Stoptober 2012

[Sweder]

At last. It's been, as Messrs Plant and Page will tell you, a long time since I rock and rolled, but finally, last night, at the end of a busy day, as daylight was swallowed by the ink-black night, it arrived: a right rip-snorter of a run.

Makes no sense, this running game. I'd struggled through my fitness workout in the morning, limbs heavy after a weekend's golf and Guinness. Work was a bear, all catch-up panic and much ado about bugger all. I got home later than planned, aware of the fading light and my commitment to bank five miles today.

When I set off into the hills the air had cooled, shadows slipped away to lurk in the shrubs hunched along the trail. Spurred on by the need to beat the on rushing dark I pushed on. To my amazement my legs responded, stretching out to gobble up the soft ground. This couldn't last, but it did, all the way to Blackcap. I paused at the summit, chest heaving, grinning madly at the panting hounds. After barely thirty seconds' rest I started homeward. The sun was long gone, clouds dimmed as the light bled out, flushed faces fading to grey, then blue-black. I really should have slowed down, picked my way carefully over the damp flint and slippery grass, but I felt so ... good.

Eyes set on the trail I ran for home, running blind down the most treacherous trails, legs whipped by nettles and brambles, feet slipping and sliding. By the time I pulled up outside the house I was sweating profusely, heart and lungs pounding in my chest. It's been a long time coming, but this is why I run. Belter.