The pure heady cocktail of this time of the year and the sheer joy I get from my running... what a combination!
I have been running, regularly, three times a week and experimenting with lots of different running techniques, ( Posting those details on Bridge to10K forum later), but in true rambling Oldfloss style, I simply wanted to share my morning run with you. If you do not enjoy rambling posts, stop reading now. 
I am away in the tin-tent again, back out at High Onn, in the middle of the glorious Staffordshire countryside. Here for a week, recharging batteries before a three week spell of building work at home.
I woke this morning to the dawn chorus, but 4 a.m. is a little early to head out for a run, even for me!
So, after the necessary cup of tea and two digestives, I eventually left the site at 6.30. All quiet, as I took a brisk ten-minute warm up walk. The April lambs have grown into sturdy and stocky youngsters and a new set of late Spring lambs are decorating the fields with their wide-eyed cuteness. On reaching the triangle at the top of the lane, I turned and began my run. Laura and Stamina this morning...( Speed on standby too), just loud enough for me to hear, but not so loud as to shut out the sounds of the morning. I have used this C25K+ podcast so often I know it by heart. But, because I am trying to increase distance and speed, I find the reassuring voice and instruction works; not for everyone, but it does for me.
A gentle start.. steady and not too difficult, first five minutes always a bit of a trial, but because it was downhill.. easier.. then a different route, as I turned left, along Sweetwater Lane. Aptly named as it turned out; the hedges laden with leaf and burdened with blossom. The Hawthorn, literally dripping with the thick, clotted-cream May, and the early morning air, heavy, with the sweetness of cow-parsley. As I ran I followed the instructions, heels roundly, lifting, and the steady powering of my arms and the driving of my knees. Into a strong rhythm now, as I headed out towards the turning point... Fields stretching away on both sides, The Wrekin, blue haze, in the far distance and great balls of white cloud gathering in a cotton wool cluster, in a huge sky-blue bowl. On I went, past the turn , past a still and silent pond, moss-edged and green, and before I knew it, I was long way out and Stamina was ending, but instead of walking I clicked to Speed as I turned and began my homeward run. Plenty of energy and the rare treat of running on almost flat terrain, I used this podcast, now, to help me with my speed and lengthening my stride. It was very enjoyable as I retraced my route and headed past the turn for the site, and ran on still. Past all the green, the colours and the May, scents, sights and sounds, fuelling my run and feeding my soul.
I was not aware of feeling any kind of tiredness, but at Little Onn Hall, thought I needed to turn back; the intervals are fun and when I am into the podcast, I find the slower speed tricky, as I am very settled at the slightly faster pace. I turned back along Sweetwater lane and back up the turn and the lane back to the site. Stamina finished now, but I kept running. Slower now, up the long, but slight incline back to my tin tent. A final burst of speed heading back down the back of the site and stopped. The longest I have ever run properly, without stopping, very slow indeed, but nevertheless 8K, in 63 minutes. I was quite pleased. A beautiful run, to delight the senses, free the mind and lift the heart.
So... a great start to my day. It went slightly downhill later when, after a pleasant long cycle ride with my husband this afternoon, a gust of wind, preceding the rain filled front, that was heading towards us,( which is now on top of us), took my husband sideways and took me off my bike. He managed to stay on his bike, I hit the floor, fairly hard... so, two skinned knees, two chunks out of my right hand knuckles, bruised and a tad battered, and somehow, managed to skin my chin and bash my ribs...( think that was my bike landing on me). But... still standing... and still smiling
As my quote says... "It's fine...I ran today".
Boy, did I run
And today - I ran for 5k :)
Postgrad Triple "S" programme!
Back after a long lurking absence - stamina versus speed
Haha, I ran for 15-16 minutes..... Is that all? I hear you say
Happy bunny today
