David Currie

Having taken a detour to avoid signed congestion on the M27, I arrived at Wilverley 5 minutes late for tonight’s run. Scanning the horizon revealed no likely looking group of runners. It was at this point that I realised I only recognised one of the cars in the car park. Hopeful that others may have been similarly delayed, I decided to wait a little longer. Thankfully I was proved right and got to do a slightly shorter run that usual with Darren and Alex. Ian had disappeared by the time we got back but we managed to get a swift half in at the pub before the others had to head off.

(more…)

Having successfully made it round on Tuesday night there was no excuse not to go to the last RR10 of the series at Hursley on Wednesday evening. I’d got soaked cycling home from work so was pleased that the sun was shining as we all drove back in. A friend had agreed to look after Emma and Duncan at the race so, for the first time in a long while, we both got to have a run. Neil was also out for the first time having joined Totton and had brought his family so Emma got to play with the girls. Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse and we all got a soaking. I nearly killed myself on the first lap trying to keep up with Claire Nichols as she moved up through the field but eventually gave up and settled in to a more steady battle with a Stubbington runner. Unfortunately he was ahead at the line but 18th was a respectable finish and I was a few seconds faster than this time last year. Christine also did well finishing 35th – not bad for her first and last race of the year.

(more…)

Having taken it easy for the past couple of weeks my calf was feeling well enough to venture out to Wilverley on Tuesday night. I’m happy to report that I made it round the run without feeling any pain in my calf which is great news. It may have something to do with the soft going (well, it was more like swimming at times). I wasn’t going to push my luck though and join Neil in running on to the pub at Bank. Instead, I felt a bit of a fool stood at the bar at the pub waiting to finish buying a round when only four people had turned up. It eventually transpired that Peat had managed to shut his car keys in the sill of the boot, locking it shut in the process. With assistance from others he’d eventually managed to open the boot from inside the car (one door was still open) and then retrieve the keys from the crevice they’d fallen down. They took sufficiently long that we’d eaten all the crisps by the time they arrived though!

(more…)

Half way round a lunchtime run last week my calf just went. I tried running on it again the following day and came hobbling back. After another four days rest the pain had gone when walking and cycling and I tried another short run. The pain was back but wasn’t so insistent so I decided to give the RR10 on Wednesday at Itchen Valley Country Park a go.

(more…)

A rather belated posting relating to our final Tuesday run from Nomansland for this year. We did an anti-clockwise loop round Fritham. For the return leg, Alex and I joined Neil on a slight detour to hunt out the elusive Bramble Hill Hotel. In fact, we got rather closer than I had anticipated and had to make several attempts to escape the walls of rhododendrons that line the lawns!

(more…)

For tonight’s run from Nomansland, Neil had planned a route out through the Hamptworth Estate to Bohemia. It started well enough albeit as a bit of a road run. We were still on track when we were within spitting distance of Bohemia at which point we decided to follow the track back through the woods to Telegraph Hill. Unfortunately something went wrong around Franchises Lodge and we continued east rather than going south to Telegraph Hill. Ian and Peter then picked up on the next bridleway that leads back to Telegraph Hill. Sadly, when the rest of us tried to cut back to join them we picked up a different path and then proceeded to wiggle our way through the forest. Miraculously, we then rejoined the other party when we eventually re-emerged in to the open. Another 75 minute run!

(more…)

With two locals out for tonight’s run from Nomansland I had hoped that we might finish a bit closer to the hour. Ian lead us on a tour round Canada Common and we then returned via another closer encounter with the Bramble Hill Hotel. Sadly this turned out to be longer still than last week’s run both in terms of distance and time, and without the sunshine!

(more…)