Reciprocal Prompt — Health — Exercise — Rivers — Running

I was born By the River – Almost : Nature

Second week of February prompt: ‘Reciprocal’

Photographs of The Thames at Richmond-upon-Thames by the author

Still waters run deep

A Latin proverb

The river is the feature of this month’s prompt. I was almost born by the river. We know this as a song lyric too. And the river runs too just as the song lyric runs. Which gives me an idea, but I must focus on the river. In my case, The River Thames. Thamesis, or so I read when doing some research. I must find that book all about Father Thames. Did I give it away?

Like the river, I do run, and used to run at school. We practised cross country running in Richmond Park. How I remember those cold mornings running through the park. I am grateful for them. The Thames is a few miles away from the park, meandering off towards Hampton Court Palace, and Central London. You can see it in the photograph I took after I came out of Richmond Gate. How I love this area of the world where I grew up.

Last year I started running again, and managed 5 k in one go. Then I caught Covid for the third time in spite of also having 3 or 4 vaccinations, and that ended my running.

However, I have started running again this year. I noticed that you get short bursts of running in…