This is a very quick post! Because today I am allowed to blow my own trumpet! Because for me, last night was a very special night………..I went out out! It does not happen too often ……. usually I start yawning at around 6 o’clock and dreaming of my robe, slippers and book but last night I made an effort…………dress, makeup and even sparkly shoes!!
Where did I go?!?! Well………last night it was the annual running club presentation evening. I’ve only been to it once before as I’ve only been in the club for 18 months.
I am the girl who absolutely hated running at school. I used to hide in the ditch and sneak a quick walk in cross country and got stitch in my tummy just thinking about setting off. I loathed it. I was near the back of any running competition. I’m not that competitive, there was no prize, so I just didn’t see the point in overexerting myself. 😂
The above just sums up running for me! I might have told you before that I’m one of those that found running later in life, in my forties, to deal with grief after the loss of a friend. These days running does for me what books do for me too. Books and running allow you to escape, go some place else, to find peace, and be free.
I now have another friend receiving end of life care, a child I’m worried about (does that ever end!), and the world just seems like it’s getting closer to imploding with every passing day. So I need my running at the moment, more than running needs me. While out on my little runs I listen to the birds, take in my surroundings, get muddy, think of all the things I have to be thankful for, and eat cake afterwards! It’s my happy place.
So that’s basically it. I never try or intend to win my category in a race, if I do it’s just lucky. I just turn up to all my races, never take myself seriously and laugh my way around. However, I am a little competitive and will race anyone into the clubhouse afterwards to the cake.
So it’s now official………..last night I was crowned the fastest 50 year old female in the village (well I’m 53 actually)!!!! But not in one of the three Club Championship categories………………..I’ve won all THREE!!!! Clean sweep. I’m sat here looking at my little glass trophy which says I am the Club Championship Veteran 50 ‘Road Champion’, ‘Cross Country Champion’ and ‘Fell Champion’. For those of you who are not from around these parts, the latter title does not mean I fall down a lot (although I do do that too). A ‘fell’ is a word we use in Northern England and Scotland which is taken from the Norse word for mountain. And it is just that, a mountain or large moor covered hill, of which we have lots around here, and we run and race on them all year.
But not only that, I’m even more proud of me because I was awarded the Club Championship shield for the ‘Overall Female Fell Champion’. I am absolutely astounded, I can’t quite believe what I’ve pulled off! 😂 Neither can my two boys who are taking a bit of convincing that there was actually anyone else in the competition!
It’s just about turning up, having the courage to start, putting one foot in front of the other and keeping going, just don’t stop! That’s the one thing I don’t know how to do………….I never give up! Some people think it’s my strength and is endurance. I see it as a bit of a weakness and more stubbornness and reckless determination. I can think of a few times where it would have been more sensible to give up, but I don’t know how.
So this morning I have two trophies and a headache! So rough I’ve had to bake a cake to satisfy my sugar craving, and all I have done other than bake a cake, is sit and look at my trophies and read as I don’t feel like moving!😆
The message here is that providing you stick at it you can do most things if you put your mind to it. If the menopausal woman, with a hernia who eats cake can do this, then most people can. And the second bit of advice is don’t mix dry white wine, lager and stout on the same night out…….they make you feel really rough the next day. 😢
