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I know EXACTLY what you mean and I keep asking him to do the same for me but although he's good, he's not THAT good! I don't think Mr Bill Gates & his cronies have invented an airbrush big-enough! As you said earlier  Bryan's not a magician!

So what I guess we have to do is focus on keeping the head up, smiling broadly, shoulders back, breathing in when we run past him and even if WE still focus in on the wobbly bits, maybe other people won't so much!

 Remember, we run because we love it.

 And anyway - what's wrong with looking like an alien?! If you looked like the rest of them, Bryan would be more likely to miss you when you run past blending into that big crowd of also-rans!!

Hi Bright Bimbler,

Hey - stop putting yourself down so much!

Now if you knew me you would say that comment was really hypocritical! I'm terrible for putting myself down about my running and really don't reckon I look good in Bryan's photos. everyone else looks great!] But really, being this negative isn't good for us. On the rare occasions I have managed to focus my mind positively on the morning of a race - put on my best running gear, followed my pre-race drill religiously and above all talked positive things to myself from the very start of the day, then I do end up having a much better race. It's hard - so SO much easier to be negative and self-critical (you ask my friend B'ham Snail - she's even better at the negative self-promotion thing than I am!). But it DOES work when we focus and try to be positive.

 So go on - Bright Bimbler - on the morning of your next race, put on your bestest, sleekest racing gear, look straight at yourself in the mirror, smile, say positive stuff out loud and believe in yourself.  Because YOU ARE A RUNNER not an also-jogger. Hold onto that attitude all the way to the finish line and you may be surprised at how good your photo will look - and you may also be surprised at how your head will lift up, your style will improve and your stride will lighten and lengthen - and your race time? Well who knows! 

Just want to say WELL DONE Churters on a superb race. I wasn't feeling up to racing at all yesterday morning but I'd agreed to come along and so I did. Definitely glad and will definitely make a point of being back again next year, telling all my running friends. Superb organisation, such a friendly atmosphere, a lovely scenic course, great marshalls and even a water station! 

You made it out to be much harder than it was - it really was very enjoyable indeed, well, after the first cruel 1.5miles anyway!  Thanks Bryan as always for getting your photos up on the website - free and in super-quick time. Very nice atmospheric one of the first 3 guys running together at your second spot.

That sounds like B'ham Snail alright!! She's a star but won't accept it - far far far too modest and down on herself. But as you say, so is EVERYONE who completed the full marathon on Sunday. You are all stars.

 And before anyone says it - I'm also proud of all of you who did the half marathon as well. 13.1 miles is still a heck of a long way to run!

Can I just say thanks to Iain and Tails and all you others for your nice comments about Bryan Dale's racephotos again. He is a bit of a perfectionist and doesn't always feel he has done as well as he could with the photos because of where he is situated or what the weather is doing or how fast the runners are coming at him etc etc. Never satisfied. But whenever he gets the lovely, heartfelt thank-you comments on Race Forums like this, I know it makes him realise that the many hours of work he puts in are definitely worth it.

 So guys, if you want to keep seeing yourselves for free on his website - keep on telling him how much you like what he does!!!

Go on - embarrass him good and proper

Oh and by the way - for those of you who know B'ham Snail - she did FANTASTICALLY well on Sunday in the FM. She was suffering a lot for much of the last 12 miles but kept it going and didn't give up. She is a toughie and a star and I'm mega proud to be her friend.