Actually, I probably could have got away with wearing shorts today, but I decided to run from my folks house so I had to guess the temperature. At home it was decidedly chilly in the shade, but down near the coast the sun had made it a pretty warm day… I wore two layers just in case.
It was Remembrance Sunday and my Dad had my Grandfather’s medals, along with those of his siblings, from the various conflicts in the early twentieth century. It gives me pause for thought that my Grandfather, his brothers and a good proportion of the young men of Britain were trooping off to war a hundred years ago… many not to return. It also amazes me that my grandfather grew up with horses & carts and was in the cavalry, yet lived to see men on the moon.
I ran down the track that leads from the Primary School that I attended to Ovingdean and then on down into Rottingdean. The people I passed were all so friendly, smiling and saying hello as I passed. I put this down to the sunny day… people often say hi, but not always in a happy way.
I was surprised how sprightly I felt despite not having run for three weeks, but then it was all downhill!
At Rottingdean I turned right and headed along the Undercliff Walk and was soon feeling tired by the flatness… exacerbated by the climb up the steps to road level at Ovingdean. Running up Ovingdean valley was particularly hard work, maybe because its a long section of pavement and the vague gradient is against you.
I paused at the church to pay my respects to an old friend, before chugging back up the hill to the Woodingdean path. This super-steep hill was actually easier than the flatter stretch… maybe because it feels as if you’re getting somewhere!
As I ran up the path so the sun disappeared behind a bank of cloud and the temperature dropped… two layers was a good idea after all!
The 5.8ish miles took me about 65 minutes, including my pause at Ovingdean Church… 5.35 mph average.
I was delighted to find that my sister had dropped in for lunch… though having caught up over a cup of tea, I left the four of them to eat.