FIFTY WEEKS RUNNING RUMINATIONS OF A RUSTY RUNNER John Self [email protected] THE RUN-UP January 1st 2011 hy? Why do we ask ‘Why?’? Arctic terns fly over One thing that I do know about running is that W 40,000 miles a year; the Dracunculus vulgaris no runners run all day, every day. Even for the most plant smells of rotting flesh; North American cicadas fanatical runner, running can occupy only a small have a life cycle of 13 or 17 years. But they do not ask fraction of a runner’s time. For the large majority of ‘Why?’. We ask ‘Why?’ of them. runners, their non-running activities are much more We also ask ‘Why?’ of each other, if we come important than their running. The answer to my across some apparently strange behaviour: Why does conundrum lies, perhaps, in the relationship between he wear a bow-tie every day? Why does she sing running and the rest of life. We shall see, perhaps. arias while gardening? Why does he collect Bulgarian I plan to write a thousand words or so each week stamps? If we feel bold, we might even ask the person about my running, with no doubt a few detours and directly. Rather more puzzlingly, we also ask ‘Why?’ of perhaps hiatuses along the way, as there are with my ourselves. Why do I continue to support Norwich City running. In the past I have always found it better to Football Club, despite decades of little achievement write an introduction such as this after I have written (that is, the football club, not me)? You would think that, what needs to be introduced (I have a slightly better if someone did something of their own volition, they idea what it’s about by then). A draft introduction is would know why they did so. useful as a guide but I expected to throw it away later. Nobody asks me why I run every day (well, almost That won’t do for a diary. It is against the spirit of a every day ... well, ok, some days). But I ask myself, in diary to come back and change the entries later. So, a subconscious way, every time I reach for the running whatever thoughts are expressed one week will stay shoes. After all, there must be a reason why, at my age expressed forever. (65), I reduce myself to sweaty exhaustion. To write at all one needs to have some image I have read quite a bit about running but I have in mind of the potential reader. I don’t know who, if read very little that relates to the way that I feel about anyone, will actually read these words other than me, running. I may not know why I run but I don’t think perhaps, in twenty years’ time. Perhaps they will be that it is really for any of the reasons that I read about. of interest to someone who runs or who thinks about Maybe my reasons will become clearer as a result of running or, since running is a ‘metaphor for life’ writing this diary. If so, they will only be my reasons. I according to some, to someone who lives or who thinks have no idea if they’ll be anybody else’s. about living. That about covers it. First published in 2011 by Drakkar Press Limited, 20 Moorside Road, Brookhouse, Lancaster LA2 9PJ http://www.drakkar.co.uk Drakkar Press is a non-profit organization committed to the responsible management of the world’s forests (amongst other things). Therefore this document has not been printed at all. Copyright © 2011 by Drakkar Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or information and retrieval systems - without the prior permission of the publisher. ISBN 978-0-9548604-3-0 2 Fifty Weeks Running (2011), Drakkar Press, Copyright © 2011 John Self CONTENTS 1. Take up the Running 27. Running Away From Home 2. Running Commentary 28. Running Away From Home 3. Hitting the Ground Running (continued) 4. Do a Runner 29. Running Away From Home (continued) 5. Running Like Clockwork 30. Having A Clear Run At It 6. The School Run 31. System Failure, Run Recovery 7. Running Down the Clock 32. A Close-Run Thing 8. Run Amuck 33. Drug Running 9. Should Find A Running Banquet Ere They Rested 34. Running on Empty 10. In the Long Run 35. Run To A Standstill 11. Runner-Up 36. Running Sacred 12. Run Short 37. Up and Running 13. Running It Fine 38. Giving Me the Run Around 14. Sorry, I’ve Got To Run 39. Runs in the Family 15. Home Run 40. The Running of the Bulls 16. Out Run 41. I’d Run a Mile 17. Running Rife 42. Run Across 18. Running Gear 43. Run to Seed 19. On the Run 44. Run Aground 20. Can I Just Run Over That 45. Running a Risk Again? 46. Run Your Eyes Over These 21. Running the Gauntlet 47. Don’t Run Away With the Idea 22. A Run For Your Money 48. Running Wild 23. It’s Running A Little Funny 49. Running a Book On 24. Running Sore 50. Running Out of Time 25. Run the Good Race Map 26. Run For Your Life Index Note for late-comers to this document: It was created and put on the web, week-by-week, through 2011. As promised in ‘the run-up’, I resisted the temptation to go back and tamper with any of the weekly entries, except to correct slips. Fifty Weeks Running (2011), Drakkar Press, Copyright © 2011 John Self 3 1 TAKE UP THE RUNNING January 8th 2011 wise proverb tells us not to run before we can jog So I have this week restrained my natural A (or something like that). Muscles and joints that enthusiasm. Like everyone, I can’t wait to put my New have been dormant for a while do not take kindly to Year’s resolutions into action but my commitment to sudden excessive exertion. Last summer, for example, get back to running needs to be delicately nurtured. In I did some energetic wheel-barrowing for the first time this first week of the year, I have run a steady 14 miles for years and for a month afterwards my arms wouldn’t in four short runs (to the Waterworks Bridge, around let me pick up a cup or turn a door handle without the bridleway, up to the little bridge over Tarn Beck, complaining. and to the fishermen’s hut). This problem gets worse over the years. In our I don’t know what anyone reading this epistle will younger days our bodies forgive us after a day or two think of 14 miles, and so I probably need to put it into but I have learned to treat mine gently nowadays. I perspective. don’t suddenly surprise it; I creep up on it carefully. I A couple of years ago I started running again do very little at first, and then a tiny bit more, and then after not running for a few years. Last year, for a bit more, and eventually, before the muscles have the first time, I kept a record of how much I ran. I noticed, I have them performing prodigious feats of am sure that you would like me to share it with you. strength and endurance (I can but wish). According to my spreadsheet, which is a stickler for Part of my running arena: Brookhouse, Caton, Halton and the Lune valley from Quarry Road. A standard short run is from Brookhouse to the Waterworks Bridge visible to the right. Quarry Road is the road up to the windmills, to which I usually run across fields rather than up the road (when I am fit enough). 4 Fifty Weeks Running (2011), Drakkar Press, Copyright © 2011 John Self precision, I ran 813 miles in 6488 minutes on 167 days which most universities have in order for staff to of the year. That is an average of 16 miles a week (or eat, drink and chat. The intention, perhaps, was to about 20 miles a week if you ignore those weeks when encourage staff and students to mingle. I didn’t see I didn’t run at all). You may think that is good or bad or, much mingling. Some staff brought sandwiches to more likely, ‘so what?’. I am just reporting the fact so eat in their offices, perhaps with colleagues. Others that you know where I am starting from. escaped to those green fields. They would grab their Over the Christmas period I didn’t run at all. It sports bag, walk to the gym, and be on the fields within is a time for the family, not to run away from the a few minutes. family. Ruth and Martin and Pamela and partners, plus I sometimes saw these strange people as I drove other relatives and friends, have a break from their around the university - bronzed (or weather-beaten) commitments, so I should have a break from running. Olympians pounding along the lanes, arms like pistons However, we are not entirely idle. Most days there is a and with a glazed look in their eyes. I then noticed the walk of some sort, sometimes up a mountain. seedy complexions of those with whom I was eating Knowing that I wouldn’t run for the two weeks sandwiches.