Some days you get up and all's good with the world and Friday was one of those days. I was awake early despite it being an Bank Holiday and lay in bed for a few minutes listening to the birds singing their little hearts out, contemplating what the day was going to hold in store for me, psyching myself up to fling back the covers and get the day started. When I finally finished cogitating and dragged my backside out of bed the sun was just coming up, bathing the world in the pastel colours that only happen at dawn and dusk, showing off the new day at it's best and hinting at what's to come. Now all the signing makes sense. If I was a bird I'd be singing my heart out too! A cup of tea, a bit of breakfast, another brew? Go on then just a quick one whilst I get my running shoes on, and then out the door. Despite the early hour it was already warming up, the sun shining brightly, gently raising the temperature and burning off the early morning dampness. Everything's quiet, most of the world's still slumbering. There's never many people out and about at 07:30 on a Bank holiday, but they should be, they're missing the best bit. Although, maybe on second thoughts we'll keep that to ourselves, if every one was up early it wouldn't be the best bit of the day anymore would it? When the day starts like that you can't help but smile, and as I set off, settling quickly into a steady pace, making my way along the well trodden footpaths leading out of town, smiling I most certainly was. It's a beautiful feeling, running in the cool morning air, listening to the gentle sound of your breathing and rhythmic beat of your feet on the ground as the miles pass. All set against the sound of silence. A silence broken only by the call of the birds as they go about their morning chores, calling their greetings as you pass, warning their neighbours that your on the way. Out of town and over the steep climb towards Ellisfield, my breath ragged and heartbeat climbing to match the incline and my first sighting of a pair of Swallows this year. Flitting low through the hedgerows in search of breakfast, chasing endlessly, yet effortlessly around, another sign that warmer days are on their way. They seem to have arrived late this year, although I suspect that the lock-down has just kept me away from their normal haunts and I've just missed their arrival. Watching their antics as I continue to run is a welcome diversion from the climb and helps to keep that smile planted firmly on my face. As I run, I'm as free as the birds, crossing the miles as effortlessly as they do, moving in the way our bodies adapted to over the millennia we spent as hunter gatherers. Free from the worries of work and confines of the lock-down, alive and alert to the sights and sounds around me, feeling the contours of the ground as I slowly pass the miles. Onward, through the big dip at Farleigh Wallop, past the start of the Farleigh Wallop 10K and Farleigh house. Across the main road and onto the long downhill at Garlic Lane. The wild garlic's in full flower and the smell that accompanies me on the long downhill towards home is almost overpowering. As I arrive back home, slowing to a walk, feeling my heart rate subside and my breathing slow, the sweat from the mornings exertions dripping gently from the end of my nose to land at my feet, it almost seems a shame to stop, but there's other things to be doing today, not just running. There's a couple of hundred bedding plants to plant out, there's still digging and planting to be done on the allotment, there's grass to mow and bikes to clean. And when all that's done I've got plenty of other projects lined up to be getting on with. 10 Miles done then and it's still not quite 09:00, home in time for Tea and toast with "The Emma" and the whole day still to look forward to, I can think of worse ways to start the day! After a few bike miles on Saturday I was back on shank's pony Sunday squeezing a few more miles in. Luckily the weather forecasters were a few hours out and the morning was still pleasantly warm and bright when I set off. Trying to keep local while still getting in some decent miles is proving to be easier than I thought it might be and I planned to get a few off road miles in by running the route I last used in February for my "Marathon of the Month" effort. Back in February I ran the off road loop 3 times in torrential rain, within seconds I was soaked to the skin and my shoes and socks have never recovered. Today though I set off from home, adding the 3 miles each way to the ten mile loop as a warm up and warm down from the main event and the conditions were for more amiable. With the sun shining, the trails dry and the trees in full leaf it was a pleasant morning out and a great way to add another 16 miles to the years total! The weather forecasters weren't wrong either and by mid afternoon the temperature had dropped by a good 10 degrees with the wind howling round the house. Ideal weather for hiding in the green house and a chance to get the Tomatoes planted out, lettuces potted on into individual pots and a few other odd jobs wrapped up. All in all not a bad Bank holiday weekend then, maybe not as adventurous as I'd normally like, but on the plus side the allotments and gardens are looking better this year than they have for a while as I've actually been at home to spend some time on them!
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Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
March 2024
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