Cold, damp, overcast and all-round great

I had been wondering whether the late arrival of Autumn would be followed by the gentle run-in we get when it's on time.  Now I know.

As far as I can tell, it's done three months of work in a fortnight.  One week, the sun's bright, the wind's cold, but the landscape was a glorious abundant green.  And today, running across the newly reopened path by the earthworks and past Motte and Baileys and on past Wrest House, the sun had gone, but more noticeable was the sparseness of the trees.  Crow's nests clustered in now-bare treetops, mud everywhere (including, now, in the house, but I hope to clear up before the others get home) and a dreich sky overhead.

Fantastic.  Real weather, none of this "I only like the sunshine" malarkey.

93 miles run - 986 miles to go

Posted by Tony Quinlan

Back on the road again

The weekly long run today - a clear 7-miler with some big hills thrown in.

I missed the Friday run - something to do with leaving the house at 5am to catch a 6.30am flight to Geneva, landing again at 10.30pm and getting home at 11pm. Didn't feel much like going out for a run at that point.

Today was an odd one, though.  Felt like lead weights in my legs from the start and struggled up Great Lane and the hill above the village. And on through Flitton - little more than slightly lengthy plodding.

And then suddenly, after five miles, as I rounded the corner out of Wardhedges and slowed to a walk while I tucked my gloves into the camelbak, took a slurp of water and a bite of banana, it all shifted.  I can't call it a second wind - there'd never been a first - but from then on it was an easier run.

It was also a much easier run than the one this time last year, which in New York - my first marathon.

And running in bright chilly sunshine on a Sunday morning has another effect: I can see drivers as they pass.  I wave and say thank you to the vast majority who give me a generous birth.  Most wave back and actually smile - which helps for the next stage of the run.

In the dark, I wave and mouth thank you, but they could be offering me sexual favours and I'd never know...

59.5 miles run - 1019.5 miles to go

Posted by Tony Quinlan

Clear and bright and bloody cold

Most of the recent runs have been at night - even 5.30pm starts are in the dark within a mile or so.  And while the headlamp helps, it's still not ideal - while most motorists are considerate, the ones that aren't blast past close with headlights full on and make it uncomfortable enough for me to prefer not to run at night.

So today, for the first time in a while, I was working at home, so ran in the middle of the day.  Blue skies, bright sunshine.  And biting cold.  In the sunshine was great (although Badger Hill seems to get closer to the vertical all the time), but out of the sun the slightest breeze was freezing.

There are round and about still the shriveled remnants of blackberries here and there.  Few leaves on the ground as yet - most trees are still green, although no longer the vibrant colour of summer, but the dulled green on the slope downwards to winter.

52.5 miles run - 1026.5 miles to go

Posted by Tony Quinlan