The first minor frost of the season as I cycled along the Trail towards Colchester Park Run on Saturday morning.
It was so minor that the rising estuary wilds sun burnt it all off before I even reached the Hythe.
Also burning it off down at the muddy banks along the Hythe was @cantcutcarwyn.
That man can RUN.
I passed him en route to my 5km Park Run.
Betcha Carwyn was running a half marathon for fun early morning.
Park Run for me was equally pants and impressive.
I arrived late for the first time.
Whoops.
I rolled up the Castle Park Bandstand just as the starting pistol was fired.
There isn’t really a starting pistol…
By the time I locked up the bicycle and got myself organised, I was the final runner on route, starting around two minutes behind the pack.
No worries - an ‘enthusiastic’ BOOZE session the night before meant that it wasn’t exactly a morning for a PB.
I made my way slowly through the pack, finally finding my place with runners of a similar pace with around 1km to go.
The sprint finish felt good. My own personal Strava time suggested that this had been a half decent run.
The official race time was of 24’14” was just wonky.
We had a bit of business about town, and then cycled on for a swim.
My transition from outdoors at Lake Brockwell, and then back to indoors in Sunny Colch, has left me feeling strong.
It was a rare morning where I gained a length on Anna as we both put in the lengths.
Mr Underwater Man was doing his usual tricks in the adjacent lane. It is very odd to attempt an entire swim underwater, pausing for breath at each end, and then diving deep down once again.
We arsed around a bit in the spa, and then cycled back along the GLORIOUS Trail.
A cricket and crepe luncheon was taken.
Anna made a poor joke about crepes / craps. The cheapo Lidl microwave efforts tasted more like warm bread sprinkled with sugar.
And then the afternoon shout went out of:
To Brightlingsea!
We hacked it at quite a pace cross-county, keen to make the 3pm KO for Brightlingsea Regent at home to Thamesmead.
I did a hit and run photo shoot on the fly,
We startled a pheasant in a Thorrington field. It was quite spectacular seeing it flap away towards the estuary.
Brightlingsea Regent was decent. The home team trailed 3-1 late in the second half. They pulled it back to 3-3 just before full time.
Anna and I had to do a runner for the piss poor hourly bus service. Twitter informed us whilst sitting on the top deck that Brightlingsea won 4-3.
Bugger.
Saturday night was spent watching the Forest match, cricket highlights and then more track cycling.
Chapeau!