It's been a right old "Bitsa" weekend this week, that's "Bitsa" as in bits of this and bits of that, starting with an epic endeavour with the van. For weeks now, the bits to change the Cambelt and give it a good service have been cluttering up the shed. Unfortunately, until this weekend the weathers been against me and whilst I'm happy to get wet, even I'm not stupid enough to consider laying under the van in the rain. To make matters more interesting, whilst I'm allegedly a fully qualified aircraft engineer, I've always shied away from pulling car engines apart, so changing the Cambelt on the van was going to be a steep learning curve. With an extra day off on Friday and the weather set fair for a couple of day's, I could put it off no longer though, and with some trepidation decided to bite the bullet and get on with it. As I mentioned above, with a long background pulling aircraft to pieces, you would think that car's would be child's play. Well, I can tell you for a fact that anyone that works on cars deserves every penny they get paid, because they're horrible dirty, rusty, shitty things, that just get abused and misused. Every nut and bolt is normally rusted solid and those that aren't are impossible to get at. The only time bit's aren't rusty is when there covered in oil, or buried under tons of pointless plastic covers which are nearly impossible to remove without breaking. They're designed to look nice on the outside and screw the mechanicals. I mean who buys a car because it's easy to maintain? No one that's who. It's just got to look nice and don't worry about the poor mechanics who have to fix it when it goes wrong. As should be befitting a man of my expertise (or not as the case may be) I had no problems getting it apart and was fairly flying through the job. Don't count your chickens until they hatch though, because putting it back together totally threw me. No matter what I did, I couldn't get the new belt tensioned correctly. I had it on and off, half a dozen times, I looked at it, I swore at it, I cut my hands too bits down the side of the engine trying to adjust it, and I lost my rag with it. Eventually, having scratched my head for most of the afternoon and having run out of options, I tried putting the old tension pulley back on and you know what, instantly sorted. Having got this far though, there was no way I was sticking the old one back on, that's just asking for failure, so que a 16:30 run round the local motor factors trying to get another Cambelt kit. I mean what's the chance's of the new parts being wrong? And here lies the problem with doing something for the first time, you've got no idea if what your doing is right. You have to figure everything out for yourself as you go along. Having managed to get hold of another new kit, I had it back together within a couple of hours, but I'd spent the entire day trying to work out what I was doing wrong. What I was doing wrong? Nothing as it turns out, except cutting my hands to bits, bruising my back and getting bloody frustrated. Arrgggh! Either way, the jobs done now, plus new auxiliary belt and tensioner, new glow plugs, filters, oils (engine and gearbox) and a good clean around whilst I was at it. Now I've just got 6 months of worry and self doubt to look forward too, whilst I worry that I've done something wrong or not done something up. I might have managed to replace most of the engine for the same cost as a garage would have charged just to do the Cambelt, but for the time it took, the struggle I had and the worry, I'm not sure it's worth it. If it wasn't for the sense of satisfaction in having done the job myself then someone else can definitely do it next time and I'll go and play bikes whilst they're doing it. After Fridays back breaking efforts rolling around on the floor (and I'll tell you for a fact that I'm not getting any younger), a change of pace was required for Saturday. Up well before the normal people, I grabbed the opportunity to get in a quick run around the local area. Most of my miles recently have been either too and from work or away from home and it made a nice change to revisit one of the local routes that I know so well. With the early morning sun shining, the birds singing and being on familiar roads, the time fairly flew by and I was back well in time for a second breakfast and a brew with "The Emma" as she surfaced. Stretched off, showered and changed ready for a full day of odd jobs and pottering around, with 7 miles in the bag before most people had even got out of bed. What's not too like about that? Most of the morning was taken up with wrapping up the last little jobs on the van, but after lunch I managed to get up to the allotment for a good few hours. The last few days of sunshine have made a real difference up there too. Having moaned on a regular basis about how the cold and miserable May weather has been slowing things down, I can confirm that it's definitely "all systems grow" now. A good afternoons pottering saw the greenhouse fully planted up and the staging moved back into storage. Well I say storage, more like somewhere where I will endlessly trip over it and have to keep moving it throughout the summer, but you get the idea. So that's, Chilli's, Peppers, Cucumbers and Lettuce in to join the Tomatoes which are going great guns, with just some Basil plants to join them once they get a bit bigger. On the plot itself the Leeks, Courgettes and Pumpkins, plus a few leftover Tomato plants from the greenhouse are now in and the Parsnips, Beetroot, Spring Onions and Peas I sowed the other week are showing through. It's about time, but things are definitely looking up. The gardens at home are doing Ok too, over the last few days I've finally got the summer bedding into the borders to join the hanging baskets I planted up last week, and most of the summer bulbs have started to show their heads above the ground, joining the Aquilegias and Clematis which are in full bloom.
By Sunday with the sun still shining and the back broken on most of the odd jobs I grabbed the opportunity to get out on the bike for a few miles. Like with Saturdays run I stayed local (ish), but it seems like a fair old while since I'd been out on most of these roads. I suppose with having been up and down to see the "Old Cheese" on a regular basis and a few more adventurous weekends thrown in in-between it has been a while since I've actually been at home. So it made a nice change. I'll tell you what made the best change though. Finally getting the winter gloves and boots off and being able to actually use my fingers instead of struggling around with thick winter gloves! I really can't believe that it's taken to the end of May to be able to get out in shorts and summer gear, but there you have it. Spring, Pah! Bank holiday Monday saw another trip down to see "The Old Cheese" and an opportunity to test out the work I'd done on the van over the weekend. Luckily, I can conform that at the moment all the valves are still in the engine, how long that's going to be the case for I've no idea. But, I'm sure that another few weeks of listening to every noise with paranoia and fear is on the cards, so we'll see what happens. Of more interest, is the fact that I noticed the other day that I only needed another 13 miles of running too take May's total to 200 miles. Whilst that's not a massive number by some peoples standards, it's the most I've ever done in a month by a small margin, so it seemed rude not to at least try. It's hard to believe that there are some people out there that are putting in over 100 miles a week. 200 for the month is an average of 6.45 per day and my legs certainly know about that, so I'll take my hat off to anyone that's averaging 14+ a day for 100 mile weeks. Having taken the van down Sunday night I was up early to get my 13 miles in and headed uphill from Steyning to pick up the South Downs Way towards Chanctonbury Ring. It's 3.5 miles of uphill, but in the peace of the early morning it was well worth it. The only other people up there that early, were a couple just packing up from an overnight bivvy, which pricked a real pang of jealousy in me and a couple of mountain bikers. 3.5 miles doesn't get the magical 13 though, so having taken in the view, it was back down before taking on the climb up towards Lancing Ring. With the Skylarks singing their morning song, the sun glinting off the sea in the distance and the temperature quickly rising in the clear morning sky, it made a real change from the last few times that I'd been up here. Both of which were on recent running's of The Steyning Stinger, when miserable winter weather had obscured any view, I'll happily admit that it's better in the sun, although maybe not quite so much fun. A quick loop around the hill and back down, to follow the South Downs Way down to the River Adur provided a bit of respite for the old leg's, which for some reason were weren't feeling at their best, before the final leg back to the van. It wasn't fast my any means, at just under the 2 hour mark, but I was happy enough with that and at the end of the day the whole point in going out had been to get those last 13 miles, which I'd achieved. 200 miles for May then, I'm more than happy with that and I suspect that it may be a while before I even come close again! Not really worthy of mention, but I had a quick detour up to the Devils Punch Bowl before heading for home and back to the monotony of work on Tuesday morning. Days for playing bikes don't get much better though, so it's worth sharing the couple of pictures below.
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Here we go again then, time for a bit of “Marathon A Month Madness”. But haven’t you already done May's Marathon I hear you ask? And you would be correct in asking, because yes, I have. However, having besmirched the fact that there’s been no organised running for what seemed like forever and having had time to peruse the lists of upcoming runs, there are loads that have caught my eye. So “in for a penny, in for a pound”, or whatever the saying is, let’s do my bit for getting the economy back up and running by spending all my hard-earned pennies on having fun. Staying close to home for a change, this week’s stupidity took place around the picturesque Queen Elizabeth Country Park on the edge of the South Downs and if there’s one thing that my previous blathering on should have told you, it’s that the Down’s tend to be a bit hilly (hence their name). This week’s route consisted of 2 laps, run entirely within the confines of the park and billed as having over 1000m (that’s roughly 3300 feet for the old folk) of elevation gain over the entire course. That should give the old legs something to think about and give the old ticker a good work out then. Throw in a bit of mud as a result of the never-ending winter and a bit of forecasted heavy rain, coupled with strong winds and we should be in for a right old fun day out! In common with other recent events, communication from the run organisers in the weeks proceeding the event had been excellent. With requests for runners to arrive ready to go, be self-supporting, and advising that the start would be staggered, with runners departing as they were ready (faster runners first) to avoid bunching and maintain the continued social distancing. All of which, are in my opinion sensible precautions to be taking to ensure everyone’s safety. It was good to see everyone at the start being sensible too and keeping their distance. I really hope that we can continue in the same vein and see an eventual end to all the precautions, but in the meantime, if this is what it takes to carry on participating in organised sport then I’m all for it. With the weather forecast predicting a steady downturn (as if can get much worse) as the morning wore on, an early start time seemed like a sensible idea. So, having had a comfy night in the van I was ready and just about raring to go for 08:30. Now, I don’t know why, but as I stood waiting for the off, my mind just wasn’t in it and I just couldn’t decide if I was actually looking forward to this one or not. But I was there now so I might as well crack on and at least make a start. 08:30 then, and on the nod of the starter I was off. It’s straight into the climbing from the off and a pretty steep start it was too. Within seconds my heart rate had gone from it’s normal slow resting tick over, to trying to hammer its way out of my rib cage and my cold leg muscles were protesting at their rude awakening. We’re going up her though, whether you like it or not, so you might as well get used to the idea legs, and as for you heart, there’s another 4 hours of this to come so you might as well stop complaining too! A couple of minutes of hard graft later, by which time I’d thoroughly warmed up, and it’s over the top for the first descent, followed by a second longer climb and another descent and …… Well, I’m sure you get the idea. It was going to be one of those runs, a never-ending series of climb and descend. Looking at it on the map, it doesn’t look too bad, but believe you me, there’s quite a bit of gradient change going on there, each meter of which must be gained by leg power alone. Zig Zagging through the Beech trees, fresh with their vibrant green leaves, skipping round the puddles and working my way through the damp woods I should have been in my element. But, for some reason, whilst my legs felt Ok, my mind just wasn’t in it for those first few miles. Normally I can slip away into my thoughts, daydreaming, whilst watching the world go by, enjoying the moments for what they are and getting pleasure from living in the moment. Sunday morning though, it just wasn’t happening, and every mile gained seemed to be taking forever. Those first uphill stretches seemed like hard work, the downhills offered no respite and whilst I knew that I was going fairly well, my mind was saying, lets just do this first loop and knock it on the head! With the staggered start, it’s hard to know how well your doing and I don’t think that helped with the mind games. If there’s people around you running at the same pace, you can see that your all suffering, or all having an easy time and push on. When there’s no one in front, or those that are, are only doing the Half Marathon, it’s difficult to know how well you’re going and that tends to play tricks with your mind. Am I chasing down a Half Marathon runner and pushing too hard? Why is there no one in front, have I gone the wrong way? Am I too slow and taking it too easy? Am I pushing to hard? Arrgggh, shut up brain, let’s just run, enjoy it and see what happens! As 10 miles came and went, so the rain came down. Typically, having been hidden amongst the trees for the majority of the proceeding time this also marked the most exposed point of the course. The forecast had been dry until lunchtime, so the drenching came as a bit of a surprise, but did pass the time for a while, as I debated whether to stop and get my rain jacket on or just keep going and hope that it stopped before I froze to death! As the halfway point approached, I was debating whether to push on for the second lap or just quit. Quitting’s not in my nature though, and I haven’t got where I am today by giving up (granted I’ve not got far but you’ve got to love a trier). Quit, whatever, I’m made of stronger stuff than that. I was sorely tempted for a while though, when I was struggling along getting rained on and cold! Luckily, as I started that steep climb from the start for the second time, everything just seemed to slip into place. Gone were the self-doubts and general feeling of malaise that had plagued the first 13 miles, to be replaced with the more familiar feeling of satisfaction and enjoyment. It took a little while to realise that I was starting to enjoy myself again, that I was noticing things that I hadn’t seen on the first lap, and that actually, I don’t know what I was worrying about earlier. With my mind freed and my legs doing what their supposed to do, the miles started flying along. 14, 16, 18, 20 all passed in a flash. I hardly noticed climbs that had seemed almost insurmountable on the first lap, and downhills that seemed to drag on forever first time around, were over in seconds. Running through the wooded sections, I noticed the fresh green leaves, the squirrels going about their business and the birds busily searching out food for their young, hidden safe in their nests, high in the tree canopy. As the miles continued to build, so I started catching the back markers from the half marathon, each and every one of them putting in their own sterling effort, fighting their own battle for personal glory. Words of encouragement back and forth as we passed, a shared joke and brief laugh. “Keep going, It’s all downhill from here” - “Really?” – “No”, and past I go, sights set on catching the next one. The last few miles ticked steadily along, another rain shower in exactly the same point as lap one ensured I stayed wet, but I didn’t care this time. I was finally having fun and I knew I was nearly done. Watching the time creep around I can see I’m doing OK but it still comes as a surprise when I cross the line in 3:50:09. The even bigger shock comes once the results start coming in though, and I discover that my 3:50 was good enough for 4th place from the 98 starters. Not the positioning I was expecting whilst struggling round the first half, and just goes to prove that I should trust myself, that maybe I do know what I’m doing when it comes to this running lark, and that maybe, just enjoying the day and the run for what it is, is the most important part. It also makes me wonder what I could be capable of if I took this lark a bit more seriously, actually focused my training and efforts, and tried a bit harder, instead of just doing whatever I feel like or catches my imagination. But then again where’s the fun in that? I’ll settle for 4th place and a bit of fun any day thank you very much! In other news, it’s been a busy weekend on the pottering around catching up on odd jobs front. Having been away for the past few weekends seeing “the old cheese” a weekend at home was very much called for and despite the weather doing its best to put a stop to gardening I’ve got a load done. Whilst hiding from the rain, I’ve sorted the greenhouse out and planted the Tomatoes into the beds. Potted on Cabbages, Broccoli, Kale and Sprouts and sown Basil, Chard and Lettuce seeds. Outside the Beans (French and Runner), Sweet Peas, greenhouse germinated Sweetcorn and summer Cabbages have been planted out, and at home I’ve put together some hanging baskets and sorted out the borders ready for the summer bedding to go in over the next couple of weeks. Beetroot, Carrots, Parsnips and Peas are all finally starting to germinate on the allotment and the fruit bushes and Strawberries all have the first signs of fruit starting to grow. In less favorable news the rose bushes at home have been devastated by last weeks gales and the Pear tree (which never seems to do very well, but that’s ok as it looks quite pretty and I don’t like pears) has been absolutely battered, with most of it’s leaves now missing and any fruit that had set now long gone! But the best bit of news, was having radishes, freshly picked from the allotment with my sandwiches Saturday lunchtime. That’s the first sign that things are on the up and that the winter fruit and vegetable drought is starting to come to an end. Give it another few week’s and if we ever get any sunshine we’ll be into Lettuce, Broad beans and Rhubarb. Oh, I just can’t wait!
I know that I spend an inordinate amount of time banging on about the weather and I've mentioned a few times recently how grim the last few months have been and how far behind I think the spring is this year. Well, considering that I'm currently hiding inside on a Saturday, (which is pretty unusual in itself), due to the incessant rain, we've still got the heating on at home, and I'm still wearing a thermal top and a jumper and I'm still cold, things still aren't looking too cleaver. They said on the radio news on Monday morning that it had been the first day in over a month when we hadn't had a frost somewhere in the UK and having cycled and run every morning for that month I can confirm that they are correct. A frost every morning for a month. That doesn't normally happed in January let alone April into May! And, what makes it worse, is that even though it's been clear enough overnight for a frost, it's somehow managed to cloud over before the sun gets a chance to warm things up, leaving it cold all day too. Add to that the fact that the predominant wind seems to have been from the North, bringing with it that cold arctic air and were doomed I tell you! So what's my weather observations got to do with anything? Well, whilst I've been hiding away this morning I've been looking through some old pictures from the same date and look what I've found. So, looking at that lot it certainly looks like 2021 is the odd year out. Of the half dozen types of summer bedding plants I sowed only 2 trays even germinated. I've had to re-sow all of the Brassicas, as whilst the first lot germinated and were doing Ok they've all died off again. The Tomatoes and Chillis have only just been potted on and moved into the greenhouse, let alone planted into the borders and everything else is just sat there looking sorry for itself.
I'm still cycling in winter boots, long leggings and a thick windproof jacket, over at least one base layer, and whilst I've been running in shorts for most of the winter, I'm still wearing 2 running tops and gloves most of the time! I know that eventually everything will catch back up and we'll probably have a gorgeous summer to make up for it. Indeed, I believe that it snowed in London in June 1975 and that was followed by a dry summer and winter, leading into the heat wave of 1976. So maybe we'll be alright eventually. But, It would be nice if it could just get on with it and warm up a bit! Unfortunately, it's been a bit of a funny one for the last couple of weeks and I've not really got anything of interest to talk about. As I've probably mentioned before "the Old Cheese" isn't well, and as such I've spent a fair bit of time on the road recently. I'm sure that it goes without saying that traveling between home and down to see her rather impacts on the amount of adventuring and pottering time available. I wouldn't have it any other way though, and family's got to come before fun. There will be plenty of time for adventures in the future and in the mean time there's plenty of other things to be getting on with. What I will do, whilst I haven't got anything more interesting to talk about though, is just spend two minutes talking about "Why". It's a funny old word isn't it, I looked it up in the dictionary earlier and apparently it can be used as an; Adverb, Conjunction, Pronoun, Convention and an Exclamation. Not that that's a lot of help, especially as I don't even know what half of those things are, let alone what they mean! In my case it seems to come up all the time as in "Why do you want to spend all day running" or "Why do you want to cycle to work in the rain" or "Why do you want to spend the night sleeping in a hammock when you've got a perfectly good bed". No one ever asks "Why do you want to go out for a meal" or "Why do you choose to drive to work and not cycle there in the rain" though, do they? So why is that? Is it because running 30 odd miles or cycling 200 is so far away from the public perception of what's normal that they can't understand it? Or is it because they can't, but wish they could? It's never even a "I'm asking because I'm interested" type of why either, it's normally a "well I think your a total idiot" type of why. But, why not? Just because my choices in life are different to yours doesn't mean I'm wrong and your right, does it? Just because I choose to live in a house made of bricks (when I'm not under canvas or away in the van) doesn't mean that all those people who live in mud hut's, caravans or caves are wrong does it? As far as I'm concerned, I feel a million times better now that I'm cycling to work on a daily basis, than I ever did when I had to commute by car. I get up in the morning excited about my ride into work. I get to see some beautiful sunrises, I get to see the frost glistening on the trees and fields, I get to feel the wind on my face and get into work feeling energised and ready for the day ahead. How many of us can say that after sitting in traffic, stressed out at our lack of progress, whilst crawling our way into work in the morning? It's the same with running, I'll grant you it's taken a long time to get to the point where I know that I can pull my running shoes on and just go for as long or as far as I want. There's been plenty of setbacks along the way too, and believe you me, there's no worse feeling than getting injured and fretting that this may be the end of your running career. But, believe you me, it all pays off in the end. Getting up early on a weekend morning is no longer the chore it once was. There's an opportunity to be outside in the fresh air, experiencing the world at it's best. Where ever you may be, your not far from the countryside or seaside and all it has to offer. There's no better feeling than running through woodland in the early morning, with the birds singing their hearts out and the sun glinting through the trees, it's magical! It's the same up on the hills on a summers evening, with the swallows flitting around and the skylarks singing. Or walking along the canal in the dusk with the bats performing feats of aerial agility that we can only dream off around your head. The sight of Kites, Buzzards and Kestrels soaring effortlessly on the wind, to be replaced as night falls, by fleeting glances of owls caught in your bike headlights as you roll along quiet country lanes, looking for a place to pitch your hammock for the night. The sight of the sun glinting from the sea as you work your way along a deserted coastal path. The crunch of fresh snow underfoot as you run along roads now impassable to vehicles. The tracks of Rabbits, Voles and Deer clearly visible, amidst the crashing silence created by that same fresh snow, the trees bowing under its weight, the wind blowing the loose powder around your feet. The thought of coming home to a brew and hot toast when your soaking wet and cold. The blessed relief of turning a corner and getting out of the wind when you've been running or cycling into a gale force headwind. Frozen fingers wrapped around a hot brew, a plate of beans on toast, or a bowl of rice pudding, in a village hall at midnight, when your mid way through a 200 mile Audax ride, with half a dozen like minded lunatics. Watching the stars and listening to the night time creatures going about their business from the comfort of your bivvy or hammock as you drift off to sleep. The tiredness, accompanied by that feeling of deep satisfaction that comes from a full days exercise out in the fresh air. The general sense of satisfaction that comes from going further, faster, harder. The same sense of satisfaction that comes from finally managing to conquer that hill without stopping, or achieving some new personal goal. Yes, I'll grant you my legs are a bit stiff sometimes and occasionally it takes me a while to get really going in the mornings. But isn't that the same for all of us as we get older? And, at the same time, at least I know why my legs hurt (it's running up that stupid hill 5 times yesterday).
When I look around and talk to people with more sedentary lifestyles of my own age, I've got far less aches and pains, I'm more agile and flexible. I've not got a bad back and I don't rattle when I walk from all the medications I'm taking. At the end of the day we are designed to run, walk, lift and carry stuff, not sit in front of screens and TV's all day without moving. It's no surprise half of us struggle to get up the stairs! The benefits may not be immediately obvious, but if you look they are there. In my previous job I spent a lot of time crawling around in plant rooms and lift shafts. On the odd occasion that I worked with other people I'd be done, dusted and on my way home, whilst they were still struggling up the first flight of stairs. No parking space right outside the office door or shops? No problems, I'll park further away and carry what I need, whilst my colleagues drive endlessly around waiting for a closer space. Car won't start in the morning. No problem, I'll walk or take my bike! And so the list goes on. OK, maybe by spending 3 hours running with my heart rate at 145 BPM I'm using up all my heart beats and I'm going to have a heart attack. Or maybe the fact that for the other 21 hours of the day it's ticking along at 45 instead of 90 cancels that out? Perhaps running's bad for your knees and I'll wear the joints out. Or maybe that's bollocks and provided you build up slowly, have sufficient rest days to allow your body to recover and stop if it hurts, you'll actually end up in a better position due to strengthened muscles and bones! Maybe, just maybe then, the question should actually be the other way around and instead of people looking at me like I'm crazy and saying "why do you want to go doing that". It should actually be "Why do you want to spend your life sat in front of the TV watching drivel". Or, "Why do you want to spend Saturday mornings sat in a big queue of traffic getting to Costa when you could be out in the fresh air"? Perhaps, and I'm as guilty as the next man on this one, that's something for all of us too think about the next time were casting judgements on other peoples choices or trying to project our failings onto them. Maybe it's us that's got it wrong and not the person that we think is different or weird for their life choices? And maybe the answer to the "Why" question is just "Why not" or simply "Because I can"! Now we're off an running there's no stopping me, Audax last weekend and an organised running event this weekend. It's as if there's 6 months of doing nothing to get out of my system, or maybe it's more a case of "there's always 2 busses come along at once" or whatever the saying is. Saturday morning saw me stood on the start line of "The North Downs Ridge 50Km Ultra Marathon". Billed as a cheeky little jaunt along the North Downs Way, starting from Denbies Vinyard near Dorking and following the high ground of the North Downs Way towards Guildford. Before retracing your steps for a loop around Norbury Park (just to add a few more miles and bump the climbing up a bit). 50 Km of off road trail running fun with a total of 2986ft of ascent, although having run it I'm not sure if there's the same amount of descent, or if they jack the finish line up while your out on the course! As with last weekends Audax , the organisers have put a lot of thought and effort into ensuring everyone's safety and maintaining social distancing. Instructions were sent out in the preceding week, giving specific arrival, registration and start times, depending on predicted finishing times, and instead of a mass start, participants were set of at 30 second intervals. Face masks were mandatory at checkpoints, aid stations and the start and finish lines, and participants encouraged not to loiter or group up. In my humble opinion this worked a treat and everyone I saw was playing fairly by the rules, which is encouraging as we go forward. Anyhow, enough about the admin, what about the running I hear you saying, so without further ado, here we go. Being the sensible chap that I am, I'd taken the van down on Friday night to avoid an early start, and with my registration time not until 08:15 I'd had a nice lay in and an extra cup of tea, before making my way leisurely to the start. A few minutes to collect my number and pin it carefully onto my shorts, you don't want to rush this as a stray safety pin down that way doesn't bear thinking about, a final kit check, and I was stood, ready for the off, on a beautiful, sunny and warm morning, by 08:45. A quick chat with the marshal allocated to setting people off with the correct time gaps, and on his nod I was away. It's straight up hill from the start at Denbies Vinyard as you climb from the A24 gap up onto the North Downs Ridge. A fair old climb it is too, especially on cold legs (that will teach me not to warm up properly), but it's certainly well worth it. As you slowly gain height, so the views back over Dorking and the surrounding countryside open up, more than making up for the effort of the climb. Reaching the top at Ranmore Common things flatten out a bit and there's a chance to catch your breath, before the trail diverts off into the woods. With the occasional view through the trees of the countryside far below, the sun breaking through the still bare trees, casting dappled shadows across the clearings, the woods carpeted in Bluebells, and my feet starting to eat up the miles it was some magical running. The first checkpoint at the 7.5 mile mark soon came and went and it wasn't long before the trail spits you out to cross the A25 at Newlands Corner. Across the road on the marshaller's say so, and onwards across Albury Downs heading towards St Marthas Church. There's a few miles of downhill here, which brings with it a nice change of muscles. But it's not long before it's back up hill and along with the change of gradient a change of surface. Gone are the dried mud tracks of the high downs to be replaced with the loose sand that gives the other long distance path in this part of the world it's name (Greensand Way) It's hard work, running on the loose sand, but as St Marthas Church comes and goes it's only another mile or so to the next checkpoint and the turnaround point. 12 or so miles completed, and I'm soon heading the other way, back along the North Downs Way and back towards the start. As the miles add up so I can feel my belly starting to rumble, reminding me that it's been a while since breakfast. Making the most of the next uphill section, I slow to a fast walk for the first time since setting off and grab a chocolate spread butty and bit of fruit cake from my running vest. It's not as good as a Hot Cross Bun or Marmalade sandwich, but comes a close second and as a burst of instant energy, combined with a few carbs, takes some beating. With plenty of slower runners ahead there's plenty to occupy my mind as I retrace my steps. Catch a glimpse of someone ahead through the trees and slowly start to reel them in, a few quick words as you fall in behind, go past and move ahead, and then start eying up the next victim. This is better than running alone after all those months, a bit of company and someone to talk too, even if it's only for a few seconds, it's better than nothing! 3:50 sees the 4th checkpoint, the Marathon mark, the turn off from the North Downs Way onto the finishing loop around Norbury Park and a return to some sharp uphill running. Certainly not what I need with 26 miles already in my legs! I'm on the finishing straight now though, only another 5 miles to go! Reduced to a walk by the incline, I take the time to chat briefly to the person I've just caught, whilst trying to simultaneously get my breath and eat a chocolate bar. Possibly not the best combination of things to be doing and I get the feeling that he thinks I'm a raving lunatic as I struggle to breath, eat and talk at the same time. We've all been here though and at least I'm not dribbling or choking, and as the gradient levels off a bit I push on, leaving him slowly behind as we continue uphill. By the time 29 miles ticks around I'm starting to wonder if we're ever going to stop climbing and if I'm ever going to reach the finish. A short descent back to the road at Westhumble and the smiling face of a marshal. That's a good sign, at least I'm still on the right path. I'm not smiling 2 seconds later though, as he indicates that I need to go right, I round the corner to see the road going vertically up once again! Argggh. Oh well, a quick bit of banter with the lovely man that's taken the time out of his Saturday to supervise mine and up I go. A few minutes later and I pop out of a little alleyway to see the finish line. Might as well put on a bit of a burst for the line then, there's no point finishing with anything left to give. With 31 miles done it's hardly an impressive sprint for the line though and I finally meander across in 4:35 for 21st place from the 279 starters (7th in my age category). (Results) I'd set off hoping to get back in under 5 hours, so I'm more than happy with 4:35. More to the point though, it was a lovely route, with a good combination of hills, runnable woodland sections, outstanding views and a friendly atmosphere. The entire event was well managed, in a Covid safe way, with excellent communication from the organisers from the off, leaving you in no doubt what to expect on the day, or what was expected of you as a participant. As far as I'm concerned I couldn't have had a better return to the world of organised running. The sun shone, I seemed to get my strategy and pacing spot on on the day (which is unusual) and I had a brilliant day out. Bring on the next one is all I can add to that! I'd ummed and arrrred all week about my plans for the rest of the weekend. The weather didn't look too brilliant with showers forecast, and depending on how Saturdays run went I'd either be full of beans or hobbling about like a wounded soldier by Saturday evening. In the end I decided to cover all the bases by loading the van up with just about everything I own, including my bike and walking gear and telling "The Emma" that I'd be back at some point over the weekend. I'm good like that, and if you haven't already gathered "The Emma's" pretty relaxed about my adventuring and need to be outside too. I think really that she just likes me out of the way so she can kill zombies, or whatever she does on the X Box, and wander about naked, eating cereals out of the box and drinking milk out of the carton, without me moaning. But, I'm always grateful that she puts up with me and doesn't have a problem with me doing whatever I want (that works both ways mind). As we've already seen, Saturdays run went too plan, and the forecast rain never really materialised (ok we had a few brief showers in the late afternoon), but with the outlook looking fine I eventually decided to stay in the local area and get out on my bike for a few hilly miles on Sunday morning (it seemed a shame to waste a journey just for the run). And so it was then, that I was up and ready to go with my cycling gear on, after a good nights sleep, with the sun trying to break through the low laying cloud at early O'clock, thinking what the hell am I doing, my legs still hurt from yesterday! "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger" though (allegedly) and with the van parked in Shere, there's only one way to go, and that's upwards! If there's one thing that the Surrey Hills are it's hilly, and Shere and the surrounding villages are at the bottom of the hills in every direction. I've mentioned before that there's some lovely cycling in this part of the world and my plans for today were to do a few miles on the route I last did in July 2020, knowing full well that I'd be coming back past the van at the 40 mile point which seemed about right considering how my legs felt! It's straight into the climbing, with a long old slog from Shere back up to Ranmore Common before dropping down into Dorking too cross the A24 and climb back up to Box Hill on the other side. Box Hill seems to have been made famous by the 2012 Olympics where it was used as part of the cycling road race and The Knacker Cracker. OK, maybe The Knacker Crackers not the main reason, but in my opinion it should be, as the legendary "Zig Zag" road to the top certainly doesn't live up to it's reputation as a difficult cycling climb. I'd guess that it's long slow ascent, up a very alpine looking road with a few switchbacks and the fact that is isn't actually that steep, which makes it achievable for just about anyone, has helped, and on this Sunday morning it was packed with cyclists making their way to the café at the top. No stopping for me today though, I don't even drink coffee, so it's straight through and back down the other side, back into Dorking. After Dorking normal service resumes and the climbing's a bit steeper. Two ascents of Leith Hill from different directions, gives my legs something to think about (that will learn them) and then it's off towards White Down Lane. Straight over the A25 again and it's upwards, this is more like it, this ones properly steep, but I'm going well all things considered. Going well that is until someone in a big Audi decides that they can't wait 2 seconds, forces their way past and then instantly has to stop for a car coming the other way! Once I've been forced to a stop behind them it's far too steep to get going again, and despite having to walk for a bit until the gradient levels out enough to get going again safely, I'm still sat on their bumper all the way to the top and held back on the next descent. Oh well, obviously it's so much faster by car, and I'm so glad you had to be in front! A few more descents, a few more less challenging climbs and I'm heading back towards Shere and the chance of a brew and lunch. I briefly considered pushing on and putting a few more miles into my legs, but I'm hungry and with 40 hilly miles on top of yesterdays run, valiantly decide to call it a day. Not a bad morning out then, and the rain held off, which is always a good thing. Back at the van, I spent the afternoon mooching around, sat in the sun and did a bit of reading, had a wander through the woods at Hurtwood, spent some time admiring the views back toward the far off sea and generally chilled out. This is why I spent all those cold, wet weekends back in the winter of 2019 building the van. Freedom, peace, tranquillity and the opportunity to get away and have some fun! Whilst I was out and about at the weekend I spotted the little bits below too. Neither of them really fit in anywhere else but both caught my imagination and I think are worth sharing. |
Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
March 2024
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