Sunday should have been the Devils Punchbowl Marathon, but unfortunately, storm Dennis or whatever we're calling this weeks bit of wind and rain put a stop to that. Annoyingly, I'd really been looking forward to this one, it seemed right up my street, a small event, all off road, hilly, non marked course, likely to be wet and muddy, right up my street. I can understand it being cancelled though, anyone that organises these sort of events is taking on a pretty big responsibility. In this day and age, where everything has to be someones fault, if something does go wrong then your in the firing line. I see that this weekends Bramley 20 was cancelled due to flooding and predicted weather conditions too, and that's all on road! Anyhow, if the weather was going to stop plan A, then time to put plan B into action. Like all great plans, Plan B involved getting the train to Woking and running back home along the canal, if we remember back to last week, the canals great for bad weather running. Except a quick look at the train times revealed a distinct lack of trains. Engineering works at Basingstoke = No trains for me. So that's plan B out the window too! Right, if plan A and B are out it will have to be Plan C. Unfortunately I didn't have a Plan C, even I'm not that well organised, so opted for a couple of laps of one of my local 10 mile off road loops instead. Now, before anyone feels the need to point out that the Met office think no one should go out because it's a bit wet and breezy, I'd just like to highlight that: A) Work never seem to say "have a day off as it's a bit damp out", and I'm sure that if I can go to work I can manage to go out to play. B) I spend a lot of time making sure everything I'm doing is as safe as can be. I choose my routes to suit the conditions, I always carry a first aid kit and space blanket, I always carry a fully charged phone. If I'm not 100% sure of the route or location, I carry a standalone GPS with full set of maps and spare set of batteries in addition to my phone. I pack a warm jacket and spare cloths if I'm likely to get wet or cold, all packed into in a waterproof bag, and always carry sufficient food and drink for the full day. As I said, I always try to make anything I do as safe as possible, whether that's running, cycling, walking or just pottering around in the shed. And in this instance, due to the weather, I'd elected to do loops of a well known route, so I'd be back at the van every 10 miles and could easily cut things short at numerous points if it all got a bit too much. As I sat having a brew and bit of breakfast, listening to the rain lash the windows and the wind howling around the chimney I almost had second thoughts, but, by the time I'd sorted my life out and the day had begun, the rain had eased off a bit, so out I went. There was a lot of big old puddles and a few fences down, on my short drive up to the start point, but things didn't look as bad as expected and the van temperature gauge was showing 10.5 degrees, so not all bad news. Van parked, shoes and backpack on and away I went. Whilst it was very wet underfoot from the off, I managed to stay reasonably dry for the first 1/2 mile, before I finally realised that if I tried to pick my way around the puddles and avoid the worst of the mud I was never going to get anywhere. Once that decision was made things got a bit easier, look at the way ahead, if the puddle or mud didn't look too deep then straight through, if it looked too deep then try and find a way around, or just man up and get in there! Some bits were undoubtedly worse than others, the footpath became a full blown stream for 1/2 mile or so down to a road crossing at about the 5 mile mark, but most of it was run-able. Once your wet your wet though, and the biggest problem becomes seeing where your feet are going when the surface is under water. It only needs a little slip to end up on your backside in the water, or worse still, twist or break an ankle. As such constant vigilance is required, each step needs thinking about, and a little run becomes a full body workout as you constantly change your route, alter your stride length or have to catch your balance to avoid a slip. The first 10 mile loop took 1:45, which when you consider I can easily cover that distance in under 1:20 on a normal day gives you an idea of how difficult the conditions were. I'm not stopping yet though, so, grab a quick butty from the van on my way past (Chocolate spread filled hot dog roll if your interested, carbs, sugar and a real morale booster, the ideal treat for any wet idiot) and around again. During the second loop the rain returned with a vengeance, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped quite considerably. By the time I got back to the van for the second time (20 miles done) I was wet through and starting to get cold. A quick 60 second stop at the van to grab a thicker jacket and a dry hat (that will please "The Emma" two wet jackets and hats to wash) and after a brief struggle to get the zip done up with cold, wet fingers, off again for a third loop. 5 1/4 hours after setting off I finally got back to the van for the third time, with 30 miles under my by now very wet feet. My leg's still felt surprisingly fresh considering the distance and conditions, but the cold was starting to get to me and it was definitely time to stop. I was cold, I was wet, I was muddy. I'd worn a hole in a brand new pair of socks, I was hungry and I was gagging for a brew. But you know what, I'd spent the morning out in the fresh air, I'd worked out muscles I didn't know I had. I'd beaten the weather, both physically and mentally. I'd run further than most people ever do, in conditions most people won't even go out in. I'd only seen one other person (a lady walking her dogs) in over 5 hours, and I hadn't stopped smiling the whole time! I'll let Storm Dennis or whatever it's called have yesterday, but today I definitely won. So that's one all this weekend, or 2-1 to me on aggregate if we include last weekends little breeze. I'm not going to jinx things by saying it takes more than a bit of weather to keep me down, but I'm certainly winning at the moment!
Oh and in case your wondering, the van temperature gauge on the way home said 5 degrees, down from 10.5 at 07:45 and I'd spent the last 20 minutes running in sleet. Obviously, by the time I'd got home and had a shower the sun had come out, bloody typical!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
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
Categories
All
|