WRINKLY SECTION

WRINKLY WRUNS/WALKS

MARCH 2010 Thursday 4^th Higham, Nr. Burnley. CP details to follow. 11^th BNFL Springfields, Salwick. 18^th Anderton Arms, Fulwood. 25^th Clowbridge, Nr.Burnley. CP details to follow.	April Thursday 1^st Hornby, Park by the Bridge 8^th Cartford Bridge, Little Eccleston 15^th White Coppice, by the Cricket Field 22^nd Glasson Dock, main Car Park 29^th The Heritage Centre, Barrowford
May Thursday 6^th Royal Arms, Tockholes 13^th Inter Club, Lytham. Start 7:30pm 20^th Cobble Hey Farm arranged by Dave and Kath - meet at Car Park, (off Butt Hill Lane Nr Calder Vale) at 10am 27^th Jubilee Tower CP, Quernmore	June Thursday 3^rd Downham Village CP 10^th De Vere CP Blackpool 17^th Springwood, Whalley 24^th Village Hall, Mawdsley

Further details etc. from John (Boss) Whiteman

Email: john.whiteman@hotmail.co.uk

MMIX

(Where did it go?)

It doesn’t seem that long ago, when I thought my elders were pulling my leg, each time they told me that the years flash by quicker and quicker, as you grow older. Well you young ‘uns they weren’t wrong, be warned! With my 70^th being the next BIG ONE, not that many years away in the future - it’s frightening. On the other hand I must be enjoying life, because, if time was going by slowly, logically I would be bored.

“Team Wrinkly” has had another brilliant year “Thursday Wrun/Walk” wise, as well as the well-established ones new routes have been introduced, check out www.lancashirewalks.com it’s a site compiled by two ex School Teachers, John Griffiths and Bob Claire. Some excellent venues were gleaned from them, have a look you won’t be disappointed.

On the holiday front we had a bit of a “gap year” in 2009. We did however manage a long weekend in Llandudno, 16 people attended and enjoyed probably the only weekend last year where the sun shone and was hot for more than three days!

In May 2010, twenty two of the team are off to Lake Garda in Italy. No doubt Auntie Bren will be writing another of her epic reports on that one, watch this space.

Health hasn’t treated our group too well, during the past year. Les Ward continues to struggle with his back/leg problem, as does Tony Robbins. Pete Earnshaw and Keith Gresty have decided to stop running and stick to walking. Derek Goodenough has stopped running, choosing to stick to cycling. We all suffer from aches and pains which seem to last much longer than in the past; it’s obviously an age thing.

Lastly, at the time of writing, we hear that John Keohane is suffering from Thrombosis in a leg, on behalf of all Wrinklys I would like to wish John a speedy recovery.

To round the year off we celebrated a successful 2009 by having a Christmas Lunch, at the Bay Horse Pub in Thornton. There was a superb turnout of 36 people; there was so much food even Pete turned more down. (That was a first!)

Hope you all get what you wished for in 2010,

John (Bossman) Whiteman.

LOST FOR WORDS

When I started running again I decided to go on my first Wrinkly Wrun thinking it would be short, fun and no pressure................well I got two out of three thanks to our Boss Wrinkly. After our normal Monday meeting I went to the pub with them and sat talking to John about the Wrinkly Wruns. He said to come along on the next one which was at Garstang for a run of 5 or 6 miles off road so I booked half a day’s holiday to enable me to go. The weather was mild but prone to sudden heavy downpours which normally would be fine but when you have to go back to work afterwards it does nothing for your hairstyle but ‘what the hell’ it was fun. On that trip there were large numbers including our Chairman, or should I say ‘gate man’, as he went ahead and opened the gates to save us all climbing the stiles which was okay but it meant you didn’t get much rest whilst everybody climbed over the stile. The going under foot was wet and heavy but I had to keep moving I couldn’t let Bossman get in front as he was using me as an excuse to run slow even though I had little fitness. The water we had to go through was freezing and when you get two grown people like Julie Cruse and John Sharples splashing in the water getting each other, and anybody else who was nearby, soaked - I wondered about the fun bit .

Am I mad running with the Wrinkly’s, no I’m not? They enjoy what they do and look out for everyone to make sure nobody is suffering tooooooooo much. Pressure ‘no’, it is so laid back if the ground was dry you would horizontal but short, not a hope in hell 9.2 miles for my first run prior to that day I hadn’t gone past 5 miles but I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. I was sure as hell knackered the following day and the legs aching with every step. My problem was did John plan it or did he get us lost because I don’t know the area very well I had no idea I just had to keep running.

The antics above did not put me off I have since done another run with them this time led by Dougie Brown with John’s assistance on a glorious day, middle of December in tee shirts, unheard of but great! My only problem was finding the meeting point. John had sent me directions and I didn’t get lost with them but the distances between the points to look for were somewhat out, it set off badly after being told to come off the motorway at Junction 31a only to find you can’t when coming from Blackpool. I did get there a little late and several phone calls later and had a fantastic pleasurable run with no pressure just happy banter and it was great to see Mike running again.

As I had been on a couple of Wrinkly Wruns I felt I could attend the Christmas lunch with no fear of getting lost and a wholesome lunch it was, I didn’t do much when I got back to work the body was totally stuffed but thoroughly enjoyed it, looking forward to next years.

Numbers were a bit thin on the ground for the Christmas Eve run unlike the snow we had to encounter to get there. It took several panic phone calls from me trying to arrange a lift at the last minute because I couldn’t get the car out of Barnfield, that bloody hill is a pain as they never grit it so if you manage to drive to the top you end up sliding partway back down, but our Chairman came to the rescue, I walked to the top and he collected me, I was grateful Dave. Guys’ Court looked very pretty and some of the fields had very deep snow which again looked picturesque but made running very hard on the legs but grit and determination got some of us a 7 mile run although Boss Wrinkly and Howard cut theirs short................is it an age thing? When we returned to the car park it was mince pies all round including Howard and John, left overs from Rudolph, but appreciated as Dave and I needed our strength to get Howard out of the car park because he just kept spinning his wheels.

Now I am not sure where to start with the New Years Eve fiasco, Beacon Fell Visitors Centre Car Park, not a good choice due to the weather conditions of the previous week but Bossman didn’t change the location so off we all set, more people than normal as the usual workers..................were on holiday from the office and many had decided to join the Wrinkly’s, me included who was being given a lift by Alex together with Tracey and John B, thank goodness for numbers. After heading to the area the first road was signed as being closed, this was the omen for the day but John and Alex knew another route so off we went, great no Road Closed Sign, left we went and started climbing up the hill as the ice got thicker and the road got slippier until no further could we go, yes we got stuck but we were still pointing up the hill which was more than could be said for the car further down the hill wedged between either side of the road looking decidedly stuck but not our problem or so we thought. Eventually and with the help of the Park Wardens spade we got out and up to the top of the hill, being kind people we went to help the other car who was none other than our John Sharples and the lovely Dette, John looked none too happy but with the aid of a local farmer and a tractor who Tracey had raised in her search for a shovel, rescue was at hand, a length of chain and a set of very large wheels made easy work of pulling John up the hill. By this time and despite me making several phone calls to various members who had said they were coming on the run I raised nobody, the start time was long gone, just as we were deciding what to do our Membership Secretary arrives walking with Keith wondering what was going on and telling us that if we had ignored the Road Closed Sign we would have got to the car park without a problem. But we followed the road signs being good law abiding citizens that we are: next time we may not be so law abiding, we made the decision to go to Guy’s Court and run from there.

An enjoyable run of just under 8 miles was had by the four of us, probably a bit quicker than the normal Wrinkly Wrun and it finished with hot drinks, ham butties, Christmas pudding slices and Christmas bakewell tarts and an eventful and enjoyable morning had by all. John and Dette decided not to join us, not sure why! I think John may have been a little p****d off?

Boss Wrinkly please keep up the good work and by the time this is being read I will hopefully be planning when I can next get out with them in the New Year.

I must say ‘thank you’ to the rest of the Wrinklys Section for the organisation, company and the fun they provide.

Written by: Kerry Eccles

Submitted: 31stDecember 2009

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor

Old Age, I decided, is a gift

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be.  Oh, not my body!  I sometimes despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging behind.  And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, (who looks like my mother or father!), but I don't agonise over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, and my loving family for less grey hair or a flatter belly.  As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself.  I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.  I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging. Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 & 70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love. I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.  

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?  But broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding and compassion.  A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect. I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning grey, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.  So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think.  I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.  

I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it!)

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER! FRIENDS FOREVER!

Written by: Mick Edge

Submitted: December 2009

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor

RACE MEMORIES OF MIKE WALSH

FELL RUNNING

Just to give you a little bit of light entertainment, a few years ago I went with Martin Bates and Malcolm Sherwood to run a fell race at the Queens Hotel at Troutbeck. There was an elderly man, (not me), who was a bit of a joke as he was always the last to finish, and they had promised him a prize if he ever finished before the last runner.

As we started off, Malcolm said that he would stay with me, and as I was running behind the runner in question, I could hear him puffing and panting and we were still on the level part of the course, but as we went along, Malc and I both passed him and a few others. Half way up the fell we came to one of those high ladders like styles which was a checkpoint for both directions.

When Malc and I got to the turning point at the top we started our descent, but we went the wrong way and were a long way from the checkpoint on the downward run so we had to traverse the fence to get back to it. In the meantime all the other runners had got in front of us, and, when we got back onto the correct course, I could see a few runners in front of us. Yes you have guessed it, the elderly man was with them and he finished in front of me.

I will never forget the look on his face when he came out of the pub with a bottle of wine, as he was clutching it as though it was the crown jewels. It was worth finishing last just to see him.

Written by: Mike Walsh

Submitted: 2^nd January 2010

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor

MAKING A FOOL OF MYSELF - AGAIN

A few weeks ago I read on the message board that Jennie Thompson had returned to running. A few days later it was suggested on Facebook that I should become a friend of Jennie, so I sent a request to her.

I got a reply saying that she would love to be my friend, but didn’t know who I was. It turned out that she is a 16 year old girl who goes to school with my grandson. I pointed out who I was and that she could remove me from her page but she has not done so yet.

Written by: Mike Walsh

Submitted: 2^nd January 2010

Edited by: Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor

Alzheimer’s me – never!!!

The other day I received a text from John Whiteman, insinuating that I was suffering from Alzheimer’s, but on New Years Eve a few of us met for the Wrinkly’s Wrun at Beacon Fell. As we approached the site we were met by closed road signs on the road up to the venue. Later John put on the Website Message Board that there were seven runners who made it to the run but I could only recall six names. So I had a word with the other runners and they could only name six, so it would appear that all the runners, except John, are also suffering from the Alzheimer’s disease!!!

As we were making our way through the slippery snow, we were running along the south bank of the river when John said that we needed to get to the other side. He had us climbing onto a fallen tree that straggled the river, and me, not being as nimble as I once was, got across with some difficulty, only to come to a bridge over the river about 100 yards further on! To add insult to injury he had us going over the bridge, so that we were back on the original bank of the river!

Written by: Mike Walsh

Submitted: 4^th January 2010

Edited by Brenda J Earnshaw WRR Editor