April 2012

[Sweder]

The time has come for all good chickens to roost in aid of the party.

To mix things up a little I decided to use Sunday - my last opportunity for a long-ish run before the 15th - to try a little mental test. I'm impressed with the likes of Dan (and SP before him) to run repetitive loops that include passing, or even stopping off at, home. I figured this would be helpful in terms of teasing the mind, testing my resolve. If I ran out and back loops to include stopping off at - in fact entering - my home could I resist the temptation to cut things short?

Some familiar discomfort in my right calf pursuaded me to err on the shorter side of my target distance, around fifteen miles. Three trips to Blackcap and back would deliver that nicely. It would also allow me to run the first loop with the hounds, killing the proverbial two birds (hopefully one a ready-to-roost fowl). With perfect conditions - spring sunshine, moderate breeze, dry underfoot - I set off. In a nutshell it all went rather well. I confess to using 'route shuffle' on the return legs - easy first then moderate, leaving the hardest route home for last - but otherwise I acheived the desired feelings of 'oh no not this bit again'. The mental challenge of popping into the house to take a swig of water was certainly apparent but I felt it stoked rather than dampened my enthusiasm. I had to stop myself heading out for round four as it turned out, exactly what I'd secretly hoped for but not dared to expect.

The calf remains sore today but I plan to do very little with it aside from lay it on top of the opposing shin in repose between now and race day. Less will have to be more once again.

In football news I had a most enjoyable weekend.
The Rooks hosted play-off rivals Hendon in what turned out to be a dramatic affair. Listless and clueless Lewes deservedly trailed as half time approached when during a rare forray into the Hendon half they managed to get the ball in the nett. The lines official on our side of the field, a good ten yards behind the 'line of skirmish', flagged wildly for god-knows-what and the leveller was chalked off.

Stung by this affrontary the home side unleashed hell in six glorious post-break minutes, banging in three goals as much with their force of will as with heads and boots. Hendon reeled and it took until injury time for them to muster a second, a belter blasted left-footed by their skipper. Lewes held on for the win, sending the Dripping Pan faithful into delerium. Match report from our scribe-in-residence @TheBallIsRound (Stuart Fuller).

Yesterday, after a hurried shower and a trip to the recycling centre, I donned the feathers to cover Lewes Ladies v Cambridge United in our last home league match of the current campaign. Having dropped only two points all season the girls are keen to remain unbeaten, 'Invincibles' if you will. Despite a strangely subdued performance they saw off the light blues 3-1 before receiving the impressively large league trophy from the Mayor. I broke my Harveys embargo to toast the team, sneaking off as the drinks really started to flow. Steely-eyed manager Jacquie Agnew looked on, thoughts turned already to the Cup Final on the 18th v Eastbourne Town and the last league match four days later away to Luton. I'll be there for both.

With promotion assured we can look forward to welcoming the likes of Tottenham Hotspurs and West Ham United to our 'umble 'ome in the autumn. Bring 'em on.

One last thought.
I heard yesterday that a natural wellspring has been discovered beneath the Ethiad stadium. Reports are that Man City are planning to bottle it. Pip pip!