I had a lovely run today, and thank you to the organisers. I loved the playlist.
Off I went, spare socks and water pouch in my running pack, and my phone too because I was trying a new route and expected to need to check directions. I ran a loop around the town, hoping I could make a HM distance that way.
First, through the golf course. "I'm still standing..." Yes Elton, and we've been going ten minutes so that's not much to sing about. Come back in a couple of hours.
Then up the straightest road in the town, that turns into a potholed mud track part-way along. It's not at all bad today, thank you weather and wind. "Right about now, the funk soul brother..." This is what they play at the Amex before the game. I pretend I'm running out to play for the Albion. The crowd goes wild!
A new bit next, very steep down then up. I've discovered steep uphills go quicker if I watch my feet. I couldn't have run this bit eight months ago. Queen Bey is crazy in love, and the sun is shining.
Through the sports ground, past the orange plastic netting that will soon be taken off the outdoor gym (yay!) And next I must have run down to the roundabout at the top end of town, though I have no memory of it. "
Roundabout at the end of Green Lane. "...to distant lands..." I suppose I could head up the A26, I'd get to Kent? Maybe not. "...through the ages -" no, Stranglers, this is 2021! Me feeling like a long run takes ages is sooo 2020, I can do HMs now! " - she's heading west..." well yes, that's because I didn't go up the A26.
Next is Palesgate Lane. Wave at the riders on dray horses. I haven't seen a dray horse in a while. Cyclists coming up as I run down. I have run up Palesgate Lane, but I don't think I could find a low enough gear to cycle it. I've never run down it before, and my knee gives a bit of a twinge. I've been running an hour, so I take a jeffing break. A few months ago I used to have to jeff up hills, now I jeff down the steep bits to save my knees. Turns out even this isn't enough, and I spend 30 seconds walking backwards.
I've walked the ford at the bottom of the lane in summer when it's been a trickle, but it can be a bit dicey in winter and spring. Today though it was fine, the water was shallow enough that I could see the road surface so I had no worries taking my shoes off and walking in my socks. On the other side, change my socks. I find a couple of jelly babies next to the clean socks. I wonder how long they've been there? Red flavoured. Yummy. Off I go, round the back of the garden centre.
"... riding on a donkey". Oh Fisherman's Friends, you needed to be earlier in the shuffle. You should have been there for the horse riders.
I'm back on the southern edge of town, where I know the countryside well, so I can go onto trails now to make my loop a bit longer. " First things first..." Another Brighton song! She shoots, she scores! The cows stare at me, but I don't think they're impressed.
"We're on a road to nowhere..." This road goes to Uckfield. I'll say no more.
Past the allotments. "Baby we were bo-orn to run". I'm not going to fit another 8k in between here and home, where will I go to extend the run?
Deer! I've seen them before in this field, but only at twilight. My dad had an antler he found while running. I'd love an antler. Mental note - find out when deer shed antlers and do trail runs that month.
I'm now thinking ahead to every downhill stretch, trying to work out how many of them are steep and will kill my knees. I'm still way above my home, so there's bound to be some.
On the nature reserve a large dog charges me and freaks me out. I am saying, "Oh god, oh god..." and clearly scared. The dog runs back to its owner, who pats it on the head and lets it charge me again. Apparently it's only playing and doesn't bite, which is what I've heard seconds before getting bitten on multiple occasions. The next two dogs are well behaved, and the fourth is on a leash. "I would walk 500 miles..." Where would I be if I did? The Scilly Isles with very wet feet, perhaps. North of Hadrian's Wall. Holland? Holland is flat. That does sound appealing.
At Stone Cross I have to walk backwards again. There's nobody around, I can afford to look stupid. Back at the golf course, with 3km still to go. The rec? That will involve the only flat road in town. The rec it is. Boys are kicking a ball, jumpers for goalposts, and some girls are playing badminton. It's spring!
The home stretch. I've planned well, I'm going to be within forty metres of a HM when I get to my house, so I'll just trot along to the oak tree and turn around. Fifty metres from home my hydration pack runs out. I'll have to pop back to get more water, hahaha. That bass guitar means Led Zeppelin are here, do I have to stop running?
I'm done. My fourth HM, by far my slowest, but the first where I have been pain-free by the afternoon. Walking backwards down the super-steep bits did the trick!
10 miles done ✅
A heron, a kestrel, 15k and a blister
bringing my average pace up faster by pushing harder
Running Nerd? 🤣
