the 125th Abingdon parkrun . . 5 Larkers find friendship, sunshine, mud, coffee and cake . .

23 November

I've been back in Bristol for 13 months now, and in that time I've made Ashton Court parkrun my home. It's not the easiest run, and if you're wide awake there's that "what was I thinking" thought as you attack the hill. On the other hand, there's always the "weeeeeeeeee!" as you come back down again. As a general rule though, I find it best to still be half asleep when taking on the hill.

I've also made a lot of friends at Ashton Court, many of them being the Larkers I often write about. I'm very fortunate to know this group of runners, and when Monday comes I can't wait for the next weekend. Before I returned to Bristol my home parkrun was Abingdon, where again, I met some special people and made some good friends.

All parkruns are special, of course but Abingdon is one of those that has that intangible extra, so that it stands out from the ever-increasing crowd of parkruns.

I love running beside the River Thames, twice . . the boats on the canal . . the mud . . running around the meadow . . the tall trees standing guard over the river . . and then the walk into town over the bridge, looking to see if the Heron's at home in the Weeping Willow, before settling down at Java & Co for their great coffee and cake, nattering away with everyone and watching the town go by in the Market Square.

I've been back to Abingdon twice this year, and wanted to get back again before Christmas, so that's were I went yesterday. Although the 6.50 departure time put a few off, Paul and Vanessa came with me, Caroline was already in that part of the world, and Maggie stopped off to join us as she made her way from Brixton to Banbury. It had been frosty when we left Bristol, and watching the orange sun rise made the A420 more interesting than it usually is!

As soon as we arrived at Rye Meadow I started to see some old friends and it was great to be back. Once Sue had explained the intricacies of the posh loo in the car park to Vanessa, and Caroline and Maggie had joined us, we displayed our parking tickets, put on our best larking shoes, and made our way to the start.

Run director Caroline H banned me from the pre-run tourist and newcomer briefing, so I continued catching up with old friends whilst the Larkers learnt all about Abingdon parkrun. There was just time for Julian to take a photo of us before the run when at 9am, with the sun still shining, Caroline H got our parkrun started, and along with thousands of others in England and Wales we set off on our 5k adventure.

Runners of all shapes and sizes, of all ages and abilities, we ran beside the Thames, from firm towpath to uneven muddy footpath, then over the grass around the meadow before crossing the little bridge and hitting the proper mud, made worse by tractors during the week, and after 1500m or so I was still with Vanessa and a little ahead of Paul. Well that was new! They must be having a dreadful run! Or maybe it was me, over excited by the occasion and running too quickly?

Suddenly I was overcome by lethargy, lost all my energy, and slowed right down. I couldn't understand it and kept on running and enjoying my surroundings. As the parkrun unfolded I was passed by several people I've never been ahead of before. Probably went off too fast then! Runners kept on coming by and as we got back onto the road for the last time I could see Maggie up ahead, having already finished her run and warming down, running back towards me. Just then I was caught by John, who I knew had run his 100th parkrun the previous week, and we exchanged a few words as I congratulated him. Thing is, John's age group is 20 years older than mine. I hope I'm still running like that when I'm his age but right now I don't want to be beaten by him (again!). So just as Maggie reached me I found some energy from somewhere and hurried towards the finish. It was nice to have Maggie accompany me, just as it was nice to be cheered as I finished.

The Larkers had all finished and all were saying what a lovely run it was. Caroline H offered me a piece of gingerbread man as I queued to register, and once Julie had scanned my barcodes we put some warm clothes on and headed for the Market Place. Whilst we were queuing for our coffee the sunshine disappeared, replaced by gunmetal skies and November cold, but as tradition holds, we all sat outside and were kept warm by parkrun lurve.

It was good to be back, and I know the Larkers all enjoyed their morning in Abingdon. We'll return next year, there's no doubt. Thank you to everyone at Abingdon for making us so welcome, it was good to see you all and for me it was just like being back home!

Later in the day I found that I'd had a tummy bug for company all morning, which may explain my sudden energy loss during parkrun. It certainly explains why there's no Sunday race report as I've been sensible today and stayed at home. The Larkers were off to Brent Knoll, or orienteering across the Mendips, and I'd been due to run a 10k on the Castle Combe race circuit - tarmac all the way! Hope you all enjoyed your events . .

Many thanks to Lewis and Julian for their great photos.

45 Maggie 23.48 . . 2nd lady and 1st in her age category
59 Caroline 25.04 . . 2nd in age category
86 Paul 27.09 
95 Vanessa 27.38 
143 me 31.04 
185 finishers

next Larkin' blog - probably Sunday 1 December . . after a lark along
the Chew Valley with Vanessa and Paul . . depending on how long lunch takes . .

the Bath Skyline 10k . . mudulicious malarkey at Claverton Down . .

17 November

This week the Larkers went over to Bath University for our weekly mud therapy where Relish Running Races were staging the first of this winter's series of four off road 10ks.
 
I really think the Race Naming Committee need to get onto this one urgently, as the name is neither alliterative nor onomatopoeic. I would recommend Sham Castle Shamble but I imagine that one or two of my faster friends may wish to suggest something more suggestive of speed! Also, thanks to the morning's fog, we couldn't see Bath. I know from past experience that the views across Bath from Sham Castle are stunning and it was a shame to miss them. Fortunately I was able to fill in the grey gaps from memory.
 
Earlier, the day's excursion had begun (and later was to end) with entertaining conversation, and it was with some reluctance that Vanessa, Paul and I got out of the car to go and register, particularly as up on the hill beyond Bath there was fog and moisture in the air.
 
Debbie and Martin arrived shortly after us and we had no trouble collecting our numbers in the Sports Hall. Then back to the car park, conveniently situated beside the start and finish to get ready to race, and as we tried to keep warm and stand still for those all important "before" photos we were joined by Alan, Sheila and Tracy.

Much of the pre-race conversation seemed to be devoted to Paul's washing powder of choice. Apparently, he's using the wrong stuff. I'm confused about what the right stuff is exactly (to bio or not to bio?) and as my club vest (which once was white) is now a similar shade to Paul's, I thought it best to keep quiet for once!

thanks to Martin for the photos of us all before the run,

and of Paul enjoying himself at half way

Anyway, we had to curtail our chatter to race. The 10k was two laps, over trails and meadows, and through Bathampton Woods there were some tricky bits over rocks and tree roots, where the runners in road shoes frustrated those of us wearing trail shoes. One section of the course took us past some halls of residence where we were treated to the sight of young people in pj's, in the warm, having late breakfasts.

In the early part of the second lap I was bimbling along, minding my own business as you do, when suddenly Paul's disembodied voice called out "come on Rich K". It transpired that 1½k ahead of me the race went back in the opposite direction, somewhere up in the fog. It was great to get Paul's encouragement but he scared the life out of me at the same time!

I struggled today. For this particular Larker it was probably a race too many. I've hardly raced for several years and this was my 9th race in as many weeks, and most of them have been preceded by a parkrun. But you don't find out till you try it, do you, and it's been fun getting here. Today I had to focus on the joy of being out in beautiful countryside (again), being active (again) and in the company of such good friends (again). There is much to be grateful for, and if getting round is a bit more arduous than I'd hoped sometimes, it's a small price to pay for all the many positives.

The other Larkers seemed to enjoy themselves and their races. Once again they were waiting for me at the finish, cheering me on and pulling me across the line. Aren't they great? Having run solo for a couple of k's I'd been caught up just before we entered the final field, and suddenly I had to work hard to keep my position. Thanks for helping me do that everyone.

Post race, as Paul and I struggled to get changed in the car park, the scene was likened to waiting for children in the cloakroom at reception class. I've no idea what was meant by this, perhaps we'll be told below?

Some highlights:

 •once again, the wonderful autumnal colours all around us . .
 •the occasional "ping" of a golf ball bouncing off a runner's head as we skirted the golf course . .
 •the lovely marshal with her list of entrants in one hand, looking up our numbers and calling out to us by name as we ran by . .
 •beautiful birdsong . . contrasted by the distant sound of model aeroplanes elsewhere above the Down, and the rumble of trains winding their way through Limpley Stoke valley below . .
 •a nice bit of bling for our efforts . .
 •seeing the winner! Yes, I was lapped, shortly before the half way mark. Like me the winner runs for Bristol & West AC. In fact I was disappointed to be lapped. I may have called him an "unsporting rotter" as he sped past . .

Once we'd found our way out of reception class and the car park, we returned to the Sports Hall for coffee where the laughter and teasing continued until we'd had enough and were ready to leave, and as we drove home, another excellent morning out came to a close. Big thanks to Martin for supporting us and taking our photos, to Vanessa for being this week's chauffeur, and to everyone for so much fun. And finally, thanks to Sarah, who last week invented the word "mudulicious" and gave me the inspiration for "mudulike".

So, that's another 10.69k (yes, the course was a few centimetres long) closer to the Copenhagen Marathon, with only 26 weeks to go  . . 

1 40.54 Ben Robinson 1st man  
8 46.50 Kerry Riley 1st woman
45 53.08 Alan  
72 55.23 Tracy 9th lady and 2nd in age group  
202 68.54 Paul  
211 69.39 Sheila  
242 73.13 Vanessa  
289 77.43 Debbie  
323 86.29 me  
336 took part

the Sodbury Slog . . muddiness and mayhem at Chipping Sodbury . .

10 November 

The Sodbury Slog is one of the highlights of the year for many runners across the UK, and the 1,000 or so places available always sell out in a matter of days. I ran it once in the previous century, when it was called the Beagle Bash, and on several occasions have taken photos beside one of the muddier parts of the course. I had a feeling that one year I'd have to get out there and taste mud again. And so it was that when several of my friends (you know who you are!) decided we should all take part this year, at the time (several months ago) I agreed. Since then I have had my moments of doubt, as have others, but having completed the race, and had a little snooze, I can confirm that it was in fact a Very Good Idea Indeed!

 

The thing is, the race is advertised as being 9 "country" miles. With hindsight I reckon it was exactly 9 normal ones. But it's not the distance that's the issue, it's the terrain. Having crossed Sodbury Common, which is just very wet, we're taken through all sorts of muddiness, streams, water spouts and whirlpools. All are packed with organic material that really belongs in the local farmyards, certainly not in my shoes (nor elsewhere!) and indeed some of it should be taken to Porton Down for examination!

 

Naturally the spritely young things at the pointy end of the race just glide over this stuff as if it weren't there. They have no idea what fun they miss out on! But by the time 500 pairs of feet have stirred it all up, those of us towards the rear find the going difficult, and "interesting", to say the least! And we're all grouped together in clusters, because we've not had time or opportunity to get spread out, and because we're trying to stay with our friends.

 

We are the runners for whom the phrase "survival of the fittest" has no meaning. It's All for One and One for All, isn't that so D'Artagan? So you find lots of groups of runners waiting for their straggling friends, and taking photos of one another whilst they wait (and where do they hide their cameras when the muddiness is at it's worst I wondered?).

 

Mostly we're up to our knees/thighs/waists/chests/chins/oh dear! in stuff that stinks to high heaven, and we're falling over one another, and hanging on to one another and the daft thing is that most of us are laughing! Laughing with delight! Just throwing our heads back and roaring with laughter. Actually enjoying this ordeal by ordure! Unbelievable!

 

Let's go back to the beginning. Bitton Road Runners have the organisation of the race down to a t nowadays, and once again most things worked like clockwork today. Number collection and baggage drop off were simple enough. Maybe not enough loos but so long as you planned ahead you were ok! Personally I could have done without Mr Motivator making a fool of himself but I'm usually out of step on that one so it's probably just me!

 

The race is always on Remembrance Sunday, and at 11am a bugler sounds The Last Post and there's a 2 minute silence, during which time you could have heard a safety pin drop. Much to our amusement, the end of the silence was marked by two rockets being fired into the sky . . the noise of which frightened the life (she said) out of Emma who at the time was hidden in a portaloo. The look on her face when she came out again was priceless!

 

And then we're out into the road, lined up and the runners ahead started running, so of course we gave chase. The first mile was great, through Chipping Sodbury High Street towards the Common. And then it all changed, and we entered a parallel universe of M U D !!!

 

 

There is, as we know, nothing quite like it, for cooling the blood. Fortunately today was a beautiful bright sunny day, and there was warmth in the sun, and my ploy of wearing some of my oldest and most threadbare running kit so I could just bin it afterwards (so hang on, why is it right now swirling round in the washing machine?) worked, as apart from my feet (which were blocks of ice from the water) I wasn't at all cold throughout the race.

 

Highlights? Too many for me to relate and I hope my friends and companions will forgive me as I'm sure to forget some. The views over the Cotswolds were, as always, magnificent. Hearing that Marie had to stop to retrieve one of her shoes from the morass, because it was the one with the timing chip on, made me laugh. There was the Belgian lady who asked me after 3 miles how much further there remained in miles as she was having difficulty working it out. The she said it was her first ever race. Clearly absolutely bonkers, I avoided her for the rest of the run!

 

There was one length of water we had to negotiate early on in the race, and many runners helped themselves by hanging on to the runner in front. I've no idea who was hanging on to me but hope they enjoyed it as much as I did! At one point Debbie grabbed the bloke in front, moved forward a few steps, looked away, looked in front again, and realised that her guide had disappeared! This seemed odd, we were told later, but nevertheless Debbie carried on forwards, and ran right over him, as it transpired he was submerged at the time! He did survive this, and we later learned that his name is Graeme. I don't think Graeme quite saw the funny side . . .

 

 

There was a great moment towards the end of all the mud when we found Alison and Anne waiting for us. Paul had gone on ahead on a recce at the time so wasn't with us but Debbie, Vanessa and I took a moment to pose for the camera. Can't wait to see the photo! I also enjoyed Dave's discomfort at having used Alison's race number and winning the ladies V50 category. I offered to find a scalpel and make it so but he declined! There's just no pleasing some people!

 

 

On the subject of which, the lady who removed the chip from my shoe was someone I hadn't seen for about 12 years. She said I looked great and hadn't changed a bit! After running the Slog? Jeez, I must have looked a bit grim in 2001! But it was nice to see her, and one or two others, from my previous life. I even got a spot prize because I happened to know the lady who'd been handing them out! (A jolly useful bottle of beer, since you asked!)

 

 

This morning I almost managed to keep up with my friends, and bless them, Paul, Debbie and Vanessa waited for me so that we all crossed the finish line holding hands together (that'll give the race photographer a problem!) and as we did we saw the race clock showing 2 hours and 3 minutes. I'd no idea how long we'd been running for and for once was happy to be over 2 hours, another landmark for me and the first time I've been on my feet for that long since 2009. Thanks for a great morning out, you three, and especially for waiting for me.

 

On a more sober note I should mention Kevin, a clubmate I don't know personally, who broke his leg about half way through the race. I'm sure that by now he's safe and warm in hospital, and I'd like to wish him a speedy recovery. When I saw him he was laid on the grass with a blanket over him, waiting for medical help. Emma was one of (I think) three runners who gave up their races to remain with him, and inevitably she must now be known as Florence.

 

Thinking of injured clubmates, thanks to Alison, Anne and Noel for coming out and supporting us all today, hope to be running the Slog with you all next year.

 

 

So another lovely day out, filled with laughter, and getting wet, muddy and sweaty. Thanks to all my friends and clubmates for making it so memorable (and thanks to Maggie for driving some of us there, sorry my navigation tends to be a tad last minute!). We all did very well, I think . .

 

 

Results of people I know are:
6 1.00.29 Jim  

19 1.03.40 Paul  

37 1.06.38 Colin  

84 1.10.34 Dave  

106 1.12.30 Gary  

181 1.18.08 Marie  

266 1.22.41 Maggie 2nd in her category  

385 1.29.14 Sammy  

515 1.36.50 Judy  

577 1.39.47 Sheila

579 1.39.48 Alan

667 1.44.46 Karen  

668 1.44.47 Matt  

907 2.01.35 Denica  

910 2.01.37 Nikki

??? about the same time Rikki  

919 2.03.16 Vanessa  

920 2.03.16 Debbie  

921 2.03.16 Paul  

922 2.03.16 me  

999 2.17.19 Florence
1033 runners completed the Slog today

 

thanks to Alan, Anne, Marie and RandR photos for the images above . .

 

 

the Over The Hills 7 and a bit miles multi-terrain race . . not over the hill just yet . .

3 November . .

What a fab way to spend a morning. Yes, some of us were a little dismayed to realise it was 10am start (we've got to set off when?) but it was certainly well worth the effort. I loved the flat bits, and the downhills too (this is progress, recently I've only enjoyed running downhill!). The start and finish were beside the old Tithe Barn in Bradford-on-Avon, and we set off along the Kennett and Avon Canal towpath to the aqueduct at Avoncliff. Here we left the canal and struck out across fields, before climbing up the first of the eponymous hills.

 

 Debbie and I head for the hills . . photo (c) Karen Carter . .

Once we left the canal there was mud everywhere, all slippery and slidery. I think there were three major hills for us to climb . . and then, inevitably, drop back down again. We knew that there was a "river crossing" at some point in the race, and we'd been warned that the river was high.

There came a time when the peace and tranquility were suddenly broken by screams and laughter . . nervous laughter, and I guessed that the River Frome wasn't far away. Sure enough, we went down another slopery bit and there was Iford Manor ahead of me, with a bridge crossing the river in front of it, and a marshal telling me to turn left (away from the bridge) and be careful . .

  the ford across the River Frome had been quite busy earlier in the morning . .

photo (c) Karen Carter . .

Oh boy . . what a lot of water! I saw the steps out of the river over on the opposite bank and started to head directly towards them, only to be yelled at by a marshal in the river (who I hadn't seen), and instructed to go towards him and grab the rope overhead and make my way over to the two other marshals who were up to their chests in water close to the other bank.

 

 

and was a little less frenetic by the time I arrived . .

photo (c) Karen Carter . .

 

The first guy told me to look out for a step . . splash . . too late, I'd found it . . and the water came up above my waist and took my breath right away. Like having a panic attack, I started shallow breathing. Fortunately there were no other runners around, so I didn't need to worry about anybody else, and I was able to keep it under control until I'd crossed the river and emerged onto dry land. This was immediately followed by a long uphill stretch which I walked up, and gradually got my breathing back under control. The marshals in the river were essential. I imagine that by the time I arrived they'd been in the water for at least 30 minutes but they were still good humoured and conscientious. Wonder if they've dried out yet?

Afterwards we all laughed and joked about the river crossing. When I was in there I remember wondering how Marie and Vanessa had coped, given their lack of height, and indeed it turned out that Vanessa now has two new friends, being the marshals who gave her a helping hand or two as she forded the stream!

But not only was this race memorable for the water crossing. There was (as there usually is at these events) the friendliness and encouragement from all the marshals. There was the sunlight shining through the leaves on the trees, throwing shadows in front of us, and of course the leaves were such a glorious variety of colour. There was the smell of wood smoke from some of the barges moored beside the canal, and towards the end there was the driving rain bouncing off my spectacles! There was the first 4k, shared with Debbie, that went by so quickly we hardly noticed. There was the sign telling me there was 400 metres to go, and shortly after that there was the finish, and the noise made by Vanessa, Debbie and Paul as they waited patiently for me to cross the line. Thanks guys, you were great.

 

By the time I'd washed most of the mud off I'd missed some of the prize giving, but I was pleased to get there in time to see Andy receive his award for finishing 1st V40, what a great run that was! Tracy ran a great race too, just missing 1st place in her category by a few seconds. In fact everyone ran really well, and certainly all who I spoke with afterwards had really enjoyed their morning's splashy fun!

As for me, well 7+ miles or 11.5k is the furthest distance I've covered for almost 4 years, since I ran in a 10 miler on November 1st 2009, so I'm thrilled to bits about that. And although I was last man home once again, there were 6 ladies behind me, three of whom had overtaken me on the hill up away from the ford, but who I'd managed to get back in front of in the last couple of k. That's better!

11.5k closer to Copenhagen!

Edit . . and having had my serious run head on . . thanks to Paul and Vanessa for the reminder . . How could I possibly write about this race and not mention all the laughter, all the fun that together with Debbie we had on the way to and from the race. One of the funniest days I've enjoyed in a long time, thank you . .

Over The Hills (officially 12k)
winning time 44.17
6 48.28 Andy 1st MV40 
80 58.06 Alan 
82 58.13 Marie  
117 61.47 Tracy  
183 69.44 Maggie  
228 76.31 Paul 
252 81.14 Sheila  
261 82.12 Sue  
275 85.10 Vanessa  
290 89.52 Debbie 

291 93.12 Me
297 finishers

the Nightingale Nightmare 10k . . Revenge of the Jelly Baby . .

27 October

Many many years ago, when I was aged 8 or 9, I remember sitting on the floor with my brother Phil and our cousin Sue at the feet of our Grandad. He was sat in an armchair with a packet of jelly babies, picking them out of the packet one at a time, and inspecting them. It turned out that they all had dirty feet! Nowadays of course we might send them back to Bassetts in the hope that they'd send a whole case of them back by way of apology! Grandad's solution however was to amputate the feet and give them to his doting grandchildren, whilst eating the rest of the sweet himself.

Ever since then I've always had to check the feet of any jelly baby I've been given, which has led to some very puzzled looks during races. I've often tried to explain why I'm checking their feet but this only serves to make matters worse! And I've never found one with dirty feet!

 

I reminded Phil of Grandad's confectionary foot fetish a few days ago and he couldn't remember it. Hardly surprising really as he's younger and it was so long ago. But as I related this tale I realised just how silly I sounded!

 

thanks Debbie

 

So as I lumbered along through Leigh Woods this morning, when someone offered me a jelly baby I took it, said thank you, and popped it into my mouth just like a normal person. Oh, it felt so good! So liberating! But woe betide the incautious jelly baby eater, for this was the one with dirty feet! How else to explain the awful "discomfort" I felt during the middle section of the race, in the middle section of me?

But I digress! The Nightingale Nightmare was a great little race, and although there was an unfortunate issue with marshalling, Southville Running Club are to be congratulated on having staged their first ever event. It was a 10k starting and ending along the Avon Gorge towpath, and in between a lot of climbing, descending, slipping, sliding, working hard, and smiling. The marshalls were great, very encouraging indeed. Many of them were in fancy dress and the one dressed as a scarecrow in particular looked fabulous. Certainly frightened me and I'm not even a crow!

Lots of the runners were in fancy dress. There was a Halloween theme to the event and the mile markers, and the marshal positions, were all marked with pumpkins, each one especially carved out for the occasion. The half way pumpkin even had a candle lit in it. A lot of people went to a lot of trouble with their costumes and face painting, runners and marshals alike, and whilst this would have been an enjoyable race on any weekend of the year the Halloween thing made it all the more so.

It was really great to be with so many friends from Bristol & West AC this morning . . too many to single out really. But a big thank you has to be said to Alison, who came out and supported us all. We saw her twice during the race and she was even still there waiting for me to come through at the 9k point. Several of my friends won prizes, and the rest of us enjoyed cheering louder than our hosts, Southville did for their runners, when one of our runners was given a prize. It was so good to see everyone enjoying themselves so much, especially when some of us hadn't exactly been looking forward to the challenge earlier in the day!

I loved it. Of course it was hard work, and the long hill in the second k meant I soon got left behind by most of the runners. Those of you who've seen the photos will know that the old clown costume came out today. I managed to keep my red nose on for most of the time, and I don't think I terrified any children!

I was overtaken by a returning marshal in the final k. I was a bit confused about where the finish was going to be, and as he passed me the marshal said there were two runners chasing after me. I didn't know if I could pick the speed up or not because I was unsure how far there was to go. And then the marshal started shouting to the two runners behind "the clown's dying, I can see it in his eyes, the clown's dying!". He had a big grin on his face, so he was instantly forgiven, but I wasn't an ex-runner just yet, and at that moment I saw some tape, and a crowd of people in the distance. So I held on to my clowny trousers and hat and made a bolt for the line! I wasn't last!!

And just as I crossed the finish line, my baggy trousers fell down! Ooops! How very dare they!!

 

not sure who this photo belongs to, hope you don't mind me using it . .