25th January 2017
After my Thursday run and feeling very tired, Friday was a
rest day, but! Saturday was another
beautifully sunny but frosty day so I couldn’t resist getting out for a run, my
7.5 mile route I did on Thursday
but, it’s incredible how the body and mind changes within the space of a day or
so. I felt I ran really well, setting a good pace and finishing feeling good,
much better than Thursday!!! What is it??? Food, rest, motivation, mental
approach? Who knows?
Sunday looked a promising day, but the forecast was for
severe frost, a quick text to cycling mate Mike that it would be slippery in
the morning, but the afternoon was looking good. It dawned very cold and
frosty, so me and Mrs IanB made a coffee, sorted some shortbread and headed
down to Seaton for coffee on the front. The front was quite busy, many people
enjoying the Winter/spring sunshine, now quite warm as there was no wind.
Avocado, tomato and cheese toast for
lunch before kitting up for a ride out over the levels with Mike, the temperature
according to the Garmin 5 degrees, but! As we got to about 3 miles from home
the temperature started to fall and t was down to 2 degrees by the time I
cycled into the drive. 31 miles covered on
a cold, but dry afternoon. The roads were quite clean compared with ones of
previous rides.
Monday was long run day, Quantocks or coast??? I went for
the coast, I took the van as a changing room, it was frosty and sunshine as I
left home, but as I got to Axminster the fog crept in, staying until I was parking
up at Seaton, then it was a miracle, the mist started to lift as I kitted up
and set my watch. By the time I left the van it was brilliant sunshine, but!
Freezing cold as I jogged along the front, I started to climb out of Seaton
over to Beer via Seaton Hole, It was quite warm in the sunshine, but as I hit
the dips the temperature plummeted.
looking down to the beach from Beer Head
I walked up out of Seaton Hole, the views
at the top of the cliffs stunning, down into Beer before climbing up again to
Beer Head, views were outstanding, however, the ground surface across the
fields was now melting making the running surface quite sticky. Over Beer Head
to Branscombe down through ‘seaside’ before running up the Grizzly route up
through the village. There was a large group of walkers, booting up as I got to
the bottom of the climb to the school, I met these later on the cliffs, it was
a very large group [more later] I walked up past the school, a handful of jelly
babies’ as I went along with a swig of
my energy drink.
On to Hole House before the steep path over to the Fountains
Inn, now very muddy. Down to the Fountains before a slow plod up to the cliffs
above Branscombe, here I met the large group! Lots of ‘excuse me’ as I ran past
in the rough grass, it’s good to see people enjoying themselves out in the
sunshine.
Down to the beach, time for more energy food as I walked
along the shingle beach. I did run some of it!! Nice to get back on firm
ground, even if it’s up hill, the shingle is like marbles!! The Stairway to
Heaven was soon reached, a definite walk! The sunshine in the sheltered spots
was quite hot, hopefully summers coming. Down the road over to Beer and the
last climb back to Seaton, but there is a steep little path called ‘Clintons’
which at the end of the run does make the calf muscles pull a little [a lot actually] last bit down
the road and through the park 12.13
miles covered .
A well-earned coffee, Christmas cake before changing and
home to a sandwich lunch. The afternoon was spent driving off to Wellington to
train a School Crossing Patrol. A really
good day, a good run, a sore toe and tired legs but I am 12 miles closer to the
19 miles needed to complete the Grizzly.
Wednesday was ‘Wobblies day’ a very frosty morning, with
clear blue skies once again. We delayed the start to 9:30 hoping the
temperatures would rise sufficiently to melt any frost on back roads. Five
hardy souls headed down to Bridport and Washingpool Farm, as last week’s ride.
The roads were dodgy as we cycled down to Winsham, but the sun was at least on
some roads and making it much safer as we progressed. After Winsham, the roads
were good, if wet and dirty, making cycling in line a dirty position to be
catching the back wheel splatter. Washing Pool was the usual high standard,
Dorset apple cake and tea again for me. After lots of banter we turned to head
for home deviating through Shaves Cross and up the steep and long Bettiscombe
Hill. We started to doubt our choice of route as the roads were plastered in
mud and muddy water, bikes were taking a hammering!! The lanes back through
Forton were also a challenge as there had been hedge cutting leaving lots of debris
on the road, unfortunately one of the group succumbed to the ‘puncture fairy’
only 2 miles from home. A lovely ride out, weather wonderful again 32 miles covered. Just got to get 2
more runs in this week, but probably only 7 to 10 miles.
Grizzly number dropped through the letter box today 1816 !!!
It’s getting closer.
No comments:
Post a Comment