5.30 pm 5.4 miles in 42mins 46 seconds

Week to date mileage 5.4 miles

Month to date mileage 139

Average weekly rate 33.6 miles

Average monthly rate 146

Year to date 139

Lifetime 9732

A steady run over a regular training course.

3 Jan 07 42.13
19 Dec 06 41.50
7 Dec 06 43.45
7 Nov 06 42.33
10 Nov 06 42.02
30 Oct 06 42.0
3 Oct 06 41.15
19 Sep 06 41.39
8 Sep 06 41.01
1 Aug 06 41.45
28 July 06 42.25
17 July 06 42.46
13 June 06 42.08
11 May 06 43.21
27 Mar 06 42.41
8 Mar 06 42.13
24 Feb 06 42.33
16 Feb 06 44.0
10 Feb 06 41.50
2 Feb 06 42.38
17 Jan 06 42.50
10 Jan 06 42.52
1 Jan 06 41.45
14 Dec 05 42.47

Lakenheath Charity Race 5 - 2007

11 am 5 miles in 41mins 40 seconds

Week to date mileage 34 miles

Month to date mileage 134

Average weekly rate 33.4 miles

Average monthly rate 145

Year to date 134

Lifetime 9727

The Lakenheath Charity 5 cross country race always represents my first race of the year. The race starts from the Lakenheath Cricket Club and at this time of year you can pretty much guarantee both cold weather and a strong breeze.

This years race was advertised on the Runners World Website so I imagined there would be a higher entry than last year though from the number of finishers it appears only slightly up on last year with 121 finishers. The Brandon Fern Hoppers carries all of the results on their site , see my link under Suffolk running clubs.


When I arrived I did think twice about getting out of the car such was the apparent cold and wind. However once I completed my entry form and managed to bang my head on the window of the scoring room where the two ladies where working hard on last minute entries I sought sanctuary in the cricket club room. This seems to double as a children's creche facility with every wall packed with packages and hanging mobiles.

After a while it became necessary to warm up and along with several others I did a few laps of the cricket field. After running the last 4 days in a row i came into the race a bit tired and as I wasn't expecting much of a time I decided to keep my leggings, sweatshirt and hat and gloves on.

The start of the race had slightly changed this time starting on the bridge over the River Lark instead of off road so unless the finish was brought forward a little perhaps we ran a little further this year than last?

Conditions under foot were really not too bad after recent rains. There was some mud and plenty of puddles. The run across the ploughed field was quite sapping and knocked the stuffing out of me and I think this and the combination of running up and down field banks avoiding root branches caught up with me and resulted in a slightly slower time for me than last year. My time last year was 41.11 so I was down half a minute which I had expected but was still disappointed with.

The course is generally flat and suits a studded running shoe perhaps spikes if you own them. All of the run is over fields and tracks. The finish is a long straight besides the River Lark. During the race I had felt too warm and I had disposed of the hat and could have done without the sweatshirt, I will remember next year.

Mike Chambers from Saint Edmunds Pacers puts on a really well organised event and it does deserve a much bigger entry.

I will get round to loading up many other race pictures on to flickr as soon as I get time.

Stowlangtoft,Westley,West Stow and Thurston

New photo links added on the left hand side to photos I have taken at the following Suffolk villages of Stowlangtoft,Westley,West Stow and Thurston

Fornham St Martin

8 am 7.5 miles in 1 hr 15mins 36 seconds

Week to date mileage 29 miles

Month to date mileage 129

Average weekly rate 33.3 miles

Average monthly rate 145

Year to date 129

Lifetime 9722

Saturday morning and I decided I wanted to run somewhere different from a normal routine route. So having reached Fornham St Martin along the Thetford Rd I turned right along a footpath at the village sign.

Rather than continue on towards the farm drift pathway out to Timworth I noticed a new path.

To be honest this path turned out to be quite dull, running as it did along the side of the busy A134 towards Hollow Rd and the Sugar Beet Factory.
I quickly did a double take and ran further through Fornham to build up my time to an hours run before returning home.

Tuddenham St Mary and Cavenham Heath Suffolk

1 pm 9 miles in 1 hr 15mins 36 seconds

Week to date mileage 21 miles

Month to date mileage 121

Average weekly rate 32.6 miles

Average monthly rate 142

Year to date 121

Lifetime 9714

During my lunch break from work I drove over to the village of Tuddenham St Mary in Suffolk. This is a small village about 4 miles from Mildenhall and 9 miles North West of Bury St Edmunds. The name Tuddenham dates back to AD854 and is derived from the Anglo Saxon 'Tudda's Home'.

I parked outside St Mary's Church which originally dates from the 14th century but has had a major restoration in the 19th century to replace the roof amongst other things.

On the village green there is a war memorial to the men of the RAF who flew from the local airfields. I ran through the village before picking up a footpath sign to take me out to Cavenham Heath. If you decide to visit and I really recommend it you can park at the nature reserve.
This reserve has international importance and is designated an area of special scientific interest.

I set of to follow the Heathland Path which is 1 of the 3 walking paths that can be followed. What I noticed immediately was the complete silence apart from the wind and a few birds. The landscape is one of very open heathland which is often covered with heather.

You can tell you are truly in the Brecklands by the light sandy soil which is difficult to run on as there is a lot of give. Near the car park the woodland trail takes you through a very different landscape of birch trees where there were many sheep grazing.

When I reached the River Lark I did a detour and did a lap of the Wetland trail which turned out to be so aptly named. If you decide to walk this you need wellington boots as in parts it is a true water meadow and you will be wading though water. Great fun but a bit chilly on a cold day to have wet feet.

Cullum Rd, Ramada Hotel,Newmarket Rd Bury St Edmunds

5.30 pm 5.4 miles in 42mins 32 seconds

Week to date mileage 12.4 miles

Month to date mileage 112

Average weekly rate 31.4 miles

Average monthly rate 136

Year to date 112

Lifetime 9705

After yesterdays track session I took this run fairly easy but felt ok. I ran a fairly moderate time compared to my previous outings last year.

2006 21 Dec 41.35
2006 5 Dec 41.48
2006 3 Nov 42.37
2006 24 Oct 41.10
2006 19 Oct 41.08
2006 6 Oct 41.06
29 Sep 42.10
29 - Aug 40.40
27 Jul 40. 47
13 Jul 41.11
6 Jun 41.33
18 May 41.18
7 Apr 40.30
7 Mar 41.31
3 Mar 41.34
21 Feb 41.35
27 Jan 41.56
13 Jan 41.30
2 Jan 42.42
2005 23 Dec 43.34
9 Dec 42.0
6 Dec 42.04
29 Nov 42.17

West Suffolk Athletics Track

6.15pm 7 miles in 58 mins 35 seconds

Week to date mileage 7 miles

Month to date mileage 107

Average weekly rate 31.1 miles

Average monthly rate 135

Year to date 107

Lifetime 9700

I ran down to the West Suffolk Sports Centre and proceeded to do my normal mile around the track. However the track was glistening with a frost and the bends were a little slippery so I decided like most of the others to run on the grass on the inner track.

The set consisted of 2 sets of 4 x 3mins at 10k pace with a min recovery in between. At the end there was a time trial which consisted of 5 laps of the inner track which was said to be 300 metres. I just managed not to finish last overtaking on the final lap to finish in 6.04 which makes me think this wasn't quite 1500 metres but nevertheless a good session.

After a warm down couple of laps I then ran home

Geraldine's Walk, Ickworth Park Suffolk

8am 10 miles in 1 hr 23 mins 25 seconds

Week to date mileage 31 miles

Month to date mileage 100

Average weekly rate 33.2 miles

Average monthly rate 144

Year to date 100

Lifetime 9693

I followed my normal route towards Horringer over fields towards Lord Hervey's wood. After the recent strong winds 1-2 trees had blown down but today was a beautiful bright day though still breezy.


When you emerge on the road I head along Westley Lane and into Horringer Village.

At St Leonards Church turn right into Ickworth Park, down to Ickworth House and then do a circuit of Albana Wood. The first early snowdrops have flowered but will look better in a week or two.

Before heading home I decided to visit Ickworth House.
I had hoped to visit the gardens but these were closed until 11am and anyway I am not sure if you can visit without paying the National Trust something. However on returning back from the house I noticed Geraldine's Walk. I must admit I have never even seen this before . According to the National Trust site the 3rd Marquess of Bristol Frederick William John Hervey created a woodland path named after his wife. Lady Geraldine Anson was the daughter of George Anson who was Commandeer in Chief in India for all of 6 months until he died of cholera during his march against the Indian mutineers at Delhi in May 1857

Geraldine's Walk which was laid out in 1873. This was reopened to the public only recently in 2004.


Geraldine Hervey died after being knocked down by a motor car in London in 1927 and was buried in the grounds of Ickworth two days later.

Lt Saxham Suffolk

8.am 10 miles in 1 hr 23 mins 53 seconds

Week to date mileage 10 miles

Month to date mileage 90

Average weekly rate 31.4. miles

Average monthly rate 136

Year to date 90

Lifetime 9683

After heavy over night rains the weather was dry but cool as I ventured out on a long run. I decided to run out to Little Saxham a village about 3 miles to the west of Bury St Edmunds.

This isn't a road I would recommend as it always seems to be busy with traffic and with the large puddles this morning I got my feet wet running through these at times by keeping into the side of the road. The minor B road takes you out past Westley to the right and Horringer can be seen in the distance to the left.


circular buildings. Thats one theory though I imagine it was partly a case of keeping up with the Joneses and what was gooThe road twists and turns but eventually arrives at St Nicholas Church at Lt Saxham which is a lovely round tower building. Apparently there are only around 180 of these in the country and most of these are centered in East Anglia. Why a round tower? Well this is disputed but it seems the local flint stone is difficult to use to construct square buildings and lends itself more tod for one village was then wanted by a neighboring village.

The church is right smack bang at the end of this road and cars have to turn sharply either towards Barrow or Chevington. This time I turned southward towards Chevington. I was able to run a fair way along this road without reaching Chevington before my time was up and after 43 mins I turned for home . This section of the run was much quieter and could be run in comfort.

Bury St Edmunds Town Centre

5.30pm 4.2miles in 34 mins 39 seconds

Week to date mileage 4.2 miles

Month to date mileage 80

Average weekly rate 29.4. miles

Average monthly rate 128

Year to date 80

Lifetime 9673

I have struggled this week to find time to run and tonight I could only manage to fit in a short run around the town centre. Frustrating!

West Suffolk Athletics Track Bury St Edmunds

6.15pm 7 miles in 58 mins 30 seconds

Week to date mileage 7 miles

Month to date mileage 76

Average weekly rate 31.1 miles

Average monthly rate 135

Year to date 76

Lifetime 9669

Ran to the track warmed up with a mile before the session which consisted of 3 x 5mins at 10k pace twice with an 800 metres at the very end.

Bury St Edmunds Town Centre

8.15am 9.2 miles in 1 hr 16 mins 27 seconds

Week to date mileage 35 miles

Month to date mileage 69

Average weekly rate 34.3 miles

Average monthly rate 149

Year to date 69

Lifetime 9662

Today I decided on a run anywhere you fancy type run around the town centre of Bury St Edmunds. I started near the old market so as to see what progress is being made on the redevelopment into a large shoppers paradise.

However little can be seen now that the site has become for security and h&s reasons a Fort Knox with no easy visibility into the site. Obviously from reports in the Bury Free Press it is clear they are undertaking excavations and they have uncovered some of the original 19th century cobblestone paths leading to market.

The lovely old Duke of Wellington public house is still standing though is condemned to be demolished any day.

I ran up and down the grid pattern streets of Bury and into the Abbey Gardens.
I passed the local town council office which nows displays the flag of St Edmund out true patron saint of England.

Early morning or late evening is the only time you can do this kind of run and have the streets virtually to yourself.

1.15pm 5 miles in 42 mins 32 seconds

Week to date mileage 26 miles

Month to date mileage 59

Average weekly rate 31.9 miles

Average monthly rate 139

Year to date 59

Lifetime 9652

Warmed up with a jog for about a mile before venturing down to the bottom of Beetons Way for a hill training session, my first of 2007. I want to increase the amount of hill training I do in 2007. Its something I have neglected and feel this is a quality session, that really improves your running as opposed to the regular plodding out which I tend to do on some of my regular runs.

However there is no doubt that this is a tough session and something which is easily avoided with 101 reasons not to do it. However today I did what I intended and ran a set of 5 long hills and 5 short hill runs with a jog down hill recovery.


I started with a short climb which starts from the first lamp post after you emerge from under the bridge to head up hill and ends when you reach the first Grey lamp post at the top of the hill.

The long climb is the same as the short but you continue up hill past the mini roundabout keeping to the path until you find an opportunity to move across the road which runs parallel to the sports centre car park which is on your left.


The end of the long climb is when you reach the end of the road just before you enter Beetons Way footpath which runs besides Gibraltar Barracks.

My times were

short hills 51 sec, 48 sec, 46 sec, 47 sec, 50 sec

long hills 2.16,2.21,2.21,2.19,2.21,

My record for the short climb is 46 seconds on 13th Jan 07
The long climb stands at 2.15 on 30th Dec 06

Westley Rd & Newmarket Rd Bury St Edmunds

5.45pm 5.2 miles in 42 mins 52 seconds

Week to date mileage 21 miles

Month to date mileage 54

Average weekly rate 31.7 miles

Average monthly rate 138

Year to date 54

Lifetime 9647

I decided on a short run tonight and ran a circular route through Westley Estate returning into Bury along the Newmarket Rd and up Westley Rd.

I repeated this a couple of times then ran along Westley Rd a third time to make the the time equivalent to about a mile run.

I have included a photo of Newmarket Rd in daylight in this post ,roll on Spring and the change of clocks so I can actually see where I am running!

West Suffolk Athletics Track

6.15pm 7 miles in 58 mins 26 seconds

Week to date mileage 16 miles

Month to date mileage 49

Average weekly rate 30.1 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 49

Lifetime 9642

Tonight I visited the athletics track for the first time this year. I visited the track 23 times last year and I am aiming to do just a little more than that this year if I can. I ran down to the track and did my usual warm up of a mile 4 and a bit laps.

Tonights session was 2 sets of 2,3,4 and 5 minutes at 10k pace x 2 sets with a 400 metre lap at the end of each set. It was difficult to keep a consistent pace tonight especially after th quick 400 metre lap in the middle which I ran both times in 1.34.

However I stuck the session out when tempted to quit near the end and then warmed down with 2 laps before running home.

Bury St Edmunds, Rougham Hill and Rushbrooke Suffolk

1pm 9 miles in 1 hr 13 mins 56 seconds

Week to date mileage 9 miles

Month to date mileage 42

Average weekly rate 30.1 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 42

Lifetime 9635

I was quite indecisive when I set out for this run setting of in one direction and then having a complete change of mind. I ran down Beetons Way thinking I would do one of my regular runs around Fornham but on a day off from work something in my mind suggested I should do something different from the norm.

The weather was again fairly mild but the wet drizzle was persistent. This winter has been mild and it makes you wonder if we will get any snow at all.

So at the bottom of Beetons Way I turned right to follow one of the paths that leads behinds King Edwards School. Emerging near Springfield Road I decided I would head out towards Rushbrooke and look for a footpath some one had mentioned to me that runs parallel to Rushbrooke Lane.

On the way I ran past Cine World and on to the market place to see how the development works are progressing. I was half expecting the old Duke of Wellington to have been pulled down but saw it still standing there with its many tales and about to be just a memory.

I ran down Cullum Road and then out towards the A14. Instead of running down Rushbrooke Lane this time I carried on past the Recycling Centre and up Rougham Hill. I believe this used to be where cars parked in the early days of the Bury 20? I think this might be the last time I have been up Rougham Hill. Not being a lorry driver I would have no cause to venture up here for at the top there is a cafe and a lorry park. Very busy it was too as lorries retreated into the sanctuary of the Hill top cafe.

Past the cafe there is a pathway on the right hand side which I took It takes you behind a large golfing range where you can here the ping of golf balls sometimes reaching as far as the high metal fence at 250 metres. If I was a golfer I could have scooped up half a dozen balls which had some how escaped the fence and were on my path.

The going along this pathway is a little wet in places especially when the path emerges into open fields. There were great waves of black crows feeding on something on the ploughed fields and they rose into flight as I got closer before ignoring me and carrying on feeding.

At the end of the footpath there is a new diversion to the original path and being unsure where the pathway leads I returned back into Bury. Before running home I decided to take a peek at the now disbanded Travellers Site. This was a purpose built set of homes and I don't recall the history as to why they are now all destroyed, each property has had its roof cut off like the top of an egg.

Culford Suffolk

8.30am 10 miles in 1 hr 23 mins 30 seconds

Week to date mileage 33 miles

Month to date mileage 33

Average weekly rate 30.1 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 33

Lifetime 9626

Wet this morning as I set out from Bury along the Lark Valley Path or the St Edmunds Way as it has two names. You can pick up the pathway along the River Lark on the Mildenhall Road not too far from the Tollgate.

I followed the path through the golf course and over the road near the bridge at Fornham All Saints. The path then crosses a bridge to the other side of the Lark at Ducksluice Farm. The path meanders near a fly fishing lake before emerging near Hengrave. Instead of going into Hengrave I decided on a visit to Culford .

There is a long high street in Culford and I ran past the Riding Stables and the large preparatory school before turning towards Bury again.


I decided to return to Bury along the side of the busy Thetford Rd which I wouldn't recommend doing to often as there is too much traffic even on a Sunday.

I ran through Fornham St Martin and headed back into Bury and home.

Nowton Suffolk

8.30am 10.2 miles in 1 hr 25 mins 3 seconds

Week to date mileage 23 miles

Month to date mileage 23

Average weekly rate 30.1 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 13

Lifetime 9616

As I was setting of light rain was falling and I decided not take the camera. I set out towards Nowton Park and continued on past the country park before turning at Low Green to run on to the main A134 .

I ran on to Sicklesmere before turning up Hawstead Lane. On the right hand side you can pick up a footpath across fields which takes you back to Low Green. I decided then on a run around Nowton Park before returning through Bury and home

Horringer School,West Suffolk Hospital and Newmarket Road Bury St Edmunds

5.30am 5.4 miles in 42 mins 13 seconds

Week to date mileage 13 miles

Month to date mileage 131

Average weekly rate 30.1 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 13

Lifetime 9606

A steady training run , previous times are

19 Dec 06 41.50
7 Dec 06 43.45
7 Nov 06 42.33
10 Nov 06 42.02
30 Oct 06 42.0
3 Oct 06 41.15
19 Sep 06 41.39
8 Sep 06 41.01
1 Aug 06 41.45
28 July 06 42.25
17 July 06 42.46
13 June 06 42.08
11 May 06 43.21
27 Mar 06 42.41
8 Mar 06 42.13
24 Feb 06 42.33
16 Feb 06 44.0
10 Feb 06 41.50
2 Feb 06 42.38
17 Jan 06 42.50
10 Jan 06 42.52
1 Jan 06 41.45
14 Dec 05 42.47

Horsforth Marathon

At this time of year it is a good time to look to the future and to also look back over the past. I have been busy scanning a lot of old photos and turning up some surprises which I aim to share on this site over the next few months.

I thought I would start by adding some photos from the first marathon I ever ran up in Yorkshire at a place called Horsforth on the 31st of March 1985. I remember entering as part of a team of 3 when I worked for the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food ( MAFF ) the race acting as the Civil Service National Championship. The chap in the middle of the photo with the ginger hair I remember for being ill in the hotel. He managed to reach a waste paper bucket and then told the owner at breakfast what he had done whilst we tried to enjoy our food.

I certainly didn't train particularly hard for the race and looking at my diary from Christmas onwards it doesn't show any more than the odd week when I touched 35 miles in a week. I did run the Bury 20 that year on the 24th of Feb turning in a time of 2.27.11.

I remember traveling up the night before and cursing the fact that the clocks were due to change and thinking we would lose an hours sleep. From what I remember the course seemed to touch upon Ilkley Moor and Bradford/Leeds Airport and was 2 laps. The course was open to traffic.

My finish time of 3hours 46 mins 31 didn't do much in competition with the other civil service teams. I wondered if this race is still run and did a search on Google and find a story of the history of this race by Janet Kitchen. Not surprisingly like many races especially marathons they were short lived and many ceased to be organised beyond the 1980's

Fornham Circular Run

8.30am 7.5 miles in 58 mins 26 seconds

Week to date mileage 8 miles

Month to date mileage 146

Average weekly rate 30.3 miles

Average monthly rate 131

Year to date 1573

Lifetime 9593

For my first run of the year I decided on a fairly standard run around Fornham.
I have been running this course for some time and recorded the following times that I can find

23.12.06 57.59
16.12.06 58.48
16.11.06 59.56
26.8.06 58.01
6.08.06 57.20
26.07.06 57.29
09.07.06 58.44
24.06.06 57.24
03.06.06 59.17
13.05.06 58.20
6.05.06 57.03
25.04.06 57.02
18.05.06 56.51
11.02.06 59.25
14.01.06 1.0.05
17.12.05 59.29
29.10.05 59.52
03.10.05 1.0.19
11.09.05 1.0.14
28.08.05 57.42
19.08.05 59.36
22.07.05 58.24
10.07.05 59.48
01.07.05 59.42
23.06.05 1.4.0
18.06.05 1.2.18
29.05.05 1.0.26
23.05.05 59.38
5.4.05 1.2.41
1.4.05 1.0.26
19.3.05 59.0
12.3.05 1.0.43
5.3.05 1.2.16
26.2.05 1.2.16
6.2.05 1.1.23
28.1.05 1.1.2.
16.1.05 1.1.14
8.1.05 1.3.19
29.12.04 1.0.11
24.12.04 1.1.26
20.12.04 1.1.31
3.12.04 1.1.13
30.11.04 1.1.18
11.11.04 1.0.32
2.10.04 1.0.40
24.09.04 59.50