The school run

Why drive when you can run?

I’ve been cycling the mile to school with my 7 yr old son for a couple of years now. We do it all on the road - normally up Ninetree Hill, or along Cheltenham Road and up Zetland Road. We fly in a special formation which protects him from traffic and allows me to issue commands into his right ear from slightly behind. He is very obedient and keeps his cool well. So, fantastic.

It only occurred to me I could do exactly the same from my feet yesterday morning. I really felt I needed a run, but didn’t have time to go out later.

He was a little reticent. I’m not sure if he felt more vulnerable, or that I made us look stupid. But I run in the road a fair bit - to avoid pedestrians, or to negotiate junctions more smoothly. I find if you run a line like you would ride a bike, it all works very well. I think he thought I looked daft.

It turned out to be a bit like interval training really. I struggled to keep up on the down and flat, had it easy on the up, and a complete stop at a couple of junctions. That was the Ninetree Hill route. I don’t think I’l try the Cheltenham Road and Zetland route yet, although I think it would be a better run, Zetland is a bit of a squeeze in busy traffic and requires more creative maneuvering.

Just picture it 5-10 years from now. Double the bikes, and loads of parents running alongside their kids on the way to school. 

Recent inspiration

My running life is still tripping and stumbling along as I try to recover from my bad back, and also just find that special combination of time and inclination to get my arse out there. Yes, there endless good excuses for why I didn’t run today.

But it was great to see everyone running the half at the weekend, and although I didn’t feel I wanted to be doing the same, it was a good reminder of all the positive things about running.

Yesterday, as I was waiting for my stalwart 6 yr old to cycle up Ninetree Hill (One of the steepest hills in Bristol, top of Stokes Croft) to school, I watched him overtaken by an old bloke with grey shaggy hair and beard resolutely plodding up towards me.

Trust me, Ninetree Hill is very steep. And this bloke in his raggedy kit just kept his head down and made it to the top without looking like he was ever going to give in. And despite me shouting at my son to try and beat him (no, I really am a gentle dad), he could not. Not many people of any age or stature would run up this hill. More people push their bikes up than ride.

I complimented this guy (I’ll call him “Fred”) on his efforts as he stopped to recover, looking like he might expire at any moment. His first words were, “I’ve already done 4 mile”, and he proceeded to tell me that through changing his diet and running, he had lost 10 stone in a year.

I reckon he might have been 60, and it really seemed like he’d found a new lease of life. I asked him if he’d run the half marathon, and he said his wife had suggested it but “I was afraid of making a fool of m’self - what’s it like?”.

It turns out Fred knows nothing about running, about the wide range of people who do it, or about any clubs or races - nothing. He doesn’t have a computer, so he can’t even enter some races, never mind know they exist.

He asked if I would put some information through his door, so I’ve promised to do that. I think he might enjoy the Bristol 10k. He reckons he could run that distance OK. He looks like he’s lived a bit, so he must be a strong bugger.

We saw Fred again today, and he overtook my son again. This time he didn’t stop at the top either.