Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry

That may be a slightly over-dramatic title to have used for going for a jog, in which the most dramatic event was in fact, the roll of thunder. Today's event was supposed to be a 45-50 minute jog, although in reality was a 40 minute jog. We'd already added one loop onto the run, and well, it was kinda wet. Nigel and I did debate just running the last bit really, really slowly to make it up to 45 mins, but decided that it was better to go with the spirit of the task than achieving the letter...

It was just me and Nige out today, although we later found out that Puff was out too, he must have set out ahead of us, as he was on the way back as we set out. It got me to thinking that already, by day 3, the blogosphere is probably thinking Nige is my best friend. This is not actually the case, lovely as it would be to have a best friend (I'm kidding, I love you), and lovely though Nige is (and Mum, if you're reading this, NO. He's married.). So moving swiftly on, the task included the run to be, and I quote, at "conversational" speed. So clearly I needed to talk for 45 minutes as well - fortunately that's never been too much of a challenge. I welcomed Nigel back, as for the past few weeks his physio instructed that he had to only run on grass (we all suggested this would do more damage because the ground is uneven and so parched it's been hard as iron, but he was well programmed to follow instructions (where did he get that? Need you ask. Boy's been coached proper... by Sal). He said, and again, I quote: "After Sal broke me." Well, that had to go in the blog. "I'm putting that in my blog." I told him. "I retract that" he said hastily, "it was nothing to do with her". "I'm putting that in too...". Nigel got his own back by dropping into conversation various delights I have to look forward to in my training, especially the hill training (always something of a challenge in Peterborough).

I'm rather proud of Nigel who accompanied me on my extra loop, as I didn't think Sal would be impressed with a short run today; I only kindof laid on the guilt, pointing out that I would run back past the Key and the Lido, and not up the canal path because there were likely more people, poor frail woman that I am. And even though it was about then that the first heavy drops started, and he could have got back in 5 minutes, he stuck with me. What a gent. When the thunder groaned across the sky and I called out "Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry", we established that Nigel hadn't read the novel of that name by Mildred Taylor, although he confused me by saying he's heard the expression. When I outlined the plot (I haven't read it either) he said, "Oh, I've seen The Color Purple". So, Mississippi, Georgia. Still the Great Depression, eh. Book, film, whatever. Reminding me that my friend Linda tried to interest some "youfs" in Taming of the Shrew, and when they said "what's it about then?" she had the presence of mind to say "Have you seen that film, 10 things I hate about you? Well, that's based on this play". Which was rather clever of her. Although the cynic in me still thinks if they come and see it on that basis, they may be disappointed.

Well, it did truly bucket down with rain, to the point that I hailed some other certifiable lunatics runners because I thought they were colleagues of ours, as I could see nothing through my rain bespecked spectacles. Luckily they thought we were harmless, and exchanged damp grins (with us, not nervous ones with each other). I asked Nige to take a picture of me, so you could share how I suffered for my art, but there was something of a user error on the camera (maybe water on the lens), so this this is the best I can do...

So, Sal was in the office today, and didn't kill me for her honorable mentions in my blog so far. She even seemed kinda pleased, which was good. There aren't that many people who are pleased to be called a fitness freak, but you've got to take compliments where you can get them. Also I did plug Fit Naturally, which got brownie points (score). But she's lent me her Garmin, which is a device that straps round my heart, and shocks me when she remotely presses a button. No, it measures my heart rate, and uploads so she can see it. Frankly, this terrifies me.  Either Sal's going to find out how unfit I  actually am, or she's going to make me work much harder. I don't know which scares me more, but I think the latter....

Ah, this story just gets better and better.