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The second park run of the year attracted only one Musketeer runner and two support staff.

This was a drier (if one can use that expression) run than the end of the year when the canal path was deeply flooded.

Wetness is all relative of course because the route was far from dry. The first field section of the course was very slippery and slidey. A lot of movement was backwards and sideways and little forward. Not only is the field slippery it is very uneven because of being churned up by walkers and livestock and there are also the ditches.

After the field comes the flat canal path which comes as a relief, if not flooded. But it does seem to go on for a long time.

After recovering from the field slog, this is the time to overtake if you can, before the short steep hill. After the training Muskies do every week you should then recover after the hill better than the others.

Now is time to steadily reel in those ahead of you on the return flat path above the canal before a short steep section back down to the dreaded field. Next is a shorter loop round the field, dragging weary legs through the treacherous mud to cheering supporters at the finish.

The idea of the Park Run is to involve anyone of any ability and standard whether in a running club or not. It is a completely free 5km or roughly 3-mile multi-terrain run and is on every Saturday morning of the year at 9am.

Just turn up at Plym Bridge and run. The concept is to make organised running available to everyone and to involve runners in organising and marshalling the event.

To get involved register on the park run web site. You will be sent an email with a bar code specific to you. Print off the bar code and take it with you to every race to be scanned at the run finish. Your times and placing will be placed on-line and you will be sent an email with that information. The idea is to encourage you to run as many as you want and improve your time.

What is there not to like? May be the earliesh Saturday start? There are usually a sprinkling of Muskies who can get up that early to run or marshal – more than likely our esteemed chairman Sharon.

By Guy

About 400 took part in one of the bigger races in Cornwall, the Storm Force ten-mile race at Camborne.

The standard of competition is both high and ferocious in Cornwall. There are many more clubs there than most counties and all were represented. The race is part of the popular and hard fought Cornish Grand Prix series, which helps.

The only Musketeer runner was Guy who came in at 89th in 1hour 9min at 6.58 min-mile pace.

To put this in context the winner finished in 54min 48sec an amazing 5.28 min-mile pace. The top woman finished in a fantastic 57 min – still well under 6-min mile pace naturel viagra.

This is a road race and includes only one short stretch of puddly back lane. Some of the puddles were frozen. Other than the ice, the day was perfect for running, as long as you were prepared for the cold. Much of the race was sheltered from the icy wind and was run under welcome blue skies, a rarity this winter.

The route is largely along quiet country roads and through villages. The first half is mostly flat, although there is one up-hill. Most of the last two miles is a gradual slow drag up-hill, which seems steeper than it is because of tiring legs. What a relief therefore, that the final half mile is downhill.

Because of the large entry it is a fairly well populated route, so there is always someone along the course to pace against, shelter behind, use to pull you along when you a gasping, or to overtake and give you a second wind.

This is a well organised and marshalled race. It is based at a school and takes 1hr & 20min to get to door-to-door from Plymouth. There is free soup and rolls after the race for all runners. And cakes are offered for contributions, all in the huge school hall where you can meet and change in the warm. Ample car parking is on-site. The all-important goody bag includes a novel towel.

This is a good race for practising for the Plymouth Hoe. Maybe more Muskies can make it next time, if they aren’t on the First Chance.

By Guy

The weather turned obligingly cold, sunny and dry for once for the January Jaunt 10km.

Musketeers squad of aces Johnny, Donna, Nicole, Mark P, Guy, Chris W, Vic, Eroy, Bryan and Louise K took on what is traditionally the first race of the year for many.

First Musketeer was Eroy, well ahead of his colleagues and looking very strong after an injury lay-off.

The race is one of the few 10km races in Plymouth and is considered by most coaches to be the basis of longer distance training, preparing you for the Plymouth Half Marathons, for instance. 10KMs are excellent in giving you speed and stamina.

The January Jaunt is well organised by the Round Table and includes the climb through Saltram grounds that Plymouth Half veterans are familiar with and a trail section along the river and return. Very little of it is flat and includes a variety of surfaces, so is excellent for an intro to running on multi-terrain and topography. It is also a great circuit for training during daylight.

By Guy

Only two more legs of the Westward league Cross Country left and the excitement is building!

The Musketeers ladies’ team is lying fourth after Westward Ho! while Bovey Tracey and Plymouth remain in the next two months.

The Westward Ho! course is the flattest and most exposed to any weather, being on the coast. But the weather was kind and windless and sunny and mild.

However, previous rain had ruled out a flooded section of the course, which meant runners had to do more laps of the remaining leg. The men had to run 5 laps for 5 miles and the women 3 miles.

The uneven grassy course included several flooded and muddy ditches which needed careful leaping or clambering.

What should have been the easiest of races turned out to be the most dramatic before it even started with Neil W and Baz D pulling out, Neil for illness and Baz because he could not open a car to get changed. And Sarah A hurt her ankle hurrying to the start, but ran despite the pain, following Caroline W and Kate. She had to be helped to the car after heroically completing the painful run and sat with her leg on the dashboard.

The diminished men’s team, without its fastest runner in Baz and fast performer Neil, managed a good team effort with Guy, Stan K-the-weatherman, Dave M and Steve M (another heroic injured casualty) finishing in that order. Dave is now in top five for his advanced age group. Many thanks from the men to the vociferous and abusive support from the resting ladies, it was appreciated.

Of course Stan could not be left off the dramatics, having briefly left a shoe in the mud and threatened to throw up on the driver in the car on the way to the race. The two children – Baz and Stan – had to be constantly distracted from squabbling in the back seat on the long trip home, but at least Stan wasn’t sick.

Despite the brave efforts of the men we are all relying on the star performers of the ladies team to make this travelling circus worthwhile, having also run in Newquay, Redruth and St Austell. At least Bovey Tracey on 9th February, and Plymouth – 17th March, are a lot nearer and the children will not have to sit together next time.

By Guy

Three lone Musketeers travelled al the way across the moor to Torrington for a race two days before Christmas.

Our hardy three had already conquered some of the toughest multi-terrain races in Devon and were not to be intimidated by the build up given to the Torrington Christmas Caper.

It might have won race of the year in 2011, but was no match for the Bicton Blister, or Cockington Caper for instance.

If anything it was flatter than most off-road races on offer, but of course that is not the whole story, with a monsoon year adding to the mix.

At some where between 9 and ten miles this was a muddy affair with the slippery and puddly uneven terrain meaning a cautious approach at all times was essential.

Also important was keeping an eye out on the multitude of festive characters one encountered en-route, with Father and Mother Christmases outnumbering super heroes and fairies.

Musketeers acquitted themselves proudly out of a field of 215 with Guy B 44th in 1h 13min, Craig F 108th in 1h 23m, and Mark P 120th in 1h 28m.

For the record the winner finished in 56 min. The prizes and goody bag were substantial and imaginative. All finishers received a Xmas pud and clotted cream. Winners received bottles of bubbly or hampers.

It is an ideal event for preparing for two weeks of over eating and drinking and would be good to see a few more Musketeers up for the challenge this Christmas.

By Guy