Dragged my horribly inflated belly off to the BHTT at Hove Park for a depressingly slow jog around the circuit. I had hoped to keep up with MSilv - herself just off the back of completing the Loch Ness marathon so 'taking it easy' - but even that was to prove beyond me. Last night's unwise Doner Kebab (I know I know, blame it on the Harvey's and bloody Captain Tom) sat, solid and immovable, hanging off my waistline like some sort of internal sandbag. At least the beer had the good grace to leave as I started to warm up, pouring out of me just like water from a barrel full of bullet-holes. Ugly stuff - horrible, horrible.
Gillybean (marsahlling) offered kind encouragement as I shuffled by. It was well-meant but did nothing for my self esteem, itself dragging along behind like a child after a good scolding. Still, I did it and under 25 minutes to boot. Three full minutes off my PB but under the circumstances I'm proud of myself for getting round. Very round. Congrats to Simon on bagging a stunning sub-20 minute PB and to MSilv who, spurred on by the threat of having to run next to a sweaty barrel, pouched a PB of her own.
Garmin data below, published mainly to show myself where the bottom of the barrel is. I'll need to visit this post next time I'm tempted.
Post run, after a convivial coffee with Simon, Gillybean, Msilv and Stevio I nipped round to see Moyleman. He's in good spirits having undergone round one of a series of impossibly tough treatments. He's been seeing my favorite Warlock Annie and she's working her magic, helping MM to get a decent night's sleep, essential for storing up energy for the fight ahead. Tina and Chris's Mum are doing great work keeping him well fed and a stream of callers and visitors are making sure there's rarely a dull moment.
I told him about my brush with the Scales of Awful Truth and he laughed.
'Could use some of that meself' he grinned, before delivering a dagger to the well-protected heart of his running partner of the last two years.
'So, what are you now, 16 stone?'
Cheeky b@st@rd!
Time, rest, good food and the love of friends and family are what's needed.
I've met very few people with his fight, sense of focus and quiet determination, honed over hundreds of miles of hard hill running in the foulest conditions.
I know we'll be seeing a lot more of the Mighty Moyle.
The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph
