Sometimes these cravings have to be catered for and enjoyed.
So it was that this morning found me heading to pick up Ali with a very fuzzy head. Not only is the aforementioned meal full of calories and very bad for your heart the coating on the scampi is full of gluten and my head was not playing ball at all.
We headed off to Maunsel Lock, our next stop on the Taunton to Bridgwater Canal. Several times I could not think which way we had to go and I turned off before we needed to resulting in a quick turn around before getting the correct lane - the one sign posted! Could I find the car park? No, and I was concerned that we were getting further and further away from where we had run to last time!
Eventually we parked up and decided we would set off and see what we could manage. I was really really not in a running mood and had woken hoping to hear the sound of the predicted worse storm for 50 years. No idea where that had landed but it wasn't Somerset. We had beautiful glorious sunshine and at that hour no rain at all. Ali didn't feel on top form either and she was concerned about her knee and ankle.
For the first couple of kilometers I was finding it very hard to talk, I just couldn't find the words I needed but then taking in the beautiful scenery out over the Somerset Levels - and believe me if you have not been along this stretch of Somerset you should - the wide blue sky, the gentle sleepy cows and their babies and the very busy swan tidying her nest I began to feel better. Ali kindly suggested I run on for a bit, this is not something I usually choose to do but I somehow knew it would really help to clear my head.
Just around the bend two enormous barking dogs on the opposite bank were making their presence known, I avoided eye contact and hoped and prayed I would not hear a splash. I did not! I waited at the next bridge for Ali, she determinedly caught me and made it to the top of the steep slope. She told me that my being ahead had given her a new competitiveness and had made her run faster so perhaps we have ourselves a new running strategy. I don't think it will be long before I am chasing Ali!
We delightedly made it to Swan's Neck Bridge, our stopping point on our previous canal run. We took a brief breather to look out over the fields, the colours so rich, the sun so warming and bright before turning to head back. We walked a little, jogged a little and ran a little. We saw Mr Swan quite a way from his wife and watched as he glided so beautifully, pushing lazily with one foot then the other towards his home and waiting lady. We told her not to be cross if he was late returning as he had helped us to relax and to enjoy the beauty of the nature all around us.
Taunton to Maunsel Lock is 12.6 km. Today we managed almost 7.5 of them. Next we plan to run the whole 12.6, I know we can do it. Next Saturday we are spending the day in Exeter, catching the train so we can enjoy a glass or two at lunchtime. The purpose of this trip is to have our running gait analyzed and for us to purchase new trainers. Maybe we wont do the long run in our new trainers, perhaps we should break them in first!
I will let you know how we get on 8)
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