It was a Woodingdean day, partly because it was Father’s Day and partly because I had forgotten it was the London to Brighton bike ride. In fact I only realised the latter en route and was then surprised how easy the traffic was… although it was only a little after 9am.
My intention today was to run to Southease, crossing sufficiently into Cliff’s back yard to call it an incursion without running the risk of discovery. That’s nonsense of course… I just figured that if I ran the other 2.5 miles to Cliff’s place, then there would be little chance that I would feel like running back again the same day!
My outbound route took me the straightforward way, leaving Woodingdean on Drove Avenue and following the ridge (and the South Downs Way) all the way around in an arc and down to Rodmell, where I found a new and may I say very open-minded footpath which took me along to the Southease road.
I crossed the bridge quickly (in case of Trolls) and ran as far as the station to prove that I really was there. So far so good, with 6.6-ish miles taking me 67 minutes, 5.9mph.
The return leg was slightly more convoluted and seemingly, considerably more uphill. I started by running up and through the deliciously pretty Telscombe (as opposed to the nearby Telscombe Cliffs, which I don’t personally find so charming). The village sits in a hollow so there’s a very steep hill to climb to get out to the South.
At the top of the road I then turned right with the intention of running around in a little arc to Balsdean Reservoir, but on a whim instead dropped down into the back of Saltdean and ran up past the football ground. It looked like it might be a more direct route… but wasn’t at all and rather than having to run up the short hill above the pumping station, I was committed to the longer, steeper High Hill above Pickers Hill Farm.
I always think of the reservoir being at the bottom of Woodingdean, but it’s a mile from there to the outskirts, all uphill of course.
Only then could I drop down Balsdean Road to get back without too much more effort.
The return leg was 7.5 miles and took me 90 minutes, a poor 5mph, although in my defence I did stop to take 19 photos en route.
So 14.1 miles in 2.40, giving an average speed of 5.3mph.
My fears about traffic were not unfounded and there were queues back to Falmer and onto the A27 going towards Woodingdean and also at least back to Pyecombe heading towards Brighton. Fortunately I was going the other way and whilst it was sluggish in a couple of places, I can’t complain.
Surprisingly my legs have yet to feel tired… although there’s time yet!