OMG It's Show Day

Well the clock just passed midnight and it's the day of the Opening Ceremony for London 2012 - for two Windle Valley Runners, the last day of a long journey as part of the volunteer cast of the show.

Steve Moody (me) and Paul Conlan are two out of 10,000 ceremony cast, and have been rehearsing since May under the expert eye of the Oscar-winning show director Danny Boyle. After 24 days of rehearsals, on about 20 of which it poured with rain, we are well and truly ready. But I'm too excited to sleep, so here I am blogging!

We still can't give away any secrets, but we hope the show will knock your socks off :)

Watch out for us in the segment that begins just after 9pm, and in the meantime, here are a few reactions from people who were in the 100,000 who watched our dress rehearsals in the Stadium this week

And a few words from the Greatest Living Englishman:

http://todayinlondonblog.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/26/12967098-danny-boyle-opening-ceremony-will-be-a-live-film?lite

July "Run of the Month"

 

It was a lovely morning for our 'Run of the Month', setting off from Jealott's Hill over to Bluebell Woods and then along the bridleway, encountering horses and a fallen tree along the way. On to the ford on Pendry's Lane then heading back in the direction of Jealott's Hill, dropping down towards Warfield Church and paying a visit to the resident donkey. It was then back to Jealott's Hill for a well earned cuppa and piece of cake.

 

 

Nathan and I really enjoyed hosting the event and would like to thank all those who joined us. We look forward to another opportunity in the future.

 

Dee and Nathan

Images from Runnymede Relay (July 2012)

Click on link to see some photos taken during the 'Muddymede' Relay event

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/windlevalley/sets/72157630501790458

 

 

Report from Runnymede Relay (7 July 2012)

 

Despite the British inclement weather it didn't stop our Windle Valley Runners turning out for the Runnymede Relay event in Windsor Great Park. Our thanks to Runnymede Running Club for hosting a very successful event.

 

There was a great atmosphere amongst the crowds in spite of the rain and this added to an eventful race for each of us - there was simply no way to avoid the mud and puddles.

 

Our 3 teams running were:

 

Mens Team
Danny Mahoney

Pete Mannion

Mike Hewison

Pete Jones

Grant Sayer

Rob Batchelor

 

Ladies Team

Ros Viner

Sue Hadwen

Jenny Livesey

Debby Hewison

Sabine El-Bacha

Wendy Davies

 

Mixed Team

Lorayne Hockin

Luan Mahoney

Geoff Williams

Dee Green

Nick Askem

Keith Hull

 

Results available here soon:

http://www.runnymederunners.com/relay/rrr_results.html

 

Thanks Pete J for bringing along the gazebo, that proved extremely useful, and to Keith for the scrummy homemade fruitcake (recipe to follow hopefully). Also congratulations to Pete Mannion's daughter Holly, who took part in the children's race, and the only one amongst us taking away a medal from the day!

 

Photos to follow...... 

 

WELL DONE WVR!

"One last thing............."

Dear Windle Valley chums,
 
Tis the eve before jetting out to Arizona, and whilst looking forward to a prairie's new, I just wanted to formally thank everyone at the club for being so fantastic. Everybody I've trained with, and everybody I've raced with and chatted to about running has been a huge inspiration / motivativator and I can't thank you all enough. In a relatively short time, I have achieved many personal goals with the clubs assistance. Hopefully I won't be remembered as the guy who was forever getting injured - though that time spent at the osteo or physio was but a small price to pay and for me; part and parcel of being a runner and finding out about yourself and your limitations.
 
So - Phoenix awaits, and within it, West Valley Runners - same initials as Windle. It'll be even more freaky if they run in Green....maybe i'll be able to inject a bit of Windle spirit into them - if so, I'll be half way home :)
 
Arizonans only race 8 out of 12 months a year, because its just too hot, and my wife tells me to get used to cactuses instead of trees, and drinking Gatorade instead of Lucozade. Well, I like the idea of a challenge, and running in temps well in excess of 100 degrees will certainly be an obstacle; but I will dearly lament the loss of running up and down Portsmouth Road in the pouring rain on a Tuesday night, and losing my concentration on the club 10k as The Steep looms ahead. I ronically, I got lost on my first club 10k, missing 'the hill' out - perhaps it was my brain trying to tell me 'don't go that way Edwards, you'll never make it!' - good times - you guys have truly got a wonderful club there, and I will miss the camararderie and togetherness.
 
Time to sign-off and disappear into the sun-set. Thanks for everything - great people, and lots of fond memories. You've been great friends, and companions in phyiscal self-combustion; putting ourslves through something only 10% the rest of population enjoys and counts as a hobbie. I'll post-up a few races from time-to-time, and if any of you are ever in my neck of the woods, please feel free to look me up.
 
Finally, I'll miss the fantastic awards ceremony / dinner and dance in January, but will be there in sprit to congratulate everybody on their achievements in 2012.
 
Best Wishes,
 
Simon (and family)