This morning Mr Raz and I set off for Suffolk for his Christmas present/treat. We were meant to go a fortnight ago, but had to postpone because of my dreadful chest infection.
I was treating him to a half day of clay pigeon shooting and following that a stay at the sumptuous Hintlesham Hall and hopefully a delicious dinner too. The neighbours looked a bit worried as he came out of the house with his shot gun followed closely by me doing my impersonation of Max Wall! (You’ll have to be of a certain age to understand that look.) I’d decided that while he was shooting I would attempt my first 5k since being ill, so I was dressed in black running leggings and shoes, but with a winter jacket over my various running tops which makes for a very top heavy silhouette with skinny legs and big feet - I.e. Max Wall 😀.
I dropped Mr R off at Coddenham with all his paraphernalia and drove off towards Ipswich. Chantry Park was recommended to me by Macmac so that’s where I was headed. It was cold and crisp, but the sun was out as I drove through the ornate gates and up towards the magnificent looking Chantry House, now used as a Sue Ryder neurological care centre. After my warm up stretches still in the style of Max, I took off my coat (now looking more like a runner) and strode off for a 5 minute warm up walk wondering how my breathing would be and if I would really be able to run 5k.. With Oldfloss’s mantra ringing in my ears, I was just going to take it slow and steady.
It was a lovely run across grass, through wooded areas, and around a pond where the ducks looked totally unimpressed with my efforts. But I was happy... I was running... I wasn’t on a treadmill ... and even better, I wasn’t coughing. I even made it to 5km in 28.49 which I thought was pretty respectable considering 🤧🤒🥴
On my cool down walk I passed the World Harmony Peace Statue hidden amongst the bushes. Every year the International Peace Run carries a flaming torch in a relay around the world. I wasn’t aware of this, but the plaque encouraged me to hold the torch for a moment as a way of connecting with this movement. “The torch is passed from hand to hand and heart to heart.” it said. I was so pleased to have found this and had a thoughtful moment, especially after not running for a few weeks.
Once a runner ............
Running in the dark 
