Shuffling on thin ice with Frank , Elvis and some useful Italian phrases

[londongirln19]

There’s a sprinkling of frost on the grass in front of Kenwood House, and on my 5-minute warm up walk I’m being careful where I put my feet to avoid slipping on the frozen puddles.

Any thoughts of Speed, Stamina, or any of those other ‘S’ words so beloved by , are banished. Today is about taking good care. What’s the point of trying to improve your speed if it means you fall over and are out of action for weeks?

So, being uncharacteristically sensible, I put my Blackberry on shuffle and set off . The path across the West Meadow that I think of as the Yellow Brick Road looks more like a silver stream today – even at nearly noon the frost hasn’t melted.

Up until now I’ve been very picky about what I listen to but shuffle is wonderfully liberating. Sinatra sings a song I don’t ever remember hearing before - something about no one warning you about what love can do, then it’s Elvis, I think, with a strange disco beat followed by that nice old grandfatherly man who teaches Italian (and French, and Spanish and German). I find myself repeating Andiamo! – Let’s go! – which seems appropriate somehow.

I keep having to slow down to avoid ice – I know I could get some Yak Trax or whatever, but half the appeal of running for me is the lack of equipment it requires.

For now I’m happy to run for 30 minutes or so three times a week without worrying about speed or distance. There’s plenty of time for that when the leaves are on the trees again.

At the pond the machines that agitate the water to stop it freezing over have been turned on, much to the puzzlement of the heron sitting on one of the life rings.

In the changing room there are five or six other women aged from twenties to seventies all in various stages of undress, having just been, or just about ot go for a dip. Every time I arrive here wondering if I can do it this time, their presence inspires me.

Marching back to the car afterwards I feel elated, warm as toast and smug as all get out.

[DuckFeet Graduate]

Beautiful as always Londongirl! I always look forward to seeing your latest blogs and think that you really should put them all together and self-publish. It would be inspirational to everyone and an excellent advert for C25K

[londongirln19 Graduate]

What a lovely compliment. Thank you so much Duckfeet - and judging my your nom de plume, you really should be joining me in the pond.

[DeliaItaly Graduate]

You do indeed have a gift for writing -- and after 30 years as an English teacher I think I recognise good writing when I see it Btw, have you signed up for the Christmas run organised by Susan on Endomondo?

[londongirln19 Graduate]

Thank you Delia, I will check out Endomondo.

[londongirln19 Graduate in reply to londongirln19]

Which sounds horribly like the end of the world in Italianish.

[DeliaItaly Graduate in reply to londongirln19]

It does rather, doesn't it? I only wish I could learn to track my runs with it -- which sounds like a tummy bug !!!!!

[rolphie2 Graduate]

I love your blogs. I have visited Hamsted Heath I can picture it as I read your blogs. I was really impressed that people swam in the lakes in the summer I am in awe that you are still swimming in them!

[londongirln19 Graduate in reply to rolphie2]

I'm glad you enjoy my blogs - I find that thinking how I might describe the run really helps concentrate my mind. It's amazing that so many people want to swim in the winter isn't it? Mind you, I just read that on Saturday there is a winter swimming event in the Lido on the Heath and people are paying £15 to take part in it

. Now that really is crazy.