Holiday running - reminiscences

[JaySeeSkinny]

Irishprincess post about her holiday run in Croatia has set me off! I'm reminiscing about all the gorgeous places I've run in since I started this running lark 2 1/2 years ago.

There was falling over in the hills near Carcassonne. I kept stumbling over rocks and ended up giggling on the ground, much to the consternation of my sister's dog who was with me at the time. That was the first time I ran abroad.

There was getting lost in Portugal and receiving directions from an old man walking his dog - in Portuguese! I got back safely and was very proud of my orientation - and language - skills.

There was running up a mountain after a gin-tasting evening in Austria. I was quite glad when the mosquitoes made me turn back, as I was knackered. But boy, did I feel virtuous (especially as someone from our group had spotted me going out).

Face-planting in Ireland (don't want to repeat that though).

Running along the Ouse in York (in memory of a very good friend). Crisp, clear, sunny and sooo beautiful.

Misty woods and cypress trees at dawn in Tuscany. Coming out of the woods to see deer grazing in the fields.

Sliding gently onto my backside as I took a sharp tun in the wet grass on the Isle of Aran (why are so many memorable runs connected with falls?).

Running along the River Spree in Berlin before spending a day in business meetings (I've fallen there aswell!).

Getting lost in Leipzig and then turning a corner and recognizing a building. Hurray, I knew where I was!

Running past the magnificent cathedral and down to the Rhine in Cologne. Strategically planning my business trips so that I also get to run along the Rhine in Düsseldorf. Slowly jigsaw-puzzling towns together by increasing the radius of my walks/runs. And sometimes just heading off into the blue (with Google maps, of course).

And the highlight so far. If I could just have one run it would be this one. Out before dawn in South Tyrol, running down a valley towards the rising sun. On either side the mountains rising up, black, huge and each side had it's own castle on a spur of rock, silhouetted against the sky, which by now was grey and getting lighter by the minute. It was just me and these awesome surroundings. I was so small, so alone and yet my heart sang with joy as I pounded down the track. That was a pretty good run😎

So which runs stick in your mind?

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

Lovely, lovely post..... I remember the gin tasting run particularly!!!

You have given me some wonderful adventures with your runs, as Irishprincess has.... great fun and some really superb locations

My run... the very special one, was the one I ran at Criccieth for the first time... which took me right back to my younger days Not an exotic location...but a truly magic moment

Thanks for this post xxx

[Irishprincess Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

I remember that post Floss 🙂 xxx

[happysouls Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

I am going on holiday near Criccieth next month for a few days. Looking forward to my first ever holiday run there somewhere! Funny to think that a holiday run is part of my 'must do' things while I'm away along with fish n chips at the seafront and a paddle in the sea!

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to happysouls]

We shall be there in a few weeks time too..😉

[mountaindreamer Graduate10]

I’m too new to running to reminisce or to even have any holiday runs to share, but thanks for sharing your own wonderful memories to inspire us newbies with. 😍❤️❤️

[pinkaardvark Graduate10]

I'm not sure which runs stick in my mind, but think you have too many holidays

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10 in reply to pinkaardvark]

The advantages of living in Central Europe! Certainly in my job I get better pay and have a better quality of life (more holidays). And my post covers 2 1/2 years. But, we do try for 3 trips a year. Plus business trips.

[Irishprincess Graduate10]

Those all sound gorgeous runs JSS, such fabulous memories for the bank 🙂

Like you, I've had some truly wonderful holiday runs but there are two that take a special place in my heart. One is running in Venice about a year after I graduated and the other from last year running through a Tuscan vineyard at sunrise.

But perhaps the best for both of us is still to come.......🙂

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10 in reply to Irishprincess]

Let’s hope so!

[Joy57 Graduate10]

There are a few that stand out for me. The first was on my first holiday after starting c25k, to Lake Garda. We were in a hotel fronting onto the lakeside path so I did my runs on that. I'll never forget the feeling, early one morning before breakfast, finishing w5r3 I think it was, and Laura in my ears telling me I am a runner. That was a special moment!

Since then I have run in Norfolk along the coast path, Derbyshire, Jersey, Cumbria. Not a great total but one I hope to expand a lot in the future. For sure, wherever I go my running gear is coming with me! (Maybe not on skiing holidays, I don't want to risk injury by running in the snow 😄)

[SaskAlliecat Graduate10]

They all sound so memorable! I'm quite envious of all your holiday running. I'm afraid I'm a bit of a homebody and haven't had the opportunity to travel and run but enjoy reading about everybody else's holiday running.

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate10 in reply to SaskAlliecat]

I must admit I’m a bit of a restless soul and I do get bored with the same route all the time. So I’m lucky I get to travel a bit. It’s then great to get home and do the usual route again.

And there’s nothing wrong with being a homebody!