Nick Cook writes:

I ran the Andy Reading 10k yesterday – it was a bit of a trek up to Bicester, but a friend of mine who lives there wanted to do it and it’s advertised as a flat course ideal for PBs, so I thought I’d have a crack at my PB!

 The Rosemary Conley Christmas party the night before probably wasn’t the ideal preparation, but I decided to drive there so that I wouldn’t drink too much, and that was a wise decision! 

It was a nice morning and I was feeling good after a couple of quite fast runs (for me!) during the previous week. I got there in plenty of time for a good warm-up and stretch and was raring to go when we were shepherded from a sort of ‘holding’ field to the start. A pistol shot start made us all jump and we were off!!! A 4:42 first k was quite fast for me, but I was feeling ok so tried to keep to that pace. At 8k I was just over 38 minutes, which is still a good time for me, but a PB was going to be close!!! At 9k I tried to up the pace a bit and finished in 47:50 according to my watch - 26 seconds outside my PB, so my club championship time won’t be affected. 

The course was nice and flat, just 2 small humps over the motorway to give a bit of a contour. A part of the course was round an airfield and it was quite open and windy on that stretch, so that probably slowed me down a bit. 

There was a water station at 5k and water at the end. The memento was a Coventry Building Society key ring (their main sponsors), so that was different. The Runners’ World web site advertised hot bacon sandwiches after the run, and I had assumed that meant they were free for runners – I was very disappointed to find that they weren’t when I got back – and I’d left my money in the car, so I had to go without!!! 

The results are up on their web site now, and my official time was 47:37, so only 13 seconds outside my PB – I’ll try to get that down for the club 10k in January!!!!

Simon Cutmore writes:

Epsom 10 miles Sunday 19th November

The forecast was for a wet breezy day, yet in the event, it was glorious sunshine and around 6 degrees. I did not see any other WVR runners

The course was undulating to hilly, all road taking in the "posh houses" around Epsom and the first half to around four miles was taxing on the calves as it involved a long slow ascent. The second half was much faster,  culminating in a great view over the downs as the last mile came down past Tattenham corner.

Nice medal, good organisation and a small but friendly turnout of around 350.

Chris Dent writes:

It was a cold, but bright start to the day, the great pre-race debate being whether it was vest only or should we wear T shirts underneath.? With the sun shining and the temperature lifting I think most of us made the right choice.

We were ushered out to the start with precision timing and the launching of traditional starters firework rocket (wait for the bang) saw us away on the stroke of 9.30.

Katie declaring that she was out for a “social run” I decided to try and latch onto her. I was helped in this cause due to her 3, yes 3! Shoe lace stops. Perhaps we should teach her the art of tying double bows!!. Chasing her all the way I thought there was a chance I might get the better of her for once but unfortunately lost contact on the last hill at 10.5 miles. With the downhill last mile I just managed to duck under 1.40 (another 10 year best). Another long sleeve T shirt for the drawer. With this one out of the way I now look forward to the flat Gosport Half in a fortnight.

With the aid of the family Williamson and Ian Lee-Emery the men finished a creditable 8^th club team. Our ladies picking up the 9^th club team spot.

Congratulations to Anne-Marie McLaren on her debut Half  Marathon. (Anne-Marie, you could have chosen an easier one you know!) 

There were 884 finishers. 

Chris Dent writes:

On the day when most runners were converging on Portsmouth for the Great South Run I decided to try the Fleet 10K.
This event being organised by Fleet and Crookham A.C. 2 lap courses are not the most favourable but 10K is 10K however it is run!.

Just the 3 of us from Windle Valley this week.
The forecast was for heavy rain, but fortunately the weather was kind to finishers under the 1 hour mark because it then bucketed down for the rest of the day.

After my much improved 10 mile time last week in the Cabbage Patch I produced another 10 year best,
getting the better of Richard for the 2^nd week running. I’m sure he will be rectifying that situation in the not so distant future. 

There were 439 finishers                                                     

Chris Peppiatt sends this picture:

Chris Dent writes:

9 Windle Valley members took the trip down the M3 to Twickenham for this very popular and fast 10 Miler.
Organised by the Stragglers this was the 25th running of this event.

The weather was dull but quite warm and comfortable for racing.
The route took us along the Thames and over Kingston Bridge.
We then headed back along the other bank past Petersham to Richmond Bridge
where we crossed the river again to head back to the finish at York House.

There were 1396 finishers with the men finishing 51st team of 121 and the ladies finishing 17th of 93 teams.
With only 3 scoring for both men and ladies we only able to field two scoring teams.

Congratulations to Chris Peppiatt, she is making a habit of getting into the money.

Chris picked up 5th prize in her age group. Well Done!!!!
 

The day dawned a bit grey on Sunday morning, but the forecast was good, so we were looking forward to a nice day. My daughter and her friend were going into Legoland on the half price tickets available to runners (but didn't want me in there with them - so I went straight home after the run!!).

There were a few WVR runners there – I saw Christel and Sarah before the run started. There was a warm up run by a local Rosemary Conley instructor which was a nice diversion while waiting for the start, and at 10 o'clock on the dot we were off round the Legoland car park before heading off into the Crown Estate forest.

The trails in the forest were a bit muddy in places, but not as bad as I had feared after all the rain we’d had during the week. I didn’t remember it being quite as hilly as it was either, one particular steep downhill slope followed by a long uphill stretch was extremely telling on the legs!!!

The last hill up to the finish was remembered though, and it was just as hard as ever!!! I was a bit disappointed with the drinks station half way – there was no water there as I went past – they were struggling with the numbers, and some of the marshals were a bit sour faced – I’m used to having clapping, smiling marshals giving encouragement to the runners!!

I finished in 51.17 by my watch, which wasn’t too bad considering the hills – official times will be up on their web site later in the week.

David McLean   sends us this picture: 

Nick Cook   reports: 

Newbury Triathlon this weekend. Sorry I didn’t make the club 10k last week – I’d had calf trouble again and didn’t want to aggravate it before this tri!! 

I like this tri, it’s the second time I’ve done it – the swim is 4 lengths of a 75 yard outdoor pool (approx 300m) with swimmers going off in pairs every 30 seconds. It’s quite a wide pool, so there’s plenty of room. The person I was supposed to be swimming with didn’t turn up so I had even more room than most. 
 

It was my first tri of the year, my honourable intentions of doing 6 this year going up in smoke when I got a place in the London Marathon. The training for that rather scuppered my training plans for swimming and cycling, and my wife had had enough of my going out on Sundays doing long runs!! My next tri will be Newbury on 3^rd September.

The weather was bit dark and gloomy when I got up early on Sunday morning and made my way along the M4 to junction 12 and followed the convoluted route that took me to the car park avoiding the tri cycle route. The field/car park was pretty wet and I only hoped it wouldn’t rain too much over the next few hours so I wouldn’t get bogged down!

I found the entrance to the transition area and had my number marked on my arm and calves (they were still there on Tuesday!) and was pointed towards the racks where I could deposit my bike and gear. I’d taken a large golf trolley bag to keep all my stuff dry – I must get a big plastic box that quite a lot of competitors seem to use! I familiarised myself with all the exits and entrances to the transition area and then went off to find the way into the pool. There was quite a lot of activity by the organisers still, and the first lot of competitors were starting to queue up for their 400 meters swim. I wandered back to transition, and started to get ready and lay out all my stuff for when I came out the swim.

Ok – let’s get the excuses out of the way first! I hurt my Achilles tendons 3 weeks ago playing 5-a-side football. I rested for a week, ran again and aggravated the situation, so rested for two weeks before last night’s race (apart from swimming and cycling). In fact, they were alright last night, but I was worrying about them as I ran. I also think cycling 32 miles on Tuesday probably wasn’t a good idea, and it was my company’s monthly pizza day on yesterday, so I had pigged out on pizza at lunchtime!

It looked like being a nice evening for a run, the weather had been good for a few days and it looked like continuing, however, as we all lined up at the start, the black clouds developed and rumbles of thunder could be heard!! It wasn’t long before a few drops started falling and murmurs of ‘hurry up’ could be heard amongst the runners. As the hooter went for the start the heavens really opened, and it wasn’t long before we were all soaked and dodging the puddles. Fortunately it only rained for about 5 minutes and then cleared up nicely. 

A small contingent of WVR’s made it to the first of this Summer’s mid week races. If anybody has done these before then they will know its not just 5 miles but more like 5.5m. Add the major hills and your expected finishing time is about your 10Km road time.

We were told at the start to expect a bit of mud, that was good news as I had decided to wear my Walsh studded trainers. A little bit of mud !! that was an understatement, seeing Mark Coxhead on the first lap go sprawling in front of me as he thought he would test the depth of the puddles. The conditions were more reminiscent of a full blown mid winter cross country race than that of a summers evening jaunt around the woods.

Ian Lee-Emery   reports:

Hook 10

I arrived in plenty of time for this race, which for reasons I’ve not discovered, I’ve always found challenging. 
So challenging in fact that I’ve never really felt I’ve run the race well. 
The long hill up the road between miles 2 and 3 really sap the legs and another hill through Rotherwick village is a long, long country mile. 

Pam  Berriman    reports:

Hogsmill Ladies 5 mile

WVR ladies turned out in force for the Hogsmill five mile run today ( May 7th ) .

As with last year the race was a flat , well organised family run with a superb bum bag and  goodies for all finishers this year

Woke up…to drizzle. Great!! – I thought it was supposed to be a nice day?? Decided that just a vest would be ok, but took a set of clothes to change into afterwards in case it didn’t clear up. Got to the Electricity Board offices only to be directed to the overflow car park – over a mile away!! Fortunately I had my golf waterproofs in the car, so I didn’t get too wet walking back to the start.

I ran the Fleet Half Marathon on Sunday as part of my FLM training, and although my time was slower than at Wokingham, I was quite pleased as I hadn’t tapered for it. My chip time was 1:51:03 and gun time 1:52:12. I had a bit of trouble getting there, what with road works in Wokingham and Fleet, but I had no trouble parking in the shopping centre, and from there just a short walk to the start. I met up with Chris Dent and Colin Woods and saw a few other WV runners too. Michael McClancey said hello as he went past me just after the start.

Saturday night and it was freezing cold outside. The forecast was for rain tomorrow, but would they be right? Will I need warm clothes or wet weather clothes? Decided I’d wear a long sleeve tee shirt with my new WVR vest over the top. I put gloves and hat in the bag and left my rain top on the banister. Got up in the morning - and it was pouring.

Only living about a mile and a half from the start, I had intended walking, jogging and stretching my way there, but decided to drive to one of the car parks instead. Got to the start and wandered around looking for people I knew - a bloke from work was running, and many people from the Runners World forum were going to be there.
Saw a few of these and then went and got in a loo queue. Found the baggage tent, picked up my bin bag and got changed – it was relatively warm in the tent, so I didn’t want to leave – but I needed to get in that loo queue again. Got to the start, found a fellow forumite and waited for the hooter.