Running Clubs

[parky]

Andy,

very interesting about joining a running club. When I did my first marathon I went to Berlin with some people from the Serpies who were very friendly (I had a friend who was a member). I've always been impressed with their website, and the fact that because of such a large membership, they can run a number of different training groups depending on speed, so no one should feel out of their depth.

I really recommend joining a club, because it really does (certainly in my case) improve your speed and motivation. I also found that there are a lot more races going on than just the ones I had seen in Runners' World, particularly trail races.

As to the game, the match report I read said that QPR played well, and the overall scoreline didn't reflect the balance of play. I also believe that our first goal was somewhat lucky/dodgy (one of those decisions that if its for your team your manager tries to justify, its against your team the manager screams blue murder). We've got Spurs in the next round, which should be a good game.

I agree about football as a whole. There have been some major changes which have improved the game no end. Certainly stadium facilities are much better (unless you're an away fan at Stamford Bridge in which case you're crammed in one section with a tiny toilet). However the romantic in me can't help to hark back to the days of justing turning up at Maine Road on a Saturday and paying a £5 to stand on the Kippax, and having matches played on a Saturday at 3.

When we plummeted like a stone through the leagues, in a bizarre masochistic way, it was fun. Going to new grounds, the bleak deadpan humour when we lost to Bury, all made for an entertaining time. Of course I appreciate its easy to say this now, as we seem to be doing alright at the moment, but part of me is still worried that we'll do a Leeds.

By the way I went to Chelsea-City at the weekend and paid the grand sum of £42, and despite all the millions spent on Chelsea, I really didn't feel that they were appreciably better than us.