Smokey run...

Hiya,

Just back from another 30 min run, but it was weird. A few cities away from here a large field has caught fire today and the smoke reaches even to us. Maybe I should not have run, it did not feel all that healthy running in the smoke. It is not smoke smoke, but there is a haze in the air and it smells like smoke. But still, I needed to run. Felt at the end of my nerves today and I needed a good run to calm down. So smoke or no smoke, out I went.

0 - 5 min: seriously doubting if I should run. Breathing feels a tad weird with this smoke. I do note I have a good pace and cadence from the start, which makes me happy.

5 - 10 min: not much to say.

10 - 15: a stitch appears in my belly and I wonder if I not better stop. A stitch and the smoke? But suddenly a heron flies right above me to land just a few meters away. I am so in awe of this majestic beast that the stitch is forgotten and disappears all together. Also there are more trees here and the air feels cleaner. On we go!

15 - 20: I pass some elderly people who are playing jeu de boules. Probably some folks from the elderly home across the street.

20 - 25: is that ash falling? Oh no, ash is in fact falling about 5 km from us, but here they are fuzzy thingies (pollen?) from the trees. The trees are thinning though and I feel it in my breathing (more smoke).

25 - 30: not much to say.

Done! I am so happy I went out. I really needed my run today. And it seems I am getting a tad faster even though I don't want to, haha. 3,54 km in 30 mins. I am at 66.0 km from the 97.1 km Kilimanjaro challenge. Despite not running for 2 weeks, I am luckily still on track of my set limit.

Sunday is virtual race day! I participate in the virtual Antwerp Ten Miles Short Run of 6 km. With an app I should here what I would see in the real race (places) and where I am in regards to the other runners in my wave. I am very curious!

Cheers, Evy

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Well done on your eventful run. Hope your lungs are ok with the smoke . Your not far away for your target Kilimanjaro challenge as well. Good luck 🤞 on Sunday with your virtual run . Yes it’s good to see how you fare with other competitors. 👍😀

[Instructor57 Graduate10]

Well done getting your run in 👍A shame you had to deal with the smoke , it's awful if the air quality is bad , I couple of weeks ago I ran past a house burning rubbish, the smell was terrible ☹️

[Hidden in reply to Instructor57]

I think your rubble burning must stink harder. This is plants and grass burning, not too stinky. Just a burn smell.

[Instructor57 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

It was probably just garden rubbish but i could taste it as I run past 🤮

[Rennur Graduate10]

Being an ex smoker I can't stand running up behind a smoker. I speed up to overtake them. I often find it is not tobacco they're smoking. When it was dark it was more prevalent. Some nights I am sure I was flying....

[Hidden in reply to Rennur]

😂

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Rennur]

Ewwww me too Rennur! I can’t bear it (am an ex-smoker too). Yes, I noticed the not tobacco crowd a lot as well! There were even young lads going to work on a building site early in the morning - I wouldn’t be looking to buy any of the flats they were putting up! 😊😊😊

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

Well done Evy, especially with all the smoke. We don’t get smoke from fields round here, but when they fertilise the surrounding countryside, or whatever it is they do, it smells awful! I know what you mean about the nerves, we just need to run when we feel like that. All the best 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️🏃‍♀️.

[Hidden in reply to Frenc]

The field is still burning now apparently. There were shooting drills from the military and a hot bullet must have put the field on fire. 400 people are evacuated and the firemen have it hard to keep it under control.

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

Oh no that sounds awful. I hope they stay safe and get it under control.

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Glaad you got your run in - well done for persevering!