Tourist Run With Inner Satnav

[Razouski]

Although I haven’t posted in the forum for what seems like forever, rest assured, I have been running - not as far or often as I’d like - but the pressures of work seem to have left me with little time for catching up on all things C25k and beyond.

However, this morning, on holiday in Tuscany, I managed to wake up early to try and beat the heat. I was out the door of our little mini villa in Cascina just south east of Pisa before 7am, despite the consumption of some rather nice vino frizzante last night.

Once I got out of the shade of the beautiful gardens surrounding our home from home, I realised I’d failed in my first endeavour. I had in no way beaten the heat; the sun was already climbing up in the cloudless sky and scorching down. A quick bit of faffage ( I can’t seem to run, not even a tourist run, without the obligatory faff) had me back at the house rummaging quietly for my sunglasses. (OK so maybe I wasn’t as silent as I thought, as my holiday companion -daughter number 2- grumpily pointed out).

At last I was ready to go...

And it was a lovely run: through the village streets, past a possibly medieval church and down towards the River Arno. But it was hot, hot, hot. 32 degrees already; I wasn’t fast and I certainly wasn’t pretty, but I was determined to complete 5 km. Got to about 4.5 when my phone (which has had a very leaky battery for a while) gave up the ghost. With no music and no idea of distance or location I ploughed on, hopeful that I was going in the right direction. I’d be scuppered if I got lost with no phone and, more to the point, no Italian!

Fortunately my inner Satnav was working well and the familiar building came in sight sooner than expected, which meant I’d run my planned 5k plus the 5 min walk distance too. So I’ll chalk that one up as 6km.

After a walk around the gardens to cool down, which didn’t work as by now I was dripping, I decided to leave the sleeping offspring in peace, and opted for a gentle swim. 60 lengths later and I’m just about cool 😎 and lounging in the sun thinking about breakfast.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Oooh hot hot 🥵🥵 Good for you for running in that heat.

Gorgeous photos Raz. I

love Tuscany, we’re off there in September and taking my mum who’s never been. Can’t wait.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday x

[Razouski in reply to Irishprincess]

Thanks your Majesty. The trouble with Tuscany is the food - especially the gelato. I’m trying to ration myself to just one gelato a day. Hence the need to run and swim to burn off some of the extra calories.

Where about’s in Tuscany are you headed to in September?

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to Razouski]

I know! The food and wine ...... heavenly. As you say thank goodness we do some exercise 🙂

We'll be around half an hour from Siena and within good travelling distance to those gorgeous little hilltop villages. We first visited there many years ago so it'll be a trip down memory lane for us.

[Greenfingergran]

I think you Definately deserve your breakfast. Enjoy. 😉

[Razouski in reply to Greenfingergran]

I was feeling so virtuous I just had melon for breakfast, but made up for it with a cone of Stracchiatella (ice cream) around midday. 🍦😋

[grumpyoldgirl]

Hi Raz! You always seem to be very busy, fitting in a zillion things at a time, so it's great to see you with your feet up. Or at least, to see your feet up 😁. Looks so beautiful there, kudos for running in that heat though.☀️🕶️

[Razouski in reply to grumpyoldgirl]

Thanks @grumpyoldgirl. I didn’t stay reclining for long as walked around Pistoia for a few hours later in the morning. But I’m ready to get my feet up again now with a glass of something cool. 🥂

[grumpyoldgirl in reply to Razouski]

I'll drink to that! 😁🍻

[BaddieThePirate Graduate10]

Glad you're out the doing it Raz. Great post and lovely photos. Happy holidays 👏👍😀⚡️☀️

[Razouski in reply to BaddieThePirate]

Thanks Baddie, I feel bad that this is probably my first post since my last tourist run in Amsterdam!

[Wimborne]

So lovely to read your post. What a gorgeous run even though it was so hot 🥵 What beautiful photos.

[Razouski in reply to Wimborne]

Thanks Wimborne, it was nice to have time to actually write a post rather than just think about it then get distracted. Even though it was hit it was good to be out running in a completely different environment to my usual runs.

[Coddfish Graduate10]

That looks a lovely place to run, quite jealous, although I wouldn’t like the heat.

[Razouski in reply to Coddfish]

It was lovely scenery, and the thing that kept me going was knowing I would be able to have a garden shower followed by a nice relaxing swim.

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10]

I was just wondering how you were, last night.

Well done. Sounds glorious, if a bit hot.

[Razouski in reply to Maddee_6333]

Thanks Maddee, I’ve really missed everyone, and need to get back in the forums more regularly as it helps keep me motivated to run more regularly. Life just seems to get in the way at the moment.

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10 in reply to Razouski]

I know how that goes 👍

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10]

We were in Tuscany 2 weeks ago. Gorgeous place, delicious food and fantastic landscapes. I “gorged” on running and tried to get out as many mornings as I could. Running tourism is the best!

[Razouski in reply to JaySeeSkinny]

You’re so right, but the heat wave is proving to be a bit of a challenge. But tourist running is definitely the best. 😀🏃🏾‍♀️

[mrrun Graduate10]

Ah, it's good to know that you are around. I often wonder where some of the troops are, whether they are missing in action or laying injured. Whatever happened to Jan?

[Razouski in reply to mrrun]

Jan had a problem with injuries and had to lay off the running. I’m sure she’ll be back once she’s recovered. 🤞🏽

[mrrun Graduate10]

Injuries? Ouch. Like toothaches, annoying but fixable, hope she's back on track before the snowflakes fall. I miss her summer banter regarding a scorchio as well as the opportunity to annoy her with my music suggestions. Great to 'see' you around though, more than positive to know that people are still running!

[Razouski in reply to mrrun]

I know, I miss her summer run blogs in Italy, especially as I had planned to visit her so we could run a HM together. I was looking forward to training on The Hill That Kills. I’m sure she’ll be back eventually.

[Fabulous450 Graduate10]

Fantastic Razouski!! Great run and a nice bit of faffage!! That’s my kind of run!!😉 Well done you in that kind of heat!! 🤩🤩🤩❤️

[Razouski in reply to Fabulous450]

Thanks Fab. Always like a bit of faffage, and it’s so nice to “see” so many familiar faces after being absent from the forum for too long. 😀

[Fabulous450 Graduate10 in reply to Razouski]

Great to see you too!! 🤩❤️

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Beautiful and lovely to see you again

What a run and what a beautiful location ...your run sounds extremely warm, but you were out and enjoying it...Tuscany running sounds wonderful ....

Thank you for sharing x

[Razouski in reply to Oldfloss]

Thanks Floss. I feel really guilty that I’ve not been in the forums ... it’s good to see so many of the old crowd in here. I must try harder... x