Forgiveness

~What is life, if full of care/ You have no time to stand and stare~

Yes, a bee in January. Ignoring yesterday`s Epic Fail, I took myself off for a daylight run today. Told myself I`d take it easy. Relax. Enjoy the movement. Enjoy the scene. Not fret about speeds or breathing or form. Just Get Out There.

First mile was it`s usual crappy, I`m-not-fit-enough self. After that, I was heading up the hill anyway, so I was puffing and pushing on the whole way up. Got to the top and Reward! Mr Bumble Bee!

Two years ago,I had started running by taking a camera with me so that, I literally ran and stopped, when something interesting caught my eye. It gave me a whole new appreciation for the Great Outdoors and made running infinitely pleasurable.

Today`s pic was taken with my phone camera. Not the greatest pic in the whole wild world. But hey, you get the idea. Bee on flower in January. Maybe worth noting?

The pic was taken at the top of the hill. I`ve never seen a bumble bee out and about in January before. Maybe they do that kinda thing. Or maybe this winter`s just been exceptionally mild. Poor chap better get his woolly coat on though; it sure was getting chilly here this evening with a frost and maybe even snow predicted. Another reason to get my running done whenever I get a chance. Snow shoeing just doesn`t have the same appeal.

But, yes, it thrilled me to see this little fella.

As for the run downhill, yes, it was it`s usual pleasurable self. By the time I`d got to the bottom of the hill, I was begining to feel properly warmed up and ready for more. Downhill, of course.

Anyway, 5 miles done. Bee captured and joy unleashed.

Now, am I forgiven for yesterday?

See here? That`s my MARATHON t shirt!

Yeah, and it looks even better when I`m in it. Yeah, right!

Janathon Day Five. And, even though this whole exercise every day thing is a brill idea, I was having doubts my ability to tog out and do the business today. But my marathon t shirt came to the rescue.

Dublin City Marathon Oct 2012 was my first marathon. I`m hoping it`s the first of many and boy, was I just thrilled to get the T. That said, it`s not the most practical piece of kit. It`s black(what were they thinking?) and, since all the other small and medium people beat me to the finish line, my T is extra large. In fact, I`ve been sleeping in it for ages because it`s ideal nightwear.

But we`ve a strange winter visited upon us here in the Emerald Isle.With temps hovering around the 10 degree mark, base layer didn`t seem justified today. Yet, I needed sleeves… Time to go running in my nightie…

Revisited yesterday`s mile long track and whey, hey, the Saturday crew were out! Men, guy, young studs were everywhere looping that loop, my loop. And some were sporting marathon Ts! Well, I could barely contain myself. Off came the fleece and I sprinted confidently to the starting line. Happy, at last, to be among my peers, my colleagues in sport, my fellow marathoners! Men!

Everyone made way for me of course, once they`d spotted my magic T.  I  couldn`t help but notice an awful lot of very admiring glances. Some may indeed claim, that I ran more quickly and assuredly and, indeed posed more obviously, while clad in my marathon colours. They exaggerate, surely. But yes, I `ll admit, I wore it with pride.

Not that my distance was awe inspiring, mind.

Dragged myself off the pitch after three mediocre miles. Only nine hundred and eighty something more miles to go in this year`s thousand mile challenge!

I remain convinced, that I wouldn`t have run as many, nor so proudly, if I hadn`t been wearing my marathon T.

Have you got a favourite T?

 

 

 

River Run

 

Does running along the beach or river bank have extra health benefits? Wouldn`t be surprised if it did. I`m happy in either place. But I particularly like my riverside runs. Love the dirt trail underfoot, love the many moods of the tidal river, love that it`s generally quiet. Love that it takes me right into the heart of the town through the squalls of seagulls and teeming traffic. Then I get to loop back again into the quiet of country life.

That`s where I was this morning. Its becoming my Sunday routine. Six miles of undiluted pleasure. Talk radio is usually quite entertaining at this time too, so I`ll generally throw on the headphones and alternate between listening to the weird ways of the world, while enjoying the scene around me.

The photo I snapped today doesn`t do it justice. But there`ll be improvements on that one in 2013 as I`ll certainly have lots of opportunities to capture better shots.Maybe even as soon as next week. Because it is, I am told, the start of Janathon Hadn`t known about janathon until lost jogger pointed it out.Yes, I desperately need the extra motivation. After three run free days, my thighs were screaming at me this afternoon. Evidently, the river run had reawakened some dormant muscles. A sure sign of a slacker.

The Janathon participants are expected to exercise and blog about it every day. A nice challenge, that. I need to get my bike out, as cycling to work is definitely on the agenda in 2013. And I also need to improve my swimming to cover another New Year`s Resolution. But running will be king. So I`m aiming to run five times a week, with three swims and one cycle.

Yes, I get very ambitious about my exercise regime when I`m sitting on my tod!

But anyway, I`m happy enough with today. It`s got the week off to a good start.

You`ll Never Walk Again

                                 

                                                                                                 Yep, I`m here!

What`s the point of being fit if you don`t use it to experience something different in your life,right?

Hmmm, yeah.

I could`ve done my first park run today. Could have repeated the 10 km run I`d great fun with last year. But I`d spotted a Meet up walking club and figured, yep, I`ll try a walk with them, just to see what it`s all about.

Running`s not as social. I`m often too busy breathing to talk. And I used to like walking, before I started running. If they walk quickly enough, for far enough, well, I won`t really need to run today then, will I?

Beautiful day in Dublin. Sun gleaming in a clear blue sky. And enough chill to make you move fast. Our group of thirty assembled near the beach. With Meet Up, it can be a different group every time and usually there`s a huge diversity of age and race in the groups I`ve been to anyway. This was a nice blend of delightful people. 

The tide was out too and it looked like we`d have a clear run, sorry, walk for our planned 8km trip. But, dammit, it was all downhill after that.

Yep, it was sociable. Enjoyed all the conversation. And the scenery was delightful. It included views of two very hardy souls diving into the waves.

But, gosh, I almost wished I could be with them. I found the walk itself just very frustrating.

It was a stroll. I actually found myself, at one point, excusing myself from one lovely lady and telling her sorry! I just have to move on. Boy, I just so wanted to run. And,much though I like to talk, I realised the bliss we have in running is that we can take in the entire scene without the need to focus on someone else. I`d rather see waves and clear blue skies than chat Helga from Helsinki.

Couldn`t believe, when we got half way-4km-that the group were actually going to stop for lunch. Lunch! I`d barely walked off the morning`s cup of coffee. Meh!

A couple of others baled out too, at that point, so I took my opportunity to leave with them. Thankfully, we took a brisker pace on the return trip. And, no, I couldn`t even indulge in the pleasure of running then either, as I was dressed for walking. Too many damned layers. And gloves.

The whole thing took two hours. Two hours! It reminded me why I got running in the first place. It really is a very efficient way to get fit.

Lesson learned. Cue music:-“You`ll Never Walk Again” Now, I`ve gotta kick ass tomorrow and do a really decent run. Wouldn`t mind but there`s damned rain forecast. But at least I can console myself with the thought that, yep, I can run!