...Young enough to do it anyway
Although, the wisdom of the last part of that, I am not wholly convinced of
After my gentle run on Thursday, just under 5K in 36 minutes, and because it is another dry day. I decided to head out this morning.
The spell of drier weather has been, it seems, calling us all out onto the highways and byways, tracks and trails. All of us, the Newbies, the mid-ways, the nearly-theres and the done-its. Also. like Mole emerging from Mole End after the winter...those runners, who were, as Saul01 pointed out...in hibernation, are all suddenly out there.
Sorry, I am back to rambling, I find it so hard not to. Must try harder.
Anyway, off I went this morning, determined to run a little further, the tips from Bridge to 10K's super people, all filed in my head. Not too far, and keep it steady, I was not going to clock watch or worry about speed. I started off well, up the first part of the hill to the roundabout, minus seagulls this morning, but startled by two very large geese flying overhead, who were just showing off, because they fly faster than I run. Right around the roundabout, and back down, through the Crescent and onto the hill again. Down into the village and along to the High School. No one about yet really and good job too. My legs, unlike Celtprof's, felt like lumps of lead..his were like jelly!
I jogged slowly to try to ease the feeling, breathing properly and keeping everything tight or loose, depending which bit of me I concentrated on. Now... as I progressed, I wondered why I had decided on this route after my whining on about hills? Furthermore, as I continued, I wondered why I did not turn around and go another way! Because I am a silly old thing!
So, turn the corner, up the hill past the High School, breathing a little harder, legs still leaden, and up and up, across to the footpath behind the Primary school. I still find schools very odd places when there are no children there, slightly spooky and silent, ships without the crew; when I taught, I disliked staying late at school, on my own, after the children had left. I imagined footsteps and laughter, and now I am scaring myself, again.! Get on Floss!
Running a little easier now, on the relative flat, maybe the hill was worth this.. up onto Old Road and along...some undulations here, but generally not too bad, The hedgerow, cut back and re-laid some weeks ago, showing the first signs of greenery on the odd shrub. No lambs yet, but birds bobbing and fluttering in and out ahead of me. I turned up the lane at the end, opposite the steam railway, climbed the blessed gate again and over across the top of the field. I knew my face was red..my cheeks were burning, and I was warm, down the field and across and round again. Why was I doing this... up the other side and round again!
Back down onto the open fields. A solitary dog walker gave me a wave...the dog wagged his tail...over the railway and round the bottom field, over the brook and up the other field side. Another incline and muddy!!!!! I am completely loopy, I never run up that field, because the hedge twists and turns and the track from a farm vehicle, has made the going even harder. I did not stop though, running slower than the oldest tortoise, ( Jonathan... Saint Helena?) and feeling almost as old. I kept on, along the even muddier track, how can this be, we have had no rain. Stumbling rather than running, but determined not to stop. Why???? Back along the track way and onto the lane.
Running in a controlled way now... resisting the temptation to pelt down to the station, arms flying like Mrs Rochester; I know the dangers of running improperly, downhill, see last post, ( thanks husband!) Got to the Station and stopped. Just like our lovely, running -scared lady, on her run, beetroot face, plus my wild hair and manic smile!
5.72K...40 mins...So, not much further than Thursday, but a bit.
It was hard. Enjoyable? Yes. But hard.
Instead of my ORIGINAL plan to find somewhere flat to run... I choose a route with more hills
Clever eh?
Never mind. I am getting there; like the rest of us, doing it in my own way.
Determined and confident.
Tomorrow I ring Manchester airport, they may have a runway that they are not using
xxx
Graduation Euphoria Returned....
