Having stuck to my New Year's Resolution and given up my gym membership I finally took up the slightly harder to achieve task of substituting the non-existent gym attendance with something else more challenging a few weeks ago.
And I am pleased to report that I am actually sticking to it. I can now smugly say I am running three times a week for over half an hour each time. I'm the sort of person who has to measure things and so, of course, I time myself and when I have improved, extend the running length. Unfortunately my last three run times were getting slightly worse and I was determined to arrest that trend.
So I woke up this morning feeling OK and ready to drive my pathetic body a little harder until I heard the rain lashing against the windows and the leaves rustling in the trees. I used to notice these fools running along the side of the road in torrential rain as I sped through puddles in my dry car knowing that I had a nice cosy gym where I could run - not that I ever visited it. Now I had to turn myself into one of these people. The rain eased so I set off.
Some days you feel better than others and today I felt good. James Brown hd it right: "I feel good [derna-nana-nana-na] I knew I would [derna-nana-nana-na] ". Five minutes later the skies opened up and soaked me. I had it right as well: "I feel shite [derna-nana-nana-na] I knew I might [derna-nana-nana-na]". Luckily I wear glasses so soon I couldn't see the rain so just polughed on.
When running you get people nodding hello sometimes but mostly people keep their head down. But when it's raining and they are in a waterproof cagoule and under a golf umbrella they all look at you and say hello and smile that pitying smile. Unluckily I am an astute mind reader and so know what they are thinking - bastards.
I knocked 30 seconds off my best time so can't wait until Friday when I plan to run next. Bring on the rain.
I have slightly hurt my hip. It's me age dontcha you know? You have to be careful. I run on the grass mostly to soften the blow but that does mean you can easily twist your ankle; step in dog turds; slip on wet grass etc.
This health lark is a dangerous. Now the gym seems so safe and cuddly... Take care.
Posted by: Grahame at June 23, 2004 11:09 AM