My Forum

Stupidly, I've missed the deadline for this one and really wanted to do it.  Has anyone out there entered and not able to run?  If there is anyone I'd be interested in transferring it...

Hmm, clearly you don't have kids.   But without proffering this as a complete excuse, and accepting that there may well be people in my situation who can do this; the concept of 'getting out at 5 am to run and back by 6.30' isn't a realistic one for me seeing as I tend to be up for work somewhere in the region of 6 am anyway. Given that my evenings generally consist of lesson planning and marking after baby and 'marriage'  time etc, means that most days I'm squeezing running in - in the later hours of the day as it is, which is not always appealing.  Don't get me wrong, in the summer I tend to jack my training up as time befits, but you have to accept that some people just don't have the time to dedicate that much to running and enjoy it on a totally different level to those who have the time or inclination.  You may like to think of it in this way.  All the races that are mentioned on this website and that are organised around the country probably wouldn't be able to even be staged if it wasn't for all those runners happy to just plod (and sometimes sprint) along would they?  So where would that leave those at the top end? 

I liked your comment at the end regarding my training and you'll be pleased to know that it generally doesn't seem like hard work seeing as I have a reasonable grasp on whether I'm running slow or fast and can also usually feel whether my heart feels as if it is happy or about to jump through my chest.  The bottom line is: I get out when I can, I enjoy it and will continue to do so as I see fit, I'm sure there are many like me out there.

Funny, I had some interesting conversations in the 'piss' line as you so eloquently put it and the general feeling at the start line was one of friendliness and humour.  Of course you probably wouldn't have seen any of this as you were right at the front straining against the lean primed sinew of your rippling muscles, ready to burst out without looking back. 

During the race, granted I've been at races with more support but those out there were vocal and encouraging and it was lovely to see so many children helping out at the water stops and giving their best to cheer us along the way.  You probably missed this as well as you were motoring on past  on your quest for fame and glory in Bucks.

After the race my friends and I went to a pub where I had a nice burger and a chat, but if you met my friends the word eclectic would be the last one you'd use, but good company it was none the less.  After that I did enjoy my drive home with my wife and baby as we discussed issues other than split times and that slight niggly feeling in the back of my calf because there are more important things (that's me and the wife, the baby's not that advanced yet.)

Yes there are better places for a social get together, but for those of us who treat this as the silly game i it undeniably is, it was a nice one.  If you'd like to see a communal atmosphere in progress at a race then  suggest you sprint down to Chichester during the year and get involved in the Corporate challenge, the Trundle hill run, the Midsummer five, the Bognor 10k or any of the other good races we all enjoy down here.  You'd have to pick only one though, wouldn't want to mess with those goals and wear yourself out now. 

By the way, I have noticed that of all my comments you responded to - two words and none of the rest, which is interesting really isn't it? 

I look forward to your petty and juvenile reply.

Yeah, I've got to agree with the above comment.  I run because I like it and I'm in no illusion as to where I stand in running hierarchy.  I missed my pb by 18 seconds at the weekend but I'm still pretty happy with myself considering the comparison to where my life was then and now.  Running's a hobby for most of us, and a way to get out there, have a laugh and enjoy the communal atmosphere at races away from the other distractions that we come up against. 

Tim Dale, I've read all your comments and as well as being a wind up merchant, you seen to be a bit of a pretentious arse too.  I came up to High Wycombe to visit friends and run the race to get me away from the south coast where I usually hang out, but thankfully I'll be going back on forums down there and won't have to encounter your particular brand of annoyance and stupidity.  Get real and get a life and some humility, if you're really that good a runner then be thankful for it and thankful for the fact that you don't appear to have some of the physical and social aspects in your life that other people less fortunate than you do. 

AS for everyone else at the race, great atmosphere, lots of laughs and lots of water.  Thank goodness I spent some time out on the Downs to prepare for this one as that first hill got a bit steep at times. Well done to Handycross Runners for a great event, High Wycombe is lucky to have such a good one every year.

Does anyone know when race numbers etc will be sent out?  Haven't got mine yet and wondering if it's lost in the post somewhere?