Warning...Floss ramble...seriously... a really long one!
Today I ran. What's new? I hear you say.
Well today was a Floss run..long enough to enjoy and take everything it whilst I ran... time to think and time to recharge.
After nearly two weeks on the injury couch, the thought of a longish outdoor run was perfect.
It was a grey morning, with the scent of rain in the air, a bright sky, but far to the south west, grey clouds huddled, slightly threatening, but not brave enough to stand forward. I had chosen my bright leggings and a lightweight rain jacket, and, full of anticipation, headed out into the morning.
The Close was quiet, although I had a later start, curtains drawn tight, and that wonderful indiscernible, something, that tells you it is a Sunday. A slightly longer warm up run, I was taking no chances, and this gave me more time to look around.
The gardens look slightly sad at this time of the year, damp and dishevelled, waiting for attention, waiting for the hands of their carers.
But, looking closer... the first merest suggestions of change are there. Small white flowers, heads nodding together in silent agreement, sharing Nature's secrets amongst themselves. Early yellow primroses, tucked underneath the sheltering arms of the hardier shrubs, and those green speared warriors... shooting sharp and strong skyward... tight yellow tinted shapes, ready to burst into the yellow-frilled cheerleaders of Spring.
It was time to run, and I had deliberately chosen the hill. The hills are what I revel in and which I know, will keep me steady. My run is a different one, repetitions of five minutes run and one minute brisk walk. Whilst I run, I listen, not just to the outside world but to the voices in my head, and there are so many. Laura from C25K, rounded ankles, land lightly, look ten paces ahead, relax the shoulders and the hands. I hear my feet. Landing so, so lightly, barely making a sound, I hear my breathing, relaxed and gentle, and sense rather than hear my heartbeat, steady and slow. The hidden lakes are not hidden in Winter... bare branched trees, stretch empty twiggy fingers over them and the lush gloss of evergreen holly and ivy, wrapped around the edges of the water.
I make the top of the hill, in a good time but am, still, faintly relieved to see the Level stretch away from me, relatively flat.
A sharp wind has got up and the chill in the air is tangible.... I run easily and head out towards the turn. The undergrowth by the Cricket club is thick and tangled. Straggling brambles and thorns and through the twisted thicket, the chimneys of the old house are visible. The scene of a past, imagined encounter with the Hound of the Baskervilles, one dark wet winter morning a year or so ago. No hound today though, and I make the turn, already feeling as if I am homeward bound.
Other than having to re-set my Garmin twice...( user error), my Garmin peeps to let me know when to run and walk , I do not glance at it. I have a vague idea how far I have run, but am not totally sure. Back along the Level, no cars, no dog walkers and suddenly, I am on the downward stretch. Into the back lane above what was the aerodrome, and cutting though, turning and twisting through hidden walkways and alley ways, high hedged and quiet, and across the deserted green spaces, the silent playground, where a child's swing moves, gently to and fro, pushed by the ghostly unseen hand of the strengthening wind.
My legs are tiring, this is the longest time I have been out... nearly an hour. My heart is full and my mind overflowing. I have had, over the past weeks and months, little time to think and my December runs were all too short.
I have no aches and pains... plenty of breath in my lungs so I carry on.
I think of my friend Bluebirdrunner , I smile, as I tighten my glutes and give the last few kilometres my best effort...without pushing too hard.
As I turn into the Close, the first droplets of rain touch my cheek, the weather forecasters were spot on, almost to the minute. 1 hour and 19 minutes running. 10.16 K...plus extra walking time sorting out my Garmin!
The run is run and I am feeling elated.
This is the first ramble I have rambled in a very long time, and I hope you will forgive the length of it. I intended to write one in December!
On the 20th of December 2019, to the day, four years ago, on a dark, wet and cold, Winter morning, I graduated from C25K. I had no idea of what lay ahead; of the places I would get to, the runs I would take and the friends I would make. Many of those friends are still here, and have been with me, from the very beginning.
I have embraced and loved every run I have taken, every new and old route; at home and away at Criccieth, lanes, roads and my beloved fields, all weathers in all seasons.
I have been on the Injury Couch with the best of you, few of those injures were running related, but still served to keep me from the highways and byways.
I have, if you glance at my runs, achieved little, if compared with some, and more, if compared with others, but, those of you who know me well, know that one of my favourite quotes, besides slow and steady 
is that “ ...comparison is the thief of joy”, and I have been, oh so joyful .
I have made and met my own personal challenges; run in Park runs... eek. Run in an iconic 10 K race...double eeek.. and despite all my protestation that I never, ever would, ran, last March the only Half Marathon I was ever going to , just to see if I could . ( My next HM is at the end of March.
If anyone asks me what is the best thing about my running, my answer is always the same. I love the inexplicable feeling it gives me... I love that I feel invigorated, and refreshed. It frees my mind, lifts my heart and soothes my spirit.
But the very best thing about my running is you. All my friends... many of whom I have never met in person, and those whom I have been privileged to meet and run with also. You, are what makes this special.
So a four year journey, culminating at the end of December with 31 days consecutive running. Who would have thought it...and... it goes on.
I am running towards my next HM, and am trying to get back on track for that HM, running for Alzheimer's UK... and, as some of my closest friend here know, Mr OF and I are on a different kind of track, also. One we have travelled for quite some time.
He, is on the bumpy, and dreadfully uncertain beginning of the Dementia road; his pace was slow at first, but is quickening as each month moves on. I am walking beside him, holding his hand and we shall take each week, as it comes, without looking too far ahead, but with a strong step and with an eye out for any storm clouds on our horizon.
I am sharing this, not for sympathy... but because you are my friends. I have neglected you at times, and missed posts and replies, but maybe by sharing, you will see it was neglect through necessity.
But... I ran today, I have bored, or entertained you with a really long Floss ramble, unburdened my soul and and I am renewed and refreshed.
So here I go... looking forward to the next four years...and completely unable to imagine where my running will take me...but, every step I make, you will all, as ever, be with me and it will be, of course... ( altogether now),
Slow and Steady !
Photo
My happy place...one of them
Back on the Magic Plan
