The hard dusty track soon changed into a soft muddy trail overhung with sun dappled trees. Light bouncing of sunglasses making it difficult to see, before the trees left us behind opening up our world to the comforting and familiar views of the Downs.
The soft trail gave way on occasion to deep troughs of sticky mud offering little recourse other than a run through their middles before the tarmac was reached, providing a glimpse of the road runners domain before we drifted back onto the path that us Down’s runners love so well.
With legs warmed up the speed increased, the chatting hesitant as minds turned to breathing and the placing of feet between flints and roots. Pushing our boundaries, we arrived panting at the gate that yields to the final leg of the outbound expedition.
Re-grouped we forged ahead, now at the mercy of the winds blowing ceaselessly over the tops; focused on the goal towering above us, sprinting to the finish in pain and elation before standing in awe at the views surrounding us. Pain dulled by beauty as one by one we recover ready for the return home.
Arms out, feet free, we raced downwards sweeping the bottom as a rollercoaster, trying with all our might to retain the momentum as the path swung quickly, too quickly, upwards again. Legs digging in the soft surface, lungs screaming in protest, toiling upwards to the second peak. The views now showing us a slightly different side of themselves before turning their backs, leaving us to grassy fields and moody woodlands.
This is about running it in now, touching the path of times past as we beat over the roof of Lewes heading whence we came.
We stood huddled, elated at what we have just achieved, saying our farewells and then parting in different directions, our bond broken until the next time. For me, I turned back to the Downs, not yet ready to give this up for the evening… time enough for a few more miles.
Photo: Rob Read
June, so full of promise
