It’s the end of the working week, time to prep for adventure

In a little over twelve hours I’ll be standing (probably in the rain) on a quiet country road far from things like computers, cellphone coverage, a nice hot cup of tea.

I won’t be alone however.

There will be a small group of likewise inclined fools waiting for the signal to start running. Shuffling feet, sharing occasional nervous, excited banter, wishing each other luck, not that we’d need it.

The sun will be on the rise, behind the clouds, not yet had its coffee and got itself ready for the business of the day. Even the local sheep, woken by our arrival, will be too drowsy to spend much effort wondering what is going on.

This race has crept up on me, quietly, like a shabbily dressed man selling ‘genuine’ watches at a market. I haven’t had a long run for three weeks, and I feel… slow.

I have high hopes for this race. This could be the first time I arrive at the finish line before everyone has gone home. This could be the race where I get it right, and actually run across the finish line, not shamble to a halt and collapse.

My body is hungry for movement. And while that’s a good thing, it is also a trap. For my last two races I went out too hard at the start, too enthusiastic. This race starts with about 10kms of uphill. I can already feel my legs itching to have a crack at it, to pound my way to the top as fast as possible, to feel the burn in my legs and lungs.

That’s the beast I have to restrain. I have to start slow and measured, and then retain control as I go over the top and start the long 50kms of downhill to the finish. To relax control here would be just as bad. I would make good time pounding downhill for about 10kms and then my quads would give up and I’d have to hobble the 40kms back to me car.

Uphill might be hard, but downhill is the real punishment.

So now I put away my work and begin my prep for a very early start in the morning.

I’ve loaded up my MP3 player with music. This was a Christmas present from my wife (which I accidentally found early) and I’ll see how it goes on the run tomorrow.

My wife had made a new batch of gels (my secret weapon) and I have an awesome new hat (thanks again to my wife. I’m a lucky guy huh?). All that remains is to lay everything out, make sure everything is charged up and ready to go. And then try to get some sleep.

3:30am is going to come around very early.

Tomorrow is going to be an epic day. I can’t wait.

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Check out my stories here on Steemit

Running Deer

Running Deer - part 1
Running Deer - How legends are born

Charlie Rabbit

Meet Charlie Rabbit
Charlie tides up
Charlie Rabbit and Margery Mouse
Charlie Rabbit and Margery Mouse make music

Little Peppers Adventures

Runaway Rabbit and the hungry fox
Maybe and the land of purple rainbows – A Little Peppers adventure
How Pappa Pepper and Monster Truck the Pepper got their wild hogs - a Little Peppers Adeventure

Dark Angel Regiment of the Space Marines - Mission Files

First Squad Sniper Elite - Zaresith mission

Other stories

Stranded
The Lady Of The Lake

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Also don't forget to check out my Dad's blog

Who else can tell you stories about impersonating an officer, stealing a military aircraft to go on a booze run, or steal military aircraft and go on an unsanctioned bombing run - and that's all before he turned 18!

Check out @len.george and find out what other madness he got up to!

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