Thus concludes the eighth week of a sixteen week training programme. So far, so good. Apart from the knee injury, things have generally gone well. What was Norman Douglas talking about when he wrote South Wind? Today the wind blew from the south, but as cold as any north-easterly, bearing freezing rain. I wondered what to wear, and though I had a long-sleeved top under a waterproof running jacket, I could have done with an extra layer.
It was so unpleasant that, for all my time on the tops of the downs, I saw but one other person, a rambler. The car parks at Bo Peep and Firle Bostal, usually crammed with people taking dogs and children for walks along the top of the escarpment, were deserted. But the knee held out; the only time it hurt was when I ran into the wind and rain. My gloves were worse than useless, and my hands were so cold that I made a hash of opening a gel at mile 9 or thereabouts. I ended up with sticky energy gel all over me, but none in my mouth. In summer this is unpleasant and hazardous, as it attracts wasps, but in winter, there is a particular discomfort in being coated in sticky stuff in freezing temperatures, that I had not experienced before.
I missed the Janathon lunch yesterday; my swimming lesson, which I shan't bore you with, prevented me from getting to London in time. I was pleased to see that Jogblog was properly honoured for organising it all: see Helsieboo's blog for an account.
There's still some uncertainty about a half-marathon in the training period. The Steyning Stinger is full.
Miles this week: 30.75
8 weeks till the Brighton Marathon
Janathon
