A beautiful dry morning this morning. and not as chilly as yesterday, when I had intended running. Yesterday the rain did put me off, as I felt to get soaked, this close to recovery from the dreaded lurginess would have been foolish!
But.. what a difference a day makes... I intended repeating a slow walk/jog, but then thought maybe I would do a repeat of the Stepping Stone podcast. I figured that I could always just walk or stop if I had problems. Still a tad nervous of over-stretching myself, even though I have had a couple of forays since I felt better...but nothing ventured and all that. So off I went. Bundled up as usual in my gear, Buff pulled up over my mouth and nose, (bless you, Ullyrunner.. I think of you every time I put it on!), and set off for the brisk five minute walk.
A very brief word with the School Crossing man.. who said he had missed me.. was I okay..? (How lovely was that)! Then continued up over the roundabout and up the lane towards the Common. I thought I would avoid the lanes after the terrific winds of last night..and as it was dry...no danger of mean white van man at the site of my soaking!!!! Laura's reassuring voice in my ear...like the return of a welcome friend, telling me I am a runner and encouraging me to take a first run...I did.
Postcard blue sky ahead and the remnants of a half moon, pale and shimmery silver, hiding her modesty behind the wisps of cloud, high, high above. I said in one of my last posts, that after enforced house rest, everything seems fresher and cleaner. The familiar looks new, the ordinary suddenly appearing extraordinary; you just don't look at things, you really begin to see them.
I found that the pace was suiting me, no aching legs and trying hard to watch my posture and listen to Laura. I was concentrating on my breathing, perhaps a little afraid of losing my breath or coughing, and it really seemed to help. Controlled and steady. I found that I was able to keep pace and it pleased me. But, still, I determined to listen to my body and not be silly.
I passed the Primary school walking bus; the last time we met was on a very, very, very wet day, ( think a line of ducklings..) huddled into coats and hoods and under umbrellas. This morning, though they were chattering and skipping along between their minders...mostly in pairs, exchanging stories and giggling.. straggling behind, a small reindeer... no, not really, just a little girl with a reindeer Christmas hat, complete with black antlers and red nose..clearly Mum could not persuade her to pack that away! I continued my run half way up the bank and turned for a short detour before retracing my steps, then up a little further on the main road. Looking around as I tried to increase my pace, as Laura was suggesting, I noticed, through the straggling winter branches of the hedge and copse on the edge of the estate, the glint of sunshine on water...a small lake. I had never noticed this ever before on my runs.. maybe because it was so wet, that I usually had my eyes focussed very much ahead.
It lies exactly opposite to the one on the golf course, on the other side of the road,( which I did know about), maybe a remnant of long gone days and times. Broken branches and twigs, strewed the surface of the water, and a lone moor-hen paddled furiously as I went past. Continuing up the hill a little way further, I did not want to get too tired, I crossed and retraced my steps. Downhill is always a delight to me, and especially today.. the sun now, almost warm on my face, a Jenny wren, ( Troglodytes.. huge name for such a small bird, always makes me smile),) hopping in and out of the hedge in front of me. I managed to keep pace and was very conscious of breathing properly, relaxing my shoulders and fists and running smoothly. So much to think about. The Silver birch trunks white in the sunshine their lacy fingers waving in a quickening breeze, distracted me as I headed back to the roundabout.
Upping the pace now, and passing the last few children crossing noisily to the school ,mums, dads and children, babies in pushchairs, grannies and grandpas, all wrapped up in the morning ritual. I notice that some of the shrubs in the gardens have huge buds on them and some of the smaller ornamental trees have their mouse-ear leaves showing, surely a sign of an early Spring...and yet again. Some of the gardens have daffodils out, snowdrops are everywhere, so much has come on since I was last out for a proper run. As I listened to Laura tell me that it was the last five minutes, I was still heading down hill. Ahead of me in the distance looking towards the Derbyshire peaks I could see a huge bank of cloud, thick, grey and heavy, in a continuous roll across the skyline. The cloud looked full-bellied, rain, or the snow which is forecast for the early hours of Wednesday...the early signs of spring could well be hidden under a white blanket by tomorrow.
The run is finished, I start the walk down. I feel as if I have passed yet another small milestone on my running journey. A proper run, no harm done, (hopefully); maybe not far in distance, but thirty minutes continuous running and apart from glowing red cheeks and a cold nose, I think I did okay. The walk home was quiet and gave me time to reflect on the run, and how like the rest of the programme, if you do it properly, if you follow the rules, if you are sensible, then you can get to where you want to be, wherever that is. So thankful, when I think that three weeks ago I felt as if I may never have run again, ever. Thoughts and words, (as usual) whizzing around my head, and a quotation from my school days, so long ago, springs to mind;
" Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly, you are doing the impossible."
So true. Don't we amaze ourselves sometimes?
P.S.
Sorry, I am back in rambling mode 
The hill of Achievement W6 R2
Wk7 R1 - hated it & had a few choice words for Laura
Week 6: Run 3...so emotional
Fergus sings the blues
