Season 2016

[Bierzo Baggie]

Sunday

Ran fast on Wednesday and Saturday but it takes longer to recover now and on Sunday I felt tired and jaded. Deep down I know the games up, but the search for a change of gear is not just about speed for speed’s sake. It’s also about being able to do certain races stress-free without having to worry about the cut off times. I think it’s an anxiety thing. Finishing penultimate at Zegama was the best of times and the worst of times. It was fight or flee, the adrenaline rush which allows you to escape the beast in pursuit. I don’t thing I’m up to that any more and I’d rather like to enjoy the Alto Sil in March without looking at my watch every 5 minutes..
 
I don’t devour books like some people do but I have my favourite writers. I like Bruce Chatwin, Graham Swift, Paul Bowles, John Fowles, Thomas Hardy, Julio Llamazares… can’t for the life of me remember much about what they’ve written though. What I do remember is the story of Andy’s Zurich marathon and that great big bus looming up behind him, a metaphor for so many things.
 
So to avoid that big bad bus I’m out again on Sunday morning plodding in the direction of Toral de Merayo. Gunshots peal out occasionally but they are beyond the village so I needn’t modify my route. I’m feeling knackered and I take the familiar trail along the side of Monte Pajariel to return home. It’s been nearly a year since I last came this way. Spotted the big centre half who floored me many moons ago running along a smaller trail to my right and I was tempted to follow him. But as he took off in the direction of the hunters I decided not to. Let them shoot the bugger!
 
15 minutes from home I met Capelo running in the opposite direction. Capelo is the hardest man in El Bierzo. I pity the poor hunter who tries to shoot Capelo. Capelo was wearing a pair of tight purple leg-ins, the sort of thing that Olivia Newton John would have worn in the 80s. He looks like he’s in drag. I didn’t actually say that to him. We exchanged greetings and I explained where the hunters were so Capelo disappeared up the zigzag that takes you to the top of Monte Pajariel. The hunters hunt, the runners run, the writers write and everybody happy.
 
About 90km run in January which isn’t a bad start.