Maybe those first three words, are not the words you would wish to hear, at the beginning of a run...but gosh, how appropriate for me .
Two runs this week ! What?
Yes, despite all that wind, weather, and life issues currently, I did get OUT!
It has been an horrendous few weeks, with the unexpected! cancellation of Mr OF's operation on the 22nd, emergency meetings, blood tests, assessments , blood test and more blood tests!!!
The snow, the ice, the wind and the freezing fog, all adding an unwelcome mix to an already frenetic and emotional maelstrom. Just finding the time, and believe me, I looked for it, to get even the shortest run in, has seemed impossible, and, possibly for the first time in my running life, the thought of taking this old body, drained, both mentally and physically outdoors for a run, was almost , ( I say, almost) inconceivable.
Yet, I have done some very short runs, from five minutes upwards, and even a tad longer, the runs may have been sporadic, but I did them; running down to the Surgery to arrange more appointments for Mr OF, running to the chemist, to sort out prescriptions and running to the shapes, instead of taking the car!
On Tuesday, I ran for ten minutes, and yesterday I ran for 14. There is no point, I hear some sceptics say...not at all, and Coach Bennett will be the first one to support me on this.
Every single run you make, counts. EVERY single one.
He has been my companion on these runs... he has kept me moving... and kept me feeling worthwhile.
Yesterday was no different, ( apart from the weather). I woke to a roseate glow behind the drawn curtains... and on opening them, was greeted with the most glorious, morning glory. A sky, straight out of the paint box.
Only one thing to do... running gear to warm, shoes out and all ready, for after the morning tea run !
A short while later, husband tucked up with a second cuppa and CB and I, were out there.
A fourteen minute one, ( appointment later), and where else? Up my hill... the wet weather, dry weather, warm up..my favourite. Was I mad! Warm up completed and I was ready.
Later than usual, but early enough, to avoid the invasion of small persons heading to the primary school, the sky above, losing the pinks and purples , the russets and the gold, giving way to a cerulean back-drop, to the trees. Just beautiful.
Very few folk around, as I headed upwards and those first words of CB echoing in my ears... “ feeling sluggish, legs feeling heavy and breathing a tad laboured ? ” Oh yes, and then some !
But, ( there is always a , but), he also said, this was normal ! Normal ! Phew, not just me then?
So on I went, and did exactly as instructed, all the way through the run... I eased back, I took everything in as I ran and I just let it happen.... and quite suddenly became aware, as I did the prescribed body check and the relaxing exercise, that my legs felt less heavy, , my breathing was steady and all that I was experiencing was, me., running.
So much to see, as we head into Winter, some trees hanging onto their greenery and others shedding the last leaves. Dark lakes glimpsed through tangled brambles , moorhens, playing chicken as they cross the road.
The squirrels, buoyant and bold, the sparrows, nip and tucking. in and out of the hedgerows, teasing and tantalising just ahead of me... the birches, silver- skinned, entwined with the cloaks of ivy, the field, shorn in the late Autumn, by the combine harvest-monsters, stretching towards distant horizons. Food for the soul and a feast for the eyes...
Too soon, the time came to turn back, but I was determined not to push at all... I have to stay strong and well, for Mr OF... CB is asking me, quietly, to see if I was able to just, ever so gently, to put just a little pressure on my running pedal and up my pace a tad. I was and I did... downhill helped
Count down is imminent, and I finish the run a little way from home, and the prospect of a slow walk, cool down.
So many thoughts, so many images in my mind, and the words of CB resonating in my head. I may have begun the run in a less than perfect way, but I finished the run, just as he said I would;
Comfortably, powerfully and...with joy.
Oldlfloss x
PS
New operation date for Mr OF is the 5th December, I may need a couple more runs like this one
