If it sounds bad - it probably is

Been doing a little bit of running, but not much .. Was having a good week last week, Sunday, Monday and lunchtime Thursday... Went to the Adventure Show preview night - was great to see everyone and I thought the race report was tops...

It is a sign of my off season that I am back on the turps and so was also out on Thursday night. This time it was for dinner with my good friend Kristin - the lovely Kiwi girl who ran with my for the first and last bits of Fort William to Inverness and provided the wonder hands to massage my battered body and keep me going to the end. Her Mum and Dad were over from Kiwi land, and so me and a few work colleagues went out .. So we all went to a newish French Restaurant here in Edinburgh. And what a top night it was... Beers, a few wines, some cliche'd French food, a steak, and some more wine...

Next day - was feeling a little rough, but put it down to the wine.. Now 1:30AM Saturday morning was a different matter.. Oh dear.. Without going into the details, my guts were in a terrible state.. We've all been there.. Slept intermitently between trips to the loo..

On Saturday I had arranged to help my mate Mike (my best mate and the guy who followed me from Milngavie to Inverness in Lucy the Combi) to demolish his shed.. So it was not something that I wanted to miss out on .. Climbing up ladders, hitting things with big hammers, smashing bricks, loading the pickup, lifting bit of wood, shovelling rubble all with clenched butt cheeks and between running to the dunny made for an interesting day.. But at the end of day, there was a bare concrete pad where a shed used to stand..

So lesson learnt - if there is something on a menu that says Snails and Pigs Ear, even if you think it might be interesting and it ticks a box - read the words..

Snails (yes - you find them in the garden) and Pigs Ear (it is fatty crappy stuff that your dog might chew on...) - FUCK ME - that is NOT FOOD !!!!

A few days on, and am nearly back in one piece.. Happiness is a dry fart !!!

2 for 2

And just went out again
not too much beer at the weekend
to slow me down or
take from me the
will and the desire to
end
the malaise of the everyday
all those excuses that the mind will say
oh I'll just do it another day
I know I will
just not today
much better to listen to the heart
and the pleading of the soul
get out and run
don't sit don't recoil
get out and breathe and work and
beat the heart
get off your arse
don't think
don't reason
just start..
with a step
the one out the door
once that one is done
you can do one more
until you can rest
contented and in repose
with a body, mind, heart and soul
at one ..

Not time for a new top - YET !!!!!

Been a bit of a week. so have been looking forward to getting out tomorrow for a short run with Norman.. He is doing Loch Ness in a couple of weeks so sent him a text and said I was not up for more than and hour or so but would join him for the first part of the run... So now I find he is picking me up, for a trip to the Pentlands and I guess I will be coming home when we have stopped running...

You gotta love mates who can see the signs of an impending change of clothing in the direction of something flouncy and floral and nip it in the bud... Best pack a gel or 2 and a sachet of toughen the fuck up..


KH

PS - Job done - 2hours out and a cracking run it was too... Gotta love it .. Saw a few dogs out and thoughts turned to my little black haired mate - all good... Blouse and tissues not needed !

ENJOY !

Who's the Best Boy - It's the Sammy Boy

How many miles did we run together
Along the sand when you were young
and my years of running had just begun,
in the dunes on the other side of the world
the Freo doctor blasting into my face,
it was a race
you barking at my feet, chasing seagulls
catching one just the once
getting such a fright
and look at me to say
look what I've got, thats a bit of all right..
the setting sun disappearing
into the waves we crash, you yelling at me as I swim too fast
the only time I can make you work
then explode out of the water
you really pissed off
chasing me as I dive again, yelping and clawing my back

You are the maddest boy, eating swimsuits, stubby holders,
digging holes, chewing things
stealing my steak from the barby
always running, always the fastest thing
you catch the air
you fly, speed and black hair
noise and energy, and a perfectly still
poised
and focussed gaze

And then we could run together,
and that is what we did ..
Just a bloke and his best mate, going out
running
in the start 5 feet in front looking back, egging me on,
and maybe checking that I was still there as when you get too far
I turn and you have to chase me
and eventually that is the lead that I never need use,
as we run together
and there is nothing
not cats or dogs, the rest of the human race
nor aliens from out of space not man or beast
nothing
can separate a bloke and his mate
running

We move from the beach,
to a cold place, with hills
and snow that you love
and rain
and the girls
who grow,
and we run still
by my side, at my heel, never moving
stride matching stride,

we go out on the Way
from Rowaradennon to Inversnaid
and back
with my mate John and a few others
he doesn't like dogs,
but like everyone he likes you ..
the tree roots don't worry you
it's the goats you smell and want to catch

and things go on
staying the same
and changing
you are no longer beside me
you are 2 out 2 back
but you are still my best boy
you're still having a crack

On Monday this week
we went to the park,
you stopped for a pee
and then ran to join me
you saw a branch of a tree
and tried picking it up
just like you used to
when we were at the sea

So tonight you sleep
I held you as you went
to the beach, from the snow
chasing
running and chasing
head poised in perfectly still
gaze
where's the birds Sam ?
catch them and bring them
from the hills
back to the sea
Go on
Catch them Sam...
You're the best boy...