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.