Nature Cure

Today, I am taking my two grandsons out for the afternoon, as the forecast is good, we will probably head to the coast. After breakfast, packed my gear for the day, put on my Ron Hill trackster bottoms and Helly Hanson thermal top, and drove the half mile to the Crown & Anchor at Hull Bridge and parked on Weel Road, near the pub. My run this morning will be along the riverside path to Eske Nature Reserve, a wetland area a mile or so to the north. The approach lies through the pub car park, the path passing under the road bridge that carries traffic from Beverley to Leven. Once past this bridge, I contour diagonally up the levee and run along the path on the top. The River Hull to my left and open farmland to the north ahead of me. As on Tuesday, my legs feel stiff and heavy as I start out, but quite soon, the sound of the traffic behind me fades into the background, and the beauty of this sunny spring morning lifts my spirits. There is hardly a cloud in the sky and the morning sun can be felt on my back, in contrast to the cold northerly breeze on my face and chest, to which I am exposed as I run on top of the river bank. This is the sixth run of the comeback and the routine remains the same, exercising as a meditation, concentrating on relaxation, balance and breathing. Continuously scanning the body for tension and trying to ease away any that is noticed through relaxation. Once again practising the circular breathing technique of counting breaths up to seven and back to one, in a continuous loop. In this way awareness of heaviness in the legs does not distract
or discourage. There are no pains or injuries and, at this stage of a comeback, stiffness is not unusual. It will either clear as the muscles warm up, or it is something that will have to be put up with.
Today, fortunately, it eases after a mile or so, and gradually the concentration on feedback from my inner world opens the door to a greater appreciation of the world beyond the confines of my skin. As Eske Nature Reserve appears ahead, acute awareness of the environment enfolds me, to the right are freshly ploughed fields, the colour of tobacco and the hedgerows and small copses have vivid green spring leaves bursting with new life. It is impossible not to be inspired. The river takes a long easterly bend and the nature reserve is a large lake formed by allowing the it to flood the land between the bends. Passing over a stile the path leads between rows of willows, many of which are rooted in the water, which sparkles in the morning sun to my right. One has blown over in yesterdays gale and it is necessary to stop and weave a way through the leaves and branches lying athwart the path. The only waterfowl in evidence today are a squadron of eider ducks performing fleet manoeuvres, the drakes resplendent with iridescent green plumage around their heads and necks. The path tracks the easterly bend of the river and sheltered from the wind, it is pleasantly warm. Near the northern end of the lake is a wooden screen with viewing holes cut out so that the wildlife can be observed undisturbed. Just past this observation area is a small bridge, after which the path turns sharply east along the top of the lake, before bearing south after a hundred yards or so. The eastern bank of the lake is raised in a levee to protect the farmland beyond. Running south now I can see past the lake where the river curves away, and Beverley Minster is prominent once more about four miles away. The sun is full in my face and my legs are moving more easily and have settled into a steady rhythm. Moving perhaps pathetically slowly, compared to times past, but who cares, it is still a joy to run alone with nature. A quicker pace may come with time and practice, as long as injury and illness do not intervene, and the best way to avoid those is not to strain. Faith in the body's ability to adapt, at its own pace, is a lesson hard learned. For older athletes in particular, there are no shortcuts.
The path completes the loop round the lake and then retraces my steps back to the Crown and Anchor. I arrive back feeling better than when I set out. The run between four and five miles. Afterwards drive to the leisure centre for a warm down on the exercise bike and an easy cool off in the pool, before collecting Clement and Louis and heading to the coast.