May 4, 2013 — Akumbu
May 4, 2013 — Akumbu
Cardio junkie that I am, my preferred form of exercise, provided the weather is fair, is an early morning jog.
To be honest with you, my running form leaves a lot to be desired. Navigating my way up and down the narrow streets in my neighbourhood often involves a lot of zigzagging on my part. I am not trying to dodge bullets here, just heaps of trash bags left on the curb, high-speeding early commuters and my neighbours’ ferocious dogs. More often than not, this workout leaves me feeling more like a frustrated bee than a future Olympic marathoner-in-training.
But thankfully, no more. I have just discovered this uninhabited close where I can do all the running and crazy aerobics I can think up, undisturbed. Never has a smooth stretch of tarred road looked so inviting. I am suddenly in the mood for some sprinting. One, two, let’s go!
Ugh. Wrong move. Barely a minute after setting off and I am already winded. I can feel jolts of pain coursing down my legs and my body is aching all over. Is this fatigue, laziness, or am I coming down with something? Probably best to go back home, shower and dive back under the covers. Tempting, but no, let’s walk it off and see.
All around me is pure bush — home to different species of creeping vines, shrubs, waist-high grass and sturdy trees. A yellow butterfly hovers around a field of thistles and anthills. All is quiet until the sound of pigeons cooing to each other permeates the fresh air. I haven’t quite regained my breath but I feel relaxed.
As far as I can tell, this is about the only undeveloped part of the estate. Save for three uncompleted duplexes, a rusty old grading machine and a child’s plastic tractor, lying abandoned in the midst of all this foliage, this here is nature, wild and free. But how long will it remain so before the builders and bulldozers return?
Finally, a few more steps to the main road; but I am so sluggish I almost trip. Not over my shoelaces but something small and green that has managed to push its way through the asphalt.
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Akumbu Uche holds a B.A. in Mass Communication from the University of Jos. She copy-edits Saraba Magazine and blogs at Akumbu Writes. She lives in Abuja.