Something quite spiritual about running through the woods Cedronella but best done solo, with the thought that most of the trees are several years older that you. If they could speak what tales they could tell of times gone by…Good Running…
My last run of November puts my total for the year up to 1025.7 miles but It was quite a shock as I stepped out into the dark this morning in order to drag this weary body around an eight mile course in a fierce icy cold East wind. Bare legs and face were attacked by what seemed a thousand nettle stings as I acclimatised to the zero degrees C that actually felt much colder.
I was lucky today, as in total darkness I made my way along the two mile stretch of road to the next village, not one vehicle neither passed or blinded me with their headlights and I made it safely all the way to the next safe haven of streetlights. I was soon listening to the croaking of a hundred invisible Rooks high in the night sky as I made my way past the church and out onto a lesser used road that would wind it’s way around freshly ploughed fields until it met a main road and my four mile marker.
The next mile is straight and wide, and encourages motorists to ‘get their foot down’ it also encourages me to step up the pace and to turn off it as soon as possible, I arrived at the turnoff unscathed. I approached the farm where in the past I have had dogs chase me, and as I glanced through the gaps in the hedgerow I saw the flash of brown and white of the mean canine that has given me so much trouble before.
He cut me off at the bend. He was sprinting towards me down the long lane that goes to the farm and he reached the bend in the road before me. I deviated from my course and shouting in my most fiercest of voices, ran at speed straight for him, that usually dissuades the most aggressive of animals, but not this time. His nose was crinkled and his teeth glinted in the now lightening sky, he was one angry animal growling and moving in to feast on the savoury mound of flesh that was my calf. Slowly and menacingly he moved in for the bite, my hand sprung out and caught him firmly on the nose with a left jab. He stopped barking and retreated and I made my escape.
Once again I had escaped the jaws of this snarling animal, but the time will come as he gets braver and not put off by a fierce shout and tap on the nose, we will meet in combat, and although I might be injured, I think I can take him…I hope I don’t have to.
I refuse to be intimidated by this mangy hound and change my route, and so It was soon forgotten and I continued my run home in the warm light of the rising sun. Although bitingly cold, there was very little frost and the roads were dry affording good grip on the speedier sections. My time was average to poor though…
Bloody 'ell, Bob! You need to tell this farmer to keep his dogs under control or report him. It could be a whole lot worse mate, so I’d be changing my route perhaps to avoid this?
I guess they made you run faster though!:shock:
Can I ask OGF, are you running on farm land or the public highway? The reason I ask is because people like to cut through our fields and then complain when my dog growls at them. I ask them how would you feel if I walked all over your garden? just because it’s a farm doesn’t make it a public shortcut. As far as the dog is concerned your on his turf and he’s just doing his job of warning you off… 
So maybe it’s the same thing with your doggie friend.:twisted:
It’s public highway Roxy, I’m mainly a road runner these days with just the odd towpath down the side of a canal. The farm is situated about two hundred yards down a lane but the dogs hear me running on the road and nip under the five bar gate and can beat me to the bend. Should I get bitten there will be a shedload of trouble concerning the farmer and my solicitor…Providing I don’t despatch the dog to the kennel in the sky first.
Hmmm I see, I’m guessing this has been going on for a while now and has become either a game/bad habit with the dogs. Have you had a wee word with the farmer? Is he aware of the problem? There must be a reason his dogs are outside in the dark. If he’s maybe had trouble with intruders ect. Also please be careful about what you do to this dog, you could end up being the one in bother if you harm it.
As I said, a friendly chat with the farmer may be all that’s needed. We had a guy come and complain that one of our horses was nipping, We had no idea, and moved her to another field away from anyone’s reach. But at the same time I did wonder why he was close enough to be getting nipped in the first place…
Thanks for your advice Roxy. I suspect the dogs are usually kept under control as it’s only the second time I’ve been harassed. It would be difficult to enter the farmyard because there are more dogs inside, but they prefer to stay there and just bark.
Foxy, I agree with Roxy about having a word with the farmer, and best not damage their animal.
If you can’t enter the farm yard, haven’t they got a front door to the house?
How does their postman deliver I wonder?
Otherwise maybe it would be safer if you just wrote them a note and popped in their postbox or letterbox, the postman must do it somehow surely. The dogs shouldn’t be out on the public highway attacking people.
Surfermom - With all the excitement about Old Grey Bob Fox’s adventures down on the farm and worrying about him getting his legs chewed off, I forgot all about your previous post.
I know I’ve mentioned this before but life over the pond in Florida sounds utterly idyllic. Right now we’re three inches deep in snow and it’s bloody freezing. I’d give anything right now for a dip in that surf of yours.
Anyway, keep up the good work and enjoy the gorgeous weather out there☺
OGF, another adventure in running, but not the most desirable sort for sure! I suppose that to avert disaster, you will either have to take another route, which seems unnecessary, or talk to the owners. Most people don’t want to hear that their dogs are harassing people, but it’s better than getting the news that their dog has bitten someone. You are eloquent and diplomatic enough that I am sure you will be able to come to some agreeable resolution.
That drama aside, your running sounds as interesting as ever, and from the looks of things, we are not going to be all that far off in our running totals for the year - I hope!
I have to say to you and Floydy that I have to envy you with your recent snowfall. We have only had snow here twice in twenty-five years, although I will get my share when traveling to see my family for Christmas. The strategies involved in avoiding slipping and falling, (which manage with hysterical animation :roll:), adds a whole new - and very much undesirable - element to winter running.
This afternoon I ran five miles today in pea soup. The interesting thing about running in fog is that the water condenses on me like a magnet, so I am seemingly more soaked than in a downpour. Not idyllic, but not frigidly cold either. I’ll take it! Just don’t ask for a picture 
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Roxy, Mups, Floydy and Surfermom, and anyone else who looked in and thought of a solution but was too frightened to post…I have tried to explain the trials and tribulations of yer average long distance runner and his association with our cuddly canine friends…
http://www.over50sforum.com/picture.php?albumid=1297&pictureid=11035
(1) Stubbornness is not one of my most attractive traits, but I suppose it’s a fine line between stubbornness and dedication, obsession and self discipline. I owe my success as a runner to all three, anyone who knows me well will realise that Tuesday’s, Thursday’s and Sunday’s are running days, and nothing gets in the way, other than a nuclear holocaust or death, well, my own death specifically. So bearing in mind that stubborn streak, altering or changing my running route is not an option.
(2) The farm in question is very remote and miles from the nearest civilisation, it’s actually a bit ‘Deliverance’ out there, and been nipped on the bum by a dog is preferable to some other fate that might be waiting for me should I enter the property of said farm. Farms are usually well guarded by dogs, among other things, and visitors are not encouraged, there is a post box on the gate for the postman so he never needs to enter the property. There is good reason for this amount of security, and it’s because they are so remote that they are an easy target for thieves. Cattle and machinery are the main targets but only just a few months ago a cyclist was stopped by some men in a white transit van, punched in the face, stripped naked, and everything of value was taken from him, including his bike and on the very road I call my regular running route, so I take no chances. I’m more afraid of people than I am of an aggressive hound.
(3) As Surfermom will probably testify (and any other regular runners) a running course must meet certain criteria. Is it the correct distance? Is it a circular, preferably starting and finishing at home? – Very boring running an out and back route on a regular basis or having to drive out to the start/finish every other day. Is it safe and relatively traffic free? Can it be run in the dark safely? Can it be run all year round? – And not up to the thighs in mud in wet weather. With good running shoes the price they are, it’s best not to mistreat them or lose them in the mud. And is it a regular dog walking route? Many a good intentioned owner exclaims “He won’t hurt you” after it has embedded it’s teeth into your £100 Gortex Running top and is been dragged whimpering down the road – And that’s just the runner! So if you are fortunate enough to have ticked all those boxes, you will understand that finding another running course is practically impossible, especially when there are only three roads leading out of the village, two of which contain an excessive amount of morons with cars.
I can totally understand why you don’t want to change your route. As far as I can see, you should talk to the farmer. You could go to the farm in your car, that would protect you. You could phone him if you know the name, if not, get hold of a voters role and look him up. Get his phone no and then phone. But I wouldn’t leave it to chance. Dogs as I’m sure you know can, and do, pick up on body language and if your the slightest bit anxious or up tight then be sure the dog will know, maybe think it’s aggression on your part and …
There is nothing that will inspire great things in exercise like two back-to-back days of driving. The Smoky Mountains are beautiful this time of year, with the a the gingko and maples still dressed in their brilliant hues. With the first cold front of the season sweeping across North America, we are suddenly in a festive mood and pulling out sweaters and scarves from the depths of the closets and preparing for the holidays.
We just returned from my daughter’s triumphant doctors appointments in North Carolina (the top research and teaching hospital in the country for brain disease). To save the forum from the long edition of the story, it seems that she will be making history with her astounding recovery from a four year battle with a rare brain disease. We have been asked for permission and participation in presenting her case formally to the medical community (publication, presentations, etc.) that will save other people from possible death and years of utter debilitation. Remember the movie Awakenings? She is not unlike that patient - only she pioneered a treatment that has her all but back to normal after five lost years.
So, as you can imagine, after a late arrival home last night, I was still up early bursting through the front door and out into the chilly gray morning for a well-needed seven mile run. I was a little stiff, but there is nothing like cold temperatures and being in high spirits to get my feet moving. Bundled up against the northerly winds whipping punishing gusts across the length of the river, I ran alongside it curious about how the pelicans, cormorants, and gulls were navigating the conditions, but alas they were nowhere to be seen. I suppose they were taking shelter in the wide stands of pine trees and the marsh grasses beyond the opposite banks.
In all, my pace today was 8:20 which I am fairly sure is one of my better times for that distance. Nothing like jubilation and feeling frost bitten to keep my feet moving. A blanket warmth reached as I opened the front door where happy tail-wagging dogs, a cup of hot chai, and a steaming shower await.
Aah, there is no place like home…
Hi Surfermom.
What an awesome achievement your daughter has made with her very rare condition. She’s certainly a fighter and I wish her all the best in her further treatment. It’s so sad she succumbed to such a debilitating condition in the first place, lost those valuable years of her life growing up, but she can look back and at least know that she may now be saving lives for others. What an inspiration she is!
I bet you were ready for your run yesterday after the long drive and the stress which you have had to endure. Getting out and about really does blow away those cobwebs for a while.
Take care all of you and please, remain positive:cool:
Thank you Floydy, and hello to the rest of you interested enough to pop in on this thread.
While most of my exercise has been limited to pressing the accelerator in the car and walking through shops piled high with merchandise, I have finally carved out enough time to run - and it felt fantastic to be out there after a week of shifted priorities. After a few days off, I always expect to be sluggish or winded, but today, as I usually discover, I felt light and fast. It was thoroughly enjoyable on the winding streets lined with hardy oaks and evergreens.
In the summer my running gear consists of shorts and a tank top. However, this time of year, I tend to look like a inflated stack of tires, stiffly leaving the house in tights, a tank, a long sleeve top, a jacket with reflective material, gloves, and a headband to cover my ears. It’s ridiculous, I know, and you all will laugh even more to know that the highs are around 13 C!
As quite the aficionado of the rich and fabulous food that comes with the holidays, I am determined to run 30 miles each week from now until the end of the year. Akin to the metaphorical rabbit chasing the carrot, with each mile, sugar plums dance in my head pressing me forward.
Oh, and my hip joints seem somewhat inflamed, but why ruin the positive vibe…
I wonder what you would have worn if you had come out with me this morning Surfermom?
Minus four degrees C, and that was when I got back home. A carefully selected collection of running apparel comprised of a running vest surrounded by a favourite tee shirt and topped off with a thin fleece running top, a Guernsey cap, with running shorts and white ankle socks on the lower body. Although my shorts were of a more substantial material than my usual ones.
Had a bit of a lie in this morning when I noticed that even at seven it was still dark. I eventually jogged off around seven thirty. Our thoughtful council had seen fit to salt the roads overnight which led to a pleasant running experience. The canal was frozen over in places (the first time this year) and the few drivers I encountered were all driving sensibly at around 30mph, so no evasive action was necessary. The only thing in the sky were a few Starlings and Rooks and a segment of moon soon to be outshone by a fabulous sunrise.
Just a little muscle tightness in my lower back on the last mile but nothing tragic. All in all, a very satisfying six miles, and leaving enough energy in the tank for whatever Tuesday will throw at me.
You said you were attempting thirty miles each week from now on Surfermom, can I inquire how you intend to make up your thirty miles? i.e. One run of thirty miles each week? Two outings of fifteen miles? Three sessions of ten miles? Five runs of six miles? or six runs of five miles? Or will it be:- five gold rings - four calling birds - three turtle doves - two french hens - and a partridge in a pear tree? :-D:-D:-D Only joking, I am interested though…
OGF, you would most certainly be laughing at me so heavily layered that I would be unable to bend knees or elbows, but the smiles would be all mine as I would be ready to forge ahead snug as a bug in a rug.
Today, however, I was able to set out in nothing more than a long sleeve top and compression shorts for a solid seven miles. Most of my bird sightings were the snowbird sort - the retirees from the north who come down here to avoid their own icy climates. They have to be watched carefully as they are not inclined to give runners or cyclists much of a road margin, but farther down the road, I spied a rare blue heron with her wings spread to soak up our wintry sun.
Now as for my preferred mileage breakdown, what I prefer is often not what I can typically complete due to a chronic and debiliitating condition I have called “adulthood”. The symptoms of which mean that instead of running six days per week, right now I am usually running five days for six miles.
But thirty? Are you trying to knock me off, OGF?
http://www.pic4ever.com/images/flat.gif At best I can do thirteen, but I am usually not good for anything the rest of the day.
A partridge in a pear tree indeed !
Surfermom, OGF - I take my hat off to the pair of you and your commitment to your exercise. You are both putting me to shame as the token ‘youngster’ of our trio (my sincere apologies, Surfermom, if you’re younger than me. Oops!
)
My lack of input on here isn’t because I can’t be bothered to post, it’s rather because I haven’t been doing anything - can’t be bothered to train, the preferred excuse. I did do about a week’s worth of sessions recently, posted on here, but they fell to the wayside.
But I mustn’t diss myself too much. True, I’m finding it much more pleasant to spend my afternoons, and the scant free time I get, indoors out of the cold and pottering around compiling Pink Floyd collections and watching rubbish TV. But I’m also picking the granddaughter up from school when my wife isn’t feeling too good, and that is slap bang in the middle of the afternoon, leaving no time to go to the gym. These bloody night shifts!
But again, I then read your posts during the night at work and I feel so very embarrassed and pitiful towards myself that as a young-ish 50-something who has trained all his life to suddenly become a bit of a slouch. But again, the problem of my knees is really annoying me at the moment; I can’t even climb the stairs without pain and when I see the doctor this coming Saturday morning I will be pressing for some kind of ‘operation’ to get me relatively back to my old self. Training all my adult years this is not easy to cope with, it’s getting me down and I’m feeling rather depressed about it now. It’s a wrench to stay positive when catch-22 is dominant in my scheme of things.
But hey ho, there are worse off and all is not lost. I’ve decided to use the Christmas break as a thorough and determined effort to get back to fitness. I’ll work out a new programme at the weekend which will see me change my routine from the old ‘gaining strength’ (which is pointless now anyway - what’s it for?), to keeping the weight down and maintaining a good heart rate and one which I will enjoy doing. More high reps and light weights, probably sets of three, three times a week. I’ll be using Xmas to hopefully go everyday while I’m off work and get some’form’ back on my body to put me in good stead for January’s comeback!
Please keep posting your daily reports, it’s good motivation for this rapidly-ageing 50-something!
Adulthood, what an amazing definition Surfermom, and It’s so inspiring to hear of your latest brush with nature, such a brilliant description, as usual, no wonder Floydy misses his routines so much . Wouldn’t it be interesting to hear that those snowbirds you observed avoiding the snow and ice were the very ones accompanying me on my outings just a few weeks ago…
I have in the past trained round an interesting route of thirty miles, comprising three reservoirs in a row in the hills of Derbyshire. One lap of all three comes out at fifteen miles, but while training for a marathon I needed something special and managed two laps. The marathon I was training for was the Robin Hood Marathon in Nottingham and I put in a creditable 3 hours 1 minute and 30 seconds. The training paid off.
Thanks for your training breakdown Surfermom, it will be interesting to hear about your progress and good luck, although I know you won’t need it. I’ve dropped down to six miles in the week and I’m enjoying the extra energy gained through not running myself into the ground…
Not a good start to the day today. After waiting until 7:45am for enough light to run the back roads of Yorkshire I stepped out into the rain and progressed along the street. It seemed milder, but stepping on some ice I realised that the rain was falling on to frozen ground. A quick detour on to the road turned out to be the easiest option.
I was now running along a fairly busy road and had to keep to the footpath, but after only a hundred yards, while clinging for my life to a garden wall after almost slipping down on several occasions I decided that common sense was the better part of valor and turned back. The untreated country roads that I would be using would be even worse.
It was almost impossible to stand on the rain soaked ice covered footpaths, and with buses and cars occupying the road I had no choice than to risk the mirror like surface, and disappointedly I made my way home…