My lads both play football, one on Saturdays, one on Sundays so weekends are usually full of driving around Sussex to various places. This Saturday just gone the eldest didn't have a match so what to do with myself? A good friend of mine is involved as the Chairman of a pretty high level semi professional side so I did what every good friend would do and tapped him up for a "freebie"
Lewes FC do amazing things in terms of equality, diversity and generally being stand-up nice guys to follow. (I'm even a "co-owner" which was an initiative they launched recently to raise a few quid but also allow people outside of their natural catchment area to get involved in the social side of their club - and I got a smart green beanie too which you can see proudly displayed in the pics at the end of this chitty chat)
I've known Stuart for a number of years through work and football (I don't remember which came first actually - they may have overlapped in that first conversation) We've worked together at the same place and variously at collaborative partner organisations and (kinda) competitor organisations but the bond of football always kept us friendly so was a great excuse to catch up after many months of "on screen" chats.
"Name on the gate" secured and the promise of a beer or two - and just because why not - I decided to walk there too. Now its not far away in the grand scheme of things (around 7 miles ish from my house to the Ground) but it is over the hills and down dale so a decent enough training walk for the new kicks and giving myself a step into a bit of the unknown as its been a few (?!) years since I'd walked anywhere much more than the car park or on the mean streets of shopping town.
I'm one of those people that needs to drive somewhere plenty of times to remember the route and often actually gets stuck in my own home town by driving down the dead ends (in my defence they all look the same and you can see the main road from the top of them all) so to walk across the wilds of the Sussex tundra required a fully charged phone - with maps enabled - and keeping an eye on the next mile ahead too. Starting off in sunshine and crisp temperatures it was actually decent. There were a couple of "uppy-downy" bits that got me heavy breathing a bit, there were a couple of "slippy-slidy" bits that had me Bambi on Ice a bit, and there was a fair bit of gravelly walkers tracks and actual road/paths that were just walking like a normal person!
A couple and a bit hours later and I arrived at the ground a bit smug and feeling OK so like every good fitness aficionado, I celebrated with one of Lewes FC's (in)famous "loaded fries box" (bbq pulled pork and coleslaw for the record)
The game was entertaining too, played out in front of a healthy crowd of almost 900 and a fine 3-0 victory for the home team which certainly put a smile on my mates face! Theres footage out there on the World Wide Web - worth checking out to see Lewes' first goal - a beautifully struck Beckham-esque free kick from a lad I reckon may well get a chance higher up the leagues. (Ollie Tanner - remember the name - you heard it here first!)
All in all a very successful day, got some decent miles in, tried out the trek-trainers on a few different surfaces, watched some great footy, moidered with my friend and not even one blister this time out ! A massive thank you as always to everyone who's supporting me on this through your donations, encouraging words, and p!ss taking - it wouldn't be the same without all of you!
As reminder, I'm gearing up to walk London to Brighton in May, 100 kms, all day and all night and the next day too, without sleep, and in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support so every single quid makes the next step that little bit easier to take.
Much love to you all xx
(PS - enjoy a few pictures of the walk and of course the chips!)
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