Run report by Steve Sutton (aka Spider)
And so it came to be…………a new venue, a new run…very few takers !!
Rodders, JB, Harry B, Kate, Duds and yours truly assembled at 7pm prompt on a lovely sunny evening in Lacey Green. Various messages had filtered through from non attendees, but after waiting around until ten past with no evidence of our numbers being swelled, we set off. I think young Harry was rather nervous about the fierce pace that would be set and of being left at the back, but I’m sure he felt far more comfortable by the first stop, safe in the knowledge that Duds and myself could not compete with youth or fitness and would be bringing up the rear for the evening. Rodders had planned a very pleasant, picturesque and, most importantly for me, flat route. Speaking as the evening’s rear gunner, a brisk pace was maintained throughout with very little stoppage time – especially from a back marker perspective !
Not being too hot on the geography of where we are on any of our runs, the route took us over to Hampden, past the Manor and the Church, where Duds enlightened me of the tale where his mate had apparently broken wind very violently at a Christmas service as an intoxicated youth! We carried on past the top end of Bryants Bottom, picking up part of the Gate run (in reverse) and heading in the general direction of Speen…I think. The athletically challenged contingent then split off for the obligatory fattie route home, which was apparently an old Highwayman’s haunt, and which also turned out to be far longer than Duds had remembered it from when it was his old stomping ground over 30 years ago. The fit contingent took a longer loop back towards the pub, no idea where they went as I wasn’t there ! JB exhibited exemplary parenting skills, seemingly making Harry sprint the last ½ mile up the hill, otherwise there would be no chips for tea !!
We returned to the pub after exactly 1 hour, having covered approx 5 miles. Susie was the welcoming committee at the pub on our return, having been on School Disco taxi duty earlier.
Crisps, great chips and liquid refreshment accompanied the usual diverse and often educational banter. Duds will be undertaking a mammoth 300+ mile rowing challenge in the Dordogne next year accompanied by ‘Big’ Ben, whose capacity for speed drinking lager is frightening and who needs to shed half his body mass before getting in a canoe. We agreed Blackberry’s are the ‘work of the devil’, but Susie confessed she is addicted and refuses to switch hers off, much to Chris’ delight. As part of our weekly education programme, pubic coiffeuring was the topic of the day. It seems that there is an increasing prevalence of this in Males (?) and that in Brazil , the well-loved ‘Brazilian’ is referred to as a ‘Hitler’……..priceless!!!
Next weeks spiritual outing will be from Hughenden Church , meet in the car park for a 7pm start. From memory this is about a 45 min run, I believe there is an additional 2-3 mile loop for those who would like to indulge, which carries on from when we return to Hughenden and ends up at the Harrow pub, where we will adjourn after our exertions.
See you all next week.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
The Fox & Hounds, Christmas Common + Bull & Butcher, Turville 14th July 2010 - run no 16
Run report by Steve Taylor.............
The Yew Tree, Frieth. 7th July 2010 - run 15
Run report by Selwyn (aka Spellbound)
A very, very late report, for which my apologies. I am thankful for those amongst us who remembered that we had indeed chosen the Fox & Hounds PH at Xmas Common for next week's (ie tonight's) venue - this to encourage Presso to make yet another appearance, although I think it will be a somewhat hillier course than last week, which, for the fatties amongst us at least was remarkably flat given the chosen starting point - The Yew Tree at Frieth. But perhaps this was no coincidence, given that the route was plotted by my goodself, experienced in seeking out the flattest routes in this particular area.
Forgive me if I have missed anyone out, but as I remember the squad consisted of Amanda, Fred, Kate, David, Doug, Duds, Jerome, Jules, Lars, Neil H, Presso, Steve T & myself.
Lars made a late start and it seems that even though some members of the group did apparently spot him, he didn't quite manage to join up with the rest of the group and ended up back at the pub even before the fatties arrived back. Jules, I think, had done his usual trick of running from Radnage to the start and Fred & Jerome had chosen to cycle there from Hambleden. (Fred was frantically trying to put in some last minute training for a weekend endurance event she had somewhat hastily volunteered to do with Tom).
A very pleasant run, where at about the half way mark, acutely aware of their somewhat more conservative capabilities, the fatties split from the rest and duly pointed the fitties in the direction of a longer loop, with a few more contours to negotiate to boot. This didn't stop Steve T catching us up about a mile later, sprinting up a hill to join us. He seemed somewhat surprised when we announced that at that point we intended to head off in a direct line for the pub, rather than trying a few more loops, no matter how good the views might have been.
Sorry but I can't remember what we talked about afterwards, only that the Spain v Germany match was watched through the window of the pub sitting around a bench outside & chips were served with ketchup & mayonnaise - unlike that other pub in Frieth, which sadly has gone down in our estimation.
Look forward to seeing everyone at the Fox & Hounds at 7.00 pm.
A very, very late report, for which my apologies. I am thankful for those amongst us who remembered that we had indeed chosen the Fox & Hounds PH at Xmas Common for next week's (ie tonight's) venue - this to encourage Presso to make yet another appearance, although I think it will be a somewhat hillier course than last week, which, for the fatties amongst us at least was remarkably flat given the chosen starting point - The Yew Tree at Frieth. But perhaps this was no coincidence, given that the route was plotted by my goodself, experienced in seeking out the flattest routes in this particular area.
Forgive me if I have missed anyone out, but as I remember the squad consisted of Amanda, Fred, Kate, David, Doug, Duds, Jerome, Jules, Lars, Neil H, Presso, Steve T & myself.
Lars made a late start and it seems that even though some members of the group did apparently spot him, he didn't quite manage to join up with the rest of the group and ended up back at the pub even before the fatties arrived back. Jules, I think, had done his usual trick of running from Radnage to the start and Fred & Jerome had chosen to cycle there from Hambleden. (Fred was frantically trying to put in some last minute training for a weekend endurance event she had somewhat hastily volunteered to do with Tom).
A very pleasant run, where at about the half way mark, acutely aware of their somewhat more conservative capabilities, the fatties split from the rest and duly pointed the fitties in the direction of a longer loop, with a few more contours to negotiate to boot. This didn't stop Steve T catching us up about a mile later, sprinting up a hill to join us. He seemed somewhat surprised when we announced that at that point we intended to head off in a direct line for the pub, rather than trying a few more loops, no matter how good the views might have been.
Sorry but I can't remember what we talked about afterwards, only that the Spain v Germany match was watched through the window of the pub sitting around a bench outside & chips were served with ketchup & mayonnaise - unlike that other pub in Frieth, which sadly has gone down in our estimation.
Look forward to seeing everyone at the Fox & Hounds at 7.00 pm.
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
The Two Brewers, Marlow - Wednesday 30th June 2010 (run 14)
Run report by Doug.
My fourth showing of 'the season' and having put in four miles on the bike, four+ miles on the run and four pints in the bar, I was a little aggrieved to be asked to put in my fourpenith on the reporting front. As David implied last week, the selection policy is in danger of becoming a deterrent to the 'occasional' attendee.
Amanda, Sarah, David, Selwyn, Lars, Duds, Jules, Rodders, Brett, a brace of Neils and myself convened at a busy Two Brewers, on another warm and muggy evening. Jerome was NOT there. Jerome, who hasn't missed a single run this year and who confirmed his attendance at 5.40pm, did NOT show and did NOT run. This is the same Jerome, who, in the previous four weeks or so, had given your correspondent an unmercifully hard time about my own absence. It had better be good Jerome...................
Jules had, as you do (and clearly trying to steal my thunder in the pre-run exertion stakes), put in a little ten-miler from Radnage to Marlow. "It all helps to stave off the bit of a belly I had developed" he claimed later, when queried about running 16.1 miles in the evening. Well, quite. Good job you recognised it yourself, as we weren't too sure how to broach the subject.
Through Higginson Park and down by the river towards Temple we headed, nice and flat, nice and steady early pace, no dramas - well, apart from Rodders passing out and collapsing in a heap on the river bank. Onwards and upwards though. Rodders, clearly grateful to have survived this little warning, resisted the offer to retreat to the warm bosom of the middle of the pack and raced off, not just to complete the full fittie 6.2 mile course, but to add in a little 20 mins extra on his own - we weren't really concerned Rodders; we were just hoping you would beat Susie to the pub, so we didn't have to explain!
Lars had made a 'once in a lifetime' schooloy error of trotting off, for "that extra little loop" with the fitties. Once bitten Lars...Good persuasion Duds
The fattie five separated from the main pack somewhere below the 12th green of Harleyford and made our own way to Happy Valley and back down through Springfield. All very pleasant, if more than a little sweaty. 55 minutes 'on the road' for us - the others (minus one) back about ten minutes later.
We were joined by Diana, Susie and Spider for drinks, which were supplemented by some fairly sizeable chips.
Conversation ranged, in my earshot anyway, from Club Med holidays to real ale in golf clubs, from tennis to soccer, from kebabs to raw meat and survival techniques and, finally bushtucker trials to bushes.
In attempting a 'BMX-type' manoeuvre on my way home - to stop at such a large kerb would have been churlish - I have to confess that I parted company with the bike, albeit briefly. My chosen tyres for the evening (spongy with an extra little bit of 'give') were clearly an error for such a high risk move. I have a very sore wrist this morning - over to you Duds......
Apparently, the sole benefit of penning last night's events is the choice of next week's venue. Since this is a World Cup Semi final evening (and likely to be Spain versus Argentina), I would like a TV pub but, Marlow apart, don't know which of the traditional venues has such a facility? Open to suggestions and will confirm later.
After some consultation the run this Wednesday (7th July) will be from the Yew Tree in Freith.
My fourth showing of 'the season' and having put in four miles on the bike, four+ miles on the run and four pints in the bar, I was a little aggrieved to be asked to put in my fourpenith on the reporting front. As David implied last week, the selection policy is in danger of becoming a deterrent to the 'occasional' attendee.
Amanda, Sarah, David, Selwyn, Lars, Duds, Jules, Rodders, Brett, a brace of Neils and myself convened at a busy Two Brewers, on another warm and muggy evening. Jerome was NOT there. Jerome, who hasn't missed a single run this year and who confirmed his attendance at 5.40pm, did NOT show and did NOT run. This is the same Jerome, who, in the previous four weeks or so, had given your correspondent an unmercifully hard time about my own absence. It had better be good Jerome...................
Jules had, as you do (and clearly trying to steal my thunder in the pre-run exertion stakes), put in a little ten-miler from Radnage to Marlow. "It all helps to stave off the bit of a belly I had developed" he claimed later, when queried about running 16.1 miles in the evening. Well, quite. Good job you recognised it yourself, as we weren't too sure how to broach the subject.
Lars had made a 'once in a lifetime' schooloy error of trotting off, for "that extra little loop" with the fitties. Once bitten Lars...Good persuasion Duds
The fattie five separated from the main pack somewhere below the 12th green of Harleyford and made our own way to Happy Valley and back down through Springfield. All very pleasant, if more than a little sweaty. 55 minutes 'on the road' for us - the others (minus one) back about ten minutes later.
We were joined by Diana, Susie and Spider for drinks, which were supplemented by some fairly sizeable chips.
Conversation ranged, in my earshot anyway, from Club Med holidays to real ale in golf clubs, from tennis to soccer, from kebabs to raw meat and survival techniques and, finally bushtucker trials to bushes.
In attempting a 'BMX-type' manoeuvre on my way home - to stop at such a large kerb would have been churlish - I have to confess that I parted company with the bike, albeit briefly. My chosen tyres for the evening (spongy with an extra little bit of 'give') were clearly an error for such a high risk move. I have a very sore wrist this morning - over to you Duds......
Apparently, the sole benefit of penning last night's events is the choice of next week's venue. Since this is a World Cup Semi final evening (and likely to be Spain versus Argentina), I would like a TV pub but, Marlow apart, don't know which of the traditional venues has such a facility? Open to suggestions and will confirm later.
After some consultation the run this Wednesday (7th July) will be from the Yew Tree in Freith.
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