The last entry into this Blog was back on the 20^th August and there has been a bit of running in between times. I am writing this as we wait in Yeovil Hospital for Lynda to be induced – my baby doesn’t seem to want to come out to play!

The past few weeks have been a bit frustrating on the running front, as a calf injury has meant that outings have been limited – even taking Club groups has been left to the 4 – 5 mile routes (though when running from Goldenstones there is always scope for changing the route on the way back in to recce the Santa Dash route!). There was an extra trip over Wyndham Hill with Terry Byrne, who was desperately trying to disown me as I was dressed in full Santa regalia – needed him to take the publicity photos!

Between hobbles, Andy Goodman laid a good hash out at the Kings Arms, East Stour and the carvery at the pub there is to be recommended – the best crackling I think I ever had (apart from that replacement ear that they attached to my head from my pet pig – all I could hear in that was crackling too!), and Matt Driver took us around Yetminster for a run; all I can say is that when Mark Larcombe ends up looking at a map to try and navigate us, you know you are in trouble!

Richard Dodge led a nice run from the Prince of Wales, memorable for us losing Gareth and Monty on two separate occasions; on the second of these, Monty found us but no sign of his owner (I think ownership is that way round!) and I ended up running round Ham Hill woods in the dark in vain attempt to find him; shouting “Gareth” often enough that a group of local wags though I must be looking for a child and started calling “Daddy!” back to me!   

Running aside, the Club had three races in the space of a fortnight. The finale of the Summer 5km Series went well, with another good turn out of 170+ on the night and more than 50 qualifying for the Series glasses, whilst Adam Hawkins organised another cracker of Excellent Eight. As a last minute decision I went along to marshal – the leg would have been no good to run on – and it made a pleasant change. I suppose it does help when you recognise nearly three-quarters of the runners (or they recognise you!) and you can have a bit of friendly banter with them, and it was nice to be taking photos of the fronts of runners I normally only get from behind when they’re ahead of me on the run!

September then ends (sort of) with the King Alfred’s Torment, Mr MacQuaid’s annual tour de force, and with the non-arrival (yet) of baby Chaffey – on Chaffey-time according to Phil – there was the unexpected ability to go up on the day. Nice day as always, starting with a gentle trot round in the company of Messrs Dodge and Hurrell, and moving some of the flags (apparently course had been laid by Pete, altered by Phil and then I cam along and changed it again!), and then a stint on the race computer to load in entries and then the results – when the only issue is where someone picks up the wrong pre-registered number due to similar names and you can sort in out in a couple of minutes, you can’t really complain! It never ceases to amaze me how good the Club is when you need nearly 40 people to drive 25 miles to Stourhead to marshal and they’ll all there by early-o-clock to have a run round the course first – much to the confusion of the dog walkers, it must be said!!