Saturday 19th April - Prestbury Lollipop

The start ...

A great turnout today - 21 'Easter Runners' including guest appearances by 'Dangerous Dave' and 'Marathon Harry'. After a quick vote on our route choice we opted for a 'Prestbury Lollipop with Golf Course extension'. D-D did the warm up and then we were off. The recent warm weather had dried the mud up a lot and conditions underfoot were good.

It was good to see a few faces that had not been out on Saturday for a while and there was some very good running - I have definitely noticed an improvement in both speed and technique from a number of the group (well done).

Afterwards there was also a good turn-out for the post-run debrief (with coffee) at the Tytherington Club.

Neil

... and they are off!

Lovely sunny morning ...

Kate on a mission ...

Margaret and Carol looking very good...

Spring lighting ... so clean!

Dangerous Dave saying that we are going the wrong way!

Speedy...

Heather and her sister ;-)

Bollin Valley

Smile if you are called Wendy

Nina and Stevie Wonder ...

Julie and Heather decide on another route but caught us!

When the camera is out you run and smile...

Louise does that 'run for the camera' thing ...

Julie and Harry compare notes...

Heather still running with her sister ... ;-)

Who put this hill here...

Looking good...

Heather working hard with D-D

Hill-Queen

... and then a good descent

LB & MG love the downhill ;-)

Joined up running?

Mel sorting loop-backs out...

Not far now...

Jen and Harry

Heather, D-D, Philip and Stevie

Final hill

Some took the long route...

The end (missing Kate, Heather and Harry)

Saturday 12th April - Mottram loop from Prestbury

Today 14 hardy runners took on "Dangerous Dave's Mottram Mud". In dry conditions after some warm ups and a quick calf massage, a course of around 4.6 miles, with looping was undertaken.

There were a few mishaps along the way, beginning with a rogue hawthorn attacking Wendy S, there was bleeding...following this, the Heathers were plagued by random nauseousness.

Heather A, then lost a trainer in the Mottram Mud,  I followed suit on the last leg, being swiftly rescued before I went under! All was tempered by a sighting of two fresh born lambs and some wonderful scenery (although we are not sure Dave will volunteer again).

Great run all!

Mel

Wendy S Limbo's

Before the Hawthorn Incident

Mottram Mud

Saturday 5th April - Catherine Walton farewell run - Macc Forest

Above Forest Chapel

Today was a run with mixed feelings - happy to celebrate Catherine's new job but sad to see her leave the group. We wish Catherine all the best 'down south' and also for the London Marathon on Sunday April 13th.

The weather was a bit mixed today - overcast and also damp. The hills were tough but the whole group 'dug deep' and got round without mishap. We did almost 5 miles and climbed almost 1000 feet!

The coffee, tea and cakes etc at the garden centre after were much appreciated.

Neil and Ali

The route

The start ... nervous about the hills?

A closed road would not stop us...

Dawn on fine form after WIlmslow Half!

A hill ... at the beginning ... not fair!

I wonder if I can keep my shoes clean ....

Ooops ... quick ... camera is out ... we must run ...

'Twiggy' and Mel

Up ... up ... up

Can it get any steeper

Time for a laugh ... Catherine's last run with E Group

More up ....

A'minor' walk-break...

... and still we go up...

Twiggy loves the hills!

Everybody working hard ...

Final ascent ...

Into the woods...

Hi-Viz Ali and Alison ...

At last ... level ground..

... this is better ...

Oooh ... no more hills...

Phew...

Group Photo above Forest Chapel

A rare sighting of Neil in a picture ...

'Technical' descent ...

Taking care down the steep and rocky path...

Descent from Forest Chapel

Wendy and Dawn descending well...

... followed by the rest of the group...

One final 'up' ... are we there yet ...

Mud. Oh Dear.

Almost back...

The end - well done

The Route