Gilets jaunes.

21:33 min - 3 miles (4.8 km)

I was running today in my old bright yellow vest, a leftover from when I was raising funds for the good people at Help the Aged charity.

A few French cars passed — and honked in greeting. I was puzzled at first but then realized what was happening. Apparently, they took my vest as a sign of solidarity with the ever-strong 'yellow jackets' — gilets jaunes movement against Macron's oppressive fiscal policy.

Surely something must be done fast about global warming, but not at the expense of those who keep the countryside going.

Running with Strelka and Nala, Vassily the Cat in best supporting role.
The gilet jaune here is from the Marie Curie Cancer Care (I raised £2,000 for them).
Photo from 2011.

Dogfight! We won!

Nala pretending to be a peacenik.

(4 December) 

58.58 min - 9.9 km, +6ºC, with Nala and Leroy.

A typical Nordic-Maritime hour: started the run in brilliant sunshine, then it suddenly turned dark and - on the 4th of December! - a real thunderstorm started, with lightning, thunder and hale stones, which turned to slashing rain. The rain stopped soon and it was glorious brilliant sunshine again 40 minutes into the run. 

And an amazing time for Nala. Especially considering what had happened. 

Lately I have been trying to take Nala running more often. She was running again today, toujours en forme, the dogs were both bouncing, ahead of me all the time. 

We usually pass 10-12 dogs along the route, all behind fences or on a chain, bar two nasty ones. We call them 'dump dogs' because their owner is an old man who has a huge pile of metall junk, mostly 'white goods' by his house. I think he makes a living dealing in scrap metal. The dogs are often on the loose, chasing cars and passersby, real nuisance. 

They often chase us too. Ha! Soft target - a runner with two dogs on a lead. Usually I just ignore them and tell the dogs to 'heel.'

Not today. I forgot to tighten Nala's running collar and, when the dump dogs lunged at us, she pulled —and the collar flew off. God, did she go after the dumpsters! 

Nala is a waiflike little thing, much smaller than an average Golden. She was the last in a litter of twelve puppies and we took her because the kennels owner literally begged us to have her. 

But hell hath no fury like a Nala in the fight. Before I could intervene she grabbed one of the dump dogs, a muscular black and white terrier, larger than her, by the back of the neck lifted him in the air — I couldn't believe my eyes — and smashed him on the ground. He retreated whimpering. Meanwhile, Leroy fended off the second dog, a white Labrador cross.

Total rout! Chicken scraps for the victorious Nala, my girl. 

Goodbye, Little Wood.

run 9.7 km - 60.13 min, cold, sunny, no wind.

- with Nala, after a longish break. 

She runs fine now, even outruns Strelka, the droopy male Goden. 

And horror – four farmers with chainsaws are clearing my favourite stretch – the overgrown dirt track. In summer a thick canopy of beech, oak and hazel leaves covers it. 

I've been running, cycling and walking through it for nearly 10 years now. We used to come here with my son to cut long young hazel shoots to make arrows and bows. The longest shot we managed was 84 paces (mine). 

Clearing looks like massacre, but, in fact, is a very efficient way of managing hedges, 2-3 foot thick beech-trees are cut down, hazel bushes cut to ground level, but not uprooted. Every 5 to 10 metres a young tree, a beech or an oak are left standing – to grow and seed. 

Something to look forward to, for another ten years.

A Reinvigorating Mudbath

Nala

9.8 km - 63,42 min. - pleasant, sunny, no wind, a perfect Indian Summer day in between a spate of grey rains.

For today's run took Leroy and Nala, the female golden who is slowly returning to good form after having given birth to eight puppies.

A week ago it was her first run after a year long break. We made the usual course in 69 minutes. Today it was five minutes faster. 

Nala did something extraordinary. When reaching a dirt-track which winds through a wooded area for about two miles, I often let the dogs off the lead so that they could run around, sniff and then catch up with me later. 

The track goes over a stream and there is always a big muddy puddle  there. I crossed the stream, bypassed the puddle and ran on. I heard the plash as the dogs waded through the puddle. Strangely, it was quite loud and long, too loud and long for what it takes to cross a muddy stream.

When Nala caught up with me I couldn't believe my eyes – her nice golden-blonde coat was grey and wet. She must have had a good roll in the mud before continuing with the run. But run she  did! She lead our pack all the remaining distance back home, about half the circuit as though the mudbath had given her new energy.

And as a bonus she got a good shower-wash when we got back. Clever dog! 

The Eight Babies Difference.

Nala

(4 September 2011)

Running yesterday: 9.7 km - 69 min., today 9.7 km - 59.22 min.

Why the ten minutes difference? Eight babies!

Yesterday I ran with heroic Nala who had 8 puppies three years ago and couldn't run well since. She wanted to, but after a couple of miles she would start limping and whimpering, poor thing. I just gave up and started leaving her behind.

Nala asked again yesterday to come and I decided to give it another try. She did the full 6 mile circuit.  For the first time after producing offspring.

Today it was just with the father, the big long-legged Leroy.

Mumsie with pups