I could Have Gone On...
The proverb states...
'Home is where you hang your hat..'
And Wiktionary says that this means...
'Rather than feeling nostalgic or sentimental, one should simply accept any place where one happens to reside as one's home....'
Although we do not own any hats at the moment, home is wherever 'we happen to reside...'
I am now feeling an inclination to buy hats, to hang when we arrive wherever we are!
This morning we woke up in Winchmore Hill in the Stables of The Old Bakery which is right on the Green...
We arrived yesterday evening and went for supper in 'The Kings Head' where we met Jade our waitress who looked after us very well.
She also showed me a hand shake - 'keep the two fingers nearest your thumb straight up the wrist of the person taking your hand to shake' - this will protect, Jade assured me, from an over strong grip, should I find this happening!
She told us that the over strong grip is the sign of aggression and the intent to take charge... Which gets deflated if there is no reaction from the person being gripped strongly!!
She had many stories to tell us about the hospitality industry and we had a lively evening with her, our fellow diners in Winchmore Hill as well as enjoying excellent food..
I have decided to join a gym while I am here.
I feel more confident to extend my running on a treadmill where I can monitor pace and distance and stop immediately if in doubt...
I had found one called Hazelwood sports club whilst researching online last week. It looked friendly and nearby and possible to join for the short length of time we are here for - two and a half weeks!
I stepped out this morning into our magical garden, it is lit by fairy lights in the evening, I walked up the path past the two guinea pigs in their cage, and climbed through the small door that led me out into the streets of London...
I jogged to the sports club which took about ten minutes. My achilles felt completely okay and I was encouraged.. .running is happening....!
I opened the door of Hazelwood and found the manager, Joe, inside. He was very welcoming and told me that joining for the time I wanted was no problem... He then showed me up to the gym...
'Would you like to do a workout now?'
'Yes please ...!'
The gym is perfect for me. It is compact and has a couple of running machines and some other cardio machines plus free weights and some static machines and a stretching area...
It has everything I need for everything I want to do.
I climbed aboard the treadmill and ran very easily for 5k. After I had been running a few minutes, a man jumped aboard the treadmill next to me, we said 'Hello' and then ran along side by side one another in companionable silence....
It felt good to be running continuously....
I could have gone on...
But wisdom prevailed over keenness to run and run and run!!
Writing this journal is a bit like having a coach to answer to, I can remember one piece of coaching wisdom I was given many years ago which was simply this... 'Run as much as you can for 6 days, take one day off a week, and never do so much one day that you can't run the next...'
So as I am keen to keep on running, I must ensure that I never do too much one day so that I cannot run the next ...
I went and found Joe to settle up and 'officially join the gym' once my run was complete.
We talked training together, both having run gyms in the 80's and so we had much in common talking about the olden days when there were very few gyms anywhere and commenting on the boom in fitness and running...
I asked Joe about his favourite sport - he has taken part in many - but said that really he just liked doing any exercise... I echoed that.
Although running is my thing, through and through, If I can exercise aerobically I am more at ease, my body sings, it likes it, it is happy... and it relaxes in the rhythm of movement with the heart and lungs opening and working...
I walked home and Anadi had arrived back just before me having found a big park to run around... I said my intention is that I will be ready to go for a run in the park with him on Sunday....
My next assignment having showered and eaten a piece of rye bread and peanut butter...! was Danny Cox...
I had found Danny online again whilst we were in Devon last week...And I have booked some deep tissue massage treatments with him.
I liked the sound of Danny and his approach from his website and also chose him because he was keen on sport himself....!
Sat Nav got me there and I arrived on the dot of midday!
He gave me a great treatment. His hands knew how to find the areas of my legs that are holding and tight and in need of release.
It was also great to chat and talk about sport and life!
My legs are drinking in the treatments I have been having over the past few weeks and I am aware how much rebalancing and untangling this Achilles' tendon injury has afforded me.
Danny worked on all the parts of my legs that are tight and holding tension and commented that he thought my Psoas is affecting my left knee, which is something I am aware of and have not been giving enough attention, particularly with all focus being on Achilles ...!
My commitment to always working to unravel and align and free my body is renewed...
And I am going back for more on Thursday!
Thank you Danny and Joe for making my first day in my new home so positive and uplifting ...!
