Sudbury Joggers

Pleased to hear from Suffolk Swift about a new web page for Sudbury Joggers who were formerly known as the Stour Valley Joggers.

The club is based in Sudbury / Gt Cornard area of West Suffolk which is a beautiful area of the country. The club meets on Wednesday Evenings at 7.15pm for a run from The Great Cornard Upper School / Leisure Centre.

Horsecroft & Nowton Suffolk

8.00am 9.5 miles in 1 hour 20 minutes.

Year to date mileage 1090

Month to date 139 miles

Average miles per month 109

Average weekly rate 25.2

Weather: Sunny mild and dry

Course: I didn't follow a particularly path but decided to head up towards the West Suffolk Hospital and then followed then followed the Hencote Path out to Hawstead Lodge. I then returned along Park Lane to some almshouses at High Green. I then followed the road all the way back to Nowton Court Farm. This is no more than a single track and I saw no cars. I then passed through the woods to Breckley House and then over the Haberden Rugby Ground and back to the Town Centre.

Fornham Circular Run Suffolk

5.30pm 7.5 miles in 59 minutes 52 seconds.

Year to date mileage 1080

Month to date 122 miles

Average miles per month 109

Average weekly rate 25.0

Weather: Mild and dry

We are still in October but tonight I saw 2 houses that had been fully decorated with Christmas decorations - reindeer's ,Christmas trees and icicles !!

I could understand this if we were at the end of November( still too early as far as I am concerned) but as we are still in October this is just ridiculous. I can only think it must be a case of boys with their toys or keeping up with Joneses. More and more shops sell the Christmas electrical fittings and it all becomes a bit competitive with everyone trying to out do each other. It used to be the case that a few houses would be decorated perhaps for a children's charity but now it is a competition to see who can have the most and brightest lights. Perhaps I am just being a cynic but .....

St Edmunds Pacers

Westley Rd and Risbygate Street Circular Run

6.30pm 5.6 miles in 46 minutes 11 seconds.

Year to date mileage 1073

Month to date 122 miles

Average miles per month 108

Average weekly rate 24.9

Weather: Mild and dry

A circular run which includes a measured mile. I struggled tonight I ran slower times than I thought I was doing. First mile in 7.45 and then slipped to 8.05.
Never mind from a positive point of view 33 miles for the week and I also finally joined St Edmund Pacers Running Club.



The history of St Edmunds Pacers running club intertwines with the almost sad history of the Bury Sports Centre. St Edmunds Pacers were formed when the Sports Centre burnt down in 1980 during a spate of suspected arson attacks to provide an alternative means of keeping fit.

As it happens the Bury Sports Centre has again been closed for the last year or so after two more fires though these were seen to be electrical fires and foul play wasn't suspected.

West Suffolk Athletics Track Bury St Edmunds

6.30pm 6 miles in 46mins 2seconds

Year to date mileage 1067

Month to date 117 miles

Average miles per month 108

Average weekly rate 25.0

Weather: Dry breezy

Tonights track session under the floodlights was 2 sets of 5 times 3.45 around the track with a 1 minute recovery in between and a full 7 minutes between each two sets.

At first 3.45 seemed an odd time to run but it actually worked very well. If you run 2 laps in 3.45 you are running 7.30 pace for the mile. I was pleased with the session as I managed to keep a consistent pace for all 10 runs running slightly further than 2 laps but usually completing 2 laps in 3.30 which is 7 minute mile pace.This is way beyond my race pace which is more like 7.50- 8 minute miles so I probably ran it a bit too quickly but I generally felt comfortable with the pace.

Bury St EdmundsTown Centre

7pm 5.5 miles in 45mins .07 seconds

Year to date mileage 1061

Month to date 111 miles

Average miles per month 108

Average weekly rate 24.9

Weather: Dry breezy

A runaround the town centre.

Saucony / New Balance and Brooks

I currently have three pairs of running shoes on the go at the moment.

Brooks Addiction 6 2005
Saucony Trigon Responsive
New Balance 1060

I don't normally have more than two pairs but spotted the New Balance shoes for sale at a factory outlet in Keswick. I have to say for comfort and fit the New Balance shoes are the best of the three. They are the pair I would choose to use for any races I enter. However they are not great of road and i didn't expect them to be from the tread on the soles.

The Brooks Addiction 6 shoes get my vote for being the most durable particularly on the outer soles where I tend to wear out my shoes quickest. I have had previous addiction shoes and I would buy this model again .

The Saucony Trigon shoes are a bit of a mystery to me as I bought them a while back and I must have shoved them away and forgot all about them for 6 months. I can't understand where they have been but anyway I spotted them when I was having a clear out and almost chucked thinking they were an old pair.. These have great tread for off road and I am likely to use these a lot over the fields this winter.

When I buy shoes I am always happy to buy last years models I never buy the latest shoe at the top price. Perhaps I am missing out on something as I suppose you do get what you pay for generally.

When the running shoe reviews come out in Runners World I look but don't usually buy. It generally comes down to what is available from mail order outlets. I have bought from Wiggle, Bourne Sports and Sports Shoes Unlimited and all have offered good service.

I don't particularly care about the colour of running shoes they soon get dirty. I always consider durability and brand to be chief qualities that I consider when buying.

Horringer & Ickworth Park Suffolk

1pm 9.3 miles in 1 hour 16mins .28 seconds

Year to date mileage 1056

Month to date 105 miles

Average miles per month 108

Average weekly rate 25

Weather: Dry some sunshine, cool.

Course:Set off on the B1066 road to Whepstead with the intention of running down a road I spotted on the ordnance survey map (explorer 211) which I don't think I have ever been down before - Sharp's Lane. This takes you past Sharps Farm and leads out on to the main A143.

I turned left here and ran as far as I could on a pathway which takes you into Lady Herveys Wood. However the pathway soon gave out and I had no choice but to return and I ran into Ickworth Park. Just inside the Lodge Gate I followed a pathway across fields as far as Little Horringer Hall and Pestle Wood before returning home.

County Upper/ Mere Road Circular Run Bury St Edmunds

10am 7 miles in 52.44.

Year to date mileage 1046

Month to date 96 miles

Average miles per month 108

Average weekly rate 24.8

Weather: Dry dull and cool.

Course: From County Upper School I run through the Howard Estate and on to the Golf Course before reaching the B1106 Westley Road. Turn left here and right heading towards Risby past the Crematorium. At Hyde Cottages turn right and then run around Hyde Wood. The Hyde Road takes you back to Fornham All Saints and from here head back into town to the County Upper School.

The sugar beet harvest is in full production, the photos above show a field of sugar beet and nearby a store of beet awaiting collection and delivery to the factory.

Bury St Edmunds has the largest sugar beet factory in the country it can process 12,000 tonnes of beet a day, with about 1.85 million tonnes being processed each year. This beet comes from 1,300 growers, who receive a total of £58 million payment in an average year.

Sugar cane was the world's sole source of sugar until 1748 when a German scientist, found a way of extracting sugar from the root of the sugar beet. Before this sugar beet had been grown only on a small scale as an animal feed.

If the wind is in the right direction and you are standing in town then you can't help but pick up the smell of sugar beet from the factory. It is a warm, sweet smell that can be overpowering to those who are not familar with it.

Personally along with the smell of the Greene King Brewery I love it and wouldn't have it any other way.

Horringer Farm Suffolk

3.pm 5.5 miles in 42min 44 secs.

Year to date mileage 1039

Month to date 89 miles

Average miles per month 108

Average weekly rate 24.7

Weather: A warm autumn day with a nice breeze.

Course : Takes me along fields near by Horringer Court/School near to great Horringer Hall and then over to Lord Herveys Wood up and down Westley lane and return home through Horringer Court.

I have had a head cold this week so haven't run since Sunday . So with some trepidation I ran this thinking it might be too soon to venture out. As it turned out I felt fine and I ran a pb for this course. I suppose it was a bit like tapering for a race though I certainly didn't run at race pace today.

As a regular course for me it is great to see the change of seasons and the work the farmers are doing at Horringer. You can see from the photo that half a field has been ploughed before presumably the recent wet weather prevented any further work.

The ground was slippery running up hill and my New Balance 1060 failed really to get any grip on the ploughed fields.

Feet in the Clouds

A Tale of Fell Running and Obsession
by Richard Askwith

I read this 340 page diary of one mans love for fell running and the lake district whilst on holiday in Keswick in August this year.

During a particularly wet day I spotted the book for sale in a book shop/cafe up in the Whinlatter National Forest Park . I suppose I picked it up partly because I love the hills and fells in the Lake District and also because I have always admired fell runners.

Running up and down mountains is almost an "alien concept" for someone like me from Suffolk as we don't have any any mountains . In Suffolk we have the odd hill but no areas which you can truly describe as hilly.

True fell running is the art of running up and down trackless mountains unlike many events around the world know a days which follow well marked tracks. The book explores this issue and laments the fact that in recent years organisers of fell races are increasingly under pressure when it comes to staging events. It must be difficult to stage events which involve people hurtling down the side of unmarked mountain routes in all weather conditions at the best of times but increasingly now when there is a 'sue culture'.

This book explores a number of themes including the history of fell running, the great fell runners such as Joss Naylor, Bill Teasdale,Kenny Stuart,Billy Bland and Helene Diamantides, the cut throat battle between the AAA and fell running associations and the authors own pursuit of one of the toughest running challenges going the Bob Graham Round.

For me the physical challenge of the Bob Graham Round is probably the best part of the book. It commences from the centre of Keswick at the Moot Hall. The objective being to traverse 42 peaks in a circular run within 24 hours arriving back at the Moot Hall in Keswick. The total distance if you don't get lost is 72 miles which includes 27,000 feet of ascents and declines.

This is a well written book and worth a read even if you never contemplate fell running yourself.

River Lark & Water Meadow Bury St Edmunds Suffolk

9.am 5.7 miles in 48min 16 secs.

Year to date mileage 1034

Month to date 83 miles

Average miles per month 109

Average weekly rate 25

Weather: A warm autumn day.

Course: A short run this morning through the Water Meadows, No Mans Meadows and by the River Lark.

Felt a bit sluggish this morning and I ran slowly, so slowly that I managed to run into a spiders web. There seemed to be an abundance of spiders webs hanging from bushes and trees,shining wet with morning dew.

I know many people are scared of spiders but it is said that without them we wouldn't be able to go outdoors so easily in the summer months as they keep down the number of flies, wasps, mosquitoes and gnats.

All spiders have venom glands but very few are poisonous and most cannot penetrate the skin. In Suffolk there are apparently over 400 types of spiders most of them are very small and hard to identify.

A spider that has excited naturalists in Suffolk is the fairly recent arrival of the wasp spider. Previously confined to the South Coast they are now spreading North and appear to be here to stay. If you spot one it is worth informing the Suffolk Naturalists Society.

Talking of spiders I have enjoyed both the first 2 spiderman films. I was always a reader of the Marvel Comics and still have a stack of these in the loft. The art work from Stan Lee and Steve Ditko was also impressive.Stan Lee was born in New York in 1922 and is now 83 years old.

An ideal music soundtrack to go with Spiderman 3 would be any of the Ramones Albums. I understand Spiderman comes up against the Sandman and it is released in May 2007

Hawstead to Gt Whelnetham Suffolk

10.30apm 8.6 miles in 1 hour 13 minutes

.Year to date mileage 1028

Month to date 78 miles

Average miles per month 109

Average weekly rate 25

Weather: A warm autumn day as the morning mist lifted.

Course: Hawstead Village is about 3 miles south of Bury St Edmunds. I parked in the car park next to the swings. The picture showing the grass field and road on the road is right in the centre of the village. For a Saturday being perhaps the busiest day of the week there was hardly a soul to be seen.

I started running out towards Lawshall but changed my mind as the road was a little too windy and this was a main road. Although there were'nt many cars I didn't feel comfortable. Si I returned and found another path along Bell Lane.

Bell's Lane leads up hill towards Gt Whelnetham. At Bell's Lane farm I managed to find a pathway across fields though the ground was rather sticky and stuck to my Saucony Trigon responsive shoes.

At Gt Whelnethum I took a path which takes you along side the grounds of the Gt Whelnethum Halland up Cocks Green lane to Cocks Green. I returned back to Hawstead.

The picture of the building shows some almshouses erected by a Philip Metcalfe

Westley Road and Risbygate Street Circular Run Bury St Edmunds

5.30pm 5.6 miles in 45 minutes 18 seconds.

Year to date mileage 1019

Month to date 69 miles

Average miles per month 108

Average weekly rate 24.9

Weather: Wet drizzle .Ran a circular run which includes a section where I have measured to be a mile from the Newmarket Road to the Falcon Pub.

Ran the first mile in 7.41 and the second in 7.59. Didn't push to hard and tried to keep to about 10k pace, however obviously failed with a much slower second mile.

Still a little quicker than my times a week ago so happy with it.

Bury St Edmunds Town Centre

5.30pm 5.5 miles in 45 minutes

Year to date mileage 1008

Month to date 63 miles

Average miles per month 108

Average weekly rate 24.8

Weather: A very wet day damp and cool - lovely!

Course: Another run around the town centre which didn't follow any particular course. This is quite refreshing in a way not to follow any particular route as you don't have any particular times in your mind as to how quickly you should reach a certain point. The downside of running without a route is it can lead you up blind alleys.

Running around 6pm means competing with busy rush hour traffic. You can't easily cross roads which means you end up hanging around for a gap in the traffic to nip across in between cars. So having a route planned out for the dark nights which avoids traffic is a must.

The photo is the Abbey Gardens Cathedral during the height of summer. I'm missing the sunshine already.

Roll on the week end !

Bury St Edmunds Town Centre

5.30pm 5.5 miles in 45 minutes

Year to date mileage 1008

Month to date 58 miles

Average miles per month 108

Average weekly rate 24.9

Weather: Another warm autumn day very mild and perfect for running.

Tonight an easy run around the town centre of Bury St Edmunds.I ran past the Asian Zen Noodle Bar which hasn't been open that long in Bury.I must admit it looked and smelt really good in fact I went past it a second time. Even at this early hour there were several customers I have yet to visit but there are some good comments on the web site.

I ran past the Theatre Royal which has recently closed down for about a year whilst it under goes major refurbishment to restore what I believe is the 3rd oldest theatre in the country to its former splendor. If you have never been it is a very intimate theatre in that you are very close to the stage, in fact the restoration restores I believe some boxes which are actually on or adjacent to the stage so that actors can actually jest or involve the audience even more.

Pinford End Woods Suffolk

9am 9.5 miles in 1 hour 20 mins 53 secs

Year to date mileage 1003

Month to date 52 miles

Average miles per month 107

Average weekly rate 24.9

Weather: Another beautiful autumn day very mild and perfect for running.

Course: Ran out past the West Suffolk Hospital into Hardwick Park. Then onto Hencote Lane and over the faint track across the fields. The corn has long been cut and the farmer has ploughed and tilled the soil but the shadow outline of the old pathway is easily followed.

Following the Bury to Clare path I passed Hawstead Lodge and then took a path over fields into some woods near Pinford End. The woods don't seem to be named and the official path ceases before you can reach Hawstead Hall. The marked path on the ordanance survey map has been changed so you can no longer follow the path over fields to Hawstead Church. Instead I returned in a circle passing over some lovely bridges in the wood.

I never saw a soul on the run very quiet and beautiful seclusion.

My Favourite CD's - 7th in a Series

Dr Feelgood

Have a look at their website as they modestly state they are ''The official greatest Rhythm'n'Blues band of the world!''

Ok maybe not, but surely the hardest working band in the world and one of the best live bands to go and watch. I believe they have been on tour pretty much continuously every since 1973 some 32 years ago. They have gone through a number of different line ups in this time.

I first saw them back in 1978 somewhere in London. I believe their line up then was Lee Brilleaux , Wilko Johnson - John 'Big Figure' Martin and John B. 'Sparko' Sparks. Not quite sure if Wilko had left at this time to form his own band the Solid Senders? He was replaced by John Mayo. It was around about this time that the Feelgoods had their biggest hit with Milk and Alcohol. I saw Wilko Johnson at Reading festival in 1979.

I recently saw Dr Feelgood again I think it was in 2003 at Lowestoft and also at Norwich in 2004 with their current line up Kevin Morris - Phil Mitchell - Robert Kane - Steve Walwyn.

Dr Feelgood emerged from the pub band circuit in Canvey Island Essex. In the late 70's the Feelgoods were playing to sell out audiences and had number 1 albums. They still have a great following and tour relentlessly throughout Europe.

Dr Feelgood the UA years track listing is

Roxette, She Does it Right, Back in the Night, Going Back Home, Riot in Cell Block No 9, Sneakin Suspicion,
She 's a wind up, Baby Jane, Down at the Doctors, Milk and Alcohol, As long as the Price is Right, Put him out of your mind, Hong Kong Money, No Mo Do Yakamo, Jumping from love to love, Violent Love, Waiting for Saturday Night, Monkey, Trying to Live My Lfe without you, Crazey about girls, My Way, Mad Man Blues, See you Later Alligator, Hunting Shooting Fishing.

You should be able to pick this album up dirt cheap. See link below you can buy from Amazon for just £3.53. Every collection should have Dr Feelgood .

Eight Bars on Piano - Down to the Doctor !

Albana Walk, Ickworth Park, Suffolk

10am 8.2 miles in 1 hour 6 mins 17 secs

Year to date mileage 993

Month to date 43 miles

Average miles per month 107

Average weekly rate 24.7

Weather: A beautiful autumn day very mild and perfect for running. Only problem is I have a 'cricked' neck from shifting furniture.

Course: Set of towards Horringer over fields towards Lord Hervey's wood and Great Horringer Hall. Along Westley Lane and into Horringer Village. At the Church turn right into Ickworth Park, down to Ickworth House and then do a circuit of Albana Wood before returning on the same route.

Usually once I am into Ickworth Park I see little traffic but today was different as there was a Wood Fair taking place. A sale of wood and carvings which seems to attract a lot of interest.

The woods of the Albana are a great place for seeing deer and today was no different I saw 2 muntjac but didn't manage to capture them on camera. When I saw the first deer I came to a halt and the deer kept so still that I wasn't sure if it was a wood carving until I moved to take a picture and it shot of into the woods.

The Muntjac deer are the oldest of all known deer. There are several species of muntjac the one we are likely to see in large parts of England is the Reeves Muntjac and it is our smallest deer. It is believed that the Duke of Bedford had a collection of muntjac deer in the 19th century at Woburn Park. There were several escapees but the biggest escape apparently happened in the 1920's from Whipsnade Zoo.

Westley Road & Risbygate Street Circular Run Bury St Edmunds

6pm 5.6 miles in 45 minutes 30 seconds.

Year to date mileage 985

Month to date 35 miles

Average miles per month 107

Average weekly rate 24.6

Weather: Dry & mild.

Ran a circular run which includes a section where I have measured to be a mile from the Newmarket Road to the Falcon Pub. I didn't push to hard any comfortably ran the 1st mile in 7.53 and the second in 7.55. The rest of the run was a similar pace probably just over 8 minute miles.

I am still looking at buying an MP 3 player so any recommendations are welcomed. I want a player specifically just for running. At the moment I am considering the PHILIPS PSA615 6GB MP3. Although this has a hard disc it seems to be made purposely for runners in mind as it includes a shock lock mode to prevent the hard disc from moving. It also has a talking stop watch, not sure about that feature but it does have capacity to store up to 3000 songs.

Other than this it seems there is a choice of an Apple I-Pod - these are the most popular but do have hard discs and although skip free there seems to be some horror stories on the web where people have been unlucky and the disc has broken.

Or going for something much cheaper that has capacity for just 30-40 songs 128 mb players

Any suggestions anyone???

Horringer Farm Suffolk

6pm 5.5 miles in 45 minutes.

Year to date mileage 980

Month to date 29 miles

Average miles per month 107

Average weekly rate 24.7

Weather: Dry & mild.

As the sunset and the light began to fade around 6.40pm it won't be long before country runs over fields will be off limit in the evenings simply because it will be pitch dark! However the on the on coming winter is not all bad and I began to think of positives for running in the winter.

Good Reasons for Running in Winter

1. Cross country running on soft ground is fun! Yes I think so in fact the more I can get away from roads and pavements the better.
2. There are less obstacles to get in the way - most sane people are shut away in doors. In fact that goes for dogs too!
3. That warm glow and sense of smug satisfaction that runners have when they return home from a run in the freezing cold when it is blowing a gale and lashing down with rain.
4. It gets you away from the tv after all who wants to keep watching the repeats from the 1970's on the BBC. You know 'Only Fools and Horses' will be on tv again and again over the next few months.
5. Over winter you will pile on the pounds with all the Christmas food so you now you gotta keep on running.

I am sure there are lots of other good reasons add to the list please.

Fornham Circular Run Suffolk

1pm 7.5 miles in 1hr 19 secs.

Year to date mileage 974

Month to date 24 miles

Average miles per month 107

Average weekly rate 24.7

Weather: Dry overcast grey skies.

A slow run today I was feeling tired before I started. I needed a lot of will power to get out the door. The weather is grey and dull and a bit in betweeney - leaving you not sure if you should wear a second shirt as a layer to keep out the damp chill. After about 10 minutes I felt no better and was contemplating turning round and trotting back home. I kept going though and it gradually became easier and once I had reached the villages in Fornham I had no choice but to keep going as the alternative would have been to walk 3 miles home.

Fornham Village Hall above has always reminded me a bit of a railway station ticket office.

Horsecroft/Nowton/Bury Circular Run Bury St Edmunds

2pm 7.8 miles in 1hr 2 mins 13 secs.

Year to date mileage 967

Month to date 16 miles

Average miles per month 107

Average weekly rate 24.6

Weather: Sunny blue skies nice breeze

Course: Ran out on the road to Horsecroft, returned over fields to Nowton Park and the returned home via Town Centre.

In the grave yard of the Abbey in Bury St Edmunds are many unusual memorial stones. The photo above is in memory of a Mr Henry Cockton (1807-1853).

He was an English humorous novelist who was born in London. He published a number of volumes, but is best known as the author of Valentine Vox, the Ventriloquist (1840) and Sylvester Sound, the Somnambulist (1844). He died at Bury St Edmunds in 1853.

I have never read anything by the author but the 1st line from Valentine Vox reads 'In one of the most ancient and populous boroughs in the county of Suffolk, there resided a genius named Valentine Vox, who, in order to make a fortune with rapidity, tried everything, but failed to succeed in anything, because he could stick long to nothing.'

Ipswich Town v Crewe Alexandra

A win for Ipswich against lowly Crewe thanks to an improved second half performance. In the first half although Town created a few chances they didn't make the Crewe goalkeeper Williams work that much.

Crewe scored a bit of a fluke after half an hour from a free kick. David Vaughan crossed the ball from near the touchline and no body got a touch on it as it looped in to the top corner. After this Crewe gained confidence and to be honest they could have and perhaps should have gone in at half time 2 up. Steve Jones is a lively centre forward and I can see him being the next player to depart Crewe for a good transfer fee.

At half time Royle made a change bringing off Sam Parkin who had largely been ineffective replacing him with Fabian Wilnis. Wilnis played at centre half and Richard Naylor pushed up front to spear head the attack.

The best moment of the game came on 54 minutes when Darren Currie scored from a free kick sending his shot into the top corner a goal that David Beckham would have been proud to have scored.

Royle then made two further changes bringing of Jim Magilton whose legs don't last a whole game anymore and Dean Bowditch who is still to reclaim his form from a year ago. On came Juan and Nicky Forster. Less than 10 minutes later Forster scored what proved to be the winning goal. Naylor flicked the ball on for Forster to run on to and he confidently tucked the ball away giving Williams no chance.

Ipswich looked down and out at half time so to turn it around and gain a win was all important. This is a transitional season for the club and I don't expect much more than a mid table finish. What we are seeing are many of the clubs youngsters being blooded in to the side and again Owen Garvan looks a class act.

Risby to Little Heath Suffolk

10am 8.3 miles in 1hr 10 mins.

Year to date mileage 959

Month to date 8.3 miles

Average miles per month 106

Average weekly rate 24.5

Weather: Sunny blue skies nice breeze

Course: From Risby Village Hall I had the intention of running out to Barrow. I gave this up as the road runs close to the main A14 and there were to many lorries to make it comfortable.

Instead I retraced my steps and headed out on the Tuddenham road. I took a turning along the Lackford Road which was very quiet. I followed a footpath for a mile or so but this just took me back to the other side of Risby.

Again I retraced my steps and then continued along the Lackford Road. After a while the road turned into a dirt track which I followed across farm land. Apart from pheasants and rabbits I never saw a soul though the landscape around was absolutely wonderful and truly the heart and soul of Suffolk.