We are now in the tapering period for people running the VLM and we’ve probably had enough hills for a while, so I suggest we do the Poynings run on Saturday. It’s just over 12 miles and there shouldn’t be extensive stretches of mud, although it could be muddy in places – less so if we run across the Common and through Woodmancote, rather than via Holedean Farm and Oreham Common.
Continuing the response to the request for ‘more hills’, I suggest we do the ‘Big One’ aka Truleigh on Saturday. It’s about 13 miles and quite a tough climb up from the road, but the views at the top on a clear day are worth it. Rest assured Mitch will not be coming!
I am aware a number of people are running the London Landmarks half marathon this weekend, but for the rest of us I suggest this 10 miler down to Upper Beeding and Tottington. Thankfully it’s becoming progressively easier to avoid mud and we shouldn’t encounter any until Tottington Woods even if we run down the river bank from Stretham Bridge.
I suggest we do one of the Lock Farm routes on Saturday – for PG residents we should be at the Farm road junction at about 8.30. There are several versions, but this one is about 10 miles – in the interests of avoiding mud, it may be worth following the dotted line, unless anyone particularly wants to circumvent Jessops Farm! Anyone unfamiliar with Spithandle Lane has a treat in store….
I suggest we do the Monastery run on Saturday morning. It’s about 11 flat miles and another classic route. As may be seen, we now avoid the slog up Wineham Lane by going via Abbeylands Farm and Buckhatch Lane, so there is very little tarmac to negotiate, nor should there be too much mud if the weather forecast is accurate!
I suggest we do a slightly amended version of the Poynings run on Saturday morning. It’s still about 12 mainly flat miles, but I think it’s better to go across the Common to Woodmancote and down Bramlands Lane than use the Eastout – Lower Edburton Barn route, which is very wet and muddy.
Whilst the overriding objective is to avoid extensive and deep mud, my perception is that people prefer getting wet feet to road running, so the plan this Saturday is to run up the Downs Link to Southwater Country Park and back, which is 15 miles. There are obvious shorter options, but it’s worth doing the whole route, if possible, particularly as the pace will be steady. There won’t be a geat deal of mud, but it may be advisable to wear waterproof socks!
Unfortunately there are a limited number of dry routes that don’t involve longish stretches of road running. A few of these include Lock Farm and this is the basic one of 9.5 miles that should enable us to keep our feet dry until the path linking Honeybridge and Spithandle Lanes and also avoids a certain bridge. There may also be some Joggers who have never run down Spithandle, which everyone should do at least once and some of us do on a fairly regular basis!
This is the suggested route on Boxing Day. It’s about 10 miles, starting from HLC at 9am and, hopefully, avoiding any lengthy stretches of mud and also, of course, Eatons Bridge.
Have a great day tomorrow, everyone, whether you are running or not.
I suggest this route on Saturday that I have filed as ‘Wineham-Shermanbury dry’! It’s about 10 miles and there are a few potentially muddy shortcuts for those who would prefer a slightly shorter run, but don’t mind getting their feet wet.
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