I think there must be something decidedly odd about my mind.
The short trail of words that links Manila to manilla to envelopes to antelopes via envelops (which is what antelope poo does when you tread in it), is indicative of how my mind views the world given half a chance. Which it often gets.
And I shudder to even think of mentioning philistines, which is what Manilan greenkeepers use to aerate, right?
Anyway, at short notice on Wednesday afternoon I was forced to change my work plans. The conversation went something like ‘fancy coming for a run David?’ followed by my affirmative answer.
And so it was that I met Daren (fresh from the Philippines) and Dai for a run on the Downs.
I often think that the Downs are a contradiction in terms as there generally only appears to be Ups and today was no exception.
In essence, the three of us, accompanied by much hilarity, ran from Dai’s place to the Beacon. The snippet above is indicative of the conversation we were having so you can see that we were in high spirits.
It’s largely uphill all the way to the top and then the way back again is most assuredly uphill… in fact it was on one of the uphill sections on the way back that Dai actually slowed down enough for Daren and I to catch him… before he powered off again!
Although there was a dispute between Garmins, as far as I’m concerned we managed pretty much 7 miles in 1.12. Not superfast, but really good value!
Oh, I almost forgot. At one point Daren was gliding along beside me and in that moment he really did remind me of an antelope… which would be kind of appropriate since he grew up with Nick, the man known in these pages as Bok.