Hello campers. Well I must report that I have returned from the racing at Cheltenham a little lighter. Nothing to do with weight loss sadly, and everything to do with some appalling betting. As I explained in one of my blogs last week, betting and indeed tipping is not my forte. And despite a blip last year when I backed 3 winners, this week wasn’t quite so successful. I did pick one winner on Tuesday, and I had three seconds, two of which were by a short head.

But that was as good as it got with the gee gees. So the highlight of the day was some great company, a couple of pints of lager shandy, (what a fine athlete I am) and a big fat cupcake courtesy of a pal of mine at William Hill (again athlete). Honestly. If you haven’t ever had the pleasure of a day at Cheltenham, I would highly recommend it. The atmosphere is terrific and the course is a spectacular natural amphitheatre which is second to none.

If you head to the stand rails you get really close to the horses as they make their way down to the start and it makes you feel really involved. I have never had a day’s hospitality there. Instead I prefer to roam the concourse listening for hot tips and then parting with my meagre earnings with the on-course bookmakers, who are significantly wealthier after my appearance. My husband, incidentally, also managed one winner, the rest of the group had a barren afternoon. Indeed such was our desperation for success, we were reduced to throwing money on horses we had heard being discussed in the toilets. Alas that didn’t work either…

There was though some notable success for other women at the meeting. I was impressed by the efforts of Katie Walsh in the National Hunt Chase yesterday, a race in which  Nina Carberry was second. Both women have successful brothers who are also jockeys, (Ruby Walsh and Paul and Philip Carberry) and their achievement underlined the potential of women jockeys. That they can ride as well as their male colleagues is a given. Perhaps their disadvantage remains the strength to withstand some of the brutal falls associated with the sport. It is though and remains a fascinating debate. Any thoughts on the subject gratefully received.

So not only am I poorer, I haven’t been hugely active on the running front either. I did do an interval session on Monday, which was brutal, but since then I have either been away or working. So a poor show all round. I am going to attempt 7 miles again this weekend (I have planned a route my friends I promise), so I shall report back with better news hopefully. And I’m not betting again…… at least not until the Grand National…….

Tags: Cheltenham Festival, William Hill, Katie Walsh, Nina Carberry, Ruby Walsh, Paul and Philip Carberry

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So there I was fist-pumping around the kitchen, convinced I had just broken my own PB for 7 miles. I couldn’t have been happier and although a cloud of doubt did scurry across my mind, because I had never run that fast before, I was convinced it was all the interval training finally paying off. I celebrated with a chocolate biscuit. Oh the folly of that. So I think it’s fair to say my balloon was well and truly popped by my husband, who it appears, is a walking SatNav system.

Because he was immediately suspicious and gently suggested I drive the route in the car. He was of course irritatingly right. It was only 6.25 miles. I had forgotten an extra loop that I should have added. Honestly. Men are so big on tiny details aren’t they…..? However I was still chuffed because it actually felt comfortable and that is an adjective I so rarely use with myself in connection with running. But I am definitely on course for the 8.2 miler in a month’s time. And I’m now even flirting with the idea of a half marathon. Who would have thought? I am adamant that I will never go the full distance again, but maybe, just maybe a half. We’ll see. It depends how the old knees hold up. They both look like a pair of hub caps at the best of times, so any additional swelling is frankly unwelcome.

Apart from that and some fabulous Mother’s Day pampering yesterday, I had a spectacularly chilled weekend. Flowers and treats all the way, which is entirely as it should be, I might add! We also tried and failed I fear, to help our daughter cycle without stabilisers. If anyone has any useful advice or tips on that subject, I would truly love to hear them. And on a separate note, I felt genuinely gutted for David Beckham. He deserved to go to South Africa and I disagree with people who say his absence isn’t a loss. I think it is.

I thought he was Milan’s best player by a mile when he came on at Old Trafford last week. Now I accept he only plays a cameo part these days, and that the Milan team is a fading force in European terms. But Beckham still puts in quality crosses and creates things. England have often faded in the last 20 minutes of big matches and he would have been fantastic for that part of the game, which is why I think he will be sorely missed. So poop. Right I am off to the gym for another interval session. I know. I am a machine and indeed the wind beneath my own wings this week. Toodle pip.

Tags: David Beckham, Milan, Man Utd 4-0 Milan, Mother's Day,

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