the Candleford Canter . .

 . . took place at the Oxfordshire Village of Fringford on Sunday. It's a Ladies only 10k, staged by the friendly people at Alchester Running Club (based in Bicester) that's growing year on year, with over 200 entries this year for the first time.

The quality's improving too . . a clubmate of mine pointed out that in 2006 her time of 47.22 put her in 15th position, this year and just 11 seconds slower, and she's in 34th place . .

This year had the added attraction of being on Halloween and the marshals all joined in with the theme, the kilometre markers were all hollowed out pumpkins, and the Cake was to die for!!

The rain which began as we waited for the start and continued throughout most of the race didn't dampen anybody's spirits. I found a pleasant spot amongst some beautiful autumn colours, towards the bottom of a downhill slope in the last kilometre, and waited for the runners to pass me by . .