Been an odd couple of weeks, haven’t got out as much as usual due to things going on but I don’t mind as it’s fine to rest up a bit before training starts again over xmas.
I did actually manage to roll myself out of bed early one day last week (not sure which I think I blanked the experience from my mind) but I forgot my phone so no photos and it was under 3 miles so doesn’t really count anyway.
However I did get out for a dusk run on friday and everything felt pretty good, managed 7 miles before the cold and dark kicked in fully.
Just in time to catch the setting sun
So this was on auto camera settingsThis was on manual – A little more like what I see – auto seems to add lightNothing like running the beach at dusk with the moon
I managed to get out for a sunset run the other night. Seven miles to Witches and got there for some spectacular views. Of course it meant running back in the dark but that’s no worries really (I’m carrying spare batteries too now to prevent sudden death off cliff edges)
I’ll leave you with some photos – words can’t describe them
But I always love it nonetheless. After a day of fairly nice weatehr by the time I got home from work it was getting dark and raining, sometimes hard rain sometimes just mizzle. The temptation was to stay in and pretend to stretch or something but sometimes you just got to get out of the door.
Was worth it to capture the only sunlight left in Wales (he exaggerated madly)
Up on the cliffs it was cold and wet and I still loved it. I said hi to all the sheep of course.
Witches Point in the mizzle
I did the 4 or 5 mile trip around to the barrows at Wick beach and headed back. Once again negotiating the haunted woods ™ by headtorch
Path to haunted woods at dusk – Fortunately I know pretty much every inch of ground here
So yeah its always worth getting out even if the weather says no the lesg say yeh!
And finally a big hello and hug for my mum who’s not been so well lately but hopefully on the road to recovery!
I may even try to fiddle with camera settings – I just get these by luck but I do also know they aren’t entirely representative of what I see. Knocked out another seven miles after work today. The body really is feeling good at the moment!
Plus I have something to work for – The Preseli beast has announced for May 12th next year and Im delighted that the Ultrabeast is returning so I get to have a crack at it. 18 months ago I did the 11 miler and I was at my limits. Last May I did the 24 miler and I was at my limits. I’d like to do the hat-trick and in six months time attempt the 32 miler. I just know that course is brutal with more elevation than the RAT in Cornwall which I only just survived. I love the Beast events so much I will definitely run one of them. Time will tell …. I ain’t rushing anything
Then again with sensible training and hopefully no injuries I can go into this one in much better form!
Now the nights are closing in I get to run at dusk which I do love (even if the haunted woods still give me the heebie jeebies in the dark) but with a headtorch (Remind me to get batteries) its a lot of fun and a nice change to see nature in different ways and states.
On my way to the beach though I noticed a bit of nature in trouble (do farm animals count as nature?)Â After a while you learn to tell when an animal isn’t just grazing and this one was definitely stuck in a fence – Like this one is obvious! Sheep are kinda stupid.
Tell you what I’ll help out
Well I could have left it for the farmer to sort as I know he does rounds on a quad checking the stock – But what if he missed this dude? To the rescue!
Pulling a sheep backwards out of a fence when it has its head rammed through a small square of wire is tougher than it sounds! Especially as the sheep is scared and pulling forward back into the fence. lets face it with me behind it pulling one way and it pulling the other from a distance I could have been arrested for indecency. Finally I got it free and off it ran as fast as it could without a word of thanks! It also managed to get stuck in the coldest, muddiest stream ever …
These were once La Sportiva Mutants ….
So off I continued to the beach and lo and behold what awaits me but more nature …
Portuguese Man O WarPhotogenic Portuguese Man O War
I had heard these were being washed up in West Wales and was hoping to find one – The little bugger was only around 8 inches long but a jellyfish is a jellyfish – size is immaterial!
This one I didn’t touch – I presume the small ones sting too
Oh yeah and I did some running – sometimes thats almost secondary!
Finally a run longer than 10 miles. As I’m learning to ensure my body can take the increasing load I’m trying really hard to listen to it. Finally it seemed to be telling me go for a bit longer – So I did the 13 miles to Ogmore by Sea and back along the beach and cliffs. It was good to be out for a few hours and the better news is that it didn’t feel particulary difficult and there was little in the way of an aftermath. So all I need to do is keep listening to the body and I’ll be fine! Oh and in other news I’ve been vegetarian for a few months – I dont know why but I kept forgetting to mention it. So far so good and enjoying it. To be fair I didn’t each much meat anyway so it’s not a big change an I’m learning how to change diet and stay fuelled =)
The miles pass by pretty quickly when you’re running hereLove finding a rainbowSoutherndown beach from aboveHad fun traversing these odd pools in the sand
No its ok im not injured – I survived half term but Im miles behind in my blogging and then google decides to kill my online photos for last friday – I know they are there because it taunted me with a single stylised image
So I ran thurs and fri but these are the photos I have left!
Friday was actually a slightly longer run at 10 miles. I feel things are coming back together nicely but I’m determined not to push too hard too fast again and end up injured
So nice try google but I will prevail!
Looking purty on thursdayClouds on thurs
And from friday – At least the one image google returned to me (I will find them I swear) was a good one – I met a new friend – the hermit crab
I havent really done much elevation (unless you count hill sprints) as I’ve been enjoying the beach so much but I certainly enjoyed switching it up and getting up along the cliffs. I can get around 500ft of total ascent if I take this route so I guess its better than nothing. Why don’t they build mountains on the coast here?
I was reminded of the great Chill Out album cover by the KLF while running the other day
which one is mine and which one the klf? Well I guess its kinda obvious. I have a new game for myself – to take album artwork photos for imaginary bands ….
Oh yeah another 6 or 7 miles around and about. Foot feels good, everything working …lets keep it that way eh body?
Im off for half term and I’ve hardly sat in front of the computer – which is no bad thing I think you’ll agree. The weather has been great and I’ve done some top socialising – and running but haven’t chronicled!
So this was like …. last weekend sometime!
All the runs have been to the beach and in fact they’ve all been variations on the seven miles or so to Witches Point and back. I dunno I just really like that run at the moment – So if you like it do it!
Blue Green Gold Grey, Awyr Maes Tywod Aarreg 