The New Forest Marathon normally takes place…in the New Forest. Not this year though. The body that governs the New Forest (not sure who that is) wouldn’t allow it to happen, partly because of Covid, partly because of the impact of relaxations of the restrictions that had been imposed decided that the NFM couldn’t be run under their licence this year.
Rather than cancel, the NFM governing body decided to try and find another location, and a landowner near Wimborne St Giles kindly agreed to allow it to happen, but obviously very strict adherence to Covid safety measures was a primary requirement. Which was done. I was at a point on the course, which because of the lay out was Mile-8 and also Mile-21. If you use what 3 words, I was at; zones.manicured.absorbs
Of course, sat in one place for upwards of seven hours makes the brain do things. The first thing I noticed were the dust devils; there were several of them OK, were they really dust devils because they were very small? But it was fun watching them form and scoot across the field, I watched one come down the road towards me, I’d swear it swerved off down a sidetrack about 20 yards from me. I wanted to photograph one, and of course no more appeared. Then it was the sand storm, you could see them building up on the track I was on, the wind was blowing straight in to my face. I would watch the dust pick up in a breeze, build up and then hit me in the face. It got to the point where I would watch it form, and start moving then I’d turn around so that it wouldn’t get me in the face and watch it blow past. I want to photograph that, and of course no more formed.
I might get another chance tomorrow, as I am back there again.
Bills Posts 