Perhaps the Macbeth quote is a little too harsh, but it was definitely a day where sometimes I hated it and at other times I didn’t! Cannock Chase is a medieval hunting ground and my bestie, Sandie1961 fancied a change from running around city streets. As I have relatives who live near by it seemed like a good idea to combine a stay with them and spend time trotting around forest trails. I’ve been to Cannock Chase a few times and found it an eerie place (it has ley lines and there are many reports of supernatural events) and I suffer from ophidiophobia so an announcement that the adders had woken up did nothing to improve my mood.
A requirement to be in the car park an hour before the start would not normally be a problem, but as I parked up it began to rain. Sandie jumped into my car and we decided we would wait a while before getting out. We eventually emerged, had a quick walk about, loo stop and photo with the mascot, dumped our coats at the bag drop and joined in the warm up routine. It had stopped raining and we were ready to go.
The route was on undulating gravel trails. These were busy thoroughfares with multi loop races of varying distances all sharing the same space with the addition of lots of members of the public. No time to admire the surroundings or keep an eye out for ghosts as full concentration on where you were going was required. I did not enjoy the first 2km at all. I was getting use to the surface, keeping out of everyone’s way and feeling tired and achy. I was jeffing my 3:1 (run/walk) ratio and the ups keep occurring on the runs, making it more difficult (in truth the Strava gradient chart shows the 2nd and 3rd km of the circuit to be all up). I was seriously considering if they would allow me to claim the 5k and stop after the first circuit. The route turned back along the other side of the lakes at 3k and went downhill. I started to feel better and to find my rhythm, it is followed by about half a km of twisty steep up before heading down to the finish line. I decided as I had not died or be eaten by zombies, I could do the 2nd circuit. It was still very busy with other runners and members of the public, but at least this time I knew what to expect. I started to ignore the watch and just walk when I needed to, remembering to thank the many lovely cheering marshals as I pass them. I was in the last km, walking up the twisty steep bit when I saw a photographer lift his camera, I groaned as I tried to break into a run, goodness knows what that picture will look like!
I made it across the line, some 8 minutes slower than my 10k PB, but I didn’t care! Job was done, medal was won! (Wooden but quite big). My bestie was waiting for me and the sun was shining. We had a table booked at the local pub and enjoyed a great lunch and chatty catch up. It was a great weekend. She is now planning a run adventure for the Autumn. I wonder where that will take us?
(The quote is Macbeth’s first line in the play. He and Banquo are just about to meet the witches on the blasted heath. They have come from the battle and Macbeth is commenting on the weather being horrid and the outcome of the fighting being successful. Perhaps the line is also foreshadowing the way the drama will play out for him?)
Run Rabbit Trail Mix Challenge
HM training week 15 day 1 - all the fun of the fair
