Alarm went off at 5.15, and I was out ,dressed, quick banana and gulp of SIS water and off I went. Determined this time to do the whole 10 miles. I’d miscalculated last week when I thought I’d done it.
I was so organised this morning!!! Clothes ready, water bottles 3/4 full and frozen( good idea that), dried apricots ready, snap band glasses tucked in belt ( didn’t need them though - fog most of way), water bottles tucked into belt...mmmm nice and cool, buff round my hair, TWO sets of charged headphones ( 12k and they run out of charge), tissues, lip balm, phone and watch charged, inhalers done.....
Down onto the Tarka Trail and it was really misty. Not on the track but I couldn’t see the river at all- just some of the bank. The other side was clear and I could see along the road across the field. It quite often gets misty done by the river though so I thought it would probably brighten up. Lots of rabbits hopping about, wondering what the hell this crazy woman was doing lumbering about at that time of morning. I saw 5 different rabbits before I had done 4K, then 2 magpies sitting on the wall ( don’t know if one was called Peter and one called Paul ) and then a robin sat in a blackberry bush.
Then I started to meet other early morning fools... a trio of marines jogging towards me...a couple of cyclists on their way to work.... dog walkers... and although I’d only gone this far once ( last week) it seemed to be going quite easily.
Had a slight malfunction with one of my water bottles though. They were tucked in my Fitbelt... phone in front pocket, 2 bottles on each upper glute in 2 other pockets, and my apricots in a little bag in the middle back pocket. About 6 k in I thought I’d have a swig and discovered that as the ice had melted, the cap in the left one had come slightly loose and I had a wet bottom ( only on one side and it soon dried ) so I tightened it up and carried on.
Got to Chivenor gate and crossed over to go through the one on the other side of the road- nice and clear as it was early still - more dog walkers and a couple more runners “good morning” “ good morning”.
Then it was past the airfield and the old water tower on my left and “ oh look more flipping houses being built” on my right and on down to the Wrafton gate. Through that and across the road and nearly to Vellator before I was at 8k and a bit and time to turn round.
I tend to mark in my head more or less where I am as I go through certain gates ( they are the old level crossing gates from when we still had trains past Barnstaple ) so as I was going back it was about 9k at the second Chivenor gate, then 11 when I got to Ashford, then as I drew level with the highlight of the Trail .... the Ashford water and sewage works ( trying to run and not breathe in) ... I know I have about 3k left, then around Pottington turn off there is 2k left, Barnstaple New Bridge leaves about 1k and then I know I’m nearly home and dry. Well not dry actually!! I’d been swigging my water and tipping some in my buff which was round my head to keep cool. So I was quite moist.....I have heard some of the ladies and gents on here saying about “chub rub” and as I was wearing shorts I was a bit concerned but I was ok there... my legs are still pretty slim ( about the only bit of me that is nowadays ) but I had got quite sore where the top of my inner arms rubbed against my sweaty shirt and also where the armpit of my sports bra goes. I ended up applying Zambuk after my shower and it feels much better now and more soothed. I wasn’t expecting that to happen. Maybe Vaseline before I run is the answer???
Anyway the last stretch and then I had done it!! Yay!! Triumphant sweaty faced obligatory pic, squinting into the sunshine, for the album and then brisk walk home. By the time I got home and waded through 30 cats ( well ok it’s only 4)who thought I should have fed them before I went being silly and running... and then stretched a bit.. I was nearly crawling up the stairs to my shower. But now I feel great.
Another milestone ticked off 😁🎉🎉🎉🏃♀️🏃♀️celebrated with my porridge , and a Dime Bar in the garden with my coffee.
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
