Well it sure is beautiful out there this morning, like a proper summer morning. Except that the recent rain has left the place really wet & muddy!
I wasn’t sure how long I would run for as I didn’t have meetings first thing, but I didn’t fancy running on the road again so soon, which meant that I was stuck in the local mud. I quickly realised it was wetter than Sunday had been. And there were way more stinging nettles.
I headed out past Ditchling Common and paused to say good morning to Mrs Lew, who probably didn’t recognise me as it’s been such a long time. I then got stuck into Hundred Acre Wood, which was hilarious with its wall to wall mud. The contrast of the sunlight filtering through the otherwise dark canopy made it almost impossible to see and I slid along more on guesswork than any rational ability, mud splatting liberally against my calves.
At the other end I crossed the road by the Royal Oak and went past the gorgeous church – it looks more like a very old and private house, which probably means that it’s very old… and not too C of E. Just past this the path narrows, with barbed wire on one side and with the bushes grown right out on the other side it was quite a squeeze to get down. Added to which there was a three or four inch deep puddle most of the way along.
My runners were already muddy so I just waded in, emerging at the other end to the sound of squelchsteps, which stayed with me for the next mile or so!
After Ote Hall I headed back the direct way, adding more mud to the backs of my legs and made it home in an hour and four minutes, the route being just over 6 miles. Washed kit and muddy runners now drying outside in the sun and the mactop has just expressed an interest in my working outside today. We’ll see.