I discovered the recently new (2005) Sussex Ouse Valley Way during the last lockdown. With lockdown starting on the 5th November, today, Wednesday 4th November 2020, was the last chance for a while to do this run. A chilly start, but an awesome day, blue sky, bright sunshine, no wind. A bit soggy underfoot, but a great run.
I left my car on the outskirts of Haywards Heath and biked on my old mountain bike around 8 miles to the start at Lower Beeding. A very cold ride as I was dressed from running, not cycling. After struggling to lock my bike to a post as I fingers were frozen, I started my adventure with a back pack with two full bottles of water and two Torq bars and two Torq gels. As I was planning to run the route at a reasonably comfortable pace, having become quite 'fat adapted' back in my ultra racing days (2008-2014), I felt that just 120 grams of carbohydrate would be sufficient, even though by planned running time was in the region of 7 hours. As it was a very chilly start, (1.1 degrees celsius according to Garmin), I wasn't needing to drink much, so the two bottles of water lasted until Newhaven. I was going to get some water or some coke at a shop as my pace had slowed a bit and no doubt I was a little dehydrated, but with only a few miles to go to the finish at Seaford, and the need to quicken up a bit, to catch the train back to Haywards Heath as trains were every 30 minutes, I ran straight through Newhaven without stopping at a shop, and therefore the run become an unsupported run.
I managed to go off route after about a mile, which probably added on an extra mile, so I paid more attention to the footpath signs, and managed to go off route only another two short times, even with the Sussex Ouse Valley Way metal discs being very sporadic.
The first half of the run from Lower Beeding was pretty spectacular scenery. The second half alongside the River Ouse was still good, but not the same variety of landscapes. Overall a really enjoyable run and an easy point to point route to complete on your own with the only 'difficult' bit being getting from Haywards Heath to the start at Lower Beeding. Tip: Where more clothes if cycling on a frosty cold morning!