Up, not so early after a slightly restless night... and out into the morning. The Close quiet and calm as I headed out for a short 3K.
A lingerie drawer of a sky...seamless blue silk, wisps of dove grey lace and rose tipped organdie.
No music this morning... just me and a strangely empty world... folks seemingly eking out the last of the Summer holidays maybe?
Setting off up the hill towards the Common.... slow and steady as ever... rounding the heels and landing lightly... and yes, I do try still to kiss the ground with my feet.. Past the golf course.. a fine mist of rain touching my cheeks and a sharp almost Autumnal tang in the air as I run onwards.
Breathing easily, the pace is slow... up and up, toes kicking small, unfinished, under-ripe crab apples... loosened and littering the pavement, after a wet and windy night... and I turn across through the estate road and down towards the downhill return.
Cutting through the small copse of trees, disturbing the chittering and chattering of small birds, breakfasting on some early hips and haws, and the all too early blackberries...
On, and back through the Crescent and down towards the village...
My head is full of racing thoughts, yet my body moves with a relaxed and easy style... shoulders relaxed, light steps and the stress slowly drifting away behind me into the brightening day.
Two young people... outside the newsagents....waiting for the coach to the Catholic High School in the next town... GCSE Results day...uniformed and formal... preparing for the next step. As am I 
Along and through Swan Passage and by the side of the stream and I am done. 3K... simple and sweet...all that was needed and all that was wanted.
Walking back up the hill and home.. I find my mind is calm... and ready to face the day.
Postscript.
Just over four hours later...I know what my next step is... or steps... running ones... right back up to where I was and beyond.
The MRI results are through and reported... my Consultant goes through them with me... we study my images and he explains everything. Yes , I did have a stress fracture... actually, not one... not two, but three... BUT, they are all old... very, very very old. One below the knee and two above! It is so strange looking at my own inside.. bones, with the neat clean straight lines indicating injuries of which I have no knowledge.. I fell out of trees regularly, as a child and off bicycles, latterly, but have never had trauma from any of those injuries. They were not caused by running.
The initial X ray just showed them up..because they were there
I do have a slight tear in the meniscus, probably the outcome of the original twinge felt after kneeling heavily on a stone floor! But... and this is the very, very best bit... the lovely man said that many folk, over 50, if MRI scanned would have these tears.
He told me that the bones were strong, the patella is fine, there are no ligament issues...and he felt that I was probably fitter and stronger than many folk half my age... He actually said, looking at all the results...wait for it... that my legs are great... and to keep doing what I have been doing, because I was looking really good. To get out and make the most of the last of the summer weather.
This man was young enough to be my son...he told me his Mum was my age... but still, I could have hugged him!
Instead I thanked him for the information and explanation and told him that he had made my day... he had.
I shook his hand and left and it was not until I was clear of the main reception area that I breathed easy, punched the air and did a little silly jig, just as when Laura told me I was a RUNNER!
The huge sense of relief I felt was palpable. I could not contain the smiles.
Thank you each and everyone for the support, and the messages and encouragement whilst I have been on the IC... you have kept me going.. as always x
PPS
Those are my great legs in the photograph.. I love them, thank you, legs!
PPS
He told me knee surgery is to be avoided at all costs, unless it is absolutely essential.
Fantastic. And a virtual kiss to each knee. Many happy kms of running to them. 
What is it about running?
3K and I Jeffed it! ☀️😊🏃♀️
Running club: snootiness, kids, swishy pony-tails, THE spooky tunnel, up-up-uphill and - oh, it was all right really!
Cold is good for you
