Month: March 2012
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The Cuckmere
I live on a headland between the mouths of two rivers, so each time I go out for a run I decide between the Cuckmere and the Ouse. Lately I seem to find myself going more to the former. For a nine miler, I chose to run out and up to High and Over, then…
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For Marcus, 1956-2012
Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, Nor the furious winter’s rages; Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages; Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust. Cymbeline, Act IV, Scene II
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The Spirit of Schubert
The Spirit of Schubert continues to please me; I have yet to switch on the radio and think, 'oh, no, not Schubi again' (I am grateful to Alexandra Loske for this colloquial diminutive). Of course, I have not listened to it all, or anything like, but even the fragments are interesting, even that fugue subject…
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The day of the wanderer
In Radio 3’s Spirit of Schubert festival, of which more on the other blog, today was the day of Schubert the Wanderer. What better day to talk to Julia Armstrong about running, for a podcast to be published next week. I’ll say more when it’s out. In the evening, I ran with the Striders, five…
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A speed session
I have the very good fortune to be using up the last annual leave of the year in a glorious week, thanks to the jet-stream. For the first time for ages, I had a run before lunch, an agreeably painful six 800m runs with short recoveries and a mile warm-up and cool-down; or I would…
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Three weeks to go
Today I ran the longest distance I shall run in marathon training, eighteen miles. I finished it in 3:33:39. Hard work, of course, particularly towards the end, but it was a beautiful morning on the downs, and I ran to High and Over, Bo Peep and up over Firle Beacon, then to Beddingham Hill, back…
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Seaford seafront: a missed opportunity
Advertising the exhibition It is one of the clichés of Seaford conversation that the town neglects, indeed is almost ashamed of, its position on the coast. The sea-front, as I hope this picture conveys, is hideous. The town prefers to sell off the few amenities that might make it more interesting, such as the…
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Newbury
I’m not going anywhere near this all-weather nonsense at Lingfield. Today, at Newbury: 205: How’s Business240: Cue to Cue340: On Borrowed Wings These are posted a little late, but in the interests of posterity, I record them anyway.
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Franz is unwell
I am looking forward to Radio 3’s Spirit of Schubert season. All his music will be played, at one point or another, over . They have gone to town with social media, with a Tumblr and a Twitter account, the latter under the name Franz is unwell. My introduction to Schubert came I think through…
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The return of Brighton LibTeachMeet
The second Brighton LibTeachMeet last night was one of the occasions at which one really understands what it means to be part of a profession. Held under the auspices of the CILIP Sussex sub-branch, and ably chaired by Melinda Davies, @medav, Clinical Librarian at our hosts, the Brighton and Sussex NHS Library and Knowledge Service, we…
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Four weeks to go: ‘il faut souffrir pour être beau’
So said Colette, or Coco Chanel, or one of those other French women. It applies as much to running as to one’s appearance. For the long run today, I chose a route with a lot of ascents, through Friston Forest and up to Lullington Heath, then down into the Cuckmere valley and up again onto…
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Cheltenham 2012: Gold Cup day
130: Baby Mix205: Citizenship240: Brindisi Breeze320: Long Run400: Cloudy Lane440: Bourne515: Astracad
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Cheltenham 2012: Ladbrokes World Hurdle day
I had but one winner yesterday. Let’s try again. 130: Sir des Champs205: Our Father240: Somersby320: Thousand Stars400: Hector’s Choice440: Up The Beat
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Cheltenham 2012: Queen Mother Champion Chase Day
I can’t claim that any great insight led to my two short-priced winners yesterday. Let’s try again today: 130: Teaforthree205: Monksland240: Grands Crus320: Sizing Europe400: Abergavenny440: Vendor515: New Year’s Eve
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Cheltenham 2012: Champion Hurdle Day
In a few hours, when the great cheer goes up that marks the first race of another Cheltenham festival, I’ll be at the Speak Up for Libraries Lobby. I hope to see some of the races later on. My betting strategy is often deliberately contrary, but today, even my twisted brain cannot find reasons to…
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Five weeks to go
This week has been more encouraging. While I did not run the prescribed distances, I ran often and far enough not to feel disgraced, a fartlek on Tuesday morning, a run with the Striders on Wednesday and on Friday an early morning run, on which I was able, for the first time, to run off-road.…
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Eastbourne half-marathon
The omens were not propitious. Marathon training had slipped, losing about twelve days, I had a hard swimming coaching session the day before, I had been woken frequently in the night by importunate cats and the weather forecast was foul. Moreover, the last time I ran this race, in 2009, I did not enjoy it…
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Newbury, Doncaster and Kelso
Newbury 310: AerialDoncaster 325: Benny Be GoodKelso 335: Captain Conan