22nd August A plod full of meaning in the Peaks

Saturday morning saw the unusual chance to run with a few other folks, not in the context of an organised race but rather in a social run exploring 'sites of meaning'. No idea what I am on about, well hang on in there.

The little hamlet of Middleton by Youlgreave is a short ride from TOM's and with his attention completely occupied by the Daily Mail, it was an opportunity for me to go and plod in part of the Peak District I was unfamiliar with, alongside members of the Youlgreave Harriers, who I hoped were similarly pedestrian in their running. As it turned out some were, whilst others were obviously reigning in their natural speed in order not to lose the stragglers.

The aim of the run was to visit a dozen or so of the sites of meaning doted around the surrounding countryside over a 7 mile route. It was originally due to be a15 mile jolly which would have had me remain firmly in bed but injuries to the organisers meant the reduced half distance jolly was do-able.  

The Sites of Meaning is a millenium project (1999-2006) instigated by the parish of Middleton & Smerrill to mark the seventeen entrances to its parish with boundary stones. Each stone is inscribed with a few lines from sources as varied as Isaiah, WH Auden, Wprdsworth and children from the pocal primary school. NB I didn't recognise the biblical quote...lol

As for the stones themselves, well some took the form of curb stones, some resembled stone books, one formed the span of a bridge over a small stream, others looked like familiar milemarkers whilst my favourite one was this pair of rather quizzical faces

As for the actual run itself which was very picturesque, well as to be expected it was rather a rather stop start affair as we jogged too, searched for and then admired the various stones. In fact out of the 2 hours and 10 mins it took for our varied group of 15 to complete the 7 mile route, I actually only ran for an hour and thirty minutes.

I did wonder due to the length of time that had elapsed since I had left the house that TOM might be worried that something had happened to me. Needless to say, lost in the wonders of his beloved Daily Mail, I am not sure he had even noticed that I had gone!!