Five miles round Swinemoor.

Conditions change again, and I woke to a lovely sunny morning, had a leisurely breakfast of soft boiled eggs and rye toast soldiers, washed down with Taylor's Yorkshire Gold tea, which I enjoy builder's strength. Showered and dressed and then picked up an old friend and neighbour, Leslie, for our Sunday morning coffee and croissant at Caffe Nero in Beverley. This is a routine we have maintained for 20 years. We used to walk the dogs together before coffee, but Leslie will be 90 in July, and so we have had to adapt. He is still bright and alert, but has to manage his energy budget judiciously, this afternoon he is working as a guide in Beverley Minster. After coffee I dropped Leslie back home and then returned to Tickton and changed into my running gear. It is sunny today, but the cold wind persists, so wore shorts and a thermal top and gloves. Ran to Carr lane, past the stables and farm and down to the little wooden bridge over the drain. I had put on my shoes in the garden and composed myself first before setting off. Running as lightly as possible, scanning my body for any tightness as I warmed up. Today's run is about 5 miles over flat but mixed terrain, and I shall try to complete it with as little strain or effort as possible. After the bridge I turned into "nearly straight wood", and enjoyed the experience of running through the trees. Turned south and then west and then ran alongside another plantation until the track joined Weel Road, which as I mentioned before, runs south alongside the river Hull, and beyond which, lies Swinemoor. Weel Road is a single track, metalled road with passing places every quarter of a mile or so. Today there was little traffic, just one or two cars ferrying garden waste to the municipal tip near the village of Weel. The road is shielded from the cold north wind by the levee, and in the midday sun I soon feel quite warm, so roll up the sleeves of my Helly Hansen vest. Once on the road I began my circular breathing practice, which, combined with the flat firm road surface, soon helped me to establish a nice, rhythmic, easy pace. Arriving at Weel bridge I turn west and cross the river, running a further 100 metres before turning north off the road, along a path that leads to Swinemoor. This path runs alongside Barmston Drain, which bisects Swinenoor common from north to south. After five minutes I have to climb over a wooden stile and then turn sharp right, over a metal footbridge that crosses the drain, before turning sharp left again and then running up the path on the eastern side of the drain. The north wind is more apparent now, but seems to have slackened in intensity. In a few weeks there will be hundreds of ponies put out to pasture here, but today there are just a few walkers and some gleaming jackdaws. The path is firm and dry, if a little uneven, but conditions for running are nigh on perfect and I am really enjoying my outing. After half a mile I arrive at "Brickie Bridge", which spans the drain and was made famous by the artist Fred Elwell, (R.A.) he painted a group of local children swimming and paddling by the bridge in the 1920's or 1930's. We Beverlonians are very proud of Fred and there is an "Elwell Trail", around the town centre, with weatherproof prints of his work at strategic points. "Brickie Bridge" is hung on the Guildhall, opposite the new law courts. I have posted a photo of it below, but as it was taken in bright sunlight, the shadow of an adjacent tree falls across it. Running past "Brickie Bridge", I proceed to the Northern boundary of Swinemoor and then turn east, running alongside the hedgerow, before climbing the levee and then running north towards "Hull Bridge", but first climbing over another stile opposite Tickton Boating Club as I exit the common. A few people are sat outside by the boats enjoying the sun. From here it is only a few more yards to the footbridge over the river, but before I cross, a small dinghy powered by an outboard motor passes me with three bird watchers on board, all armed with binoculars. They are probably heading for the wetlands further north. As I climb to the top of the footbridge, a group of people, sat on the riverbank outside the Crown and Anchor, give me a wave. So I wave back as I descend the bridge and continue east on Weel road, back towards Tickton and home. It is just less than a mile back to my house and I strip off my gloves and tuck them into my shorts, as the wind has died away and the sun is hot. I am moving well and can feel the first signs of an increase in stride length, but resist the temptation to pick up the pace, because this is still too early in the comeback to do so without risking strain or injury. Just before the village I give way to an elderly gentleman on a mobility scooter coming the opposite way. Probably heading for the pub! Just past him I overtake a young girl on a pony and give her a wide berth, in order not to startle the horse. I am in the village now and turn right past the Post Office, south down Butt Lane, through the snickett onto Green Lane and home. The run has lasted an hour. I put a towel round my neck and cool off sat in a chair in the garden. Tomorrow is a swimming day and cold and rain is forecast.