3:30am this morning I awoke, jumped out of bed, threw on my running clothes and try to sneak through the front door while sleeping huskies dreamed. I failed. Kez was instantly alerted to my intentions and blocked my route from kitchen to front door, and Kobi tapped my legs with his little paws (must remember to not teach the next puppy to "touch" - huskies kinda like to "touch" with emphasis!).
The reason for my early start today? If I am serious about attempting a 24 hour event, my body needs to know what it feels like to run at every hour of the day. Listening to experienced 24 hour runners, 4am tends to be the worst time, which unsurprisingly does not phase me as I daily fall out of my bed around 4:30 to run across the Wiltshire countryside.
I love early morning running for a number of reasons. There are very few people around at this time, people are sleeping and I am in "my world" alone. Where there are no interuptions to disturb me from my thoughts and dreams in "my world".
The animals of the countryside keep me company if I need: Brock the badger on his slumbering slog back to Betty; Fred fox trying to sneak up on the first batch of this year's baby rabbits, unfortunately born too early, with a low survival rate; Snowy the barn owl, struggling to raise a family in his declining prefered home; Riva the Roe deer, less weary this morning as I chose to leave the huskies behind. There are others, all that I see regularly and each has a story to tell...
As I run, the miles slip by as I think, analyse and dream. I dream that Kai is running alongside me, like he used to all those years ago. I feel safe when I think that I feel his presence, him protecting me now as he did in life.
I think of all the hurtful and negative comments that people make to me, how hurtful I find them and how I can manage my mind to just let them "bounce off". I know I am super sensitive, and I also know that there are people out there that are not capable of sharing positive words about everyone. I do not know their circumstances and do not care to know, but hope that one day they learn that sharing positive words and comments is so much more rewarding. It is empowering when you see another person's face light up, inspired by a word, by a recognition.
Today I made a resolution to myself about how I will cope with those comments. They will keep on coming, of that I am sure! My strategy will be experimental, if this one does not work, I will try another strategy. I will not give up because if I do I will give up on doing what I love, and what I am.
My run today takes me round Salisbury's "Three Peaks". Not quite of mountainous standard, more like mole hills, but definitely hills in this relatively flat area of Wiltshire. There is Figsbury Hill, Old Sarum Hill and Laverstoke Down Hill, plus a little peak just above the Woodford Valley. The ground is very muddy and sticky underfoot, tough going but brilliant training. Energy levels good and no ill effects from yesterday's speed session with little Kobi and Kez. Thinking of both dogs, there are some fabulous stories that I can share about both of these guys. Kobi - the Usain Bolt of the dog world, Kez - the Haile Gabraisalle (note to check spelling later...)
It has been so long since I last wrote, so many adventures and experiences in the last year. I have some catching up to do...
The surprise of my early morning run was the chainsaw massacre of trees (I think) by Network Rail. 5am on a Sunday morning, in a residential area and these guys have chainsaws verberating throughout the neighbourhood. I could still hear the resounding growling as I ran over Laverstoke down towards the Hampshire side of home.
Mission accomplished I return to bed with a litre of rego, happy that I had succeeded in another area of my training. 30 minutes later I had to get back out of bed, run a bath and have a very hot drink! My body temperature had plummeted and there was no way that I could sleep. I will learn this lesson well and do things slightly differently next time
