...the darling buds of May; or in this instance...me
My wonderful run across Carsington Dam, on Tuesday morning, before the rain arrived, was not to be replicated yesterday morning! After a wonderful day cycling on Thursday, I thought I would take a leisurely ,repeat run, before we headed home.
A quick cup of tea and the obligatory digestive biscuit, then togged up, ready to venture out into the morning sunshine! Earlier than Tuesday, as I woke at 6.15... so headed out quietly, past the silent sleepers in their own tin-tents, and warm-up walk down to the road. A glorious morning, chilly but sunny, and the world to myself, again.
However, I noticed the wind straight away, even in the protection of the trees. I had promised husband, if it was very windy on the dam, and it often is.. then I would not run along it. But, it was the last morning... 
Down to Millfields car park and a quick couple of circuits, to get me going.. then Speed for my dam run...My eyes were streaming, even at this point, as the wind whistled by me, but I headed for the viewing area, did another run around there and off onto the track and the dam.
Mistake.
The wind hit me, as I left the relative shelter of the trees and out onto the dam track. Foolishly, I started to run... the wind was very strong and coming off the water, in almost continuous gusts...which meant it was blowing me in the direction of the grass and back towards the slope which drops steeply down to the road! It was very hard going, very hard, and I really should have turned, as I was getting nowhere... fast. I thought with the podcast and the intervals I could, somehow, run as quickly as I could, and somehow again, get to the other side. However a little like Anniemurph (just read her post on Bridge to 10 K), I had a major technical hitch... Garmin kept peeping at me, my phone and Laura switched to some weird music then back to another podcast... then off. I stopped and fiddled, but with eyes were still streaming and the wind buffeting me madly, no chance. I carried on a bit further; I can only describe it as running yet, not running...fairly difficult to breathe evenly too. I think I read about running against the wind to train, for speed and strength..a bit like weight resistance??? Anyway.. I don't think I was doing very well at it at all 
I saw a couple of Canada Geese up ahead of me, who appeared to be sheltering under a seat, ( sensible),and thought I would turn there. The water was choppy, just like the ocean, with white foam hitting the boulders on the dam wall...giant white swirls of cloud scudding, and tacking, like yachts across the blue sea/sky. I reached the seat, much to the alarm of the geese, who beat an indignant and clumsy retreat to the water, I sat down and eventually managed to get the podcast back on.. for about ten seconds. gave up at this point and took some photographs.
Pulled my hat down tighter and pulled the zip up on my jacket. The wind seemed to have increased in force, and heading back towards Millfields across the dam, I was struggling to keep on the track and not get blown away! The old story, against you when you are running out, and against you when you are running back!!! Nearing the end of the dam I met a lady walking two small terrier dogs, she was clinging to their leads and almost holding them down. I warned her about the ferocity of the wind, but she said she was heavier than me ( ), and carried on. Back to the viewing area where I completed four circuits of it, before heading back along the track to the car park. Looking back at the dam, I could not see the lady and dogs. I am hoping all three survived. Round the car park and then up the hill and back to the tin tent.
I was quite literally exhausted when I reached it. (Partly because of the battering I had received from the wind, and partly because I ran up the hill to the site, because I felt I had not done proper run... !) Yes, I am loopy.. Red faced, windblown and watery eyed. No idea of my distance at all...I had been out for forty minutes.
It was...different! I am not sure whether I felt exhilarated or relieved... probably a bit of both.
I think one of my favourite quotes sums it up for me, (altered a bit)...
"One day I won't be able to do this...yesterday wasn't that day."
So ladies, what shorts do you shake your booty in?
Exposed skin No wind Parkrun PB 
