Stowmarket Striders Friday 5

7.45pm 5 miles in 37 mins 2 mins

Week to date mileage 19 miles

Month to date mileage 107

Average weekly rate 29.9 miles

Average monthly rate 130

Year to date 738

Lifetime 10331

The Stowmarket Striders Friday 5 took place at Haughley Park which was once the home of the Dukes of Suffolk and you can see why with the extensive grounds and 17th century house.

This was my first attendance at the Stowmarket Friday 5 having previously only attended the Bury event. This is a lovely cross country event with 2 laps of a course combining woodland pathways, trackways and plenty of twists and turns and 1 or 2 hills.

I liked the fact it was 2 laps this gives the spectators in a short race something to view all of the time.

The weather held fair despite the ominous looking dark clouds and the appearance of a double rainbow proved that heavy showers were present in the area.

Entry on the night at the registration tent was possible and it certainly appeared that good numbers were taking part.

The only problem with the whole event was the lack of toilets. The four portaloo's couldn't cope with the numbers but it wasn't a big problem as large numbers chose to visit the bushes and water the rhododendron's.

After a good junior race the entries to the main race walked out to the start and then commenced along the flinty trackway back up a slight rise and past the spectators and into the woods where the course was lovely and shaded.

You had to watch your footing for trees roots and a few pot holes but this is an enjoyable course and a real pleasure to get of the road.

I ran most of the way with Chris Cook from Saint Edmund Pacers before he got a 2nd wind on the last lap and I couldn't keep with him and I see he just managed to catch Roger Brand before the finish line also from the Pacers.

I always prefer the t shirts given at races to the medals given at races and the bright distinctive orange t shirt given out at the end of this race was good.

My mile time splits were 6.28, 7.24,7.42,7.37 and 7.51 a right mixed bag of times !

Well done Stowmarket Striders great event!

Great Horringer Hall Farm Suffolk

5.30pm 6 miles in 48 mins 59 mins

Week to date mileage 14 miles

Month to date mileage 102

Average weekly rate 30 miles

Average monthly rate 130

Year to date 733

Lifetime 10326

Keeping off road another return to Horringer Farm rather than the track until I get new shoes. This time I decided on 2 clockwise laps of the farm. very unusually I saw someone else running a section of the farm track which I think is the first time I have ever seen this.

Chickens in our Garden

Our chickens have now been with us about 3 weeks and have settled in well. We took what felt like a bold decision a week ago to allow them out of the confines of their house and run to roam the garden during the day time.

This has gone well we had initial fears as to whether they would try to fly over the fence but at 5 feet this has been sufficient and to be honest they haven't tried to make an escape.

Our next fear was how they would get on with our 3 cats. We kind of watched to see what would happen and who would claim mastery of the garden. At first there was a period of watching by our cats Brian, Bernard and Willow and somewhat indifference from the chickens ( the only name that has stuck so far is for our brown hen - Antony Worrall Thompson ) who were too busy eating grass like a hover mower. Suddenly the Speckled hen decided to make a decidedly chicken run straight at our oldest cat Brian who shame faced ran for it . So the pecking order of the garden has been defined in favour of the girls . To be honest they seem to get on very well together.

We have yet to get any eggs and this is something which should be do any day and every morning there is an expectation of finding one but so far nothing. We are feeding them well on layer pellets and afternoon corn feed along with odds and ends such as rice which they like a lot.

Ickworth Park Suffolk

9.30am 7.5 miles in 1 hr 1 mins 15 mins
Week to date mileage 7.5 miles
Month to date mileage 96
Average weekly rate 30.1 miles
Average monthly rate 131
Year to date 727
Lifetime 10320

Until I get some new running shoes I am keeping off the road as much as possible. So today it was a return to Ickworth park. This means only 10-15 minutes on the road, with the rest of the run being on grassy parkland or fields using my Inov 8 shoes.

The weather looked decidedly dicey as I set off as if it was about to tip down, however it never did rain until I was home when lightning and thunder struck. For my fourth run in 4 days I was feeling a little tired but generally ok though Westley Lane was a little busy with Monday morning traffic. Thankfully I only run a small part of this as I keep to the fields.

Another video this time of Horringer Hall Farm, this one of the poppies which are quite a sight to see

Into Ickworth Park I turned right and followed the path which has been fenced off half way along until recently. The sheep I think were sheared last week and moved into a different area of the park to graze and consequently the fence removed which enables a run all the way to the busted canal bank and Ickworth Lodge.

Fornham Suffolk Circular Run

5pm 7.5 miles in 57 mins 48 mins
Week to date mileage 32 miles
Month to date mileage 88
Average weekly rate 30 miles
Average monthly rate 130
Year to date 719
Lifetime 10312

Left it late for a run today. I am still using my old Asics and they are up to 487 miles. I shall replace them this week as to continue using them now the support isn't as good is to risk injury.

1. 2007 2nd June 59.00
2. 2007 28th May 57.19
3. 2007 12th May 58.29
4. 2007 18th March 57.54
5. 2007 12th March 56.40
6. 2007 10th March 59.25
7. 2007 1st Jan 58.26
8. 2006 23rd Dec 57.59
9. 2006 16th Dec 58.48
10. 2006 16th Nov 59.56
11. 2006 26th Aug 58.01
12. 2006 6th Aug 57.20
    
13. 2006 26th July 57.29
14. 09.07.06 58.44
15. 24.06.06 57.24
16. 03.06.06 59.17
17. 13.05.06 58.20
18. 6.05.06 57.03
19. 25.04.06 57.02
20. 18.05.06 56.51
21. 11.02.06 59.25
22. 14.01.06 1.0.05
23. 17.12.05 59.29
24. 29.10.05 59.52
25. 03.10.05 1.0.19
26. 11.09.05 1.0.14
27. 28.08.05 57.42
28. 19.08.05 59.36
29. 22.07.05 58.24
30. 10.07.05 59.48
31. 01.07.05 59.42
32. 23.06.05 1.4.0
33. 18.06.05 1.2.18
34. 29.05.05 1.0.26
35. 23.05.05 59.38
36. 5.4.05 1.2.41
37. 1.4.05 1.0.26
38. 19.3.05 59.0
39. 12.3.05 1.0.43
40. 5.3.05 1.2.16
41. 26.2.05 1.2.16
42. 6.2.05 1.1.23
43. 28.1.05 1.1.2.
44. 16.1.05 1.1.14
45. 8.1.05 1.3.19
46. 29.12.04 1.0.11
47. 24.12.04 1.1.26
48. 20.12.04 1.1.31
49. 3.12.04 1.1.13
50. 30.11.04 1.1.18
51. 11.11.04 1.0.32
52. 2.10.04 1.0.40
53. 24.09.04 59.50
    

Horsecroft, Nowton Bury St Edmunds Circular Run

8.10am 7.6 miles in 1 hr 3 mins 29 mins
Week to date mileage 17 miles
Month to date mileage 73
Average weekly rate 29.7 miles
Average monthly rate 129
Year to date 704
Lifetime 10297

As I set out this morning the weather was clear blue skies but soon changed as a breeze picked up and very quickly we had some clouds. I ran out of Bury on the Horsecroft road through Hardwick and Horsecroft. There were some wonderful poppies to be seen along the field edges.

My shoes need replacing. I have noticed a lack of spring in them to cushion my runs in the last week and this is sure sign along with the fact I have run 480 miles in them. The Asics Gel GT 2110 have been get for the mileage though if I was racing I would always prefer the New Balance 1060 I last had. So a bit of a poser as to what to buy next. I shall continue to buy from Joe Jogger
I have had always had good quick service from this company.

After the recent heavy rains the off road sections taking me to Nowton were wet. I stopped by the Hardwick Trig to get this short video. This is a pillar trig and has been placed here as a significant high spot in Suffolk at 84 feet.

Cullum Rd /Ramada Hotel/Newmarket rd Bury St Edmunds

5.30pm 5.4 miles in 41 mins 58 mins
Week to date mileage 17 miles
Month to date mileage 73
Average weekly rate 29.7 miles
Average monthly rate 129
Year to date 704
Lifetime 10297

It was warm and muggy and considering this not a bad run.

2007 05 May 42.26
2007 23 Apr 42.28
2007 20 Mar 41.22
2007 1 Mar 41.54
2007 22 Feb 42.1
2007 21 Feb 42.10
2007 25 Jan 42.32
2007 21 Dec 41.35
2007 5 Dec 41.48
2007 3 Nov 42.37
2007 24 Oct 41.10
2007 19 Oct 41.08
2007 6 Oct 41.06
2006 29 Sep 42.10
2006 29 - Aug 40.40
2006 27 Jul 40. 47
2006 13 Jul 41.11
2006 6 Jun 41.33
2006 18 May 41.18
2006 7 Apr 40.30
2006 7 Mar 41.31
2006 3 Mar 41.34
2006 21 Feb 41.35
2006 27 Jan 41.56
2006 13 Jan 41.30
2006 2 Jan 42.42
2005 23 Dec 43.34
2005 9 Dec 42.0
2005 6 Dec 42.04
2005 29 Nov 42.17

Horringer School /Hospital /Cullum rd Newmarket rd Bury St Edmunds

6.30pm 5.4 miles in 42 mins 33 mins
Week to date mileage 11.4 miles
Month to date mileage 68
Average weekly rate 29.8 miles
Average monthly rate 130
Year to date 699
Lifetime 10292

A slow run, I had hoped to go down the track but I was late getting out the door for this run.

25 May 07 41.40
9 May 07 41.56
26 Apr 07 41.18
22 Mar 07 40.33
9 Mar 07 42.16
26 Feb 07 43.37
14 Feb 07 43.53
29 Jan07 42.46
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

Hawstead Suffolk

5pm 6 miles in 50 mins 16 mins
Week to date mileage 6 miles
Month to date mileage 62
Average weekly rate 29.8 miles
Average monthly rate 129
Year to date 693
Lifetime 10286

Hawstead the place of shelter for cattle according to Ekwall. This was my starting point for today. Hawstead is a small village about 3 miles south of Bury. Instead of the hurley burley of the A 134 Bury to Sudbury road give this road a go but allow extra time. If you follow the road out by Nowton Park you can pass through Hawstead, Lawshall and Shimpling and join up on the A134 around Alpheton - makes a pleasant change.

I parked at the totally deserted Hawstead Green next to the playground. An entertaining game of football could be held here in the long grass. It looks as if the village has achieved its target for raising funds for a village hall not sure when or where this will be built.

I decided to head out on the Lawshall Road past the fine pub the Metcalfe Arms.

Along the Lawshall Road near the Newhall Farm there is a marking on the OS Map Explorer 211 which simply says Oak! I must admit I didn't particularly notice which oak this might be but why even mention unless there is some historical reason. I managed to find out that traveling clergymen used to stop at the Gospel Oak to say a prayer perhaps when on a trip to the monastery at Bury St Edmunds. I did see a very old tree which was much the worse for wear but didn't take a photo so know I will have to revisit.

The road here is windy and undulating and can be a little busy. So I turned off at the first footpath that I could which was just beyond the Gospel Oak. Here the footpath was along a car track which had obviously been wet but had now dried to form ridges. Running along here was challenging either balancing on the top of ridges or sinking in the centre of the tyre tracks. However the first section was under tress offering some shade from the warm sunshine. I manged to startle some deer but didn't have time to catch them on camera.

I was soon running through the middle of a wheat field taking me downhill before passing a spring and then heading sharply up hill and emerging at Old Lane Stanningfield Little Rookwood Farm. This area was a Catholic stronghold and the home of Ambrose Rookwood who was one of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot in 1605. He was hung drawn and quartered.

I returned back to Hawstead by the same paths. In Hawstead I did a few laps of the wonderful village green. Once again I had the entire run to myself and never saw another person on the run.

Adkins Wood, Ickworth Park Suffolk

8am 9.2 miles in 1 hr 14 mins 54 mins
Week to date mileage 27 miles
Month to date mileage 48
Average weekly rate 29.7 miles
Average monthly rate 129
Year to date 679
Lifetime 10272

Adkins Wood is one of my favourite runs combining as it does hills, farmland, woodland , National Trust parkland and lakes. The run starts from Bury St Edmunds and sets off up Westley Lane until you reach Horringer,

then into Ickworth Park. Immediately inside of the park I turn left and into Adkins Wood which is a fairly narrow strip of woodland running the length of the village.
Who was Adkins?


I wore my Inov 8 shoes which I like a lot they have great grip and are a bit like a sports car in that they are low lying you feel as if you are hugging the ground as they have don't have the large cushion of normal running shoes.

When you reach the Fairy lake you know you are now in Lady Hervey's Wood.
There is a wet path way to take you over to the Canal Lake by way of some pontoon duck boards.

The Canal Lake is a very pretty spot with its summer house, vinefields and the views of Ickworth House and St Mary's Church.

Beyton Country Fair

Beyton is a lovely village with a large central green which is ideal for a country fair especially on a warm sunny day. In 1978 Beyton was successful in getting the old A45 between Bury St Edmunds and Ipswich diverted away from the village.

Saturday afternoon rather than waste time in doors or doing gardening we decided to visit Beyton Country Fair.

A very traditional fair with something for everyone to enjoy.
I know nothing about cars and motorbikes but there was some well cared for vintage machinery on display. Like all good village fairs there in the marquee was a number of competitions for the best cake, flower arranging,photography and preserves.


There were a number of children's races including the egg and spoon.
I didn't quite get what appeared to be lobbing a sweet nearest a jar but apparently they do this every year.

One of the most interesting stands was a fitness endurance test combining a number of exercises such as the plank. The test being to hold these positions for the longest.


The food and refreshments and cake stands seemed to do a good trade. It is always a pleasure to visit Beyton.

Albana Walk Ickworth Park Suffolk

8am 8.6 miles in 1 hr 13 mins 54 mins
Week to date mileage 27 miles
Month to date mileage 47
Average weekly rate 29.7 miles
Average monthly rate 129
Year to date 678
Lifetime 10271

The Albana Walk was the purpose of my run today. This is a wonderful woodland footpath laid out with small gravel chippings. It was originally laid out in the 1770's by Capability Brown and was lined with box hedges. The name of the walk is a tribute to the 1st Marquis of Bristols wife Elizabeth Albana Upton.

There are now signs referring to the Ickworth Park Trim Trail. Along the walk there are stopping points to stop and do various exercises such as press ups, step ups etc. there are also wonderful views over rolling fields towards Chevington and Chedburgh.

I took a detour on the way back to visit Ickworth House. The house was begun in 1795 but not occupied until 1829 by the 1st Marquess of Bristol. He considered demolishing the building in the early 1820's because of the impractical design and size but continued with works to become the first of a line of Herveys to occupy Ickworth House.

A video with accompanied inadvertent heavy breathing at Ickworth House can be seen here.

Boxford,Groton and Edwardstone Suffolk

5.15pm 6 miles in 50 mins 26 mins
Week to date mileage 128miles
Month to date mileage 38
Average weekly rate 29.7 miles
Average monthly rate 129
Year to date 670
Lifetime 10263

If you ever heard of the expression kill 3 birds with one stone? No, I didn't think so I just made it up but it aptly describes what I did today on my run as I managed to visit 3 villages in Suffolk. I must do a little work soon to tally up just how many villages in Suffolk I have visited since I began blogging nearly 2 years ago.

On the A 134 just outside of Sudbury near Newton I took the Hadleigh road the A1071. This is a twisty road but immediately you are into some beautiful countryside. To my mind there is a whole corridor of less frequently visited countryside with many small villages and a few towns of no great size between the A134 and the A12/A14 . Take a look at the Ordnance Survey Map Explorer 196 for proof.

I took the first left into the village of Boxford, situated about six miles east of Sudbury. According to Eilert Ekwall the meaning of the village name is ford where box grow.The Domesday Book records the population of Boxford in 1086 to be 18. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,258.

I parked up next to St Mary's Church at Boxford. I don't think I have ever been here before. As I said previously this is a village in the ' Suffolk corridor' you actually have to make a conscious effort to visit it as you don't pass through on a journey from A to B.

What a beautiful village and I don't think I saw a quarter of what I wanted to look at. Unfortunately it being 5.30pm and with the roads and pavements narrow and quite a few cars there was little time to hang around. I decided to head straight out of the village to head for the unusually named village of Groton.

Named according to Ekwall after a sandy stream though I never saw one unless he meant the River Box in Boxford.


Groton is a very small village but has a claim to fame it being the birthplace of John Winthrop in 1588 who owned Groton Manor who emigrated to America in 1630 and then founded the city of Boston, and was the first governor of the colony of Massachusetts. The church of St Bartholomew's is prominent when you run up hill from Boxford as is the Suffolk pink painted pub the Fox and Hounds.

Just beyond the village sign in Groton there is a footpath which leads you to Groton Croft a fairly large area of footpaths and memorial flowers to local residents.

A very quiet and beautiful spot which appears more of a common with wildflowers.

With plenty of time I ventured on up to Mill Green and then into the village of Edwardstone. I will need to return to get a better impression as I spent all of 5 minutes there before needing to return by the same route back to Boxford.

West Suffolk Athletics Track Bury St Edmunds

6.15pm 6.2 miles in 49 mins 21 mins

Week to date mileage 12 miles

Month to date mileage 32

Average weekly rate 29.6 miles

Average monthly rate 129

Year to date 664

Lifetime 10257

I ran down to the athletics track for tonights Saint Edmund Pacers club session. I warmed up with a further 5 laps before the session proper.

Being as there is a fair amount of racing at present the session tonight was a short one consisted of 4 x 2.5 minutes with a min recovery in between. There then followed a time trial over 3k distance which is about 7.5 laps of the track. Not a distance I have run before.It requires a lot of concentration in the middle section as the mind begins to wander and before you know it you have lost focus on the run. At the start you can go off to quickly and then pay the price and then there is the challenge at the end with some who have saved a bit for a kick finish.

I think my time was about 13.20 which is 7.09 pace which is ok but I think I can do better than this.

Great Horringer Hall Farm Suffolk

5.30pm 6 miles in 50 mins 01 mins

Week to date mileage 6 miles

Month to date mileage 26

Average weekly rate 29.5 miles

Average monthly rate 128

Year to date 657

Lifetime 10250

I wanted to make use of my Inov 8 Roclite shoes today as I haven't used them that much since I bought them. They are studded and suited to off road but a lot of my runs combined the 2 surfaces of road and field and I am not so sure of doing to much running with the Inov 8's over harder surfaces. So I almost have to plan an off road run to make more use of them

My run today was 40 mins off road and 5 minutes getting to the fields at Great Horringer Hall. I decided on 2 laps of the outskirts of this farmland following I believe permitted pathways, at least no one has ever said any different. I ran the first anti clockwise and the 2nd lap clockwise.
The path takes you in front of the Great Horringer Hall farm and runs parallel to the Westley Lane. Noticeable today was the amount of plant and weed growth which meant many of the pathways had to be waded through. Wearing shorts I had no protection from the amount of thistles which were a little scratchy and itchy but at least I avoided the stinging nettles.

Poppies were abundant in the field of oilseed rape where the bright yellow flowers have long gone to be replace by millions of oilseed pods.

A low flying helicopter of a military type buzzed low over the field which was unusual and caused me to try and take a picture.

A good run.

Horsecroft, Nowton Bury St Edmunds Circular Run

4pm 7.6 miles in 1 hr 2 mins 46 mins

Week to date mileage 34 miles

Month to date mileage 20

Average weekly rate 29.6 miles

Average monthly rate 129

Year to date 651

Lifetime 10244

This is a good circular run that combines a run through the town centre with part of the Bury to Clare footpath and a run through the hamlets of Horsecroft and Hardwick. Unlike my last run over this course on the 19th of May I was back to a more usual anticlockwise route. This means running out of Bury on the Horsecroft road through Hardwick and Horsecroft. Running over fields to Nowton park and back through the town centre.

The weather was good and warm. This morning I was out at the Woolpit car boot and bought absolutely zilch. So I left my run until late afternoon to avoid the mid day sun.

Fornham Suffolk - Circular Run

8am 7.5 miles in 59 mins

Week to date mileage 26 miles

Month to date mileage 13

Average weekly rate 29.5 miles

Average monthly rate 128

Year to date 644

Lifetime 10237

After last nights race this was a more sedate run at a slow comfortable pace around the villages of Fornham St Martin, St Genevieve and All Saints. I am now thinking of my next race as currently I have nothing booked.

Possible races I might do include:

Stowmarket Striders Friday 5 on the 22nd of June or the

Framlingham Midsummer Madness Half Marathon on the 23rd of June

Newmarket 10k on the 1st of July

Sudbury Joggers 5 on the 4th of July

Anyone planning to do 1 of these events ?? Obviously potential hot weather plays a part in any decision.

Bury St Edmunds Friday 5

7.30pm 5 miles in 37 mins 41 secs

Week to date mileage 19 miles

Month to date mileage 5

Average weekly rate 29.3 miles

Average monthly rate 127

Year to date 636

Lifetime 10229

Tonight was the first in a series of Suffolk/Essex 5 mile evening races from Nowton Park Bury St Edmunds. The weather was surprisingly warm and dry after recent rain seemingly every day for the last couple of weeks.


Perhaps the combination of the good weather, the enjoyable location at Nowton Park and the excellent organisation all helped to swell numbers as even with a few minutes before the start of both the junior and adult races there were big line of last minute entries. The guys in the registration tent did a brilliant job as looking at the results on the Saint Edmund Pacers website it would appear the race entry must have exceeded 500.

The figure of eight course has a bit of everything - to begin with there is a mile and a bit within Nowton Park. As per usual most people belt of at a good pace partly to get good position as some of the corners are fairly narrow and with the volume of runners you can get stuck behind a group and overtaking is then not easy.

Things begin to settle down after emerging from the park and heading up hill to High Green. The course runs through a farm across rutted tracks and some puddles. . There is then a good downhill section near Nowton Church before another slight climb, more downhill before returning on to the same road and into Nowton Park for a sprint down the avenue of elm trees.

I took lap times but I haven't made much sense of them and I think I must have failed to stop my watch at the finish as my overall time seemed to be more than the official time.

Anyway my lap times were

Mile 1 7.30
Mile 2 15.42 - 8.12
Mile 3 23.49 -8.07
Mile 4 31.00 - 7.11
Mile 5 37.56 - 6.56

I was slower than last year by 13 seconds by the official time. I struggled to get going and felt hot after the 1st 2 miles. I didn't take enough drink at the half way point and would have better off stopping and having a drink. At this point the hot air balloon looked much more inviting than running.

However it was a good event and depending on work commitments I am know considering whether I can do any of the other events in this series of races.

Friday 15th June - Kirton

Friday 8th June - Ipswich

Friday 22nd June - Stowmarket (Haughley)

Friday 13th July - Great Bentley

The free race t shirts were very popular.

As per usual I will load up many other photos on my flickr site in due course.