The Basement Tapes

       More than just a Bob Dylan and The Band album, it also describes my train of thought while working out and planning how to become full runner once again. While the lead up to my head injury and resulting coma will always be unknown, I can only guess that it was a glancing blow by a speeding car while I was crossing a nearby road. Ever since, it has been beside the point of recovering fully. 
       After I was discharged from hospital many years ago, I have done 3 5k races. The resulting pleasure doing them and my enthusiasm meant I got carried away - metaphorically jumping too soon. A few seizures have prompted me to not get too greedy and to only restart properly once I have proven to myself that I am truly ready. Since those episodes, I have been doing workouts in my basement for over 3 years. At least 5 times per week, I have been doing fast back-and-forth running intervals, interspersed with sit ups and free weights. That includes briskly walking while doing bicep curls with a free weight in each hand. 
       Having been seizure free for over 3 years with my energetic workouts has lead me to concluding that 2025 will be the year when I will restart training and racing. The sole aim is to constantly be fully aware of myself and my surroundings, thereby preventing the joy of distance running leading to me developing tunnel vision once again. 

        In addition to safety, running fitness will reappear through a long distance run on each weekend, accompanied with 1 high pace shorter distance run and 1 interval run during the following/preceding week. There will also be some cross training in the basement, especially sit ups and free weights. In terms of races, I will continue to compose a calendar, which would definitely include my favourite race, the Harvest Half Marathon. I will commute to and from it through driving a rented car. 

         In terms if the actual Basement Tapes, You Ain't Goin' Nowhere and Long Distance Operator are the most suitable: 
  •     "We'll climb that hill, no matter how steep, when we get up to it."
  •     "Long distance operator, please place this call, you know it's not for fun. There are thousands in the phone booth, thousands at the gate. Everybody wants to make a long-distance call, but you know they're just gonna have to wait."

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