One ford, two jelly babies, three hou... - Fun Beyond 10K & ...

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One ford, two jelly babies, three hours, four hundred m elevation, 13.1 miles!

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathon
โ€ข34 Replies

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!

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Magellan profile image
Magellan
Marathon
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34 Replies
โ€ข
AndrewJR75 profile image
AndrewJR75Half Marathon

Sounds like a great and eventful run. Well done ๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ I think I started with I could walk 500 miles! I think I would have skipped it if it came on 18k ๐Ÿ˜‚

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toAndrewJR75

I would have started with the Proclaimers too, except I donโ€™t know how to remove the โ€œshuffleโ€ feature from my Spotify account ๐Ÿคญ

Stephen_UK profile image
Stephen_UKHalf Marathon

A superb report. Very well done. Sounds like a good run.

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toStephen_UK

Thank you!

CBDB profile image
CBDB

Big congrats! ๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽŠ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿฅณ Woohooo ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ™Œ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿพ (especially because of all animal encounters) ๐Ÿ•๐ŸฆŒ๐Ÿ„๐Ÿฎ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿฝ

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toCBDB

Thanks! I also saw two pheasants. Until this year Iโ€™ve only ever seen them in fields or on country lanes, this year Iโ€™ve seen them in villages and the edges of the town. Something to do with Covid and people not being able to shoot them, maybe? Theyโ€™re pretty, I do like to see them.

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon

Love it!!! Made me laugh a lot. It's funny how fitting lyrics can be isn't it. Riding on a Donkey came on at 13k for me and was an absolute boon! I needed it in that sombre, dark moment!!! Congratulations on another HM to add to your collection.

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply tolinda9389

It was nice to have a mix of songs I knew and new songs, and to finally listen properly to the lyrics of some of the ones I only vaguely knew. I love modern technology, I know people in the 80s and 90s used walkmans, but Spotify and phones/watches that store music are a whole world of amazingness.

Deals1 profile image
Deals1Metric Marathon

Great run and love the report!! I felt like I was there too.. Excellent ๐Ÿ‘Œ

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toDeals1

Thanks!

aliboo70 profile image
aliboo70Half Marathon

What a great post! Congratulations!๐Ÿ˜ƒx

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toaliboo70

Thank you!

Wow, incredible recall of a brilliant run Magellan, a great read but sorry about the dog scare, happens far too often for me too ๐Ÿ˜  I must have a go at the backward walking, anything to nurse those knees along ๐Ÿ˜€

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply to

I saw Bill Bailey on QI the other day, he said he could run faster backwards than forwards, which sounded mental but he demonstrated it. It got me wondering about the practical applications!

โ€ข in reply toMagellan

๐Ÿคฃ Iโ€™m definitely going to have to try it now ๐Ÿ˜ƒ

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon

Wonderful post and congratulations! We have deer nearby also but Iโ€™ve never thought to collect a shed antler. Iโ€™m going to investigate this idea also!

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toDecker

It turns out Roe deer shed in November December so there might possibly be a few about now, and Fallow deer (and Reds, which we donโ€™t get here) shed in April or May. My husband has pointed out that since I run without my glasses the chances of me spotting an antler amongst all the bits of dead tree on the forest are minimal. I might try run it with my glasses on....

linda9389 profile image
linda9389AdministratorMarathon

Don't forget to pop your time in the results post!

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply tolinda9389

I totally had forgotten, thanks for pointing that out ๐Ÿค—

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathon

I love your report! ๐Ÿ˜ƒ. Brill stuff ๐Ÿ˜. I walk backwards to stretch out my calves, something I noticed when walking the glacially slow pug. Feels so good ๐Ÿ™‚

For me, a long run always has Led Zep in it ๐ŸŽถ๐ŸŽต. They get me up the long hills ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply tomisswobble

Thanks!

I wish Iโ€™d discovered backwards walking sooner. Iโ€™m wondering how sensible (or not) it would be to try running backwards....

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathonโ€ข in reply toMagellan

Walkingโ€™ll do me ๐Ÿ˜ƒ. I get the leg stretch Iโ€™m after.

Cantstopmenow profile image
CantstopmenowHalf Marathon

Great run and race report. It sounds like ir was a real adventure. ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐ŸŽ‰๐ŸŽ‰

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toCantstopmenow

It was, a bit, what with the trails and ford and the new route. It wasnโ€™t a trail run, not enough stiles and insufficient mud, but it had something of that feel to it at times. ๐Ÿ˜€

Cantstopmenow profile image
CantstopmenowHalf Marathonโ€ข in reply toMagellan

๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜€ I think our runs are very different - yours do sound like great fun ๐Ÿ˜€

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathonโ€ข in reply toMagellan

I walked for a bit last night after dinner, and took to a regular running route. Theyโ€™d removed a stile! Iโ€™ve been negotiating the damned thing for years, whilst running and with the dogs, where itโ€™s always a rigmarole as one wants to go under while one wants to go over but is hesitant ๐Ÿ™‚

I feel annoyed itโ€™s gone ๐Ÿ˜. If it wasnโ€™t necessary how come itโ€™s been there since the dawn of time ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ Itโ€™s wide enough for motorcycles to get through ๐Ÿ˜

PurpleFish59 profile image
PurpleFish59

Wow, I thought my run had hills, but barely even a mole hill compared to yours! Amazing work well done!

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toPurpleFish59

Itโ€™s why my early runs often had long stretches where my pace was around 13 mins per km๐Ÿ˜…

Decker profile image
DeckerUltramarathon

Fantastic report and huge congrats to you for managing an HM with so much elevation! Well done!

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toDecker

Thanks! I plan to run with my sister in London next month, just up and down the river side and not a hill in sight!

misswobble profile image
misswobbleMarathonโ€ข in reply toMagellan

Youโ€™ll be like lightning ๐Ÿ˜ƒโšก๏ธ

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply tomisswobble

If lightning can be short and dumpy in purple shoes, thatโ€™ll be me ๐Ÿ˜€

Run46 profile image
Run46Half Marathon

Very well done Magellan, sounds like a pretty eventful run...and 400 meters of elevation, wow, extra congrats for that ๐ŸŽ‰๐Ÿ†๐Ÿ‘

Magellan profile image
MagellanMarathonโ€ข in reply toRun46

Thank you!

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