There are some lovely people out there... and there are some who are a tad mean. See later!
Okay... it was drizzling this morning, but only lightly, and I was determined after the blip that was part of my last run, to get out there, and just run ! I owe it to so many lovely people on this site, to just go out and get on with it.
I intended to try the SPEED podcast and see what it was all about and whether I could handle it. I have completed the Stepping Stone podcast three times and enjoyed it.
Togged up and very snug, the light drizzle turned to heavier drizzle as soon as I reached the end of the Close. I listened carefully to Laura, and did the five minute warm up walk...passed the school crossing warden; he smiled cheerily and pronounced me, plucky, for being out in the wet...Not sure if that is the word I would have chosen, but thought it was lovely anyway. The sky had darkened significantly as I made the big roundabout., no seagulls today, no birds generally, not even a soggy sparrow. The lights were back on over the main road and a line of cars queuing, an indication of problems nearer to the town...I started the first circuit of the podcast and it was fun. Wet, but fun.
For whatever reason my pace was good and my breathing, although initially a bit uneven soon steadied...but why is it that whenever I have to run or put on the pressure, it is always going up a hill? Anyway. I came to the first sixty second burst and it was fine... I really enjoyed it. I carried on through the next bit of the podcast... the cars coming down the hill from the Common all with headlights on, the pavement , though wide, was very wet and with large puddles. My feet were quite wet at this point, so it was just easier to go straight through them. I had to move onto the squelchy grass verge at one point in order to let a school walking bus pass; two adults and eight small bundled up children, eyes twinkling in the half light, hats pulled down, umbrellas up, looking for all the world, like a waddle of penguins behind their leader." Nice weather for ducks", I shouted, they giggled and scurried on, eager for once to make the warmth of school.
I had sort of lost track of how many circuits to go, I was so busy following Laura's instructions and concentrating on avoiding a few of the larger puddles. Focussing ahead , to where I wanted to turn back, I noticed a white van coming down the hill, he slowed, altered his line and deliberately drove as close to the verge as possible and through a massive flooded area on the road! A huge wave of water came up and over and completely drenched me, head to foot!
The shock as the cold water hit me, was incredible...icy. Jacket, leggings, hat, hair and trainers sodden, glasses blurred, just one big soggy lump...I paused only briefly, just to turn in disbelief and then, guess what... I kept on running. What else was there to do? I was a way out from home and I had to keep warm...so I carried on. Along one of the side roads..(it was flat) and then retraced that route, back across the main road and the final circuits of the podcast. I was absolutely dripping, thank goodness it was not really very light... my trainers made a not unpleasant squidgy, squelch as I sped along... yes, sped.. talk about a Grey Snail on SPEED...( podcast, not drug).
I found, that even in my soggy state, I really enjoyed the bursts of speed., maybe my running origins as a sprinter for the County were returning, ( oh, so long ago, when I was fifteen), or maybe I was just wanting to be home! Either way, I felt happy and totally at ease with the run. Am I seriously odd?
I am quite sure that the urge to be warm and dry, gave wings to my heels. The rest of the run passed in a blur, quite literally, having only wiped my glasses with my fingers... Slow down to a walk said Laura..I did, but not too much! I walked passed the crossing warden, he was helping the latecomers across the road... time to glance around briefly, a necklace of raindrops on the outstretched twig fingers of a smoke bush.. a blast of yellow from a winter jasmine and the welcome site of my own road home.
My husband was totally incensed, questioning, concerned, and helpful...in that order; he grumbled about the driver, cross examined me, as to whether I got the name of the company of the van, asked whether I was alright and then helpfully peeled/dragged my soggy leggings from my now beginning to chill legs; and it was a struggle!
Having divested myself of every item of wetness, and it was every item... I had, what may only be described as the best shower of my life.
As I write this post now, the sky is blue, the clouds are white, there is a chill in the air, but the difference from this morning, is unbelievable.
As I said at the start of the post, there are some truly wonderful people out there. The support and empathy I have felt since my last post has been overwhelming. Thank you everyone.
There are some very mean people out there too; so finally, (with apologies to Pollyanna and the Glad game), I'm glad I feel better than I did on Tuesday, I'm glad I did the run, I'm glad I can still run faster than I thought I could, and I am glad I got soaked, because clearly, the driver needed to find something, to make him feel glad. I hope it made his day!
W7R1 and I felt like a runner!!!
Last run of the conference. Got lost but feel great 😆
A Month of Week 1: Some encouragement for new strugglers
W7R2 and Iron Maiden nearly killed me
Wk8r2 done!! yipee.. on the road in the rain!!
