Movember 2012

[Sweder]

An encouraging session without slimy repercussions.
I'd planned another short run, around three miles. On the out lap I felt spritely enough to consider charging up BlackCap. G-man's words of warning rang out so I cut across the apron of Wicker Man Hill, avoiding the lung-busting climbs beyond.

By the time I'd looped back to the stables I fancied adding a bit so dropped into the Borough Bonfire field, home of the Downland 10 start. I covered the gentle descent at a decent clip, around 7'40 pace, breathing shallow and easy. The climb back up tested everything, leaving me breathless and happy not to have taken on the tougher route. A systems check revealed a brace of tight achilles, tremulous knees and a dull ache in each calf, all pretty standard.

4.7 miles in 50 minutes. Today's track du jour saw a dead heat between two classics. Skynyrd's Tuesday's Gone With The Wind sang out as I took off and the trees released their copper and gold to dance across the hills. Jefferson Airplane's sublime White Rabbit, a song I could never tire of hearing, brought me home. The ghosts of Haight-Ashbury, from the Summer of Love to the autumnal Sussex hills.

Now it's back to the training schedule. I'll not get a half in this month as I'd hoped, but there's no rush. I may return to Parkrun in December to add hard-top miles and to work on my 'speed'. It'll be interesting to see how I get on. Some way short of my PB I'll wager, but if I can clock under 25 minutes I'll be chuffed.