Bank Holiday Monday dawned with properly bank holiday weather as we left London to drive to East Hoathly.
I was on my way to take part in celebrating the 25th anniversary of ‘The Kings Head Canter’…
A 5k race which began in 1998 – a race from the Six bells in Chiddingly to the King’s Head in the neighbouring village East Hoathly – with a pint at the end as a reward for anyone making it from one pub to the other…!
I jogged over to the start with my old friend Flo… As we arrived in Chiddingly the air was a buzz with voices and good vibes, everyone standing about, chatting, stretching, greeting one another – all of us connected – all one…
And our own race to run!
Our own unique energy to bring to the day, to the race, to the joining together in celebration of all that it is to be on this human journey, together – to express in the world….
It is so important that we all do express ourselves, allow ourselves to shine , to play, to dance with the joy of being alive – for if we hold back, or limit, or shut down what is within us, the world misses out – and we don’t get to fully play our part on this stage of life…
This scene at Chiddingly so full of joy and friendship, happy chatter and laughter filling the air, reminded me of the first race – when I was still in my thirties!…
Now in my sixties, I reflect on the life lived in between, which has been rich with experience.
And as Stuart Mills the race director lined us all up, he spoke about the race – its birth 25 years ago – he welcomed some of us who had been at the very first run, and I celebrated this body that I am in, that has run so many miles – and miles – and is willing to run more!
And then we were off racing through the leafy Sussex countryside, up and down the hills, breathing hard, all of us running our own run, but together on the path…
I lived in the area all those years ago and these lanes were so familiar to me, the quiet beauty, the fields stretching either side, the strong tall trees, the gates leading up crunchy gravel drives to beautiful homes.
And we all ran breathing hard, legs striding hearts pumping, joyous…
Celebrating through the running step – because we can….
