The Shortest Day

A few years ago, some bright spark decided that it would be a good idea to see the sun rise while out on a run. That person also realised that it might be easier to do it on the shortest day than in midsummer so I told Sue, Joss and Maureen my plan and we agreed to meet up at the Water Tower at some unpleasantly early hour, run across the Suspension Bridge until we saw sunrise, then turn round and come back.

I can’t find any record of that first run but I do remember it was cold and wet and as we came back to the Downs it started to snow. The sunrise was remarkable for its lack of sun, more a gradual lightening of the grey. Given the early start, miserable weather and snow flurries I thought it could be the end of a few friendships but I’m glad to say we are still on speaking and running terms. 

Since then we’ve had a foggy year when the dampness dripped off trees and hair, and a couple when the weather wasn’t worth a mention. We also had one, 2004, which gave us a sunrise to remember forever. Just two of us that year, Joss and I, and as we reached the Bridge, the sky over Dundry was a deep blue with streaks of red which gradually grew to an intense fiery orange. The lights of the early-morning traffic below us moved, started and stopped, like our own display of Christmas lights.

For the last couple of years the run has been known as “Ye Olde Winter Solstice Run” and there is occasionally a reference to Stone Age Man and the belief that the sun might not rise. We’ll be running again on 20th December just to make sure that it does and hoping for a glorious sunrise again.

And yes, I know it’s a day early but if we run on 21st at least one of us would be hungover.

Happy running!