An impromptu break, turning our backs on the local sun and a guaranteed fast 5k at Bowdon, a trip to Brittany was extended further still by a compelling and absorbing sense of silence and isolation. Hard to resist. To return home and take my place on the pre entered start line...or stay and take a chance on a ferry later in the week? Easy. Running with friend James was just as simple. This way or that, nothing more complicated than this. Choosing to run the beach or the road, both empty, sometimes chatting, other times not.
Passing through a local village only the dog looks up, taking mild interest as we cross his patch. All is quiet. Then a half mile on, the sensation of breathing and the pitter patter of feet from behind. A casual glance reveals 'that dog', as he would be known from now on, following. We stop, it stops. We start, it starts. We stop, turn round, it stops and also looks round, yet maintaining a discreet distance and an aura of innocence. A mile on down the road and in the country now, 'that dog' is ahead of us, pre-empting our every manoeuvre to shake it off.
But no. There is nothing we can do, exasperated, we conclude, by the fact that this is a French dog and therefore there is an obvious language barrier that prevents us from dealing with the situation quickly and efficiently! We try our best French. That dog looks at us, oblivious to our predicament, and smiles! There is much in the news about the perils runners face when met with dogs, but nothing on how to detach yourself from a dog who's taken a shine to your company. Then a cemetery, fenced and gated.
It's unlocked. A plan. We jump through and close the gate quickly behind us, and 'hide' behind a low wall. Saying nothing and looking at each other panting, with that look of 'what on earth are we doing?' across our faces. A gate on the other side, another look and a nod. We stand, and bomb it across the yard to the far corner. I can't resist a quick look back. A nose pressed through the gate and a forlorn look. Through the gate we run like two kids who've just been nabbed for scrumping. Finally, a look round. Nothing, free to continue on our way.
Never did see that dog again...
