Happily Ever After
Life in The Rural Retreat with a beautiful wife, three cats, garden wildlife, a camera, a computer – and increasing amounts about running
Earlier posts can be found on Adventures of a Lone Bass Player, where this blog began life. Recent entries can be found here.
Better Late Than Never
by Russell Turner - 17:20 on 05 January 2026
The running year got off to a delayed start today thanks to a cold I probably picked up while gigging on Hogmanay; the perils of being a rock star. Since Friday I’ve been living in the spare room, well away from Matchgirl, who’ll be slightly vexed if I pass on any illness to her. Possibly more than slightly.
My incapacity coincided with the promised Arctic weather. Snow, wind and ‘feels like’ temperatures of -7ºC meant I’d have stayed home anyway on at least two of the days. Today, however, the wind had dropped and I felt well enough to venture out into the winter wonderland for the postponed fifth Week 5 run. Rather than the mixed 60mins on the plan, my target was an easy 45mins to get moving again.
The roads, I soon discovered, were fine – damp with just a little slush here and there – and traffic light, so I ended up running 60mins (plus time for a photo stop) and even included a modest hill. Whether I’ll relapse tomorrow remains to be seen.
Back, alone, at The Rural Retreat (Matchgirl had fled the plague house for a day of shopping and dining with The Girls) I spent some time rejigging the next two weeks of the running schedule and entering the ballot for the Great North Run, that weekend having become unexpectedly gig free thanks to a cancelled wedding. I wonder what the story is there…
What a tease
The ballot closes on Sunday; results are out the following day (London Marathon take note), so I was startled to receive an email 10 minutes later proclaiming “You’re In!” Was this an error, or did some applicants get guaranteed instant acceptance? I looked more closely and discovered that all I was in was the ballot. Still seven days to wait.
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