Black dog

Burning Bridges

Some days are harder than others and looking back is never a good thing for me, if i was supposed to look back i would have eyes in the back of my head.

Many times i have been guilty of going back, however going back can be progress if it takes you where you want to be. So i have never been a fan of burning bridges, however there are times in your life when its clearly the best thing to do, it kind of stops you going back to something that, feels good because its comfortable, but soon turns out to be a mistake. 

Now the wording in the image is perhaps a little misleading, i would never want to see people hurt, either physically or physiologically, however metaphorically it works, because having those people on the bridge when it burns would exclude them from existence.

There are other ways to deal with things or people that are not good for you, a psychiatrist once told me to think about a person who may irritate or annoy me, either dress them up in a way that demeans them or put them in a situation that does the same, have a laugh to your self and whenever said person comes into your mind you will see them as ridiculous or amusing. This works but be warned, don't place anyone or anything in a nasty or evil situation as that can only harm one person, you.

My old friend John has a bad habit of seeing only the bad side of a situation and he often responds accordingly, unfortunately he may gain great satisfaction in the short term but looses out in the long term. He doesn't agree with my analyses here but from the outside looking in....... Perhaps an argument for another day. 

I often use a system of meditation that involves treating an issue or problem as a present, wrapping it up with a nice bow and giving back to the person who gave it to you. In my head it says thanks for your shit but, you can have it back.

So recently life has changed considerably, i left a situation which was doing me more harm than good and some months down the line i can look back and smile, it has not been easy, it has been life changing but it sure has been worth while.

We delude our selves when we focus on the negative.

Training Part 1

About this time last year a friend and I ran the new Cross Britain trail which starts in Barmouth Wales and ends in Boston Lincolnshire.

Even over 7 days 280 miles is a long run and the following months were filled with injury and exhaustion, I felt fit and strong but my running fitness was very poor and it soon became apparent that the rest of the year was a right off.

One of the injuries I suffered with was hip pain, every time I ran my hips hurt so bad that I couldn’t sleep at night, even walking was uncomfortable. Sitting in a soft office chair for any amount of time was impossible.

So after months of resting and rehabilitation I have started training again, although I remember how to do it, the act of training seems to be more of a challenge. I have become used to sitting on my now, very fat arse. When I bend over to touch my toes the first think to make contact is my tummy on my thighs!! Typing this makes me laugh as I’m drinking tea and dunking biscuits, lots of biscuits, listening to the rain on the conservatory roof and dreading the 8 mile cycle to work.

Work has been my saviour I suppose, the work is physically demanding and I usually work my arse off because that’s how I’m made, so although I have gained weight I have also gained core strength and become a little more agile. Although a physical job has helped with my fitness it does often mean that I’m quite tired by the weekend so pushing myself to train can be difficult.

My endurance has always been my strongest asset and having a physical job has helped to improve that, now I need to start putting it to good use and get back to training in the hills again.

A couple of weeks ago I went to the Lake District and did leg one of the Bob Graham round, its only 12 miles with 5,000 ft of ascent but my quads were smashed by the time I arrived in Threlkeld. Although I did manage to keep to a 24hr pace and it reminded me why I run the fells, the Lake District is absolutely beautiful.

The route back to Keswick is a simple jog down the old railway lines, 4.5 miles of pleasant scenery and smiling walkers. Except the bridges have been either damaged or completely washed away by recent floods, which means wading through rivers and long diversions. TBH I had a good run and was satisfied with the days training.

Last weekend I went to the Peak District for a run with Chris R and a friend of his called Steve, the plan was to complete the Kinder Dozen in around 8 hours whilst attempting to enjoy ourselves. I checked on the LDWA web site which says the route is about 22 miles with 10,000 ft of ascent. So I loaded the GPX track on to my phone to make sure we didn’t go astray.

8.30 bank holiday Friday and we set off, the whole route was off the trails and into the rough, every bloody ascent and descent, except for the final descent. I’m sure the person who devised the route set out to punish people for being daft enough to go out there and do it. However despite this we had a great day out and finished in about 8 and a half hours. More of the same required.

The Peak District never ceases to amaze me, always delivering a good day out with some of the country’s most beautiful scenery, very different to the Lake District but no less dramatic.

So now I have my training underway I can start to plan for the year ahead and have entered my first long distance race for quite some time, the Lakes Mountain 42. Hopefully I am fit enough to complete the whole route and without a doubt, it will be good training.

Black stone cherry

White trash millionaire

Cross town woman

Things my father said

Queen

Fantastic music - watch and enjoy.

Shinedown - Cut the cord

Ernie

You could hear the hoof beats pound

As they raced across the ground

And the clatter of the wheels

As they spun round and round

And he galloped into Market Street

His badge upon his chest

His name was Ernie

And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west

Now Ernie loved a widow

A lady known as Sue

She lived all alone in Linley Lane

At number twenty two

They said she was too good for him

She was haughty, proud and chic

But Ernie got his cocoa there

Three times every week

They called him Ernie (Ernie)

And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west

She said she'd like to bathe in milk

He said alright sweetheart

And when he finished work one night

He loaded up the cart

He said you wanted pasturised

Coz pasturised is best

She says Ernie I'll be happy

If it comes up to me chest

And that tickled old Ernie (Ernie)

And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west

Now Ernie had a rival

An evil looking man

Called Two Ton Ted from Teddington

And he drove the baker's van

He tempted her with his treacle tarts

And his tasty wholemeal bread

And when she saw the size

Of his hot meat pies

It very near turned her head

She nearly swooned at his macaroon

And he said now if you treat me right

You'll have hot rolls evry morning

And crumpets every night

He knew once she'd sampled his layer cake

He'd have his wicked way

And all Ernie had to offer

Was a pint of milk a day

Poor Ernie (Ernie)

And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west

One lunchtime Ted saw Ernie's horse and cart outside her door

It drove him mad to find it was still there at half past four

And as he leaped down from of his van

Hot blood through his veins did course

And he went across to Ernie's cart

And he didn't half kick his horse

Who's name was Trigger (Trigger)

And he pulled the fastest milkcart in the west

Now Ernie rushed out into the street

His goldtop in his hand

He said if you want to marry Susie

You'll fight for her like a man

Oh why don't we play cards for her

He sneeringly replied

And just to make it interesting

We'll have a shilling on the side

Now Ernie dragged him from his van

And beneath the blazing sun

They stood there face to face

And Ted went for his bun

But Ernie was to quick

Things didn't go the way Ted planned

And a strawberry flavoured youghurt

Sent it spinning from his hand

Now Sue she ran between them

And tried to keep them apart

And Ernie pushed her aside

And a rock cake caught him underneath his heart

And he looked up in pained surprise

As the concrete hardened crust

Of a stale pork pie caught him in the eye

And Ernie bit the dust

Poor Ernie (Ernie)

And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west

Ernie was only fifty-two, he didn't want to die

Now he's gone to make deliveries

In that milkround in the sky

Where the customers are angels

And ferocious dogs are banned

And a milkman's life is full of fun

In that fairy dairy land

But a woman's needs are manifold

And Sue she married Ted

But strange things happened on their wedding night

As they lay in their bed

Was that the trees a rustling

Or the hinges of the gate

Or Ernie's ghostly goldtops a rattling in their crate

They won't forget Ernie (Ernie)

And he drove the fastest milkcart in the west