David Currie

It being the last Tuesday before the clocks change, we met early to get a trip out to Lordswood before it got too dark. Given the weather conditions I’m not sure we succeeded as it was fairly dark in the woods and certainly muddy. Still, it was good fun and it meant I could get back home in time for bedtime stories. Roll on the New Forest…
(more…)

Having put on my new road shoes for the first time last night it was typical that a route was proposed that, when first run in my absence last year, was apparently ankle deep in mud. The route in question starts by hacking out across to the Common (via the site of Southampton’s Court Leet) and then takes in Hollybrook Cemetery and the Lordsdale Greenway that encircles the Coxford district of Southampton. As well as keeping us off the roads it meant that we got more than the usual level of ‘encouragement’ from local youths! Thankfully it was pretty dry this time round and the trainers came out pretty unscathed. I must remember to tie the laces less tightly next time though as I had pins and needles in my toes for much of the run! An early start next week to take in Lordswood and then we’ll be switching back to the Forest for our runs.
(more…)

Every so often we get bored of running around the streets of Southampton on a Tuesday night and we decide to head north to the delights of Chandler’s Ford. This does, unfortunately, mean a long slog up the Avenue and Bournemouth Road to ASDA but you then get to follow the cycle route to Flemming Park and then cut back through Lakeside Country Park and the University Playing Fields. This time we also took the footpath around the back of the Ford plant which follows Monks Brook which was a new diversion. Not long until the clocks change now…
(more…)

First Tuesday of the month so it must be a run to Sainsburys. Obviously the runners prefer damp over cold as there was a bumper turnout despite today’s rain.

(more…)

Yesterday saw the continuation of a recent tradition: a run around all of the pubs that hosted us following our Tuesday night runs in the summer. This year that entailed taking in the Beaulieu Road Inn, Oak Inn (Bank), Sir Walter Tyrell (Rufus Stone), Royal Oak (Fritham) and Fighting Cocks (Godshill). Seven of us gathered at the first of these at 9 o’clock on a frosty but sunny morning. We set a leisurely pace and stuck to a well trodden path bar a minor detour where the Forestry Commission had closed a ride for ‘consolidation’. Refreshements on route were provided at Minstead courtesy of the Yeos (although sadly none could be persuaded to join the run). I handed over to Christine at Fritham where Peter Smith also retired. This left Sue Sleath, Stuart Boden, Neil Broderick, Roderick Johnstone and Peat Allan as the five to complete this year’s run in its entirety (just over 17 off-road miles in a smidge under 3 hours). Neil continued with his form of recent years by finishing with blood running down his leg from a fall within half a mile of the start (albeit an injury actually sustained a week early!).

(more…)

It was Hants Cross Country on Saturday and, after a bit of indecision caused by my cold and Christine’s gentle return to running, we decided to make the most of Christine’s parents being around to child mind and run. Christine didn’t get much of a warm-up as she was needed to assist me with the removal of poo from all the way up Duncan’s back, Christine’s parent having conveniently taken Emma off to look at the planes (the event being held at Popham Airfield near Micheldever Station). She had a respectable run though and was no-where near the back of the field which is where she would have had you believe that she would be.

(more…)

Being the first Tuesday of the month, it had to be a trip to Sainsburys, but we were missing Peter and Neil for Tuesday’s run (who would normally provide direction). Andy and myself were at the front as we crossed the Avenue and, for some reason, I let Andy turn us left and was then happy to take the next right. This meant we got to do an extra circuit (and hill) before rejoining the normal route at the sports centre. No harm done though. Towards the end, Stuart made the fatal statement “it’s actually not a bad night for running” at which point it started raining.
(more…)