What is failure?

I had a plan. It was a good plan. I tried to execute the plan. I failed. Maybe.

The plan was to run overnight on the solstice weekend between dusk and dawn, so from 9.34 PM to 4.57AM. I would do it mainly on the beach as the tides were right for most of it.

So I packed a drop bag and set off with Murph last night at 9.34 on the dot. We left the bag hidden on the beach as dusk set in and off we went. It was fun, it was different but something was off. I didn’t feel like the running was right, once it was totally dark it was harder than I thought to keep going over the rocks with a headtorch only – and to do it safely I was slow – which was fine by me. but something was off. Just a feeling. We covered 14 miles or so with a few rest breaks at the bag. but something was off. The ankle played up worse than normal and I think the battering it took on the rocks, the stumbles and incorrent foot placements had blown it. It was no excuse I’ve run through much worse pain than that.

After I while I realised that I wasn’t going to do the full seven and a half hours and once I came to terms with that then the pressure – albeit pressure only I had placed on myself – lifted and for the last few miles and the trip home through the fields and woods I was refreshed. I took the time to think about the whole experience and realised that in failure I had learned a lot more. Once we were off the beach I could turn my headlamp off and just move without having to cooncentrate fully on every step. I no longer had to worry about Murph (in his led collar) as the fields hold comparitively few dangers compared to the beach. I realised that much of my stress on the beach was worrying about him in the dark, I couldnt see what he was doing or exactly where he was. It struck me that in the total darkness I couldnt see him enjoying himself – Thats why i love to walk and run him – And in the dark I couldnt.

It was a good plan and it failed not because I failed but because it was a plan I came to realise didn’t matter. The failure would have been to not try in the first place. We got home around half two, I could I suppose have stuck it out for two and a half more hours in the fields but I would have done that just to make up numbers. It didn’t matter anymore. We woke at 7 and walked to the beach – and I could see him loving it, having fun and because I could see that it made all the difference.

I may have failed at one thing but I suceeded at a lot more last night.

Dusk at the path to the beach

Its the sandy bit … before the rocks

The lighthouse at Nash hoves into view – Look up – fall over

Worlds worst photo of a lighthouse

Met this little dude when i nearly put my hand on im climbing a rock

The best bit of the whole night – sharing a huge packet of cheese biscuits with Murph

What the hell are we doing said the green eyed goblin

No excuses but hours of running over these with just a headlamp drains your mind (and rolls the ankles)

No stopping – heading home on the last leg – when i say it was dark — its dark out there

Arghhhh tech!

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 thursday

Clouds 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

All the gear and no idea

I’m not sure I’m getting the idea of the HR monitor. At the moment I’m like a kid with a new toy which does lots of things but uses it the wrong way. Today at the beach I wanted to see how high I could make it go and then see how quickly I could bring it back down again. This may be called interval something or others (thanks SRG) but I shall call it arrghhghgh ooooohhhh.

This is me after the arghgrhrghghh stage

It’s probably not doing me much good but I like it and thats what counts to me. I don’t do it by increasing pace but instead by running harder on technical ground. I figure although I am increasing my chances of decking it I’m less likely to pull any muscles. Don’t worry I’ll get bored of looking at the watch again soon.

It’s easy to get it back to normal by fossil hunting too!  Found this today in a shale bed.

Perfectly formed fossilised mollusc

Can even see the muscles at the rear of the shell

Although it was wet and cold I loved being out alone on the beach for another 7 miles.

All mine