Lazing on a Sunday afternoon...

That's just what I hope to be doing this afternoon. Lazing on the sofa, watching a film, doing some crochet and quite possibly enjoying 40 winks.

I really wasn't sure if I should run this morning, I went to bed on Friday night with a splitting headache, woke several times during the night with a sore throat and felt lousy on Saturday morning. However dosed up with Nurofen I was able to enjoy a lovely day out with my better half. So having indulged in a ploughman's lunch followed by a spectacular creme brule and then an evening in a french restaurant with good friends I had no choice, a run had to be done.

Upon waking I looked at the magnificent oak tree visible from my bed and could see a fairish breeze rustling the leaves, the sky was greyish but a weak sun was attempting to gently waken the world so with the decision made I headed out. I compromised with myself, I would run and hope my sore throat didn't worsen but I wouldn't do the planned longer route I had in mind.

Turning right out of my house means uphill for quite some time, it starts as a very gentle incline and gradually increases, whichever way I go! Today I headed for the bridle path by the church, which leads up through the woods, it is my most favourite stretch when done the other way round, but in this direction it's  long and slow and today MUDDY! Big mistake, I slipped and slid all over the place, either in the mud or on the leaves. But head down, slow and steady, I jogged all the way to the top and back onto terra firma.

At last a long decline through the lanes but alas more up, a slow steady drag again, and a brief walk. I think I prefer a short sharp steep incline, at least when you can see the top it gets closer with every step. Long slow inclines feel like they are going to last forever. And then the final descent, my mind always clicks over into hooray, I know I can run all the way home and I do, complete with a brief sprint finish. I must have been huffing and puffing as a dog walker glanced behind him to see me charging down the lane.

Until next time,

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them...