So, yesterday, after waiting over an hour for a pointless phone call with a doctor who’s never met me and going through the usual garbage you have to do these days, take some painkillers, an hours relief with a gel is good, etc, etc, I have eventually been referred to a physio with my hip. Is it just me or do GP’s who could be seen in person before the pandemic, now hide behind a telephone and are heard but never seen? Are they real? Do they still exist? To me it’s just an excuse to run a substandard service until you’re on your death bed when I assume they’ll appear as if by magic just to make sure you are dead and no longer a burden on society.
Anyway, afterwards I decided to go for a run. Nothing planned just park up and take it from there. I ended up at the top of Lee Lane, somewhere I end up frequently as it has access to some good trails and is quiet, unlike Ogden Water where you are tripping over dog walkers and pram pushers and that’s if you can actually get a spot to park. I’ve seen people queuing to park at Ogden Water and whilst it’s nice I don’t think it’s worth waiting to park. Still, that means there’s loads of other places to go for those of us who are willing to explore a little.
So, I parked up and headed down Hag Lane above Shibden Valley. This is a great little trail and gives you some stunning views of Shibden Valley and Calderdale. It’s also the road where High Sunderland House was until it burnt down, the house being the alleged setting for one of the grand houses in Wuthering Heights. Usually, I take a left or right at the farmhouse around a mile down the track but yesterday I decided to carry onto the bottom. The road changes to Turner Lane somewhere round here and it brings you out onto Claremont Road. I was feeling good. I was running at a nice steady pace and enjoying myself in the hot sunshine.
I ran down towards Halifax and over the old bridge at the bottom and down towards Beacon Hill Road. I ran on here for a short while until I came to a cobbled path heading downwards. I thought I knew where it went but decided to check on OS Maps as I am well known for thinking I know where I am and several miles later realising I don’t! after looking at OS Maps and getting my bearings I discovered a trail over the road that took me up to Beacon Hill, so I decided to take that route and look over Halifax from one of the best vantage points around.
So, it was out with the poles and a steep climb up to Beacon Hill, up a trail that I realised I had run down a couple of weeks before on a social run with Calder Valley. This time it was a bit easier as I could pull myself up the hill with the poles instead of struggling to move down the hill on unsteady feet. At the top I reached the new viewing platform on top of Beacon Hill and the views did not disappoint. They were stunning looking over Halifax and beyond. I looked around and could pick out many familiar sights, the hospital, the Shay where both rugby league and football are played, the houses on top of the market in the town centre and Wainhouse Tower the world’s tallest folly at between 253ft and 275ft depending which site you read.
A couple of blokes where at the top enjoying the views and we chatted for a while about getting older, the upcoming Gallows Pole and other stuff that men over 50 talk about before we all went our separate ways. I headed down the trail to Shibden Park and ran through it. As usual I ended up taking the wrong path through the park but I wasn’t bothered as it’s such a beautiful place on a warm, sunny day and I was soon at the bottom and heading back towards my car. I was still feeling good and enjoying myself. I crossed the road at Stump Cross and headed down and over a bridge that brings you out at a cobbled trail and back up to Horley Green Lane.
When I got to the lane I had a choice. I could head down towards Shibden Mill Inn and the steep climb back to my car or take the longer but easier climb back up Horley Green Lane and Turner Lane and back to my car. I decided on the longer route as I am aware that I’m not quite as capable as I used to be and I need to remember this and not overdo it and make my hip worse. This proved to be a good choice and I enjoyed a steady stroll back to my car with no mishaps.
I’m learning a lot about myself as well as running with poles. I can change my thinking on how I run and what I can and can’t do and I can still get out and enjoy running at a slower pace. The poles have taken no time at all to get used to and although they ease the strain on your hips and knees, they put more strain on your arms, shoulders, and chest. This wasn’t something I expected but again it’s something I’m getting used to.
I’m going to do some longer runs now on some familiar trails as I’ve signed up to do a 12 mile walk in a couple of weeks that my friend organises. It’s going to be tough but I’m sure I can do it and it’ll be great to be out walking with others too.
The Autistic FellRunner 