village life: the stanton sweaters

The other day I was enjoying a leisurely jog near the village. I stopped at a wee bridge to stretch, when I saw another jogger, half a kilometre behind me. Striding further along, I heard the steady beat of footsteps coming closer and closer until we were running side by side and the jogger slowed to my 5-foot-2 girlie pace.

"You local?" he asked.

I thought about it, and with some pride answered, "yes I am!"

Still running, me trying to pick up the pace to not reveal the softie that I am, he proceeded to recruit me for the Stanton St John running club: the Stanton Sweaters (and you thought this post was about fashion!).

Dean and I had actually heard about this club some time ago, but the Saturday 8am meeting time has yet to line up with our sleeping schedule. I admitted this and my new friend informed me that they also meet on Monday evenings. He also assured me that his wife and teenage daughters run at my pace and would accommodate my 5km rule (there is no pleasure in running further than that!).

So on Monday night we 'pitched up' (as they say) and joined the Sweaters on a back country tour of Stanton St John. Pavement gave way to clover fields, limestone farm roads, a nettle strewn bridleway and finally the road again! whew! Once I had picked the burrs off my Lulus (and thanked heaven that the overcast sky induced me to wear long pants) I had to admit, it was pretty fun.

I think we'll pitch up more often!