Here I am again.... 
Ramble follows... You may have a moment, ( or three), in your busy weekend. Which, I hope, you are all enjoying.
Back here in Wales in one of my happy places and making the most of every single moment... the good and the less good ones.
This morning, the sky was a paintbox blue with the kind of fluffy clouds that look like they have been daubed on with a great thick brush.
Heavy rain, thunder and lightning are forecast later, but this morning a short run called. No more than 15 minutes. I ran it.
I ran, also, on Wednesday. A slightly longer one, with Coach Bennett and Garmin disagreeing on the distance, which I am going to call 5K !
If you have read my last couple of rambles, many of you will know that I am discovering what for me, is exactly, the right sort of run for my mind set and the way my body is rebuilding its strength.
Like many folk, I am struggling with some issues in my life and that of my family. I have learned over the last months, how to control my overthinking and use strategies I have been gathering, and learning to use, to keep me feeling positive and mentally calm.
Wednesday was an example of employing one of those strategies; not using the run to forget problems, or disregard feelings, or even to run away from issues. Just needing to feel the joy of a run.
Wednesday dawned into one of those mornings when you wake, not completely refreshed from a restless night's sleep, yet knowing, deep inside, that you are going to run and knowing also, that you will feel all the better for it.
After a longish warm up with stretches and ankle work... squats, whilst teeth cleaning and some wonderful, greet the morning, yoga, I set out. I am having trouble getting the button on my phone pressed and on my watch at the same time, hence the discrepancies in outcome. ( I shall be asking for some advice on that later). But eventually I was off.
This was a 30 minute run, easy paced and with the calming, questioning voice of CB in my ear, it felt good, mentally, from the outset. Heading down the hill towards the next village, I am thinking my own thoughts. The distant mountains, their outline, now etched so clearly in my head, since we came back here, that I could draw them with my eyes shut, are topped with wispy clouds, tilted and uneven, like badly fitting hats. I run and am hardly aware of anything, except what I see and what I am listening to. For those first minutes I was, despite the downhill aspect, finding it a tad, hard going. Breathing not quite settled, legs a tad heavy, and a body not quite in tune with the legs.
So... relax, ease back, centre the core.( all this coming more easily now), relax the arms, the shoulders and hands... and smile. I am at ease. The feet are light and I am delighted as I move on, to see one of my friends, not an old friend, but a new friend... golden shelled to match the day.... a quick photograph and on I go, only to find, a few strides on, my old friend, battered shell, but still moving, still striving and still progressing. Like me.
With lighter slower steps now and en route photo shots!!! I am about to make the turn, but cannot resist a short detour across the field to the brow of the hill and the track that leads down towards the Forgotten Church. No visit there today, although it is now open again , after all the face lifting and roof repairing. Beautifully done, after so many months of wind and weather. The fields, empty of sheep and lambs now and a quiet surrounds me as I run, without a sound to the rocky outcrop. Misjudging my stride slightly, I catch my foot, and stumble, at the same time as CB is explaining in patient tones, that stumbles are fine... stumbles are necessary, they happen, and it's okay. It makes me smile again. ( Don't anyone dare say he wasn't talking to me )! Another quick, flying ( almost ), photo and back towards the field gate and through.
Back up the hill at a slightly quicker pace, but still just taking it easy, my home- carrying chums have made the wall, and are , presumably, enjoying breakfast, the tipsy hats on the hills have been doffed and the clarity of the morning strengthens.
Up to the brow of the hill and a couple more, too good to miss photographs. I really do need to get these all in one place! A quick stop, as I realise my lace is undone... only a little setback, I am far too old to risk a fall...a double knot and on. Running and listening and aware that the end of the run is nearing. Times are mentioned, my watch and the voice do not agree, but I just run. My breathing in time with my footfall, steady and easy. Down towards the Esplanade.... and CB says I am done.... my Garmin says two minutes or so more... I run them and stop,
A photograph of the sea, calm and still, surface undisturbed by wave or weather, and a skyscape which takes the breath away.
Yet another photograph of the Castle; as ever, the constant and staunch defender of the small town.
This was a good run. This was a run that I enjoyed. A run which left me with food for thought, and the pleasing reassurance, that to struggle is normal, to stumble is normal, a setback is normal. Without them, there would be nothing to strive for, nothing to move towards, nothing to overcome? There is no such thing as a perfect run. The words I listened to, just resonate with me. They probably would not for many. We take what we wish from such things.
The words I listened to, were for me, at this time, about far, far more than running.
I ran and I felt all the better for it.
I found, again, the joy of the run.
LATEST UPDATE ! THIS MORNING!
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I could simply NOT resist a chance this morning to run a NOT PARK RUN on the beach...
NO ! No THAT beach. This beach is five minutes from me... It was fabulous, I was first to run and first to the line...because there was JUST me! Yeyayayyayaya!!!
Photos added!
Oldfloss x
PS
I had to re-run bits of this run as I lost my Buff en route...I found it.
PPS
I need a Garmin ? that I can get my apps on, my running info and my music...so I only have one button to press!
Mr OF has said he would like to buy it for me if I would like one.
Anyone got any ideas?
Thanks
PPPS
I did run this morning, but that, is another story x
Floss x
A slight setback - Plantar Fasciitis :(
Sunday morning running partner!🏃🏽♀️🏃🏻🙂
Magic Plan week 3 completed plus shout out for Strength & Flex
