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?
Yesterdays long run went well, only another 11 miles but felt really good and in control of my pace so I finished it feeling quite similar to the start. Up along the cliffs to Nash Point and then the length of the beach up onto Witches Point for a few climbs. A circuit of Southerdown beach then a scramble over Witches at low tide and then a run home via the ladders and my folks. I love saturday mornings!
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
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
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.
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.
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.
This run was actually on tuesday after work but I’ve been installing a new HDD with Win 10 so I’m only posting now. Twas a lovely day in the month of September whence I ventured to the beach on a run whereupon I espied some sights to which I shall now avail ye.
Enough of twee! It was a six and a half mile run as the sun sparkled on the sea and made me forget any aches in the legs. The pace was actually good and the breathing does feel abnormally easy now. It’s always the legs that protest first. I think this is a good sign, at least it’s less likely that I’ll keel over from a heart attack these days (And if I do I’m fishfood anyway)
Oh yeah .. sparkly sea
What else did I promise?
Rocks! Well one in particular I hadn’t come across before. It’s covered in tiny white swirls of …. rock. Never seen anything like it before so if any geologists out there have any information I’d be grateful
On I went past the mystery rock and lo and behold a rescue helicopter hovering at the far end of the beach!
Stuff – I ordered new shoes as I have complete shoe envy since Sergei announced hers. I am awaiting their arrival and hope they fit. I also have a small tweak in my hamstring and a bit of foot pain so guess who’s being a good boy and resting a few days?
After taking four days off running with just some biking to keep fresh in order to let my body recover from the efforts of last week (Yes Sergei I showed common sense!) I waited today until a very low tide to get back out for a 9 mile run. Was out for around two hours but managed to do some rock scrambling at Witches Point and took a look around at the different features which can only be seen at the lowest tides.
I love trail running ….
grass, rocky path, grass, gravel, tarmac, grass, forest trail, tramac, grass, pebbles, rocks, sand, rocks, rock steps, grass, gravel, grass, earth track, grass, cornfield, grass, tarmac, grass tarmac
Were the different conditions underfoot on a 12 and a half mile run today to St Donats, Marcross, Monknash beach, Witches Point, Wick beach, parents house and home.
Or put it this way.
fields, paths, fields, road, fields, forest, roads, fields, paths, beach, fields, roads
Either way you look at it I had a great time just chilling for nearly 3 hours and doing my own thing. Legs still felt good at the end and heart can’t have gone much above 140 at a guess. On days like this it almost (almost!) feels effortless.
Onto the photos!
The rain has stopped! Yersterday was dreaful but today just the wind remains – I wasn’t intending on running as I have to play cricket later but felt so lazy for not getting out so I did a quick 6 1/2 miles on the beach where of course I spotted some things!
First up though some technical training advice. On many of my runs I have to “step” up onto different levels of rocks. This means using (I presume) the hamstrings and glutes. For example these rocks.
Ok so the scenario is im approaching this step which is around 3 feet high I’d guess. When I’m fresh it’s not an issue as I have the strength to just pop myself up it but in the later stages of the run when fatigued I don’t have the upper leg strength to power myself up in one move or rather my leg muscles feel tighter and don’t allow me the range of movement to get up there easily. So what exercises are best to improve this sort of movement?
Onto the things I saw!
Someone made this …
To be fair i’m amazed after a looooong weekend I got out at all today but fancied a qick trot – Which turned into 9 and a half miles and two and a quarter hours.
At the beach I went right …. view below. Cloudy but warm enough to run without a shirt which is always nice.
I got divebombed by the seagulls again – I thought I had gone far enough out to avoid them but I think rather than defending their turf this is just a game to them now.
Got to the end of that section of the beach and felt fantastic – So I kept going, up over witches point and down to Southerdown beach.
I crossed the beach and found some quite cool rocks which were fun and challenging to run on.
And of course at the furthest point from home it started to rain and the wind picked up – A headwind of course. You know what though? Any day trailrunning is good no matter the weather so despite being wet and cold I wasn’t miserable. Especially as next up I met Mr Darcy!
Covered the remaining 3 miles back home in record time and now it’s feet up recovery time!
One day I’m going to do a run where nothing happens and I see nothing interesting. I thought for the first half of todasy 6 miles this would be the day. Weather calm, tide going out, felt good, foot not so bad …. and then ATTACK BY SEAGULL.
The chicks must have hatched or something because as soon as I reached the section of sand near the ladders I was divebombed by gulls until I ran a further 50 yards down the beach (then I ran back into the firing line for the photo op)
They were banking near the cliffs and coming in on a direct line for me before swooping past a few feet above my head. I figured I could stand my ground because if one was to hit me I reckon we’d be equal in a grapple on the sand.
I managed to take these photos which actually came out quite well considering I was using an ipod to catch a fast moving ball of winged fury.
Further down the beach I came across a far more chilled family of gulls
So yeah …. one day I’ll have a boring run …. one day
Playing with maps
I did this route in google maps a while ago (and I think posted it agggges ago) and wanted to play around with it and see if it could be embedded in WP – which I think it can be it seems!
Might start doing a few more of there to geographically locate runs and things I come across … until I get bored of it :p
Blue Green Gold Grey, Awyr Maes Tywod Aarreg 