A hilly start to the day 😊

[Frenc]

This run was for HeavyFoot who asked me a while ago had I ever run up a hill near me called St. Catherine’s Hill. Well, this morning I did. Now, in my mind, I was going to glide up it like a gazelle, there would be no effort involved, and I’d reach the top like Rocky and carry on running around the top with ease. Ha ha! Had to walk the last 10 steps, I got jumped on by a devil dog who nearly knocked me over, and it’s the warmest run I’ve had all year 🥵🥵🥵. It was a challenge! The run around the top was actually pretty nice, there’s an Iron Age maze at the top that I had quite good fun running around, and the views are stunning - Winchester Cathedral on one side, and views to the South Downs on the other. If you ignore the M3 🤣 it’s pretty special.

What made it extra lovely was that dog number two I encountered was a cocker spaniel puppy who waggled up to me for cuddles and he got them, much nicer than the other beast of doom I’d encountered earlier.

So thank you Heavyfoot for reminding me what I have on my own doorstep, even if I did have to walk back down because I didn’t trust my legs! 8k in all.

Have a smashing day all! 😊😊😊

[linda9389 Administrator Marathon]

Sounds lovely ... well ... ish ...😀 Hope the legs are recovered 👍

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to linda9389]

Ah thank you! It was definitely a run of two halves. The little spaniel was so sweet though, I wanted to snatch it up and run home with it 😊.

[Pinkpig20 10 Miles in reply to Frenc]

I saw a really young duckling when I was walking yesterday evening & I was tempted to try and pick it up and take it home! Very cute, but wouldn’t be small for long & needed it’s mother! 😀🐤

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Pinkpig20]

Yes they are so cute! 😊

[HeavyFoot Half Marathon]

My pleasure, Frenc. I have memories of dragging my young children up there. 25 years ago?

There were two ways up: hard and harder. My kids were most unimpressed by the maze at the top. Lame, they said. View? Shview

So, well done. It sounds wonderful.

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to HeavyFoot]

lol thank you! I contemplated going down the harder way but it’s so slippery underfoot with loose stones and chalk - I honestly might have twisted an ankle or something. Ah, I just about remember that age - when the most beautiful view in the world is SO BORING! 🤣

[sparky66 Half Marathon]

You RAN up all those steps!!!! 🪜🏃‍♀️Wow .. just wow..🤩

You really do have some wonderful places to Run Frenc 😊

Well done, that must have been a tough 8K ..but so strengthening 💪

I also ran 8K Monday... In the pouring rain 🌧️

Hope your legs have recovered and you're feeling confident for your upcoming HM 🙏👍

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to sparky66]

Thank you Sparky! My legs were very wobbly once I reached the top - need more practice 🤣. The HM will be either this Sunday or next Sunday, I need to mentally get my head round it again - we shall see! Well done on your wet 8k - the weather certainly can’t make its mind up at the moment can it ☔️. 😊😊😊

[Cmoi Marathon]

Guess who would happily run up there as long as she didn't have to use the steps and could run on the grass?! 😉

[Couchpotato2 Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

definitely the second thing I looked at after the steps... the grass next to it.

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Couchpotato2]

It was nice and bouncy! The flat bit at the top was anyway 🤣.

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

Ah but you are super rufty tufty Cmoi ! It’s funny you should say that though as I am not used to running up steps! It felt so awkward. Perhaps I will try the grass next time. It was nice and bouncy (and much flatter) to run around at the top though 😊.

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Frenc]

That looks like a glorious place to run Frenc , well done and thanks for the photos.

Most steps are a series of trip hazards as they're totally unsuited to my teeny-weeny legs; the grass would be much safer for me!

Btw do you happen to know the elevation gain over that part please? Googling suggests that the climb is 70m but it doesn't give the distance.

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Cmoi]

I’m not super tall and my legs aren’t very long either so I hear you! According to Strava it is 0.2k and a 10.5% incline, which for me is steep 😊.

Hill

[Cmoi Marathon in reply to Frenc]

Thank you thank you thank you Frenc ! Yes, I think you can justifiably claim that as a steep section! 👍😀

[Couchpotato2 Marathon]

WOW that looks bloody hard. Well done and well I'm lost for words. Wow

[Frenc Half Marathon in reply to Couchpotato2]

Ha ha yes it was! I was doubled up wheezing at the top 🤣.