David and Daren down hill delight by darenpackham at Garmin Connect - Details

David and Daren down hill delight by darenpackham at Garmin Connect - Details

Another Run

Another motivation for exercise or to get out running is to meet a friend. Today I made a firm arrangement to meet my friend David. We meet at 'Jack and Jill' which is another local beauty spot in the South Downs National Park. We meet here because it is conveniently, equidistant between where we live and we both enjoy the route we do there. We named it, David and Daren's down hill delight
and it is a great route that despite it's name, ascends over a 1000 feet in its 6 mile length.

This morning I pulled into the deserted car park at a few minutes before 0830, just ahead of David. I decided to get out of my car to put on my running shoes which were in the boot. I got the shoes and very quickly decided against being out in the freezing cold wind and got directly back into the driving seat of my car, reaching to turn up the dial on the cars heater. A level of comfort and warmth was re established just as David reversed his car into the space next to mine. Our electric windows descended in unison and a happy greeting was made.
 "David, I don't normally do this mate, but would you like to go and get a cup of tea instead?" I said, asking hopefully.
 "Err Yeah" 
"Oh. I wasn't really expecting you to say that?"
His deviation from his ever enthusiastic and positive outlook took me by surprise. That was easy, I thought. But then unfortunately his strength returned.
" We have made the effort to be here, we should go and run"
"It's really cold, tea sounds nice" I said again hopefully, fishing for the chink in his positivity.

However. Soon shoes were being laced and shoulders being squared against the bracing easterly wind as we began a slow start to our loop. For some reason, today's run was made better by the extra effort it took to get going and I thoroughly enjoyed the run and the company. I wonder if I would have been more persuasive over the tea if I had not made it out on Monday.

Devils Dyke to Truliegh Hill and back by darenpackham at Garmin Connect - Details

Devils Dyke to Truliegh Hill and back by darenpackham at Garmin Connect - Details

A new Route

 

 

 

Taken from Devils Dyke car park towads Truliegh Hill

 

                                                         The Radio Mast at Truliegh Hill

                                                Looking back to Devils Dyke from Truliegh Hill

I decided on a new route, which was a good idea because it added a level of interest and helped towards the motivation that I needed. The South Downs National Park backs neatly onto Brighton and Hove and there is several options for starting points. I drove to a local beauty spot called 'Devils Dyke' It is just a 5 minute drive from my home and is normally discounted by me because it is the closest to the city and therefore the busiest. I often run up here from home and the starting point of today's run is more likely to be my turn around point.
Today though I parked up and jogged out towards the radio masts at Truliegh Hill. My pace started slowly and just as I was getting up to a comfortable rhythm, I slipped on the wet ground and fell on my fat arse. Obviously a treat to entertain the several dog walkers in the vicinity. Just after the tumble, within the first mile I got chased down by a small dog that was keen to try biting my ankles, my reasons for skipping this area were starting to be confirmed. However once I was a mile or more from the car park I enjoyed the trail to myself on a beautiful day. I am pleased that I had overcome my lethargy and although I am a long way from being addicted to running, this was an important step to keep me going out and towards the goal of reaching the belt hole of champions.

Energy v Lethargy

Some people say that running can be addictive. I personally really like to go for a run and if you go regularly you do start to scratch at the door like a dog the minute time allows and when time does not allow, you look sadly out of the window wishing you could go. Strange though this addiction because if you stop going for just a week of two, you honestly can't be bothered if you ever run again. Lethargy starts to win over exercise quite quickly. This is certainly my personal experience.

Today the sky was clear, I had time and this morning I found myself procrastinating over a cup of coffee in my local coffee house. I was composing a list of tasks that I need to achieve before going back to work in a few weeks time and at the top of my list for today was, 'go for a run'

I knew from experience that I needed to try and go out for a bit of a run today because deep down I can still feel the rumblings of the need and passion for the open trail and can remember how good it makes me feel. If I do not go it will get harder and harder to get back out there and my belt hole will slowly slip out a notch or two and I will eventually feel slow and fat.

I resolved that I must go and so today energy has won over lethargy.

The Olympic White Water course

photo by Paula Sibley

 

My hands were cold, very very cold. My lightweight gloves offering little protection against the biting cold wind and rain. It is after all, February in the UK..

There was some momentum gathering amongst members of the Martlet Kayak Club. Quite a few folks had already booked a slot and the date being talked about was free on my family calender, so when I clicked on the mouse in the comfort of my home some weeks ago, a surge of excitement had gone through me and with the anticipation of running the legacy course at the Lee Valley White Water Centre, a firm smile had appeared on my face. Lee Valley was the venue for the 2012 Olympic white water kayaking events. This was going to be a fun day out with friends and a huge test of my rusty kayaking skills. In the excitement I had not considered how cold it might be on the date we had chosen!

Before being let loose on the course you have to complete a one hour practical assessment. This visit for me would entail completing the assessment and assuming a successful pass, another hour on the course. Out of ten plus members of our club that travelled to Lee Valley, there was three of us booked on the noon assessment with the others having already passed. Gathered nervously in the cold, our little group listened to the instructor and without much hesitation or delay we were soon on the water. The way my hands were feeling was convincing me to do everything in my power to avoid a swim in this frigid water.

There is a travellater that takes paddlers, while still sat in their boat from the small lake at the bottom, to the top of the rapid. As soon as my bow left the travellater, I was off, no time to consider options,. there was only one option available. I had committed to my first descent of the rapid at the beginning of the moving ramp and no one had told me. Straight away a continuous series of drops and fast flowing water had me on edge but I was mostly enjoying it. The art of kayaking on moving water is not to just shoot the rapid but to break out of the flow and to re enter, enjoying the features, drops and eddies. It is generally this messing about that causes the trouble and for me, with my lack of recent practise things went pear shaped reasonably quickly.

In most sports there is a point where you cross a skill threshold that takes you to the next level. With water sports and kayaking in particular, it is the self recovery from a capsize, that once mastered enables the paddler to take on more difficult challenges. There are two ways to recover from a capsize. Option one, complete an Eskimo roll, this requires the upturned paddler to relax for a second or two while he or she is submerged in what seems like a demented washing machine, that is stuck on a high speed, ice wash cycle, gather your thoughts, reposition your paddle and make a simple sweep, that combined with a flick of the hips should regain an upright position and once again allow normal breathing. Option two, is to try the above but realise quickly that fresh air is required urgently, the human brain then prioritises breathing above having another go at the roll and you end up swimming the rest of the rapid. Annoyed to miss the roll but thrilled to be able to breath again you manage to forget how cold it is for a minute or two but soon it does catch up to you and the misery is complete.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day out at Lee Valley, running the legacy course in my small green boat. I take off my hat to the 'legacy program' and am pleased that we have the opportunity to swim down the course dragging my kayak. One day I hope that I gain enough skill to paddle or swim down the actual Olympic course.

My good friend Dai made an amuzing video http://vimeo.com/59838243

'Hangouts'

I have been lucky enough to sail around the world on various yachts and boats and explored different places. Everywhere I go, I am always on the lookout for the refuge of a coffee shop or bar where I can sit alone or with a few friends to enjoy an hour or two away from work.The places I choose are selected by no specific criteria, they don't need to have special culinary excellence or sell the best coffee or make the best cocktails, they just have to suit me and I will have enjoyed the atmosphere and then filed the place away in my small brain for future reference or when I may one day, by hook or by crook return again.

As I discover more or return to my favourite 'hangouts' I will share them here and post a few pics.

Last week I took my family to one of my favourite Caribbean 'hangouts' The Jambe de Bois on Pigeon Island, St Lucia. This is a classic with rustic furniture on a deck overlooking the water. Plants and flowers crawling up the walls, a definite winner for lunch or a sun downer. The food was not excellent but the atmosphere was still as I remembered and what a setting! Lovely to share with my family.

Holiday Reading Material

A genre of reading material that is in a very narrow band, is those books which I have read purely because they were written by someone I know. For some reason I know 3 published authors, probably more. (Please let me know)

This was the reason that I was reading a book called, 'The Gordonston Ladies Dog Walking Club' on my holiday. I worked with the author Duncan while I was in Savannah and I really enjoyed the book dispite the fact that I wouldn't have chosen it off the shelf. When reading a book written by a friend you can't help yourself trying to find a hint of their personality between the lines. In this book Duncan's twisted sense of humour was easily spotted.

The other authors, Orson Wedgwood the auther I know the best, wrote Deadly Medicine. Again not a book I would have seeked out but a very good read non the less. Roustabout by Michelle Chalfoun was a harrowing tale. I sailed with her for just a few weeks, she jumped ship in New York because she had gained the publishing deal. She seemed like such a sweet girl, I knew that she had spent time with a travelling circus but I was slightly disturbed, not so much at the book but because I hoped for her that this was a work of pure fiction. I have never seen her again to ask..

Lacking the necessary skills

We have returned from our family holiday in St Lucia which was both relaxing and beautiful, apart from the flights which proved to be a a huge challenge for our small boy child, who found sitting still and sleeping on demand were things properly outside of his skill set. To be honest it may be some years before he develops those particular skills as his father still has some trouble with them himself.

Sand Sculptures

 

On our family holidays to the beach at Margate, my dad always used to make me and my brothers a sand sculpted boat that we could play in on the beach. His were precise and neatly sculpted in perfect proportion. The boats I am now crafting in the sand are small and roughly made but it is difficult not to want to try and recreate happy memories from my youth when playing with my own son on the beach. He does seem to enjoy the boats I have made but my sculptures are having to evolve with demands for such delights as teletubbies and robots. I wonder what he will end up building for his kids..