April Fuel 2014

[Mid Life Crisis Marathon Man]

Another very early (4 a.m.) run this morning and thus far they are proving most ... enjoyable. Well, let me qualify that before the men in white coats arrive. What I mean is that the benefits of the early run are, at this stage of proceedings, and at this time of year (i.e. not exceedingly cold) brilliant. It's a run that really sets up the rest of my day, which is important at the moment as my work colleagues and I are locked in battle with a demonic management team that are hell-bent on destroying us for reasons only they comprehend. Or maybe they don't, which could be why their motives are so impossible to understand. Whatever.

The point is that these early runs are stupendously helpful in getting me through some very trying days, and so they continue. These runs are very odd because in the quiet and darkness my home suburb becomes a weirdly different place. Barely a car can be seen or heard in the whole half-hour it takes me to punch out four hills reps and five kilometres of plod. And the only real signs of life are the strange-sounding frogs along the creek in Burgoyne Street, and the occasional flash of fur which could be cat, rat or rabbit - it's always too dark to tell.

And so the show continues. This morning's effort was pretty good - I definitely felt much stronger and my time was a little quicker, so definite signs of improvement, which is welcome. I am still running very much slower than a year ago, but I keep telling myself pace doesn't matter (which is true); what really matters is getting out there and doing it and this is also very true, and is what lies at the heart of it all.

None of which suggests that I would willingly arise for a 4 a.m. run if there was any other choice, but then again, no-one is forcing me to do these runs I suppose, so it's a choice I make, and make very obviously alone.

But it is nice to have the streets to yourself. Sort of Apocalypse, 4 a.m. ... only without the Apocalypse. Erm ... look, just get out there and try it for yourself and you'll see what I mean. Don't rush the exits.

Onwards, fellow runners, onwards!