July

[Sweder]

My first date with the 205 this evening - and what an evening. Apocalyptic skies, great pregnant clouds billowing over the western horizon, stroked by the setting sun's firey fingers. The wind blasted across the hills, powerful, constant, apparently determined to hurl me back down the slopes.

I grinned, set my jaw and fought the maelstrom head-on, eyes fixed on the boiling skies ahead. I scampered across the ridge past the Wicker Man. A golden band between heaven and hills glowed on the horizon, rays of sunlight beaming down from behind the brooding black blanket. Andy's right; this is the time to be out running, feeling the Earth cooling beneath your feet like a mighty engine shutting down for the night.

Facing east for the return I watched the clouds disperse to reveal a three-quarter Silver Dollar moon, gleaming in sharp relief against the ink-blue night. What did Andy say? Privileged; yes, that's exactly what I felt as I flew homeward, boistrous wind aiming playful cuffs at my back.

The 205 coughed up the data after a few fumblings on my part, opening a spanking new diary in Sportstracks. Now all I have to do is interpret the data . . . ooh my head hurts!

Distance: 7.94 kms Duration: 0:46:50 Climb: +134/ -116 (metres?)
Pace: 5:54 (Fastest 4:37) Calories: 742