The prized porcini I spotted while out running this morning
So, I'm on week 2 of the training plan and I was doing my ten minute run, two min walk bit this morning. It was a lovely sunny morning, so I thought I'd take the route through my local woods and over the common. The ten min run there was hard going as uphill (by the way, has anyone else noticed that roads you thought of as flat when you drive along them suddenly take on Kilimanjaro proportions now you're running?), so I was glad of the two min walk bit to catch my breath. But while I was walking along, I caught a glimpse of something in the undergrowth. Nooo, nothing like that! It was a mushroom!
I should explain that I have a slightly nerdy obsession with mushrooms ever since going on a foraging course. So anyway, I could tell that this was not just any mushroom, it was the mushroom - a much sought-after porcini. Cue quick mental calculation - was anyone else around to spot it, could I feasibly pick it and then run home holding it without damaging it, and, err, looking like a weirdo. Then, woohoo!, I spotted another one.
Decision made (I couldn't run holding two - and there might be more!), I covered them up with leaves, and started to run home. I realise it's downhill, but I swear I've never found running so easy - I must have done it in half the time.
Anyway, I got home, grabbed my mushroom basket and knife, and headed back up there. I've just got back with my bumper shrooming haul, which I'll cook up for tea.
If only there was the promise of prized wild mushrooms to take my mind off every hill - I reckon I'd have that 10k done in no time at all!
So, iPod, mushrooms, nice views - what takes your mind off the pain while you're running?
