Just me and my shadow

[SueAppleRun]

We woke to a beautiful day and sat in bed looking out at blue sky and sunshine. I wanted to run, we ran with Jo yesterday which was lovely but the next time we can meet for a run is Sunday after work, that feels too long away and I don’t want to just run when Jo does, she went twice on her own last week when I couldn’t.

Willow didn’t want to run today so I got ready and went out the door. Most played on Prime music in my ears and Coach Bennet talking over the music, I’d chosen 40 minutes nike run. one and a half kilometres along the road and my ear buds ran out of charge so it was just me and my shadow! 😀

I was heading north and there she was plodding along in front of me, gently going up and up til I took a right turn and wondered where I’d go, as I ran east I glanced at my shadow and thought about the run, it’s slow, it’s comfortable, it’s warm, shall I turn next right? that’ll be about 40 minutes and not quite 5k, nah I’ll run to the end of this road then turn right.

Now I’m moving south and my shadow is behind me, every so often she pokes me in the back to make sure I’m still awake and keep moving, it’s ages since I’ve run this long without walk breaks.

And OH here I am, on the seafront, more questions, turn right, shall I cross the road? or just keep going? crossing the road entails waiting for the lights to go red, oh they are red, quick and over I go, across the green and along the path now going west with my shadow to the right of me. I take my phone out, snap a quick pic and run on but now I need to cross the road again, ooo a break in the traffic and I go for it, but it’s widened here and four lanes, I see cars coming thank goodness I can speed up, phew, safe and on I go, once more travelling north following my shadow home, 5k passed, shall I walk home? nah, even though by now I could walk faster I keep plodding on, and 6k so walk the last few minutes. I’ve said hello to many people on the way round, I’ve looked into many front gardens, nearly popped into a charity shop to ask if they need books, and I ran every step apart from the briefest pause to snap a photo

Thank you to everyone here who’s encouraged me over two and a half years to get to this place where I can just go out and run, could I have gone further? yes but not today, have a good day all x

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10]

What a beautiful description. I do like running with my shadow in the Autumn, it generally makes me think of AA Milne.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Maddee_6333]

Yes, exactly that although when writing it i did wonder if i’m just a little mad 😀

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Not mad at all 😍

[nowster Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

If you didn't have your shadow maybe you would be Peter Pan instead?

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to nowster]

Well there is that…. I better check Willows next time we are out….the boy who never grew up is definitely him (in the loveliest way)

[Ian5K Graduate10]

That sounds like a nice run.

Sometimes it’s annoying when the earphones run out of juice, but not so bad if the sun’s shining! Last time, it made me think of solar powered earphones, maybe run by a solar panel on my hat. 😁

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Ian5K]

Sola powered earphones would be good, I could do with a hat to shade the sun a bit but it’s so lovely out there and who cares if i can’t see much at times as long as i keep going

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10]

Sounds idyllic! I was out running with my shadow this morning, who was doing a great job warning pedestrians of my approach. 🚶‍♀️🚶‍♂️

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

I loved seeing my shadow running along as well, i certainly wasn’t lonely without and music running on my own

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I was enjoying a 2nd outing in my Max Cushioned new kicks - which, amazingly, smell of marzipan. Can't remember when I ever had such nice smelling shoes. 🤣

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to ForbiddenPlanet]

They sound good for running and mmm marzipan what a lovely smell

[LottieMW Ambassador]

Oh what a lovely run and beautiful post!

Happy running indeed! 🐌🐢🏃🏻‍♀️🍂🌞

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to LottieMW]

Thank you Lottie I just sometimes wish I could go faster so i could get home sooner, I love that I can still go out for a run though

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

It’s all relative and there is always someone slower than you! In your case, it’s me! 🤣

No one slower than me pic

[LottieMW Ambassador in reply to SueAppleRun]

Can’t beat a good slow run…in a manner of speaking! 😂

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to LottieMW]

They are the best

[Jools2020 Graduate10]

Great run, Sola! I shall be looking out for my shadow, now 😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Jools2020]

It was surprising how good she looked running along I know the reality is less so but just proud i can run

[Jools2020 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

I’m sure you and your shadow both look fantastic 😊

[Hidden]

What a fabulous run. Well done you.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Alan

[Week7 Graduate10]

You are very kind to your shadow taking her for a nice long run. I have been a taking mine out running after dark recently. She hides and then pops up when I go past the lamp posts!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Week7]

Ha ha that would make me jump, at least I got time to get used to her being there 😂

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

Is it really 2.5 years? Doesn’t time fly? It was a beautiful day to run wasn’t it Sola, blues skies and high tide. Windy but not like last week.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5]

24th April 2019 I joined and wrote my first post, yes time does fly although i think last year passed in a haze of fear and best forgotten, I see people start the programme then 6 months later are running 10k or HM and so fast but hey, still running here and that’s what counts, I like the idea of running with Jo once or twice a week and if only once running the second one with Willow then going out on my own about once a week and running for longer, time rather than planned distance though

[CBDB Graduate10]

😍😍😍beautiful run and beautiful description of a run! Have fun you two (you and your shadow)!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to CBDB]

I’m the mad woman talking to her shadow as she runs along

[CBDB Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

😂😂

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

So, running every day now are we Sola?! That was a lovely description of your run, you must be feeling so proud of how far you’ve come in the last couple of years, don’t stop now! London Marathon next year?!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Oldgirlruns]

A HM when I retire maybe but want to work a bit longer, could retire in January, I don’t often run every day but after being unwell I wanted to have a longer run, Willie likes 20 minutes two or three times a week and Jo is happy now to run 20 minutes at a time but I like to run further and will all the time i can even if very slow

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

Well we know that slow is good don’t we?! Although your slow is now much faster than mine I think!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Oldgirlruns]

Not on longer runs, averaged 11.04 today, but I was just happy to be out, it would have been faster if I’d jeffed it

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

😂😂 Join the club!

[Doris8 Graduate10]

Hi well done you and your shadow on your run. I do t think I Would see mine at 6.15 am walk/jog shadow will still sleeping 😴 and too dark. Another great post from you Sola very descriptive.😊

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Doris8]

Thanks Doris, it was very bright today so my shadow was very dark for once

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

You should write a song about running with your shadow, well done Sola on that run 👍 🏃🏾

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to AlMorr]

Thanks Al

[Yesletsgo Administrator Graduate10]

This sounds like the best sort of run, just getting into a flow and going with it 😁

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Yesletsgo]

Thank you, I do all my planning on the way and enjoy it so much

[Hidden]

Well done, sounds like you were feeling very good and it proved itself in this fantastic run!

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Hidden]

It’s just so good to feel well and be able to run

[Raisemeup 60minGraduate]

Well done, that's a great run over a good distance. All your runs with Jo are obviously paying off as you seemed to be running with ease on this lovely run. I won't be surprised to hear that you run further in due course as I also sensed your enjoyment of just being out there. Best wishes ☺️

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Raisemeup]

Thank you, I really love the long runs but Willow likes a shorter outing, Jo is getting stronger and she is much faster I have to put effort in and love it

[Fionamags Graduate10]

Lovely post Sola. That sounded both joyous and effortless.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Fionamags]

Thanks, not sure about effortless i didn’t put much effort in though apart from running fast across the road

[Cantstopmenow Graduate10]

Thank you for this beautiful post. I saw the title in my news feed this morning. It caught my eye as we have just said sad goodbyes to our lovely dog.I wasn't looking forward to venturing out, running on familiar roads and lanes, when I knew she would never walk them again.

However, your post cheered me up and as I ran this morning I was aware of my own shadow and also of being shadowed by my little 4 legged buddy.

"May the road rise up to meet you

May the sun always be on your back..."

Thank you

(Ps I have seen your run on strava now - well done 👏👏) R x

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Cantstopmenow]

Oh thank you so much and sorry to hear your sad news about your dog, I think about my dogs as i run all running over the rainbow bridge for many years now but happy memories linger

[GailXrunning]

Go, go! You’re doing amazingly. Sounds like your shadow is your new coach, too! Loved the way she circled you.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to GailXrunning]

Thanks I loved the way she poked me in the back to keep me going 😂

[GailXrunning in reply to SueAppleRun]

That was a great moment. Perfect coach. Knows just when you’re needing an extra prod.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to GailXrunning]

Yeah true