Autumn Equinox

 

This week is an important time for me because, poor child of summer that I am, it means the passing of the Autumn Equinox. The Sun is on its way South, and there is no doubt about it any more, no denying the facts. Here in the heart of West Sussex with a sunny day making a lie of what I am saying; we are closer to mid winter than we are mid summer. Climate change is has caused some confusion. There are plants flowering that should not at this time of year and in the UK we are seeing a wider variety of butterflies than was ever the case. My neighbours Camellia tree is already in bud and that is just plain wrong. A few of my spring bulbs are showing through the soil and that is more wrong (I feel tempted to say wronger still, seems quite comfortable)…. That must definitely be a senior moment. 

Well anyway, it has been a lovely if a bit blustery day today but the temperature remains warm; I am wearing a summer dress and have the window and doors open.

 

 

 It is Sunday and that means there was a Sunday run this morning. However since, just as the leaves are on the turn and the September Equinox has passed, so we are thinking of winter training and starting to prepare for the triathlon season 2017. We have already put our names down to compete in two races that are both qualifying events for the ITU World Championships in Rotterdam is September of next year when we have not yet said a full goodbye to this month.

 

The two races are the Deva triathlon in Chester that has been one of the qualifiers for World Championship on a number of occasions in the past. The other one was a pleasant surprise to Steve and I because it is less than ten minutes from our home. Arundel Triathlon; this is a splendid choice, because it is a challenging event where the swim is in the River Arun, which is the second fastest flowing river in the country. The bike ride is hilly and also a pretty route that we are so familiar with that it is laughable. On the outward section it even passes right by our business premises before turning on to the A24,  the main road from here to London, passing close to local beauty spot Cissbury Ring, then a couple of km later past Chanctonbury Ring. On the triathlon route in just crosses the South Downs northwards then turns West running along the undulating north side of the downs through Storrington and past Amberley Castle before starting the climb back over the downs toward Arundel to finish.

 

The run section is also very pretty but fairly hard. After running along side the Castle moat in Mill Road it turns up into Arundel Park at Swanbourne Lake and the lodge there, (which has the best cake in Sussex if you fancy a tea stop as we always do of a Sunday.)  From there, it is off road and uphill until a turn to climb a steeper section up toward the Hiorne Tower that is passed a little way on the right. The last two kilometres are downhill, coming out of the park close to the Cathedral and along to the Castle gate at the top of the High Street with a steep run down through the shops and café’s where the second lap starts.

 

 

 

Steve and I very much enjoyed doing this old favourite route that we have run in training umpteen times. We will now include at least one lap of it into our weekly training during this winter along with a turn or twenty around the bike route. Steve and I marshalled at this race last year or the year before and it is as a lovely race to watch as it is to take part in. The Raw Energy team will be putting this race on as they did the Worthing Triathlon that we also took part in this August just past. Both, great local events showcasing a beautiful part of this country of ours; the sea, a wicked River Arun, the fabulous South Downs plus Cathedrals, Castles and ruins galore.