A glorious Trail ride out to Sunny Colch for the Saturday morning Park Run in Castle Park.
The tide was coming in, and the BIG ESSEX SKIES were radiating the blue.
Or was it the other way around?
It was something of a party atmosphere at Castle Park. The Colchester branch of Park Run was celebrating four years of the weekly 5km race (that most definitely isn’t a race…)
The call went out the week before for fancy dress.
I don’t do fancy dress. Just lido rubber.
It was a wonderful occasion with awards and a post-race cake fest set up. Having ran only three Sunny Colch Park Runs, I wasn’t invited up to receive a certificate.
Party time @Colchesterparkr #Colchester pic.twitter.com/UHOUpF94Sk
— Colchester Chronicle (@ColchChronic) April 2, 2016
I felt good for the run itself - even if it was being competed for in the reverse route as part of the party treat.
I always approach Park Run thinking just enjoy it, don’t go for a PB.
But then the chase is always better than the kill. The horses are on the track and the hare starts running.
I legged it around the first 2km or so, and thought aye aye - a PB is on here.
I was booze free from Friday night and feeling rather fresh.
But then those bloody Castle Park hills kicked in for the final 1km or so.
OUCH.
A final time of 22’28” was 35 seconds out for a PB.
I ate some cake instead.
A brief splash about in the pool on the way back, and then I bonked on the bike along the Trail.
I had some mid-morning work, and then a pretty major gardening session.
Moss needed to be scraped.
Talk about a ROCK ‘N’ ROLL Saturday, etc.
I made it worth my while with a long overdue podcast catch up with South London Hardcore.
I really miss those guys.
The garden Robin continues to develop a beautiful friendship with me. He / She has been getting ever closer and coming over to say hello.
At one moment this afternoon I thought that my Robin friend was actually going to sit on my shoulder.
The mad cat was keeping a watchful eye from indoors.
Some lido lovely GOLD pics were published later in the afternoon. I’d forgotten all about this set that I snapped back in the summer of 2005.
I promised myself an afternoon ride on the road bike. Energy levels were back after some scrambled egg. I cleated up for the first time this season and put on my best Tour of Flanders face.
All was going rather well all until I hit Great Bentley and some drizzle.
Bugger.
The route was shortened. I just about got away with it.
Some more early evening work, and then El Classico finished off Saturday.
Bloody knackered.
Oh yeah - played this just before a very early bedtime.
It just seemed to fit.
LOVELY.