer at 2k but he was only 3 then and it might have put him off but next year if he is just as keen.

Today's run was 4.7 tough miles off road. It was hard work (good) but conditions underfoot made it slooooow.

Derek
Great pic for the family album. Thanks for the tip on how to "win" races. I hadn't realised I'd won so many.
Is that a  Cowslip Harriers vest?

TE
 I was once overtaken in an XC race by a Santa in costume and running in shiny wellies. Very embarrassing.

Redhead
400m hills are too much. You can't sustain the work effort .

Diana
Well done on sustaining that pace.
JJ

Thanks JJ. I think I will let him stick with his definition as long as possible.

I wont admit to actually googling cowslip harriers before taking another look at the photo. It is actually knowsley harriers which has only being going about 2 years and I am the only v60 they have ever had which means I have a good way of becoming a record holder - find new distance, run it, set record.

JJ - that's nothing, I was overtaken one year in the London marathon by one of the Rhinos!

2000m swim tonight with tri club.

Ooooh, major typo there!  The reps were 200 metres - ie 400m up&down in total and my total mileage was 8.5 miles as I needed more miles today as I can only do a short session tomorrow.  

JJ & TE don't worry, I've been doing hill reps on a regular basis all year so I haven't just suddenly gone out and done 10 out of the blue and I did maintain my chosen pace 

Great photo Derek and what a lovely smile!

Red, phew, 200 metres is more like it!

JJ, a few years ago, I was overtaken in the Great South Run by a man dressed as a fairy and waving a wand!

It felt much colder this evening than zero degrees. We did 3 intervals of 0.93 miles, with walk recoveries between each. My splits were :- 7.18, 6.58 and 6.56. Our group are getting more competitive now, and push each other hard. Our total mileage was 5.83.