Back on the Billy Trail

[Dexy5]

It was 6th December when UpTheStanley and I ran a 10k race on Southampton Common, and due to Covid and bad weather and any other reason we could think of, we have run no further than 5k since then. But our individual parkruns went well on Saturday so we decided today was the day to go a bit further.

UTS wanted to drive to the Billy Trail on Haying Island, a favourite of ours when I was extending to 10k for the first time back in 2018. A disused railway line transformed into bridle/cycle/pedestrian path, popular with dog walkers and runners too. It was 7C, with a light cold westerly breeze, and we opted for leggings and light long sleeved tops, plus I added a Great South T-shirt on top.

We haven’t been there since I picked sloes while UTS ran in autumn, and it looks like the council has started working on it lately. There is a new sand surface on the start of the trail, a fence across the path up to the old signal (which removes the possibility of repeating my running fall way back when) and brambles on either side have been dramatically cut back.

I chose the NRC 8k guided run, and UTS chose to run at my pace. 😱. Coach Bennett chatted away to me, and sometimes would encourage me to up the pace for a short time, and sometimes to drop back and concentrate on the breathing. Not being aware of these instructions, UTS followed with amusement.

It was lovely to hear the birdsong, the familiar blackbird, the laughing magpies, and the Geese who had descended on a farmers field. We saw 2 egrets and a bird of prey hovering over its next meal. A squirrel darted up a tree on our approach, and there was a rustling among dead leaves. The stoney path, and the wooded path to the old station had lots of ginormous puddles, which I still try to avoid, even with trail shoes on.

I found the 6th km a bit tough as my calves tightened up but was kept going with UTS at my side. Coach Bennett encouraged me to speed up again for the final 200m, and we were done. 8k at an average pace of 7:57, which is good for what was meant to be a relaxed run. The sun came out but the breeze was still cool, so post run stretches were kept to the minimum.

I don’t think my Saucony peregrine trail shoes are the perfect ones for me, as I often seem to have achey calves in them. They are probably a lower drop than my road shoes and , like all trail shoes, are neutral, whereas I wear supportive road shoes. I have tried a heel raise, and some different insoles but haven’t liked them either. So if is there anyone out there who normally wears Brooks Adrenaline GTS road shoes that has successfully bought trail shoes, do let me know what they are.

The picture is the view of Portsmouth from the trail (you’ll need to zoom in). The tide is out.

[Shake-and-run Graduate10]

Hoe wonderful that blue sky looks. Sounds like a fabulous run and you were well looked after with UTS and coach Bennett. Great running x

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Shake-and-run]

Yes it was cloudy at the start of the run but the sun and the blue sky made all the difference at the end .

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate]

That looks fantabulous Dexy5 - I remember swimming at Hayling Island many moons ago, it’s a lovely place, and well done on a great run. It almost (note the word almost) felt like spring today 😊😊😊.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Frenc]

I was thinking the same Frenc, but I’m sure Jack Frost will be back to bite us! This route is on the right as you go over the bridge onto the Island. I expect you swam on the south coast.

Hayling Island

[Frenc Graduate10 60minGraduate in reply to Dexy5]

I believe I did swim on the south coast, followed by a long lunch if memory serves me correctly!

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10]

A welcome change in conditions today Dexy5. That 8k sounds perfect; it needs to hurt just a bit to show that you are really trying!

I use Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 for nearly all of my runs, 90% of which are on trails. I think the built in support is good enough for me( my physio thinks so too). I use Cloudflyers if I want to go for a short quicker run. Both have pretty high heel drops which means I never(🤞) have achilles trouble now, but my calves sometimes cry out for a bit of strengthening and rolling. I think that fixing calves is more straightforward than struggling with achilles. Whatever, great run today for you both. Up the Stanley (the football team!).🙂

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Beachcomber66]

I certainly need to up the exercises again BC . I’ve got lots of videos from my previous physio visits and time to get the roller out again.

[Beachcomber66 Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yep, the time has come for exercises for me too. It is easy to get carried away with improving pace and distance…..and suddenly a calf, achilles or hamstring yells out for attention. I am trying keep ahead of the game this year.

[Sandraj39 Graduate10]

Oh, that sounds like a wonderful run Dexy - well done to both of you! 🏃‍♀️🏃🏽Can’t help with a trail equivalent to Brooks Adrenaline but I also wear support shoes (Hoka Arahi’s). When I need a trail shoe I turn to my Hoka Speedgoats. I think Tasha99 and I compared notes on them along time ago, and they will forever be known as my ‘boing boing’ shoes now! So bouncy! 🦘They are quite low drop though so don’t know if this would solve your calf problem?

Lovely photo too btw - making me dream of being back on the trails!🙂

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Sandraj39]

I hope you are keeping well with Covid Sandra. I tried Hoka road shoes once and they were described as marmite shoes - you love them or hate them. 😂 I’m afraid they didn’t suit me at all. I think I will have to research Brooks trails, especially as they have a try and return promise.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10]

A wonderful, happy post... so, so good to see you back out there in a place you love! A twinge of toughness, but surely to be expected...

Huge well done to both of you xxx

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Oldfloss]

Thank you Oldfloss . Yes with the jump from 5k to 5 mile I should have expected a few twinges, but it was good to get out there again today.

PS my first attempt at sloe gin from my foraging there was very successful, and will be repeated. 😋

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

I Will drink to that ! I do love sloe gin!

[JonathanP Graduate10]

Sounds very enjoyable Dexy and a good pace too. We had a pleasant walk there last week - quite a few birdwatchers around. Apparently there was a rare Sabine's gull sighting near here so lots of excitement!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to JonathanP]

It is such a great place to just stand still and observe isn’t it? We were demoted to the 2nd car park as everyone else had the same idea today.

[AlMorr Ambassador Graduate10]

That's a good run for you and UpTheStanley, well done, great photo on a lovely day, I looked at a map, that's looking west from Hayling Island with Portsmouth in the distance, I notice also from the map that there is a bridge linking the island to the mainland.

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to AlMorr]

That’s right Al. The bridge to the island can get very congested, especially in the summer. There also used to be a bridge for the railway line, but that has long gone.

[SueAppleRun Graduate10 60minGraduate]

How lovely to be out and such good weather too, the photo is beautiful. I love those runs when CB asks you to push it a bit then ease back,

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to SueAppleRun]

After all the ‘ weather’ we’ve had this month it was good to get out today, and we haven’t driven to a run for ages so it was lovely to have a change of scenery.

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

What a perfect run Dexy. I bet the majority of us would like those conditions all the time. Well done on your 8k - a lovely distance. Meaty enough not to be daunting! I’m afraid I can’t help with shoe advice. I’m a neutral trotter and know zero about heel drops.

I’ll be stepping out in Los Cristianos in the morning. Us girls and the babies landed a few hours ago! It’ll feel odd not needing to wrap up to the eyeballs. 🙏🏻

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to cheekychipmunks]

Ooh how lovely cheekychipmunks , it’ll be different to your previous girly holidays , but how wonderful to have that special time with the babes. I hope you get a few nice runs in and send us photos of palm trees and blue sky.

[Cantstopmenow Graduate10]

I enjoyed reading your run report, especially as I'm not too familiar with your part of the world. It's good to hear you are able to venture further afield again and increase the distance with your 2 running companions! 😃

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Cantstopmenow]

thank you Cantstopmenow . Yes coach Bennett giving me good advice down my earphones is great. But having a real companion who promised to follow my pace, was welcome, especially when lunch was involved afterwards.

[Cantstopmenow Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

An excellent point Dexy. 😃

[OldManRunning Graduate10]

Nice run and photo Dexy5. I use to go on holidays there back in the 60's. We used to stay in an old railway carriage converted into a holiday home. We also went down for the whole of the summer once whilst they renovated where I lived. I was in a children's home in Basingstoke and despite their stereotyped reputations were some of the happiest times of my childhood. We had great times down there. Thank you for bringing back the memories 😁👍

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to OldManRunning]

They do sound like happy memories OldManRunning , and a whole summer on Hayling would have been idyllic. Of course in never rained in summer holidays in our memories.

[OldManRunning Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

That's true 😂

[MissUnderstanding Administrator Graduate10]

Coach B loves a curve ball! I’d totally forgotten that a really long way into the eight mile run he throws in 10k, 5k and mike pace pick ups. We nearly fell out then but I forgave him when they weren’t too long!

Sounds like a brilliant run in a brilliant place. Hope you find some trail shoes that suit. I’ve also got peregrines and I find them quite hard compared with my road shoes. I’ve mainly worn them when it’s been really muddy and I’ve really liked them for that but on road reactions they’re not that much fun!

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to MissUnderstanding]

Oh he does. I just love his Funky Fartleks too.

There’s no doubt the grip in the mud is excellent in the trails but I feel there may be a better shoe for me out there. I’ve just got to find it.

[Mudita11 Graduate10]

How lovely Dexy5 to do the Billy Trail. I did it once last year and can’t wait to do it again. Stunning views!

I’ve got the Hoka Speedgoats for trails and normally wear Brooks Adrenalines for road. I couldn’t get on with Hoka Cliftons for road running but the Speedgoats do seem good so far 🤞🏼 🤞🏼 🤞🏼. I’ll keep you informed 😃