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Monday 31 July 2017

Easing back into gear...

The majority of our population regard running as too stressful to even contemplate, not just to knees, joints, tendons and muscles but mainly their minds.  Conversely, for us who've run for a large part of our lives and suddenly for whatever reason find ourselves grounded, stress can rear its ugly head within a matter of days.  Withdrawal symptoms flare up with a vengeance and can't be assuaged until one foot starts moving in front of the other again at something a little faster than a walk.
Even for octogenarians...
Back into gear and feeling good  (Click pictures to enlarge)
 The last three weeks have not been easy but rest and medication seem to have halted rapid weight loss and normalised bodily functions.  On Sunday, with some trepidation, I donned my trail shoes and jogged gently up the lane on the heels of my wonderful partner.
Our first excuse to stop
It was sunny with a fresh breeze that filled the air with a heady scent of meadowsweet.  A young wall-eyed foal provided our first distraction that necessitated an impromptu photo shoot before jogging happily along through a field blue with scabious.  The remnant of a passing shower felt cool and refreshing. I was easing into my stride again, feeling good.
Flowery diversion through Grassington

 It felt wonderful too to be running alongside the River Wharfe again, dodging a few rocks and exposed tree roots along the way, listening to its chattering music.
"Now on the polished stones it danced, like childhood laughing as it went" (Shelley - The Spirit of Solitude).
Running the riverbank

Eleven young goosanders swam upstream, hugging the far bank but there was no sign of any sand martins.  We feared the recently swollen river may have risen high enough to flood their nesting holes in the banking.
Procession of goosanders under the far bank
It was a happy runner that crept back into the house, all smiles, 4 miles later. I wont go so far as to say 'I'm back' but as yet I feel no ill effects so the prognosis is looking good.
Nearly home - and I'd somehow got ahead!
A little later, a dinner party with three invited friends could really have counted as a celebration.  It was a convivial gathering of cavers, climbers, walkers and runners that feasted, quaffed and bantered well into the night.  
It was a gradely do and a fitting end to a long, wonderful day.

12 comments:

  1. Good to see you running again Gordon. You know some nonagenarians have done the TGO Challenge....

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    1. Runners aren't allowed Martin! I talked Markus into doing it, so from now on he's my deputy!

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  2. Always good to hear your running and see your photos

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    1. The spirit is willing but the flesh is a bit weak at the moment Ian. I'm doing my best to unite the two and hoping the best one wins...

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  3. I know exactly what you mean. So happy that you're back at it!

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    1. Thanks Karien. It can become a bit stop go when you get to my age!

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  4. Immediately I started reading your post I could just sense the happiness and joy coming through your words and pictures. Pleased you enjoyed your run and the evening with friends sounds a perfect end to the day too!

    All the best Jan

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    1. Yes, it was indeed a great day, and evening, for all of us Jan. Thanks for dropping by.....
      Cheers!

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  5. I run with the University kids and often think I'm one of them. I like to think running with the 'kids' helps me keep young.... but it also helps me forget that I've slowed.

    And I hope when i no longer run with them I will still explore the roads and trails like you... well into my 80's!

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    1. Coach, I luckily still have my wonderful partner to bumble around the hills and trails with. All my running contemporaries have long since hung up their shoes, or died. It can get a bit lonely in your 80's!

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  6. Enforced rest is the hardest thing to endure - we all know it's beneficial but we all complain when we need to take time out.
    Lovely to see you're back on the running trail again!

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    1. Trouble is, enforced rests have become more frequent as I've grown older. Most were relatively short and manageable, so I bounced back fairly quickly. I'm dreading the long one!

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