August 2009

[Sweder]

No running since last Sunday, although I'm claiming fifty holes of golf - thirty-six of them in one day - as cross-training. It was certainly closer to some kind of Tourettes-driven cross-country than the Gentleman's game, such is the paucity of my current stick-swinging form :o

Excellent outing this morning under high cloud and a partly-filtered sun. A delicious, teasing sea breeze cooled our jets but it was still plenty warm enough for light vest and shorts. The Quicks - Stevio, Ade, Gillybean et al, set off at a rare pace, racing off across the seaside turf to lead us out of East Brighton and on to Saltdean. Jules, fresh from her camping adventures, joined we lesser mortals at the back, as did Janet (after a blistering start chirping with Stevio) and a few newbies. Concern was expressed at the unexpected absence of Steepler. I have to say the lack of chippy North-East vernacular was quite disconcerting, even if it made for a strangely peaceful session.

Having pfaffed about like a befuddled tart for much of the morning I managed to leave late, eschewing the (temporarily) mislaid barefoot skins for the shamelessly available scarlet Mizunos. My associates saw this as an admission of defeat (or 'de feet' if you can stand the dreadful pun) re: the barefoot experiment but it really isn't. I'll have to alternate as the longer runs planned for later this autumn will be over hostile terrain, plus I have some hard-top miles planned to prepare for Almeria and Connemara. I doubt my dainty plates, albethey hardened by miles of barefoot plodding, will be up to the task.

The chat was easy and amiable as we loped eastward. I hadn't seen Julie since Bewl and was surprised to learn she was still suffering the after-effects of the South Downs Relay. Cam had confessed a similar reaction last week.
Note to self: avoid getting drafted for SDR duty next year ...

Twelve rollercoaster grassy kilometres banked in a shade over sixty-nine minutes. Happy enough with that I'll continue this steady leg-strengthening lung expansion until my travel season - from now until mid-November - closes and I can get into some serious mileage.