No, this is not a pronouncement from the Seventh Day Adventists, it’s a prediction from the Italian Weather Channel. Lucifer visited us last year, culminating in a shockingly hot summer with temperatures of forty five degrees plus. Lucifer, is this time, African in origin, with the continent’s heatwave due to visit us.
He definitely was around yesterday, with temperatures topping 32 degrees, today I think he’s taken a day off and introduced his brother Lucifer Junior, who can’t quite muster the same level of heat.
LJ and I went for a run and I think I probably got the worst of his temper. I took the usual route, having an idea of doing 9km, just to keep momentum if I could. LJ had some more mischief up his sleeve. Trotting down Mill Lane I fell into a pothole. Two things I’d observe – the pothole was clearly visible and I run down this road regularly. It’s hardly a surprise, but nonetheless I stumbled inelegantly – all of two minutes into my run
LJ 1 – 0 JCR
I gathered my wits such as they are and continued towards Lovers’ Lane – none there today, so I turned back towards the Hill That Kills, at which point LJ made his presence known. iTunes decided for some bizarre reason to suspend my music, so a lot of faffing ensued, me trying to work out which setting was responsible for the glitch and in the meantime LJ was giggling quietly at my incompetence.
LJ 2 – 0 JCR
Now onto the bendy, scary road, which thankfully had quite a bit of shade and tidy verges. Curses – LJ struck once more, as a result of said tidy verges there was a ‘branch’ on the roadside – okay a largeish twig, which for some reason I managed to catch between both my feet, and a rather dramatic stumble was witnessed by a passing car. I didn’t actually do any damage, more a case of hurt pride, so I got my own back there.
LJ 3 – 1 JCR
Into the fish shop village, I am on the pavement and two folk are walking abreast towards me. Now my rule of thumb is that when you are two abreast and there’s one person coming your way, one of you drops back to allow the oncoming person to pass. Evidently no-one has heard of this rule in Italy, or specifically this morning, in this village, on this pavement. That meant I was faced with a pavement block, so I had to run into the road – luckily no cars were coming. Therefore LJ’s plan to cause me a road related injury, failed miserably.
LJ 3 – 2 JCR
Entering Bin Lane, my right hamstring really started hurting, twingeing and twanging with every step. My biggest fear on doing my challenge is that injury will cause me to fail, so LJ got me good and proper on my hamstring. I tried to continue and gingerly tested the hamstring again by gentle jogging, but it was not to be. So I decided to quit before any more damage was done.
LJ 4 – 2 JCR
Meeting Mr JCR at the cafe, he discovered a better running route, which will keep me away from juggernauts on the ‘all roads lead to Rome’ road. That’s another goal clawed back to lead to a final score of:-
LJ 4 – 3 JCR
Same as when France beat Argentina in the World Cup on Saturday. I am hoping LJ keeps away from England vs Colombia.
Playlist
Rumour Has It – Adele
Alison – Elvis Costello
Change – The Lightning Seeds
I Predict A Riot – Kaiser Chiefs
Sign Of The Times – Harry Styles
Rockferry – Duffy
Rio – Duran Duran
Blasphemous Rumours – Depeche Mode
Dancing In The Dark – The Boss
Oh Woman Oh Man – London Grammar
Let’s Dance – David Bowie
Cabron – Red Hot Chilis
Ruby – Kaiser Chiefs
Stats
Distance 8.44km (didn’t quite manage the 9km – thanks LJ)
Time 54:48
Average Pace 6:29
Elevation Gain 57 metres
Alzheimer’s Challenge
Kms Run 1130.18
Kms To Run 887.82
