February 2010

[Sweder]

Quick update

Having set off from Brazil 48 hours after arriving I managed to miss the Saturday ParkRun but did manage 12.5 miles with Sunday crew over the Sussex downs. More than 70 runners - a record in my time with the JSJers - turned out on a bright, brisk, breezy morning.

Good to see Stevio out after injury. I ran with him most of the way - a sure sign that he was taking things easy - peeling off at the top of the Snake as fatigue started to creep into my legs. I have to say being back on soft turf was a delight; tired as they were my legs rejoiced and I fair flew home over the last three miles to come in at around 1:53, my quickest 'straight snake' in recent times.

Tuesday I dodged a bullet; Ladyrunner's (as it turns out brutal) 17 miler. I was horribly strapped for time, having to complete reports on Dubai and Salvador by noon. It may well have been this deadline that drove me on to BlackCap and back in record time, the first time I've covered the distance in under 40 minutes. Once again I felt fabulous running on soft, yielding ground, legs moving well over the muddy trails, dogs bounding happily by my side. I have to agree with Dorothy; there really is no place like home.

Thursday I attended my first Spin class with Bridgette - more on that here. Suffice to say I've followed EG as a convert to the static bike and plan to make this a regular thing. It'll also come in handy as the traveling continues; most hotels have a static bike (if they have a gym) and if I can sort out a decent ipod playlist - more of a challenge than it perhaps should be - I can bash out a 'sad spin class for one' when running is not an option.

This morning I turned out for ParkRun despite succumbing to SPs siren song last night. We hit his favourite Lewes pub, the Royal Oak, where the voluptuous barmaid (patron?), worried that we might drift away from the near-deserted bar, entertained us with her observations on the content of Heat magazine. Before I knew it my stated quota of 'a couple of pints' had slipped all too easily up to five. The Guinness was flowing freely. Thankfully Captain Tom (by now on Virgin Marys) was intent on driving home and dragged me away (via the Charcoal Grill for a homeward-bound Donner kebab).

Despite all this I got to Hove Park 5 minutes before 'kick-off', though confess at 1 degree C it felt particularly chilly in my shorts and Captain Sensible t-shirt (the only top I have featuring a large amount of red, de rigueur for Valentine's Day ParkRun). LR rocked up to watch, Simon, Stevio and Tracey lined up with what looked like a pretty big field - well over 200. I thrashed my way round, desperate and breathless, to bag an acceptable 22:28, my best time for well over a year.

Out tomorrow with the JSJers once more, planning on fifteen miles. As work kicks in towards the end of February and into March I'm going to struggle to get the miles in; spin may yet set me free.