I ran on Tuesday, but am so behind with my posts, that the run is almost forgotten. I know that I really embraced the hill/s and ran long and hard on a new route. Just about 5K but a slog...I should have run yesterday, but because it was husband's birthday yesterday, and birthday treats, his breakfast in bed, pressies and card opening were called for, I ran today!
I had a cunning plan. After taking sound advice on Bridge to 10K, I thought I might extend my distance..just a little and head for maybe...7K.! A tiny bit further than the 6.72 I have done, but nevertheless further.
What was my plan? Well, having embraced the hills on Tuesday... I thought.. what about a flat run and then... a downhill home! Start further out..by getting a lift to my starting point. Ah ha!
Daughter agreed that on her way to work, she would meet me at the post box, ( I would be the small grey snail), pick me up,(in her car obviously) and drop me at the start point.. about 7 K from home, I thought... I would then run back home Simple!!!
Slight catch, early start..6.a.m. No matter, I wanted to try it out! We made an agreement, if pouring.. the plan is off!
Woke at 5... everything ready to go... stuff laid out the night before, a quick cuppa and digestive biscuit.. cuppa taken for husband.. grey skies but dry..Yeay! At 5.50.. head for the post box... hmm wet stuff coming from sky.. just sperkling at this point and looked like it would blow over. Got to said post box, heavier, wet stuff. Too late to ring offspring and I was getting slightly damp. Small white car and small pink daughter arrive. Leapt into car from my huddled position under the only overhanging bit of foliage shelter that I could find. Daughter asked if I was sure about this. Well, some of you may remember the aliens that abducted me in a post a while ago..( Spring is Sprung?) well, I think they were in the car this morning!!!
"No problem", I replied "this will blow over, drop of rain and all that". We headed right up the top of the hill, turned left along the Level...Goodness! rain, wind, mist. you name it. Downpour, does not begin to describe it. Daughter wanted to turn around and take me home; again the voices in my head. " No problem it is fine..just drop me, I can run fast! "I did not want her to be late for work, so I was determined. With great reluctance, she stopped at my start point, and after I prised her finger from the car lock button, she let me out of the car.
As the tail lights disappeared into the grey, slanting sheet of rain which slatted across the Level, I have to admit, I almost ran after her! I stood, for shelter, under a handy, large branched, but leafless Oak, (that is sarcasm)... pulled buff up, tucked collar around, tightened jacket zip. wiped glasses..( that was a waste of time) pressed button on phone..nothing. Pressed again..nothing.
Plan to do the first part to the route with Stamina and Laura for company.. no go! Silence!
Slight panic moment, as I looked around; new route, lots and lots of trees, no houses, thick bushes, limited visibility, a gathering shroud of grey mist and nobody to keep me company. Did I hear the baying of a ghostly hound, was that a movement behind me? Radio black spot, time warp, black hole? I was getting wet, I was also letting my imagination run wild. Murderer in the undergrowth, strangler in the shrubs, I had to move. I ran, and ran, and ran. I could hardly see through my glasses, I have no idea what I passed or what if anything passed me, trees, shrubs, all a blur. In my head... one, two three four, one, two, three, four. That and the blessed quotation about staying strong, that I posted the other day, coming back to haunt me! Over and over and over...on and on and on along the level until I reached the top of my hill .
The rain as I headed downwards, eased off, until half way down the hill it stopped, but I just kept running. 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4... heels lifted, cycle motion...just keep running. I even detoured along a road through the estate and back onto the hill again.. was I mad...? Get home, get showered, get dry! But no; the fact that I was travelling down helped, and I ran down, over the big roundabout, past the school, well before school time, and all the way home! Where..by now.. the sun had just started to peep through the grey clouds. Oh joy.
Husband's cheery voice. "Good run? Did you do 7 K ?Oh..you're a bit wet"!
Not quite the run I thought it would be; sometimes, circumstances demand that you just run.
Plus... My cunning plan failed... the run, even with detour was only 6.24 K, completed in 35 minutes and 33 seconds.
Lessons learnt:
Check route AND distance before running
Double check weather forecast
Leave imagination at home
Ring Mulder and Scully for advice re-aliens
Did I enjoy it? Heck... of course I did. Try again on Sunday! 
PS
I just added the photo ...
Oldfoss x
Consolidation Run 4 🏃🏻♂️ 
It's raining cats and dogs!
1st post grad run
My first forest run
Running in the rain
