Well gor blimey guv'nor, I ran 11.25K today! I have to admit that includes my warm up and down walks, but sod it - What a distance! I have just consumed a mighty pasta dish which I cooked myself for lunch as I needed to put back some calories after the mega burning session this morning.
I had had some stiffness in my legs from Tuesdays run, but luckily all that had disappeared when I ventured forth this morning. Hooray! I had decided on my route - into Richmond, up Richmond Hill, into the park, run the 5K park run route, then retrace my steps back home making a 10K loop if I'd stopped running at Richmond Lock. In fact I went a wee bit further before saying to myself "Jeeeeeez! Dan! That's enough bro'! Stop running for gawds sake!"
Into Richmond, no bother. Onto Richmond Bridge when I saw coming past me another runner in a black beanie hat. His running form was like that of a stallion - high stepping, showing lots of soles of trainers as he galloped past. I looked at him disappearing over Richmond Bridge at great speed thinking - "God, I must look like some sort of lumbering oaf, shuffling along and he looks like bleedin' Red Rum!" I decided, once he'd gone, to try and adjust my form - lifting my legs up a wee bit more than I am used to and by jingo, it seemed to work! That is of course until I reached Richmond Hill.......the dreaded lonnnnnng slowwwwww heaving climb......Oh God!
I kept it slow. Just shuffling along with enough va va voom to keep in a forward direction and before I knew it I'd reached the park gates without being too much out of puff and crying "I want my mummyyyyyyy!!! Blaaaaaaa!!". I was being extremely grown up about all this. Into the park - now ahead of me lay 2KM along Sawyers Hill and down to Sheen Gate. I breathed a huge gulp of air and started my journey. It was peaceful - dull and a bit spitty rain wise, but the birds sang and the grass and trees smelt gorgeous. Up the hill and then the lonnnnng lonnnnnng downhill section. Wow, what a relief that was for the old body, I can tell you. I ran, gazelle like, feeling my glutes and hips doing the main work and landing on my centre foot for maximum spring forwardness! I was wearing my royal blue running tights with yellow go faster stripe and my electric neon yellow long sleeved running top so I was easily visible to any roaming wild deer that may come across my path. I didn't see any actually.
I reached Sheen Gate and took a walk break for two minutes. I'd run 5K non stop and I needed it. I turned left up the Tamsin Trail - a stony path and put the legs into gear once again. I weaved my way through the trees and saw only a handful of dog walkers and runners. ON I went into a lovely downhill section which took the pressure off a bit, then up the other side to Bishops Pond where I could see the entrance to the park I'd come in earlier. "Gooo on my son!" I said to myself "It's Richmond Hill coming up BUT THE REVERSE OF EARLIER!". YESSSS! I gazelled down Richmond Hill and was approaching Richmond Bridge when I heard a familiar sound. A sort of galloping, Red Rum sort of sound. It was coming from the other side of the road and was about to turn left, like me, and run over the Bridge. OH MY GOD! It's beanie man?!! WTF?!! Where the hell has he come from, but more importantly, how weird we should intersect IN THE SAME PLACE!!!! Beanie Man took off, with his legs kicking up like he was about to leap over Beechers Brook at Aintree in a single bound. I went my way and headed off towards the Thames path home thinking about Beanie Man. I wonder how far he'd run? I wonder which route he took? Weird symmetry there.....
Got in the front door and headed straight up to the jacuzzi. I needed to massage my legs in the hot water and relieve the aches that were now presenting. Mrs Dan was impressed with my time - 10K in 62 mins 09 secs which was a minute LONGER than my previous one, but what the hell - I FELT FANTASTIC!
Thanks for reading and remember, if you're injured don't give up. Just wait. You've got all the time in the world, because to get out there and breathe the air and RUN is worth the wait.
Dan
