I didn’t think there would be another dedication after the first post, but since the shocking news this week that House Sparrows are in decline, I thought it only fitting to dedicate this post to our whistling friend.When I decided to start writing about the ins and outs of running ‘long’ distances, I knew that during tales of Deep Heat and fist size blisters certain aspects of durational exercise would come to light and be praised. The moments that turn a mind from treacherous cogitation to unobscured joy. The moments that unravel lead weighted pessimism, to knowing you're going to make it.
Rustles, barks, glints, winks, squawks, shimmers, gleams and chirps are just a few of these moments. From microscopic twitches to atmospheric collisions they all combine to help sore limbs into those final miles, and the noisy chorus of hedgerow nesters never fails to perk up moaning knees.
Apparently the over pruning, clearing and cutting of garden hedgerows has contributed to the House Sparrows decline, destroying safe habitats for the birds to thrive and feed in. I thought about this, and I reckon that for every 5 metres of garden hedge, there must be at least 60 minutes of work in the attempt to train those unruly shoots and clear up fallen leaves. For a garden with 3 average length hedges, this amounts to a lot of time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. Like running, or writing a running blog, or sinking a pint of dark ale down the local.
So I've decided to help our feathered freinds, and so could you.
Dont worry yourself about cutting, raking, collecting and bagging. Leave those Sunday tools in the shed. Add some extra miles to your long run, and then wonder, even saunter, down to the pub. Pick up a paper, there's plenty of time to do the crossword. Sit back and relax. Ignore the tutting from the neighbours, ignore the twitching of curtains and prolonged stares, and definitely ignore the ever imposing tangled mess that surrounds your garden. Embrace this new found 'free time'. Embrace it in wonderful guilt free knowledge that House Sparrows, and many of their friends, are chirping noisily in unified chorus raising a healthy feathered salute to you, and your disorderly excuse of a hedge. Simple. Not a finger lifted.
Live strong House Sparrow and continue to enrich the British hedgerow, and inspire the early morning run.
