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The football diaries.
How many times have I run past this pitch?
My normal round route when I run from Ponferrada to Toral de Merayo goes along an undulating track which hugs the River Sil side of Monte Pajariel, through the village and then back out along the road. But there are several other variants and Toral for me has also been the gateway to innumerable hilly routes beyond. So how many times? Well at least once a week for the last ten years discounting one (football provoked) injury spell of some 3 months and the occasional month off when its been too hot to run or when its just been impossible to find time. I reckon that 400 times would be a conservative estimate. No wonder some of the old folk of Toral sometimes shout at me as if Im one of the locals,
where are you going?
dont run so much!
or the classic, have you missed the bus?
Ran past the pitch twice this week, once early on Monday morning and again today. Like many in the area the crude, uneven playing surface is fringed by poplar trees and criss-crossed by occasional tyre tracks. And today it looked fairly waterlogged after a week of heavy rain. It would be considered a very poor playing surface by UK standards but here its about average. At least theres some grass. And changing rooms. From our flat to Toral de Merayos theatre of dreams it takes me around 12 minutes. Its going to feel like playing at home
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