Opened my monthly account with a warm slog around Hove Park in the BHTT 5K Parkrun.
For some reason I started out with a dry mouth. It had nothing to do with a night out with the mighty Seafront Plodder, when I'd shown commendable restraint sticking to my two-pint limit during a stirring recital by the Seaford Allstars. I bagged a couple of snippets to give you a flavour. Sadly the PA, as is so often the case in small venues where it is entirely unnecessary, was cranked to the max, causing top-end distortion. This one's the pick of the bunch - ending of Hendricks's
Little Wing.
Wing2Boo
As I left my freshly restored Swedermobile the clouds parted to let the sun shine with alarming zeal, relegating the cool zephyr wafting through the leaf-rich parkland to a gentle sigh.
I arrived just before the off, time enough to rig up the iPhone to record announcements, hooter and initial trample to the opening bend.
RunBoo
I spied Cam, (ne Moylebird of this parrish), blonde ponytail bobbing earnestly some 20 metres ahead. I struck out meaning to catch up, but while I lumbered past a number of floundering runners on the early inclines Cam maintained the gap. This continued around the two and a half laps until the last long downhill corner at the far end. I fumbled with more gadgetry to record the run-in only to look up and see no sign of her. Moylebird had flown.
Run2Boo
I ended up bagging 23:15, considerably better than I've managed in some months. I'm pleased, but not as pleased as I am with the lack of reaction from the errant plate. It's been strangely quiet since the plod, perhaps a result of my taking advice from, amongst others, Niguel, who himself suffered PF some time ago. It's all about the stretching apparently.
I took coffee in the glorious sunshine with Cam, Jeannette and Rog-Air (or God Botherer Rog as Moyleman affectionately tagged him). Chris was the subject of our conversation, as he was again when I popped in with Cam to visit Tina, Chris beloved partner. She's a remarkable lady is Tina. Despite his terrible misfortune Chris was certainly lucky to have her standing with him. I can't think of a braver, more resiliant person.
Chris's memorial service takes place on Tuesday. I am humbled to have been asked, along with Alan (Le Soft) and Ade, two of Chris's closest friends, to say a few words. I will of course pass on the love and thoughts expressed here in recent posts, and say goodbye to my 'bruv'.
