Look East

6.5 miles in 50:27
Route: Lowestoft Circuit 2

A weekend in East Anglia, primarily for the Norwich Beer Festival, but also an excuse to devise a new route around Lowestoft.

I set out about 4pm and ran from my parents' house, to Pakefield Church (along Stradbroke Road - where I ran into Roger Waghorn sporting a new, short haircut), down the sea front to the South Pier (where I enjoyed a quick stretch), then over the bridge and along Denmark Road, Rotterdam Road and then along Normanston Drive and through Oulton Broad back to my traditional finishing post outside the Suffolk Punch pub. Pretty happy with the time, although I have no benchmark against which to measure it, it felt good.

The Beer Festival was excellent. Worked my way through roughly 10 ales and they were all top class. A vintage year. The entertainment was provided by a brass band (apprently there is a new law which stops amplified music after a certain time) and there was the usual selection of fat men with beards and Dr Who fans to keep us entertained. I indulged in a burger (and, later a steak sandwich...), tried my luck on the tombola and guiltily tried not to think about my training.

Must also add that after a dry spell lasting several years, I finally beat Andrew on the golf course! He came out with every excuse in the book (my favourite of which was that the only reason I was winning was because I was playing too well) but in the end, my sweet, sweet tee-shots and tender chip-and-runs were just too good. He'll get over it when he beats me at squash next week.

Speaking of next week, it is my last as Private Secretary to the Minister for Skills. Desperately hoping that the lovely :) officials in Skills Group will forget all those nasty bits of work I've asked them to do the last couple of years and sponsor me for the good of Shelter! Come on guys!! Hope to fit in at least two runs in between leaving drinks.....