T’was the week before Christmas and all through the snow, the crazies were running shouting YEE, HA and HO; wearing bright lime green trainers or twee Santa hats, they dashed through the snow like a herd of mad cats.
It was a whole day since my previous run, so I felt quite privileged to be out in the snow again, this time in the company of Dai & Daren. Kim had very kindly lent me her car, which I was pleased about as the side roads at both ends were still white and slippery… no place for the big fat tyres on my rear-wheel drive car.
Dai was sporting his latest pair of off-road runners, complete with incisive cleats… it was quite amazing to see the difference in footprints between our shoes and his… ours were imprints in the snow, his were clear cuts into the ice below.
We set off from Clayton Rec along Underhill Lane and up the tank tracks, the snow making progress heavier-going than normal, which is saying something of that hill!
We turned right at the top and ran down towards Jack & Jill, admiring the bleak views to our left.
The snow was glorious to run on though and we took the South Downs Way down past the golf course and into Pyecombe, glad that we can always be bothered to get out and run, no matter what it looks like outside. From Pyecombe we followed our normal track all the way to the top of Wolstonbury Hill.
Once on the top we realised the bite in the wind and huddled like kittens in the lee of the trig point.
The steep-steep hill down was a mass of whoops and laughter, Dai showing us how much faster cleated shoes get to the bottom… or maybe he just has a greater sense of gravity. Either way, his feet hardly seemed to touch the ground.
Further down we saw how brilliant the valley we always thought would be brilliant for sledging really was, which was clearly brilliant. Although, alas, we didn’t have a sledge to rub between us.
Back at Clayton Rec we ran around the football pitch in order to reach the 6-mile mark… and then had to chase Dai as he raised our 6 miles to 10km by running around again!
So 10 brilliant kilometres, circa 6.25 miles, 1.18… 4.8mph. Mind you, we did laugh a lot!
all well and good, but it’s a New Year now, and where are you? Stinger 6th March?
Cliff
Oh yes Mr F, all signed up for the Stinger, go on, you know you want to…….Getting back into it as have not been a a well bunny through Dec, let’s run soon.