Those were the parting words of Mr Mouse as Ferd and I left the house in the pouring rain to head off to pastures new - Shipley Country Park.
So last night there was a big flash of lightning, there wasn't even enough time for me to count and then BOOM. I screamed (a little) it woke me up, it was a bit of a shock. I'm not afraid of storms but I have just watched 3 seasons of Falling Skies so I am blaming alien invasion. Yes I watch lots of post apocalyptic stuff.
Well apprently we weren't being invaded by aliens and in the end it was a bit of a pathetic storm but the surge of adrenaline meant I had a really restless sleep and woke up at 9am very groggy and obviously too late to head to parkrun.
I was tired and hot as it was really muggy and it was raining outside and I kept thinking how lovely and cool it would be in the rain. And so around lunch time my mind was made up I was going for a run and I was going to go somewhere different.
I've been to the country park before but not explored all of it and I knew there was a reservoir which I thought Ferd would love.
Just as I decided to leave the rain turned into a heavy downpour but I was not going to let that put me off.
By the time I got to the park the rain had eased but still raining. And off we went in search of the reservoir. Found it.
And look at my initial pace I was flying, I recon that bit that it dropped to insane was me being pulled by Ferd as he chased a squirrel that jumped out on us.
At the reservoir I did walk and stand about while Ferd played, we then had a bit of a me getting lost session - I had no map and the foot path markers where non existant and there are a few trails.
So I found my way again and then walked up the hill, I will run it next time but what with the walking when I was a bit lost I had lost my momentum. Then we headed into the wood and headed up and I got lost (a bit) again, I've walked the upper section of the wood before but from a different direction, so I ended up walking a bit again and then discovering the remains of the hall so I read the information boards and erm looked at the handily placed map. Once we'd found our way again we ran for a bit more but then slowed to a lovely walk to just enjoy the park.
Now my running style towards the end was unconventional it involved me basically waving my arms around like a loon batting flies away, seriously I had loads swarming around me, why do the flies plauge me? And then on the walk I felt pain on my arm and a horse fly was biting me, I tried waving my arm to shake it off but it continued its assault, I had to bat it off and then another attacked me and another and another. I was horse fly lunch. Ouch. Luckily I think the large quantity of antihistamines I take has prevented any reaction, but those buggers hurt when they bite.
Really glad I got out, I was wet, I was happy, it was the best run I've had in a while, would it be wrong to say I am looking forwards to the cooler weather.
Will I be going back to the park? Yes definitely (though maybe I might have a map next time, you know just in case).
Oh and I even went into a shop in my running kit, my full on Lycra wonder outfit, wet and covered in mud and I didn't care.
P.s I might have to put trail shoes on the wish list, I started off in trail shoes and I think the park in winter will require something a bit more grippy later in the year, I think Nike had some.
I must be mad !!!!!
