Encamped at Chez Sweder we awoke to grey, misty mizzle and cool conditions. At times the rain was moderately heavy and looking decidedly unpleasant for running. The rain radar suggested that it would pass quite soon however and by the time Duncan (CharlieCat5) knocked on the door at precisely 9a.m. for our running appointment in the Downs, the rain had indeed stopped and the worst we had to contend with was a persistent mist.
Heading into the hills with CC5, Sweder and the two lurchers Murphy and Ripley I was fairly quickly reminded of my general lack of running, but in particular lack of hill running over the last 12 months. Notwithstanding a reasonable outing at the 10km Lindfield Fun Run last Sunday, I found this tough going and my lack of hill strength a little embarrassing. But persistence pays dividends and all too soon we arrived at our destination, the legendary Black Cap, where CC5 brightened the day and soothed our tired legs with a surprise in the form of a bottle of Harveys which emerged from his back pack and went down a treat.
The run down was notable mainly for the amount of horse and sheep pooh which required deft side-stepping at times, and for the fact that the mist of course quickly vanished once we returned home.
A 10km outing completed in about 65 minutes, and despite seeing virtually nothing of the landscape through which we ran, was memorable of course for being in the company of RC friends Sweder and CC5. Memorable also was the superlative post-race breakfast prepared by Mrs Sweder which really hit the spot.
A great run in great company, and you can’t ask for more than that from this sport of ours!
![[Image: Black%20Cap.JPG]](https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/80315908/Black%20Cap.JPG)
April showers.
