Hi Everyone. I’m back. It’s time to get organised and caught up with what’s been going. Having a break not only helps the body but also helps to empty your mind.
Monday 17th August. Sowerby gateway.
6.15 – 6.30 start. Rolling core. Will suit all abilities. You just train as easy or as hard as you like. Finish in time to join the running group.
6.45- 7pm start. Running group. Warm up and running drills.
100m walk > 100m jog > 300m effort (in your ‘more or less’ similar pace groups) for 28 mins.
Cool down and stretches.
Wednesday 19th August. Summer Handicap.
Wass Woods. On top of the hill on the Left Hand or Western side once you come up from the village of Wass. Look for Rob’s truck. If You don’t see it then there is a good chance you are in the wrong place .Points and prizes for Everyone. Parking:
WHAT THREE WORDS: https://w3w.co/kingpin.entertainer.rekindle
WHAT THREE WORDS: https://w3w.co/kingpin.entertainer.rekindle
GRID REFERENCE: SE56138061
On entering the forestry turn left along the forest track. Follow the markers. The start is approx a 3 to 5 minute jog ( it depends on how fast you jog!!) from the entrance.
The route will be marked and you take all turnings to the right.
You finish at the forest entrance where you park your car. The distance is exactly almost two miles.
There are two hills. The first is more of a drag, the second is much steeper and you won’t miss it. They are both in the first half of the race. The last mile is mostly downhill and very fast.(hopefully). All your handicap times are already worked out. If you don’t have one then we will slot you in with someone around your speed.. Everyone can take part. Just because we love you everyone who does take part will get a prize. Bring nibbles to pool together for a communal chat afterwards.( flap jacks are a strong favourite)
With the nights drawing in, please aim to arrive for 18:45 for a warm up, so that we can set the first runners off at 19:10 and we can all then finish while it’s still light. If you can’t make the earlier time, please don’t panic, you can still run. It just means that your warm up may need to be super quick!
On entering the forestry turn left along the forest track. Follow the markers. The start is approx a 3 to 5 minute jog ( it depends on how fast you jog!!) from the entrance.
The route will be marked and you take all turnings to the right.
You finish at the forest entrance where you park your car. The distance is exactly almost two miles.
There are two hills. The first is more of a drag, the second is much steeper and you won’t miss it. They are both in the first half of the race. The last mile is mostly downhill and very fast.(hopefully). All your handicap times are already worked out. If you don’t have one then we will slot you in with someone around your speed.. Everyone can take part. Just because we love you everyone who does take part will get a prize. Bring nibbles to pool together for a communal chat afterwards.( flap jacks are a strong favourite)
With the nights drawing in, please aim to arrive for 18:45 for a warm up, so that we can set the first runners off at 19:10 and we can all then finish while it’s still light. If you can’t make the earlier time, please don’t panic, you can still run. It just means that your warm up may need to be super quick!
NYSD x country League 2026/ 2027 season.
If you would like to run in the xcountry league this winter then it is time to start signing up. Either sign up at training or message me with your URN and DOB. There are 7 fixtures + team relays at the end of season. The club will pay your entry fee so it will cost you nothing to run. Last year we won 9 individual medals which was more than any other club in the league ( 29 clubs take part) This year could we get into double figures? It would also be good to challenge for a top team prize but if you don’t stand on the start line then you don’t deliver. A reminder for those who already run and for newer members. Female and over 65 male runners run 6 to 7k. Male runners run 8 to 10k. This will be my 44th year of competing in this league. If you want to know what it’s all about then I guess I’m the one to ask. We are also hoping to enter runners in the PECO league but more about this when details become available. I absolutely love xcountry and If fitness and dates allow, then I intend to support both leagues. I have run in both leagues and in my opinion both leagues are equally as competitive as one another but may appeal to different people . Christine intends to try and run both but prefers the NYSD to Peco. The Peco league is not so kind for those who are used to coming last.
Holiday training!
Whilst on holiday I try to either run or do a core session every other day. Either first thing in the morning or early evening nicely in time to have a relaxed dinner .More to empty the mind and just keep ticking over. If I find an inspirational place then I might allow one serious session to take place. All you need for a core session is a towel, a couple of steps for calf work and a 6 – 10k rock and somewhere quiet and cool and off you go. The program I put together takes around 45 minutes. I also run for around the same amount of time. Depending on where we are staying I will run out and back, Loops etc. Just steady and to fill in time. If on safari I run between lodges. If on Ice I run between flags. Anything but run on a treadmill. I never take a map, I never carry water and I never take my phone. I don’t even tell Christine where I’m going because I don’t know myself until I get 20 to 30 strides down the road. I love to run wild and I love to run free. I am now in my 62nd year of running.
Sri Lanka 2026.
Another year. Another adventure. Each year we choose to go on holiday as a family so we can spend some quality together. Our three Grandchildren are growing up so fast and we’d rather spend money on them whilst we’re alive and doing things we love to do. This is our 15th year and our 14th different country. Whether we can afford to do the same again next year depends a lot on Uncle Donald (idiot!!) and Putin. I’m convinced that during difficult times the rich get richer ( and quite often greedier) and the poor just stay poor. Sri Lanka is not a rich country and depends largely on tourism. Tourism is down 40% and more. There are a lot of good deals on the table. Food is great with lots of variety. There is also lots of nature and plenty to do.
Road surfaces are good but the roads are narrow and few and far between. Over crowding and all types of vehicles travelling in all directions mean it takes ages to cover long distances. You need plenty of time but it’s well worth the effort. We found everyone friendly and very willing to help. During our stay we did safaris ( night and day) and children managed to see elephants and the sloth bear for the first time. We also put a captured cobra snake back into the wild ( You can’t believe how fast they go!!) Climbed Monkey mountain before breakfast one morning and Lion Rock mostly before anyone else. You have to do it while you can.
Whilst on our adventures Grandma Chris is our team medic. She brings along tablets, creams, sprays, plasters, rehydration sachets and more. A few or all will get used at one time or another. Bumps and scrapes are never ending. It’s also, whilst in SL, a legal requirement to report all snake bites, dog bites and any other sort of bites to a hospital within 30 minutes of such an event happening. It’s flag down the nearest tuk,tuk and off you go. If you can’t find a hospital within the required time then you may find it quicker to find a mosque, or a temple. Praying may be your only answer. It was noticed that not all dogs had a full set of teeth but these tended to be the ones that looked like they could give you a nasty suck!!
It was possible to get a 60 to 70 minute sports massage for as little as £15. I managed to squeeze in 4 over the 3 weeks. I’ve never been in so much pain in all my life. Brought tears to my eyes it did. Hopefully it’s done me some good.
Keep smiling and see you soon, Rob
