Finished work and flew to the beach, it was going to be a close run thing but I knew the sun was going to disappear in a matter of minutes. Skates on!
Going. Just in time to see it start setting over Devon (NB not a giant shark fin)Going. Still see it?Gone
So I raced the sun. Next up why not the tide which was coming in but had left me a small window of opportunity.
A stretch of sand is all I need.
Flew down the sand and back up before the tide hit the pebbles. Raced the tide.
Also of note was this fresh rockfall
Judging by the fresh dirt it went last night or this morning.Oddly enough I had taken a photo of this section last month as I noticed that the “pavement” under the cliff was strangely clear for once – I also ran along it ….
So it will be interesting to see how the sea removed the new fall and I intend to photograph it through time.
Amazing the things you can do and find in a quick 4 mile run!
I completely forgot to blog sundays recovery run …. Which definitely felt like a recovery run as starting off things were certainly stiff and aching from 13 miles on saturday. After the usual First Two Miles of Complete Ass ™ though everything loosened up and I enjoyed another seven or so.
Plus random finds!
And when i say random I mean false leg random! I’d love to know it’s story …
And more rusted ironwork from ship wreckage. I’m not sure what part of a ship this would be.
Any ideas?
It was of course beautiful and so worth the painful First Two Miles of Complete Ass ™
Went out yesterday as the tide was low and the sun shining, didn’t make any plans other than enjoying myself. For those new to the blog I don’t subscribe to training plans, I’m an organic runner – In other words I’m too lazy to make a training plan and would be too ill disciplined to stick to it if I did. Running for me is about having fun and adventures outside.
So off I jolly well went in best Famous Five tradition. Only there was just one of me….
I digress.
First thing I noticed was a battle between extreme rainfall swollen stream versus tides. I’ve never seen all these steps and mini waterfalls before as they are always covered in rocks and pebbles but you can see how the stream has actually cleared a path. Freshwater 1 – Salt water 0
I headed off towards Witches Point
Witches Point is yonder! Head for the sunshine!
I got to play on all my favourite rocks as usual and felt pretty good once the usual two or so miles of awww crap its not happening ….. oh I feel awesome
Was delighted to rediscover the rainbow in the waterfall
Got to Witches Point, turned into a headwind and went back past the stream still battling the tide and kept going to Nash Point at the other end of this stretch.
Nash Point lies yonder – Where the land ends in this photo
I was feeling great, I had hit what I now refer to as cruising pace. Not even troubling my breathing in the slightest. The legs were starting to feel it but mainly due to the terrain, the constant buffeting of rocks and jumping up and down 2 or 3 feet at a time wears them down eventually. One day I’ll run somewhere flat on a road and will glide serenely – yeah right.
I turned at Nash Point and was feeling good still so as the saying goes I made hay while the sun shone. Back over the rocks to Witches Point for a second time.
Approaching Witches for the second time I noticed this smooth rock platform at low tide. Nature is a fantastic builder. It’s a completely smooth pavement of rock, utterly perfect, no way could man make anything so perfect and beautiful.Sun shining and beach looking a picture!
I turned at Witches and made my final journey home with legs aching but a happy heart. Spending 3 hours or so and 13 miles in nature makes for a good saturday morning.
After even more torrential rain yesterday and overnight it was time to don the flippers and get back out there to explore the new maritime environment and I for one welcome our new aquatic overlords.
Considering the road leading to the fields looked like this I was pretty sure I was gonna get soooo wet
To the left is the stream ….Yep waterlogged fields ahoy
Thing is that once your feet and legs are wet and the initial shock is done and dusted you’re fine. In fact the water acts as an insulator once it’s up to body temperature. This is my theory and I’m sticking to it. So my advice to any budding trail runners is that you can’t avoid getting wet so don’t tiptoe around it just bang straight on in there at speed and embrace it!
The waterfalls by the ruined mill were looking impressive todayAs were the ones running onto the beach itself
I was gonna make this a short run but was enjoying myself so much I went off to do some more water hunting
But first I had to get past aggro cow and his “You looking at me?” expressionAnd “Orangucow” Part Orangutan part cowA few miles on and the viws from the clifftops are great, especially when the sun breaks through. Thats one of the beaches I pebbleran yesterdayThar she blows! This stream was more of a trickle yesterday – Now to slide down to itClear as mud and quite strong but luckily jumpableStream 2 is the source of the waterfall from yesterdays postAnd heres the top of itThe sun was still giving me some beautiful viewsOn a whim I detoured as it was still high tide and came across the old Watch House thingy in Derval Woods
The last 3 or 4 miles home were an uphill slog through completely waterlogged fields. I’m sure it’s building up strength in my legs but its a bloody killer at the time.
Even the cabbage field was a veritable stream, ankle deep freezing cabbage water anyone?
They even smell cabbagey despite being tiny
I leave you with another photo of the cliffs in sunlight. Always remember that any run can be a bit of an adventure. Just let your mind go wild and the body will follow. Invent and imagine and nothings a chore.
When I woke this morning theweather was still evil. This week in Wales we’ve had thunder and lightning, hail, tornadoes (yes really) wind and rain ….lots of rain. I was resigned to scratching any hope of a run and then the sun peeped out! A chance. A quick look at Will it rain today? told me I had a window of opportunity. Off I went!
It had indeed been raining
Wet feet from the word go! No chance of hopping from rock to rock todayAt the beach there were waterfalls in places I’d never seen before – Quite spectacular!
The tide was still quite high as I couldnt pick and choose my time so really I should have gone along the cliffs but I so wanted the beach so I chose a bit of a tricky option along the pebbles.
In fact around 2 miles of pebbles
Stretch one – These are a bastard to run on, it takes so much effort and concentration to get anywhere. Gives the legs a workout though and I bet there are many unused muscles in my feet and ankles saying WTF?
It did mean I found some cool fossils
AmmoniteI’m not even sure this is a fossil – It may be a fossilised fern but unsurePossible fern number 2
Then onto stretch 2 of pebbles and rocks
I’m heading for the far point (Witches Point) at Southerdown – Pebbles, pebbles everywhere as far as the eye can see!The waterfall between Wick and Witches was really going for it todayGot a nice photo of the rock stack, rckon this might be the winter it goes
My legs were really feeling the pebbles by the turn around point at Witches so I decided to really screw them up and run the cliff route back including running every hill – of which there are lots of steep ones. I figured I might not get out much this week so might as well murder the legs today!
Running from beach level to up here is a killerThese were hurty and go on for aaages – Whoever did them hates runners as theres a different number of paces between each
I did 7 miles in 90 minutes which I’m very pleased with because the terrain wasn’t exactly conducive to a quick pace. Even the fields were tough as they’re waterlogged. I was also pleased with my overall flow today, even when I was working hard it felt under control and recovery from each climb was quick.
Screw the body which didn’t really want to go anywhere and was happy to sloth around. My mind let the two fight it out a while and then the soul won and said I wanna see the beach.
So seven very tiring miles later I was feeling awesome just as I got home … go figure!
I think the photos explain why the soul usually wins
Perfect running weatherSun for the soulAll seemed a bit atmospheric todayCapturing the scene was an artist painting away happily to herself
Been on a recovery week …. Utter lie …. Ive still got this lurgi and it’s not shifting. The schools are like a scene from the walking dead, ones even got norovirus (or some such evil sounding thang) so with the poor weather and feeling crap I’ve decided to have an “off season” – Cos it sounds cool mainly. To be fair the darker evenings make it harder to get out too so until the end of the year I’m just gonna cut back a little, rest and recover ready for the new year as I have goals!
This doesn’t mean no running just a cut down in mileage for a short period, in fact seeing as christmas is only like 6 weeks away its very short (with mince pies)
I did get out thursday but only managed 2 and a half miles and struggled with that. I went looking for sunset for Sergei but the clouds bloody intervened.
Its a beautful day today though and I can’t resist …. waiting for tide to do a slow easy one just to enjoy the day. Training for the soul not body.
Best sunset I could getI did catch the moon though
Blue Green Gold Grey, Awyr Maes Tywod Aarreg 