Runner's high ...

After I wake up on this particular morning, I do two things: make a cup of tea and accompany it with either crumpets or a scone. Although these three characteristics of my morning do little to differentiate this morning from almost any other English morning of mine, my subsequent activities will.I withdraw to back to my room to have another smoke; but instead of changing into a pair of cords, a flannel, my trusty Birkenstocks and heading to class, I opt instead for a long sleeve thermal, shorts and my trusty Nike (not pronouncing the ‘E’ at the end) running shoes, for today I do not have class. After I lace up the Nike’s, I leave my flat, just off campus at UEA’s University Village, and start running down Earlham Road, which leads me into the university centre. Earlham Road carries me south, through the heart of UEA’s myriad maze of elevated walkways and modern architecture and leaves me at the campus’ end, where a series of dirt paths will lead me the rest of the way along my run. The first path of the morning leads me behind UEA’s sport fields, where, if I’m lucky, I can catch a minute or two of the rugby team playing as I carry on past.

After the rugby pitch, I arrive at the focal point of my destination: UEA Lake, which sits just below of the university campus’ Suffolk Terraces, a breathtaking contrast of modern architecture set amidst the wonders of the natural world. As I have been running for while now, endorphins start to be released to my head, keeping strong my (runner’s) high. I spend several minutes and 2.3 miles (the only length of my run that I know) tracing the banks of the lake, my feet pounding on the path to the rhythms of something like Rodrigo y Gabriela’s scintillating guitar play.

After I have fully circled the lake, my path turns into a trail; and the reedy bankside plantlife of the lake changes to tall trees, thick bushes and a deep forest which I carve through as I carry along my trail. I follow this trail through the Earlham Wood, as it is called; and [...] and then push on for the remainder of my run. Feeling fresh and renewed, the forest seems somewhat illuminated now and I feel as if it breathes with me as I push harder and harder along my trail.

Marking the latter half of my run, I have reached the most difficult portion. The trail becomes muddy. With each foot forward, my Nike’s flick up a clump of dirt that splats on the ground behind me. My calves have become spattered with mud. Having been gone from my flat for over an hour now, my body reminds of the fact.

At last I emerge from the wood and into Earlham Park, running along its picturesque creek until I take on one final uphill stretch. I push harder as my legs grow weaker, but I at last reach the summit. I find the nearby street, turn the corner and I am back at my flat. I stretch. Have a shower, put the kettle on ... LW