Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
Matchgirl On The Move
by Russell Turner - 20:27 on 22 May 2018
The Rural Retreat is in turmoil with last-minute packing as Matchgirl prepares for her big weekend doing the London to Brighton 100k ultra marathon. Clothes have been packed and repacked, a variety of running gear and shoes (especially shoes) considered, and a bumper variety box of gels, bars and sweets put together to keep her well nourished during the many miles she’ll cover on Saturday. Cats are suspicious.
Only a day ago she was considering ditching the whole thing, such was the recurring pain in her heel. A cold was the last straw. But soothing words from Ben the Coach and the healing hands of Adam the Physio have restored her confidence and enthusiasm. The dream is still alive.
A previous engagement means I can’t travel with her but support duties will be more than capably handled by Cathy the Duathlonist, after which they’ll no doubt begin planning for t’ Yorkshire Marathon in October. The endurance athlete’s work is never done.
It’s to be hoped that Matchgirl doesn’t have to cope with an idiot driver like the one who broke into the Plymouth half marathon at the weekend. Some people have no brains.
As for me, my own packing will be done on Thursday night ahead of a jaunt to Orkney with Kawasaki San and some like minded friends. Cats will be cared for by a willing neighbour.
The latest Chatterbox is almost ready for printing and features a familiar face on its cover. After all, I’ll have to use every opportunity to reach my £2,000 fundraising target. Have you signed up for GoRaise yet (link above)? It really does cost you nothing.
My latest run, four miles, was completed today, taking me to 50 miles run since the marathon, exactly one month ago. I’ve still got a lot of training to do, though. My recent boast of a 28:29 5k PB was put in context by Mo Farah, who ran twice that distance at the weekend to win the Manchester 10k in 28:27. And he was “still tired” from London.
Wildlife Update: Badgers are still regular after-dark visitors. The Bushnell’s not captured a pine marten for some time, so the appearance of a hopeful face on the gate at 3pm yesterday was a surprise. Not that I saw it – Matchgirl’s bellow of excitement was such that by the time I got downstairs the creature was long gone.
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