Blue Green Gold Grey, Awyr Maes Tywod Aarreg
Trail and Coastal Running in Wales
Ran for the first time in 3 weeks on Saturday, I didn’t actually mean to but Murphy freaks when there are people around (only 3 fishermen to be fair at 7 in the morning) and so it was easier to manouvre him at pace as he’s happier at a run. And so once we started we didn’t stop so an unexpected 6 miles to Witches and back with very little niggling from ankle. I’m no fan of the heat so keeping the mileage low is easy at the moment!
First off a happy birthday to my dad – Hope you’re having a good one (assuming you still read the blog that is)
Seven miles on Sunday thats disappointingly left me with a sore (more than usual) ankle – whats with this? I drop the mileage and things get worse?
Anyway I’m kinda used to it by now but as long as I can keep walking Murph too all is good, at least I’m bound to be keeping some level of fitness walking 4 or 5 miles a day even if I’m not running right?
You cant teach an old dog new tricks? I dont believe in that or I wouldnt be running ultras right now and you can certainly teach a young dog lots of tricks. What I am learning is that I don’t really need to batter my body to pieces in order to keep at a good level of fitness, my running milage is lower but the quality is higher and I am guessing my overall milage if you include walking has risen thanks to Murph.
I could be running more but it seems less important than just spending time on my feet and making Murph happy, dont get me wrong he loves running too but sometimes its just nice to chill and enjoy watching him play especially when its hot. I can judge how im feeling and turn up and down the intesity but Murph doesnt have that option, he’s flat out no matter how hot it is and its the responsible thing to do not to push him. Its a nice balance im finding at the moment. Plus I’m suffering less pain in the ankle and toe and figure it cant be a bad thing to let things heal a little, it was a long hard training block up to Preseli and although its hard to switch off from that mentally its the right thing to do.
So I havent run all week but have been to the beach a dozen times and only this morning we ran and it was a nice change and was nice to run pain free, only 3 miles but enough
As for young dogs learning new tricks – This week we nailed sit!
Murph and I ran another 6 miles yesterday – He loves it, puts me to shame, when im flagging and he gambols off into the distance its a good feeling though as I know he’s not even really putting any effort into it and clearly enjoys the whole thing. Today we just walked 4 as the ankle still plays up a bit. Its good to be able to do either as I feel. So yeah … lifes good!
I’m running but completely failing to post about it! Perhaps it’s because I’m not really measuring what I’m doing but in the last week or so we’ve done a few 7 milers to witches including today and a few shorter ones.
Everything’s feeling remarkably good considering what I did to it a few weeks ago, even the ankle isn’t protesting too much. I’ll continue in this new relaxed manner while I work out what murph can and can’t do. Well actually he’s a flying machine but I’m just erring on the cautious side especially in the heat. And now some photos!
Last weekend I planned to camp near St Davids in West Wales with Murph, we packed the van and headed off. Things didnt go quite according to plan … First off I went to set the tent up and no tent poles – god knows where they are but they weren’t in the tent bag. It was also clear that Murph wasnt very happy with the campsite, he’s very nervous anyway and new situations plus people meant I could tell he wasnt going to enjoy the whole thing as I had hoped. So what do you do when life gives you lemons – go for a run!
We did around 9 or 10 miles (I’m not wearing a watch at the moment as the plan following the ultra is to just enjoy it again) along the coastal path and it was Murphs first “proper” run and he did fantastically. I kept him on lead all the way as I dont know the area well enough but it wasnt a problem. He’s pretty good at judging pace (though he clearly doesnt notice hills like I do and doesnt slacken off) so I would imagine we knock along at 8 to 9 min/mile pace which he seems to enjoy best. I even had his lead tied around my waist (its one of the fancy ones with a clip on the handle to accomodate this) and that works too. The only problems we had were on technical sections where he tends to choose the best line (Ie the one I’ve also picked) a split second before me.
Returning to Preseli, returning to running.
A week afetr running the ultrabeast in Preseli I went back with Claire and the dogs to walk in the hills. To be honest I dont think i’d get bored of that place. Was strange in a way to walk the paths I’d run the week before and a damn sight easier. We actually ended up doing the Beast Bach 11 mile route with a bit tacked on so we could reach a rocky outcrop so a 12 mile walk in the hills on a sunny day – cant fault it. The dogs had a whale of a time plus (and this was intended) we didnt have to endure a single second of anything royal wedding related – Win Win!
I also realised yesterday Im doubly blessed – I loved running the ultra (Yes once again a week later I’m no longer saying never again and I’ve forgotten all the pain) and I loved walking up there with the dogs. I can do either happily and not miss the other. Thats lucky
Today I felt like running again, the legs have been a bit wrecked this week – monday was horrendous/hilarious depending on whether you were me or watching me. But today although they are still a little tired I could feel the spring is back and I can drive again rather than shuffle. Murph loves running – well he trots at a gentle pace, I think he’ll make a pretty good training partner.
