Running in harmony

No taxi duties today, so luxuriated in a prolonged sleep until a quarter to eight. Breakfasted on smoked salmon with cream cheese on toast, sprinkled with lemon and ground black pepper and accompanied by strong Italian coffee. Washed, dressed and arrived at Cherry for nine, and then took the dogs on the Westwood. The day is grey and cloudy again, with the wind out of the north east, once more there are spits and spots of rain. The dogs don't mind, any more than the grazing cattle or the swifts and swallows that swoop and pirouette over the meadow. The baby owl is getting more confident and he popped up to have a good luck at us today, I say he but he could be a she, I have no way of knowing. After taking the dogs back to Cherry, make my way to the leisure centre, arriving just after eleven. Change into my running gear and set off on a six mile run. I haven't given up on the idea of doing the Jane Tomlinson, Hull 10k, in a little over two weeks, but need some idea of how I might shape up. Today's run is a measured distance and will give me a good idea. Running out across the playing fields, make my way on to Spark Mill Lane and after a hundred yards or so, turn left into the Beverley Parklands estate, and then run on the pavement until it rejoins Flemingate, just before the junction with Beverley Road. Here I turn right and follow the road to Hull for two miles, until arriving at the village of Woodmansey, where I turn left onto Long Lane. Today's run is about steady, relaxed, even paced running. As soon as I leave the grass, I concentrate on running tall and relaxed and begin my circular breathing. I have been doing this for years and the breath counting continues almost unconsciously from one to seven and back to one, in an endless repitition of easy, relaxed, breathing. This breathing mantra anchors me in the present moment, and helps to maintain a relaxed, effortless style. Once I turn onto Long Lane, the traffic disappears, apart from occasional, infrequent cars. My attention is drawn out from my focus on the circular breathing
to the sights, sounds and scents of the countryside. The hawthorn is almost in full bloom, and the hedges are aglow with creamy white blossom, and the intoxicating, slightly nauseating, sickly sweet, almond scent the flowers emit as I run by. As I pass Shepherd's Lane, the rape seed fields to my left are a dazzling golden yellow. I am running towards the Minster now, it's twin towers dominating the horizon, a mile or more to the north. I arrive back at the centre after sixty five minutes, and feel that there are still several miles left in the legs. No doubt that a 10k is feasible, but if I run it, it is too soon after the Swimathon to ask people for sponsorship. I will sleep on it and decide tomorrow. Warm down on the exercise bike for 15 minutes and then swim an easy 500m on freestyle and backstroke, before eating fish, chips, peas with tea, bread and butter in the cafe. After driving home, hang out my whites, put on a coloured wash and then meditate for an hour. Later make tea and oatcakes with honey before changing and picking up Felicity for the annual fund raiser at All Saints Church in Routh. The concert is highlighted by a quartet of youngsters from Hymers College, a private school in Hull. They call themselves Acapella, two girls, a soprano and an alto, and two boys, a tenor and a bass. They start with three madrigals, they are all good, but the soprano, a soloist in the Minster choir, is exceptional, her voice has a purity and clarity that seems to flow effortlessly from her. ( Although I am sure this is not the case and years of practise have been pursued to produce this level of perfection. A marquee has been set up outside serving sparkling pink cava and deserts, but it is cold and has started to rain. Nevertheless the little church is heated, and the music makes everything worthwhile. Home for 9:30 and to bed around eleven.