My name is Viv and I am a Penguin ...

... a fully fledged, waddling Penguin and I am so proud I can't begin to tell you. I went out for the first time today as a Penguin and it felt so good - there are only two differences between loping and waddling as a Penguin, Penguin's have smiles on their faces and in there heads there is acceptance. I have spent the last however many months knowing I was a 'back of the pack runner' but believing I wasn't staying long. I was headed for the kinda-fast-runners and on rare good days I would dream of possibly making the back of the pretty-fast-runners. That's why it was all such hard work. Thank God for John Bingham because now I know that it's ok to be a Penguin in fact it's a lot more fun to be a Penguin.

It was very late last night when I picked up my book but despite the hour I was very soon laughing at his 'Only Four Kinds of Runners' and 'Back-of-the-Pack worries' there was so much enlightenment but also recognition at so much that I have felt, done or thought, the constant race against the clock on marathon day, not because your going for a record, you just want to make it before they take the clock down!. The worry that you will be the one with the ambulance or the police car following you because you're the last runner. Then there is the fear, I thought it was only me that got so scared but no, Penguins from all over the world, all shapes and sizes, rich or poor, good or bad feel the fear, you see when you line up at the start or take off by yourself for a long run you can't hide, there's no 'winging' it, you stand or fall on the strength in your legs and the will in your head. He talks about the uniqueness of a race, where everyone is bonded by their sameness unyet each person totally alone, it doesn't matter what job you do or how much money you have everyone is equal. You can't be anything else but totally honest, any illusions created in our lives are completely useless, you can't hide behind or rely on anyone else. 

Anyway, if you want to join me at the back of the pack with the other penguins or if you're further up the field, even if you don't run but like to laugh, buy this book because it puts a different perspective on everything.

Madi and I had a great run at lunch time in the sunshine, can honestly say I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to the next one.