Time: 21:15
Distance: 4.4 miles
Duration: 00:42:01
Location: Lewes Town Centre
Conditions: Dray, calm, clear night. Damp under foot (Road/ pavement)
And now I see that my life has been so blue
With all the heartaches I had till I met you
But Im glad to say now thats all behind me
With you here by my side - Eric Clapton, Bad Love
That's a fairly presice time for you, Sweder. It's usually a stab in the dark on the pace front - you know, times rounded up. And that mileage looks a little accurate . . . Que Passa?
OK, I confess: I found the stopwatch feature on my mobile phone today. I've had the thing almost a year, was fumbling about trying to sort out my start time and 'bing' there it was. Having discovered this technology I elected to run a course that I could later drive and record a fair approximation of distance via my trucks' odometer. Welcome to the Matrix . . .
Recovery runs . . . not really the done thing in Lewes. You see, Lewes, the sumptuous County Town of East Sussex, repleat with Castle, plethora of public houses and historic buildings, is like a minature Rome: it's bloody hilly. So when one sets out for a gentle lope to push a bit of O2 through one's taught fibres, one finds oneself including rather too much hill work. I'm going to need a recovery run to recover from my recovery run . . .
Out of the house, left then right and down the steep hill and onto the A275. Right past the Victoria Hospital and on to Lewes Prison. HM Prison Lewes, last of the Victorian man-cages eschewed by the majority of contemporary penal custodians, protected by flint walls and barbed wire, occasionally (but not this evening) illuminated by the flickering beams of the Police helicopter searchlight.
I been to the edge, an' there I stood an' looked down
You know I lost a lot of friends there baby, I got no time to mess around - Van Halen, Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love
Across the traffic lights and down into Winterbourne Crescent. A couple of years ago during heavy rains in the Autumn someone took the decision to open the sluice gates on the River Ouse at Uckfield. This, as the rising tide from Newhaven, swollen by the torrential rains, engorged the river at Lewes. The resulting clash of two impressive bodies of water caused the Winterbourne, a subterranian stream that winds beneath the town, to rise up and invade homes the length of Lewes; and so the great flood of 2000 came to pass.
I climbed the hill past Roche Diagnostics (I had written to Roche in 2003 for support in my first FLM. Roche develop test meter strips for diabetics, and I thought it appropriate that they might sponsor me in my efforts for JDRF. They thought differently, deeming my letter not worthy of reply) and then left into Southover High Street. This is a lovely part of an attractive town, the highlight being Anne of Cleaves House situated opposite the impressive Southover Church. I sped past, enjoying the freedom of running on near deserted roads through English history. To the station, nodding a cursory glance towards the Dripping Pan, home of Lewes FC - the Mighty Rooks. Currently 2nd in the Nationwide Conference South having gained leapfrog promotion last season, and all this on a ground where, playing for Kingston Village Seniors, I hit the crossbar from 25 yards. Under floodlights!
I'm just a gigolo and ev'rywhere I go
People know the bar I'm playing
Pay for every dance selling each romance
Ooh, I could say - David Lee Roth, Just A Gigolo
On past Lewes station, up station street, a warming 1 in 4 climb to the high street at the top. Through the lights, past the Town Hall and The Lamb, one of the towns' 30+ pubs and purveyors of alcho-pops and a reasonable pint of Guinness. To the T junction and Lewes Police station (closed - all communications via an intercom), left past the Elephant and Castle (live sports, pool tables and lots of students), left again skirting the Paddock, common play area and summertime home of Sussex sport 'Stoolball'. Up another (bloody) hill, into Prince Edwards Road (nice houses, leafy lanes) and 1/2 mile (uphill) back to the A275. I glanced at the flickering face of my mobile: 25:22. Darn, another circuit required.
Are you ready for the new sensation?
Well, here's the shot heard 'round the world.
All you backroom boys salute when her flag unfurls.
Well, guess who's back in circulation? - David Lee Roth, Yankee Rose
I started a smaller, tighter loop, forgoing Southover for Western Road (The Meridian, Black Horse) the Bottleneck (Two Brewers, The Rainbow, The White Hart) and up to the Town Hall and the Lamb and repeat to finish. This second section felt good too, although the legs were a little heavy. SP's observations came to mind, and I checked my posture in the window of Ask - a stoop to draw the envy of Gollum. I drew myself up, trying to straighten my back, and looked up. Part of the reason for my hunched style is my need to stare at the road/ pavement immediately in front of my feet. This may come from a lot of offroad running, where care must be taken over potholes, gifts from dogs and cattle, and the occasional broken bottle.
I did feel better, and I must say SP may have something with this stoop = back pain thing. More investigation required. Finally up the slope at the end of Prince Edwards Road and right to the foot of South Way. I stopped the clock at 42:01 and walked up the last 1/4 mile, hot, sweaty and very happy with my nights' work.
Too late, my time has come
Sends shivers down my spine, body's aching all the time
Goodbye, ev'rybody, I've got to go
Gotta leave you all behind and face the truth - Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody
. . . ah yes, the lyrics. I'm sure some of you might think that, with this elaborate system of running a drivable route, using a mobile as a stopwatch, mounting my truck and driving the route for an accurate measurement, I might be better served investing in a GPS watch. But you see, my portable technology budget was blown last year on a portable DAB Radio (for crystal clear 5 Live coverage and fabulous classic Rock from Planet Rock, the Rock Specialists).
Planet Rock provided my soundtrack tonight, and they featured the work of David Lee Roth. Personally I think Van Halen (Hagar) sucked after DLR, but there you go.
Thank you for watching
JANUARY 2005 - Back in Action
