South Bristol Runner

Ashton Court Sunday morning Run

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:53:00 +0000

Over the last couple of months I've found it hard to get out running with my usual running pals. I did so well earlier in the years, getting out two or three times a week either early in the morning or at the weekend. My work pattern has shifted slightly and I'm only getting out at the weekend. I'm hoping this will change after Christmas. I do a regular 10k run around Ashton Court avoiding the concrete paths. I try to run all off road which is great fun squelching through the mud. The ground is so soft this time of year that my joints don't seem to mind this weekly torture.

As I pass dog walkers, mountain bikers and fellow runners, a simple acknowledgement or 'hello' is all that is required to keep the morale on a high. Its a great time to clear the head and think about the forth coming week. With my food and alcohol consumption due to increase over the next couple of weeks, a good weekly run is certainly essential for this time of year.

Local food fest and places to explore

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 09:47:00 +0000

I attended the Hengrove & Stockwood Food Festival over the weekend. It was a great little community gathering with delicious foodie treats, childrens crafts and music and information about local food growing projects. One of the main attractions was an apple press from The Bristol Apple Press Collective. In front of your eyes they made juice using apples from the rediscovered orchard on Stockwood Open Space nature reserve and it tasted gorgeous.

After looking at a giant map of the area it got me thinking that it would be great to do a run or bike from Brislington to Stockwood Open Space. Its a beautiful area full of wildlife yet just on the doorstep of BS4. No need to get the car out. As with so many green spaces in Bristol this is also another area under threat of development. So get over there and check it out.

Outdoor sporting legend Bill Smith dies

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:24:00 +0000

As a fan of off-road running and someone who would like to get into fell running I had to write a post about Bill Smith. A greatly respected fell runner and author of one of the sport's definitive works, Stud Marks on the Summits, Bill died last week. Check out the report in The Independent and the Fell Runners Association.

Thank goodness September is over

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:10:00 +0000

Firstly a huge apology for not posting for ages. September was a crazy month. I guess if I take a three week holiday in France in the summer holidays, I will undoubtedly pay for it the following month ie September. But it’s been an exciting month and now I am training for a half marathon. Read more here

Bristol Half Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 14:01:00 +0000

Good luck to everyone doing the Bristol Half Marathon on Sunday.

Local run before the holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 10:40:00 +0000

Did a local early morning run the other morning with my two regular running buddies. Great to get this done before everyone sets off on their various hols. We did a shortened version of our usual 7k run. We ran down and up Allison Road (a good hill), down into Eastwood Farm, along by the river, back up through Eastwood Farm, through the cut-through into the top fields behind Broomhill Junior school, down into Victory Park, exiting the park by the cemetry, through St Lukes Church and home.

Apart from nervously running past a gang of doberman dogs all went well. No shin-splint or leg pain. I finally feel like I have recovered from my injury and have a spring in my step when running. Now looking at booking some more events, possibly the Wye Valley half marathon in September and Ashton Court 10k in November.

Planning to do lots of running on holiday. Well I'm saying this now. I may well get there and just think blow this, it's far too hot.

Happy holidays everyone!

RunBristol Cross Country Series

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Just heard that RunBristol are adding a weekend of off-road events to it’s portfolio of races - Bristol Half and Bristol 10k. Due to be held over the weekend of 12-13th November 2011 in Ashton Court, the off-road events include a Cancer Research UK 10k charity run and the McCain Bristol Cross Country Challenge.

A special guest at the event will be Olympian Tim Hutchings. Hutchings twice won a silver medal at the World Cross Country Championships in 1984 and again in 1989.

The 10k sounds very appealing to me!

Sports Day - Victory Park

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:58:00 +0000

It was great to see all the kids at Holymead Junior School enjoying their sports day in Victory Park last week. The rain held off and the sun shone. Jessie came home complaining that her legs were aching so that's a good sign that she did lots of activities. Shame they didn't include a race for the mums and dads!

We did the Bristol Race for Life

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 10:15:00 +0000

So Jessie and I and her pals ran The Race for Life on Saturday. We ran in the afternoon in glorious sunshine. I have to admit I thought it was going to be a bit of a mud bath after the torrential rain we had in the morning. I felt for the morning runners doing the Race for Life 10k.

Anyway we got round the 5k route with a bit of a struggle. I joked in my last post that Jess might run bare foot if she didn't wear her trainers at least once before the race. (She had been refusing to wear them despite loving them when we bought them). But that's exactly what happened. Last year she flew round the course wearing basic kiddies trainers from Clarks. This year she was wearing new "clumpy" trainers, if that's the word to use, from Clarks, but she struggled and moaned so much that I said, "right, take off the trainers and run bare foot!" and that's exactly what she did. In fact her mate did the same and all of a sudden they were racing ahead. They loved it and their feet felt so much better on the cool soft grass. They got lots of cheers from the crowd as they ran along in their muddy socks.

I think she should just wear her daps next time or just a very basic plimsoll/running shoe. Just goes to show these fancy trainers aren't all what they are cracked up to be. Does anyone have any tips on running shoes for kids? Obviously Jessie is only nine and wouldn't normally be running 5k, but it would be interesting to hear if any other parents have had similar problems with kiddies trainers.

We rounded off the run with a huge picnic and a game of rounders! Lots of fun.

Running & Volunteers

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:36:00 +0000

I was out running in my local park the other day and couldn’t help thinking about the importance of volunteers and the difference they make to running. For someone that prefers to run off-road through local parks and open spaces, it doesn’t seem like that many years ago that I didn’t feel comfortable running on my own around the local parks and always made a point of teaming up with someone. A number of the local parks had suffered from anti-social behaviour, the playgrounds were vandalised and falling apart and people generally were not using the parks that much.

Thankfully this has all changed due to local volunteers setting up park groups and getting things sorted especially in Victory Park, Nightingale Valley, Eastwood Farm, Arnos Court Park and Arnos Vale Cemetery.

Check out the rest of my post on Bristol Running Resource.

Race For Life on Saturday

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 19:36:00 +0000

Jessie and I are running the Race for Life on Saturday on The Downs with several thousand other women and young girls all dressed in pink. Last year Jessie completely surprised me with her speed so I am a little worried about keeping up with her. We've also done a bit of fundraising for Cancer Research UK.

Lets hope the rain stays away as traditionally we always have a huge picnic after the race. Yes you guessed it, cakes, chocolate, cakes, crisps and did I mention cakes........

Happy people in Eastwood Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 14:19:00 +0000

Did a fab relaxed run this morning with my running buddy. We haven't been out together for ages and it was a real pleasure. Struggled, of course on the hills, but generally took it easy. Must mention that everyone we met this morning running through Eastwood Farm were so friendly. Lots of 'Good mornings', 'come on girls!' and other words of encouragement and smiles. It doesn't take much to be cheerful and it certainly helps struggling 'middle-aged women' like us get round their running course. Christ I hate that expression. So lots of thanks to you happy people.

Juneathon Update - Not so good

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 18:37:00 +0000

Oh dear, I signed up to Juneathon with all good intentions to run and exercise everyday in June. Trouble is I have been suffering from mild shin splints and my regular running/fitness routine had gone out of the window. So here's my five excuses for not keeping up with the Juneathon action plan.

1) I was out of routine
2) My regular running buddies have been away or busy
3) I have been busy with work
4) The kids have been ill
5) I've been out socialising - not good for early morning runs

But...... I have upped my yoga routine - 2-3 times a week, and ran whenever I can when we have been away in the campervan. I did a great circular run on The Gower a couple of weeks ago, some Fartlek training in the local park and today I did a fab 10k run on Black Down (Beacon Batch - the highest point in the Mendips). Despite having a bit of a sore heal, I had a great run. It was all off-road - just how I like it, and with plenty of hilly. But it was worth it. Amazing views across to South Wales and lots of fun running DOWN the hills. A good day. So though June wasn't my best month for running, I have finished the month on a high and hope to continue through July. So thanks Juneathon for keeping me motivated through June.

National School Sport Week

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:29:00 +0000

It's National School Sport Week this week, and schools across the country will be taking part.

For many people school is often the first introduction to running and becomes something you either love or hate. I was a sprinter at school all those years ago. I wasn't that brilliant - but certainly preferred sprinting compared to long distance. Yet when I was recommended by my school to join the local athletics club I only went a few times and stopped going after about a month as I didn't like it. Hey ho such is life. Now I prefer long distance, but still look back to those school sports days with fond memories.

My mate is a P.E teacher and has been planning her school's sports week for months. She has so much enthusiasm for sport - I wish she was teaching at my daughter's school. Lets hope there are plenty more PE teachers out there like her that inspire kids to get out there and take part.

Learning to read is a national problem

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 11:27:00 +0000

Just came across the Evening Standard's campaign to raise awareness about the charity Volunteer Reading Help. It's all about helping children to read in London.

While this is a great idea, this is a national problem and there are already systems in schools where parents can volunteer to read with other children in their primary schools. I have been volunteering at my daughter's school for three years as a Better Reading Partner. The difference a little bit of focussed reading makes to a child is simply amazing, not only with their reading but also with their overall confidence. Why does it take a London based newspaper to raise awareness that there is a reading problem in the UK?

Running & Mud

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 12:57:00 +0000

I know it's the summer and we're supposed to be basking in hot sunshine, but with Glastonbury this weekend and the Wimbledon fortnight upon us, sunshine inevitably turns to rain and with rain we have mud and this year like every other at Glastonbury, there's mud and lots of it. So as most of the population of Bristol heads over to Glastonbury for the annual mud bath, a few sneaky Bristolians have been enjoying themselves on the mudflats of the River Avon. Check out the Bristol Festival of Mud . Looks like loads of fun. Thanks to the team at Yoho Media for the video. So what has this got to do with running. Well nothing really apart from our obvious obsession with mud and getting dirty. The growing popularity of the Sodbury Slog and the Mud Runner Adventure Series just proves it.

Usain Bolt - Running Man

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 10:22:00 +0000

Usian Bolt is the latest - and fastest - in a long line of sprinters from Jamaica who have left the opposition in their wake over the last few years. There are many theories to explain the phenomenon - some scientific and some less so. In this programme, Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere takes a jog across the island to put those theories to the test.

Usain Bolt: Running Man -http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b011w8b1/

An inspiring story for any sprinting hopefuls.

A Bad Run

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 13:31:00 +0000

OK so I signed up to Juneathon a couple of days ago with the intention to run every day, blog every day and log every day through June. I missed the first week as I was away - well that's my excuse - and the website does say you can do any form of exercise, so it doesn't necessarily have to be running.

So keen to get back into my running regime after a bit of a layoff due to shin splints I went to yoga last night - a fantastic class. I came back feeling a foot taller. Today I went for an early morning run and that's where it all went wrong. It was my usual 7k route which includes some hills and I struggled pretty much all the way round. Well certainly on the hills. I mean I slowed up to the point of going backwards. What's going on with me. My legs felt like lead weights. Maybe it was just a bad day. Maybe its my age. Maybe I'm premenstrual. I don't know. Anyway what ever it is lets hope the running improves. If I can run these hills in the cold months of January I should certainly be able to do them now.

OK now I have ranted I feel so much better. I do find though that some days I run with a spring in my step and other days, well…….. it’s a struggle. Does this happen to anyone else? Please don’t tell me it’s just me!

7k 48mins

Britain's Park Story & the value of nature

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:04:00 +0000

Described as 'the lungs of the city - historian Dan Cruickshank reveals the history of our public parks in the BBC programme 'Britain's Park Story'. Did anyone watch it last Sunday? If not here's a link to BBC iplayer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00t9qv8/Britains_Park_Story/

Cruickshank travels the country to discover the evolution of the nation's urban public parks, a story of class, civic pride, changing fashions in sport and recreation which helps re-evaluate the amazing assets they are.

Talking about the importance of our parks and open spaces, there have recently been two interesting features in The Guardian - Managing parks and green spaces despite budget cuts and The true value of nature is not a number with a pound sign in front a live debate in response to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs National Ecosystem Assessment. Both are certainly worth a read.

Many thanks to the Bristol Parks Forum for forwarding these links and GreenSpace UK

Half Term Hols - Croyde Bay Run

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:30:00 +0000

So I haven't blogged for a while as I have been away for the half term hols in the camper. Managed to do just one run while I was away. Roughly a 5k run from the campsite in Croyde to Baggy Point and back. The route included running through sand dunes (a good test for the recovering shin splints), a steep climb up Middleborough Hill, weaving between caravans in the sea-front holiday park and part of the South West Coast Path. Probably not my favourite coastal run as I had to negotiate running through Croyde on a busy day, but it was great to get on the coast path - once I found it. I asked a guy in one of the surfing schools where the coast path was and he didn't have a clue. Couldn't believe it! Thankfully his colleague had more local knowledge. Didn't see anyone rock climbing at Baggy. Probably too early for most climbers.

Need to get back into regular running now I'm back in Bristol. Just came across Juneathon. Could be a good way to up the running.

The Wolf Run

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Fri, 27 May 2011 08:16:00 +0000

Just came across this crazy off-road event The Wolf Run. Lots of mud, obstacles, water and running all thrown in together. Sounds fab! Shame its not closer to Bristol.

Tyntesfield Ten - I did it

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Wed, 25 May 2011 10:48:00 +0000

I can't believe it. I managed to do the Tyntesfield Ten last night - a 10k (ish) race organised by Nailsea Running Club and the National Trust. Why am I so surprised? Mainly because my leg was really sore before the race (shin splints) and I almost didn't do it. It was a case of strapping my leg up really well and just seeing how I got on.

Thankfully the first 3k was a circular route before heading off into the hills, so I knew if my leg was really hurting I could pull-out at that point. But I didn't need to. I took it really easy, soaked up the friendly atmosphere and beautiful surroundings and finished the whole race in just over an hour. Well chuffed especially after missing out on the Bristol 10k! So a massive thanks for all the support from my running pals and the volunteer helpers.

I stretched out after the race, iced my leg when I got home, had a bath, drank a recovery drink and all seems well today. Yee Haa! Having a sports massage later following the recommendation of my physio.

Would I do this race again? Absolutely. This is a run I would highly recommend particularly if you like running off-road. It's well-organised, with lots of helpers and the course varies a lot. Hills, narrow paths, open fields, spectacular scenery and of course you get to explore the grounds of Tyntesfield. A great run. This years race was started by two-time Olympian and local running legend, Nick Rose, co-owner of Up and Running Bristol, the sponsor for this great event.

I must mention just after the finishing line I got chatting to Tom from the Relish The Great Outdoors intiative. In partnership with the National Trust he is organising a series of great sounding races where the whole family can be involved. The first is at Dyrham Park where there will be a 10k multi terrain race and team relay, a 3km fun run and a 300m run. Sounds fab.

Tyntesfield 10k - just four days to go!

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:30:00 +0000

So the newly established Tyntesfield 10k run is just four days away and am I worried? Yes!

To begin with I was concerned about the hilly terrain, but then again in such beautiful surroundings, this should inspire me on and it's also off road. Phew! No, my main concern now is my right leg. I've got shin splints. Too much training on roads for the Bristol 10k which I didn't end up doing due to illness. I've seen a physio at the University of Bristol Sports Medicine Clinic and have another session on Monday, so fingers crossed I should be OK to do it. Though I know shin splints don't disappear over night. Lots of intensive stretching required.

More green space news

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Fri, 20 May 2011 14:19:00 +0000

And here's another update as reported in the Evening Post.

Park sell-off on hold, but not scrapped

THE highly-criticised plan to sell off more than 40 green spaces across Bristol has been put on hold – but that does not mean it has been scrapped just yet.

Latest on the green space sell-off

noreply@blogger.com (Shazzyd) — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:13:00 +0000

The big green space sell-off saga in Bristol seems to be on-going. Here's the latest news in the Bristol Evening Post: Letters to sell-off petitioners 'an expensive waste of time'