I am being sensible. I really am. Three weeks on from my fall… the incident of the broken ribs... I could not contain myself any longer. My cross trainer is brilliant... I am so glad I have it. I have used it daily to keep myself and this old body going. In conjunction with daily Grammy duty and a brisk walk down to said small one every morning… I am healing and feeling good. But…I miss my fields
So….Sunday morning…. A dry cold one, I decided to head out onto my beloved tracks and trails and have a walk! Yes… a walk… I have taken advice, and l know that really I should not be running just yet. But…a walk…to see what has happened over three weeks, how the season has moved on and what if anything has changed…I planned this, the night before... weather permitting and I slept well, despite soreness in ribs… the thought of getting outside again.. soothed my soul.
The regulation cup of tea and two biscuits...my gear was laid out the night before including my buff, Ullyrunner … I am wearing my running gear… plus extra thermal vest, as I will be walking not running. I headed out just about 8 a.m., so, a tad late for me… but I am crocked.
The day was calm. Cold with a bite of nippiness in the air… quiet and still as I headed out of the Close and down the hill to the village. Not a soul in sight; the houses, and their Sunday sleepers, curtained and cosy. The gardens bereft of any remaining bedding plants, shrubbed and berried and dressed in the hues of late autumn and winter. Winter pansies, Cotoneaster, Berberis, Pyracantha, decking the walls with red and yellow, and everywhere, the glossy sheen of holly.
The sky above, grey with the merest hint of warmth; a glimpse of sunlight behind scrappy, slate clouds. I was still walking, but briskly. I had forgotten how chilly it can be when we walk… down to the main road, devoid of traffic and people. Across the line and up past Rookery Wood, I smiled to think that in October last year I was running slower than I was walking now. The nests were silent, and the Horse Chestnuts, almost leafless, their leaves, discarded and crunchy, red and brown litter, beneath my feet.
Level with the sea-side shingle track to the field now and my heart was thumping in my chest. How silly to get so excited about a walk… but as I headed down to the field track and saw my majestic oak, completely without leaf, the mighty branched arms stretching into a winter sky… I thought I might cry. Silly old thing… I had a fall… I am still here, I can walk and exercise and I am going to get back to where I was before. I walked, sensibly along the hedges and through the fields, round and about, past the hidden pond and the Buttercup field; the track was grassy, the earth, softish, no mud, no hidden branches or holes or furrows… so, maybe a very gentle jog.
A jog so gentle that it could not even be called, an Irishprincess jogette; a jog that was the slowest and the softest jog, in the whole kingdom of Jogonia. Just about thirty or forty seconds, and then a walk, then another thirty or forty seconds, barely lifting my feet, rolling my foot, rather than lifting and so slowly…no impact at all really. No twinges and no sudden pain; just a few repeats and then back to a walk. It was so good. The feeling of moving… out and across the earth, the scents, the sounds of the morning, the crisp, clean scent of the cold hedgerows and the haws and hips casually decorating each dark corner of the fields. Bliss. I do not think I did myself any real harm.
The steam train line, unkempt and dowdy, and my foot-stile and track leading through a winter crop of green… through and up towards the steam railway… smoke and noise, all across the top of the field and the sharp-throat catching smell of the engines in steam. Early risers, preparing the sleeping dragons, the Santa Expresses must be starting! I headed along the copse of, not so new now, trees, russet and gold lining my path and squeezed by the big heavy gate onto the lane. I stopped to take a photograph of the dragon, and then very slowly walked down towards the village, and homeward. No gentle jog, the lane is too hard and I had done just enough for the time being. A walk, (plus tiny jogging steps) of about 5K, which took me a while, but was quite simply, pure delight.
On the way…the snail has left a small trail…
Written by
Oldfloss
Administrator
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Beautiful, Floss. Bet those few quick steps felt heavenly after a bit of a break! So glad you're on the mend and still so positive. Yes, it's cold out there!
Lovely to read such a descriptive post Floss, you have been missed 😘 Dont forget your own words of wisdom, slow and steady! So glad things are improving! 🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️🏃🏻♀️
That must have felt wonderful. All the trees and plants change so quickly at this time of year - I'm sure you will have really missed your lovely fields. Take it steady, though, especially with this icy weather!
Its lovely to know you are on the mend Floss, and back on your route again albeit at a walk.😊
Nothing will stop you getting back to form (you have the Graduate10 badge) and I'm sure we're all looking forward to hearing you say you are able to manage a joggette again. In the meantime enjoy your walks its good for the soul.
Hope all is going well with your gorgeous grandaughter and Little mum et all. Gentle hug.x
Lovely to see the yellow stripy snail back on track. Great news floss! 😆sounds like a perfect walk with a bit of cautious jogette thrown in for good measure.
Yes wrap up warm! I found it difficult to warm up at club last night so may be investing in a cosy base layer now it's payday! 😆
Glad all well with the family and that little one keeping you busy!
That's good to hear. It's beautiful outside, unfortunately I have other claims on my time this morning and as tempting as it is to throw it all to the wind I have to be sensible today! (bleugh!). Hopefully the sky will still be good at lunchtime. Hope you enjoyed your walk.
Ah Floss, how lovely to get out there and find it is all still there, patiently waiting for you. And how lovely to let your legs slip back into those well remembered and greatly missed moves.
You are clearly on the mend and will gradually find your way back to where you were earlier.
You'll need your buff and more with this current white out. Isn't it strange how much further 5k is when you are walking it!
I could feel your joy at being out there, in your words, and totally understand how you feel as I, too, had been on the IC due to a foot injury and found it very hard being confined. My first run outside after a few gentle treadmill runs indoors was pure bliss (and I slightly overdid it because I just did not want to stop)!
I hope you can continue to gradually increase your running and that the ribs are healing well.
Good to know you're back Floss. I can so relate to this post. I felt the same the first time I risked a short gentle jog after I broke my ankle. Amazing how quickly running becomes indispensable to us
You've painted such a lovely picture in my mind, it's as if I was there! I wish I was in fact as it's sounds like a beautiful place to get out and about in. I think yourself and Flossie22 are excellent at painting us a picture of your wonderful runs/walks. Ever thought about writing a novel? It's been said there's a book in all of us, and that's most definitely true in your case (and Flossie's), I'm sure of it.
So, thanks for that and I'm really pleased to hear you're on the mend by the sounds of it. x
I love my runs, I love my writing.. I have had a few things published...short stories etc.. and I wrote lots of things for my children when I taught!
I am in the process of writing a running themed mystery story... encouraged by my lovely friend PippiRuns .. small grandchild has delayed the writing a little though... but with the long winter nights, I shall get back to it!
The runs for me are about so much more than running... Many of us get so many different things from it.. for me.. I can run and then let it all out..
I am healing and, dare I say, faster than I thought I would... slow and steady x
Yes-yes-yes - and don't forget to have me translate it into Danish. Danes are crazy about mysteries and crazy about running! It will be a best seller (and not the first book I have translated).
Wish her books were the ones I translated. Unfortunately I didn't earn much fame nor fortune with the translation I did But I'm sure your book would bring me closer to stardom!
Oh Floss, I am so pleased that youre on your way back ! You mustve felt liked a caged tiger snail, but now you have poked your head out of your shell, the only way is up !
Thanks PP.... it will be slow...but gosh, I am determined... I did not realise how much just being out there meant to me...
I will be sensible... realised, I am not unbreakable... and I need to be a tad more sensible.. but... as you say onward.. always onward, and by Christmas who knows !
Love and a big hug to you too... thinking of you a lot x
Mam is doing so well, she managed to sit up and told the carers she wanted to get out of bed. So they sat her in her wheelchair and she managed to eat some breakfast for the first time in seven weeks !
Our prayers were answered, every day is a blessing xxx
Glad to hear you are on the mend. Lovely post, transported me away from the couch and my wine 😁 Slow and steady will see you back to where you were. Glad the little one is doing well 👶👟
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
It's been said there's a book in all of us, and that's most definitely true in your case (and Flossie's), I'm sure of it.
Yeah, that doesn't surprise me.
First day out but calling it pre-pre week one
Nearly taken out by white van man!
Runs without dogs - the Exploration Game
Week 1, Run 1 - or Trying to Get Started
Bit the bullet and headed out for my first ever 10k! 
