After having created the retro runners’ playlist in honour of fellow runner Razouski, who is feeling a bit poorly with her hearing, and giving her big respect as she once sang backing vocals for Marc Almond, I decided today I would run to it and have a 1980s experience.
Out onto Slope of Hope for my warmup walk, past the barking balcony house, which is getting a new lick of paint on it’s garden paving to the sound of Madness and Our House. I nod to the owner and start my run up the Hill that Kills, and past the two ladies having a walk again, this time they don’t see me and I continue to Lovers’ Lane and loop back this time towards Mill Lane. My running feels a bit slow and jerky today, to be honest a bit like 80s dancing. Back down the Slope of Hope, the guy is still painting and I have a feeling my running is actually slower than him painting, back to the usual Lovers’ Lane loop and I move towards the Slope of Hope once more down towards to the Bendy Scary Road.Today’s challenge was to do 8km, as I didn’t quite manage it on Sunday I was about 200m short and Tuesday I just wasn’t feeling the love.
Running along having been passed by a molto chic ciclista – yes she was wearing make-up and yes she managed to look glamorous in a cycling helmet… How the hell can that be? Are Italian women born with lustrous eyelashes, pre-mascara’d and eyelinered? Why does their make-up not slide off their faces?
She was actually very nice and waved and said Buongiorno – I was somewhat distracted and realised if I didn’t re-think my run, I’d have to do the horrors of Cavendish Hill
A little loop back on the Bendy Scary Road ensured I’d be okay and not have to do the hill. At that point Eminem’s Lose Yourself came on, which was a good thing, as it spurred me onto run just that bit faster, and I think I did my quickest km at that point. (Let’s be honest watching paint dry is generally quicker than my ‘fastest km’)
So nicely finished my 8km more or less at the bottom of Cavendish Hill, and the retro runners’ playlist did me proud. Totally channelling my inner 80s, I am wondering whether big hair will ever come back into fashion, as mine is a little awry with being a little warm and soggy…
Playlist
Our House – Madness
Beat It – Michael Jackson
Don’t You Want Me – Human League
All Stood Still – Ultravox
People are People – Depeche Mode
Be My Number Two – Joe Jackson
Thriller – Michael Jackson
I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me – Nik Kershaw
Get Dancin’ – Disco Tex and His Sex-O-Lettes
Beat Crazy – Joe Jackson
I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me – Nik Kershaw (again!)
(Forever) Live and Die – OMD
All She Wants Is – Duran Duran
Lose Yourself – Eminem
Rio – Duran Duran
Rasputin – Boney M
Personal Jesus – Depeche Mode
Stats
Distance 8.29km
Time 1.01.18
Average Pace 7.23 (min/km)
Elevation Gain 67 Metres
Fastest Km – 7.01 (thanks Eminem and Antet)
Squats
3 sets of 15 reps done