Meon Valley Plod 2007

It was the usual weather for the Meon Valley Plod, one minute heavy rain, the next bathed in sunshine. The course had been remarkable firm the previous weekend, but several days of rain before the event ensured that the mud was back with a vengeance. I suspect that some of the descents where rather interesting esp down Old Winchester hill. Their was rather a lot of you this year, it was just as well I had brought  two new 1 GB Compact flash cards the month before.

I was at 2 locations this year,

The first location was at Teglease down. The race route actually followed the fence up the side of the hill. So I thought I would locate my self by the fence, so you all had to  passed me on my right hand side, before swinging around the brow of the hill. That was the plan, unfortunately all runners on seeing me decided to run pass me on the left hand side. As I moved to compensate, runners began to move further again to my left. After several iterations of this I gave up and headed down to the gate. So that's why their are pictures of some people on the hill, and others down by the gate.

To see pictures taken at Teglease down click on this link Teglease down Photos

The second location was the top of Butser hill. It was my intention to actually use a spot that was located at the end of the  long drag up to the top of  Butser hill. When I arrived it was raining rather heavily, so had to seek a more sheltered location. The sheltered location was not for my benefit but for the sake of the camera  - electronics and plenty of water do not get on to well together. The heavy rain is very visible in the first few shoots

To see pictures taken at the top of Butser, click on this link Butser Photos

Many people have asked, how do I pick the locations? ... It's quite simple actually ... I go out and do a survey run of the course.  Any parts of the course I find extremely hard work  or "interesting" (translation : nearly ended up on my backside,  lost control of forward motion ending in hedge/tree/ditch etc) are considered. And to answer another question, yes I do run, but only do one or 2 events a year (did the Stanstead slog last year - well worth a punt if you are free in September).

If you would like a FREE full size digital copy of the image, e-mail the image number to alandunkdenmead@aol.com, or use the request image link at the bottom of each photo. I will try respond to all request's within 48hrs. If I don't respond within 24hrs please allow a few more days before requesting the image again just in case I'm away.  If I have still not responded, please try using a different e-mail account as your e-mail/my e-mail response could have been zapped by a spam filter some where in the e-mail chain.

All images can be freely used for personal use, running club websites and running club newsletter's etc. The copy write notice is only their  to deter anyone from trying to sell my images commercially.

Alan Dunk, Denmead, Feb 2007

page last updated 18 Sep 2008