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. 

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

8 Jan 09
6 miles 48.50 - freezing weather, it's minus 5 Cº. I put on thermal longjohns under running tights, cover my face with aloe vera lotion and put on sheepskin mittens over runners' gloves. When we come back dogs get warm milk outside, but I retreat inside for stretching - in this weather muscles seize up very quickly.

What I Talk About When I Talk About Running is a new book by Haruki Murakami, the award winning Japanese writer. Since the 80-s he has been running in at least one marathon a year and has completed many triathlons and super-endurance races - while producing book after book. I was given it for Christmas and have just finished.

I think it is the best book about running ever written.

It is not a training manual, though there are tips for training, staying fit and avoiding injuries. It is not a collection of reviews of races in which he took part, though preparing for a marathon is described in detail, with schedules, times and tips gear. The power of Murakami's writing is in explaining what it is that makes running so special and how it blends in with creative life.

Here is a passage:

People sometimes sneer at those who run every day, claiming they'll go to any length to live longer. But I don't think that's the reason most people run. Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you're going to while away the years, it's far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive than in a fog, and I believe running helps you do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life - and for me, for writing as well. I believe many runners would agree.

And for me the book is specially appealing, because Murakami started running in 1982 - the same year as me, and, again just like me, in Tokyo. He describes the same routes I used to pace - the footpath around the Imperial Palace and the Jingu Stadium.

Running in the Country: Drop, but Never Loose

6 miles - 52.48 min

The weather broke yesterday. It was a lovely warm beach day all day, but all through the night it rained and thundered. Humid and grey today.

I always take a handkerchief with me on the run. It is, I think, a runner's top piece of gear. I was sure I had it today, but when, after two miles in the run, sweat started dribbling down my forehead I suddenly realised it wasn't in my pocket. Shucks!

My circuit is, first, a two kilometre stretch which I cover twice on the run-out and the run-back, and then it's an 6 km loop. I was really suffering with sweat pouring into my eyes when I came back to the 2 km run-back stretch - and sure enough, the hanky was lying there in the middle of the road. It just slipped out of my pocket.

This is one of the joys of running in the country - safe and trustworthy. At least that's how I interpret the fact that I can drop something on the road and pick it up, untouched, in the same place half an hour later.

Best running gear

Tuesday 18 09 07
6 miles - 51.34
Wonderful Indian Summer - mild and warm, almost too warm for a comfortable run. I keep watching the dogs to check if they are not too hot, but they seem to be fine.

Today I decided that the best piece of running gear I've ever had is a simple cotton handkerchief.

It is better than any arm- or head-bands when wiping off drippping sweat. You can soak it with water and sponge yourself - for longer and with less hassle than with a true sponge. You can wave to bystanders, put it on your head like a bandana if the Sun is too sharp. It makes an instant dressing in an accident - for you, for your dogs or for someone else. I once ran to our village shop to get some fresh bread and forgot to take a plastic bag. But the handkerchief made a nice fold-around carrier instead. It is a traditional way of carrying things in Japan, they call it furoshiki there. On another occasion, while running along a path in the Welsh mountains I spotted a group of gorgeous ceps (edible mushrooms) on the verge of the woods. I wrapped them in my hanky and later we had a delicious lunch.

I take a fresh handkerchief on all my runs. In the photo here I am passing the Tower Bridge during the London Marathon with one in my left hand (photo published with permission of Action Photos).