I was out running the other day when a nutter nice gentleman blocked my path and after consulting with Mr Invisible behind his right shoulder, informed me “You’ll die soon!”. He then waited just long enough for me to think “oh bugger” before continuing his sentence, which in its entirety went something like “You’ll die soon…. if you speak to me”. I stifled a laugh as he’d just given me a great get out clause. I can’t say I had been falling over myself to spark up a conversation with him anyway but I still had to bite my tongue not to tell him so.
I’ve missed a few interesting events over the last few days and in light of my close shave with an untimely end I have to wonder if I’d be devastated if I never got the opportunity to take part in them again. Yesterday was the World Naked Bike Ride day, how do I keep managing to miss this? Today was the 20k Octopus Run in Richmond Park and the t-shirts alone are worth hanging around another year for. T’other day was the Crisis Square Mile run of which I’ve heard great reviews and I’m going to do my best to escape work early enough to squeeze this one in next year (nutters permitting).
The one event that I don’t think I’ll miss is the marathon monks deathly challenge. These guys run 2 marathons every day for 1000 days, wearing white robes and bamboo sandals. Pretty tough, but they also have to carry a shovel, a rope and a sword on their journey, just so they can despatch with themselves if they become unable to finish the task. No opportunity for cutting the route short with a little bus ride mid run.
I believe that the latest monk to complete this task has been in training for 7 years and his schedule will be of interest to any endurance runner, but is not for the feint hearted.
This morning I managed a measley 3.5 km around Richmond Park wincing on every step as my bruised nail beds were forced against the top of my shoes. After that I went to some back street herbalist for my first acupuncture session. I didn’t mention my poorly toes for fear that I’d have pins shoved under my nails, instead the doctor concentrated on my patellar tendon and my tight ITB. Interesting process, it felt like I had 15 needles stuck along my leg but it’s not as drastic as disembowling myself for wimping out.
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