The murphometer! As mentioned in a previous post our goal this year is to walk and run 2000 miles. Progress has been steady and as you can see from the power of high-tec wizardry we have cracked the 500 miles mark! After a 200 mile march – due in no small part to working from home and spring bringing lighter mornings and evenings we got there a few days ago.
Stay tuned for very infrequent updates when I actually remember to update!
Apart from that – obviously still running and walking while of course maintaining social distancing (It’s not hard to do while living out here to be fair)
Be glad of the fence – this is actually top of the cliffs and theres a 200 foot drop a few feet to the leftDawn runs at the beachDawn skies in the fields – and the rapeseed is suddenly shooting up and starting to flower – bring on the spring allergies!
And so the clock ticks and the seasons turn, in this case thankfully from spring to winter and so we all adjust to a new way of living, for a while at least. But some things never change and that no matter where you’ve been, no matter how far or near the roads always lead home. It doesn’t matter if you can’t do the distance you did, or be outside as long as you were you can always return home … and then do it over again … and again.
I know what im trying to say but am struggling to put the feeling into words. This photo though unspectacular struck a chord with me, it’s one of the many I take then forget about but this one stuck with me.
This is the road home for us after we’ve been out training in the fields instead of the beach. It’s also the end of our route home after we’ve been up to see my parents in the next village. For me this is a journey from one home to another. I’ve never lived more than a mile from my parents (barring university) and where I was born and grew up, be it where I am now or when I ran the pub. Some people find it strange that I’ve never lived anywhere else, I think some see it as almost sad. I find great comfort in it and the realisation for me is that simply I’ve never needed to be anywhere else. I love where I live, I’m exceedingly grateful to live here and the current climate is truly making me appreciate how lucky I am. I’m lucky that I have roads that lead to two homes.
I’m lucky that I consider the whole area my home, be it the fields, beach or woods. I know every inch locally like the back of my hand, I explored everywhere as a kid and I still can now through running and walking with a dog. Blessed is truly the word.
In these difficult times when people are told to stay home I have come to realise that for me that means everywhere. All these photos are taken within a mile and a quarter of home. Truly lucky and grateful.
The crops are growing. Soon they’ll be above his head – enjoy the view while you can dudeMet these guys on the way back from the beach – they came to say hiThis is the face of a dog thinking – why are you playing with the horses not meThe primroses are in full bloomDawn and high tideGoes to show with enough love and patience you can do anything – no lead required anymoreSun sets – sun rises and so we go
Not sure what a sprong is but I like the sound of it. Well spring is here, been waiting for it for ages and now it feels a little anticlimatic due to viruses and lockdowns and the suchlike but nature stops for no-one. Today I saw the first bee buzzing around and teh evidence is everywhere. Just take a look …
The ferns have started to appear – I love the little alien dudes at this stageLeaves on a (deciduous) tree!Not really a sign of spring but a duck!Dawn walks to the beach are in order these daysSpot the rainbowNever get tired of climbing up hereDon’t remember this one – nor the shadow telling me I was running with a giraffe
I guess when the world goes a bit mad you just gotta hop on for the ride. So I figured what with my parents (hi mum and dad) self isolating I should get posting if nothing else to keep them up to date and entertain …yeah ok so maybe not entertain so much. But photos are always nice right!
So still running – cos its something I can do out here and see and have no contact with anyone (not gonna lie isolation is something I like) plus the dog needs to be out anyway. And with everything thats going on its good to be outside away from it all for a while. The good news – good news – whats that? Is that the body is actually holding up ok, things hurt but it all pales into insignificance right now anyway. Preseli obviously got cancelled so no ultra and fell races and thats the right decison.
So I shall continue to work away at my latest project which I shall unveil here – you are indeed the first to know – i wasnt going to ever mention it as it was just for me but it’ll give mum and dad something to follow. This year’s project is “2020 2000” which is in a nutshell my attempt to both run and walk Murph 2000 miles in the calender year. It’s a bit of fun and provides me a goal and doesn’t allow me to ever get lazy. I include both runs and walks because my body cant cope with a 2000 mile running year plus we also love the walks too. So far I’d say the milage is about 2/3 running to a 1/3 walking and im more than happy with that.
My sketchy records tell me to date We’ve done 424 miles which is good going considering the winter start, dark mornings and evenings and the awful weather. I shall keep you all updated periodically – I bet you’re on the edge of your seats eh? The only “rules” are that we have to do the walk or run together – no dog no count and it has to be at least half a mile to count.
Ok photos!
Bit of a small fall in the chalk section of the cliffs – Above is where the path wasSnowdrops!No matter whats going on in the world there will always be a sunrise – dont forget thatHeading into the mistsNature making shapes – just as the sun always rises the tide will always turn
I was out on the beach last week. It was cold, windy and raining. I had taken a fall and banged up my knee and elbow. The way back was into the headwind and I was feeling like I hadn’t had enough calories for the run (which i admittedly hadn’t). I was feeling kinda miserable and had the internal monologue of self pity going on at my suffering.
Then I thought this isntsuffering at all. What people are going through all over the world is suffering, losing, lives, loved ones, jobs, freedom. Thats suffering. My choice to run along a fucking beach in shit weather is hardly suffering on any scale and the only one who makes me do it anyway is me. And in that moment I realised I was being a complete self absorbed dickhead. I had the beauty of the beach, I had the company of my dog, I had health enough to run this and the freedom to do so. I am truly blessed and fortunate and its something I need to remember.
It’s made me realign a few things, go out and help people during this crisis, do what I can even in small ways, look after my parents, neighbours and community as much as I possibly can. Give something back for once, I can take what I need from nature on the run.
Time to step up and help others suffering because I’m fortunate enough to not be. Take care out there people and if you can do something good then do it. Little things, little gestures might just go further than you think.
And now the photos!
Blessed just to be herePoser posing posinglySunsetsShiny daysJesus Christ its a hailstorm! Why are we out in a hailstorm you idiot/ (said the dog)
A little bit of that. Where does the time go? I swear it was only a week since I last posted and its more like 2 or 3. In between we’ve been covering some miles – walking and running. I was being so careful this time to not rush back and just continue the injury cycle – and then i go and roll my ankle in a field anyway. But one of the joys of owning a dog is that you don’t get to really rest up – you always get to do active recovery. So whatever the weather or how the body feels I make sure Murph gets his exercise. Injuries are frustrating but I’ve learned a lot about coping with them. Mainly by signing up for more races. Well i couldn’t not sign up ofr the Preseli Ultrabeast – I had to reluctantly pass on it last year as I was just a little too injured with the 50 miler I had planned but this year I’m aiming to start a race uninjured (some hope)
Morning struts and a camouflaged dogLike two ships passing in the … err afternoonJust glad to be out – When i look back at the photos I cant even remember the day or whether we were running or walking.The path back from the beach at duskThese are our favourite fields – In winter they are muddy and kinda meh but we’ve made our own path around teh edges so we can keep going – In spring and summer they are the best place ever for zoomiesWe headed off into the wilds – well it was a few miles from home but we know places where no-one else goes and we can get some hill training done without interruptionsPlus our secret riverbank is somewhere to get some play doneX marks the dog – I aint moving my butt until you promise to take me with you – wherever it isSunsets at the beachSunset sans dog
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 mercyHappy zoomiesStill zoomingOk i’ve slowed down a bit but i could go mental at any secondHmmm day 2 of zoom? It’s still frostyWhen the stream floods we ound a new way of crossing – he does it so gracefully compared to me. No-one as fallen in … yetGetting ready to zoom – Fuel stop – 1 treat equals 10 minutes zoomJust trotting trying to look photogenicPrepare the zoomster!And go!The usual viewsBack inland and heading home through the lanesChilling out on the afternoon cool-down walk (which unsurprisingly included zooming)
I was planning to post again here a little more regularly and then i didst because I never seem to find the time or inclination. maybe running doesn’t seem as important right now. As long as I’m out with murph how quick we move doesn’t seem to matter so much.
And I think I’ve been right. Just reading up here and hearing others going through so much worse than the odd running injury puts things in perspective. So yep we’ve been out putting in the miles ready for some big plans this year – assuming the body copes. But at the end of the day what’s really important is just living life and enjoying it.
I got my fingers crossed for you Ceej! Now enjoy some photos!
We’ve been out at duskEarly morning strutsPlayed in the foam with our little buddyDid out xmas day run and loved it!Enjoyed the weatherOf course we posedVisited old hauntsChecked out waterfallsSaw more sunrisesAnd enjoyed more sunsetsAnd always climbed up so we could look back … before moving on
We rocked out this morning at dawn as I was under the impression it was going to be a really hot day (it wasn’t really) and I wanted to get a good run in with murph before it got too hot for him. I don;t mind a bit of sufefring in the heat but i wouldn’t want to inflict it on him, its just not fair. So off we went on an adventure which as I am lazy i will recount in photo form. It was a great run, we were out for around 3 hours and it’s time on feet in innterested in these days not distance – plus im not wearing a watch but im guessing 11 or 12 miles over cliffs, fields, roads and forests ….
Dawn in the Grange – heading for the beachOn the lead due to big cliffs and idiot dogHappy runner – technically going the wrong wayWe even did roads – well lanes – as you can see not used muchA filter here a filter thereHappy up on the common as the temperature starts to rise – we actually ended up in the hottest part of the day anyway but it was never oo bad and we know where water isAs evidenced by Murph crossing the giant stepping stonesMore lanes – note designer grass growing throughI always love the views from up hereYay! We are out and about!
