February 2009

[Sweder]

Another triumph for Mrs S, her second consecutive circumnavigation of Hove Park. A PB by 60 seconds and no walk-breaks, stoicly running up the slopes and keeping a nice, even pace. She's chuffed and rightly so. I'm proud and happy to have plodded alongside her, taking the bouquets and brickbats from my fellow Park Runners.
'She's almost caught you!'
'Never seen you so far up the field!' and so on.
They're a well-meaning bunch, their gentle jibes taken in good spirit, as were the apres run croissants and large coffees in the sun-dappled cafe garden.

An odd time for me, this. It's the Brighton Half tomorrow and for the first time since my debut with SP in 2003 I won't be on the start line. This is all part of my realisation, my acceptance that the hard road is no longer for me, that I must embrace the mud and soft turf of the cross-country course. And so it is that I shall leave home in the wee small hours to set sail for Pewsey and the gentle hillside lope that is The Terminator. Simon told me the race warranted a mention on the Sara Cox/ Radio One show yesterday (Being a greybeard I have little knowledge of such hip and trendy broadcasts). He was smiling that chilling, knowing smile of his so I gather the report was none too pleasant. C'est la vie; I've made my muddy bed, now it's time to go wallow in it.

Tally ho