Let’s start with the Ooser himself. He was represented by some kind of popular mask worn in mummer style occasions. The Ooser was never truly famous, even back 120 years or so ago. Even when this evocative carved wooden head and moving jaw was at the peak of its powers , the Ooser was known…
The last 12 months have reminded us all that the world is small enough to transfer viruses around it at a record speed yet large enough to provide infinite variety local to home. You just need to swap the telescope for the microscope. My love of travel is, for now, packed away in its suitcase.…
In December 2019 I looked ahead to 2020, the most meticulously planned year of my life with 20 outstanding endurance running events booked and scheduled in amongst my cut down office workload. I sunk a vast chunk of savings into entry fees, travel and hotels. But what a year in prospect! Spoiler alert: It didn’t…
The first I knew of Ronnie Staton was when I tried to buy a late place in the 100-mile event he runs under the organiser moniker Hobo Pace, The Robin Hood 100 (September 2019). Entering was a last-minute decision and the ticket sales website had pulled up the drawbridge to entry, a few hours early.…
So, Lockdown 2 is over, and the Tiers are now flowing. November Lockdown meant turning to virtual challenges again, but by my own rules I could not simply repeat tests and trials I had already undertaken in Lockdown 1. But I found two medal challenges that met the criteria and tested me in new ways.…
Photographs ©Frank Wainwright. Taken from Cornwall, Devon and Dorset running adventures, October 2020.
A grade 2 calf strain (aka a calf tear) is a serious setback in any athlete. Fortunately, it is also a well known one that responds well to what they call conservative treatment. That means surgery intervention and advanced science treatments such as stem cell are not high on the agenda however keen you are…
My 'lovestation 'for the Lockdown Frolic In Karen Maitland’s novel, The Company of Liars, a deceitful band of hawkers, storytellers, artists performers, rune-readers, healers and magicians make their way from village to village as an incomprehensible pestilence causes townsfolk to lock themselves away in fear and survival becomes the common denominator to all. The central…
So, the first two months of the year have passed and with it my first four races. How’s it going? How is the book progressing? January Run202020 started with a bang under the fireworks at Zurich Neujahr’s Marathon which was certainly an exciting start. The fireworks overhead and a rock music adrenaline fuelled blast into…
Well they say that endurance running is all about adapting the plan! The postponement of Race 5 in the #Run202020 series, the Mongol 100, to 2021 has been embraced by me as part of the story. #Run202020 is about travel, places and people as much as running, and the travel business is beset with potential…