The Childrey 10k Invitation Fun Run 2009

Posted Monday evening

A beautiful morning. Up early to set the course with Jeremy.

Most of the preparation last night paid off although the bike was difficult to ride with nine, carefully prepared sign-posts strapped to it with bungie chords. Said sign-posts then promptly fell to pieces when we tried to hammer them in to the ground... Ho-hum.

Used all 50 of the route markers and most of the other signs. Kept forgetting to put the distance markers up though so had to keep going back to do them while Jeremy pushed on ahead.

Back in time for lunch and a quick read of the papers before heading off to do last minute fussing. Karen, Andrew and the boys arrived as I was leaving so I knew that we would have at least a few supporters!

Race went well. The start on the gravel drive in front of the Manor was really friendly with everyone shaking hands and having a few minutes to catch up; I was really pleased that Neil and the family had travelled to be part of the race, things like that mean a lot. Its that kind of spirit that we need to keep if (when) the race grows - a group of old and new friends out for a run.

Out on the course a blisteringly quick pace was set by Dominic and Jason up in front with Jeremy coming in a creditable third (again). Karen won it for the ladies as had been widely forecast (must try harder to get more ladies involved next year!).

The finish down the avenue of trees facing the Manor House was as spectacular as I'd hoped and although I (obviously) missed the first three come in, Chariots of Fire was still playing as I finished. There was a really good crowd of people to cheer the finishers in and several supporters got involved in holding the finish tape, handing out water etc. William did a great job handing out the medals and we couldn't have done without Jane's time keeping again (and keeping me sane in the run-up).

I'm delighted that the race details and timing spreadsheet/ program worked really well; it took a lot of stress away for Jane. I'll take the data out and post it on a suitable online forum seeing as I couldn't find any software under $200 when I looked...

So I'm classing the second Childrey 10k Invitation Fun Run as a success (well I haven't had any complaints) and the planning for next year starts when we get back from holiday in August. Thoughts include a 5k and 1k run (both off-road) for children and those not up to the 10k. Also thinking of following Neil's great suggestion of starting the 10k at about 1400 so we can present trophies at the start of the Fete. All ideas welcome.

"Today I have been mainly..." sweating!

Run around the 10k route

Posted on Wednesday morning

Beautiful morning. Up with the lark (well Year Of The Cat on the iPod actually) and out round the final route for the Childrey 10k.

We have a grand total of 12 entries which is 50% up on last year and nearly half our target capacity. While I would have loved a full field, the opportunity to build slowly is probably a good thing. Next year we will have an announcement in the January village newsletter so that people can make it their New Year's resolution.

"Today I have been mainly..." remembering to buy Dad a card for Father's Day

Childrey 10k route finalised

Went out for a final check of the course this morning. I've decided that the canal tow path is just too overgrown to make that a realistic option. Its back to Silver Lane I'm afraid.

Had a lovely afternoon with Adelaide, Stuart and Ava; barbecue, enjoyed the sunshine and got a lump-hammer out and started demolishing walls!

"Today I have been mainly..." getting ready for the builders coming

I'm a firestarter

Can there be any greater pleasure on a Saturday afternoon than having a bonfire? Well obviously yes but you know what I mean!

"Today I have been mainly..." satisfying my inner pyromaniac!

Work, work, work...

Bit of a mad day work-wise but at least I managed 1,600m in the pool this morning before spending literally all day on the phone.

Time for cocktails methinks! Especially as I'm going to have to do more calls over the weekend.

"Today I have been mainly..." conference calling.

Google Sync and Maps - technology that works

I've been playing around with Google Sync and apart from a couple of "gotchas" (which do actually make sense when you have them pointed out to you!) it most definitely falls in to the "technology that works" category.

I've now managed to achieve that almost mystical state of serenity that comes from having the contacts on my phone, Outlook, Gmail and BlackBerry all the same without having to export/ merge/ import all my data via Excel.

Its not perfect in that it doesn't handle Outlook categories and due to my company's security policy I can only sync manually but it does what I need it to which is to make my life easier without first making it harder! The really big deal is that the decision I took about 10 years ago not to keep separate personal and work address books appears to have finally paid off.

And while we are on the subject, Google Maps has done a pretty good job today of getting me from Paddington into the City on foot as the Tube strike is still on. I walked via the parks (Hyde, Green and St. James; the shot above is the Joy of Life Fountain in Hyde Park) which took about an hour-and-a-half but as I was on the phone and email all the way it didn't really matter.

The "walking" option in the latest version of Maps works brilliantly and even has Streetview (the little picture at the top of the screen).

I know that Google is now supposed to be evil but while they keep innovating geeks like me will keep drinking the Kool-Aid!

"Today I have been mainly..." Travelling on trains and walking through London.

Devil's Punchbowl

Been having a bit of a mad few days; plenty of running (well a fair bit) but not much time to update the blog.

Lovely run with Steve and his dog round the Devil's Punchbowl this morning. Misty, sun starting to burn the clouds off, skylarks singing - the picture doesn't really do it justice.

More or less ready for the 10k. Signs and trophies have arrived, medals have 2009 ribbons on them and I've produced all the route and distance markers. Just need a few more entries now...

"Today I have been mainly..." feeling glad I didn't risk going in to London given the tube strike!

Good swim...

Wantage pool for a 1,600m thrash-up-and-down. Fully two minutes faster than last week which means that I'm improving or that curry really did weigh me down! No bike though - the Wantage Tri is definitely off.

Working from home so finished at a decent time and out in the sunshine with Karen, Sam and Jack who had come to visit for the day.

"Today I have been mainly..." looking out the window and wishing I was outside.

The Canal

Woke up to rain.

Great (as usual) takeaway from Yummy Thai last night to celebrate Jane's birthday, so I really felt that I needed to run off a few calories.

Decided to have a bit of explore so nosied through Dropshort Farm and then dropped down into West Challow and ran along the canal to East Challow. There is another footpath (I think) that goes from near Mission Hall up to the main track to Childrey but I couldn't find it; so instead I back-tracked along the canal and then took the path alongside the school playing field.

Nice (forty minute) run but a bit soggy by the time I got back. I'm wondering if I should make the canal and footpath part of the 10k to avoid running up Silver Lane. Its a bit narrow in parts and the path up to the playing field is deeply rutted in sections but it would avoid the road. The real challange though is avoiding Middleway Bottom and Holloway. I need to get the map out again but I had the same problem last year and couldn't crach it without getting badly nettled or wading through six inches of mud.

Champions League tonight. As a proud Englishman I find situations like this really testing - I'm going to have to cheer for the over-paid, prancing, show-ponies of Manchester United. Even Chelsea would have been better than that!

"Today I have been mainly..." failing to dodge the rain.

Summer is here

(written on Tuesday morning on the train but not posted until Friday 'cos my BlackBerry is broken!)

Not out of bed too early due to one too many beers last night but soon forgot about that when I saw what a beautiful morning it was. Loaded up my little Deuter rucksack and headed out into the sunshine.

Left the village via Holloway and then up Middleway Bottom to Sparsholt Firs. That is a long climb on the bike but it seems to go on for ever when you are running. From there headed along the Ridgeway to the White Horse and then came back via Kingston Lisle, Westcot and Sparsholt. I reminded myself, yet again, how lucky we are to have all this on our doorstep.

Out for about an hour and a half and feeling really good (and rather pleased with myself) when I got back. Managed to get myself on the wrong line coming from Kingston Lisle again and had to wade through some thistles and nettles to recover but other than that it was just about a perfect run.

Jane was off in to London to see Nichola and the twins so the boys and I headed in to Oxford to buy Jane's birthday presents.

Booked dinner at the Trout near Oxford for Jane's birthday treat. It wasn't the Trout that I meant to book! The food was just about acceptable but the service was absolutely rubbish. We won't be going there again which is a shame because the setting was lovely.

"Today I have been mainly..." appreciating what great company the boys are.

Swimming

Going swimming on a Friday morning is a brilliant start to the day (especially when working from home and spending the day sat at your desk) it just leaves you smelling of chlorine all day. No matter how carefully you shower you stink like something very chloriney.

I'm having a small whisky and water to take my mind off it.

1,600m this morning in 37:21. I haven't been keeping a record but that feels "OK" rather than anything that might break any world records... I didn't cycle as I had a bit of late night last night after going out for a curry with Mike in Newbury. As a result I'm thinking that only one outing on the bike so far this year might make the Wantage Triathlon a bit of a tall order...

"Today I have been mainly..." smelling of chlorine.

And they're off...

The (viral) emails have gone out to all the likely competitors and Jane has put a piece in the village newsletter so we are already far better prepared than we were last year.

Just need to get the route markers and "caution runners" signs organised as last year's didn't survive...

Childrey 10k Route

Dragged myself out of bed following a late governors meeting and tried out the route again. Have made a couple of tweaks and I think I'm happy with it now. It would be great to incorporate a section of the newly refurbished canal but I can't see how to do that without messing the route up completely. I'll have a bit of a play when I do my long run on Saturday.

"Today I have been mainly..." bemoaning the state of the economy.

New season, new commitment

Looking back over previous posts makes me realise a) how fit I was this time last year and b) how writing down what you've done helps to make it really clear what you haven't!

The ramblings are therefore back.

Up early for the first try-out of the Childrey 10k route . Quite a windy morning but warmer than it was over the weekend and a cloud-free sky. Still feeling a little jaded after the late night on Saturday (dinner party at ours with Mette and Mark, Alison and Simon and a bottle of Australian port that I brought back about fourteen years ago that Dad found in the back of a cupboard!) but I'm pleased with the course. It's hilly though; going to be tough as a race!

"Today I have been mainly..." listening to Romeo And Juliet by Prokofiev. It was on Radio 3 as I drove to the station this morning and I really didn't want the journey to end. Really beautiful music.

Have to update my race calendar for this year...