i’ve been in a rut, and realised that, with entries in a ten miler and a half-marathon in the next few weeks, I needed to get more miles into my legs and my mind. Fortunately @charliecat5 was of a similar opinion and, after last weekend when we found that we had each run similar distances over much the same ground, it seemed to make sense to team up and run together.
My knee was still a little dodgy, and had held me up a little during Saturday’s Bevendean Down #parkrun, but a day off with nothing more than some light strolling round London had restored it. The Cat is tolerance itself when running with slower athletes, and so we set off, down the west bank of the Ouse to Southeast. This section was dry - it isn’t always - but it was clear that the light drizzle would not allow us the fine views of the previous weekend.
At Southeast we joined the course of the Moyleman, and running in the opposite direction, set off, across the C7 and along a farm track. Then we turned, and found ourselves in front of a slope of Eiger-ish steepness. The Cat disappeared up it into the mist, and I followed some way behind. At the top we met the route of the Jog Shop Twenty, which every Sussex runner will be delighted to know will continue, and off we went towards the Yellow Brick Road. Visibility here was minimal, and the mist enriched by thick smoke from a burning pile of something agricultural. A Land Rover charged me, but missed.
At the end of the Yellow Brick Road, we followed the side of the hill, remarking on the splendour of the views on clearer days. We took a downhill towards Kingston, but the Cat asked, with mischief in his eyes, if I fancied a contour run. Since this sounded flat, I agreed, and off we went on sheep-paths. The Cat is, I’m sure, part-goat, and sped off round the side of the hill; I followed, picking my way along the narrow path with care.
Then down to Kingston Ridge, turning into Kingston village, and across fields to Lewes. For me, 11.5 miles and around 250m of elevation. The Cat ran before our rendez-vous, and homewards, making a half-marathon. You may read more of his adventures on Running Commentary.
