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Marathon No.30 - Saxon Shore Marathon

Liz, John & Me at the FINISH (Back - Organizer Rachel and Traviss Willcox)

 Running on shingles isn't easy, I was very worried at how loose the ground was and I was being very careful trying not to fall or twist my ankle. I would have run on the grass if I could find it, didn't like the shingles one bit. There wasn't much grass so had no choice but to keep going..

 Saxon Shore Marathon was a very tough going trail run along 60% compacted sand, grass and shingle and 40% road.
The run started with a short opening loop followed by 4 out and back loops.The course is very flat along the Saxon Shore Way.

Elanor Willcox (Marshall) presenting me with FINISH Medal! - My FINISH Time was 5 Hours, 26 Minutes & 46 Seconds!

Me at the FINISH...........

  I had to wear 3 layers, I had my usual running shorts, 2 pairs of socks (one were compression socks and the other my normal running socks). Also I had my trusted gloves, I didn't remove them the whole run and at the 3rd lap they were completely frozen.

The goodie bag consisted of plenty of nibbles - Mars Bar, 400g TOBLERONE, Bag of McCoys Salted Crisp, Mini Cheddars, Curly Wurly and a Can of StrongBow. Nice little motivation for me and my sweet tooth!

The temperature on Saturday 1st December in Deal, Kent was very very cold, I think it was around 1 degrees.

Liz, Me & Ruth........ On our last Lap!

I saw John Close (a fellow runner at the 2nd final lap struggling, he looked so pale) I asked him if he was OK and he said it was just one of those days. His body was not co-operating  for some reason, I blame the shingles!. On the final lap I decided to help Liz (she had  a very bad cold and kept coughing) and John (who was struggling big time), we all kept the pace together and spurred each other on in the last lap - Good TEAM WORK!! Firstly we started to light jog and then gradually walked when we had problems with shingles. John started to sing Christmas tunes along the way 'Shingle Bells, Shingle Bells, Shingle all the way'................. All three of us completed the Marathon together hand in hand.. It was awesome.

 We also met Rosemary (John's Wife) who was running Saxon Shore for the 2nd year running during final lap. She passed on some of her Jelly Beans and this really helped motivate me run that last lap. Thanks Rosemary and her Jelly Babies!!

The Kissing Gate

The Mansion

Marathon No. 29 - Beaujolais Marathon

An Article published in the French Newspaper 'Le Progres' - Sunday, 18th November 2012

 Click here ---->> Web Site to online 'Le Progres' - See Photo No.6 

Hell Yeah good time in Lyon for first 2 days with Lida then travelled on to Villefranche on the Friday afternoon meeting up with our friends Paul (Spain), Micheal (Germany) & Ludovic (France)..... Dinner, Wine, Dessert and more Wine... 

We also had a small tour of WINE tasting the day after the Marathon.  Big 'Thank You' to Remy Steinbach & Roxane Fayolle for taking us around the Wine Village and for taking us to the wonderful French Restaurant. The Cuisine was FANTASTIC!

The long weekend was just spent on having FUN, WINE, FOOD & RUNNING!   

PARCEXPO - Villefranche

Photo of me as one of the POM POM Girls from '2011' Beaujolais Marathon displayed at the EXPO

Me on the Morning of the Beaujolais Marathon at the EXPO

At the Expo

Me and BLONDIE

The band at the PARCEXPO - Villefranche

The Beaujolais Team 2012 - Me, Lida, Ludovic and Michael.... All COMPLETED the FULL Marathon!

  This year, the campaign has been launched with a fashion theme, as promoters feel the wine shares   fashion’s qualities of “refinement and glamour.”

Me and another Sailor Girl at the START Line

Sugar

Apricots

Bread

Cheese

Pork Scratchings

Pork

Cake

Banana

Salami

Cheese

Enjoying ourselves with Cups of WINE at a Winery!

Me, Lida, Ludovic, & Michael at one of the Wine Stops

Sweets.....

Sweets.....

Sweets.....

Sweets.....

and more Sweets.........

Michael, Me, Ludo & Lida at the BONBON Stop!

Too much FUN, WINE and having a great time at one of the WINERY

The course is rolling with a moderate slope on small roads or paths, exploring the Pays Beaujolais through vineyards, castles and winery. Along the route, tasting of Beaujolais and Beaujolais Nouveau!

Me and Mickey Mouse

Me, Brigette, and unsure of the name of the CLOWN on the left!

Michael, Ludo, Lida and Crews from the 'Pirates of the Carribean'

Me and Lida POSING!

Beaujolais Nouveau is a young red wine made from handpicked Gamay grapes grown in the Beaujolais region of France, where the beverage accounts for half of the region's production. While most red wines improve with age, Beaujolais Nouveau is all about freshness. Many producers, including regional giant Georges Duboeuf, race to deliver the first of the vintage to celebrations throughout France and the world.

Under French law, the wine may be released at 12:01 a.m. on the third Thursday of November, just weeks after the wine's grapes have been harvested. Fermentation is so short that the resulting wine exhibits fruity flavors and light tannins. Beaujolais Nouveau should be consumed right away (or within a year of being made), and is best served slightly cooled. Nearly half of the wine's 70-million-bottle production is exported abroad, mainly to Japan, Germany and the United States (where it is popularly enjoyed with Thanksgiving dinner).