Dusting it off

Opening up the cupboard at lunch time, I reach into a hardly disturbed region of my stuff.

I withdraw the items one by one and begin donning them.

Thermals, running shorts, my long sleeved running tee.

Long unused muscles are streched as a new playlist is created on the running ipod - today's poison, Russian Trance.

I enjoy this ritualistic part of my runs.

Donning the "i don't care how I look my head is warm beanie", the play button is hit and i set off.


pace, pace , pace ,pace

The wind pushing past my face awakens memories of a hundred other runs that started like this.

And the mind runs through its mental list of checks.

Its not promising.

Core stability - Gone
Stride width - Reduced
Breathing pattern - messy
cold resistance - terrible
knees, joints and old injuries - stiff as wooden planks.

and so on.

I feel like a classic car that's been sitting in a garage rusting away.

pace, pace, pace

No matter, its just for fun today no?

pace, pace, pace

Just for fun, I throw my head back and roar like in the old days.

Ah, it feels amazing to feel like that young lion again... well that fat lion anyway these days.

pace, pace , stride

Almost the 1k mark and it feels like i've done 10.

I allow myself to see phantoms of my old running mates passing me by and smile.

Fatty, my OCS mates, my men, her.

My goodness, we weren't we a pride of lions back then?

dark, lean machines.

How times have changed.

Stride, Stride, stride

About 2 kms now, the old 2nd wind feeling that used to come at 10-12 ks has cycled up.

An old favourite of bass and electronica thudners in my ears, and i match the beats with my steps... or at least try to.

2.5 ks now?

Another Roar for the heck of it. Smiles all around as I remember the freedom of the run.

Steal a glance at the watch... Shock! I used to be at 5ks at this point!

The mind flashes a warning,

the old stitch has flared up again, running across the right set of abs.
the cold air is taking its toll and I can feel the breath getting sluggish.

Ah, I never did aclimatise well to running in the cold.

With both relief and regret I slow down and begin the cool down walk.

Yes, I have changed much since those days indeed.