My Forum

Tracey - well done on the Great Baddow 10, - your time was nearly half an hour shorter than mine!

Mick6 and MT - if you aimed to lose 1lb a month (each, I mean!) that would be almost a stone in a year, and should be fairly painless. It's amazing how many calories a long run burns up. 

MT - so it's farewell to the Joggers?

It's those wings and vibes you keep handing out, Matsmum. Worked for TE, worked for me, evidently worked for K too! Congratulations, K.

Brilliant time and age-grading, TE!  And you're absolutely right about running clubs. But of course, they've got to be friendly. Cliquey ones are probably worse than useless. Yes indeed, I got a burst of applause as I tottered under the "Finish" sign.

I've heard of some of those plants, Red, but not all (pygmy laurel?) I believe ragwort is poisonous to horses, so can quite see why you have to keep that out. And that rhododendron... There's loads of it in Snowdonia, and they are gradually eliminating it but it's a long job.

Surprised about the buddleia. It does seem to seed itself freely. I bought a white buddleia bush a couple of years ago, for the front garden, - and then discovered a purple one growing up in the back garden without so much as a by-your-leave. But I've left it for the butterflies.

Turned out my 10-miler was an official race after all. Official time won't be on the website for a few days, but according to my own timing I did it in 2:12:32. I was quite pleased with this, because it was very hilly and I resorted to walking several of the long steep uphills. I came in last of the runners but a batch of walkers had set off an hour before the runners' start and as some of them were treating it as a saunter I did overtake a few. It's the first year this race has been run, so it was quite a small field. There was a "perpetual" trophy for the winner, with 15 little shields on it, so the organisers clearly intend it to be an annual event.

It was sunny, and we ran through the middle of the day so pretty warm. I felt fairly agonised most of the time, and very very glad to see the "Finish" sign.

It was well marshalled and well signposted; even I didn't get lost.

The route ran through a farm and by the side of the road were four huge bales (hay? straw) wrapped in plastic, and each one had a word painted on it in large letters: YOU - CAN - DO - IT .

And there was plenty of food at the end. Tea, cake, apples, cheese...

Thank you for the vibes, Matsmum - I'm sure they helped!

Now waiting to hear about TE's race.

TS - the nasty hill doesn't seem to have slowed you down much. I can struggle up hills, but much much slower than on the flat. Hope the cooking went ok and Sunday lunch was appreciated.

Turned out my 10-miler was an official race after all. Official time won't be on the website for a few days, but according to my own timing I did it in 2:12:32. I was quite pleased with this, because it was very hilly and I resorted to walking several of the long steep uphills. I came in last of the runners but a batch of walkers had set off an hour before the runners' start and as some of them were treating it as a saunter I did overtake a few. It's the first year this race has been run, so it was quite a small field. There was a "perpetual" trophy for the winner, with 15 little shields on it, so the organisers clearly intend it to be an annual event.

It was sunny, and we ran through the middle of the day so pretty warm. I felt fairly agonised most of the time, and very very glad to see the "Finish" sign.

And yes, lots of cake, tea, French bread, cheese, pickle...

Well marshalled and well signposted; even I didn't get lost. The route ran through a farm and by the side of the road were four huge bales (hay? straw) wrapped in plastic, and each one had a word painted on it in large letters: YOU - CAN - DO - IT .