29 Nov 2014

Saturday 29th November - Street-O (Event 3)

The end
Today was the 3rd round of Street-O - this round was based in Sutton/Langley and both E & D Group were there in force (30 runners out today). It was brilliant to see so many people out trying a new activity ... and it seems like everybody enjoyed the experience (if not the hills).

Thanks to Jenny & Wendy for creating the maps etc - a very good team effort.

There are plans for another event in the spring.

Pictures are on the E Gp BLOG - CLICK HERE

Neil
Neil's route
A Street-O map




22 Nov 2014

Saturday 22nd November - Middlewood Mel Special

Meeting Place
Four D groupers met at the Bollin Valley Car park,for a flat and fast session along the Middlewood and Canal.

In amazingly mild conditions for nearly the end of November, the group passed E group for high fives at the Silk Road bridge, followed by "two lampost Fartleks" along to the first bridge at Clarke Lane.

The group continued to the viaduct, keeping good pace, despite injury and late nights where we then cut back along the canal.

We once again met our fellow runners for more high fives, then a brisk descent and a sting in the tail back to our starting point.

A 5.5 mile route with every mile between 9 and 10 minutes per mile.

Really well done everyone!

Mel

The Starting Line Up

The crafty ascent to the Silk Road Bridge

A stretch as we reach the canal

Eric Morcambe joins us ....

The canal stretch

Second meeting of E group

All done, pretty chuffed



15 Nov 2014

Saturday 15th November - Lyme Park ParkRun and "Bollin Bash"

 Today, saw D and E Groups participate in the Lyme Park ParkRun, although tough, the team enjoyed the race and even had chance to spot some deer.

Updates on ParkRun can be found HERE

As an alternative, 6 D groupers ran the "Bollin Bash" a 5.2 mile extended Prestbury Loop.

This took in the  Bollin Valley, with newly laid tarmac paths, some very muddy fields, the golf course and an excursion through Tytherington, over Manchester Road and through the woods to rejoin the Middelwood way down to Summerlea Close.

Quite a tough run today with some injuries and challenging terrain. New trail shoes were "christened", many squirrels encountered and new running paths were discovered.

Well Ran Everyone

Mel

"Hagrid" and the small runners at the start






Dawn leads the way to Prestbury

Getting those muddy hills licked

Janette "the streak"pushes on          



Making it back to the Middlwood

Smiling at the Finish

Happy Runners - Twiggy?

13 Nov 2014

Thursday 13th November - Night-Street-O in Macclesfield

Tonight is the first of the local MDOC Street-O events - this one is in Macclesfield using the Park Tavern as event HQ. Food is available (pre-book).

Click HERE for more information.

We normally meet on the evening and arrange teams, its a really enjoyable evening. The cost is normally £3-4 which includes the map - more details are on the MDOC website.

This is a really friendly event and in the past, group members have completed the challenge with family or with friends. Remember a pencil and a head-torch!

Neil
Example Street-O map

8 Nov 2014

Saturday 8th November - White Nancy Poppy Run

Today we had a 'Plan B' as the weather was better than forecast and White Nancy had a special coat of paint we needed to see.

So - we headed across muddy fields and made the ascent to White Nancy - what an amazing view and a very poignant feeling seeing the poppy and thinking of what it represents.

We ran back via the Redway and across the fields.

Neil and Ali had to leave quickly - sorry for the short blog!

Neil and Alison
The start

A bit of star jumping....

.... and off they go

Harry gets better every run!

Mud holds no fear for D group

Jazz hands McAsey

Suzanne with that smile...

Twiggy on good form....

Julie starting marathon training!

Very good D group pace today

... the mud was not as bad as expected...

Harry leads the way up Hamburger Hill

Alison admiring White Nancy's latest coat of paint

The full team with Nancy

John and alison - masters of descent

Julie trying new downhill technique


Almost back...

A good pace to let Neil and Ali get away!

Stretch time...

more stretches


1 Nov 2014

Saturday 1st November - Langley 7

The Route
Today is the annual 'Langley 7' race organised by Macc Harriers. This is one of 4 races that the club organises that donates all net profits to charity.

The race will need lots of volunteers, lots of cakes and lots of people competing (and it is one of the club races this year). There is only one hill on the course...

Go on ... please either marshal, bake or run!

CLICK HERE for the link to the club information about the race.

Neil


Saturday 1st November - flat and sociable run

The start
Wow - 1st November and a lovely warm and sunny morning. 9 runners set off for the D group run today - a steady but paced 5.5 miles with 3 new members (Sarah, Fiona & Siobhan). Everyone ran really well at a similar pace so we only needed to loop-back twice. I've added the pace chart (below) to show how consistent we were (the bits where it goes 'slow' are where we climbed the steps).

It was good to meet up with E group in the car park and to have coffee afterwards.


Neil
Pace Chart


Fiona 'braved' a D group run ...

A new bench on the Middlewood Way

'The Boys'

Fiona still running very well...

About half-way...Alison in new running top!

Off the Middlewood and onto the canal

Is this a hill?

Harry and Philip

On the way back...

Sarah and Alison

Harry and Sally (a film?)

Sunny group run ...

Off the canal

Back on the Middlewood

Almost back

Last few metres..

The end (of a lovely run)