Day 133 Saturday 12th May 11.3 miles : miles to date 897.5
Ah, the Greensand Ridge route again. It must be nearer to summer by now, as the thoughts turn to running the GR relay event at the end of June. This is a jewel in the crown of off road running events in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire, which is not that well known and intentionally low key. It is mainly a 34 mile odd relay event with six stages, limited to just thirty teams. Four years ago, me and Satnav Jones decided to run the while thing as the first solo runners. We were joined that day by a third chap who quizzed us on our marathon times, checking out the competition. Little did he know, all we wanted to do that day was finish it regardless of the time. I still recall him charging off into the distance straight from the start, when he could have ambled along, enjoyed the scenery, the route and the mickey taking that followed from the relay boys and girls.
We ran the race for the next two years, being joined once by the Flying Scotsman himself, gorgeous George Arbuckle and the next year by his fellow Highlander, the ultrateer Robbie Craig. Each of the runs were just great in their own way and some of my most memorable. Having done it though three years in a row, I decided to give it a miss last year, which was just as well as by then it had grown to 16 soloists with a few of the clubs faster lads running and a certain Mr. Huw Lobb, who turned up and smashed the course record by about two hours. It was truly amazing to see Huw take the course apart in the way that he did.
This year Ampthill and Flitwick Flyers are being finally and most ably represented by the fantastic female duo of Annie Page and Becs Fleckney. We would have had a third lady flyer in Niki Rouse, who unfortunately picked up an injury and can't run. Annie is very organised and has set up a training programme to make sure they don't get lost. Today was legs four and five and as we lined up, I said don't worry I know the route inside out, can run it blindfolded and backwards.
This is a pic of Becs, well into the run, but it's so good it has to go first!
We gathered at the handover between legs three and four, in sunshine for once albeit with a tad chill. Coming out of the parking area, it was a case of right turn Clyde up a hill. I resisted the temptation of telling the girls to walk, as we were only 42 seconds into the run, but in the race Ladies, WALK THE HILL!!
Not long after this photo, we came across the first checkpoint. Mmm, the girls said lets go this way. Mmm, no the ultraboy Owen said I've run this leg 46 times lets go this way. So, they all followed the girls. Annie pointed out I was trying to make us run the John Bunyan trail. Doohhh. Have I taken over from Satnav, no. For the moment.
Our leader and the original (No.2 will be back - sorry in-house nicknames)
That will be my foot then! Don't you just love drought conditions?
Ahh, a sneaky Jo trying to go for a run on a Saturday morning not expecting to see anyone...
Its the Holy Trinity...
Maulden Church which for any would be GR runner is I blessing in disguise - they have an outside water tap
Go Becs
Go Mike
Go the Silver Surfer - the man I am very glad to call my mate - Phil Clarke
Is that a hill? Mmm ok yes
Some slow Scottish bloke and hatman
See above
Now, I have no idea who that bloke is in front, but it seems to me that he looks like a really nice bloke, with a great sense of humour, one leg a tad smaller than the other, a tendency to run in circles, an attraction to male stalkers in flat caps and shades behind him and on the whole, the next greatest running sensation. If you are Welsh, 44 and living in Bedfordshire.
The almost non existence road section
Look carefully and there is a runner in pink
Yeah. Love this one!
The best photo of the day!
And the, it was over. For me it was a very welcome shorter run. Eleven miles at what is likely to be John Bunyan pace. Perfect. Annie, by her own admission, struggled a bit and the "Original Niki " did really well although I suspect probably she shouldn't have run as far as she did. Well, if ON reads this, she will know herself what she should have done. However, what she should have done and what she did, doesn't detract from the fact that the girl is back with the gang. Whoooo hoooo.
Right, time for a G&T me thinks?
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