Sundays was Orienteering. Anywhere. It didn't matter if it was a flat thick forest, black & white map full of brambles - we would go.  Pat, Jack & Rob in the Nissan. We loved it.

Mondays was a day of rest - an easy 5 miler, a bit bruised & always scratches from those brambles - gashes across your thighs from where you saved 5 seconds by bashing across a thorny bush.

Tuesdays - was getting to the serious part of the week. My Dad Jack had started the nights training in the late 1970's to get the Orienteers into running. He didn't think they (the orienteers) were very good at running. It was always from No 5 Cookridge Avenue, Leeds - Headquarters for running training.

We started about 6 in the evening. It started off quite small - but soon grew to a regular group.We would start with the ritual stretching & warming up. It was pretty cold - gloves, Helly Hansen (your "smelly") with a tee shirt over the top & Ron Hill Tracksters were usually worn. I was quite a good runner - so it was a chance to show off your speed - to "kick hard" - when others were tiring. There would be the fast group - we would run down to Horsforth, West Park, Lawnswood, Meanwood, Adel & back over Tinshill. Each time a decent hill loomed, the pace would pick up & the race was on to reach the top first. Summer time we would do the footpath runs - Crag Hill, Pounds Farm, the Chevin & back on the flat by Pauls Pond.

I remember many many wonderful Tuesday evenings cruising along the winter streets of Leeds with Alistair Hay & having enlightening chats about nothing & everything.

Tuesdays wasn't complete without our dining table full of people eating & going over there routes from Sundays "O" Event. My mum (Pat) would be baking & making endless cups of Yorkshire Tea. The house was full & noisy - with echoes of "SHOWERS EMPTY" coming from up the stairs (there was ONE shower). Tuesday nights was something my Dad (Jack) started & he should feel very proud the tradition still carries on today.

Tuesdays for me now is a Bike road Race, starting at Historic Berrima (its 150 years old), near my home in Bowral, Australia. It's a hilly course one week - about 32km, then a flat, fast 20km the next week. It's the same formula as in England - A bunch of outdoorsy fitness people -  who love to get out, get sweaty & feel knackered at the end of it.
LONG LIVE TUESDAY NIGHTS !
      Roger Bloor  (Lover of Tuesday nights)

e>roger@bloorplans.com.au