It was not a bad week, all things considered. I recorded a respectable 18 miles, led a hard intervals session with the Seaford Striders on Wednesday, ran a solitary dark evening run round Seaford on Friday, and then on Sunday completed a double of a Twitten run and the January East Sussex Cross Country League race, starting beside Lewes prison and heading up to the top of Blackcap. And sponsorship money for the Brighton Half, to support the BSUH charity, is starting to roll in.
Left to right: I clutch a lamppost for support halfway round the Twitten run (photo David Stacey); approaching the Blackcap 5 turning point (photo Duncan Rawson), on the home stretch (photo Rob Read). Why the leg of my shorts should be coquettishly hitched up, I cannot say.
The Twitten run was a duet between me and David Stacey, who had already run it once that morning, at 8 a.m, a special early run to accommodate those marshalling the cross country. Then, after a swift espresso, I jogged up to the car park, changed into my trail shoes, and shed a layer. Though it had been cold first thing, the Twitten run and the sun had warmed me up. We assembled by the side of the prison, where the first ever Moyleman started, before it moved to Landport Bottom. Off we went, sent on a short downhill stretch to spread us out a little before the field came to a narrow section. I had, as the organisers had requested, been realistic, so was well to the back of the pack. Then we ran up to Jill’s Pond and beyond, climbing steadily nearly all the way. At the turning point stood Duncan Rawson, this year’s Moyleman Race Director, and a Lewes AC flag. I was reminded of the 'youth who bore, 'mid snow and ice, A banner with the strange device, Excelsior!’ We exchanged genialities, and then I headed up to the highest point, and then down to where Rob Read, also of the Moyleman collective, also marshalled. Much of this route was the same as the Lewes Downland Ten, until about a mile before the end, when we turned back towards Jill’s Pond and the finish. It was hard work and, curiously, at around three and a half miles, I was seized by raging hunger. It had been a long time since breakfast. I knew I must be the last, or at best penultimate runner, and then Duncan passed me, with an easy lope, though he was carrying the flag and a rucsac. In the event I was the last of 291 runners, but several of my Seaford Strider comrades had stayed to cheer me in. A beautiful race, on a bright morning, the hills touched with mist here and there.
Total mileage this week: 18.31 miles
Six weeks till the Brighton Half. Running for the BSUH Charity: sponsor me
