2007 - July

[El Gordo]

No races forecast for this month, so am looking for solid consolidation.

Hope that sounds convincing. Well I believe it, and I guess that's the main thing.

[Sweder]

JDRF held their annual gong-fest for the great and the good last night, hosted by the wonderful people at Lloyds/ LDC. The LDC team of eight runners scooped the top award after their fund-raising effort for our London Marathon campaign topped out at (gulp) eighty thousand pounds. Staggering stuff.

Three highlights of the night for our own group here.
First up an award for Running Commentary for another year of valuable support, promotion and forum facilitation for our runners. The certificate (see pic below) is winging it's way to Andy via the (hopefully not striking) mail; I took care of the bubbly on his behalf (hic).

Next an award for the Mighty Seafront Plodder for his stirling seven hours plus yelling at the mile 22.5 supporters zone at the FLM. The man's a star performer; the sight of him looming over the railings to bellow encouragement has left an indelible mark (scar?) on many of our runners.

Last but not least an award for the wonderful Adele Claase and her Challenge Events Committee. JDRFi - the parent group in the States running over 80 national and international chapters - held their annual review in St Louis last month. Our humble group left the gathered celebs slack-jawed by running off with the Innovation in Fund Raising Award in recognition of our expanded London Marathon team, addition of new events such as sky diving, Cycle the Nile, London to Paris Bike Ride and the Inca Trail/ Great Wall treks.

Thanks again to everyone who supported us in the last 12 months.
We're off now to plan our campaign for 2008 which will include a bike ride through India . . . http://www.jdrf.org.uk

[El Gordo]

Well done to Sweder and his JDRF running team.

And thanks for the acknowledgement, though as usual, I'll deny doing anything noteworthy. It's a big reason that I'll be doing some fundraising for the charity over the coming year -- guilt.

Oh, and thanks to Phoebe too.

[suzieq]

Happy Birthday Andy!

What a wonderful way to celebrate - getting a PB in a race and running it with your friends. Wish I could've been there to run with you guys. And then to help you with the champagne, etc. afterwards. You only turn 50 once and it is a milestone birthday. I think it's good to do something special to mark the day (or year-however you do mark it) ... you did. And great seeing 'M' in the pictures as well!

And you're not old - not when I'm older than you. You'll always be a young thing to me (!!?):RFLMAO:

Suzie

[El Gordo]

Thanks Suzie, good to hear from you. Hope all is well, and that you're settled back down again, job-wise.

Yes, it was good to get a PB on my birthday, particularly this one as I'm so bad at the distance. But I'm hoping it will spur me on a bit to do something about speed. No doubt we'll do the Brighton 10K as usual in November, which would be a good place to really take a proper chunk off this time. I can't help feeling I need to get through some sort of barrier, whether mental or physical, to just knock off several more minutes.

Do keep in touch.

[El Gordo]

Been a bit remiss about posting this week. Will be off up to Manchester for the weekend later this afternoon, so it seems unlikely I'll manage to upload the half-written stuff from yesterday.

I've had a couple of decent mid-length runs this week -- 6-8 miles -- but unless a miracle happens, it seems unlikely I'll manage a long 'un this weekend. Stranger things have happened though. Otherwise, back on Sunday evening, probably nursing a sore head.

Have a good weekend, all.

[Ana]

Happy weekend to you too.
Enjoy Manchester

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

The clincher was a sign propped against the gate: WANT TO LEARN ABOUT BOWLS? COME ALONG TO OUR OPEN DAY ON JULY 22nd. I'll confess to having often watched, and been absorbed by, the televised World Bowls Championship, thinking I'd like to have a go. This could be my big opportunity. If I can slip across there without anyone knowing, I might just chance my arm.

You're a braver man than I...

[El Gordo]

You're a braver man than I...

I don't think it will happen.