It was another flat-grey, wet and slightly misty morning and I had forgotten about running until I prepped the espresso maker. The shorts duly made another appearance and I jogged off into the surprising stillness of the world outside.
As I stretched out towards the Royal Oak, I had a sudden change of mind about where I was going and crossing the road, I headed up towards the Magical Path in the opposite direction to normal. It really is amazing what you see and think when you look at something from a different perspective. And, I thought as I tripped and flew through the air into the mud, what you don’t notice! In this case, a low root.
As the seasons change, so does the environment and what was not a hazard before becomes more dangerous and visa-verse. For example, there are always low branches to duck under, but on a flat-grey day, when they have lost their leaves, they are almost invisible against the patchwork quilt of colour behind.
The different viewpoint meant that a path that I seldom even register made itself clear to me and as a result I ran across to Hundred Acre Lane and up towards Wivelsfield for a way. Missing the path I was aiming for I turned left onto another which took me back into the woods where I then ran right again until I reached Wivelsfield.
I realise that I am still running ‘dry style’, that is trying to keep my feet dry wherever possible. Once the ground gets truly waterlogged I will be able to revert to ‘wet-style’, which is where I just run through the middle of the puddles with no regard for dryness. This realisation has prompted me to think of a post for my other site which I shall write shortly.
Then it was a quick run past the Royal Oak, with it’s great memories of our Gathering last year (more so from this direction for some reason) and back to the house. Despite the greyness of the day, the colours of autumn are glorious, so I thought it was time I showed you.
One hour and one minute was less time than I expected, but I didn’t feel as if I was running particularly fast, especially after my fall. Distance to be confirmed later.