in the long run

Date: 25 January 2004 13:38:16

yesterdays long run took me out the west side of the city onto the coventry way, with the intention of following it round the bottom of the city to the south before heading back in from the east.

it was ambitious from the outset, leaving at just after midday meant light was likely to be the limiting factor. The weather was quite chilly but clear wintery skies and bright sunlight.

i always feel like an alien sight as i cut across town past people doing their everyday urban activities: waiting for the bus, shopping, washing the car. i rather like it.

yours truly about to set off

it takes the first hour to reach the red corrugated bit of tarmac that marks the edge of coventry. it hasn't really been all that easy so far and i haven't found a particularly comnfortable rhythm yet, it can;t be overtraining.. can it? i've done sod all the past week!
spirits raised by being out of town and into the country i finally feel warmed up and although the pack i'm carrying makes it hard not to drop my head i concentrate as far ahead as i can see. i have a fairly photographic memory but even i'm surprised the level of detail i can visualise almost the entire run with, the first bit was only a couple of weeks ago but the latter stages i can;t have covered since last autumn sometime.

by the time i reach the disused railway line i'm starving and treat myself to half an energy bar. the straight flat path allows me to settle into a rhythm again, pausing only to let some horses pass and when i'm spooked by the sound of a train approaching at speed (on the invisible & adjacent main line). as the path goes on toward kenilworth the number of walkers and families increases, 'rather you than me' comments one chap walking with his wife and young daughter, several possible responses go through my head but i'm rather distracted by the hobby-horse he's carrying so i carry on.. skipping as lightly as i can across the unavoidable muddy puddles.
passing now through the wonderfully named 'crackley woods' i think ahead to the remaining route, i now have a good idea what it requires of me and am reasonably confident i can give that much, daylight remains likely to be the limiting factor.

i carry on to the village of stoneleigh and follow the path of our walk the other weekend, i find i'm struggling again, the uneven surface, hills and stiles breaking my rhythm, and the weight of the pack is making a difference i hadn't bargained on.

another road section lets me regain some form of rhythm, when i come to turn off-road again i pause to sit down and consider my progress. the sun is just dipping below the horizon, it's still a clear sky and i estimate i have about an hours worth of light before i need to be on my way back on a paved road route. given the effect of being offroad has had so far i opt to follow the road to bubbenhall instead of the planned path. everywhere is in shade now and i'm colling off fast as i sit there, i put my jacket on and hit the road.

this road section goes quickly, my pre-programmed GPS is objecting strongly that i'm not obeying it's instructions.. but it seems happy enough when i rejoin the route again. coming out of bubbenhall with the lights of the airport to my left i get into a fairly trancey state i've not experienced since the 24hr event i did... i can write nothing about the next mile since my mind was entirely absorbed in the process of running and keeping going.

i'm shocked out of this state a little later by what i assume are some gunshots to my right, hopefully not aimed at me. they seem to have given up on stiles on this section leaving me to clamber over the fences, which my legs object to! the last section of this path is in the trees with a fence to one side and is surprisingly dark. when i reach the road what night vision i did have is stolen by the headlights of the cars.

given the failing light and knowing whats ahead i decide to take this road back toward the city. carrying on would involve running through the peugeot plant to ryton and either off road where i got lost before or along the road in the dark.

i find i can just about block the headlights of the oncoming cars with the peak of my cap.. the pavement gives way to unfinished roadworks and compacted gravel, a little later this gives way to uncompacted gravel followed by a half-hearted fence and 'footpath closed' sign. bit late now i think.

this is the edge of the city again. the return home from here was a struggle with some slow running and walking, involving various bargaining & negogiation between head & legs!

after 4hours 26minutes i make it home and take a gentle shower, a can of coke and some cake and a long nap!
i drink like a camel all evening and take an early night.

[yesterdays run: 23miles 4:26]
[this weeks run total: 27miles]
[this weeks swim total: 2525m]

[this weeks target run: 23.75]