26th December On the second day of Christmas....

 


My true love gave to me...two turtle doves

Which just so happens to be the name of the seasonal saunter I have just completed. The Totley Two Doves race to be precise, a just over 5 mile jolly on the outskirts of Sheffield. 

I'd like to report how it helped to blow away the cobwebs after a hectic couple of days. I'd like to say I ran under a cloudless blue sky and enjoyed fantastic views. I'd like to say that I left 'Elizabeth' my running nemesis from Long Eaton trailing in my wake. I'd like to say i beat my time on the same course 2 years ago. I'd like to say unlike those brave souls who ran in just a singlet and skimpy short, my arctic survival outfit of mulltiple layers was a far better choice of running attire. I'd like to say I enjoyed it. Unfortunatly I can say none of those things.

The weather was cold and so misty it was hard to see 25 ft in front esp on the exposed secrions across the moor. The ground was either very muddy or like running through a stream. My glasses kept steaming up making foot placement rather tricky especially on the downhill sections, where I had visions that every large puddle I had to run through would result in a Vicar of Dibly moment.  Elizabeth disapeared from view, dressed in her red Santa (or was in Satan) outfit within the first 15 mins. And all in all I spent far too much time puffing and panting like a wounded buffalo rather than  leaping and bounding like a young gazelle. 

It was not my finest moment or most enjoyable run ending up with a time a full 10 mins slower than in 2019, and 5 mins behind 'Elizabeth' as opposed to 6 seconds slower than her 2 years ago. But at least I ended up in one piece even if I do appear to have left most of the mud from my shoes, jogging bottoms and socks on TOM's bathroom floor. Guess I'll be sleeping in the dog house tonight!


 

 

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