Guest Post: Much ado about nothing ...by Pat Walsh

 * Much ado about nothing *

Nothing much here, only a personal diary entry. I was about to name the column ‘alive and kicking’ but while I am definitely alive I would be afraid to kick anything in case I get injured, such has been my misfortune this year. I’m ok and it was a test of mental resilience to keep going with setback, followed by backward step, followed by hurdle, discombobulation followed by pitfall. Jay*us it was difficult.

I’m now running 5k again, very slowly I may add, but at least I’m moving. This was August, tail end of Summer where the mojo is back and looking to get going for Autumn and take on something.

But where did Autumn go or in the climate change / season bending world we live in have things gone mad. I enter my local supermarket last week to be assaulted by a MOUNTAIN of sweet boxes all lined up at the door. It was even hard to go around them. Did I miss something? Is Christmas around the corner and have I woken from a deep slumber. In a world where we are fighting health issues and obesity, surely we deserve better than this. Maybe our shop owners think we need to squirrel away and hoard stuff for winter in case of a storm or some catastrophic event. No electricity, no water, roads impassable but it is Ok as I have 15 boxes of Roses in the back of a cupboard. Ffs.

So, after a check of the calendar, I find it is actually September, and we runners should welcome one of the best months of the year to run. It is cooler and no worries of overheating and dehydration. Still bright enough for an early morning or an evening run. For most holidays are over and routine tends to settle in again for most families with school and work. Make your run part of the set routine. And please don’t forget the strength and stretching work. Lesson learned for 2025 for me.

There are plenty of races still on and loads of charity events / challenges that may have some cycling or walking and not always competitive. Something for everyone if you want it. Best of luck to those heading for Marathons as September is the month of the ‘Long Runs’. I actually used to love them and I do miss them. I think some of the long training runs were as memorable as the actual marathon itself. Driving to my 5k parkrun I do envy those I see on the training plan. You are lucky, just know it.

You can still make a mark on the year by moving now or even upping your training after a relaxed Summer. Life is what you make of it. We all hear sad stories of health issues and worse, so be the best you and don’t have regrets when you eventually get around on 25th December to opening the Tin of Sweets you bought in August. Pick an event if you haven’t any goal sorted and just go for it.

‘Pause awhile, And let my counsel sway you.’ Shakespeare, Much ado about nothing.

Have a lovely weekend and make sure to move.

#pwr