And all of nature mocked!

Saturday 25^rd Feb

Distance: 5.01mile
Time: 1:11:17

Avg Speed: 4.21mph                         

Avg Pace: approx. 14.14min/mile
Calories Burned:678

Good morning world.
I realised last night that if I want to go further each Saturday morning then I have to get up earlier! This may seem like logic to most of you out there but I have to confess this had not yet occurred to me. Coming as I do, from the standpoint that Saturday mornings are somewhat sacred and my only chance in the week for a lie in. Ergo the realisation that a leisurely awakening at 8.30-9.00am, followed by a bacon breakfast and finally a bath or shower was now, for the next few months at least, a thing of the past. In my desire to make sure that I woke (as last week I did not) I set the alarm for 6.30. However my concern not to wake my Raison d’etre overrode the alarm and I woke at 5am and continued to dose until I eventually arose from my very warm and extremely comfy bed at 6.29am I tiptoed around making sure I did not wake the sleeping one, which is not easy in our house as doors squeak, floors creak and the bedroom steps positively shout. Nevertheless I managed to escape home without disturbing my beloved.

As it is Saturday I naturally went up the street and left. After an initial hiccup with the GPS on my tracker app I set off. As I was on the run earlier than I have done before I was struck by what a beautiful (if chilly) morning it was. This awareness of nature was to be the theme for my whole run as it seemed to me that all of nature was out to mock! I have often wondered what drove people to get up in the early hours and put on their runners, today however on a beautiful, bright, sunny, brisk morning like today I can see why. There were not so many runners out, most seem to come out at about 7.30am, so for a long while I had the roads to myself.. well almost to myself. The lack of traffic and pedestrian bustle provided an opportunity for the local wildlife to come out and it seemed to me that nature had got up early to mock my efforts. I do not run with music as many do, mainly because I have not yet worked out how to download it to my phone, I generally run with the sounds around and a song in my head. So today I was accompanied by the mocking caws of crows, chirruping distain of blackbirds and coo-coo of collard doves and wood pigeons which sounded to me, very much like “you’re slow, you’re slow”

The song (hymn in fact) which came into my head today was an old Sunday school favourite based on Robert Browning’s poem
from Pippa Passes

The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn:
God's in His heaven—
All's right with the world!                   Robert Browning (1812-1889)

It was resonating around my head as I reached my destination for the run, today that was, Lawnswood cemetery a large municipal cemetery serving the local area, which is set on the A660 a quite busy road. However once inside it is a haven of peace and tranquillity where I took a breather and popped along to say hello to my much missed Mum and Dad. Here, as always, nature was in abundance and what had seemed like mocking tones on my way there now seemed more soothing and encouraging. The “coo- coos” of the pigeons now sounded more like “you can, you can” and the blackbirds chirruping seemed more like a time keeper spurring me on. Added to this the blue tits, great tits and dunocks were now joining in the chorus of inspiration. I think I spotted a wren too.

Buoyed up by natures new reassuring tones I set off on my way home singing my Sunday school song repeatedly to myself.  So encouraged was I that I clocked my fastest mile yet of 11.19min. For the first time today I also felt that the target of a half marathon is achievable. I am also encouraged by the amount of sponsorship that is coming in. A huge thank you to all who have pledged to support my efforts I,-we- are very grateful. I can do it. I will do it. Today -God's in His heaven— All's right with the world!

Photo taken at lawnswood Cemetry... there is a blackbird on the grass.. not very good with my phone photo ability, but I promise I will get better