Mud, TV and Royal Weddings

It’s been a funny old week. Started off running a Bristol equivalent of the Sodbury Slog - well kind of. I haven’t done the Sodbury Slog but I guess it is something similar.

Part of my Sunday morning run ended up along the Avon River Path between the Old Lock & Weir Inn and Netham Lock. To say the path was muddy is an understatement. We initially took the higher path through the woods which was fine. We then descended through the wilderness - like a pair of Indiana Jones characters - to arrive at the river path. We started off trying to avoid the mud and deep puddles, but then realising this was a pointless exercise we simply ran straight through it all. Great fun.

I got back thinking what is it that is so appealing about running through mud and rough terrain? Is it simply our natural instinct to enjoy running in the mud? The popularity of the Sodbury Slog says it all.

Then later on in the week I ended up on the TV news talking about the fields in Brislington where I run regularly. Great footage of the fields - though I do seem to have a pained expression on my face. We were told the filming might get pushed as Prince William had decided to announced his engagement to Kate. But thankfully it didn’t and as it turns out Prince William is also trying to save some of our running green spaces. Prince William is the Patron of The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge, a project that will safeguard hundreds of playing fields by the year 2012. Well done Will.