Running with the devil

Pazuzu
Just your average Demon of the Winds
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pazuzu

One of the defining features of being a half-arsed runner is the general discomfort and the occasional ebbing of your morale that can quickly wash away from you when you're out pounding the pavement. It's that time on your route when your mind starts asking "Why am I bothering with this?" Since I've been running more seriously of late, it's happening less, but it's still there the odd time in any run, usually when there's a hill stretching off up into the distance. It's all down to the runner's Pazuzu, the demon that posessed Regan in the Exorcist, but instead of saying things about your mother's dietary habits in the afterlife, it's saying "Your calves are hurting"; "Oooh, that's a sweetheart of a pain in your lower back"; or "Whose stupid fucking idea was it to have that huge prawn vindaloo the night before a big run?". It's not like he (for Pazuzu is not just a naughty spirit in The Exorcist, but is an actual evil character from ancient Babylonian mythology and is sometimes depicted as having a serpentine penis, so he's definitely a bloke) has completely posessed you as such, but he's just squatting in the shed on a little allotment at the back of your brain where he's been sowing, not the Grapes of Wrath, but more the gooseberries of ennui; and whispering not-so-sweet somethings in your ear when you're out on the trail. I mean, it could have worked so well. I'd be grateful if he had posessed me because the floating thing would be useful around the 7km mark and being able to swivel your head completely round so you can see backwards would be quite the boon when crossing roads. Even the projectile vomiting might be a good deterent against annoying, yappy little dogs.

Reganomics
You're going to need a Hygge Band, love, if you're going out running like that
Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/film/exorcist-named-most-terrifying-horror-13494817

What can you do to get past it, or at least get Pazuzu to shut the fuck up? Music helps. There's nothing like a great tune pumping into your ears to drown out the nagging voice of a Mesopotamian demon telling you to slow down because he's just decided you really need a piss. Sometimes a track takes you out of yourself and you feel like you're IN the music, and the beat just takes over and keeps your feet falling one in front of the other. Going further off at a wanky tangent, there are times when you're deep in the music and maybe the sun is going down, perhaps you catch a glimpse of a bird, like a heron, or maybe the electric blue flash of a kingfisher, there's the fragrance of some flowers nearby and suddenly something clicks into place and you just seem to glide over the pavement in a state of Zen-like euphoric synchronicity. That moment is what running is all about. It's probably easily explained in biochemical terms as an endorphin spike and it doesn't last long. Soon enough you feet start to feel numb again.

The other way to shut Pazuzu up is to run with other people. I've not been out with my running buddies from Running Fit West Yorkshire since the start of the pandemic, but going out with friends helps things go so much easier. That's proabably down to generally running at a slower pace than when I'm out solo as well as sharing an experience with friends. Taking part in a planned running event is also good. Even at parkrun you get some encouragement from people around the course and the volunteers and other runners. Even better, running at a proper organised race means that there will be spectators all the way along the course which really spur you on. This is never more the case than the one year I ran the Great North Run and the response from the crowd would be enough to keep you going crawling over hot coals while someone pipes Coldplay into your ears. Just to be clear, Coldplay is what Pazuzu plays when he's kicking back and planning what nagging ache he can impose on your next run, they're that shit. There is no Coldplay on any of my running playlists

This week's activities

Runs

Summer's almost here
No base layer and no hoodie, but flying the flag in my Running Fit top

 Friday: Beat The Hut. 5.57 km (446 kcal, Shoes: New Balance WT410v6).

We ordered a pizza just as I left so it was a race against time to do my run and get back home before it was delivered.I succeeded as the pizza guy pulled up outside our house as I just arrived home

Sunday: Sunday, long run day 14.59 km (1127 kcal, Shoes New Balance WT410v6)
Saw some great street art and a couple of buzzards soaring overhead.

By the Calder

A bit of Mario street art under the M1.
Or is it a stylised up-to-date image of Pazuzu?

 
Tuesday: Was it a sneaky lunchtime run or a trip to the sandwich shop taking the scenic route? 5.5 km, 427 kcal, Shoes: Asics Road Hawk

IT WAS BOTH!
I did a run and bought a sandwich from the fantastic Lunch Club

Running this week was powered as always, by Tikiboo and various playlists, including an 80s metal compilation I put together including this appropriate track from Van Halen (RIP Eddie)

 

Running with the Devil
Van Halen

Other stuff
Saturday: Cycle ride with my son and his best friend and his Dad 24.85 km (some of that was walking around the playground as well as cycling and also included ice cream), 1079 kcal, moving time: 2:47

Monday: Body Combat (Release 81, 45 minutes, 330 kcal)

Wednesday: Bosdy Combat(Release 82, 45 minutes, 248 kcal)

Thursday: Body Combat (BC United, 60 minutes, 441 kcal)