JANUARY 2005 - Back in Action

[Sweder]

Time: 09:15
Conditions: Sunny, dry (sloppy underfoot after overnight rain)
Course: 3 mile hill climb from Lewes to Black Cap (public footpath & fields) and return
Total miles: 6
Run time: 01:00:00

Oh what a beautiful morning . . . apart from the screaming hamstrings, still whinging about the track session on Tuesday. Chose to rest yesterday in preparation for this mornings run. I suspect a gentle recovery run would have been more prudent.

Joined by Tim T for today's run. We elected to go after 9 as we each had school runs to complete, and the thought of cramming an hour plus a shower in before 8 o'clock was too horrible to entertain. Also accompanied by my dogs. This is unuisual - I normally would not dream of taking my hounds on a run as they invariably get into trouble. The combination of no road sense, inquisitive nature and the desire to marmalise any feline within a 10 mile radius is prohibitive to relaxed running. This route is devoid of roads or cats, and the occasional rabbit or day dreaming fox would pose little or no problem.

For the record my canine companions are
Tess - 9 year old thoroughbred working whippet
Gypsy - Timid and lovable Lurcher (Greyhound/ Deerhound cross)
Willow - yearling Cocker Spaniel (recently inherited) full-on bundle of energy

I'd been thinking (worrying) about this run for several days. Is it wise to start a session with a 3 mile offroad hill climb? I'd prefer to warm up over a couple of (flat-ish) miles first, but my house is located on the edge of the Downs at the foot of this particular route . . . in the end we elected to go for it and see how things went.

Things, as it turned out, went rather well. The customary appearance of Satan on my shoulder over the first 20 minutes urging an end to this horror came and went, and we climbed easily alongside the gallops towars the summit. Lewes used to have a pukka race course, active well into the last century. The land has since been used as gallops by the Racing stables located on the ridge of the Downs to the North West of the town. The facility is operated by a colourful local named Fitzhayes. I had the pleasure to engage this gentleman when, some years ago in an outrageous bout of 'Get Orf My Land' rage, he attempted to run down my heavily pregnant wife in his landrover. I paid him a visit after the local constabulary informed me that they would log my complaint but were unable to visit Mr Fitzhayes as he had threatened officers on previous occasions. That's OK then. Suffice to say we agreed to differ and no physical harm was offered or delivered on either side, although I did suggest a repeat of the incident could result in great harm to his estate. He must've been quaking in those buckled green wellies . . .

These thoughts floated casually in the back of my mind as we passed the stables. Thankfully no sign of Lord Loon, just a few puffed pleasantries exchanged with some of his riders as they returned the horses from their morning workout.

Speaking of thoroughbreds, back to our runners.
The going underfoot was tricky to say the least. I described the conditions as 'sloppy' - this is wholly accurate. The public footpath runs between the gallops and farmland, both technically off limits (lets save the 'right to roam' arguments for another time). We enjoyed some serious overnight rain, and as luck would have it the adjacent fields drain directly onto the footpath. Running the first mile and a half was a bit like running up an incline coated in fresh porridge, with every other foot-fall yielding in the slime. Normally this would not phase me as I enjoy offroad running in such conditions, but combined with my early run blues the slip-sliding potential for serious injury kept poking me in the ribs.

I ignored these irritations and, bolstered by the fact that Tim appeared to have no intention of stopping, got my head down and pushed on. Once past the stables the terrain improved, both in camber and condition. I relaxed a little, breathing easier and mentally brushing beelzebub off my shoulder; this was fun.

Black Cap is a high point along the Sussex Downs, complete with historic Beacon, used in times past to warn of invading marauders approaching from the coast at Newhaven. The views across the Ouse Valley this morning were fabulous in the wintry sunshine. We took a couple of minutes to cool our jets before starting back towards town, home and a welcoming cup of coffee.

The round trip took just on the hour, and although we had no GPS to confirm I reckon the loop was just under 6 miles. I'll have to beg, borrow or steal SPs GPS watch - or better still entice him out on an early sojourn next week. Now, some 3 hours later, I'm feeling a little tight in the groin, but my knees (notoriously weak) are holding firm. Looking forward to Badminton tonight - does that count as cross-training? - and a 12K clifftop waddle tomorrow afternoon.