It took us a lot of courage to become a road runner. This involved public running after all, and you have to remember we are beginners. We didn’t mean to like it on the roads! We were sure we were destined to be permanent trail runners, hidden from public view, but once the icy trails pushed us out onto the roads that is where we stayed. I work with the public and all too frequently someone would say to me ‘I saw you running with your daughter’. I would inwardly cringe, knowing how very beginnerish we are, and say something like, ‘Did I look like I was having a coronary?’ Apparently I didn’t look like imminent death, but people are always keen to point out to me that ‘your daughter was in front of you’. I know this already. she is more than 20 years younger than me!! People are mostly subtle about saying that they saw us on the run, the odd one honks their horn, but most wait for the pleasure of telling me to my face that they saw us running, when they see me next. There must be some pleasure in seeing me breath in sharply, and wait for further comment and then the enormous relief when the conversation moves on!