…. well....yes... I call it running!
WARNING...FLOSS RAMBLE!
Gosh what a time I have been having and what a relief to get back to the coast in Criccieth for the first time this year!
I have been so here there and everywhere, with my HM training these past few months... hampered by wind and weather and a bit of illness thrown in for good measure... but still standing and heading for the 24th March with excitement.
I was over the moon to complete my first 16K run ( 10 miles in old money)...last week.. but even more excited to be back here in Criccieth and out for my first run here this morning!
I had set my gear out as ever, the night before and just hoped the weather forecast was fairly accurate with no rain until 10 a.m. I slept well, but with that fluttering tummy feeling I still get before my run days.. especially special runs!
I intended a longer run, but after an enviable amount of time spent faffing around.. it was not to be...so, past 8 o'clock when I headed out... A new route planned, but changed slightly to a shorter distance...so the views were different and there was a tad more traffic on the road!
Slate grey sky appropriately, for Wales, broken only, with slightly incongruous, pink tipped wisps of cloud...the air was icy.... as I headed in the opposite direction to my usual route.. and downhill too... it took my breath away. Glancing over towards the Harlech Dome... I pulled my jacket zip tighter and wished I had my warmer hat on., after the torrential rain last night, the fields beyond the wall were flooded and the sheep looking distinctly disgruntled, at having their grass served with water. The path was tricky with small and larger twigs and soggy leaves.. clearly not well walked, after the end of the holiday season.
Exactly a kilometre to the next village...the turn appropriately again, opposite a Care Home for the elderly... Not for me yet, I thought as I turned...I had a very slow first K and unsurprisingly I was faster on the return ,uphill K! Along and over the brow of the hill and that view...so many photographs of it, paintings done by my father and me and so many memories...I get the same overwhelming feeling every time I see it..it never changes!
Read this post which I wrote on my first return to Criccieth, at your peril...
healthunlocked.com/couchto5....
A very quick photo stop and then down toward the town...the footpath partly tarmac repaired before the end of the year has been completed.. primroses nestling alongside snowdrops in the under hedge and daffodils... cheerful yellow trumpeters, not fluttering and dancing in the breeze, but blowing brazenly in a strengthening wind.
Turning down towards the Esplanade with the intention of cutting back, the sea stretched relentlessly towards a glowering horizon;white stallions. not yet full grown,racing towards the land..only to pull up short and retreat to gather forces to repeat their assault on the shore.
There was no other person in sight... there was just me... as I turned to retrace my steps.. the railway crossing gates closed, and as the wind was chilling I decided to to run along by the sea.Towards the lifeboat station, and along the Esplanade. my feet, landing lightly, yet still making their own music.. and flinging it into the waiting air... on and up the steep short hill back to the main road and across to seek out a new footpath...past Memorial Hall and the small Anglican church, up and past the Catholic church... sisters in faith... silent until Sunday. And finding a footpath sign partially hidden I carried on...running along, beside the overgrown,, windblown winter back gardens of the neat terraced house of the Green...ramshackle sheds and greenhouses. Waiting for spring sprucing and warmer days.
Out with a sudden stop onto the road again and the delight of a downhill into the town.. left turn towards the town end and down towards the sea...As I ran, the faintest sharp tangs of salt as I breath.. legs strong, rounded ankles, feet kissing the ground now... I had no idea how far I had run, but the sea called... trickling through the small housing estate and the hidden cut-throughs until I rounded the corner to Marine Terrace and the wind hit me... my cap took off, closely followed by me... and we ran towards the coastal path....the waves were now pounding the sea wall, and throwing themselves over the lower walkway... no chance of running there...I made the end of the road and decided to turn... two run-ins with over excited sheepdogs this last week, have been enough, and the one in front of me, even with his owner looked ready for fun ...Back along the Terrace, B and Bs.... closed and unoccupied, and nipping up Lon Bach..stopping again, for a quick photo of an unpleasant and rude gremlin... I leave the blustering and the banging, and run past the school and the playing fields...and out again towards Lon Felin and Beach Bank.
As I run, I can feel icy needles on my cheeks and the first spots of rain begin to fall. Rain adds wings to my heels, and I up the pace for a last sprint, along the still empty sea front. In a few months, this place will come to life, with the onset of the holiday makers who have loved, and will love this gem of Gwynedd.
But, today, this morning, it is mine and it belongs only to me, the seabirds overhead, shout their agreement, the waves applaud me, as with my breath coming easy, my legs moving without thought, I race towards my finish line.
To my surprise,, I have run a slow and steady 7K... another few miles to put onto the legs before my HM... with luck, I will be here next week for my last long run before that happens...the mountains and the sea will be replaced by the limestone serenity of the dales and peaks of Derbyshire...but for me, now ...this is enough 
Woohoo! One hour! 
That was a surprise
Running by the sea
You know you’re addicted to running when you go out in that!
