Run Report - The Gate, Briants Bottom. 25th April 2007

5.2 miles / 775ft climb / 1:05

Report by Jules

The weather remained unseasonably warm and dry for the third run of the season. Are April showers a thing of the past?

After some debate in the pub car park (which we had filled up!) John promised a “New and Interesting” alternative to the usual Gate run that had been enjoyed by us all for the past few years.

So the committed band of runners set out on “John’s Jaunt” - John B himself, Jerome, Chris, Kate, Amanda, Selwyn, Steve, Michael, Doug, Duds, Presso, David and Myself. We started with the usual hill into Piggots Wood (see map) a descended down to the road near to the Ice Cream Factory. From here a shout of “go right” set the faster runners off at a reasonable pace up the road with Duds explaining just how good the Ice Cream was (Yes – Duds has been seen mixing it at the front!!). This might be why we didn’t notice for about a half mile that John had recalled us as we should have turned left.

The remainder of the run was very pleasant and enjoyable, littered with adolescent memories for Duds and regular checking and rechecking of the map by John, Chris, Jerome and me. Lucky some of us know how to read it…… The patches of bluebells were as impressive as ever although not as dense or aromatic as the previous week – see photo.

Total time out was just over the hour for most of us although Chris peeled off for an additional 30 minutes - with our car key or so. Susie had missed us at the start but had gone out on her own – without getting lost!

The Pub was very hospitable and quite apologetic that the European Cup game (Chelsea v Liverpool) could not be shown. They had decided not to pay the £3000+ annual licence fee for Sky Sports for obvious reasons – although our consumption of snacks would have gone some way towards funding it! Heather joined us briefly in the Pub having been running at home on the Running Machine!

See you all next Wednesday in Radnage. Milan v Manchester United on widescreen and lots of wholesome snacks. I will organise a route with shortcut (and maps) for those wishing to get back promptly. Please bring drinks and swimmers if you fancy a dip – 7:00 pm start.

Fox and Hounds, Christmas Common, 18th April 2007

Supplementary Run Report by Doug

If there is/was an officially appointed scribe, then due apologies for toe-treading, but, with some spectacular re-juggling of present duties, I have managed to manufacture a spare fifteen minutes, in which to challenge my recollections of last Wednesday.
Now, let me see. From the above list I remember Duds, Amanda and Jules, Fred and Jerome, Michael, Dominique, John and Rodders, who, minus Susie, was as 'a ship without a sail' ......We also welcomed back the travellers, Steve and Spellbound from New Zealand, David from Augusta and, after a year's sabbatical (and a trip to Mauritius), Mr 'Wednesday Night Runners' himself, Brett Rivett; all of whom gathered at the Fox and Hounds. The fact that the pub was closed for business sparked much pre-traumatic stress amongst us 'fatties', but a cunning disaster recovery plan was implemented and order restored.
Now I turned up with a modicum of confidence about this one, since Jerome was in charge. This would be a gentle 3-4 miler, with minimal inclines, copious stopping points and a heavy emphasis on the quality of the beer and pork scratchings.............................................errr, no. Six miles I am told, largely up and down (some of the downs being particularly tricky) and a nasty one and a half mile steady climb to the finish (well almost).
But, in truth, it was all strangely enjoyable. Beautiful views at times (though most of us were keeping a watchful eye on ankle-wrecking tractor marks) and, in the early part of the run at least, a chance to catch up with the aforementioned voyagers. Not too sure how it was at the head of the pack, but very pleasant, in parts, at the rear.
Briefly back to that nasty closing climb, as Jerome did amuse me afterwards, when he told me that he had tried to 'burn me off' as we ascended. Now, people 'running on the spot' will have generated more forward momentum than our combined efforts at times and let me assure that, at no time, was there any discernible 'change in pace' from either of us; breathing patterns, yes; strange involuntary noises, yes; but pace, sorry. Thanks, anyway, Jerome, for inspiring me up the hill and making me chortle.
The drive to the Bull and Butcher seemed interminable. David was struggling with the somewhat inept barman upon our arrival but the long-awaited rewards duly arrived. The golfing fraternity surrounded David in search of snippets about Tiger and Luke and the Augusta authoritarian management. Next year's Gullane will almost certainly be in America as a consequence. Brett made the schoolboy error of sitting nearest the bar and seemed to spend the evening fetching drinks and nibbles. I really have no idea what anyone else was doing or talking about but the evening as a whole was most enjoyable.
Next week (ie tomorrow, or maybe even today by the time most of you get this) is, indeed, from the Gate at Bryants Bottom, with a prompt 6.45pm departure sought, along with a pub with Sky for the Chelsea v Liverpool game..........?

Run report Wed 18 April 07. Fox & Hounds, Xmas Common.

Run Report by Selwyn

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Another pleasant evening in the Oxfordshire countryside. Plenty of space in the car park for the happy band of runners - the pub was closed. For refurbishment - again?

A good turnout - Amanda, Dominique & Fred, Brett, David, Doug, Duds, Jerome, John, Jules, Michael, Sel & Steve T (apologies if anyone missed out).

Jerome had prepared the route, which was welcomely different from the usual for this venue, avoiding the horrible (for most) last leg climbing back up from the Oxfordshire Plain. Last time Rodders actually doubled back to meet me at the bottom of that particularly steep bit and of course ran past me on the way up again - exactly how many Weetabix does he eat?

This time we set off in a south easterly direction, turned north at some point, then west, then back towards the pub some 6 miles? later. Don't ask me where - I think we sort of circumvented Northend, if that helps. There still seemed to be too many hills - but some people actually seem to like the bloody things. David & Brett took a shorter route back at some point. I should really have joined them. Age & weight took their toll and I was a long way behind on the last long uphill slog back to the main road. Rodders again doubled back to see how I was doing and to point me in the direction home and in the meantime did a couple of extra loops through the woods just for fun. Steve T also doubled back to help me cross the road.

The Bull & Butcher at Turville was the pub chosen to adjourn to. No room in the public bar so we ended up joining a few people dining in the room at the far end. I think they enjoyed our company immensely. If there was any conversation about dogging I must have missed it - maybe resume this topic at the next venue, which by the way is to be The Gate at Bryants Bottom -6.45 pm start.

See you all there (& apologies for the late posting) - Sel.

Run Report - The Peacock 11th April 2007

Run Report by Jerome


The usual Peacock run on a beautiful spring evening was enjoyed (for some) by Amanda, Jules, Chris, Susie, Doug, John, Kate, Duds, Ricky, Dominique, Fred, myself and the youngest ever participant Ellie Jackson, her mum Heather took the walking option which was I’m sure more enjoyable than running.
One serious hill about 1 ½ miles into the run was I’m sure indicative of what we will be facing over the next 5 months but thankfully there was only one of them last night. Once at the top Ellie realised that her school cross country runs were a bit flat in Berkhamsted and she has vowed to increase her hill training. Meantime most of the rest of us have vowed to reduce the number of hills. At the top of the hill Doug and myself kindly agreed to accompany Ellie home a slightly shorter route whereas the others powered on an extra mile……..so they say!! One of my few ever conversations while running took place and Doug and I discussed when we were going to play the K Club this year with our vouchers. Unfortunately with the cost of summer green fees over there it seems that our voucher may cover the cost of playing one shot off the first tee only.

Once back at the pub Doug actually bought some nibbles on the first round with the Kettle crisps being especially popular.
It is difficult to judge the main topic of conversation as I was squeezed out of the inner circle when I disappeared to buy the second round. There were a few more references to dogging, some mild amusement at John and Kate’s trip to Dorset and a great deal of discussion on where we should run next week.

The run next week will start at 6.45pm and I will plan a new route from the Fox & Hounds at Christmas Common.
See you then
Jerome

Royal Oak, Bovingdon Green) 4th April 2007

Run Report by Duds

A pleasant first run. Thank you Rodders.

In attendance were: Chris and Susie (what can I add ?), John and Kate (aah), Rob Hawkins (like a doe eyed dear in a forest glade sir – at high speed), Doug (I’ll pretend I’m really unfit but keep up with everyone else for the whole run), Ricky "white chicken legs" Arnold, Michael "the bread man" H and myself.

Not too hilly for a first outing and extremely dry underfoot (considering it was the first run of the season). Don’t want to bore you all to death with a description of the run but basically we turned left out of the pub car park, ran along the road for a few hundred metres, turned left onto a green and past some houses, along a dirt track and through some fields, through some woods, across a road, across some more fields and a golf course, along a grass path near some boats and a marina, along a gently rising road to a T-junction, over the road, in amongst some houses, turned right, along a fenced off path up a steady hill, turned right at the top of the valley, up another incline, into a small wood and onto a road which none of us recognised, turned right at the green with the houses that we had run past earlier in the run, turned right onto a road and right into the pub car park.

Anyone of the non-runners recognise the route ?

No major dramas except the writer doing an overly dramatic forward roll in one of the wooded areas and a fair amount of grunting, groaning and sweating. A little stiff this morning but that’s another story.

Also, and it should be noted, Doug decided not to buy any scratchings or crisps on the first round because he felt we wouldn’t have enough cash in the kitty. Sacrilege in my book…… We did make up for it on the second round though.
The pub chat started where we had left off at the end of last season (i.e. in the gutter) and seems to focus on "dogging" in the environs of Marlow, Amersham and Maidenhead thicket…… A few of the runners seemed to be quite knowledgeable on the subject which was a little worrying.
Anyway, next week (11th) we decided that it would be a lovely idea to run from The Peacock which is situated just outside Lane End on the road to Stokenchurch at a kind of crossroads) with a 6:45 pm sharp start, OK.

By the way and for those of you that don’t yet know, Steve Sutton (Spider) became a father for the 3rd time a few days ago. Another little (8lbs 5 oz. ?) baby girl named Libby. Well done Steve and Nic.

Love and kisses,
Duds.

Franz Josef Glacier, NZ - 7th April 2007

A very disappointing turnout, for one of the most spectacular runs this season.

Selwyn, Steve and Patrick (Guest) commenced an early morning ascent of the Franz Josef Glacier located on the west coast of the South Island NZ.

We set off at a healthy pace around 4 Kilometres from the foot of the glacier. After around a kilometre we encountered a barrier warning not to proceed beyond this point due to the imminent danger of falling rocks and ice. Undettered by this warning our hardy runners proceeded forward, the terrain turning from a shingle path to a dangerous moonscape of treacherous rocks and fast flowing torrents. We reached the foot of the glacier around half an hour later whereupon we chanced upon a semi-clad Swedish masseuse named Helga looking for Big John (too shy to pose for the photie).