Some Random Words Thrown Together Before The Wine Kicks In

I'm not sure of the exact date, but I think it was the 1st September 2013. I logged on to Facebook, prodded and poked around, swore quite a lot, typed a bit, swore some more, and eventually created the madhouse that we all know as Canicross Sussex.

It started with just 2 members, but gradually started to grow. Our Christmas run in 2013 was a very memorable run. Our biggest run to date at the time, but mainly it was memorable for the fact that team Berry were the only ones in fancy dress, whilst the sum of my 'fancy dress' involved wrapping a bit of tinsel around my bungee line. Which snapped almost as soon as we started running.

Some of us ran a few demonstrations at local events, and gradually the interest started to grow. It was probably about April time that Canicross Sussex really started to grow. New members bringing in more new members. As I write today, we stand at 170 members.

Some of the more memorable moments this year for me have been the CTS Half Marathon at Beachy Head, where Bailey really started to become a great canicross dog. Hard As Snails, a first race for many of us, and where Canicross Sussex turned up en mass and did the group proud, as well as being the scene of our current cover photo. The Checkendon weekend, where we learned that alcohol is not conducive to a great race, but we also learned that when a great group of people and dogs get together, then a laugh, and broken tables are never far away. The Parkrun challenge with Kent Canicross, where we got to eat lots of cake due to our overwhelming victory. Beachy Head Marathon, where Bailey was an absolute star in his first ever marathon, and worked so hard. And then Wildman, a milestone race as it was the toughest and longest race for many of us, as well as being memorable to me for personal reasons,

I started the group to try to find other people to run with. That was it. No politics, just a focus point for me, and more importantly others to run their dogs. I think it is safe to say that THAT mission has been well and truly accomplished.

What makes Canicross Sussex unique compared to other groups is that we have several people that are prepared to get involved and to organise runs. This doesn't happen with many other groups.

It has been a real pleasure seeing the runners that joined us having barely run either ever or not for a long time, develop and become very good, accomplished runners. Some of the improvements in the Parkrun times this year have been truly amazing and inspiring, and this has been achieved by hard work and the great support that the group give each other. If you are reading this as a newbie, take note. This group definitely WILL help you run quicker, and have a lot of fun whilst doing it.

Over the course of this year, we have seen some great and lasting friendships formed. It has really been one of my proudest moments to see how well the group gets on with each other, and this spirit, coupled with the fact that we have quite a giggle when we are all together, is what makes Canicross Sussex such a great group. I may have initially set up the group, but it is the people in it, and of course the dogs, that make it what it is. It has been a real privilege for us to meet, get to know and run with you all. We are an amazing, fun group of people and dogs. You guys are awesome.

I know I have been a bit quiet on here of late, for which I apologise. This is only temporary, and I hope to be back in the thick of things soon. I appreciate the help of others that have taken up the slack and kept things going during this time. It means a lot to me.

Have an awesome Christmas and New Year. You are an amazing group of people and dogs. An amazing group of friends. And I look forward to 2015 with excitement and eager anticipation.

527 Words That Hardly Seem Adequate.

Those that know me will know it doesn't take a lot to confuse me. So it won’t surprise you to learn that confusion reigned in my tiny mind when I came home from work one day to two magazines on my doormat. One, apologetic that I didn't get in to the London Marathon, the other congratulating me that I had. Upon closer inspection, I soon realised that the congratulatory one was actually addressed to Karen.

“Didn't I tell you that I had entered when you asked me to stay up and enter you in the ballot?”

“Pretty sure I’d have remembered THAT conversation love!” (I probably wouldn't have remembered).

And so it began. Karen’s amazing journey from being a spectator to a participant.

We researched several training programs and found a suitable training program, and at the same time Karen decided to join a slimming group.

In the last 5 months I have been in complete awe of my wife. She has got her head down and done exactly what she has needed to do to get fit for London. Even in the early days when she got injured about 6 weeks into the schedule, rested, came back a little too soon, rested some more then got back on the program, she never once said that she couldn't do it. Once she had recovered from her injury, she picked up the training schedule a couple of weeks behind and clawed her way back to being back on track with it again. She never missed a run after the injury. Not one. She simply woke up with the alarm on a weekday, got into her running gear and ran, whilst I was still fumbling for the snooze button on my slippers. As the longer weekend runs came up, she took them on one at a time and simply did them, ticked them off her schedule and looked to see what the next one was. On top of this, she also regularly attended the slimming classes, and made steady, regular progress with her weight as well. Karen has been simply amazing. A true inspiration to me, and many others that I know.

I was lucky enough to pick up a charity place for London, and will now have the privilege of running with her in tomorrow’s race. To say that I will be the proudest runner there tomorrow will be a masterful piece of understatement. As a friend wrote on her Facebook wall, she won’t need luck tomorrow. She has done all the hard work. Tomorrow is all about reaping the rewards of that hard work. It is about everything she has done since confirmation of her entry landed on our doormat coming together and getting her to the finish line. She had not run a step for years when she entered, yet tomorrow she will do something that many people only dream about. She will run the London Marathon. Instead of being in front of the TV screen watching the events, she will be part of it. Instead of being a dreamer, she will be a marathon runner.

Enjoy your day darling. You so deserve it.

Love Stephen.