Its no good worrying about the weather as it could be worse in January we thought. Ran the Duchy Marathon in worse in March so it will be alright. Dressed suitable was the order of the day and the tights came out for the first time in many a month.

We parked up in Barriper Road and set off in the relative calm weather that precedes the ineviatable. Baripper Hill and the trot to Carnhell Green was achieved with a fair smattering of gossip and much debate about everything we have no control over.

We just got to Wall and the showers started. And by the time we got to where the route changes for the first time, it was pretty wet underfoot. We made sure we were taking the right route by running all the different possibilities until we were satisfied we had run the correct one back and forward. Remembering the new landmarks particularly the one where people leave their fridges and washing machines in the garden to save space in the caravans.

Emerging near the Drym turn off, we cantered up the Praze road, questioning the parentage of many a driver who thought they could reduce the amount of water on the road by spraying it onto us. Turning into Howe Downs you would have expected a bit of shelter. Oh no. Broadsided by wind, rain and hail, painful hail at that, that endless road became infinite. We emerged at Carnhell Green and the crotch of my tights resembled that of those stupid jeans that teenagers, cough-spit-swear, wear.

We got down the hill into Baripper to be met by a flood at Roskilly Lane so every incentive to get up the hill and up to the car at a dash. We decided to drive the last bit to Camborne School amid the steam and condensation in the car provided by two sodden specimens.

Lets do it all again on Saturday with most of the liquid on the inside of the body this time.