I'm not sure what story Chris and James took home with them after our Christmas Eve jaunt up Shutts. It was clearly uncomfortably early for James, Chris still asking questions as to 'why'. Dark and wet when we set off, low cloud once out of the woods and no view whatsoever from the top. Not a sunrise in sight. Our spirits lifted slightly when James reached the summit first and said 'morning ladies'. Two years ago we were greeted with the sight of two naked blokes as sun came up over the hills, seemingly doing a calendar photo-shoot.
A little unwelcome on the eyes! Alas no ladies to greet us this time, so we cracked open the sloe gin and chocolate, and made merry with the moment. I still say you have to make the effort for the moment to be realised. And I'm good with that. Ordinarily we wouldn't have come out running on a day like this. There were a few regular dog walkers, but no runners. The low cloud was a bit of an issue at one point as we quite possibly could have been lost, in a minor way. Easy done!
Coming down back into the woods, there was a tremendous flash of colour that seemed to illuminate our path. Fluorescent moss on the trees had an almost radioactive look about it, glowing eerily in the grey mist of the morning. Back at the car, hot chocolate and more actual chocolate. The breakfast of champions. A text from Pete saying he was running down by the canal near Old Trafford. There in spirit. Good news is that my leg held up well. Think I've got the taping right. Looking good for the Club Handicap in a few days.
