Guest Post: In Between Days ...by Pat Walsh

 * In between days *

 “Yesterday I got so old
It made me want to cry’

When you read the news and think of the poor people in Valencia and what they are going through. When you read of wars and conflicts blazing all over the world and we are so powerless to do anything to help.

When you look at America sleepwalking into disaster in the Presidential elections, then is it time for the bed, pull up the quilt and ignore everything.

‘Yesterday I got so scared
I shivered like a child’

But as runners we are better than that. We can’t change the world but we can change our perspective of it. 

Out of bed bright and early today for the Long run. Sky is brightening soon after 7am and hope is in the sky.

The breakfast of Kings, Bran Flakes and a cup of Tea (obviously Barry’s Tea, I’m from Cork ) and maybe there is hope for the world.

Few mobility exercises and stretches to change from a stiff plank just out of bed into a dynamic running machine…! Jaysus what was in the tea!

Off we went on the road to running nirvana. A place that makes us feel better about ourselves and our ability to deal with the world, whether personal or in an overall context. How many sports can offer this. 

Chat as we go to solve the universal problems.

How far you run to reach this state is a personal issue. I need a few miles to thaw out and then I hit the zone. The secret then is to finish before that zone finishes and it just becomes a drag to keep going. 

Usually 10 miles is my go-to distance but in prep for future battles and to sort out a world in turmoil then 12 miles was needed today.

So we finish and what has changed?

Nothing, the world is still in turmoil but my head and the ability to deal with it has just got a booster shot. It is free and available to all. Anytime, anywhere you like. The effects are instant and transferrable.

I can’t shape the world but I can change how I view it. I can help others to deal with what is going on.

12 miles might not change the world but it can change me.

Thanks to Robert Smith and my running friends this morning. Apologies to everyone I met afterwards and annoyed them with my positivity. Yes the Cure were playing when I was warming up at home.

'Show me how you do it, and I promise you

I promise that I'll run away with you' 

#PWR