Torrential rain yesterday so changed my mind about route both before and during the run. I reversed the time-honoured start of my loop but, where I usually would turn right, I turned left!
There was lots of road ahead, no cars, sweeping views, lots of sparkles where the sun caught on the puddles and wet grasses. Have you seen the chimpanzee filmed being greeted by those in its new enclosure after 28 years living in a cage? (You can google it.) It keeps looking at the sky and gazing in astonishment around its completely new and wonderous environment. I felt like it must have done, excited but struggling a bit with the complete change, wondering what would happen and gradually realising nothing would – I could just keep going a different way. It was really liberating.
As there was absolutely nobody around, I decided to practice talking out loud to see if I could hold a conversation. I realised that I could probably manage a short one, or one where my side was much shorter than a virtual companion! However, it was a good way of adjusting pace. And, when Sarah said “you can do this, you can definitely do this” I agreed with her out loud – and didn’t feel short of breath when I slowed down to the cool down walk.
I’d chosen a repeat of W9R3 because I wanted to hear the celebratory cheers again. For some reason they didn’t appear – I probably pressed the wrong button – or maybe you only get them once. However, just as I arrived at my gate, a runner appeared, going in the opposite direction and I realised that his greeting was a “runner to runner” one, not just an acknowledgement of a random pedestrian – absolutely as good as a cheer! Onwards!
W9R3 - Graduation run completed!
W9R3 & Park Run = Graduation
W9R3! Graduation run done! 
W9R3: Graduation run!! 🎉🎉
W9R3 Birthday Graduation Run
