Mr and Mrs Impetuousness

 

Mr and Mrs Impetuousness.

Most run mornings, I don’t know how far we are going to go or which route we will take, that sort of thing I leave entirely to Steve to plan. After driving to Angmering Park Estate, which is not a formal park like the ones found in towns; it is a quite extensive, the land covers 6750 acres and the estates history goes back to the Norman Conquests. 

So with that amount of farm and woodlands available, it’s easier to see how we get to run in such beautiful countryside where it is easy to stay on the estate and get nice long runs in with so many choices of route.

Once Steve has parked Violetta, on the patch of chalk that was recently added to make the corner space just off the road, where dog walkers, runners, mountain bikers and horse boxes park up before they set forth, we start our run.

 

This morning I got out of the van and turned toward the Monarchs Way path into the woods but Steve stopped me and indicated that we were going to go off in the opposite direction. To me that meant that we were going to do another 8 mile run. As we go along our way every run day, I ask Steve to let me know when each mile is clocked up on the device on his wrist that is not very big but gives us a multitude of information, geek stuff that runners love. 

So we started off in running to the west for a little bit before turning into another section of woodland. We have taken that route quite a few times now when going for 8 miles. The big surprise of the morning for me was that when we got to the distant point behind Patching Church, instead of turning to run on and make a nice circular route,  Steve stopped at one to the gates and turned us back the way we came, making it a there and back run for a change. It is odd though, that having always gone in the one direction that it looks so different running in the opposite way. As a result it took 3.40 mins longer on the outward leg and so yes, it does gradually climb, not steeply but enough to make a noticeable difference as you go though.

We were both glad that we had opted to wear less clothes this morning because even that early, 5.20 am start, the day was threatening to be another hot one with not a cloud in the sky. I actually prefer to be completely covered running through the woods to save my poor old thin skin from lashes by brambles etc. it was too hot for long sleeves and tights today though.

 

 

After we had completed our 12^th 8 mile run during the lock down season, Steve drove us both around the extended route home. It is a little tour, through single track lanes then eventually meet the main road again where we then slip into Arundel just to make sure that its still there and because we like to, no more reason is needed. Arundel is a lovely little country tourist town that is usually packed with visitors in the height of summer but not this year of course. The Castle usually opens at around Easter. I like to get a visit in myself early in the season most years but that is on hold, like so many peoples lives right now.

When we got home we both checked our email and found a message from Ironman, telling us that we could have a priority entry for any of several races next year including one that was new to us. Ironman 70.3 Venice. We had both read the message and I had made coffee and brought it in the room when Steve bowled in and said “Lets do it”! What could be nicer to look forward to. So before you could say knife Mr and Mrs Impetuousness had signed up for the race on May 2^nd next year. There will be more about this another day I dare say.