The last couple of days have been awesome. The sun has shone and despite this and the climbing temperature guage the locals still appear out on their road bikes in full winter kit. They seem very confused about the seasons here retaining winter coats I guess until the weather is well into the 80's unlike Scotland where a glimpse of the sun has us rushing for our shorts and tee shirts.
I set off for a run this afternoon thinking about the injustice of the planet giving all of these people lovely warm weather but an inability to enjoy it in the belief that they are still in winter. I decided to loop around the outside of the village and enjoy the peace and quiet that the country roads offered. This was a far cry from the rest of the day with was spent in Padova. Padova, Danielle tells me is mentioned in a Shakespeare play and I suppose armed with this knowledge and little Shakespeare reading behind me, other than the mandatory McBeth, we set off to explore an historic town steeped in things to explore and see.
Padova is not the town that Shakespeare wrote about. It's a busy University town with bustling markets and angry drivers keen to explore their musical talents using the only instrument at hand, their horn. It tended to be used more particularly at daft foreign drivers looking for places to park in chaotic streets. I've learned to drive like an Italian over the last few days with indicators now not part of my driving regime, swapping lanes without warning and stopping without warning all new skills learned and practiced.
We parked up in an underground garage, another mistake, multiplied by the helpful chap standing waiting to park your car. This was going to be expensive but I was grateful to dump the car after a stressful 30 minutes drive into Shakespeare's city.
We wandered aimlessly looking at the markets and shops. They like their designers here and all of the shops are either designer or Primark look a likes with little in between. I reckon all we will take home is a few extra pounds from too many pizza's. Our wander eventually led to a Gelato distributor - today's one wasn't as good as few of the others but it did a job. Danielle has convinced me that Gelato is much lower fat than ice cream so I have embraced this knowledge with gusto and have enjoyed many low calorie treats!
Anyway back to the run. I love running in the sun, music blasting some great Love and Theft in my ears and me occasionally joining in whilst running - must of sounded like a wailing banshee to any poor passers by. After a mile or so I passed by a rare sight, a cyclist in shorts and a cycling tee. What was wrong with this poor chap I thought? Well as he stopped at the lights I noticed he was wearing a US Navy cycling shirt which made him proper hard!
I was moving ok - I seem to be slower these days so my usual stagger now only reaches a plod whereas in the past I think I could run - old age doesn't come alone! Everything was fine until I got the first twinge that is a pre-cursor of, and sorry to be crude, but the runners trots made famous by Paula in the London Marathon a few years ago. There is nothing worse than being caught short in the middle of nowhere......except maybe being caught short in the middle of a housing estate like today. I stopped, dealt withe stomach cramps and headed for home. Only problem was I didn't know where the hotel was. Thankfully google maps in hand I limped my way back to the hotel, grimacing at the lovely receptionist on the way past. Not pleasant!
So I have one set of sports kit left and am keen to do a long run so probably going to take the hotel bike out for a spin tomorrow and then run again on Thursday after a day at the lido - might get a swim in but if it's at the current sea temperature don't hold your breath.
We were thinking about another of Shakespeare's Italian towns Verona but I think will give it a miss. After today I don't think my heart will stand the strain!
I would be remiss not to mention the senseless bombing in Boston. Many on the DCC forum plus a few other friends are runners that are planning to run a marathon or have run marathons and I feel so much for all of those affected. The bomb as well as taking lives has robbed many of limbs which will change their lives forever. I don't get it or try to understand it. Violence is the cowards way out of making a point and it a point that is not well made. I hope that people that did this really struggle to live with what they have done and realise the pointlessness of the action that they have taken. It's a sad day for Boston, the families affected and the running community around the world.
On a positive note Italian TV is showing the replay of a race from 1958 in black and white filmed from the support vehicle which is fascinating watching for me if a little less gripping for Danielle!!
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