After 2 days of freezing fog, I was really hoping for a clear morning, but this morning the fog was just as bad. I didn’t think it looked safe to be running on the roads, so decided to give my trail shoes an outing and run on the high riverbank along the edge of the washes. There is another high riverbank parallel to this one, about 3/4 mile away, and between the two banks is the area that holds the floodwater known as the Washes or the Hundred Foot Washes.
This was where Couch to 5K began for me! I did the majority of the programme on this man made riverbank and running along it this morning was a reminder of how far I had come. From couch to 10 miles in less than 5 months 🏃♀️🏃♀️🏃♀️🥰
This morning it was very muddy at the start of the simple ‘there and back’ route. I was on my warm up walk for this part and I knew from my dog walking days that once I passed this section, it would improve. I glanced down to the low haulage track, close to the river, to see it it would be possible to ride my bike on it later. No, I should have guessed, with the rising water levels most of it is now under water. Ah well, at least I’ll see more swans!
I start my watch and the NRC guided run ‘A Whole Run’ with Coach Bennett and Andy Puddicombe. They talk about your body and mind being active and engaged. I’m having trouble with motivation at the moment. While listening to the conversation, I realise that I haven’t really lost it, it’s still there. Like the blue sky when it’s cloudy. I’m glad I made the effort to come out and run.
I’m not taking any notice at all of my pace, but I’m enjoying being out running and conscious of everything around me. I meet another runner coming towards me, accompanied by 2 setters. I see the dogs and realise that I know her. I think it’s funny when you recognise people by their dogs! We exchange greetings as we pass. One of the dogs decides to run with me and she jumps to put her nose briefly against my side in greeting. She runs alongside me for a couple of minutes and I talk to her. I enjoy the company. Then she turns and she’s off to catch up with her owner.
I run through an open gate on the bank, curious as to why it’s open, but decide to leave it. I glance at my watch and I’m almost at 3K, so I decide to do 5K this morning and turn to go back. The Whoopers are on the washes, so very close to me with the rising water levels. They are very noisy! Chatting to each other in their groups, deciding when to take off for the fields. As each group gets louder and louder, I can hear the sound of their wings flapping and splashing as they start ‘running’ on the water to get airborne. Such a common sight on the washes, but never fails to amaze me! I can just see some groups through the fog as they take off. Their wings don’t make that characteristic ‘whoomp’ sound of our native Mute swans.
I carry on running and listening to CB and Andy. My 5K is done and I notice that it’s a sub 40 minute one, which surprises me. I end the run, but carry on listening to the guided run until it ends, after 45 minutes. A contemplative run for me this morning, but what I needed 😊
A very humid 5k
Just a little 5k
