A potted history of the Heroes Run (High Elms Run On Sunday) can be found here. This in turn led to the Anti-Heros Run, also taking
place in High Elms but at 8am and takes the form of a trail run of around 6
miles. A Hero or Anti-hero is selected
by the weeks run leader and this week leader had selected Clint Eastwood’s
character, The Man with No Name.
I decided to tag along as this week’s route was being led by
Jerry and although an Orpington Road Runners established event I find them to
be very welcoming and like-minded trail runners. I was collected from home by
Jerry after a somewhat disappointing 5 hours sleep following a late night but I
wanted to get out and run the trails and this seemed a great way to do it. We
shared a Satsuma on route to the run, I forget all the reasons but oranges are
a good pre workout source of energy so it only follows that so are satsuma’s!
Arriving at the designated car park meeting point another 4
runners pulled up shortly after us ready for the run. After some introductions
we headed out onto the trails and past High Elms Golf Club before getting into
territory unknown to me. Although the pace was fairly easy and should have been
comfortable this was possibly the first hilly run I had completed in quite some
time and it was taking its toll on me as I remained at the back of the back for
most of the run.
It was a lovely sunny day, running along the trails and
chatting with some new faces sharing our enjoyment of moving away from road running and getting into the
countryside. We passed several batches of youths – whom we presumed to be
taking part in Duke Of Edinburgh training (or similar). Each group with
matching ran covers on their back packs which were equal if not larger than the
youths themselves. They politely waited, with bemused faces, as we trundled
past wishing them well.
Crossing a field we entered a woodland which stopped us in
our tracks, it was a magical bluebell carpeted wooded wonderland. So delighted
we all cheered and whooped, congratulated Jerry on his excellent route choice
and took some pictures of this magnificent sight. This is the reason we run in
the woods, these sights can just not be found running the roads.
We continued on, all very jovial indeed and soon came across
a Aberdeen Angus happily stood by the fence next to the path we were running.
Jerry patted him on the head and kept going as I held back and took a picture
of him, whether he knew or not he was soon to gain blog fame I’m not sure as
his floppy red fringe covered his gentle eyes.
Continuing on, Jerry thought he may have taken a wrong turn
but this didn’t matter at all, we carried on happily chatting and our next
wildlife stop took us past an animal sanctuary with fields full of donkeys,
Shetland ponies and turkeys. We passed the sign towards Downe House (home of
Charles Darwin) and the group halted as I faffed around taking more photos and
catching my breath!
We were now on the homeward stretch, a very lovely run with
a very nice group of runners. As we closed in on our final destination we saw
the 9am Heroes run group coming towards up where we exchanged plenty of hellos’
and a few high fives.
I certainly think I will be back on an Anti-Heroes run.
I, I will be king (of the trails)
And you, you will be queen (of running)
Though no-one will run away
We can be Heroes, just for one day
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