Phoenix Running Intergalactic Friday Marathon, 25.11.2022 and Saturn Running Autumn Marathon 27.11.2022

Phoenix Running Intergalactic Friday Marathon, 25.11.2022 in 04.00.45

Found a new route to Waterloo, saving half the the time of the 26 bus! Met Sarah in the front carriage of the 07.12 from Waterloo, and walked to the start at the Wier Pub in Walton-on-thames. Lovely sunny morning!

Started off about 08.30 and ran the blue bridge route, 8 laps for a marathon. Saw Dimitri the cockeral, who seemed to do an early wake up call, another one mid morning, and then a lunch time reminder. The swans were in the swan spa, the seagulls and ducks pottering along the river, and it was a nice peaceful morning on the towpath. Lots of catch ups, and a good chat-athon with Sarah, and we finished in 04.00.45, which was our fastest time running together/chat-athoning!

Mint tea, a walk back in the sunshine, and sharing the train with loads of football fans, who seemed to think it was ok to go for a wee without shutting the toilet door.

Thanks Phoenix! And Sarah!

Saturn Running Autumn Marathon, 27.11.2022 in 03.57.12

An extra bonus chat-athon! Today in Reading, which was an interesting place to try to get to with the train strikes on and what not. Worth it though! Timed it well to avoid the rain, and it was a strange, misty, humid type of day. 

Because of all the recent rain, the route was changed to the other way to normal, along the path back towards Caversham Lock. I hadn't done this before, and it was a nice route, with the exception of the giant bridge with the wrong length steps for short people. Enjoyed watching the Sunday morning football in the park we ran through, which was more entertaining than the World Cup has been so far, especially the part where they moved the goal posts (to avoid the mud). Ran over "Halloumi Bridge" which squeaked whenever we ran over it, and through "soggy cornflakes and shredded wheat sections" (to identify the differnet sogginess of the fallen leaves). The swans were all looking smart and unruffled. The man at Caversham Boat Club was putting up Christmas lights all morning, and they looked pretty sparkling across the water, especially the seesaws.

Shrimps, pretzels, and chocolate ice creams! Thanks Saturn Runnjng for a great day! Lovely to see lots of friends. Thank you Sarah for another chat-athon, and for our first time sub-4ing together! 

Running Miles Ricky Races Marathon (17.11.22), Saturn Chasing Numbers Marathon (18.11.22) & LDWA Sundon Saunter 27 miles (20.11.22)

 The best weekend of running, a mini break, friends and family!

Thursday 17.11.22 - Running Miles Ricky Races, marathon

The rain on the walk to the station was so bad, it felt like the end of days. Jumped on the Met line with Andrew on his way to work, and met Sarah on route. The run was at the Rickmansworth Aquadrome, which is super easy to get to, and a route I love.

First lap was rainy, but we ran with Theresa, which brightened things up! 

Then the rain stopped, and it turned into quite a nice day. A nice and sociable chat-athon with Sarah, with lots to catch up on, including a couple of laps talking about cemeteries, and with some km's with James as well (northern northern-ness to my southern northern-ness).

8 rounds of the route for a marathon.

What seems to be a worldwide pink shrimp shortage, forced us to experiment with strawberry hearts, and jelly babies. Plus the usual pretzels and a half way freddo.

Lots of swans and a zillion cute dogs, and a nice cafe at the end makes for a nice place to spend the morning running. Thank you Running Miles, Rik and Beryl! 

Friday 19.11.22 - Saturn Chasing Numbers, marathon, 4:16

After an "interesting" journey, made it to Staines to meet Jon, Sarah, and Annabel. Thanks Jon for the lifts! 

 

A chilly but sunny run, from Runnymead, and 8 laps for a marathon. Soon warmed up, and it was so sunny we couldn't see. It was beautiful by the still water, with the trees mostly bare now, but filled with mistletoe balls. Saw swans, geese, ducks, cows, and dogs during chat-athon #2, and wore the new Track Wars vests. Good to share some miles with Craig, Kasia, and Andy, and catch up with lots of folk.

It was giant Flump Friday! With more pretzels, and a half way jaffa cake. Great day out by the river. Thanks Saturn Running!

Sunday 20.11.22 - LDWA The Sundon Saunter, 27 miles

Such a brilliant weekend and event! Stayed for the weekend in Tingrith, and got to see my Mum, Dad, Andrew, Auntie Nicky and cousin Sammy on a mini break, so we could all do various assortments of the routes of the Sundon Saunter, an event organised by the Beds, Bucks and Northants LDWA Group. 

I did the 27 mile route (which also had some extra LDWA "bonus miles"), and it was a beautiful route and excellent event, I thoroughly would recommend it. 

It was a clockwise loop starting and finishing in Barton-le-Clay, heading down to Chalton (CP1), over to Milton Bryan (CP2), up through Woburn Deer Park (a highlight!) to Harlington (CP3) and back to Barton-le-Clay. The views were lovely, and the sun shone. It was quite muddy underfoot, but nowhere near as bad as I expected given all the recent heavy rain, and I was happy with myself that I navigated myself around without any major mishaps after quite a break from navigating type runs!

Good to see Dave, Merriem and Andrew (BBN LDWA) during the day! Although I was running mostly on my own, I met loads of people on the way round, and it was really social, and it was good to meet and run a few miles together with Dimi - thank you! Good to see Davo, Elaine and Andy, Steve, and Ercole too. 

About 1.5 miles from the end, I caught up with my Dad, who had been walking the 18 mile route, and we walked together for a while, eating Kendal Mint Cake and catching up on the day, which was brilliant! 

Amazing spread put on at each of the checkpoints, and soup and bread and cakes at the end.

Well done to my family gang who all completed their respective challenges - super proud of you all, and I love that we all do these things together! 

Thank you BBN LDWA for a superb event!