Christmas Running
CHRISTMAS is coming and the goose is getting fat - okay, less of that twaddle, but what have you planned to do running-wise over the festive season?
Well, if you are looking for something to do on Boxing Day, then an hour down the road is the Round The Lakes 10km organised by Poole Runners.
Held in Poole Park around a picturesque course which skirts the harbour, this is a very popular race and is worth entering early if you want to do something on Monday, December 26th, and avoid the Sound of Music/Escape to Victory/Chitty Chitty Bang Bang/ The Great Escape - delete where applicable.
The race starts at 11am, and the closing date for postal entries is December 16th, although entries will be taken on the day.
The following day, Tuesday, December 27th, is the Pub to Pub Charity Road Race & Walk, which is based in Horndean, just north of Portsmouth.
There is usually a big turn out of Stubbies for this race, which starts from the Ship & Bell pub in Horndean to the Red Lion at Chalton and back. It's a seven-mile course, and there is a time limit of 90 minutes for the race.
What makes this race interesting is that each competitor is partnerered up with another runner. A pre-race draw is made, and where possible the team will consist of one man and one woman. Team members don't need to run together, but there is a prize for the top team, and various spot prizes as well.
It is a fun day, organised by Portsmouth Joggers and raising money for the Portsmouth Hospitals' Rocky Appeal, which is aiming to raise £2million to build a new cancer laboratory at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham.
The closing date for postal entries is December 23rd, and there are entries on the day subject to the race limit. To download an entry form and for more details log onto the Portsmouth Joggers' website www.pjc.org.uk
Also on that site, you will find details of the popular, but gruelling Meon Valley Plod which takes place on Sunday, February 12th. This is a 19.5 mile cross country trail race along the Meon Valley starting in Clanfield. A tough race, but fun to enter, and the post-race hospitality is tops.