Thats one happy doggo. We’re both happy to be out and running, so much so it seems I never update the blog. And I say that every single time I post now!
Something else I say every year at this time and I’m always too early is – Doesnt it feel like spring! I just got back from a beautiful run and whether its february or not it felt like spring!
So what have we been up to? Plenty of runs and plenty of rest days so the niggles dont become injuries. Plus a hiking trip to the Brecon Beacons with friends.
Trust me people winter is officially over – its spring! (Bet we get more snow)
Sometimes we run. Sometimes we stand stillOh hai – got any treats?So if you’re gonna climb a tree ….. so am I. Now what?oh right I got to help you down!Adventure buddies waiting on treats
Only 12 and a half miles and 2 and a half hours but felt longer. I guess it’s the terrain plus I did some exploring!
Found me some wild bamboo off the beaten track… certainly did not expect that!The usual …A road! I wondered what was on the other side of the gatehouse at Derval Woods … well I knew it was a road I just wanted to see it. It was kinda dullMean ass looking bull!New forest to exploreAnd a fallen tree. Nothing earth shattering but a bit of a change of scenery never hurt
13 miles yesterday down to Ogmore and back. When the sun shines and I’m going this way I always think of Soak. I think I’ve mentioned before that when I’m cold, tired and hurting on a run I always imagine that sunshine is brought courtsey of Soaks as a gift. I had sunshine yesterday.
As ever I stopped where we used to play fetch the pebble for endless hours
Sometimes it’s just running and sometimes it’s something else.
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 oneGentle stream leaing to beachThere 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 luxuryPooh sticks! Which one won you reckon?Errr neither as it turns out they both got stuck in eddies and disappearedWho 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
Saturday morning was cold but bright and so I decided it was time to tackle a longer run again. I chose to head left towards Llantwit via Atlantic College along the cliffs so I got to see the sandbank.
Nash SandsPast the lighthouse
At Atlantic College I kept up on the cliffs through the playing fields. Not sure why they are named after King George but they are …
I turned at Llantwit and headed back along the beach, I don’t normally do this as theres precious little sand and around 4 miles of non-stop wavecut platforms but I fancied something different and for those 4 miles my legs got a great workout due to the constant stepping up and down on the rocks.
The series of caves just past LlantwitCaves closer up4 miles of nonstop rocks does screw with your legs eventually
I did find some rocks with numbers painted on – I’m guessing someones doing an experiment in tidal movement – And now I have to come back to check out the results myself
After that it was plain sailing as I worked my way back around towards Witches Point creating a 14 mile loop. Considering the terrain I was happy to get it done in under 3 hours though my glutes took a bit of a battering.
Some days it’s just great to spend time outside to clear the mind.
Sunday was time for a long run, haven’t done anything more than 10 miles for a few weeks and I’m very aware I now have less than 6 weeks to the Preseli Beast 24 mile fell race….
A lovely spring morning though so I strapped on my pack with a litre of water, homemade energy bars and headed out. It was a complete pleasure to get out and run and I felt great for the majority of it. I planned 13 miles to the rivermouth in Ogmore and back and ended up doing 15. The slow introduction of speedwork seems to be working as it feels like I can run further at the lower speeds now.
You can see why I was enjoying being outLooking back from Witches on the way to OgmoreGorse in bloom over SoutherdownLooking back from the deeps at Ogmore – destination far headland. When I look at photos like this and think I can happily run these distances it never fails to amaze meOn the way back at Southerdown beach there was a dachshund convention. At least 20 dogs all going mental. I found this little dude in his bee/ladybird costumeOh yeah the ultra competitive fishing reference, I did some scrambling at Witches Point as the tide was so low and up on the ledges I found this painted on. Apparently Mike Rowley cheats! Well who knew. Im guessing its a fishing thing, who the hell else comes up here! I’m not even sure how you cheat at fishing unless its bringing fish with you and claiming you caught them… or by using dynamite. Its a funny old world as they say
This morning it was long run time so I ran a circular route along the cliffs as far as St Donats then the beach back to Witches Point and then back along the cliffs home which works out at around 13 miles but the terrain is tricky for a fair bit of it. As I write this my legs are definitely feeling it!
Rainbow one – From the cliffs, you can just about make it outView towards Nash Point LighthouseFoghorn and lighthouseRainbow two – Or other end of rainbow one I dunnoSt Donats slipwayLighthouse from the beachBrickwork holding cliff up preventing said lighthouse from ending up in the seaRainbow three at the waterfallMet this little dude halfway up a cliff who wasnt fazed at all by me being right next to himHe was just like “yeah move along”View from above the robin
So a painful run in some aspects but wouldn’t have missed it for the world!
