April Fuel

[Sweder]

It’s been a gentle week in my running world. Quiet too, my post-FLM voice only returning to active service on Friday. Two leisurely plods on my usual Blackcap trek, a rain-free round of golf on Friday and, yesterday, a return to the foul torture of the BHTT 5K, for the record a 3 second PB. I’ve already signed up as a course marshal – all members are encourage to do this three times a year to keep membership free – so I can look forward to an even better day next Saturday

I’ve also signed up for the Three Forts Half on May 5th. This is a tough offroad number, so with that in mind, and prompted by a post-BHTT discussion I decided to throw in a gentle Snake today. I was joined by Remy and Jill, winding up for the Copenhagen marathon, Cynthia, Marion, Sonja and Julie, a fellow BHTTer returning to running after injury. Despite the doom and gloom merchants at BBC Weather we were treated to a stunning April morning. High, thin cloud, swept away on a stiff cool breeze, strengthening sun warming our sweat-jewelled faces on the eastward cliff top lope. We chatted comfortably, swapping tales from London, revelling in a fine spring day.

As we set off from our stop at the Saltdean loos we spied a whippet-framed runner dropping down the slope behind us at pace. It turned out to be Glenn, a fellow I’d run with before. Glenn has notched a couple of impressive races on his narrow belt. The one that has me shaking my head is the Marathon Des Sables, a six-day, 151-mile endurance race across the Sahara desert. He performed ‘better than expected’, covering the ‘long day’ – the equivalent of back-to-back marathons – in a shade over nine hours. Blimey.

He told me about the race as we slugged up Telscombe Tye, wind off the right (good news; it would be shoving us up the Snake), Remy alongside to share the stories. We drank them down as if they were rare running fuel, which I suppose in a way they were. Marion and Cynthia (horribly fresh after nailing her FLM run last Sunday) bade us farewell at the summit, heading for the Famous Residences. Julie joined us as we turned west along the ridge. Her story is, in my book, no less impressive. An experienced distance runner Julie ran with Sam Lambourne back in the day when he was in full un-injured flow. She told us about their regular Wednesday lunchtime run that included the Big W, Castle Hill and the Snake. That’s some lunchtime session! She hit her PB at the FLM in 1992, coming home in 2:58 for a top 60 finish. I shook my head (again!), laughing at the company I was trying to keep today.

After a swifter-than -expected ascent of the Serpent, the helpful wind drawing most of her venom, Jill and the Remster hit the double-back towards Rottingdean, Glenn in tow. Julie and I took the straight path home, past the Racecourse and down through East Brighton Park. Despite early concerns Julie covered the distance with ease, chatting comfortably all the way. 12.8 miles in 2:02, a respectable effort for both of us. Mac’s provided the venue for coffee, sarnies and yet more running banter. Remy and Jill joined us, sun/ wind-blasted grinning, endorphined-up faces shining bright amongst the swarthy, hung-over mid-morning fry-up guzzlers.

Easily my most enjoyable outing of the year so far. Funny how running (life) has a way of renewing one’s enthusiasm when you least expect it.