Quick March

One of the down sides of living on the coast of west Wales – and there are plenty of up sides – is that we spend a lot of time on the road just travelling from 'A' to 'B'. This month looks especially busy but with lots to look forwards to. Still, one week at a time. 

First on the agenda, we’re collecting Ma so she’s here for her birthday on Friday and, all being well, to see me finish the Llanelli Half Marathon on Sunday. My dear friend, Ann, got me into running when she introduced me to Epsom Allsorts, an all-women’s group with formidable skills in talking and laughing whilst running. The club highlight was the dreaded Hogsmill Run and one year I enlisted my parents for a bit of additional support for the final stretch. All I could hear as I headed for the finish line was Ma bellowing, ‘COME ON CHRISTINE!!’ so I’m hoping that her presence will give my feet a little extra lift on Sunday.

Taking those first steps with a club introduced me to racing, gave me the taste for running by myself and the confidence to enter half marathons. Short of anything unforeseen happening to stop me completing the race, this Sunday will be my seventh half marathon. Seventh! I’ve been running for so long now that I’m in the oldest age group and feel like Granny Grumps lining up with a load of thirty-somethings. Still, it’s hugely enjoyable (apart from the first mile which is always hell) and means I can eat pretty much what I like so I hope to keep running for as long as I possibly can.

In other news, I’d like to thank lovely Flowerpot for nominating me for this blog award and whose own blog about living, walking and sailing in Cornwall is always an enjoyable read.

So, three things that have recently inspired me:

• The rooks have returned to the rookery to rebuild their nests. A welcome sign of Spring… but where do they go the rest of the time? I read Crow Country by Mark Cocker to find out more about these fascinating (to me) birds.
• Running (again); those long, solitary miles repair, restore and inspire.
• My family; it’s their love that makes everything else worthwhile.

If anyone would like to take up the baton, please consider yourself nominated. All you have to do is link to my blog and display the award logo then nominate other bloggers in turn with links and a comment to let them know what to do.