...What! You too? I thought I was the only one.
... and how many times do we see that last line, written in these posts? You can't breathe properly either? You are going slow? Why is this hard, is anyone else feeling like this??
I have commented, as have others, many times, on the friendship of the running forum, and over this funny weekend, when the site was having a bit of a wibbly, I missed my friends, my invisible friends. I missed the messages from old friends, the newer friends and reading the posts of friends, yet to be. I thought of the friends who are not posting at the moment; we all have particular friends who we really miss, when they are not around. We all know who they are. It was a tad like going down the village street and not being able to pass the time of day with folks you know, or waving to people you know by sight. It was odd, also, because, earlier I had been thinking about folk who have vanished from the forum, since I have been around. Life, family, circumstance, affecting all of us. I have special friends who no longer post, and I wonder.
Yesterday, an early run; lunch down at the offspring and husband's home, for Father's Day later, so needed to be out and back ! I love Sunday runs and although yesterday was a peach of a run, I felt a little quiet on setting out. The day for for some of us, maybe tinged with a moment of sadness, remembering Fathers who are just out of reach now, or indeed Fathers thinking of offspring are out of reach also for whatever reason.
So, a brisk, shake-myself up warm up walk and then a gentle jog down the hill to the village. I was taking a special friend with me yesterday and I intended having a good run. Along the main road into the centre of the village, all very, very quiet. No one at all in sight. I love the mornings when it is like this. I have it all to myself. No cars, no people no nothing 
I headed along the road, up through the narrow cut-through and into the churchyard. Those of you who have read my posts, know I always tiptoe or run very quietly here. The folk at rest there, don't seem to mind me, but I am never sure whether running is a good idea! So a cut-through and joining the hill past the Big School, half way up. Going very steadily. No Laura, no ABBA :), just me and my feet. I am I think, running quite well,( the odd twinge from my left knee), and this pleases me as I am breaking in some new shoes. Same make as the old Faithfuls and so far, so good.
Trying a variation this particular, morning, which involved a new lane. It was further than I thought to the turn and the first bit of the lane was an incline...not overly keen on that so early on, but kept plodding anyway. Then, the bonus of a long, long stretch of downhill; gentle and easy, which took me, past a lovely old farmhouse which I have coveted for so long, and gazed at wistfully from my car.. and into the next village. It used to boast a village shop, a Post Office and two pubs, no longer alas. I turned down the lane which would take me back to the village next to my own. Glorious views and a clear flat run. Odd how in my head, I can hear Laura, "lift up your heels, relax your shoulders, don't clench your fists". The friend who, in conjunction with the supportive friends on here, got me where I am on this Sunday run!
Hedgerows thick and green, a slate-blue sky and the threat of rain clouds in the distance. I glanced to the left as I ran, up towards a wood on a small hill, where one morning, walking, I startled a deer... all quiet now. Over the line of the Steam railway which runs across the lane, past the farm with the duck ponds, ducks still asleep and round and up towards a Cricket Club and the turn down the Hollow. I was keeping a fair pace and trying not to dawdle. Although I have walked, cycled, rode and driven this way, many times, I have never run it. Those who know my rambles, know how difficult it is for me to focus on the running. But, I did. I just thought of my friend and carried on running. Down the Hollow, no ghostly singing on this bright morning, but still quite shadowy and the vague feeling of unease that I always experience, was there.
I was, as ever glad to make the Square, and the light, past the stocks and along to the gate of the big field leading home! Through the gate and surprisingly, still going strongly. I have no idea of pace, but I was breathing normally and not too warm. My legs did not feel tired at all. The field is flattish here and I headed towards the Steam railway crossing and over into the home field. Buttercups, all gone now, but so, so many grasses. Truly beautiful as I ran past ,and through them, so many different kinds, looking for all the world like a greeny-purple sea, undulating, and sinuously stretching away to the top lane On along, and towards the track to the lane, with almost a sprint finish... and a welcome stop for a photograph and a moment to send thoughts to the friend from the forum.
I walked the rest of the way down the lane and across the road past the Station, stopping to check my distance. This was my longest run so far, 8.87 K . Gosh! I was surprised, it did not seem that far. It was slow, but I was not aiming for speed. My distances are creeping up slowly and steadily and it is fun. Took my time, but jogged up the hill and home, ( I love to think that I would never, ever have chosen to run up hill in the early days of my running journey.)
This run, was one I did for a friend, he did a run for me a while back, and whom, as some of us know, if we follow his post, is going through a tough time currently... So, not as long , or as impressive as your run, but secan . this run was for you, hang on in there, your friends are all still here!
x
Quotation courtesy of CS Lewis.
xxx
Reasons to be cheerful Week 6 Run 1 Rewind
