Well... that was blinking hard...and that is putting it mildly !
Okay folks...not quite the same as this run in 2019....but equally different and maybe, even trickier.
I am of course three years older, but nevertheless.
Back here in Wales... finding the time to rest and chill and hopefully keep the overthinking beast that is straining at the leash, in line.
I should have done this run last week but the PR was cancelled due to a marshal shortage. I was quite glad in a way as it was a very high Spring tide.
So, I was delighted that, with a lower tide this morning, and a full roster I was all set.
Torrential rain yesterday and through the night kept me wakeful, but everything was pointing to a dry 9 a.m. start.
Sure enough, the rain stopped at 8 and by the time I had geared up and checked and re checked all my stuff, it was beginning to brighten up.
Driving through Criccieth, still season- still and empty, the sun was touching the sea with glistening fingers.... through the town and out towards Plas Heli.
Almost deserted roads and the paint-box sky, blue and white, a child's painting with a bright yellow sun.
I parked up, and already a few cars, although this is a Park Run that is never oversubscribed.
The Plas Heli centre is still closed and so the search for a loo before the run began; this gave me a quick warm up run as fortunately just around the corner, was the warmest public loo I have ever been in.
Back out and a chill wind, made me glad of my double layers, down to the beach and around 30 ish runners already there.
Well !
The tide was out... a bit.... but I could still see the thick deep sand and noticed some lumpy bits at intervals sloping down to the edge of the sea. Hmm?
Welcome chat and briefing and a quick chat with a friendly runner and we were off.
I use the term, we, loosely. Not we, but they, ( the rest of the runners), were off and within, what seemed to me, seconds were disappearing into the distance.
I am not embellishing this.... they really had, gone !
I paused, momentarily, and for one brief second did think... too old.... big mistake,,, daft old woman, go home now, ( amazing how many thoughts you think in a second), and then I followed them.
So, to be fair, it was not quite the Sahara desert this time, and I did manage to begin by following their line, but, it was very slow, ( it got worse), and I was struggling very quickly.
“ You okay”? A voice from behind and the tail runner and dog, Denby, jogging gently, he caught me up and that was it... we stayed together and again, I am in awe of the support and kindness of strangers in this running family.
I carried on and it was hard. It was really hard and it got harder.... but we chatted, ( yes, that slow). Underfoot the sand had given way to deep, sandy shingle and the lumpy bits? Well they were sort of dunes, stone, sand and shingle and if you could not go around, you struggled through the edges of them and avoided the waves.
My feet, and I am a lightweight, sank in, so I wondered, not for the first time how the heck had all those folk, many larger and heavier than I, managed to run as quickly as they had? The storms of the last weeks had altered the lie of the beach as with other beaches along the bay.
The first section went in a blur and the runners passing me on the way back were increasing. I had inadvertently paused my watch but it did not matter, I had no idea of anything, except one foot in front of the other.
My companion and I just ran on, chatting occasionally and for me the aim was simply to get around the orange cone and the Marshals. that was the turnaround point. On we went.
They are incredible, the PR teams and they clap and support and shout encouragement.
Around we go and I did begin to almost relax into a pace of sorts. It was no easier, but dodging here and there I found a route of sorts. The silver dome of Plas Heli like an alien Nirvana seemed miles and miles away and I was not sure whether my stamina would hold out, I was drained.
I turned to my companion and requested that he did not let me give up...it was a half joking remark, but I needed to say it!
But, deep down, knew that I would finish and with that thought I began to look around and see the beauty of the day. Sea grass, coloured pebbles, glinting sand and everywhere in the sand to the left, huge shells, Mermaid fans and Merman razors... seaweed everywhere and the clouds like huge white cotton wall balls in a sky-blue dish.
All of the lovely Laura's advice from C25K was echoing on my head. Rounded ankles ( ha)! Relaxed shoulders, relaxed face, ( double ha ), relaxed arms and hands ( maybe)? Head up and look ahead, ( Okay) !
Plas Heli was much closer when I looked ahead... so I slowed down, aware that my companion had eased back and soon the finish was almost there and somehow, like so many of us, hardly able to lift my feet I found a little spurt, ( only to be overtaken by Denby the Dog), and I was home.
Clapped in by the smiling team who had been waiting for the last runners.
Barcode checked and it was done...and so was I.
A quick chat with folk and my thanks to them and a photo taken by my supporter. I needed proof that I had run it and I had survived.
I remember thinking that the first time I did this run that it was the hardest run I had done, well it wasn't, this was.
I learned a lot today. I learned that I need to continue with my strength and stamina work, CBDB will be seeing a lot more of me. I learned that I have to get more weight on and especially on the muscles.
I learned also , although I am three years older, I am able, if need be to find that little extra bit...and that three years on, I was only a minute or two slower than the first time I ran it.
A snail maybe, an old snail, definitely...but a stubborn old snail, certainly.
So in answer to the question on my picture...?
Never !
Love Floss x
PS
For folks who missed this sandy story the first time around..
healthunlocked.com/bridgeto...
PPS
Week 4 Magic Plan...Run 1, DONE!
Intervals, trails and happiness in the fog with my dog 😀🐕🏃♀️
Bracing and blustery in breezy Bournemouth
Bamburgh 10k race, wonderful event, big new PB, missed 60 minutes by 18 seconds!!! 🏃🏃
Second consolidation run - that was a bit different!
