Day 176 Mile 176: Barbed Wire Day. Loathe it or hate, it barbed wire is simply part of the furniture when it comes to running in the country side in the UK. On this day in 1867 American Lucien B. Smith patented the first barbed wire because it was a lot easier than building a stone wall or growing a hedge to keep cattle in (or out of!) a field.
While I have several childhood, and adult memories of uncomfortable encounters with the stuff there is something oddly beautiful about the symmetry of its design; the DNA-double-helix, interspersed by regular asterisks of thorns which punctuate the thread at regular intervals, as it snakes its way from post to post.
It must be said though it is ******** uncomfortable though if you get on the wrong side of it.
So, here is to placating the spirit of Mr. Lucien B. Smith, may his invention trouble not our hands… or bottoms… or any other part of us for that matter!
I’m running a mile each day everyday for 2017. If you feel you can sponsor me please do, as all the money raised will go to the Cleft Lip & Palate Association (CLAPA) who provide services all across the UK to support people affected by it.
Distance: 1703.7 meters recorded
(1 mile = 1609.34 m.)
Thanks as ever for all the support!
Ed
1 mile 365 days 