Phase II Day 5: 7km jog, 47min

Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: I am involved in high treason with all means available to me. Can I count you in?
Werner von Haeften: For anything, sir. Anything at all.
Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: "Anything" is a *very* dangerous word, Lieutenant.
(Valkyrie)


Oh, the morning routine... is here with me. And it's good.
I slept late - 12.26am - for a night before a run. All the same, the alarm sounded at 5.20am, yanking me out of a sick dream and sweet sleep.
Quick, toilet, running gear and was out the gate. The watchman was cheery - I think he was remembering Sunday when I left at 5.40am with that youthful gazelle only to return at 9 something.
I walked like 2-3km and at one time contemplated just walking all the way and back. What was I feeling really? The route was busy - vehicles, people, cyclists name 'em. Anyway, I'd promised myself a warm up run and a warm up run it was going to be, si?
Anyway at 5.55am this guy came by running as I approached the river/bridge. It is as if he was the one I was waiting for; I 'chased' him all the way up. In my mind was the idea that I would just run lightly, testing my knee which was not being friendly.
So up the river, a kilometre or two, ILRI fence, the roundabout ... further up the Waiyaki Way bridge. Panting like am being paid to rate my panting on a pant-o-meter.
At 6.16am I turned back, the pace slightly better.
I noticed the knee screaming for attention as I came back downhill but very quiet uphill. I hope to God it holds for the 21km at Ndakaini this Saturday.
Talking of Ndakaini, Jack isn't coming - his employer has sent him to fiddle, tinker and do the hell they do with computers at their station at the coast.
Here are the times he predicted for us:
Ogutu: 2:40
Kamau: 2:18
Sikuku: 1:48
GK: 1:50
Chiku: 2:20
Kariuki does 10K in 1:15
Bonnie: 1:54

And Kamau has said he is sure to beat me to the finish line. Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa ha! That is nice.

Running at that time of morning when people are up and going about their business is not as scary - for a self-conscious person like me - as I feared. Though you must do your toilet properly, thoroughly for you are denied the cheeky habit of farting anyhow nor thinking aloud.

PS.
The empire is crumbling - I hear some troops will be discharged soon. It reminds me of the movie Valkyrie about an attempt by some German Colonel (Col Claus Van Stauffenburg) to overthrow Adolf Hitler. Apparently everyone loved Hitler to death. So this colonel plans to kill Hitler and launch his takeover of the government from there. The plan goes on well enough - he and his guys even claim Hitler is dead, call in the reserve army to disarm the SS etc... However, Hitler had not died, just minor injuries. When the Reserve Army goes to arrest that famous propaganda minister, Hitler happens to call and the minister hands the phone over to the arresting officer and the rest ... well, they don't get to take over the government - they are all killed. Here are some quotes:

Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: I am involved in high treason with all means available to me. Can I count you in?
Werner von Haeften: For anything, sir. Anything at all.
Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: "Anything" is a *very* dangerous word, Lieutenant.

Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: We have to kill Hitler.

Col. Claus von Stauffenberg: There has to be a chance of success.
General Friedrich Olbricht: That's why you're here.

Ludwig Beck: Remember, this is a military operation. Nothing ever goes according to plan.

To the empire referred to above, it sure is crumbling what with arbitrary discharge of troops, merging of battalion, disbanding of others etc etc all in the name of aligning forces, anyway ... Don't this people read war novels nor watch war movies?
I am hopeful but knowing too well, like Red in Shawshank Redemption, I also know that ..."Let me tell you something my friend. Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane."