Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or gazelle - when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.
I went for a run with my gazelle this morning. She'd pushed the club session last night and not been able to manage the complete 20' at threshold pace and decided that an early morning run was necessary. And like the big-hearted lion that I am, I decided to run with her.
The early morning runs have totally changed dimension now that they're run just after dawn. Firstly, the quality of the light at this time in the morning is surreal, bringing a fresh, new feeling to the surroundings. The birds are chirping away merrily as we run down by the river and the cockerels have begun to crow, welcoming in the day. They really do make a "cock-a-doodle-doo" noise whereas the French insist that its "cocorico". What continues to amaze me is how many we hear when we run. I don't know what percentage of the French population keeps a cockerel but it's most impressive around where we live!
We ran into the park behind the castle and the wildlife here was scarce. Not even the early morning joggers today. Out of the park and onto my favourite section: running through the forest along the railway line and then up back into Le Mesnil using the forest tracks. We scared a few rabbits as we ran, but no wild boar or deer around. It was a great feeling to be out so early and the run helps your body to wake up gradually, and making the most of the outdoors all the while.
8.3 km in 46:30 or 5:37 per km. Very easy run and fantastic to be out.
6 comments:
C'est très plaisant de lire ton blog. J'ai adoré et bien rigolé.
Pour ma part, je me sens comme un lion en cage ...
I saw on Nico's blog that you're injured Gérald after a bike accident. What happened exactly ? How serious is the injury ? I can understand your frustration if you're not able to run.
I had no idea that my life was at such risk when I go out in the wild with you, scary!!
Anyway, I never, ever, feel like a gazelle when I run, more like "Gloria the hippo", especially at 6 in the morning!
:)
Hi there, just a quick post to let you know that I'm back on the blog and immmensely enjoying reading your prose ! I also thought your readers might be interested in knowing that I now have running socks that perfectly match the colours of my miniskirt ;-) Hope to see the gazelle and the lion chasing each other in the forest tomorrow !
Actually, I was out chasing Nico instead yesterday, but more of that later !
@lorenza .Je ne connaissais pas "gloria l'hippo". Maintenant c'est fait. Je vais en prendre une pour ma nièce.
@delphine .Nicolas va être content pour le défilé.
@james .Avec Nico en gazelle. N'oublie pas le lion peut attraper la gazelle ...
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