On the way out to catch a movie last night, Kim asked if I was running with anyone today and the answer was a forlorn negative. But on checking my phone having watched the excellent Salt with Angelina Jolie, there was a text from Mark asking if I wanted to run in the morning.
I’m not really sure where I’ve picked it up from, but I seldom like to suggest running with people as I don’t like to trouble them… invite me and I’ll move heaven & earth to be there. Unless it’s any of the races that Mark was suggesting I enter… I’m not sure when they are but they unfortunately coincide badly with other things I need to be doing.
It was grey and blustery when I met Mark at Jack & Jill and I was wondering whether longs might have been a good idea, but once we got going it was okay… partially because the wind was behind us.
Mark regaled me with the story about last weekend’s Seaford Marathon (I was very busy last weekend) and we made good time chatting as we ran out past Ditchling Beacon. At the gate before Blackcap, we turned right and ran mostly downhill all the way to the A27 at Housedean Farm. At 7 miles and 1.06 this was our turning point.
We then turned and ran mostly uphill for about 2 miles back to the gate, before turning directly into the wind for the section along the top back to the cars, which was tough going.
The last uphill is an old favourite of mine so I found some energy to pick up the pace here, but otherwise the speed was, er, shall we say gentle. It actually took us 13 minutes longer to get back, than to get there.
So 14 miles in 2.25, 5.8mph average (6.36mph outbound but only 5.32mph homebound) and highly enjoyable regardless.
As I sit here, trying desperately to come up with a witty little title, my ickle peepers are starting to close and I may just have to have a snooze. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…