"Rubbish running dog"

On Monday I decided to go for a run with Blunkett. Each time I drive through Llanishen to work in the morning I pass a fit looking man of about 65 running with his two spaniels - all loping along very comfortably and companionably. And if I'm going out running, Blunkett may as well come with me as she likes going out and Doing Stuff. Provided it's not gardening, or mushroom hunting which she finds Very Dull. Anyway, I was doing about a 25 minute run, so I clipped her lead on and we ran enthusiastically up the steps at the side of the house. And down the lane, along the footpath and up the hill through the village. A little less enthusiastically on her part, but we were still running, nevertheless.

When we got to the fields I let her off the lead and ran on to the first kissing gate. Then I stopped and waited for her to catch up. We went through the gate and I ran up the next bit of field - a fairly steep hill. Good for building up muscles! And I waited for her to catch up. Then we ran across the rest of that field, picked our way (me slowly, her faster - 4 legs are better than 2) across a rocky outcrop, and ran on down to the stile in the direction of home. And I waited for her to catch up. The grass was long and wet and my trainers and socks were sopping by this time. We didn't seem to have been out for very long and my feet were sodden already, so I thought we could do another lap of the fields. Once Blunkett was through the stile I sprinted (yes, I know, SPRINTED) across to the first kissing gate. And waited for her to catch up. Only this time she was so far behind I couldn't even see her. Then eventually a little pair of black ears came into view, and there she was, plodding across the field to join me. Through the kissing gate to the bottom of the steep hill again. I waited for her to catch me up.... She caught up, flung herself to the ground, put all four paws in the air and practically said 'I GIVE UP'!

If she had had a white flag she would have waved it... This dog does NOT like running! She was so funny I had to take a photo - and sent it straight to Guy with the message "Rubbish running dog'... He agreed... Bless her. We did carry on (me running, her behind, gaining on me at the rocky outcrop again) and eventually we made it home...

I haven't tried again since although we now have a new system, providing Guy is around - we set off at the same time on a circular route, me one way, them the other. And we see how far round I can get before we meet them. Can't say how well I'm doing yet as we've only done it once - I'll have to see if I can meet them further round next time, although I did nearly 3/4 of the route at the first attempt. And it depends if Guy cheats and runs...

I spent the rest of the week meeting fellow triathlons entirely by accident. On Wednesday I was working for one of my clients in Cardiff centre as we attempted to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for the most blood pressure readings taken in an 8 hour period. The record was at 2075, held by the US. My job (only for the afternoon) was to encourage/persuade or cajole passers by to give up their time to have their blood pressure taken. I resorted to straight begging in the end... And we did it! We tested a total of 2331 in the 8 hours. Hah! No, I don't think my name will be in the Guinness Book of Wotsits, but I did help... Anyway, one of the people I was trying to persuade to take part said 'oh, but I'm in my running gear' so I asked what distance she did, and she said 'triathlons'! Turns out she was a junior champion in her youth, now studies sports science and doesn't really compete any more, just does it for fun. And her boyfriend was one of Wales' top junior runners in his time too (now studying medicine). Amazing. I could have chatted to them for ages, but I did have a job to do... and I did persuade them to have their BPs done too.

Then on Thursday I was at a networking evening 'do' and I met a quantity surveyor from near Newport who really does compete in triathlons, being (formerly, she says, modestly) one of Britain's top 10 female triathletes. She knew all about carb-loading and proper training and all that stuff! Whereas I'm really just making it up as I go along...

But how amazing is that? To randomly meet two great female triathletes in the normal course of a week? Given that I thought it was something not done by everybody...

Who on earth will I bump into this week?