Mash Full Pie Signs

Bloatin' in the wind (an ode to OFS)

How many roads must a man run down

before you can call him a man?

How many pints should a runner knock back

before they go down the pan?

yes, n' how many chips should he eat till he knows

that too many spuds have been fried?

The answer my friend is bloatin' in the wind

The answer is bloatin' in the wind

How many times must a runner look down

before he can see his feet?

How many pies must that runner have

before he's had too much to eat?

Yes, n' how many breaths will take till he knows

that too many pounds have arrived?

The answer, my friend, is lyin' round the waist

The answer is lyin' round the waist

How many puds will that runner consume

before it starts to show?

How many chins will that runner have

before he starts to get slow?

Yes, n' how many times can he turn his head

till nobody else is behind?

The answer my friend is prayin' on the mind

The answer is prayin' on the mind

AGM -A Good Meeting

Well it was the annual bear baiting session again, er I mean the Maltby Running Club Annual General Meeting and Presentation Night and it went well -meaning the committee got out alive (not that you'd notice the difference).

In all seriousness it was really well attended and, given that we proposed a couple of rule changes, went without much controversy at all. It was great to see some new (and young) faces there as well and it really helps the club keep going when we can add new blood. The young'uns have brought the average age of the club down dramatically to seventy two (It's a joke Ray) and I think that all looks well.

Lisbon is looming on the horizon and we are all looking forward to a bit of FADO (Portugese folk music). OK I am looking forward top a bit of FADO and will try and find a bar that plays it. Obviously Tony R can't wait to come along as well because he loves the music that I listen to.

As I mentioned previously, the last few months have been hard for some members of the club, what with injury and illness. However, one thing really hits home and that is that whenever anyone of us is not quite right the others chip in with their support and well wishes. Its good to be part of a set up that cares.

Bob

When they meet it'll be moirder! (see note below)

Forget Ali /Foreman, forget Nicklaus/Watson, Borg/McEnroe forget even Beatles/Stones. We have a new duel about to start and its in your very own running club. A member of the club, who shall remain nameless (Brian) once famously stated when the age of our runners was mentioned, "We'll soon have more vets that members'. Well that was over 20 years ago and now most of us are approaching the very vet stage.

Newcomer to the 60's category is a certain Mr James Rust, obviously a very good friend of Brian, but very competitive nonetheless. Now Jim has been injured over the months and put on loads of weight (I have seen suitcases at airport check ins heavier), so he's obviously going for the power approach.

No-ones actually made any comments, but we (Jim, Brian, Big Tony and me) were relaxing after a particularly hard run on Sunday, when talk of the upcoming season came up and obviously Brian, who of course is South Yorkshire Cross Country Champion is in the same category as Jim.

Now far be it from me to say that the mind games have started, but I find it rather strange that Brian suddenly turns up for training on Tuesday unable to run with a twisted ankle, and to prove the point, he rolled his trouser leg up to display a white bandage. Now anyone who knows Brian will tell you that when he has got a bandage on he is a very dangerous animal indeed. With two its watch out.

I think its a case of watch this space.

Bob

Note

All our members under 40 (Lindsey and Susan) will remember the truly terrible American TV series Hart to Hart. The saving grace was the very wonderful (and very late) Lionel Stander, who played butler Max. The saying at the start of each episode was "when they met it was murder" with the strange pronunciation of murder.

The year ahead (and the year behind)

I have been trawling through my photos to send through to our website guru (that's Steve to you and me) and came across this lovely photo from Edinburgh last year.

Most of the people on this photo are going back up again this year (to run the half marathon this time though). This was taken on the glorious Saturday before the race with the wonderful castle as a backdrop.

However, what resonated with me was the fact that on this photo , yes there are some runners, but there's also the backbone of the club, our wonderful supporters (that's wives to you and me). I suspect that they do enjoy these trips, but really they give an awful lot of time putting up with the moans, groans, wails and whinging. And that's before the race.

Before Edinburgh, it's Lisbon soon and, you guessed it, our supporters will be there and we runners will be doing the same thing - drinking the first night, saying that we are going to run rubbish on the Sunday (but not really believing it), and our supporters will do what they always do. They will be there, cheering us on, putting up with our moans, and, most importantly being there at the end, and if one supporter is really lucky (Sheila), I may even find my way back to her at the end of the race.

Thank you ladies.

We could not do it without you.

2011 Here We Come

Happy New Year everyone!

I have finally got off my Harris and decided to send another enthralling blog to everyone. What a start to the year with Brian completing a South Yorkshire double in the Cross Country Championships as both league winner and the championship in his age group (over 60's). He did all this without the aid of support stockings, Kendal mint cake, porridge, paracetamols or any other pharmaceuticals. what a man! Well done Brian!

Special mention too to Barbara who picked up third in her age group (over 20's). yes I am still as diplomatic as ever.

Hope that you can all make the AGM/presentation at the 3 TUNS, Stainton on 9th February at 7pm prompt. it should be a good night with one or two surprises.

Just in case you were wondering about the David Bellamy impression above, its from our trip to Madiera in September, when Mrs H and I decided to have a quiet holiday (if that's possible with me in it).

It will soon be Lisbon and I hope everyone is training hard. We are really looking forward to it, as it should be great.

Anyroadup

That's it for now

More Blogs soon

Bob

Sick, lame and lazy

This is the last "official photo" of Mltby Running Club in the old kit. It was taken at the Tickhill 10mile Race in My.

Anyway,we are in the middle of summer and we should all be fighting fit, but what do i hear. Bad knee, shin splints, eye ache, metatarsal, bad back, stiff shoulder, hamstring, calf, elbow strain. And that's only Brian "The Running Miracle" Lowndes. Most of us have suffered in the last six months through some sort of injury mostly from running (take a bow Mick Barber). Jim's had an ankle injury, Dave a knee job, Ray, broken toe, Karen a hamstring, Alice fell off a bridge! It's enough to make you think about retirement. But where would we be without running? In one piece I hear you say

Anyway, I think most of us are getting through the pain barrier now and some of us are looking forward to the Conway Half in November. speaking of that particular month, and thoughts inevitably start to meander towards the dreaded Ball Inn runs. But before that we have the little matter of the magnificent Bawtry Forest event in September. Its a really good event and once again it's down to the hard work from the club members who work extremely hard to get the race on. Another thing I do like about the race is that we always go up and run round a few times before the day of the race to check out the course.

Anyway, I think that that's for it now. keep visiting and reading and take care.

Keep tuned for exiting news of an overseas run!

Bob

Edinburgh Marathon - The LOST POST

This post is alittle late and was originally scheduled for the end of May. However it got lost and i have only just found it. A new blog will follow in days.


UNBELIVABLE! Red hot last year and red hot this year. Great last year cos I was only doing the hairy haggis relay and not hanging around in 23degrees for 4 hours and ONE second.



Talking of red hot take a bow Barbara Rusling and Lindsay Rust clocking PB's at 3.21.09 and 3.46.10 respecively. Babs finished as 7th best runner in her age group which was fantastic. This is no mean feet, although all our feet felt pretty mean at the end of 26 miles and none went faster than Brian Lowndes in the half marathon finishing 6th best runner in his age group in 1.38.49.



Well done also to Jim, Mickeylove, Dave, Tony, Laura, Nigel, Dave, Ray and Lynne for doing great in the heat and Gav and Chris for flying round the half.



As for moi, I have promised Mrs H that I will never do a marathon again (4th time It think), but this time I mean it (3rd Time). After all pale white face and purple lips is not a good look. Not that I ever really have a good look you understand.



Anyway it was a great weekend and Edinburgh really is a fab event, apart from the daft b#g#@rs starting the event at 10.00. Too late I hear you say. Too right I reply.



Anyway TTFN



Bobster