Monsoon

Decided to get out for a run last Sunday despite the torrential rain. I wanted a long run but wasn’t going to happen in these conditions.  To be fair the seven miles I did were made harder by slogging through fields turned into streams. More resistance training. I look back and laugh now but at the time up to my calves in freezing cold water I certainly wasn’t laughing then

The first inkling I might get wetter than usual

Definitely been raining

Errr ok so this is one Ive never seen before here

Starfish are like buses – You don’t see one forever and then 2 come along in a week 

Of course the regular waterfall was showing off 

Fields of joy!

 

A bit of water never hurt anyone

Being cold, wet and tired is an acquired taste it seems.  No point in avoiding water on days like this after overnight monsoons. Just get ready to splash! The feet do freeze at first but then the water in the shoes warms up a bit and adds to the warmth – I tell myself this anyway it makes the whole thing seem a little saner

Field/pond number one

Gentle stream leaing to beach

There was no stream here yesterday – getting down to it was fun too – mainly half skiing down the slope with so much mud on the soles braking becomes a luxury

Pooh sticks! Which one won you reckon?

Errr neither as it turns out they both got stuck in eddies and disappeared

Who builds a stile in a stream?

Oh so that the path right?  I as quite relieved as the “dead sheep” was actually a buildup of foam

Not today ….

We are underwater

 

If it wasn’t getting dark though I have to admit I’d be tempted

A return to waterworld

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 today

As 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?” expression

And “Orangucow” Part Orangutan part cow

A few miles on and the viws from the clifftops are great, especially when the sun breaks through. Thats one of the beaches I pebbleran yesterday

Thar she blows!  This stream was more of a trickle yesterday – Now to slide down to it

Clear as mud and quite strong but luckily jumpable

Stream 2 is the source of the waterfall from yesterdays post

And heres the top of it

The sun was still giving me some beautiful views

On 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.