I am reading Thor Gotass's Running: a Global History and came across a passage where he described medieval races in which prostitutes would compete, half or completely naked, in order to stimulate trade. Lewes, with its castle and narrow twittens, has both a medieval feel and a Bohemian reputation, I was not sure what to expect when I arrived for the Lewes 10k. I found, to my relief, that my fellow runners were all as decently clothed as is possible in modern running clothing, and there was no hint of impropriety about the event
The race was well summed up by @paulrobertlloyd as '4km slipping in mud, 3km swimming in bogs and 3km trespassing across fields'. I am under-trained at the moment, and had just shaken off an odd sinus affliction, so I did not find it easy, and finished in over an hour, a personal worst for the distance. Nevertheless, I enjoyed it. I ran through a great deal of mud and some boggy fields, which, for someone with my Fenland upbringing, held few terrors. I saw Iford church, a pretty Norman building in the style so common in Sussex. At the end I managed to find something to finish strongly, overtaking a few on the track at the end. And it was a day of light sunshine and agreeably stiff winds.
I think I need to lose some weight. I wonder if an unrequited love affair might do the necessary? More regular training would do no harm.
The results are now out. The Seaford Striders places and times were as follows:
9th 0:38:32 EADE, Matthew
45th 0:43:35 PIPER, Chris
73rd 0:44:56 HOLDEN, David
149th 0:48:37 BULGER, Claire
229th 0:52:20 MCCREATH, Natalie
239th 0:52:57 WEBBER, Robert
243rd 0:53:18 CLINTON, Karen
254th 0:53:50 CHADD, Mark
292nd 0:55:58 BORLEY, Elaine
293rd 0:56:04 DOBSON, Michelle
440th 1:03:35 ROPER, Tom
461st 1:05:04 MCDONALD, Andy
498th 1:12:47 MANN, Sally
499th 1:13:28 JENNINGS, Linda
514th 1:19:11 BROWNING, Ken
526th 2:03:40 YOUNG, Bill
