No.23: The Silver Lincs Way - Scartho Link

The fifth and final link loop of The Silver Lincs Way, this starts and finishes in Scartho, taking in field paths and farm tracks on a flat route via Barnoldby-le-Beck.



Sunday 25th November, 9 miles

Into gale force headwinds on the path from Scartho

Into Bradley Gairs

Puddles

Run-off from the fields

Soft going towards Manor Top Farm

A run and a jump

Ripples

Lonely, unloved

Field path to Barnoldby Woods

Fast running to the road

Barnoldby-le-Beck

Monument

Local history lesson

Full dykes

Finally...a glimpse of blue.



The overnight weather had been rough, but I was still surprised when, en route to the Market Rasen 10k, the news came through that it had been cancelled. A swift rethink wasn't difficult. There was only one of the short Lincolnshire LPDs to complete, and so it was to Scartho that I headed.

The last couple of months have been full of good running. Everything's coming together. Most weekends I've raced over short distances, and I've enjoyed it. But my mind keeps wandering to the days I've spent on the Lincolnshire paths during the year. The Sixth Statement isn't made yet, but it will be.

As I spent an hour on these muddy tracks this morning, embracing the challenge of the wind, rain and mud, I saw no other runner. The paths were mine. It was then that I realised that it's days like this - runs like this - that make me.

I'm not sure what the future holds. But I know that my beloved Lincolnshire paths will always be there. And I know I'll never be far away.