Metros Running Club

Metroline Articles

RUNNERS AND WALKERS WANTED

“I was lost, and then I was found”

Irene's second marathon - follow up

Steve's Story

Mad Bess Woods XC

Marathon Week pics

 

RUNNERS AND WALKERS WANTED

FOR AN EXCITING 22 HOUR RELAY IN HARROW
I am putting a Metros team together for the Cancer Research UK Relay for Life on Saturday 13 September at Roger Bannister’s Sports Centre in Harrow Weald. This is for ALL ABILITIES and EVERYONE is encouraged to get involved. New members are especially welcome.

The event starts in the afternoon with an Olympic style opening ceremony at 12.30pm where the guests of honour, cancer survivors, do a lap of honour. The relay finishes at 10am on Sunday 14 September – 22 hours later!

A good number for a team is around 12 members - one person from each team is required to keep moving around the track at all times so the more team members we have, the less work each person has to do. Participants can run, walk, dance, skip, race..you can go round on your own or in pairs, you can do 5 mins or 5 hours..The event is open to ALL.

Each team is asked to organise a fete type activity for the Saturday afternoon when the site is open to the public. This would be a fantastic chance to promote Metro’s and to hand out flyers – all members to wear club colours! Any ideas for this would be greatly appreciated….How about asking people to pay to throw wet sponges coated in beer at Terry Burke and Al Scoffham? PRICELESS.

Most teams bring BBQs for Saturday night and then when it gets dark candles are lit around the track for the Candle of Hope ceremony where there are readings and songs to celebrate people who have survived cancer or to remember those who have passed away. I have been told this is a very moving ceremony and is followed by a quiet contemplation lap.

The site is cleared of the public after the Candle of Hope ceremony before the event continues with a disco for team members to strut their funky stuff. Several are well into their training judging by performances at Dave Browns’ birthday bash.

Teams walk throughout the night – there is a designated area for people to pitch their own tents if they want to sleep out. Breakfast is provided the next morning followed by the closing ceremony.

Each team member pays a £10 registration fee and Cancer Research UK
asks that a team raise an average of £200 per person. NO TEAMS WILLBE TURNED AWAY if they do not meet this target. All money raised from our fete activity counts towards our team total raised. Also you are being sponsored to take part in the event, NOT for how many laps you do although no doubt there will be some competitiveness going on!

There will also be a Lunch & Fun event on the afternoon of Sunday 1 June (local venue tbc) for all team members – a chance to get to know each other better. It is also an opportunity to chat to people from other teams who participated last year in Relay and have come back for more.

If you want any more information or to get involved come along on Saturday 17 May for the presentation and Gill can answer any of your questions. If you want to join the Metros team please contact Jackie Bowles on 020 8420 2208 or e-mail jasontriestosmile@btinternet.com.

For Newer Members
For new members who do not know where the scout hut is, drive past Rayners Lane tube (with North Harrow behind you) taking the first turning on the right (High Worple). Drive down to the end until the road finishes where you will see the entrance to Roxbourne park. The scout hut is on the right of the narrow pathway just before you enter the park.

Why not come and join in the Saturday training session from 9 to 10am and stay on for tea and biscuits and the presentation and get to know some more people and exchange tales of tight calves and pbs! Saturday’s are for all abilities from elite to 7 hour marathoners! Even dogs are welcome to take part.

“I was lost, and then I was found”

Saturday 16th February 2008.

Thames Valley Orienteering Club
Wendover woods
Map Reference: SP888090

John and I have being together for over 12 years, and like a lot of couples were looking for something to spice up our activities.

We had a few ideas in mind and had fantasized about how it would be. It was decided though that this would be the year we took the plunge. We knew what we were good at together, but could we combine it with a new and exciting challenge?

After a lot of putting off the inevitable, it was decided to go for an event designed for newbie’s. John as always was nervous about trying something new, though he claimed to have tried it in the past. For myself, I knew it would be strange at first but felt confident that we would enjoy ourselves as long as we took it slow and steady at the start.

So it was on a bright sunny but very cold Saturday morning we made our way to Wendover woods in John’s Lada Hussar (built for Siberia not suburbia) John was going on about the fact he didn’t think he would be able to read the map, as he was driving this did cause me some concern and I took a lot more interest in what was ahead of us!

We drove through Wendover, passing the Farmers Market; no doubt the local Tesco’s had sold out early.

We arrived at the woods and having paid the £2:00 parking fee made our way to the HQ of the Thames Valley Orienteering Club. This was a small tent pitched on one of the few flat spaces in the woods. It was manned by a couple of knurled gentleman who looked as though they were carved from oak. We explained we were new to orienteering and they pointed us in the direction of a lad who explained the dos and don’ts and the courses on offer.

We elected to try the “Trial” course, at 8 Kilometres the longest, but for a couple of fit, strapping lads like ourselves, nothing to worry about. (Yeah, right!)John insisted on telling everyone that we were a couple of ex-army lad’s. As he was Royal Electrical& Mechanical Engineers and I was Royal Army Medical Corps, more used to following a trail of broken tanks and bodies respectively I felt this was rather overstating our abilities.

We returned to the tent and handed over our £2:00 entry fee, in return we received a map and an ELP (Emit electronic punching) a small device with a band which can be wrapped around a finger. We returned to the car and prepared ourselves, we lined up the map with our compass on the bonnet of the car to magnetic north. The start was a short distance from the tent and after a lengthy explanation by yet another club member we “punched” our tags and were off.

As the courses vary in distance from a couple of K’s to the one we were attempting and from easy to hard the people taking part ranged from families with youngsters to 80 year old men, built like whippets and resplendent in knee high bright blue gaiters. We followed a family with kids not only in tow, but strapped to their backs, they at least knew where they were going and we arrived at check point 1 in no time at all. Taking a bearing with the compass we decided to go “off road” to check point 2. Forsaking the paths we plunged headlong in the undergrowth and climbed and climbed. We had raced a couple of 10k’s at these woods in the past and knew how steep it could be. Some how we (me) had failed to take this into consideration. At last we emerged by a road, checking the map, we discovered we were way of course, making an adjustment we headed off again, though I for the life of me couldn’t figure out why we so far from where we should have been?

At last we saw the check point, only problem was it was CP3! We were even further away than we realised. Discarding the compass for the time being we relied on following the map, this did get us to CP2, of course we than had to turn round and retrace our steps back to CP3! I called a halt and we re-aligned the map and compass, our mistake had been in aligning the compass on the (metal) bonnet of the car. Metal and compasses don’t mix, as any passing sailor will tell you! We decided to use the map, but take bearings with the compass for the practice and gain some confidence. This worked well, taking us to CP4 in no time at all, only trouble was we had navigated to the “4” on the map, not the marked circle which was where the CP was. The map is 1:10,000 scale which meant about (we think) 100 metres to 1 inch*. Once again we back tracked and got onto the right foot path to the CP. We headed of to CP5 and elementary mistakes made and learnt, good progress was made. By now we were both pouring sweat and knackered, looking at my watch I noted we had been out for over an hour, it was at this point we saw the small print on the map which stated the course closed at 1:30pm, it was now 1:10. We decided to move on to CP6 and then make our way to the finish. After a few more lungs busting climbs we emerged tired, but laughing onto the plateau which held the welcoming sight of the finish and aforementioned tent. We explained we had “retired” but our results were still downloaded on their machine. This came back with the interesting information that one of us had completed a course which wasn’t even on the day’s menu!

It seems that despite the lengthy explanation one of us had failed to correctly “punch” our ELP! Still as I pointed out to the bemused and confused officials, “let’s not get anal about this, it is our first attempt!” They thanked us for attending, which we thought was a nice touch and headed back to the car. We were tired and muscles ached, John insisted on reminding me how I had said this would be a nice gentle jog, a good warm up for the Hardwick X-Stream which we were doing the following day. Would we be doing it again? Hell yes, the bright blue gaiters’ are on order!

DP Swan
16/02/08

* Having taken the time to study the map, I now know its 100 metres to every 10mm!

 

Irene's second marathon - follow up

After two years of reading my marathon trials and tribulations, Steve thought I should write the last blog.

By now you probably know that the bragging rights in the Paull household have reverted to the male side – sorry ladies! On the day, Steve ran a blinder of 3:24:47, and I was 10 minutes slower than last year at 4:55:31 so a whole 90 minutes separated us. I knew he was running well recently but to throw out a time that he hadn’t achieved since the last century was a bit unreasonable I thought.

What happened to me? Well I can’t blame the conditions – after all it was hot and horrible last year, and it was wet and horrible this year. I can’t blame the congestion – although it seemed like there were loads more people in the way this year than last year, there was just the same number of runners. You’ll know from the previous blogs that I didn’t do as much work in the autumn but recently I’d been achieving times close to my PB’s (I can’t believe I talk in running acronyms now). I also walked less than I did last year and stopped at fewer drinks stations. So on the day, I simply didn’t run fast enough – oh dear!

That evening, and since, when friends have congratulated me, I’ve felt the need to apologise for being so slow. How ridiculous is that! I’m fifty years old and I’ve run a marathon and I’m not happy about it. I suppose it’s my coming of age as a runner. Up to now my motivation has been about ticking off goals and now it’s becoming about achieving what I know I’m capable of – so reluctantly I’m just going to have to run another one and get it right this time.
...and I’ve learnt a bit too:
To respect my age and the distance – I have to start the ground work early.
To have my name on my vest– on the day, I saw no one I knew other than at the Metros water station but people shouted “Come on Irene” all the way round (some even to the tune of “Come on Eileen”) and it really helped me start running again whenever I was walking.

And I’ve a choice to make between lattes and cake now, and running faster next year. Now that is tough!

Whatever happens – and that includes the distraction of a new interim job that I start next week – thank you all for your support.

Irene 

 

Steve's story.

I shake my head in disbelief thinking about last Sunday's London Marathon. Some days things just seem to go right.

The bus arrived in Pinner a little bit late (did anyone know Ian Bocock's phone number? No), but we got to the bottom of Blackheath Hill in lots of time. Unfortunately, whereas in previous years little buses like ours were allowed to the very top, this year, no so we had to exit and haul ourselves and bags up to Greenwich Park and the starting areas.

Over the years I've got to know quite a few runners and a motley crew of us assembled near the baggage buses in our final preparations.
I got stick for not knowing how to put my chip on my shoe, and for being unable to decide what to wear. Loo visits among us were plenty, although I surprisingly for me, didn't feel the need to go. Then there were photographs and when I jokingly suggested a group hug, nobody objected. However once we were hugging I couldn't think of what to say. Whatever it was, and I cannot now remember, again I got no comebacks-these people must have been nervous!

I used a different eating and drinking plan this time, so, with 20 minutes or so until the start, I ate a ham sandwich!! My other idea was to drink less, as so often in marathons I feel so sick near the end- like my stomach is boiling and wants to boil over. This time drink less.

I had a starting pen of four but Jackie Bowles had three-now that wasn't right, how was I going to avenge my defeat by her two years ago while starting behind her? I jumped over the fence. Naughty, naughty. I did crack my shin in the process though. It bled.

Jackie and I kept moving up, along with all the others pre-start, and were amazed to find ourselves very close to the start line. In fact it was only to take 30 seconds to get through. Before that Jackie had wrapped herself in discarded foil blankets and, squatting on grass, relieved herself right in the line-up. I didn't know where to put my head!! She may deny it now, but I know what I saw.

So off we went and when Jackie seemed disinterested in keeping up with me, I sauntered along, completing the first mile in 7.48. Fine, but the second was 7.20, then the third, and I was going too fast a pace for the 3.30 (8 minutes a mile) time I thought I might be able to do. Several more miles passed and despite telling myself to slow down, I kept getting further and further ahead of schedule, so, by half way, I was almost seven minutes up.

By then the first real problem had occurred. One of my dodgy calves had twinged/protested just after Tower Bridge and I was wondering how serious the problem was. I kept on going and was ok because the muscle was warm, but with every slight gradient from then onwards the calf complained. When I eventually finished it seized up completely, so I am now injured. Physio for me.

But a lot was still going well. The first rain shower didn't bother me at all. People have since said it was heavy -I didn't notice. All I was concerned with was dividing the race up into two mile sections.

After half way 15 was the start of the Isle Of Dogs, 17 was the turn back up, 18+ was the Metros water station, 21 the start of the out- and-back section and 23 the Tower.

I stuck to my plan of drinking less and taking the gels early, but by now every drink I took made me feel like I wanted a pee; the feeling would wear off soon after. At 17 I decided to dive in an official loo but the stench was so horrid that I immediately gave up that idea and carried on. If I really needed to go it would be in the bushes-not that there are many in the Canary Wharf area. As it transpired I didn't need to.

A good day was starting to look on the cards, but I had blown up spectacularly last year in Amsterdam and many times previously. I tried to gee myself up by saying out loud that today I was immortal, but I didn't truly believe the hype. Who knows what the other runners thought?

I gave the Metros a shout at the water station and carried on my merry way. The miles ticked by with only a slight slowing and I knew that I wasn't going to throw this one away. I finished in a few seconds under 3.25 which is my fastest as a 50 year old and, in fact, my fastest this century.

I have to say I am quietly chuffed by what I achieved, but I still don't know what the secret is. However I will be having the ham sandwich again next time in case that is it.

Steve

 

 

THAMES VALLEY CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE

METROS: MAD BESS WOODS

After two years of having our host event cancelled at the last minute due to either poor ground conditions in the woods or upon environmental grounds the club were pleased to hold their round on Sunday 24th February. Having now transferred from Ruislip Woods to Mad Bess Wood the new course was a shortened version of that used for the Middlesex Masters Cross-Country Championship.

As with most Metros events the sun shone. A chilly wind mind you but overall it was bright and at times mild for February. The ground underfoot was firm and the route of the new course proved to be marshal intensive. However nobody took a wrong turn despite the over-zealous dog walkers who removed some of the marker tapes even before the race had begun.

Thanks go to Gary Young who organised the event and to Henry Pickford for laying and sweeping the course. He was also responsible for recruiting and organising all the marshals on the day. Help came in all forms as refreshments were laid on at the end of the race. So extended thanks go to all those who helped Barbara on the day and the generous contributions from those in preparing and supplying the food. There were supporters too to cheer everyone on and especially to those who ran to ensure there were plenty of yellow vests in evidence.

Ironically one year we had run out of food but this year, with two clubs not making the start, we couldn’t make much impact on the mountain of sandwiches. However a deserving cause was standing by and Marion Rogan would like to express many thanks on behalf of St. Joseph’s Church, Gerrards Cross for our contribution to Food for the Homeless. The food, in packs, was distributed to the homeless in Waterloo, Temple, The Strand and Slough and 41 people benefited.
It is good to see the return of the Metros Run back on the Thames Valley fixture list. The feedback from other clubs was encouraging. They thought it was well organised and they loved the new course.

I am also pleased to say that five friends and work colleagues of Jo Causer ran as our guests. They seem to have enjoyed the race and the Summer League may even now tempt them

 

 

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