The run where I get electrocuted

-

What started out as a normal jog to work turned into something a little more eventful.

The day before had seen a month's worth of rain fall in one day resulting in flooding and many miserable faces. However, on this Tuesday morning the sky was clear and the sun was out. I decided it was a good day for a long run to work - what day isn't?!

With a change of clothes on my back I headed into the prevailing west wind and climbed the steep hill towards the top of the North Downs between Dover and Folkestone. I chose to take the steady climb up the track as opposed to the grass cliff edge for safety reasons.

As the climb levelled out I found myself approaching a large puddle. When I say large, it stretched from the side of the A20 on my right to a spot half way across the field to my left. There was no way around it and to go back meant descending and re-ascending 500 feet. I decided to wade through.

It started easy enough with the water lapping at my ankles. No problem, it's just water after all. At this point I was still jogging. However, soon the water had risen to my knees and I was forced to walk. When it reached the tops of my thighs I began to wonder if I was about to disappear a la Reverend Geraldine on Vicar of Dibley.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of my predicament and got my phone out. While taking the photos I could feel my legs had gone numb from the cold but also had a strange tingling in my thighs that felt like small needles being stuck into my flesh. Looking up I suddenly realised that an electric fence ran right through the centre of the puddle and it was the electric charge I could feel.

You should have seen me move. I was out the far side in seconds. If I could keep that speed up over 5k it would be a new PB for sure. I was now numb from the waist down but started running in the hope that feeling would return as I warmed up. Gradually it did I am pleased to say although after the run my thighs were very itchy and red.

Before descending into Folkestone I took a detour back to Small Pox Lane to have another look at the art pieces I had seen with John last Saturday. Here they are with a description.



My legs seem fine now and the charge in the fence wouldn't have been very high. That said I won't be doing that again!

Popular posts from this blog

Human v Horse

-
Image
The trail is ankle deep in mud. There are large U shaped holes in the ground. My brain is working overtime to relay information from my eyes to my legs to avoid breaking an ankle. I'm descending at speed through pine forest with shouts of 'Horse!' echoing behind me.  Moments later I hear the heavy breathing of a quadruped moving at speed. The drumbeat of hooves on turf are replaced with the splashing and squelching of the sodden earth. I feel a warmth on the back of my neck, almost imperceptible, likely imagined. Turning my head I risk a fall, but I need to see my foe. I glimpse the auburn mount bearing down on me, helmeted rider perched atop. I dive to the side of the trail just in time. The speeding steed is past in a moment. I watch as horse and rider gallop on and vanish into the shadows.  This isn't a recurring nightmare - that's the one about leading parkrun and then getting lost - nor is it my experience of participating in an anti-hunting protest. This was h...
Read more

A bridge too far?

-
Image
A post on Facebook caught my attention. This is how many of my running adventures begin. Bex Band, founder of the women's adventure community Love Her Wild had walked across all the bridges in Greater London. Obviously this meant the Thames River. Less obviously there are 33 bridges in total starting at Hampton Court and ending at Tower Bridge. Of these, 26 have pedestrian access and she had crossed them all. 'Hmm, that would make a good run' was my first thought. Seed planted. A couple of months later on a mild, bright January day I travelled to Richmond. My first run was Richmond parkrun with my friend Vicki and her pal Nicola. 3.1 miles, no dear and a warming coffee later, I ran the nine miles to Hampton Court. Twelve miles done and I was ready to start my run! My goal was to cross each bridge when I came to it. That meant crossing Hampton Bridge and a sign denoting entrance to Surrey before turning and re-crossing it to begin. Yes, I am a pedant. Hampton Court Bridge I ...
Read more

Great Lakeland 3 Day

-
Image
We had been descending for close to a mile. It was a steady descent, more than runnable. A chance to stretch out the legs. At the bottom we stopped at the checkpoint to refill out water bottles from the fast flowing stream when cramp struck.  I watched as my friend Matt grimaced in agony and beads of sweat fell from his brow. The muscles of his inner thighs had completely spasmed. He was unable to move. We were nine miles into day two of our three day Lakeland adventure with fifteen miles and numerous summits still to go. It was a relief when after a few minutes he was able to take a few hesitant steps. Disaster seemed to have been averted. We continued along a flat road before beginning our next ascent. Suddenly, Matt let out a cry and fell to the floor writhing in pain. The cramps were back. The day seemed to be over and we began to discuss how to get back to the campsite. ----------------- Matt, his wife Kelly and I had booked onto the Scarpa Great Lakeland 3 Day that is held in...
Read more