Feeling poorly, a bit ashamed and a bit sorry for myself today. Entirely self-inflicted. Last night I went to see Madness at the Roundhouse in Camden as best friend had won 2 tickets. Food and wine (well over 2 bottles between us) were great, concert was great - all in all a fabulous evening. The timings for getting back to my home town of Crowborough were tight, as the last train leaves from London Bridge at 11.04. Anyway, made the train, settled into a seat, and continued reading latest book on my itouch. Texted husband to say that I'd be coming into station at 12.04 and he was happy to pick me up. So far, so good. The next thing I know I'm coming to as my phone has a text message on it. From husband, and one from eldest son, asking where am I?
Yes, I'd fallen asleep, gone past my station to the next one, which was the end of the line. Which would have been ok - a bit inconvenient but ok. However, the train was now heading at high speed, without stopping back towards London. It was empty, as far as I could tell and I had no option but to wait for it to stop! It did, at South Norwood - its destination for the night. My husband had contacted Southern railways to tell them that I was on the train, and there was a very confused driver and conductor that greeted me as they got out of the cabin. Asked me where I had been - like I'd been hiding or something! They called across to a guy on the other platform, and it turned out that he was shutting up the station for the night! He was very kind and tried to get his cab (paid for by Southern Rail) to drop me off at East Croydon, but as she was tracked by GPS she couldn't. So he walked me to a cab office and waited until I got in, refusing to leave me on my own at 1.00 in the morning in South Norwood.
So, long story short: I finally got the first train back to Crowborough at 5.30 in the morning, after some random wandering in E Croydon looking for water and having sat in East Croydon's waiting room for 3 hours. I pulled in to my home station at 6.25 ish and then faced a 2 mile walk uphill home. Crowborough is the highest point in East Sussex, and the station is at the bottom of the hill! I'd been wearing boots that I haven't worn since last Winter and was aware that I had a very sore spot on my left foot. On FINALLY reaching home (which, to be fair, only took 30 mins), the sore spot turns out to be a bleeding blister and there's a strange puffiness on the inside of my left ankle - it's not sore, but it is swollen.
If you're still reading this (LOL), there is a link to C25K, I promise!
The whole experience taught this reckless 50 year old several things:
Don't drink too much and get the last train home. In fact, I'm going on the wagon for 3 months - to say it's put me off, is putting it lightly - which can only be a good thing as alcohol, morning afters and exercise are not good companions!
Before C25K, if I'd had to walk uphill for 2 miles at 6.30 a.m after only one hours sleep - it would have slaughtered me; but I didn't even raise a sweat, despite being extremely tired, footsore, and hungover. So it's made me even more determined to graduate this week and to keep on building to greater fitness. I owe that ability to be able to keep on to C25K. I'm sure that had this happened before I would have been completely floored by the experience but one thing this programme has taught me is that YOU can do it! Whatever IT is, just push a little bit and persevere and you may surprise yourself - I know I've been amazed several times during this programme.
But, all in all, I think I had a lucky escape and learnt some valuable lessons. And about time too!
Treadmill, never again
W9R2 - earliest run ever!
W1R3 - somewhere I never thought I would be.
20 minutes we will never regret
So much to learn…if we just listen.
