January 2013

[Sweder]

Winter finally rocked up in Sussex this weekend. Like many a tardy guest she was keen to make up for lost time, dumping a week's worth of snow in 24 hours. Yesterday saw a lull but the white stuff was back this morning, falling steadily out of a murky, featureless sky.

   

I joined Julie, Cam and Marian for a mid morning start at Chez Ladyrunner. We planned to navigate the trails around Stanmer Park, the idea being one circuit and home would equal nine miles, two just about half marathon distance. The fresh powder coating hid an ice-hard reality beneath. Going was heavy to slippery, wheelspin the issue on the climbs, stability and remaining upright on the drops. After the first loop I felt chipper. I'd scarfed a lone banana before the off, walking the dogs for an hour before the run leaving no time for anything more substantial. An energy gel lay in my shorts pocket but I didn't feel the need to use it, happy enough to sip on my lime & coconut water.

Julie had a hot date at one so peeled off before we started lap two. We three kept on at a steady pace. The snow fell at such a rate that our footprints from lap one were all but wiped out. We met - and hailed - other groups of runners, cyclists and dog-walkers, all well wrapped against the elements. My legs had tired when we hit the last couple of climbs, dodging whooping children strapped to colourful plastic sledges as they hurtled past.

'Hoi, mister, aren't you cold?' asked one snotty little chap, staring at the ice-balls hanging off my knees.
'No' I grinned, 'running keeps me warm'
And so it does, on several levels.

13.18 miles, 2 hours and 49 leg-sapping minutes
'Time on your feet' as Yoda would say.
Roll on Andalucía ...