...Running
Our runs, our pace, our way.
The inspiration for the title of this rambling post, ( yes, another one, groan, groan), comes from a post I read and replied to a few days back.
healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...
Do have a look at the post dijep put up... well worth a read.
I found it very interesting, as were the replies, and it got me thinking. Do I have rules, or do I just run, my way?
Anyway, having got back here to the coast, with the prospect of a sightly longer stay, ( off small runner in training duty) ,on Monday, I ran. just another short run, still taking it very gently as I continue my build back to strength and my stamina. I am using some NRC runs with my friend Coach Bennett, to help, mainly runs containing easy, or slow, in their description.
No need to defend myself, these are my choice, my runs, my way.
So Monday!
There were four of us out there, on a glorious, if somewhat misty morning.
You may, if you had been there, only have been aware of a lone runner, but I was not alone. I was accompanied by my dear forum friend, my staunchest supporter, through thick and thin, now back to running her own way after a time taken up with other wonderful life changes, with me also, a friend to hundreds and hundreds of us, a friend whom we still see on C25K, but who is unable to run, any more, and whom I miss daily. Last but not least, a new friend... introduced to me, very generously by @bluebirdrunner, one Coach Cory! Call me fickle if you wish to, CB is still a favourite, but, I had a great first date with CC!
The morning had a chill, not enough to warrant a jacket , but enough to make me pop my lightweight gilet over my T ! I braved my ear buds too; cleaned well and not pushed too far into the right ear, still a tad tender, an NRC run downloaded, First Run, easy and gentle with no intervals. Just 23 minutes.
First mistake was choosing to walk down the site road to warm up and back up the grassy hill, where on making the top, I was nearly blown back down by an unexpected wind! The view alone was worth it though. Down the steps and up and out. Running started!
Views over to the mountains , mist shrouded and purple hazed against a sky, straight out of a Turner painting; taking photos on the warm up is always easy, I am not moving fast enough for blur. CC is murmuring in my ears, that this pace is perfectly fine. The start of the run should be the slowest, the easiest, the comfiest. Well it was definitely the slowest !
Down the road for a little way, still green edged , but the secret, coded message of Autumn, already whispering its way through the hedgerows... blackberries clumped everywhere here, later than at home, red jeweled berries on the very cusp of change. Sun and rain will speed their transformation! Making the halfway turn, I detour quickly across the fields.
Looking towards the sea, the distant hills have a Tolkeinesque hue... slate-blue topped and cloud shrouded...the sea, just a distant dark line. Turning and back up, and now I realise that CC has a slightly dominant tone. He keeps urging me to check my breathing, check my body and check my pace. He asks me probing questions and expects me to answer... if I am not able to, then he insists that I slow my pace, despite the downhill section!
I cannot help myself, I answer, I respond and I obey! By his own admission, he is a bit annoying, and will not let me move too quickly.
Another photo shoot. I have hundreds of these shots, and every single one is different, the little town sheltered within those craggy arms of the castle, and the sea, reassuringly constant, taking away the old and bringing in the new, on each tide.
Down I go, holding back a tad, listening to the voice, and my time is running short.... I am given the option to continue after the run in or to stop, I may speed up if I am comfortable or ease back if not. I am comfortable as I cross the railway line so, a faster run in is allowed, and I speed up.
A deserted esplanade makes it easy. Determined to make the lifeboat station and the jetty, before my time is up...I make it.... just before I run out of jetty!
Photo stop time, the Castle... my castle....holding memories of childhood holidays, endless sunshine days wrapped in the love of my family, newer memories made with my own husband and children...and latterly, rediscovered and renewed.
My run is finished... we are all fine. CC is pleased with me, and my friends are content.
But...this is my run, to run my way and I feel there may be something left... for the first time in an age, a faint stirring of a challenge.... just a short few steps, back along the beach and up onto the Esplanade. It won't be too much, the voices in my head, talk to me, as I tighten my laces; Bluebirdrunner says she'll sit it out and cheer me on.... Tim is going to join her, "...go for it", he says, " just make sure you run and you smile".
So... I did... just 0.25K....but with a little bit of pace! Breathing easy, and light footed!
It felt good. I smiled, a lot.
Leaving my friends now, ( they have things to do), and listening to my own voice, that of my body, I started to walk slowly, back up the hill and home.
Crossing the railway line ,I met a lady who I had seen and waved a greeting too, on my way out... walking stick in hand, light framed and grey haired.
“ Hello again”, we chatted.
She was 85, and had lived just outside Criccieth for 72 years; a cancer survivor, double heart by-pass and with a genetic muscle wasting disease.
We talked on, so many things, the current times, the worries for our families. And about exercise.
She walks at least 5K, every day... rain or shine , with the final 1K, up hill! I know that hill. I struggled up it sometimes as a teenager! There was no air of regret as she talked, she accepted things as they were, and made the most of every moment of every day. Walking and looking around taking in every sight and every sensation. Her walk, her pace, her way.
We met as strangers, we parted as friends, and she told me as we parted. how glad she was that we had met, and she wished me well. I did the same.
What a run... what a walk, what a talk... who ever said running was just about one step in front of the other, had little idea of what it really is, all about. At least for many of us. As I walked on I mulled over the run, I had walked, I had run, I took friends with me, I met a new friend, we had all talked and we listened.
Yesterday's outing was all about running a little, walking a little, taking some snaps and talking a little. It had been a really enjoyable, if slightly nostalgic run.
It's part of the joy of the forums here, reading everyone's posts and seeing how wonderfully different we all are. All with our own way of running. Just like our lives.
You've got to give a little, take a little
Sometimes, let your heart ache, a little?
That's the glory of, that's the story of... our run .
Oldfloss x
Bluebirdrunner + IannodaTruffe thanks for your company xx
have become very much more than a , faceless friend !
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
