Tag: wet

It was a tad wet…..

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 4 Comments

Last Sunday, the wettest since records began*, saw the annual Great Eastern Run. A half-marathon set in the picturesque** surroundings of Peterborough city centre.

Now to say the morning was wet and windy would be an understatement: it was frickin' very wet and frickin' very windy***. I'm not a great fan of running in the rain, so my first thought when I drew back the curtains was: f###ing hell. In fact it was probably not even I thought, I may have actually said it out loud, and probably loud enough it wake up most of my neighbours.

But, having said all that, I'd put in quite a few miles in training for the sodding event so I gathered my stuff**** together and set off for the proxy place. Initially I was planning to post a new half-marathon PB, but after arriving at the start I quickly decided today was not a day for PBs….

This race has been a mainstay on my race calendar for the last five or six years, so I knew exactly what to expect. Although I didn't expect to have to clamber over a fence, which a marshall wasn't amazingly impressed with*****, just to get somewhere near the start. I must admit it seemed a particularly disorganised start, although the weather and everyone rushing to the start at the last minute probably didn't help.

Now plodding the streets of Peterborough on a wet and windy Sunday morning isn't everybody's cup of tea, although I did spot some slightly amusing happenings:

  • Before we had even crossed the start line a fella, too busy waving to friends in the crowd, ran through a MASSISVE puddle.
  • Overtook a particularly knackered looking Batfink, his sponge 'wings of steel' probably not helping, they seemed to have soaked up quite a bit of water.
  • I ran most of the way in the vincinity of a bloke called 'Simon'. Not entirely sure who he was, but he was getting a lot of support along the way from the crowds. He must have been some sort of local superstar. 13.1 miles is along way to run wondering if Peterborough has any famous Simons. One did come to mind, Simon Bamford, him of Hellraiser fame, although I quickly dismissed this possibility…have you seen Butterball******?
  • Darren Ferguson, Peterborough FC's manager started the event, it was quite amusing to see how many people were avoiding the high-five.

Well suffice to say, I completed the race in a time of 1.37, a minute or so off a PB, pretty pleased with that. My reward:

* this is a lie

** this is also a lie

*** this is another understatement

**** flippers, snorkel, etc.

***** sorry Marshall, needs must and all that

****** obscure film reference

 

Rain. Rain. Rain. #juneathon

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 3 Comments

Day 20….

The other day I posted about why I take part in Juneathon, one of the reasons was for the challenge. Tonight was definitely a challenge.

Left work and drove home in the rain, light rain, but rain all the same. Amazingly this was the first night that the chances of running in the rain looked on the cards. I wasn't too concerned, it actually looked like it was brightening up as I pulled up at home. How wrong could I be?

By 8pm, when I was ready for the run, rain was in the air, but it was still very light. In fact, I arrived at the woods and things didn't look too bad….

Half a mile into the run things changed….the heavens opened and it chucked it down. I don't quite know what it is, but running in the rain is really hard work. Tonight was just over 3 miles but it felt like 30. Either it is the fact that your t-shirt suddenly becomes a sponge and seems to absorb 5000 pints of water, or the mind begins to play tricks on you and every step seems to feel like you've just completed a marathon.

Made it back to the car absolutely soaked and well and truly ready for a hot shower, cup of tea, sit down and relax…..

Today's mileage = 3.29

Total Juneathon mileage = 95.95

Mojo level = low

And how about a map of the route……just because I can….

 

Frostbite and a rabbit…..

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ 1 Comment

Today it was race 2 in the Frostbite Friendly League hosted by Bushfield Runners. A 5-miler starting and finishing at Bushfield's Leisure Centre near Peterborough. When I left home at around 9.30am all seemed good. When I got to the race is was no longer 'all good'. It was absolutely pissing it down! Walked to race HQ in rain. Warmed up in the rain. Ran the race in the rain. Walked back to the car in the rain. I was wet through and just wanted to get home.

Finished in 145th place in a pretty decent time of 34.06, less than 7 min/mile pace, so couldn't moan too much. But a shower, a lovely bacon and egg baguette and cup of tea and I was sorted.

As for November's Challenge, the traditional art of Japanese paper folding, may I present a rabbit….

Now I understand it may look a tiny bit like a donkey or a dog, but I can assure you it is a rabbit, the app says so….

I can't quite understand how their rabbit is looking slightly more happy and proud than my slightly depressed looking rabbit. I think a visit to the art department tomorrow to steal borrow some coloured paper may be required.

 

A British Summer?

~ Phil Lengthorn ~ Leave a comment

A nice summer's walk with dog….didn't quite go to plan….

It was late afternoon, the sun was shining, it all seemed set for a nice walk with the dog in the Lincolnshire countryside. All began well, it was reasonably warm, so decided to skirt the edge of the field and head towards the woods so that Billy Boy could chase some squirrels.

The nice gentle walk soon turned into a mad dash for cover as an almighty storm came from nowhere. Finding cover in the woods seemed like the best plan, if the rain had started that quickly surely it wouldn't last that long. However, the rain grew heavier and heavier, it grew darker and darker, and staying dry became harder and harder…

It wasn't long before it became impossible to stay dry and a decision was needed as to whether to head home. I was already drenched so the ten minute walk home surely wouldn't make much difference.

I was by now deep in the woods, it was time to make my way home. It took me some time to negotiate various sodden muddy paths and fallen trees to reach the edge of the woods, which meant by the time I finally reached the fields the rain had subsided. I think the cows in the field were quite surprised to see me emerge from the woods….

By the time I had traversed the field and made it back to the ponds and the path that would take me back into town the sun had come out, although it was still raining….

We finally made it back home after nearly 2 hours, rather wet, but we made it….

Are we ever going to get a summer?