Tag: bourne woods

Day 6 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

Let's start with a few statistics:

  • 20% of Juneathon complete.
  • 27.99 miles completed – travelling west from Bourne would take me just past Melton Mowbray.
  • 49,262 paces

Today's run was again round Bourne Woods and for the first time in this year's Juneathon the last mile tonight was quite hard work. Legs felt very tired and we're only on day 6! However, it was a reasonably warm day without a cloud in the sky….

After yesterday's collection of rather naff pictures, tonight a rather moody one of a leaf…followed by, in an attempt to increase the literary worth of this blog, a poem….

A leaf. What are you? What is this?

God's amazing creation: photosynthesis.

Today's mileage = 5.02

Total Juneathon mileage = 27.99

Mojo level = high (despite achy legs)

 

Day 5 #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 8 Comments

I was greeted by a woman at work today in the following way…

“Your blog was a bit crappy yesterday!”

Now I am the first to admit that yesterday's blog was actually a bit “crappy”, therefore may I present…

The Runner's Guide to Bourne Woods

Bourne Woods is one of my regular places to run (often with the dog), so I have pretty much become immune to the sights the woods have to offer. But in attempt to keep the fans readers reader of my blog happy today's post is packed to the rafts with pictures.

Bourne Woods is full of sculptures and works of art to keep the visitors entertained as they stroll around. From the welcoming 'Weird Willow Tree Clinging Thingy'….

The beautiful 'Carved Bird Bath Wotsit'…..

The lovingly carved 'Wooden Mushrooms'….

Through to the more abstract 'Pile of Concrete with Scaffold Pole Inserted'….

Don't be worried about getting lost as you run round, the Forestry Commission have erected rather useful signposts about, although maybe they should just be called 'posts' as the signs have been stolen….

As well as the fantastic variety of trees, shrubs and flowers, the woods offer an abundance of wildlife from deer through to the tiniest flies that are chuffing everywhere! If you've never tried runner with your mouth closed and holding your nose, then Bourne Woods is for you. The pools of stagnant water lying around are the perfect breeding ground….

Today I swallowed around about 1000s flies and at one stage a fly flew up my nose and began boring into my brain, causing an extreme reaction and a number of strange looks from visitors…

Bourne Woods also has its very own maze, although it may not be that difficult to find the middle (you can see it in the picture)…

And at this point….

….I lost control of the dog.

So you can see that if ever you are in the area and fancy a walk or even a run then Bourne Woods is the place to be.

Finally, to the lovely woman who called my blog “crappy” I need to point out that maybe this is not the best place for you to visit….

Today's mileage = 5.72

Total Juneathon mileage = 22.97

Mojo level = very high

 

Running, albums and idiots…

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 4 Comments

The weather is definitely attempting to thwart Janathon, we've reached day 19, but it is no match for these babies….

Only the third run with my new amazing 'Puma Faas 250' – yes a very strange name for a pair of trainers – but they coped fantastically with the snow and ice this morning. I think they are ready for a longer run in the morning, although not sure I am.

I drove up to the woods this morning and parked on the top road and didn't even consider taking the incredibly icy road down into the car park. However, various people did. It always amazes me how some people can be so stupid. When you stand at the top of the hill and look down the road into the car park it actually looks very dodgy, what makes people think it will be ok? Now I'm not one to say 'I told you so', and actually I didn't tell anyone, but I was quite pleased to see two cars stranded at the bottom of the hill and one in the ditch. Idiots.

I'd imagine that lots of blogs will contain a few snow shots, so why not?

And in other news……

Spring looks to be quite exciting, with the release of new albums from Frank Turner and Billy Bragg. Billy's new album, 'Tooth & Nail' is out March 18, followed by Frank's latest 'Tape Deck Heart' on April 22.

It has been a while since a Billy Bragg album, so I'm really looking forward to it. The few tracks I've heard suggest it's going back to what he does best: great simple melodies and the voice of an angel.

They will, of course, be touring to promote the albums. I've even pre-ordered the Turner CD to allow me to get in the ticket pre-sale for access to tickets 48hrs before general sale. With only a handful of gigs announced it looks I'm off to Birmingham.

Now I will be looking for volunteers to attend the Bragg gig – I struggle to find anyone to go with – can't understand why????! Have a listen…

Today's snow mileage = 6.36

Total Janathon mileage = 79.66

 

Janathon Day 17

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 2 Comments

I got home after a long day at work, full day teaching and Y7 parents’ evening, and with a heavy heart I changed and headed out for a run round the woods. Hat, gloves and rather fashionable head torch in place, this is what greeted me….

It wasn’t until I got to the woods that I realised I had forgotten my headphones. I very rarely run without music, but I have to admit I really enjoyed the run tonight. I was wearing my super cool new trail running shoes – so any ice dance running was at a minimum. So I was surprised when I got home to find I had a message from some fella called Mr Schofield asking me to appear on a TV show. Apparently he was impressed with my arabesque.

Tonight’s mileage = 4.73

Total Janathon mileage = 73.30

The Hunt for the Beast Continues

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 8 Comments

New evidence suggests the Beast of Bourne is alive and well.

Yesterday more evidence came to light that the feared creature that roams Bourne Woods is alive and well. Recent discoveries of the creatures existence have been slowly increasing since 2010. The quiet South Lincolnshire market town was left reeling after the latest piece of evidence found by a runner Sunday morning.

More evidence

Strange footprint spotted

The latest piece of evidence, discovered at about 9am Sunday morning, is a footprint measuring about a metre in width. The amazing discovery was made by a local runner, Phil Lengthorn, 21, from Bourne.

“I was just running along with earphones in and listening to my favourite 80s disco tunes when I saw it!” Mr Lengthorn exclaimed. He went on to say that, “It [footprint] was huge! At least 4 feet across and clearly made by some sort of gigantic animal!”

Past sightings

This comes in a long line of past sightings that have terrorised the local residents. Recently there were rumours of strange genetic modification experiments going on in the vicinity, apparently the legacy of years of mutation discoveries on the Fens. A huge oversized doglike beast was recently reported that could well have something to do with this new batch of sightings.

Professor Malcolm, Department of Strange Sightings at Oxford University said, “We will looking into this latest piece of evidence very carefully. The recent cold weather may have caused this creature to look elsewhere for his food. Although due to the fact that this runner was taking part in Janathon and running every day of the month, he is clearly mad so we may not bother.”

In other news….

Due to adverse weather conditions today's Janathon run did not take place.