I took a drive down to my folks this morning and ran down the valley to Rottingdean and the sea, sparkling in the chilly sun. I had already got the stitch chasing down another runner on the way down the hill and had all but run out of puff, but since it’s only a couple of miles I pushed myself on a bit.
By the Ovingdean steps, around the 3-mile mark, I really wanted to turn around but figured that it wouldn’t make much of a post (Ran to Ovingdean, got tired, turned around and ran back. The end) so onwards I continued.
As I ran along the next section along the cliff-top to the Marina I saw five kayaks paddling on the flat calm sea towards Rottingdean. I stopped to wave heartily just in case it was someone I knew from Martlets… I was too far away to be noticed.
I ran on and pushed myself past Penny’s to approximately the mid=point of the Lewes Crescent gardens – I recall that that’s around the 5-mile mark.
I finally started to retrace my steps towards Rottingdean, but this time along the Undercliff Walk…
…and at Ovingdean I caught the kayakers returning to their boats after a much-needed hot chocolate. I ran over to find Nikki, Paula and Martina with two guys I didn’t recognise.
Whilst we had a quick chat one of the guys performed a perfect seal launch into the sea from high up on the single (reminding me of this clip of me a couple of years ago). As his kayak came to a gentle rest about 15 feet out it was clear that something had gone amiss… on account of the fact that he was still standing on the beach!
The girls kindly came to the rescue and he got away without the swim that he probably deserved!
I ran on, energy continuing to escape me but not in a tired legs way… more in a burdened body & mind way… hence I was not looking forward to the run back up the hill from Rottingdean! When I got there however, it was no worse than the rest of the run had been… though no better either, alas!
So 10.3 miles in 1.46, average 5.8mph including stopping for the mid-run chat.
I collapsed in an uncharacteristic heap at my folks’ and again when I got home and I’m only just starting to recover now… with Jackson Browne, Running on Empty, BLASTING out into an otherwise empty house! Now THAT’s a record that should be on Stuppsy’s Desert Island Running Discs!