What a treat I had for my run yesterday. I'm staying with my Dad in aliboo70 land (the Isle of Wight), and I was really looking forward to a nice run along the coast, especially as last time I ran here there was freezing fog so dense I couldn't actually see the sea.
I managed to get out the door with no faffing, which was an achievement for me, and walked briskly up to the Cliff Path at Lake. There was a hint of pink in the sky, and although there was no sunshine I had a clear view round Sandown Bay. So after a quick photo I was off. The cliff path took me by surprise with a couple of big up and downs, but I got into my stride and was soon run downing the road towards the beach. I took my headphones out for a while, so that I could enjoy the sound of the waves creeping over the shore and was also greeted by a couple of gulls and some smaller birds. A huge smile spread across my face and I set off to run around the bay towards Sandown.
Tempting as it was to try running on the sands I decided it would be safest on the sea wall - the last thing I'd need would be sand inside my socks and the resultant blisters. The cliff side gave me plenty to enjoy: little birds nestling amongst the mares tales, a plethora of Michaelmas daisies, their purple hue standing out in contrast to the large green and yellow of gorse. And then, a little further on some large stunning white ox eye daisies, scattered amongst flowering marjoram and wild mint. I couldn't resist giving the herbs a scrunch to release their fragrance which mingled delightfully with the salty scent of the sea.
I eventually got to the meadow at Yaverland, a place Mum loved to come to most days in her last months. The last time I'd been here was two days after she died, but it was good to be back. I looked up to the top of culver where we'd scattered Mum's ashes and remembered how she'd loved flying kites there. And although the sky was still overcast I felt as if I was running in my own private patch of sunshine, especially when Katrina and The Waves came up on my play list. And of course the lyrics just changed as I ran along:
🎶🎶
I used to think running was dreadful,
I know it's not true.
I feel I could spend my whole life running
With this view.
I came back home at the weekend
Just for a few days,
But running down here is so great
That I feel I could stay.
☀️🏃🏽♀️☀️
I'm running in sunshine (Wow!)
And running is so fine (Wow!)
Would run here all the time (Wow!)
And don't it feel good.
🏃🏽♀️☀️🏃🏽♀️
And then, thanks to Jancanrun's suggestion the next track to come on was by Level 42 , who used to play here locally, (and I went to school with 2 of them) so that sent me into a wave of nostalgia.
It was a fabulous run, the type of run where you feel you could just keep on going. But I needed to get back to have breakfast with my dad and begin the ominous task of starting to declutter the family home (before dad downsizes) so I had to stop after 13km.
I can't wait for my next run down here.
Lovely 7k mostly trail run, 2 degrees, wind chill -2 but brilliant with sunshine:
