think downpour

downpour with lots of wind comes closest to describing today's run. started out in a decent rainstorm which got worse and worse as i went, but in some perverse way it was almost enjoyable. i saw nobody as i headed north up to st margaret's church and then south back down to the river path. went north on the river which was shrouded in some form of gray cover with more ducks and geese and swans in the water than i had seen in sometime. maybe it is easier for them to be in the water when the storm is heavy. fortunately the path wasn't that muddy yet and i was able to go around the puddles that were there easily enough.

somewhere up near the old nunnery i saw my first other person running south and then as i turned back south myself a small boat was out on the water and the man waived at me in some sort of what are we doing out here solidarity moment. how wet can you get once you are as wet as you can be anyway? the rain and the water were not nearly the problem that the wind was of course. what had been at my back was now in my face and i just moved on slowly through it. i am making it sound worse than it was and i can hear people asking what i was doing out, but in reality a runner gets used to this. in a golf match they would have halted play.

but down the river i went and then over the rainbow bridge and south on the thames and hoping to get to the canal. seems like the workers had made lots of progress in the past couple of days on the trail and i still hope they finish before we have to leave so i can see what they came up with in a way of design.

nobody out here either until a mile down or so i saw a couple out walking north, though you could barely see them under all of the clothes they were wearing. went under the train bridge and around the water puddled up there and over to the canal and south on the canal path down to the hythe st. bridge road. then turned north and went back and north to the playground near the burgess park bridge. thought about it for a mini-second and decided to just turn south. the canal path was much easier to run on in a rainstorm and eventually i made my way back to the swan trail.

ran into a trail friend there walking his big old shaggy dog who came up to me to be petted. we were all pretty soaked at that point but i jogged alongside him as he told me about the chelsea flower show he had attended yesterday. the lady on the bus had also talked about what a great show it was and had shared the look of some of her flowers with us by putting them on the table between us. we went on to have a nice discussion about politics and living in scotland.

eventually i started on my way home. had been out for 1:40 and that was long enough today. by the time i made it home i figured it would be close to two hours. a slow, but decent run through the rain. knew i was going to throw these shoes away anyway, but was worried about my orthotics, which have just taken on too much running this year and were about worn out. will replace them asap. but not soon enough.

the rest of the day was slightly different than i had hoped due to the rain. did laundry and started to fold and get ready to pack up. threw away two pair of old running shoes. made plans to give away stuff and tried to decide how little stuff i could get by on for the time remaining here. then a slight window of opportunity arose as the rain slowed down and i walked up to the driving range.

the range was pretty crowded for this weather. people must be desperate to get going and it is a bank holiday weekend, so most people have tomorrow off, though the forecast is for heavy rain all day long also. i hit a large and small bucket of balls not as well as lately but not as bad as i had been doing. even missing one day seems to throw me off as my swing is still too fragile. got some chipping in with the 8 iron and lob wedge and that went ok. 8 iron gets better faster than the lob wedge. have taught myself two new shots - one with each of them and will see if i ever get to use them on a golf course. have also been practicing a draw chip that a friend of mine from the hilltop range showed me once. interesting shot as it lets the ball run out more and i can keep it from going right easier.

then i went to hit some pitch shots and the guy next to me asked to play for pennies. 20 pitches for 20 pence. what the hell huh? from 40 yards i made the first one and then hit the flag three straight times. got a little lead and won 15 of the twenty. no big deal, but it was just a funny start and this guy didn't know me at all. let him keep the 10p. i must look like i cannot play golf probably. and i really cannot, but i can hit a chip and a pitch shot.

anyway-went home and watched the rest of the pga championship at wentworth where everyone tried to give it away and eventually anguel won as the other guys missed two foot putts( as he also had) and hit drives into the trees. i always want to see someone win with a good shot but it was fun waiting to see who would stop screwing up long enough to win. i say that with all due respect as the pressure must be intense and nothing i have felt at that level.

listened to the sunday news show and read some newspaper. off to do some administrative stuff. more rain ahead so will play the week by ear so to speak. except the runs. rain or shine will be out nice and early. count on it. 2512 miles done since i have been here. but lots of travel ahead will probably keep me from 3000. had no goal in the beginning other than to run as much as the right leg and pf would allow and i am doing that.

66 days to go.