2005 - October

[Sweder]

Hmm, I detect a trace of self-doubt in your latest post. I must say I shared your feelings up to a week or so ago. Sp's the same, bemoaning the lack of wild horses required to drag him from his comfy sofa.

Desparate for an omen, for guidance to help slay the twin beasts of lethargy and sloth, I trawled some recent posts here on RC. The Spanish contingent shamed me with their commitment to warm weather racing, so I sought more subtle solace in your writing.

And there I found words written by a wise man of running, something about putting runs together, 3 or 4 in the space of a week or so, to stoke the embers of enthusiasm. I put this into practice, struggling to get out on even the finest of autumnal days, but out I went. And d'you know, it bloody well works. I've renewed my passion for running, and all it took was a few evenly paced plods. Sure, the first couple were unconvincing, but I've stuck grimly to my task, grinding out consecutive lumbers across the Downs, loping across the skyline like a wounded escapee from Lewes Nick.

Now I'm sitting here tapping away to distract myself, stop myself from belting out the door and rattling off a swift 3 or 4 miles in the windswept, rainy night. The Bitch is back, and she's hotter than hell.

With the rush that good running brings comes the urge to write.
It's no coincidence that these pages have been somewhat sleepy, certainly in the Northern European quarter, at a time when so few of us have kept the faith. I'll wager that should the heal hold and the miles build up, the pearls of wisdom so enjoyed by we RC followers will flow.

Run to the hills
Run for your life
Iron maiden