Sunday is here again, the sun is out, the clock turns 8.30 and the Boat house runners becomes international!
We had our latest runner all the way from Florida, care of visiting a friend. "I don`t run and can only walk 2 miles back home" said Caroline. Well, by the end of the 8.30 session we had gone over 2 mile and there was running, walking, big smiles. Thanks to her good friend Merlin for inviting her.
The running continued at 10.00 and more fun, looking around the groups seeing fellow runners who have found new friends, it feels great that there quite a few who told me that they don`t run and now they're out there running and enjoying the sport I love.
Waking up early on a Sunday is now easy even when I have not got to bed till 2.00am. Handsworth Park has not look so good it must be the people we are with!

Great weekend away with friends and a lot of running around Portishead, it shows that just having my running kit with me and getting up on a Sunday morning gave me the opportunity to meet a whole new group of friends.
I have heard that the sun did come out in Handsworth and a large group of like minded friends met up to chat, run encourage and show skills that only a few weeks ago they did not know they had.
Running for me  has away been about getting myself fit by training with fellow runners, pushing hard. Now that the boat house runners have started up its wonderful to see new faces finding the joys of running and ending with big smiles on their faces.
Congratulations to Becky who runs with me 8.30 group who completed her 5k race for life - a great achievement for someone who has only started running recently.
I am looking forward to seeing everyone next Sunday and hearing all the great stories as we run.
Don't forget to enter a run and give yourself a goal to aim at, The Pete Hayes Handsworth 10k Run on the 14th September is a great run, raise money for the British Heart Foundation and keep alive the memory of my son Pete.

Tony

I wish my writing of the blog was as quick as my running, or maybe some would say it's quicker. Well every time I turn up at the boat house the sun seems to be out and I am sorry but I will not be here this week, hope it does not rain.
Last week saw about 10 new members, a lot thanks to Keith and everyone else that encouraged people to join the group. I hope they all enjoyed themselves as much as  I did.

We now have 2 groups running at 8.30 and then again at 10.00am. Everyone is running so well as the weeks go by, I can see the difference in all of the group. 
I know I have to pick up my training just so I can keep the Sundays going. So I know I will get a lot of sympathy from the groups!
See you all soon
Tony 

After the thunder and lighting on Saturday morning; as good as that was to watch I would not want to run in it, the sun burst out and at 8.30 my new group began. Smiling faces as we set of for a steady 1 and a half mile first session together, talking and getting to know each other. This feels like it is going to be a great addition to the Boat House Runners group. Thanks John for coming with me to help. I know you could have done with a bit of lie in.

Then onto Group 2, now that I had warmed up ready to go and with Tonia making her entrance flying down the hill on her bike, we were all set to go again. Being a kind hearted person  I found a nice tree lined avenue to shade us from the sun. But the group did not seem that pleased with the idea that they had climb up the hill to get there. As I say, it's all down hill after. It is really good to see people who only a few weeks ago felt that running around the lake was hard work, turning into runners who were tackling numerous hills. There were still smiles on faces as Tonia took the warm down, and questions came of what type of running to do in the week and any additional stretches to do.

Well I headed back home from a great morning running, being with lots of wonderful people to be greeted by my wife who had sorted the breakfast out. I am really pleased with the running group, I can't see how it could get any better. Maybe just the addition of 1 more hill...
Tony

Well, 10 o`clock Sunday with the sun out again and another large group of regulars and four new faces to meet. I don`t think anyone was expecting me to take the warm up but everyone was ready to go!

Off we went on what I would call a hard lap of Handsworth Park. After a lap of the lake, straight up the hill to the railway brigde and turn left, climbing up towards the leisure centre. Everyone  gathered together waiting for me  and off we went to cover a 2 mile lap. I am really impressed with everyone's efforts to push their running further.

Looking forward to next week,
Tony.

Well another Sunday morning, sun shining and the boat house looking great. It was great to see faces who had been before with new faces ready to run.

After Tonia`s warm up we split into two groups and headed off with lots of talking, smiling and running. This week I introduced my group to the advantages of running on grass, how it can be easy on the joints and the added bonus of strengthening the leg muscles.

Unfortunately, this Sunday I am away but the running carries on with Tonia. Some people might be glad of this but rest assured I will be back the following week!

Enjoy your running,

Tony.

Unfortunately I missed the last Handsworth Park running group as I was away, but it looks like Tonia took over and is now making me redundant! I have enjoyed the first two weeks; meeting and running with lots of people from the local area. Some of those who came to walk ended up running further than they thought they would walk. This has shown me that the ideas that Tonia had about setting up the group is more than worth it.

I have been running for longer than I'd like to remember and I have enjoyed sharing my love of running with John and Pete, my sons. I saw that they got a lot out of it and could dip in and out of it whenever it suited them. It is great to be able to share this with many more people as part of the group.

I am looking forward to seeing all of the runners on Sunday morning. Looks like it is going to be a really sunny day.