Like a metronome

I decided the only way to get running today was to get myself down to a favourite haunt of mine, the local running track. Late in the evening the athletics club is winding down and by 8.15pm I have the track to myself with Alan the caretaker wandering around the edge whistling tunelessly. The other beauty of having the track to myself is that I can run in either direction without the wrath of the other athletes.

The plan was to do 8,000 metres comprising 10 laps anti-clockwise and then turn around and I would take my splits and I am amazed to see that each lap only varied ± 2 seconds as follows:

Distance	Duration
400 m	02:08
400 m	02:02
400 m	02:02
400 m	02:03
400 m	02:02
400 m	02:04
400 m	02:02
400 m	02:02
400 m	02:03
400 m	02:03
400 m	02:06
400 m	02:04
400 m	02:03
400 m	02:02
400 m	02:03
400 m	02:02
400 m	02:03
400 m	02:02
400 m	02:02
400 m	02:02

The first lap getting my heart rate and pace in check and then a plod out and the eleventh lap where I turned around so I am well chuffed that now I have trained myself to feel effort and pace and bodes well for Sunday's marathon which now I am beginning to feel really happy about as I have just finished another 200 mile (322 km) month with a rolling average of 50 miles (80km) legs tired, but a nice tired and I am ready to put my feet up for 3 days ready for the race, I feel like a metronome.

Unexpected Trail Run

Whilst walking from the station this evening I received a phone call from my running buddy Michael asking me whether I was attending the 8 mile trail run at 7.15 pm from the News Shopper newspaper building in Petts Wood. I accepted the invitation reminder without breaking a step and then went on to text other people who may be interested to get the miles in before it got dark.

So getting home, scoffing down a delicious homemade curry made by the delicious Mrs S I grabbed my kit and ran through the woods and side paths to the meeting point to find a small group of my secondary club gathering and by 7.20pm there were about 12 of us ready for a 8-8:30 min/mile paced run. I chose to take my headtorch wrapped around my hand in case I needed it and we went off at pace taking in some of the routes that I know so well but with a group of people I don't run with normally so it was good to chat, catch up on the holiday news and plans for the future.

Mark, the designated leader for the evening , took us on a very nicely paced run with a couple of stops to re-group and was mindful of our pace and route. We returned to the carpark just before it got dark and were happy that the run ended at that point as it was getting just a little dark to run safely on trail.

On a personal note I was really happy with my run tonight, my recovery from Sunday's 21 miler almost forgotten by my legs and I was really feeling as though I was attacking the hills...Sunday's marathon looks to be an interesting challenge for me, I was even heard to exclaim that I felt like Hammy the Squirrel from Over the Hedge tonight!

Voice of Reason

As the inhabitants of England, Wales and Northern Ireland thank the powers that be who created the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971 allowing us to have a public holiday today I have had a quiet day musing over some college marking and small chores. As ever during these quiet days when nothing is really planned my mind drifted off to the thought that I needed to explore that path in the woods that I have never ventured down today as an excuse to get out.

I then looked at more serious matters as to my progress this month and how I was a little disappointed with the distances I had covered with my mileage falling short by a few miles and started cursing my tardiness by undercutting this week by about 7 miles! Then I thought to myself that it was a completely nonsensical that I was saying this considering the terrain I had run on yesterday and had run a ~30 mile back-to-back on trail and VERY steep hills with 450 feet ascents. Then I looked back to see I had run back-to-back-to-backs and even done a four day streak adding up to 38.4 miles (62 km). So forget about the quantity I have done some incredible quality as well.

Having spoken to George earlier (who appears to have fully recharged batteries after his Summer holiday) and taking into consideration  that if I be truthful my legs are pretty tired I chose to listen to the voice of reason and rest today afterall tomorrow is another day and I have a marathon to race at the end of the week.

A tale of two runs

...or never judge a book by its cover (especially in running circles)

Run 1

The plan today was to run about 20 or so miles at a nice gentle pace around the Shoreham area in view of checking out the first part of the possible Night Run in October. I spoke to Michael on Saturday and it was agreed to meet at 7.00am this morning with Michael doing about 14 miles and then I would carry on by myself.

So with a little plan in my head to run the eastern section of the North Downs Way we stomped off at a very gentle pace and what with Michael recovering and I running on a back-to-back from last evening was very happy to keep it like that. The first 3 miles were fine but then we hit one of the harder climbs in the area which took us climbing 254 feet in a third of a mile and then up at a more gentle rate, lungs bursting we took a little breather and then continued on to the top  of the hill to the cross above Kemsing to get an absolutely outstanding view across the Weald's of Kent. At around 7 miles we turned around to return to the car via the same route happy with our lighthearted but tough run.

Run 2

As we turned into the carpark I saw an older gentleman (whom it transpires was 76 years old)  stretching out against a lampost and assumed that as he was wearing jeans was going for a walk. On enquiring he looked rather hurt and told me he was going for a run with his mates. So eyeing the three guys up I seemed to recollect the youngest (56 years) I thought that I could join up with them as they were doing about 10 miles and the older one was "surely" going to be slow, OH BOY how wrong could I be!

After saying my goodbye to Michael I set off with my new found friends and after introductions told me they were members of the Cambridge Harriers FELL TEAM and were training for the Ben Nevis run next week (10 miles/4400 feet) a little voice in my head screamed and I think I wet myself a little bit as these guys are legends and started talking about running a sedate 10 mile training run in about 80 minutes up and over the very hilly golf course EEEEEEEEEEEKKKK

At around 4 miles with them I said my farewells saying that I was not going on any longer using excuse such as "training plans dictate....back to backs...marathon next week...blah blah blah" and then went back, hiding out of sight under the cover of the trees to cough up a lung and watch them scuttle up the hill at speed, incredible.

As for me I turned back and ran past the local farm shop, bought a big jar of lavendar marmalade for the delectable Mrs S and a cold bottle of freshly squeezed apple juice to drink on the rest of my run at a very much reduced pace to take in a 21 miles

The North Face® Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc® - Running through the nature

Oh please, please let me win the lottery and try this.

This is today's Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc...just awesone

Eat your heart out Judy

I was tasked with cooking the family meal this evening and I do have a habit of preparing the meal, putting it in the pot and then whilst it is cooking go out for a run to pass the time. Tonight was no different so I popped out for a gentle 8 miles around the woods and some of the roads in a big loop.

I could feel the woods getting darker and soon felt the rain drops cooling my head and arms, the sun was out in its full glory and I knew, just knew that behind me there was going to be a glorious rainbow and I wasn't to be disappointed with it as it filled the whole woodland (Memorial Wood) vista...little things like that just make it so worth a run.

Thursdayitis *

 Thursdays have always been the hardest day to train for me and it can be a number of reasons from just being a tempo day to feeling tired from work or the thought of just being a little achy from the accumulation of training runs, a real case of Thursdayitis *

This evening was no exception but today it was particularly bad as I had fallen resoundly asleep on the train home, felt aches in my thigh on the walk from the station and then felt the possible signs of some sciatic pain in my calf/shin area.

Reaching home I made myself  dinner of a tuna fishcake with homemade chilli & tomato cous cous with a side of grilled polenta...then fell asleep for 30 minutes.

Looking at my training plan I knew that 8 miles was not looking good and so grabbed my kit and just ran, no planned route, no Garmin or HRM just me grinding out the mileage knowing that if I hadn't done so I would have grumbled for the rest of the evening. On my return I found that I had run just 8km or 5 miles but care not a jot as my legs seem to have settled and the aches smoothed out.

 

* The term Thursdayitis refers to the common phrase “I wish it was Friday”. Thursdayitis shares similarities to the well known term Mondayitis which refers to the first day back at work for most people. Mondayitis sufferers often use the term “I hate Mondays” as their way of expressing to fellow workers this displeasure of being back at work.

A nice surprise

Imagine the scene this Monday just gone I was happily lounging on the sofa when an email popped into my inbox which read:

As a result of winning the team trophy last year the organisers are offering one member of ORR a free entry to the marathon.

If you would like a free entry to the marathon please reply to me to arrange - first come first served.

I looked across to the Delightful Mrs S and remarked how beautiful she looked in the late evening light then mentioned if she would like to me to take her and the kids to the seaside, Margate being quite wonderful at this time of year! ;-) Immediately suspicious she asked why and was quite open to the idea of me going by myself, reeling from the shock I sent off the email within 4 minutes of it arriving,

The next day I received an email from the club stating I was the "winner" of the marathon place and so immediately made arrangements via email to the organisers who accepted my place and had provided a racing number to be collected on the day all within 15 hours of receiving the original email.

So the training plan has been adapted slightly and for an added bonus my ultrarunning buddy David is running too, I shall look forward to watching him resoundly beat me on the day.

MTA The run is 4th September 2011

Next Night Run is being planned

1. The concept of the run is there, 
2. A possible route has been plotted,
3. Reconnaissance in the pipeline
4. Date not set but possibly in early November

Enjoy the down time

Cracking run tonight of 20km on an overcast and drizzly evening part off road and then mostly by road. I seemed to be in a good, if a quiet and reflective mood during the run and happily plodded out the miles chatting about the various holidays people had been on and the awful thought of returning to work.

Having forgotten my headtorch I was forced to take the long route home via the roads and so was a little later in getting home and getting through the door I realised I had been on a reasonably pacey run without a drink and was gasping. However the delectable Mrs S had other plans and before I was allowed to cool down was told to get out to the supermarket to get urgent supplies [read as cat food]. So not wishing to go out in wet kit I grabbed a t-shirt and a pair of shorts destined for the wash basket, yanked off my running top and then put the shorts over my running ones.

So off to the shop I went, grabbed the supplies plus a couple of bottles of lager on special...at the checkout I heard someone behind me say something to her partner along the lines of "He must have wet himself!"

Getting home Mrs S ordered that I did not sit down on the sofa asking why I was told to look at the back of my shorts, they were soaking wet! It appears I hadn't thought the problem through properly as my sweaty running shorts had "leaked" and it looked as though I had wet my pants....disgusting!

Sufficiently embarrassed I went for my bath, extra suds and a bottle of my newly purchased lager to reflect on my successful run and the fact that I shouldn't wear wet running shorts under dry grey ones. 

PS I have forgotten how nice it is to lie back in a bath with a cooled lager and reflect on life.

Who are you?

It is in the last week that I have noticed that here in England the evenings are drawing in and it will soon be impossible to venture into the woods for a run after 8.30pm without a headtorch and definitely not 30 minutes before sunset as there will be no walkers entering it to find you if you fall over. There have been calls for club members to wear bright clothing on Tuesday night runs which I personally think should be extended into just general safety for any time you run in the late evening either on or off road.

The next issue is when you when you go out for a run with someone next ask yourself:

1. What is their partner's name?
2. Where do they live?
3. What is their partner's mobile number or their home phone number?

Then ask the same question of yourself, do they know yours? Now I am not expecting you to start running around asking private details of fellow runners as that is not the purpose of this entry, it is the point to just to remind you to make sure that you have your personal details somewhere upon you when running or going about solo training. I recently wrote about I.C.E and how this would assist the Emergency Services but have you thought about a simple piece of paper (covered in clear tape to waterproof it) with the above details on it that you can put in a  pocket or wristband. I have seen people use a small plastic keyring fob which you can put your keys on or attach to a backpack or you can buy a more expensive version for about £10 (I whince when I see the cost of this)

Now listen to this and enjoy:

Week 1 of 5 complete

I finally managed to get the second run in this evening, a very uncomfortable 10km was all I wanted to manage but wanted to get it completed if not to feel happier about finishing nearer my target  of about 100km this week but only managed 87km after my stomach upset this morning.

So that was a hectic week one of the series and I have the same again next week to really consolidate the work I have done in the past few weeks. I am not sure how I will feel as I return to work next week and will no doubt be a tired from travel... bring it on.

Doing a Paula!!!

The plan was to run 9-10 miles in the early morning and then meet some running club buddies for 8.25am for another 10 miles and then run home to get about 22 miles in for the day....that was the plan!

I awoke early got my kit on with the addition of my heart rate monitor had some toast, coffee and a large glass of grapefruit juice then left the house at 6.45 am soon pacing out with the plan that my heart rate was to remain at 130-140 bpm. Wow I was feeling great, the miles were soon behind me and the heart rate had settled out at 137 bpm the pace was perfect to meet the guys on time. With one mile to go disaster struck when I got a terrible stomach cramp which I had to stop to control , I carried on but the pain was getting too much and so was left to shuffle run the last few hundred metres.

On turning the corner of the meeting point I was surprised to find a big turn out and then sheepishly hobbled past them all to be very ill in the toilets such that I felt a little feint after returning to the others! I have a feeling that it may have been the sudden stop in running so thanked the others for waiting and made my excuses to get home at a very reduced pace.

I am miffed that I had to drop my long run this morning especially as it was going so well until the stomach upset so if all things go well today I will try and pop out for a slow 10 miles...we'll see.

Is my heart in it?

I was reading an interesting item on a fellow GUCR runner, Brian News who decided to go for a 90 minute run with a heart rate monitor to see how far he could get with his heart rate between 130 and 135 bpm...he managed 9.4 miles which is impressive.

I decided for my 8 mile run this afternoon I would try the same thing but my heart rate ~145 bpm and was amazed that I managed to do it in 67 minutes. Not the fastest run ever but that was not the point of the experiment as it was to try and keep my body at a consistent and level of exertion throughout the period of exercise and the way I feel afterwards shows that I am very comfortable with the result.

So what does this mean for my training, let's see for tomorrow is another day and I have ~24 miles to run and think it prudent to drop the heart rate down to ~135-140 bpm so that I can take it easy and get the most out of my long run

Torn to shreds

This week has been a been a busy one when I have been clearing out the loft and garage of old furniture, wood and other stuff that collects over a 40 year period (my house used to be the delectable Mrs S's family home). It has been hard work with about 10 visits to the dump and to various charity shops in the area and I think I must have been up and that ladder than a tarts knickers. I needed to escape...

So after receiving a late afternoon text from Duncan I was ready and kitted out to meet him for a tempo 8 miles and had devised a route that took in some of our regular runs but joined up by cross trails. Halfway through the run there was a joint decision to take the trails parallel to the current road and so Duncan took the lead as he was more familiar to the woods there. The weather was rainy, overcast and quite dark and navigation through the wood was hampered by lack of light, new fences defending the new houses being built (gggrrrrr) which stopped well worn paths so we soon found ourselves at a dead end. So what do two trail experienced runners do but go "off path" to find a way following animal tracks and historical paths that were being reclaimed by Mother Nature we hacked, jogged and leaped through brambles patches, stinging nettles  and squeezed under holly trees to get back on a known trail to carry on the run.

On my return I was soaked through, muddy, bruised and bleeding from a multitude of scratches from ankle to thighs......a perfect run

Anaerobic abbreviation

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this but why when running do we abbreviate our training buddies name to just one syllable whilst exercising. I am often renamed Jez, Jer or simply J by some people, even tonight I found myself calling Duncan.....Duncs!

So we have:

• Elizabeth = Liz
• Michael =Mike or Mick
• Jeremy = Jez, Jer, or J
• Duncan = Duncs (I promise I never will call you that again)
• Andrew = And

and many more ridiculous shortenings of our handles but as soon as we stop and get our breath back we start calling each other by our full names or nicknames, I theorise it is a case of anaerobic abbreviation caused by lack of oxygen or simply shortness of breath :-)

Bag of Spuds

I awoke on Wednesday morning feeling really hungry, that gnawing, uncomfortable feeling in the pit of your stomach that would not go away even after a pile of toast and Marmite! After Monday's car crash of a training run when I felt lethargic throughout my run and achy on Tuesday I have come to realise it is because I am just not eating properly or simply, not enough calories.

Normally, when at work I have a very similar lunch every day and a reasonably sedate job in IT, whilst at home in the past week or so I have been busy clearing the house and emptying the loft out of 40 years worth of junk. With this activity I have stepped up the mileage in my running but realised I was only having light lunches and with this have lost 4 pounds (2 kg) in weight in the last two weeks.

The delicious Mrs S, I am sure, heard me grumbling today about my hunger and my pleas of " I need more carbs, what shall we have for tea?" and "Can I have another slice of banana cake?" to produce a fantastic meal tonight of 4 pork sausages, garden peas and a MOUND of new potatoes with a dollop of strong English mustard.....food fit for a king. Amazingly that food hit the spot for within an hour the aches in my legs were diminishing and I felt generally more comfortable.

Make Note to Self: You have to eat sensibly Jerry

The Training Starts

WHAT? I hear your exclaim Dear Reader, you are always training Jerry! In part you would be correct but since the Grand Union Canal Run I have had no real focus as to what I want to do almost disinterested in challenges or races. You will have noted I have pulled out of the Hell on the Humber on Saturday as it no longer excited me.

So now a nice little number has arrived which is fully sanctioned by the ever diligent Mrs S and her wonderfully efficient Running RADAR, the Surrey Tops which hits every one of my running challenges:

1. Trail running
2. Self-navigation
3. Has a night run section
4. Small number of competitors (last time it ran there were 14 runners and 87 walkers)

So I have a nice 5 week training plan written  which takes in 269 miles (433 km) which is a big call so I am going to really pull the belt in and get going

Does your dog bite?

Whilst chatting about my awful attempts of speaking French when in Belgium earlier that week with Duncan before our Sunday run he came up with a hilarious impersonation of Inspector Clouseau in the scene "Does your dog bite?"

I have been laughing at the sketch (and Duncan's ridiculous impersonation all day)....enjoy

LDWA member!

In a fit of pique last night I joined the Long Distance Walkers Association, or LDWA, for the princely sum of £13 per year.

So what does this offer me I hear you ask Dear Reader? Apparently I get a newsletter and a right to vote at the AGM! Those bits are not my cup of tea but I am more interested in the resources that the membership will provide, there will be notification of events and new (for me) routes to explore.

I am not interested in the organised walks that they undertake but very interested in the Challenge events when walkers, joggers and runners are invited to run distances of 15-100 miles all self-navigated using written directions or by map and compass. You will have seen some of my exploits at LDWA events such as the Sevenoaks Circular (see Gatliff also) which are brilliant and will take me through the North and South Downs in all types of weather. The events are ludicrously cheap compared to the ridiculously over-priced events that you see companies charge for a cheap old tin medal and yet another t-shirt you didn't need plus I now get a discounted price for all my LDWA events, I think I am onto a winner here.

Pulling out of HotH

It is official, I am pulling out of the Hell on the Humber foot race on Saturday 20^th August 2011. I have been thinking about this challenge for a few weeks now and although I am distance ready my heart isn't really in it. Yes, it did appear on the list of  "crazy runs" that I like to enter but this is an inaugural event and from what I hear there are to be quite a few "military types" turning up who tend to make it a macho event that I don't enjoy.

The other thing is I do not have support or access to a car and the cost of a rail ticket for £88.00 which is just way too much so I am out

Kent - The Garden of England

I had a nice short run with my running pals, Liz, Michael and Duncan this morning along the North Downs Way from Knockholt. Liz has got a hilly race very soon, Michael tapering for a marathon next week, Duncan and I along for the run of about 8 miles so it was decided to descend on to and then climb  the North Downs taking as much trail as possible.

This time of year it is quite trippy along the path with a few early slips and trips by us all we chose to take the first part easy until our legs were warmed up enough to take the rough paths. As we ran along it soon became noticeable that the hedgerows were full of ripening, if not ripe, blackberries such that Liz and I were soon seen nicking a few as we passed a nice bush....yum. Later on in Chevening I found an overhanging plum tree draped in its seasonal treasures ready for me to plunder so with three or four plums in my hands I tucked in as we ran, the succulent fruit juice dripping from my chin.

A shorter run than I normally do on a Sunday but still as enjoyable if not tough with nearly 900 feet (275 metres) of climb  mostly done on two very short ascents. With all that fruit I felt as though I weighed more when I finished that when I started, nothing better than fruit fresh from the tree.

Routine

I never realised it but I am a creature of habit, routine, not obsessive but I certainly feel uncomfortable when things are not quite how they should be. An example was tonight when I found my running backpack was empty of all its usual items that I like to carry on the trail. Just before our Belgian break I had emptied it as I was thinking I could use it as a day bag but chose better of it.

I have been tramping about for the past hour looking for my kit which I had put in a plastic bag in the dining room but noticed it was moved to a more preferred location my the delectable Mrs S who couldn't remember the current location that she preferred for my kit.

Now found, I feel happier that it is now packed safe and ready for the morning. So what is it I carry I hear you shout:

• First Aid Kit
• Mobile phone
• 2 x Gels
• Spare bandanna
• Map & Compass
• Whistle
• Light stick
• Mini-torch
•  Toilet tissue

Anyway, all packed now and I am really looking forward to a run on the North Downs with Liz, Bhundu and Michael

One for the Trail

McMurphy shouts "Why don't ya shut your goddamn mouth and play some music."

I have always loved this theme music the underlying beat almost exactly how my cadence was this evening as I plodded around the nature reserve..as always, play it loud

1500 for 2011

I have finally done it, 1500 miles so far this year! That works out at an average of

1. ~ 6.73 miles per day
   
2. ~47.1 miles per week

I am reasonably pleased with what I have done along with 12 ultradistance runs this year and a massive recovery after the GUCR attempt of 91 miles. I am also surprised that I beat last years 1500 miles by just 6 days and only realised this this evening so really shows my consistency of miles

Head in Shame

As you will have seen from my last post we went to Brussels, Belgium for a short city break  [read as Summer holiday] on Monday and no sooner had we arrived we saw the news that London was in flames. It really angered me as one of the areas, Croydon, was where I was brought up and the house I lived in first after leaving home was just 100 metres away from the furniture shop that was burnt down, my old local just across the road. I then saw a shop 200 metres from my office in Brixton on fire.

Normally I run on my holiday and I just ove to wear my Union flag shorts when I do but this week I was ashamed to be English when Belgian waiters laughed and mocked us "You don't see our children making trouble here" To which I bluntly replied "You don't see mine either" pointing to my two girls at the dinner table.

Too much has been said by so many so far this week but I am truelly ashamed

Time to relax!

Yum!

On no,no, nooo Dear Reader, not from running but have a little break with the family. Due to our BIG holiday last year in Canada we had decided to not have a holiday this year so we could recoup some money but had secretly stashed some cash away to pay for a short European break.

So on Saturday morning whilst nursing my sore head I went on to one of those web sites that have holidays at cheap rates at the last moment and managed to get a short city break to Brussels in a 5* hotel by way of the Eurostar train at a ridiculously cheap price. So tomorrow we head out to Ebbsfleet for the morning flight to Belgium, I have spent the day rushing around sorting out cat sitters, last minute bits and pieces and of course, the dreaded packing.

I have made no pretence of hiding my running kit which is freshly washed, packed and ready for some runs around the city or, if I can blag it, the posh gym in the hotel. Mrs S knows all too well that the kit will appear somewhere on the holiday and has now accepted it will go ahead anyway :-)

So looking at the menus we have beer, waffles, chocolate, chips with mayonaisse(!), witloof and the delightful Mrs S's and mine favourite jenever (Dutch Gin).....me thinks I will need some exercise to burn this all off.

I'll see you guys in about 3 days time, I will keep you posted of any running escapades from Brussels whilst I am there

Out on the Downs

Brilliant run with Michael and George today out on the North Downs in Kent with fantastic views across the wealds. It was always on the cards that it was going to be a tough run today  as the route we were taking took us up and down the ridge around Knockholt, Westerham and Titsey Park.

Early start for all of us today starting at 6.30 am as we went West towards Titsey and were soon amazed when looking down from about 150 feet above the Pilgrim's Way we saw three Roe deer, not an unusual sight whilst on our runs but just lovely to see them happily grazing but then seeing us and darting off; we watched them leap and bound from our vantage point until the disappeared from sight.

The run was a tough one and when we got to the top of a massive hill we took a well deserved short rest and descended the ridge to join the Vanguard Way and were pleased with our navigational skills when we crossed newly harvested fields but were still able to pick our route and not get lost. We had to be on our guard today as the dew drenched grass was hazardous with both George and I twisting our ankles enough for us to whelp, Michael suffering similarly with tightening of his hamstring and IT band.

I am happy with this weeks running, I have taken a voluntary cycle down week as I can feel my legs are slightly tight at the moment....jeez, 43 miles is classified as cycle down week these days!!!

Aviva Diamond League

I had a wonderful evening out on Friday with two very dear ultrarunning friends of mine, Rob and David , you can see a picture of us together on Rob's blog in the header just before we were about to embark on the Ridgeway 87 mile race last year.

Regular readers will remember that David ran the London Marathon 4 times in 24 hours in April and Rob and I helped out in little parts of his amazing run, Rob (recovering from a smashed ankle) did 27 miles and I the 52.4 mile night section. David wanted to thank us for this effort and I was never expected such a wonderful one.....VIP tickets to the Aviva Diamond League athletics event in Crystal Palace.

We met up in a local pub for a quick glass of cider and then made our way up to the track to find us being directed to an enormous marquee, with a open garden area with parasols and chairs, fun areas for the children to play and food and drink coming out of our ears. I had a plate full of spiced chicken, salad, cous cous and cream of mushroom, scrumptious and then a bottle of wine was dumped on the table and free bottles of beer. To say we were relaxed by the start of the event would be a good description, we were sheparded up to the start to be placed in the best seats in the house, on the home straight, central but top section.

The racing was brilliant and we were soon surrounded by great athletes, Linford Christie, Lord Coe, TV preenters galore and I think it was Daniel Bailey (Usain Bolt's training partner) who unfortunately got cider poured down his back during our drunken fumblings!!!!!

The highlight of the evening was watching Mo Farah run a fantastic 3000 metres.

We returned to the VIP tent for more food and drinks but the partying was a little too much for me and chose to DNF with the others two as they were still up for it.

A big thank you to David for a lovely evening and all I can say I had a very sore head this morning and Mrs S was laughing at my state as I stumbled through the door telling her of all the stories I was telling her of the night

Big Mouth, Small Brain

I sometimes wonder is it just me that attracts problems from dog walkers when I am on a run, tonight's incident just left me bemused by the tirade of abuse from this man without me actually doing anything, that story later but first I want to tell you what some people can be like in general.

As a lot of you know I love to wear my Union Flag shorts on special occasions such as a race or an event and Tuesday's bash run was one such occasion. My role that evening was to stand at the entrance to the woods from the main road near some width barriers where cars slow down to cross a weak bridge. I was minding my own business looking down the road for the racers when ever so often there would be a peep of a horn and someone would shout "Love your shorts mate" or "Ing.....er.....land"   all these are in good fun and I often just wave it off and smile but there is always just some small brained idiot who will shout some homophobic comment at me or just say something plain rude. I assume Mr Small Brain thinks that wearing Union Flag shorts is some indication of gayness...who knows but Mrs S laughed when I told her?

Tonight's dog walker was on public land which has specific laws that all dogs must be on leads near horses or cattle and should be sufficiently trained to be called to heel. So there I was running up the hill minding my own business, he doing the same but listening to his Ipod, the dog gamboling around playfully. I could see that the dog could be a problem, not dangerous, but one that likes to jump about your legs creating a trip hazard. I decided to stop and the dog just ran off with the bloke shouting after it, I was just about to jog off when he turned to me and I was met with a tirade of abuse, wagging fist and basic threatening behaviour, my jaw just dropped in amazement of his reaction and I just shrugged my shoulder simply saying "Woooaahhh mate calm down, it ain't worth it" and ran off leaving him to try and catch his wayward dog.

I am writing this more as a therapy as I often dispair with the British male adult, if he is ignorant as this to his fellow countryman what the hell is he percieved by people from other countries?

Humidity v Humility

NOT the day to run today, well not for me as it was just too humid, looking at the various web sites it appears the relative humidity was in the 90-95% region. On Tuesday evening whilst marshaling it took nearly 30 minutes for me to dry out after my run there as my sweat was just not evaporating. This evening was similar and in my opinion a very dangerous time to consider exercise for extended periods as it is difficult to control your core temperature.

So tonight I chose to remain indoors, to rest up and enjoy the rest...but I still wanted to go out finding myself restless but knew that it was just not worth it. Still, it appears there is going to be some really strong bursts of rain on Thursday, temperature dropping to below 20 C that will allow me to get out and do a proper run

A Sea of Yellow, Black & White

At last the evening many have been waiting for, the annual inter-club Bash Run. I am desperately searching around as to why it is called a Bash Run but I can only suggest that it is simply a "Party Run" and is when a group of runners meet up to compete against each other, this evening it was about  friendly grudge match between the two clubs I belong to, Petts Wood Runners (Black & White) and Orpington Road Runners (Yellow).

Due to the intensity of my running in recent times, the horrendous humidity and heat I chose not to run tonight as some of the regular readers will know I don't like the hot weather but was happy to assist doing marshalling duties and handing out position numbers to the competitors.

I left the house early this evening and took a leisurely run down to the clubhouse via a very bizarre route that allowed me to run for about an hour, deliver a few DVD's back to the shop then go to the start. Imagine my amazement when I ran into the park to be met by a sea of yellow, black and white shirts milling around, some warming up, others sipping a pre-race cup of tea with a slice of conversation.

I was soon sucked into being briefed and dispatched to my marshalling point to await to watch a sea of yellow, black and white shirtsrun past me, some gasping, mostly smiling, many determined to win the race. Soon the sweeper past me and I ran back to the start, sweating and ready for a cup of tea whilst I awaited the battle to unfold....a great evening.

Longitude & Latitude - Garmin 305

So there you are out on a run in the middle of no where, no map, no compass but with a phone and Garmin unit and you take a wrong turning, then another you are now lost! The nightmare scenario continues when you stumble and twist your ankle how do you find your location to inform the Emergency Services.

Simple, use your Garmin 205/305/405 to find your exact location ± 50 metres. A little known feature of these watches is the use of the waymarking feature. 

1. In normal mode click Mode
2. Click again to reach the sub-menu that contains Navigation
3. Select Navigation
4. Select Mark Location

The next screen you find will be you current Longitude and Latitude along with your elevation. Provide this information to the Emergency Services  and nearest known location...job done

Blink and you could miss it

Click to enlarge

The legacy lives on and the search for new run focal points continues!

During my research for the recent Night Run In Search of Ghosts I came across an interesting fact that Knockholt, [Ock-Holt, Ock (Oak), Holt(Wood)]  was the highest village in Kent but in a group of trees called the Knockholt Beeches where the trig point is sited there is a Dew Pond where William the Bastard (or William the Conqueror) watered his horse.

It amazes me that I have run past the Knockholt Beeches on many occasions but:

1. Never realised it was called Knockholt Beeches
2. That there is a Dew Pond there
3. It is 200 metres south of where George nearly got bitten by a horse
4. What the hell is a Dew Pond?

So what is a dew pond? Simply put it is an artificial pond that is normally sited at the top of a hill. Being the geology of the surrounding area of Knockholt is Chalk and Greensand this is a very reasonable reason to create a pond for cattle which thrive of the lush green grassland on the escarpment.

Looking at the graphic for this blog entry towards the centre of the map you will see the numeral 237 which is the trig point just to the North-East is a very tiny circle, the perfect shape of a dew pond....time to investigate and see if it is still obvious within the Knockholt Beeches.