Strange Sightings In Barham Woods

Just prior to doing my back in, I decided to run somewhere new one evening and this is what I found.......

Deal Tri Dinosaur 10km

Headed down to Deal seafront early this morning so Indie could run her first race, the Junior 1500m. Unfortunately she got knocked over as the race started and ended up with a split lip, brusied face and a bit of a bloody mess, poor thing. I knew how disappointed she would be if she didn't run, so managed to calm her down enough that we could set off hand in hand and complete the race....which she did through a few sobs and tears. She got her medal but not the best start to her racing career!

The 10km then started, luckily it was not nearly as hot as last year's scorcher, although the hill up to Kingsdown unfortunately hadn't got any shorter. It was a tad painful as got a sore back (dusting injury, can you believe it?) and was relieved to go downhill and out onto the flat stretch back to Deal. I knew I had no chance of catching running comrades Jason or Paul but was determined to do a PB which I managed so all was not lost!

Jason 39.33
Paul 46.23
Chantal 49.15

50 Mile Challenge

We headed to our friends Zoe and Andrew in Marshside, near Canterbury today. Chris, Zoe, Stripey and Jim took part in the 50 mile team challenge, running a 6.5 mile loop in rotation to complete 50 miles. Sound hard? Well, most of the competitors were running the 50 on their own! Yep, quite mad! Totally low-key, tucked away in a tiny village, race HQ being a pub garden, race officials were two ladies at a picnic table and the feed station was a help yourself table of drinks and pasta. A little medal if you managed the 50! It was so understated yet so hardcore, it really was quite cool!

The Home Farm Harriers made it to their 50 in 7hrs 10 mins, Chris completing the final team loop in about 50 mins. Meanwhile, the seven kids had a fantastic day cheering on their parents as well as playing in Zoe and Andrew's conveniently located garden on the run route!

Tour de France in East Kent

On Sunday we met up with local friends in a village near the Tour de France route and biked (kids on the back) up to a good viewpoint at Farthing Common to watch the tour speed past.

The sun shone, Kent looked amazing, people turned out in their hundreds and we all had a lovely afternoon. Yes, it was over in a flash but it was really cool to see the tour for the first time 'live'.

Roof Going On

Despite the awful weather, the joiners made good progress constructing the roof woodwork this week after our electricty cable was moved underground on Monday.

Hey Simon - 101 Miles!

It was a little challenge I had set myself and today Paul and I rode 101 miles (that's 161.5km) to Rye and back in 6hrs 42 (out there for considerably longer than that what with eating, gossiping and sourcing painkillers for my agonising shoulder!) It was a lovely sunny day and I was surprised how good I felt (apart from the shoulder) even towards the end of the ride.

Chris took the kids rowing on the Hythe canal and then cycling along Hythe seafront so sounds like they had a good day out too.

We are cycling with the kids and friends tomorrow to the Tour de France route just as it nears Canterbury to watch the action as it speeds past!

London to Canterbury Cyclosportive

Chris rode the UK version of the Etap de Tour on Sunday, 120 miles starting at Greenwich, through much of the Kent countryside and ending in Canterbury. 5000 lucky riders got to do this cyclosportive and Chris' slot was his 40th birthday present from sister-in-law Sasha.

He said he throughly enjoyed it despite mixed weather conditions, riding with local tri buddy Bryan the whole way. It took 7 hours 35 minutes to complete the course including punctures and pit-stops. Actual riding time was 6 hours 58 minutes. The Tour de France pros ride the route next Sunday, so hopefully we'll head out with the kids and find a good viewing spot somewhere nearby.