... You know me here
Tuesday Morning, bright and early. I needed to get out before the rain started. It has been, as it has for many of us, quite damp.. in fact, very damp! But, we embrace the rain as we do the wind, the hills, and the midges.
So... a brisk warm up walk and yet another plan, unfolding, in this weird old head of mine! If I am wakeful in the small hours, I like to lie there, plotting, different ideas, new routes, and travelling, in my mind; the favourite, familiar old routes, planning new adventures, thinking about JoolieB1 's lost in the woods adventure... all super things to try on my runs.
I have, as some of you know, been altering my run lengths, pace, and speed. trying fast/slow and some short walk/run runs...just seeing what happens really. So, the plan was, yesterday to have a run, for about 2K or so, then do a 3 K stretch with ABBA. 
I discovered a few runs back, that some of the ABBA tracks were great to run to..one such track, unexpectedly is Chiquitita... a song which I am not overly fond of, but oddly, is great for interval type runs...some really slow bits and then faster bits, huge fun! ( I know, I know loopy!).
I started to run down to the village, I needed the fields, for my plan, as some of the things I do whilst running, look a tad unusual :). So, round the Crescent and down-hill... surprisingly this was a very fast, (for me) 1st K, just under 6 minutes...usually it takes me, and the legs, time to get going, the first five minutes or so, but looking good so far. I carried on down to the Station. The crossing barrier was down, so, I entertained the occupants in the waiting cars, by running around the triangle quite a few times, then crossed to the other side, just before the barriers lifted. ( One can wait there for a very, very long time).
Up the lane and past Rookery Wood, the undergrowth is really dense now, The rain has encouraged everything to put on a huge growth spurt. A thick green carpet, interspersed with all the late Spring plants, and still yet, as I ran past, the sharp pungent scent of wild garlic...quite late for it now... but, a mental note to come down, before it goes, and pick some for an excellent recipe I have! Wild Garlic and quinoa cakes.. mmm.
Up the hill, smooth easy, running, a quick pace too, up and down past the heavy gate opposite the Steam railway, round the corner and into the big field. The path, which I intended to experiment on has almost disappeared, between the green spiky shoots, narrowed down to a foot's width, slightly soft and damp. I stopped and again, simply count my blessings. The rich scent of thick wet greenery, the distant views of hawthorn trees and hedges, bereft now of their white clumps of creamy flowers, but the lime green leaves, there, shining bravely, against the sky. My Nan used to tell me, I should never sit and fall asleep under a Hawthorn tree for fear of fairies stealing me.. I think of this, and smile.
But... the plan. ABBA and I... off we go. The first part of the song has a steady 1,2,3,4 beat and if anyone is watching, it must look most peculiar, as I pace myself with the song! Long strides, as I move forward, trying to keep them even and balanced; along the track and turn at the crossing, back the other way again. As the next, faster bit comes on, I shorten my stride and move to a much quicker 1.2.3.4 pace. It is easy to run to this.... The stretch, in a straight line, from the gate to the Steam railway crossing is just over half a kilometre. So I repeat this pattern four times, for luck. I was very sick of the song ( on a loop).. and was at this point, besides concentrating on my different stride lengths,,, making up words to it in my head!
Eventually on a last run to the crossing, I turned, took a photograph and then ran up to the top of the Buttercup field. I just felt, so vital and full of life... that I turned again and ran down the field, keeping to the narrow track way, the thick grasses and buttercups clinging to my soaking wet running leggings, the cloying sweetness of the grasses and the damp greenery, soggy shoes... wonderful!
No great distance... not a bad time..but just great fun! I ran to the lane and then walked all the way back home. Soggy feet squelching and the sky darkening above me.
I will, probably, never be any kind of a real runner... I spend far too much time looking around and making up rhymes and poems and songs... but I run as far as I choose, for as long as I choose, when and how I choose... and right now, for me, that is quite enough.
For anyone who might be interested.. unlikely I know; these are the words I made up.. a sort of, Ode to my Legs, which despite, rock climbing crushes, falls from bicycles and 66 years of carrying me around, still answer the call!
To the tune of Chiquitita.
Oh my legs there's nothing wrong,
You're well into your own pattern
By my pace, I can see hope for tomorrow
How I love to run when it's like this
There's no way I can deny it
I can tell I'm feeling oh so good, I'll fly it!
Oh legs, you and I know
How the knee pains come and they go and the aches they're leaving
You'll be moving once again, and the pain will end
You'll have no time for seizing.
Oh legs, you and I cry
But the sun is still in the sky and shining above us
Let me see you run once more, like you did before
Try a new pace, my old legs
Try just once more, like you've done before
Try a new pace, my dear legs.
There is really no hope for me...is there?
I have met Julie at long last!!
My favourite songs I associate with running (what's yours?)
