I returned to running for the first time in two weeks on Tuesday lunchtime. It’s precisely a fortnight ago since my last Black Ink session. It’s around 95% healed, which I would say is good enough to get back out pounding those mean streets of C07.
I say mean streets, what I mean, of course, is the Estuary Wilds route. It involves a lovely scenic stretch along by the river down towards the Creek and then back up through Alresford whilst you play Frogger along the main road, running back all the way back towards Weird Wiv.
It has the simplicity of being exactly 10 km door-to-door. I’ve even been known to plod along two or three extra houses down just to achieve that OCD-pleasing, even rounded figure.
Work shit meant that my run couldn’t take place until midday. Talk about mad dogs, etc. Blimey it was bloody hot out there.
I was a little sheepish as to how my long-standing cough injury might hold up. I needn’t have worried. It was an absolute breeze, even if the weather wasn’t.
I did, however, have a slight foot pain on the other side. I am, if nothing else, the Dot Cotton of Weird Wiv.
I thought I was the only lone nutter doing the midday running thing during a heatwave, but nope - out along those balmy riverbanks was some other bloke.
He was topless, carrying his t-shirt. That’s a look I could never pull off - nor one I would want to either. I would rather sweat it out than go strutting and poncing around bare-chested.
A little further down the estuary and there was a couple of young fishermen. They were in a spot I’ve never seen anyone casting their big long rods before.
I reached the Creek and took the sharpish turn towards Alresford. I did struggle up the hills.
I did think of cutting short the route by a kilometre or so when the turn off of an opportunity presented itself. But nope, I am a stickler and was determined to get in my 10 km OCD exercise for the day.
He’s back on it. Yeah.