JB trail run and Pics with SMC 10.03.12

Mike Pettys Posterior 

Another great turnout for a new-ish route starting from Marston Moretaine Social Club car park. We wound around the country park, lapping the lake and looking for the underpass taking us into a place called Lower Shelton. Having found it, we wandered through the village looking for a path that I had run on some weeks before. We rounded around the back of some houses and entered a fly tipping area, where one of the lads took a wicked fall, cutting and grazing both his knees and palms quite badly. Being a former scout, I was prepared. Out of the rucksack came my first aid kit, which temporarily stemmed the blood flow. I pointed out that it was at this point a few weeks ago that

 I had a mishap involving a cement bag to a few looks of bemusement. I also had toilet roll, a black bin bag, compass, keys, jacket, jelly babies and water in there as well. I would have had a she wee as well, but Fi wouldn't let me take it out. 

Meeting at the Social Club early doors

We continued over the fields out of Lower Shelton heading into Wootton Green, which was by now a new route for us all. Katie was getting excited as she keeps a horse over there somewhere, although the route took us a tad further on missing the farm.

Heading across the fields from Lower Shelton to Wootton Green

We headed up towards the brow of the hill, turning before we did to run along the edge of the woods and then meandering across a variety of fields trying to find the point where x marks the spot at a junction where paths crossed and we met part of the John Bunyan trail. I eventually realised that the X was on my map and concentrated on looking for way marked posts, which were scarce.

Katie on the way to her longest SMC run yet

Mike "cute butt" Petty and Satnav Jones amongst the throng

Across the fields with Wootton School in the background, which is the 

start of the Bedford Half marathon course

Caught in the act

What me?

Having found the JB trail proper, we then promptly lost it and spent a few minutes wandering around a field trying to find the correct route. This was really the reason I had picked this route. We have not run it before and whilst there was a bit of stop starting, I would rather do it now than on the day itself. If it goes to plan, three of us will be at the sixty mile point around here and may well be on our own. The JB trail run we are planning, is not going to be part of a race, there will be no marshals, signposts, water stations or direction arrows. We are going to do it just for the crack with hopefully a few friends joining us along the way. I have run sixty odd miles a few times and it does effect your ability to think clearly, so the plan is to do one lap of each of the latter sections.

Still smiling after 2 hours on the trails

We followed JB, until we came across a natural point which allowed those doing a shorter distance to peel off and head back. That left me, Satnav, Niki, Claire, George and Katie heading on into Cranfield. More fields took us into the outskirts and we made our way to the local church looking for an outside tap. We had run this way once before and couldn't quite recall the facilities on offer. Fortunately, there was one and a quick refill was had by all. Its a good tip by the way, to locate churches on long distance runs in the summer in particular as frequently they have taps outside. A good way of telling if driving past, is to look if the graves have flowers, not to rob them but to tell if there is a tap in the grounds. One particular 30 mile training run last summer had a route based entirely on the locations of churches, which has subsequently become known as the lost villages tour.

Cranfield Church

Having left Cranfield, we followed JB towards Ridgmont, all the way. We did take a slight detour, but soon found our way back onto it. 

George thought it was the height of summer and put on one of his selection of racing sunglasses looking quite cool it has to be said. Does anyone still use the word cool by the way? To be fair to the Flying Scotsman, he was entitled to a certain degree of coolness, given his first place in his age group in the Phoenix, Arizona half marathon last week where he certainly lived up to his nom de plume. 

We were again on new ground, albeit we knew the direction we were going.

We had to head back over the new dual carriageway, adding as we did a new bridge to my growing collection of pedestrian walkways which I simply would never go over if it were not for the mile munching. I have already bored the family with "look, I've run over that bridge...and that bridge... and that bridge" stories as we drive under them flying past in the car. I can now add another one and bore them even more. Its not so much the fact that I have run over the bridges, but the fantastic trails that I have taken to get me to them in the first place.

Over the A422

Having crossed, we carried on towards Ridgmont, running past the ruins of some old housing site . 

The route from the A422 crossing down to the motorway, is not a particularly picturesque one and didn't warrant any pics. It was straight forward and we crossed a cattle bridge over to the other side. Having done so, an immediate left turn took us back towards Ridgmont. On the JB proper, we will go into the village and find the trail on the other side. The miles were starting to build, so we headed back over another cattle bridge a bit further down and took a route we have used before. 

Running alongside the not so picturesque M1

Up into the outskirts of Liddlington and then down a steep track into the village itself. We ran past Niki Rouse's house and as she has been injured I called her so she could gaze out her window as we sauntered past. She wasn't in, although we did speak and it was nice to see her waiting at the finish point to have a chat.

Claire and George with a final sprint at the 20 mile point

What a motley looking crew, with yours truly on the right

I had picked up a slight groin strain a few miles before the finish and I was quite content to slow down for the last mile or so. Katie did a marvellous job getting to her longest ever SMC run to date, although she also slowed down. We trotted in together, until the last two hundred metres when without warning, off she sprinted for the last section leaving me in her wake. I was last which in truth wasn't an issue.

Another great run and well done to all the girls in particular, as each of them ran the furthest today they have ever run before with the SMC.  I hope that doesn't sound sexist? I would say well done to the lads, but they have done lots of marathons. It was a lovely day, great run and despite a bit of stop starting due to route calculations, it was also really great to head off on brand new trails which we will know better next time.

Foxxy Stuff

Day 69 of the 366 days running challenge. 3.3 miles. Miles to date 428.8 I think I have become hooked on weather forecasting, Ordinance survey maps and spotting wild animals whilst out running. As I am running every day, I have become more interested in the weather, as in truth it is easier to get out the door when its not minus 11. Sure, I've had some great runs this year when it has been frreeezzin, but the time has come to move into single layer running tops. It did feel warmer tonight at the start, although I did wuss out and put on two layers. Apologies to all. I've purchased all of the local OS explorer maps looking for new trails and the floor is currently covered. So many trails, so little time. Whats a boy to do? As for the wildlife, I went through the woods in the twilight and whilst navigating a little used trail, a fox popped out and ran straight across around 50 metres in front of me. The last time I saw a fox, it was on the same trail ages ago. Fair chance it might have been the same one, as they are very territorial and stay within a small area. Must be true, as I saw it on a TV detective programme a few weeks ago. Only a gentle trot, before Saturdays LSD. Mmm, that reminds me, time to eat some more. I lovveee Fridays.

Pushy spouse's

Day 68 of the 366 days running challenge. 6 miles. Miles to date 425.5

An early work finish saw me arrive home and miss the club run. I still have a bit of fatigue in the legs, which is not surprising really. Fi came to the rescue and saved me from another brief lonely trot around the village. She pulled out her high viz vest, made me don my own and took us off on a local 6 mile loop, albeit on the road as it was dark. We must have looked a right pair meandering away, but at least we were highly visible. Mind you, she made me run in front on the dodgy sections on the road. I cant take the chivalrous high ground. She just shoved me in front!

The shuffle

Day 67 of the 366 days running challenge. 3.7 miles. Miles to date 419.5


There are days when you can and days when you can't. Today very much fell into the latter, with a greatly shortened run. I normally crank out around a half marathon on a Wednesday into work, but due to a pending job move I couldn't today. I came home early, fired up the i-pod thingy long play music machine and headed out the door with the intention of doing an eight mile cross country loop. Within a mile, the legs felt like bags of wet cement and I heard a voice say, "come on in Mr.Owen, your time is up". I rarely learn much these days, but recent injuries and lay off's mean that when the body says ''Wooaahh tiger, are you sure about this" I tend to listen, not feel guilty I can't make the distance and call it a day. Its not a question of giving up, but taking a long term approach and trying to avoid injuries. I have finally been able to shrug off Richard Jones standing advice of, if it hurts , run more until it stops. Hopefully.
 I decided to come home and help with the cooking instead, much to the annoyance of Fi. She said my cooking is like waiting for a new pope to be selected. When the smoke changes colour, I know it's done. Charming. I had best revert back to my old unreconstructed mile munching man's man then. If she let's me that is.
 One small bonus is having run 67 days on the trot, I'm now down to the 200's to go, instead of the 300's. Granted that's still 299 more runs, but heck, it's still in the 2's. I wont break into the bubbly just yet though.

The old mans run

Day 66 of the 366 days running challenge. 6.8 miles. Miles to date 415.8

I was feeling a little tired today and my slightly lazy mood wasn't helped by one of the younger members of the firm asking me if it was right I had started working in our place in 1991. My reply of yes, was swiftly followed by, oh, I wasn't born then. I shuffled my ageing bones down the stairs and locked my office door, retreating to planning to run the John Bunyan trail in May.
Shortly after, I headed off to the club where I was coaching with my two beautiful assistants Nick Jones and Paula James. Ok, I was assisting Mr. Jones and he had one beautiful assistant, and it wasn't me.
We split into three groups and to my surprise, my legs started working again and despite coaching, I was able to put in a bit of effort as well in what was an increasing time and effort session. Paula and I went on a warm up to training course a few weeks ago. We had them doing all sorts of moves at the start, with my favourite being the deliver the pizza drill. Boy, I wish I had my video camera for that one.
I had earlier in the day posted my plans to run the trail with as many peeps from the club as we could muster, doing anything from one mile to seventy eight and anything in between. There seemed to be a lot of interest and lots of peeps pledging to run some part or other, with even more promising to come to the pub after. Mmm, with 24 hours of running planned, it might be an early bath for me. That's a few months off, but sit was still really good to get lots of peeps saying yes. Great day, despite the suggestion that I might need a bus pass soon.

Cambridge Uni's Boundary run marathon 4th March

Richard Satnav Jones getting changed in the usual facilities 

Two young eager runners, er, ok me and the Jones Boy 

The eager young things 

More of em!

Jonesy trying to decide if he wants to start with the pack or go it alone

At the start

A mile into the race and all stop for a train to go past!

Winding out of Cambridge

A bit of road running early doors

and more...

more...

Jonesy in full ultra marathon shuffle mode

feet hardly moving off the floor despite dazzling new trainers

Is he walking or running? Dunno, but he's going faster than me

hurrah trails at last...

the man cant live without a trail a day 

Some young 44 year old upstart

An example of the trails on the second half of the run. The rain came down so much after this point, I just couldn't get my camera out of the expensive black bin bag I had it wrapped in. It poured down after, so lack of photos as a result 

Two likely looking lads at the finish

Its still raining...

The Jones boys yellow perils. Took courage to wear them in a race where he spent 4 and a half hours talking to me. I eventually stopped taking the mickey around the half way mark!