RE: October is a fine and dangerous season
Having dropped out of the Jog Shop 20, I though the least I could do was offer to marshal. So this morning I joined the Seaford Striders and the King of the Marshals, Mr Tom Roper, at mile 6.
What a glorious morning… I decided to run to my position today, to pay homage to those running the whole thing. At 8:15 I set off over the Downs still shrouded in vaporous mist; but it didn’t last long and by the time I had reached the top of Kingston Ridge the autumble sunshine had rolled out of bed and was embracing the day. I arrived at the top of the North Face (our rendezvous) in good time… and then walked with Chris (a Moyleman runner) to our respective marshalling points some half a mile further south.
For ten minutes I had the Downs to myself, apart from a curious herd of cows and a couple of tractors busy planting next year’s crop in the fields opposite. Then the lead bikes came through… followed a good fifteen minutes later by the first runners – pounding out a good turn of speed. I would have to say they looked buggered… testament to what a hilly bastard this run is. Over the next sixty minutes I directed runners of all shapes and sizes, including Moyleman's own Brian and Naomi, through a very bemused bunch of cows. Watching them all go past was quite lovely and sad at the same time… sad because I had planned to do this.
With the last runner through, I walked back to the Jelly Baby table, grabbed a quick drink of juice and ran the 5 miles back home again. All in all, I ran 10 miles today. I ran half the Jog Shop 20 to marshal the Jog Shop 20.
Well played to all those who were out there running it today... it is brutal but beautiful run.
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