It's Not About The Goat My Trip Back From Healey Nab

So, we're 4 weeks from Ironman UK and I've no race to report on this week, so, I thought I would share a little tale with you all from a 2012 training run!!

 

You've all been there I'm sure, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, the training is going well and nothing seems to hard. Well In June 2012 I was in that exact spot out on one of my favorite runs over Healey Nab. The day was so nice it seemed an insult to be running with the Ipod on, so,  that had been packed away for the day. Descending the Nab I decided to make hay while the sun shined and add a little extra onto the run just to simply be out and about. So the decision was made  to head towards Limbrick and join the canal back to Chorley.

A pretty uneventful run normally, flat,  fast and about an extra 3 miles home. Note the normally because this was soon to change!!!

Now, I don't know how well you all know the Leeds & Liverpool canal at Chorley, but, I'm gonna attempt to describe the section near my home at Botany Bay. Basically,  there are a load of boats (some lived in full time) on one side of the canal and an allotment full of all sorts of wildfowl and a GOAT!!! on the other side. Now, occasionally the aforementioned goat pops over the allotment fence, as the grass is greener on the other side, literally!! Here he feasts on the lush grass instead of the scraps in the allotment.

On this particular day,  yours truly was about to invade his space. I rounded the corner heading home and spotted 'Billy' chomping away quite happily.

'Awe that's nice ' I thought 'I'll give him a bit of room so as not to frighten him', and with that I proceeded a little slower. At this point Billy spotted the potential moving targat heading towards him but stayed very calm determined not to reveal his intentions to good old Joe. Looking back the complete shit watched every footstep while happily feeding on the fresh grass

 As I got parallel with Billy I gave him a wide berth,  tip toeing along the edge of the canal when BANG, in he came with a  flying head butt!!

I've got this, I've got this, I've got this, Ive not got this and in I went, up the waist in the finest sludge you've ever seen, and the smell, well,  that was something to behold!!

As for Billy,  he stood there eying me up for round two. I stood there trying to not throw up hurling abuse at Billy and threatening to kill him!! Trouble was Billy had the higher ground and would have done me again I'm sure. So, tail between legs I walked down the canal a little and got out.

To say I was muddy n smelly would be an under statement,  but,  I had to get home down the canal. Normally not a problem, but on this day I would have to run into a buddy of course. The discussion was quite simple.

'Where've you been mate your filthy'

'Up the nab mate'

'I'll give that a miss then'

Now I've got a moral dilemma. Tell my mate about the goat,  or tell him nothing and let him potentially suffer the same fate. I told the truth!! He put it all over Facebook. There's just no justice sometimes!!!!!

 

Hope all the training is paying off and your all enjoying the lovely weather, 4 weeks to go Whoop Whoop!!!!!!!

 

Joe D