I am in Fairbourne South Snowdonia visiting in-laws - and discovering beach running. I thought it would be hard (I’m a South Downs runner at home and love the springy turf). But I now know there is a 3.1k stretch (thanks Strava) of perfectly textured damp sand at low tide in Fairbourne. And guess what shore running has over Downs running? NO HILLS! I managed to run beyond 5k on the sands by making a plan before I set out. So I planned to run with Strava from my point of entry about 1k South to the rock end. This turned out to be against the prevailing wind so was slow. But I paused, photo’d some surfers, turned and ran a blissful wind driven 3.1k north towards Barmouth stopped only by the seething estuary race that keeps us away from the fleshpots of this quirky town. It was quite easy. Yes, really!
I then made up the total to 5.5k by running south again, hopping back over gurgling rivulets rushing out along the sands. I’d had enough by then - but mostly because I was at the end of my plan - I could have run on if absolutely necessary.
I walked another k or so back home feeling very content.
If you ever get a chance to run this beautiful beach I do recommend it. It’s wild but accessible and very very spacious. The south snowdonia hills are impressive and feel protective.
I wouldn’t have got to know the whole beach like this without C25k behind me and B210k (rather far) ahead. So it felt like an altogether expansive experience.
Virgin beach runs!!
Technology Fail and Running Up Hill
Sunday Long Run 😊🏃♀️👍
Beach run
