Before we get into the bones of this weeks exciting episode of stupidity I thought I'd just drop this photo in. I clicked this whilst out running early Tuesday morning. According to my phone it was -2 and certainly felt like it, but I think you'll agree, when you get to see the sun coming up like that it more than makes up for an early start and chilly fingers. Anyhow, gratuitous pictures aside, I thought that I'd best get this months instalment of "Marathon A Month Madness" out of the way this weekend before the Christmas festivities get into full swing and I'm too full of Christmas pudding and Mince pies to walk, let alone run. I took the van down to Alresford Friday night ready for an early start Saturday morning, although the fact I didn't wake up until nearly 07:00 sort of messed that plan up. It always takes me a good hour to get myself going before a big run, I can't be doing with running until I've had breakfast and at least 2 brews, so I didn't actually get going until half 8. However, once I did drag myself out of bed and into the great outdoors it was quite a nice morning, a touch on the damp side, but still warm for the time of year and although we've had quite a lot of rain recently the Oxdrove Way, todays chosen route, was mostly still runnable. As expected there were a few muddy areas, where vehicles have churned up the track, which took a bit of dodging around and leaping over, but in the main it was OK. I've run sections of this a few times over the last couple of years, so the routes familiar and easy to follow, without having to think too much about it, an ideal situation when your watching where your feet are going to avoid the slippery bits and puddles. And, as we've seen in previous instalments, I'm not actually very good at finding my way around, so easy and familiar is always good in my book! By mid morning the sun had put in an appearance and as the half way point came and went I was thoroughly enjoying myself. A brief pause at the 20 mile mark to snaffle a marmalade sandwich (the choice of champions, as far as I'm concerned) gave me the chance for a brief breather before the final couple of miles. A final couple of miles, which handily, when you've already done more than 20 miles, is all up hill! Up hill or not, the final few miles passed without incident and I was back at the van with another 26.2 miles completed in 3:46:10. I don't think that's bad going for a winter off road marathon with plenty of slippery muddy bit's and more than it's fair share of big potholes and divots to dodge around. That's that then, twelve 26.2 (or more) mile runs completed in 2020. I'm happy with that and think that it was a worthy challenge, more so considering I've had to do half of those runs on my own, unsupported, due to the Covid situation. I suppose that the next question is do I carry on next year and try to make it 24 in 24 months? I guess you'll just have to keep on watching this space to see what I decide! In other news, I dug this lot out of the back of the cupboard earlier in the week. There's 4 Kilner jars with various concoctions made from allotment fruit and various spirit bases there. The most surprising thing is that they date from 2016 and 17. There was a time when nothing alcoholic lasted more than about 10 seconds here. Oh. how times have changed that things can sit maturing in the back of the cupboard, untested for 4 years. I must confess, that I had a little taster as I was bottling them up and the 4 years maturation certainly hasn't done them any harm. I'll get a few labels on them this week and they can go back in the cupboard with all the other treasure for a few more years! Surprisingly (or not) it took me a while to get going Sunday morning, not helped by the weather I'll hasten to add. I'd initially planned on getting a few bike miles in, but as I've said before, riding your bikes not much fun in the rain, so once I finally got myself going, I pulled on the weatherproofs and winter boots and plodded around a few miles of local paths and bridleways.
Despite the constant drizzle it was good to be out, stretching yesterdays tired legs. I suppose the weather helped, but it was surprisingly quiet out and I think I only saw two or three other people in the whole time I was out (and they were runners!). By the time I got home, wet, hungry, but happy, there wasn't much time for anything else, bar a few hours off pottering around in the workshop and a quiet evening sat in front of the fire. That's not a bad way to wrap up a winters weekend though is it? There's something magical about sitting in front of the fire with the wind and the rain lashing against the windows, knowing that your snug and safe!
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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
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