Getting Hairy

I’m on the bus today because tonight we have the little matter of the Hairy Helmet.
 

The Hairy Helmet, for the uninitiated, is a four person relay with everyone doing just two (and a bit) miles. For my team of girls (and me), which includes L, that’s not a given as all have recently been injured or are still nursing injuries. The team is rather tastefully named after this blog ‘Team Fit For Nothing’ and we are entered in the Supervets aged 200+ category. Which will probably turn out to be the fastest category.

Everything starts from Darley Abbey Cricket Club and I walk there from work, which is a good warm up while L drives over with the dogs. Being first to arrive I collect our timing baton, race numbers, beer tokens and, oddly, a bag of Portlebay Popcorn.

I am offered the choice of running first or last. Obviously that’s a no brainer, I’ll go first. L decides to anchor us home and mop up the glory.

So off I head out around the cricket pitch boundary and onto the park itself. After a quick 180 degree turn we’re heading steeply uphill towards the main park gates. Then after the park gates we’re descending back downhill and towards the rowing club end of the park. Another U-turn there, then it’s along the river and back towards the cricket club where I hand over to our next team member.

My time is a not too shifty 13:23, I didn’t think I had that in me any more. The rest of the team aren’t quite as nippy but we come an impressive 7^th in the Supervets category. Oh, it’s out of seven but not to worry.

The beer tokens are for the Derventio Brewery who have a beer tent but they are only valid on their bottles. They also have three draught beers but these sell out very quickly. I don’t know if this is spectators supping it as they watch or runners supping it before they go out. Having ran first, only one beer is left available even then.

By the time L has ran, none is left and we adjourn to the Furnace. It's always good to have a back up plan.

(Friday 16^th June)

Mental Trauma

The car is still sounding dodgy, so fixing the exhaust hasn’t fixed it.

L is desperate to try the new pool at Harvey Haddon, like the Beechdale-ites are but I think you need to know the secret password.

L has been thrown into a mental trauma by the fact the 25 mile bike ride I have entered her for is off road. My mistake. Mental trauma is good though. Active mind, active body and all that.

As it’s already been paid for, financially it would make sense for her to just upgrade to the 50m. As she’s always looking for a new challenge, this is another good reason upgrade to the 50m. Also as she’s just entered the Leeds Triathlon, practice wise it would make good sense to upgrade to the 50m. Travel wise, it's practically just outside our front door. No brainer.

Dodgy knee wise though, she should stay in bed. Then there's the mental trauma of actually doing it. No brainer. I think I’ll be doing it on my own.

A rare game of tennis tonight and a pint in the Victoria.  

(Thursday 20^th August)

A Long Cut

L makes it to work and stays there. I take the bus and will run home.

Bit of a victory for CityLink this morning. There are three of waiting at QMC when the CityLink bus pulls up with the Red Arrow right behind it, all three of us get on CityLink. Then it messes it up by long cutting through Chaddesden, making me late for work. That ‘short’ cut never works, never has, never will.

After having bought a £4 single because I’m running home, I later find out that Citylink have now solved the main problem with their ticketing. Their restrictive day return has now become an any time return. Sorted. They've also abolished the peak prices bringing a return down to £4.50 any time with the Red Arrow at £8... its a no brainer surely.

After a minor crisis at work I don’t start my run until 5.40, so I’m a bit behind schedule. I still manage 14k to Sandiacre though, which is quite pleasing and there are no objections from either my calves or my knees.

(Tuesday 19^th March)