October is a fine and dangerous season

[Charliecat5]

Sloths move only when necessary and even then very slowly; they have about a quarter as much muscle tissue as other animals of similar weight. They can move at a marginally higher speed if they are in immediate danger from a predator or someone has called last orders, but they burn large amounts of energy doing so. 

Their specialised hands and feet have long, curved claws to allow them to grip a beer glass or water bottle without dropping it, even when startled.  While they sometimes sit on top of branches, they usually eat, sleep, and even give birth hanging from limbs. They sometimes remain hanging from branches after death. Sloths are very sturdily built and rarely die from alcohol poisoning or too much peanut butter.

It’s been three weeks now… I really need to get out for a run.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Hah! Even I am running more than you at the moment!

There, that should stir you on a bit.

[Charliecat5]

MLCMM is running, Sweder is running (in a fashion – it’s sometimes hard to tell), Glaconman is always running. I’ve even heard a rumour that El Gordo has polished his rowing machine.  I, on the other hand, am not running.

Until last night that is...

After the disappointment of having to drop out of the JS20 and the crushing apathy that followed, it’s time to be bold… to step back up to the plate… to throw the reins around my mojo and head out the door.

I’ve joined (or more accurately, am in the process of joining) an athletics club.  I KNOW.  And last night I went out running with them.  I haven’t run for 4 weeks AND my lungs are still hanging heavy with some sort of infection, asthma, old age, take your pick.  SO my plan was to join my new friends for a steady three miler.  According to their website, they tend to run in three groups; groups I will characterise as follows:

1)      Sensible steady 
2)      Intermediate - showing signs of running fever
3)      Crazy fast

I thought group 1 would be the one for me… nice and easy… get back into it… don’t overdo it…

Hmmm

“What sort of running do you do?" they asked, “I run the trails” I said.

“How far do you go?" they asked,  “Anywhere between 6 to 14 miles” I responded nervously.

“What’s sort of pace?" they asked, “10 min/mi on a long-un; 8 min/mi on a short-un” I stated timidly .

“You’re coming with us then” they said.  “With who?” I whispered. 

“The intermediate group… you ok for 5 to 6 miles?” “Erm… OK” I replied… desperately trying to think of an excuse… anything… but I was left muttering in their wake as they set off.  “By the way”, my new friends shouted back though the rain storm which was now cascading over us, “we are joining the Crazy fast group as there's only a few of us”.  “Great” I shouted back through the wind.  Well actually I shouted something quite different, but it got lost.

So this is how I ended up running 5.2 miles last night around the rain swept streets of Lewes at a pace not far removed from light speed.  Fortunately, and probably for my benefit, we split at mile 4; the Crazies headed off into the dark for a sprint finish… whilst three us dropped back to a steady warp speed for the home run.  On a positive note, the run started and finished at the Snowdrop – pub running they call it - I approve (and I know MLCMM will as well).   Interestingly, once 15 steaming runners had filled the warm, snug establishment, most of the locals wisely decided to leave.

I’m going back on Thursday to do some hill reps.  Apparently we run up a steep hill as fast as we can for 30 seconds… then jog back down… and repeat for an hour.  It’s something to look forward to!

Hey… I’m running again.  Perhaps I might manage a little jaunt over my beloved Downs this weekend?

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Hmm, I sense another Runningcommentary book in the offing. That's damn fine work and damn fine writing CC5, really bloody excellent. The Running Club Crazies outings are going to make for superb reading. Keep it coming CC, keep it coming. And drag Sweder along with you!

I'm licking my lips already.

[Charliecat5]

And drag Sweder along with you!

Really?  I couldn't inflict BGG on this group... they're nice people.  

We've got use to him... it's s safe environment for him here.  We understand.  Can be sympathetic to his peculiar ways. And we've had counselling... lots of counselling.  

Also, they already know him... it's the reason they run so fast.  

[glaconman]

Just in time.

I notice Lewes AC are a member of:

http://www.eastsussexcrosscountry.co.uk/events

There is no greater feeling than a pint, in the evening, next to a roaring hearth, after a cross country race. It's what British winters are all about.

Do you believe me?

[Charliecat5]

Just in time.

I notice Lewes AC are a member of:

http://www.eastsussexcrosscountry.co.uk/events

There is no greater feeling than a pint, in the evening, next to a roaring hearth, after a cross country race. It's what British winters are all about.

Do you believe me?

Of course I believe you...  Pint, roaring fire, winter... I just need to enter a cross country race... 

My new friends are already harping on about such things.  And the moment I put up any kind of argument when with them this week - they just countered it by saying... "well if you can run like you are at the moment... you can run a 5 mile cross country race".  I fear I'm running out of excuses.   

I bet Sweder would like a nice cross country ramble...  

[glaconman]

I'm a big fan of XC. 

It's a rewarding type of running with a fine tradition in this country. The long-tail of a race may be abit shorter and thinner than most road races but it still caters for all abilities.

And in which other sport can you compete in the County, Inter-county or National Championships without having to qualify? You just rock-up and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the country. Until they b*gger *ff into the distance that is.
Do a full XC season and you'll be trotting out into the hills in March fitter than you've ever been.

[glaconman]

Very easy to write this stuff from the comfort of a warm office. I'm even wearing my slippers Hehehehe

[Charliecat5]

Good grief…

The only thing I’m hanging onto this morning… is the fact it must be doing me good. 

The only thing I was hanging onto last night were the railings at the top of the steep ascent as I my legs staggered and my lungs battled a losing fight to take in enough oxygen before my tag partner returned, and I had to do it again.

Having met with my new friends again, we were split into groups and for the second time this week I found myself socialising with a bunch of Crazies.   As we headed out along the road from the Leisure Centre into town, the lovely chap running next to me was muttering something incomprehensible – something about how great this was… and how he loved doing reps… and had I been to a track session yet because they really push your limits.  Through all of this, he was smiling.  He ran because he enjoyed it.  What sort of cracked up bunch are these people?  ENJOYMENT?  HILL REPS? SORRY YOU’VE LOST ME.

After a light little jog through town we stopped to re-group and for our leader to set the evening's challenge.  He explained the route – it sounded quite easy… a innocuous little circuit.  It was about a third of a mile in total, passing the Elly each time (another nice Lewes pub).    We were split into two groups – the Crazies and the Intermediates, with me in the latter.  At last, I thought, I’m in the right group (well the Sensible Steadies would be the right group, but they were in a different part of Lewes … probably in a pub).  But then we found ourselves partnering with someone in the opposite group – I had to partner with a Crazy.  And THEN we had to run circuits tagging with our partner – AND it was competitive. 

The first ‘game’ was three times round each… this was followed by a further session of ONLY two rounds… sadly we could only manage two as we needed to get back before 20:00 – such a shame. 

It was a killer… the circuit finished with a knee trembling steep bank.  I’ve not done this kind of running before… the sort where you have stop every 100 meters to shock your heart back into life.

Having finished the reps, we ran back to the club house… take it easy guys, our leader shouted… just run to cool off. EH!  

“Cooling off” in my book is gently sweating over a pint of fine ale.  That’s how BGG and MLCMM have taught me to cool off.

4 miles we ran in total… but the remarkable thing looking at my charts this morning were the speeds I was achieving.  On the reps I was running between 5.5 min/mi and 7.5 min/mi (up the steep bit).  Even on the slow run home I was averaging around an 8 min/mi.

Much more of this and I’m either going to become quite a decent runner… or I’m going to drop down dead.  

[Charliecat5]

Having dropped out of the Jog Shop 20, I though the least I could do was offer to marshal.   So this morning I joined the Seaford Striders and the King of the Marshals, Mr Tom Roper, at mile 6.  

What a glorious morning…  I decided to run to my position today, to pay homage to those running the whole thing.  At 8:15 I set off over the Downs still shrouded in vaporous mist; but it didn’t last long and by the time I had reached the top of Kingston Ridge the autumble sunshine had rolled out of bed and was embracing the day.   I arrived at the top of the North Face (our rendezvous) in good time… and then walked with Chris (a Moyleman runner) to our respective marshalling points some half a mile further south. 

For ten minutes I had the Downs to myself, apart from a curious herd of cows and a couple of tractors busy planting next year’s crop in the fields opposite.  Then the lead bikes came through… followed a good fifteen minutes later by the first runners – pounding out a good turn of speed.  I would have to say they looked buggered… testament to what a hilly bastard this run is.  Over the next sixty minutes I directed runners of all shapes and sizes, including Moyleman's own Brian and Naomi, through a very bemused bunch of cows.   Watching them all go past was quite lovely and sad at the same time… sad because I had planned to do this. 

With the last runner through, I walked back to the Jelly Baby table, grabbed a quick drink of juice and ran the 5 miles back home again.   All in all, I ran 10 miles today.  I ran half the Jog Shop 20 to marshal the Jog Shop 20.

Well played to all those who were out there running it today... it is brutal but beautiful run.

[oldgrunter]

Always a pleasure marshalling the Jog Shop (especially in those conditions) & good company yomping up & down the North Face with Charliecat5.

I'd like to give it a go, so fingers crossed the event is held next year.

Roll on March 13th....

[glaconman]

I know what you mean CC5.

It's a bugger having to rip up your plans and it can feel like defeat.

But they all come around again. And in between now and then there are plenty of other things to take aim at.

I think the cyclical and seasonal nature of 'the running year' is what I have grown to like. Maybe it helps to replace the ritual and social fabric of a by-gone era that would have been peppered with religious and pagan experiences. Then again Lewes seems to uphold alot of it's traditions. Particularly at this time of the year.

Anyhow, good of you to stare disappointment down by getting involved with the race. Chapeau.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Wow.

Good effort.

But that running club sounds insane.

I think I need a beer to calm down after reading all that.

[Charliecat5]

I was out with the herd again last night.  Even though three hours prior to this I was waiting for a plane at Edinburgh airport… the alignment of planes, trains and cars worked for a change, which meant I found myself once again standing in the cold waiting for instructions from the great leader (aka Dave the coach – who as it happens, is a lovely chap).

This time we were split into four groups with me again in the intermediates heading out for what I had been led to understand was going to be a nice ‘easy’ run around the streets of Lewes.  And so it began… a lovely pace along Southover, past Chez Cats to the bottom of Rotten Row – which is the foot of quite a steep hill.  The first mile achieved with just a nice amount of effort – pushing it enough to feel legs, heart and lungs working.  Lovely.

At the bottom of the hill we stopped for what I initially believed was a rest before we tacked the incline and carried on to the top end of town.  This wasn’t to be.

Our great leader decided that a few hill reps would be in order.  Three times I sprinted up that bloody hill and ran down.  THREE TIMES!   Then with the hill reps complete we still had to run up the bloody thing again to head on our merry way.   Your merry way back to the club house? I hear you ask…Oh no, I reply... our merry way to Malling Field… where we got to run slow/sprint/slow/sprint, backwards and forwards along the river path for 20 minutes.  Christ.

Having now pummelled our bodies into a mere fragment of their former selves, the GL announced it was time to take a nice, cooling run back home.  We only ran 4.6 miles… but Holy Cow Batman.

However, for all my moaning, I can report that the months of grinding up the local hills with BGG have paid off.  On the hill reps I was comfortably first to compete the circuit each time, powering up like I had a hover board strapped to my feet.  Now there’s an idea.

The thing is… and what I find particularly worrying… is that after all of that, I went home with a big grin on my face… that can’t be right… can it?
 
   

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

The thing is… and what I find particularly worrying… is that after all of that, I went home with a big grin on my face… that can’t be right… can it?

Correct. You might need some professional help. God knows I did.

[Charliecat5]

The thing is… and what I find particularly worrying… is that after all of that, I went home with a big grin on my face… that can’t be right… can it?

Correct. You might need some professional help. God knows I did.

Why we're on the subject of crazy people, it seems that your own running is a little lacking at the moment.  You need to pull your socks up as there's a chance I may be over your way next year.    

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

[quote pid='27451' dateline='1445055113']
Why we're on the subject of crazy people, it seems that your own running is a little lacking at the moment.  You need to pull your socks up as there's a chance I may be over your way next year.    

[/quote]

And there's a "chance" I could become prime minister one day. "Chance" doth butter no parsnips. Specifics! Plans! Detail, detail, detail !

[Charliecat5]

[quote pid='27451' dateline='1445055113']
Why we're on the subject of crazy people, it seems that your own running is a little lacking at the moment.  You need to pull your socks up as there's a chance I may be over your way next year.    

And there's a "chance" I could become prime minister one day. "Chance" doth butter no parsnips. Specifics! Plans! Detail, detail, detail !
[/quote]

Cool your jets dude... I will give you detail when I have detail to share... but you may want to air your spare room.

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

And I may need some time to train. But the room is already ready. Will it be one or more guests?

Send me your spreadsheet*.






*Ask Sweder or Seafront Plodder about the significance of this request.