7.52AM on a dim sunday morning in October it was complete. 2000 miles in a calender year for the Murph and I. The murphometer is full.
292 days. 2000 miles. 1 packet of cheese biscuits to celebrate. And then we ran on. What else was there to do?
Along the way we saw some stunning sunrises
We chased a lot of birds
We ran a lot on the beach under beautiful clouds
We ran through the fields under beautiful clouds
We climbed up to look at more clouds
We posed in the sun
We ran at sunset
We found some cool fungii
And when we hit 2000 we shared a packet of cheese biscuits – does life get any better?
When I say shared I mean Murph ate nearly all of them. He deserves it. I’m so proud of him, he’s come a long way in so many different ways, we both have.
I wasnt intending to run much this weekend, y’know the old let things heal thing but it was just so glorious out what else could I do? Those crisp mornings at dawn are irresistable and not just for me they seemed to entice Murph into a world consisting of zooming around like an idiot. I was happy for him to zoom while I plodded, 5 miles on saturday and 10 today and I feel fine. Sometimes all you need is zoomies (and a plod)
Blurry zoom followed by charging leap – trick is to stand your ground and he will deviate at last second, if you move either side he will take you out without mercy
Happy zoomies
Still zooming
Ok i’ve slowed down a bit but i could go mental at any second
Hmmm day 2 of zoom? It’s still frosty
When the stream floods we ound a new way of crossing – he does it so gracefully compared to me. No-one as fallen in … yet
Once again I haven’t blogged in weeks. It’s not like I have nothing to blog about I just never seem to sit down to do it these days. Doesn’t help being back in work after the summer off, having a cold, a mental dog etc etc All excuses of course. Luckily I always have time to get out with Murph. usually two big walks or runs a day, usually to the beach. I calculated last week I was up in the 60 mile range of walk/run so it’s no wonder my feet and ankles are feeling pretty battered. Theres not much I can do about it though.
Take rest everyone screams in the running world when you feel injuries and those niggles. Rest it! Rest it! I can’t, not out of stubborness and stupidity (Been there seen it done it) but because I have aforesaid mental dog who needs the exercise. So I really have no option but to hope things hold together! Im sure they will, I stretch and roll my feet (Got a great foot massage roller thingy that looks a bit like a sex toy)
So splendid isolation? Its that time of the year again which I love, I love Autumn not just for the season itself but because the beach empties and I have it pretty much to myself again until spring. Being a rescue Murph has some difficulties with people and as his confidence has grown his defence mechanism has switched from running away from people to barking at them. I know he’s fine and wont hurt people hes just saying “stay the fuck away from me” but hes quite large and scary if you dont know him so I almost (almost) feel sorry for people when he charges up to them baring his teeth and barking. He is responding better to commands though and I can usually haul him off before kids cry.
So here are the latest batch of photos. A random mix of walks, runs and ….. well just see
Dawn at the beach is always special
Sunrise in the fields (awful photo technically but i like it)
SRG you will be so proud! To avoid the heat later in the day I was up at …. 6.30 for a run!
Did in fact set me up for the day nicely but even at that hour it was getting hot, was sweating loads despite the early hour, god only knows what I’d be like out there right now. If the ultra in August is like this im doomed
All mine!
Sun rising over the cliffs for a change
I was about to say dawn at the beach but more like post dawn
Still a few days behind but this was sunday where I managed 18 miles or so along the coastal paths. The day before I had managed to sunburn the bottom of my legs while basking in the sun while marshalling the track so I slapped on a bit of suncream and headed out as earlty as it gets for me – 7.45! It was beautiful and chilly at that time.
Misty climb to the top of the cliffs. The seagulls were up early to greet me.
I had it planned so after 4 miles I turned at the slipway in Atlantic College, the first 8 miles were designed as a warmup.
Once I was back at Monknash and warmed up the sun was rising fast and it was already getting hot, I never work well in heat so this was a good test of how far I’ve come.
At the bottom of one of the Cwms I found the bluebells were in full bloom
Kept going up to Witches Point. From here I was headed to Ogmore by Sea. I forgot that I would be hitting it as all the people visiting the beach would…. As you know I’m no fan of company while running so I found it easy to forget the heat and miles and concentrated on hating people instead for a while. I believe its called coping tactics.
Considering it was another long run although it didn’t feel any easier the terrain was harder with more climbing and descending and the heat didn’t help so I was happy to finish 18 miles in under four hours and kept plugging away.
On the way back I had to force my way through these ….
Almost …. I dont have set days to run but I do want to do a long run each weekend and follow it up with a recovery run. I’ve done this twice in a row and am planning to work back slowly. So I’ve decided to just add a mile every week or so depending on how I’m feeling so I went from 10 to 11 this week. During the week I’ll get done what I can depending on tides and daylight. As the evenings lighten I can do more so hopefully by the time we get to spring I’ll be in full swing!
So this was saturdays 11 miles
Sun and tide rising
Surfers enjoying the waves
Tide was eating my beach so it was up over Witches Point and down towards Ogmore
View back from Ogmore deeps – Monknash where I reach the beach is the far point, around 4 miles or so
Blue Green Gold Grey, Awyr Maes Tywod Aarreg 