On Thursday morning I was fighting fit
But by on Friday morning I was a fragile flower…
What a difference a night makes!!
I will spare you the details of the occurrences between 2am and 7am on Friday morning, but suffice to say it was from both ends!
I was flying to Spain that day to race the Torremolinos 5k on the Saturday and run around the half marathon as my long run on the Sunday.
On Friday I felt like I would never feel like eating or running ever again!
I was already at the airport having worked there all day on Thursday, and so I was able to gently nurse myself along, lots of dioralyte and no food!
I didn’t dare eat…
However, later in the day,, on the plane at around 5,30pm I felt I could stomach a porridge
‘Are you having breakfast’ the air steward laughed – ‘I am’ I laughed back …
I really was…
By the time I arrived in Spain, I was definitely rallying…I was met by Malcolm of ‘Running Crazy’ who encouraged me to eat a little bit more….
I’d let go of any idea of running fast, but I thought I’d sleep on it, and see in the morning if my body wanted to run at all…
And it did!…
I ran around the 5k in 25 minutes and 13 seconds, and actually felt better for it!
I had a bath and I felt hungry, a good sign…
I took myself out to lunch in a lovely restaurant overlooking the sea and enjoyed salmon, vegetables and potatoes….
Incredibly my body was also willing to run around 21k the next day, albeit not fast – I ran around in 1.53.13 and again felt better for the run…
The restorative powers of the body are enormous, especially if we keep the mind still and clear; no thoughts of what we might expect or not expect or what could or should have been
By being with what is, everything is an experience to be experienced, to witness and watch
It was a clearing, a process of some sort, and when we go with the flow we can emerge freer, lighter, clearer…
I surrendered to the weakness, the vulnerability of my body – and in the allowing – it recovered very quickly!
If I couldn’t have kept moving I would have abandoned plans completely of course, but gently gently – and here I am as fit as a fiddle again…
Presence
Being with what is
With no resistance
Everything unfolds
And without a narrative that can cause stress and distress
It is what it is….
