As you may have gathered, I’ve been training a lot at the end of the day. This has various benefits – not least of which is that, by the time I go out, …it’s dark…and no-one can see me!
However, it’s been more difficult to fit in evening runs, so I’ve had to get used to running in daylight.
The relative peace and quiet of an evening run is replaced by a whole host of distractions during the day. With more cars and pedestrians about, I have to concentrate more on not getting run over and at the same time learning to wave at the various Oakham inhabitants that recognise me whilst retaining some degree of street-cred and dignity! Harder than you’d think when you’ve been running for over an hour and feel as though you want to cough up a lung!
Towards the end of yesterday’s run, I was feeling pretty warm and really feeling that it would have been a great idea to have brought a water bottle along (doh!) when I saw an obstacle. Well, not so much an obstacle as a small crowd of primary school children … and, horrors, I knew them and they certainly knew me! English Martyrs Catholic Primary School has a distinctive red uniform … and I could feel my face turning the same colour! As I tried to pick my feet up, lengthen my stride and look vaguely athletic, little arms began to wave and a great deal of giggling ensued. A couple of braver voices called out ” Hello Mrs. Sayers” – the accompanying teachers all looked me in the eye with a knowing look. George & William’s Mum had been spotted!
As they finally passed on their way back to school from a sports excursion, I looked over my shoulder, gave a final wave, sighed a sigh of relief and ran into the path of a car driven by a friend of mine!!! If I make it to April, it’ll be nothing short of a minor miracle!
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