Despite it snowing last night, I set my alarm so that I would be out of the door bright and early to run. I’d even put my kit out ready, so there was no need for faffing and I was soon doing my dynamic warm up stretches before heading off.
Thank goodness for my many layers – which may not have looked particularly co-ordinated but at least they were keeping me warm. It was chilly out, but worse than that, the pavements were like an ice-rink and I pretty quickly opted to walk along the road, which had been gritted.
Once I got into the park I decided that running on the snowy grass was a far better option than the path, and this kept me safe for a while, and then it was back out onto the road. Th traffic was busy so I had to keep to the pavement. Running down a steep hill was interesting, and although I had my Queen playlist on, I couldn’t help but think of Simon and Garfunkel and the song Slip Sliding Away started playing in my head. But I took it really slow and steady, and did my best to ignore the pace that Mrs Mapmyrun was telling me I was running at. The patches of escaped ice-rink required me to change down the gears to a timorous walking pace so it was going to take a lot longer. But I had the goal of getting 7km under my belt, and I was going to do it, however long it took me.
Eventually I got to the cycle-path, and at least there was some scrub at the edges and the remains of autumn leaves. So where I could, I kept to these and managed to keep plodding onwards gently with Freddie Mercury crooning in my ears. I was nearly half way through my run when the sun came out bathing the snow covered fields in a glorious pool of light. It felt good to be out – seeing the branches and fence posts glistening with their icy covering. Who cares how cold it is? – it’s absolutely beautiful and I was pleased to be running and enjoying the sight rather than being wrapped up in bed feeling stuffy and sluggish.
The walk home was proving pretty treacherous and it would be ironic if I managed to run 7km completely unscathed but ended up falling and injuring myself on the cool down walk home. Then one of my favourite Queen tracks came on, Keep Yourself Alive. I briefly thought of the alternative lyrics I’d composed on a previous run. As I slithered on a patch of ice Freddie and the boys were actually encouraging me not to, “Keep yourself alive,” but to
...
Keep yourself upright, yeah
The ice gives you a fright
The sky is blue and now it’s sunny
It’s frosty and it’s bright
❄️ ☀️
Well I’ve run seven kilometres
In a slow and steady way
And my running style was interesting
Strange footwork – not ballet!
I need to get home safely
Through the ice and through the snow
Don’t let yourself fall over now
There’s not too far to go.
❄️
Keep yourself upright
And don’t you get frostbite,
You’re nearly home, so you don’t need to worry,
Your slip was only slight.
❄️
And before I knew it I was finishing off my cool down stretches in the warmth and comfort of my hall. So pleased I managed my run and came back unscathed.
Take care out there everyone. Happy running.
Sunday morning 5K ☀️
