How to reduce grumpiness in farmers

19 June - 6 miles - 53.48 min
A very pleasant light run today. Bright sun, lots of clouds and cool breeze. Perfect.

I mostly run at lunchtime when most of the country is at their tables and all is quiet. But because the weather is so good a lot of farmers seem to be cutting on their lunching time and are out on the roads and in the fields.

I am wary of passing tractors. Quite often they pull machines much wider than the tractor itself. But generally the farmers are careful and I wave cheerfully as a kind of thank you/how are you.

It's easy to ignore a lonely runner on the road, but it's not so easy to ignore a runner with two dogs. So quite often - but not always - I get a smile and a wave back from the man in the tractor.

Farming is a lonely, stressful work, even on family farms where you are guaranteed free training and job for life. I think that's why so many farmers are grumpy.

Me and my two running buddies are on a mission - we reduce farmers' grump.

How to get rid of a cold?

11 May 2009
6 miles - 51.19 min

How to beat a cold? Nothing is more depressing for a runner than having to stop, because of light fever, cough and runny nose.

They say it takes 7 days to recover from common cold - with or without drugs. I had a cold this week - with a nasty cough. I do my usual: go slow, more sleep, lots of tea with honey and an occasional aspirin.

On the 5th day (roughly) I feel better - and I go for an easy slow run because I have proved to myself time and again that it is the best way to get rid of the cold and clear my system. Honest, it works. And it has worked again - I feel refreshed, the throat clears, I can breathe through the nose and there is a general feeling of wellness about myself.