Having been inspired, once again by another of our forum friends... I was out, Friday morning, on a twenty minute run, thank you MissUnderstanding 
I was a little short on time.; a lunch time visit from small runner in training and Mama, a few errands to run and then, a recurring technical glitch, (which continued until late), all contributed to, doing quite simply, what I am able.
It has been a tad hectic, time consuming, and a tad draining, here on the forums over the last week or so and it is sometimes very important to just ease back, take a deep breath and go with the flow. A run was needed.
I had a wonderful first 5K in a long , long time on Sunday, but today... this was one that took me down , yes, you have guessed it, my beloved fields....
I took C B with me, as I have neglected him a little over the last months, he though, does not bear any grudges and was as attentive as ever.
The village at the moment is cut into two... the railway crossing, closed until May except to pedestrians has served to frustrate, quieten and lengthen, in equal measure. Frustration... that there is no access directly, lengthen... adding to the average journey by at least 20 minutes and quieten...all the roads in close proximity. But I had to get down there to get to the fields!
So...gear already set out the night before... warmed nicely...cuppa enjoyed and after the regular warm up, I was out into the morning. Not half-term until next week, so as I made the lane leading up the hills, there were a few High School folk heading down towards the Halls of Academia!
I headed at the CB regulation easy pace around the Crescent and rejoining the lane, downhill, I passed a young lass, who shouted a cheery good morning, and a ...” Go you, you look terrific... “ I thanked her, a lot, and ran on! Down to the crossing where the latecomers to school were being careful watched and directed by a railway operative resplendent in fluorescent yellow, ( the trains are still running), he directed me too... with a loud,"... come on love, you are doing well”!
I headed up to the fields , past McFitty 's wood and on...
As I turn onto the track, not exactly the Primrose Path, but certainly, Snowdrop Steps. Snow drops, everywhere...even in the rough undergrowth of the hedges and fences. The great thing about my fields...they are, most of the time, deserted., and it is wonderful!
Coach Bennett is murmuring sweet nothings into my ear, I am running easy, I am badass,; he tells me that when I am peaceful, I am strong...he is of course, correct.
The green shoots of the winter wheat are showing,,, the track has dried out a tad with the sunshine of yesterday...the copse of trees around the pond where I and the girls spent many a sun-filled hour, still stand guard over their secrets... memories drift in and out, magical or melancholy, as my friend Irishprincess may remember, but I am still at ease. Time is a healer, though not always a cure.
The distant views stretch away into a light mist, my steps are light and my breathing steady. The twenty minutes are seeping away, and I must turn for home. I do turn, reluctantly, Wordsworth style, “...proud and exulting, like an untired horse, that cares not for its home...”.
My feet, though moving slowly seem to barely touch the ground, over the sleepers of the steam railway and down towards my tree.... CB and the 20 minutes have gone... but a loss of signal and the need to round up to a 3K are in order. I head back down towards the crossing, over and past the stream.
The run is done. Another step closer to normality. The ups and downs of life are always there; and sometimes words, especially harsh ones, have a power to lower the spirits and weaken the resolve, but... twenty minutes outdoors...it all becomes clear. Such beauty, such calm, such peace.
There is nothing to say... even for me
Floss x
YAY 10k!
