Barbury Castle to somewhere & back. 17 miles. 3 hours

This was my fifth run out on the Ridgeway this winter. I usually do between 13 & 20 miles. Hilariously bad map reading saw me running parallell to my intended route for almost the entire journey. I immediately missed the sign for the Ridgeway having of course done my customary night of no sleep. I proceeded down a track which is specifically designed to break in the worlds hardest tanks. All the time I could see the Ridgeway up on -the Ridge (what on earth was it doing up there?!). This was accompanied by expletives and an extreme inability to forgive myself (alcoholics speciality).
I rejoined the Ridgeway only to lose it again almost immediately. I completed the remainder of my outward journey through a grotty myre of sludge in a misty valley bottom. After surrendering to my loss I found myself suddenly and inexplicably on the correct path. Back up on the windswept ridge the downland opened up. Marlborough is a beautiful area marred only by its population, who have horses instead of legs, and who appear to have had their tongues removed.
I hit the wall bang on 15 miles again. I can't describe the perverted enjoyment of running in agony to non-runners. It's a bit like loving tight shoes for the thrill of taking them off. The pleasure comes from literally feeling the fat burning off and then stopping & consuming a village sized choclate bar.
I felt redeemed-I hadn't given up, merely missed my mark. The original definition of sin, in archery terminology, is to shoot wide (note to all recovering people). My original intentions had yet again been laughably derailed. I learnt things though - use a compass, read the map, pay attention, assume responsibilty.
I stopped in Avebury on the way back where, upon finding myself pennyless and light headed I actually jumped the counter of the local post office and performed a vicious sugar raid. Then again in the next village, and the next... Ten minutes from my destination on the edge of Bristol I actually had to stop and sleep for 2 hours in the layby because I was blacking out at the wheel.