The run where John and Claire join me
I left my house to the sound of birdsong. Despite it being 7 o’clock in the morning I had my shades on to protect my eyes from the morning sun and a welcome breeze made it nice and cool. I was due to meet John and Claire at 8am for the drive to Folkestone for parkrun. From there we would run back together to Dover.
With an hour to get a few extra miles in I ran to the sea front and along the promenade. It was quiet and wonderfully peaceful with only one other person around – a man filling two large bags with pebbles from the beach. The tide was out, and the water was a clear blue through which I could see seaweed being washed in.
You arrive at the sea front from under a subway that emerges from under the A20 which carries hundreds of 16 wheelers every day from Dover port to the rest of the country. There is a portrait bench at the entrance to the prom. Beside it is a statue of three local ‘heroes’; Vera Lynn, Ian Fleming and Jamie Clark. You’ve no doubt heard of the first two but the third is the real hero.
Jamie Clark was born at Buckland Hospital in Dover with two holes in his heart, coeliac disease and severe communication difficulties. His determination and inspiration came to the fore when he was selected from over 120,000 applicants as the town’s first torchbearer on 18 July 2012 as part of the Olympic Torch Relay.
Turning left at the bench I ran towards the ferries to the east of the harbour. In front of me the white cliffs loomed large to one side while the shimmering sea stretched out the other. One ferry had just entered through the sea wall while another piped smoke from its funnel as it prepared to depart.
When I reached the far wall beside the port entrance I retraced my steps but continued past the ornate bench towards Dover Sea Sports Centre. Looping back around I headed back inland, fighting the urge for a quick swim, and into Maxton to meet my running buddies for the day.
We drove to John’s house in Folkestone and jogged the couple of miles to the parkrun start on the Leas. There was the sea again, calling my name…. The three of us ran the 5k course and then jogged to Steep Street Coffee House with Martin, a running friend from MAF.
The cafe sits on the Old High Street, a cobbled little road closed to traffic that links the Harbour with the town centre. It contains dozens of small independent shops and some great places to eat. We wolfed down our coffee and cakes while being inspired by Martin’s recent achievement of joining the 100 marathon club.
After saying goodbye to Martin the three of us began the run back to Dover. By now the temperature was in the twenties and there was still not a cloud in the sky. We ran along the side of the harbour past the fishing boats bobbing on the water and seagulls squawking loudly. As we passed Sunny Sands beach we were sorely tempted to drop the whole idea and lay on the beach with a cool drink but we carried on, gluttons for punishment that we are.
The second and third mile are all up hill, past the Martello Tower, over the railway line, up a long series of steep steps to the cliff top. Folkestone stretched out blow us. Our view took in everything from the Harbour Arm to The Grand hotel and beyond. In the far distance Romney Marsh and the faint image of wind turbines and the power station at Dungeness.
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| Claire suggesting a quicker descent. |
Over the next 90 minutes we laughed and chatted and gasped at the views while taking selfies and generally making the most of the beauty all around us. Fresh green leaves adorned the trees and bushes, spring flowers coloured the path, birds sang and flew above us, butterflies fluttered by, and still the sun beat down from a blue sky.
One aspect of summer running I had forgotten about was the flies. There were hundreds of them. The only answer is sunglasses on and mouth shut. Even then a couple managed to make it down my throat. Still, its more protein!
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| The pointer sisters |
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| Living on the edge |
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| Running up that hill |
