Birmingham's second half marathon will be on Sunday 11th October, if there are any stoats out there that are interested.

Alice and I have entered, and it would be cool to have some company on the day.

Just thought I'd post to see if anyone wanted to. It would be a great event to give yourself a goal to work towards over the Summer: keep you focused, keep your weight down, get you ready for those e8 projects that I'm sure everyone is working towards.

Details are at: http://www.birminghamhalfmarathon.com/

Entry costs £21 for students.

On runners:

The Stoaticus runnicus, commonly known as the Running Stoat, is a curious branch of the Stoaticus genus. The Running Stoat is so named because of its apparent obsession with moving as fast as possible over long distances using only its hind legs, which have developed thick cushioned soles to help cope with the strain this produces on its paws. This bizzare behaviour has baffled stoatologists since the discovery of the species in 1982, at about tea-time, as it offers no discernible advantage when hunting the Stoaticus' favored prey: the bizarre-looking Wayfairers spp., which tend to cower in terror on high up and hard-to-reach mountain ledges upon seeing the advancing stoat (hence the development of the dominant Stoaticus species, the Stoaticus climberii).

The closest relation of the S. runnicus is the S. alpinismo, which shares alot of the runnicus' masochistic tendencies and obsession with covering pointlessly long distances. It is hypothesised by many eminent Sotatologists that the runnicus and the alpinismo are descendant from the dominant climberii species, as both runnicus and alpinismo are occasionally seen rock climbing, an activity many believed to be exclusive to the climberii species until recently. This is further supported by the seemingly out-of-place mews of the runnicus, which seem to refer to rock climbing: "I'm glad I'm not at a belay in this weather!" and "f***ing ramblers!" This evidence is controversial, however, as the runnicus seems to use these mews at random and sometimes inappropriate moments and may have simply been learned parrot-fashion from members of the climberii species, among whom the runnicus is normally accepted although they are sometimes picked on by dominant members of the pack due to the runnicus' limited numbers.

Despite their peculiarities, the runnicus seems to be an established member of the Stoaticus genus and shows no signs of population decline, unlike the presumed extinct Stoaticus cavernous, whose cave-faring tendencies seem to have driven the species population into sharp decline.

Haha thats awesome

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Developing Nicely.

may be up for it, remind me as the summer goes on!

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VP '08-'09

It's the Stanage weekend! otherwise I would also be joining you

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Social Sec

I will be staggering to a crag still a bit tipsy from the latest version of meanie! Can't believe you guys are missing Stanage again!!

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Unlevel-headed member of team Gadd-vey

Cheif Scout

i know! Gay, eh?.. Didn't even think of stanage till the entry form was in. Sorry social secs.

no worries, but you will be greatly missed

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Social Sec

Neil, your clearly a well respected Sotatologist, so here is my question: What is the actual name of the sub-species of Stoat which runs, climbs, and does alpine routes?
I'm sure they are a rare breed, but they must exist don't they?
The Wayfairers can be seen in may ares of the world. I came across several on the Conville course this summer, who had apparently come from a strange place called Warwick University.

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"I'm not mad, I just see things differently"
No longer VP : But still Vaguely Philippino
FYI: Actions speak louder than wombats

Can you still sign up for this? I have a big plan to run the marathon in paris next april so should probably start with something half then lengh

yup, go to birminghamhalfmarathon.com there are also a number of other local ones going on in october if you don't want to miss stanage : )

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Mountain sec .... once upon a time

Haha. Jolly amusing Neil, jolly good. Although I think Stoaticus runnicus should be re-classified as Stoaticus chumpus. And you also forgot Stoaticus urbanis, people like me and laurence, no climbing or running, just hitching rides in cars that have been left unlocked. Like foxes they've adapted well to cities, scavenging around bins and being fed by idiots who think they're cute, until their baby gets mauled to death. Anyway, no half-marathoning for me I'm afraid. Toodle pip.

Don't know if this might be of interest:
http://www.sport.bham.ac.uk/events/2009 ... inar.shtml