Anna slipped out to South London early on Saturday morning.

I was left on Colchester Park Run responsibilities.

Not fair.

WotNoFloods?

A photo posted by Jason Cobb (@jason_cobb_) on Jan 14, 2017 at 12:34am PST

The cycle in along the Trail was a beautiful blue sky morning. The low water deceived the near miss of the floods from eight hours earlier.

200th Colchester Park Run, innit

A photo posted by Jason Cobb (@jason_cobb_) on Jan 14, 2017 at 1:01am PST

Park Run was something of a celebratory occasion, being the 200th time that the 5km course has been run around Castle Park.

That all adds up to 5.6 times around the equator, apparently.

200th @Colchesterparkr. Total distance run in Castle Park equivalent to 5.6 times around the equator. Blimey. Thank you LOVELY volunteers. pic.twitter.com/m2uvIdKZ4G

— Colchester Chronicle (@ColchChronic) January 14, 2017

I timed it to perfection to make sure that I missed out on the group photo ahead of the start of the run.

The usual route was being run in reverse.

WACKY folk, this Park Run lot.

It was bloody hard work. I didn’t know if I was Arthur or Martha.

I’ve not been pounding the mean streets of CO7 / SW8 for the past week. I’ve got a slight bruise on my right foot.

The official race time of 22’25” backed up my cautious approach.

Oh dear

A photo posted by Jason Cobb (@jason_cobb_) on Jan 14, 2017 at 1:37am PST

And then I did something very silly: I bought a new pair of shin pads.

YOU FOOL!

Tricky Skills on the comeback trail. Oh Lordy #nutmeg

A photo posted by Jason Cobb (@jason_cobb_) on Jan 14, 2017 at 5:45am PST

It’s almost a decade since injury forced me to give up 5-a-side back at Brixton Rec. I genuinely thought that I would never kick a ball again.

But physio and constant stretching has somehow got me contemplating a return of the tricky skills.

We’ll see…

I cycled on to the pool, putting in 50 lengths.

Down by the muddy banks

A photo posted by Jason Cobb (@jason_cobb_) on Jan 14, 2017 at 4:56am PST

That felt good.

And then the deal with Anna was that she would see to the South Lambeth Road bathroom designer, whilst I was left on Essex housework duties.

I somehow drew the short straw.

I livened up the hoovering and polishing with the Novara 2016 podcast.

There’s some half decent analysis in there.

Anna returned early evening with another South Lambeth Road kitchen chair, via Greater Anglia.

We forgot that West Ham were at home, meaning that her train was shared with West Ham Wanker and his sort.

Oh dear.

And then predictably, DARTS and BOOZE brought Saturday to a close.