...Three snow-topped mountains
Two routes to run on
And one very happy, slow and steady snail
A glorious morning on the Welsh coast, despite strong winds and heavy rain during the night.
I was so, so, determined to run today if at all possible; this would be my penultimate run before my two year Runniversary, and, like so many of us over the past week, wound up and weather bound, I was eager to head out, once the surfaces were safe to run on. The weather forecast gloomily predicted a yellow warning of ice and the crisp air did little to dispel that forecast, but...togged up, ( thanks aliboo70 ), warmed up and excited, I went out into the morning.
A later start for me, but, I felt that leaving a little later might mean that any patches of ice might have melted
A brisk warm up walk, with some gentle exercise en route, and a quick photo stop, to capture the beauty of the morning, and I was ready to run. Not my usual route into the town today, as this might be the last time I run here until after Christmas. So starting slowly and carefully and keeping a sharp eye on the ground ahead, I ran down the hill and turned over the level crossing towards the Esplanade. A small patch of ice, stretching from the plates of the crossing presented a slight issue, but safely negotiated and I was soon on the drier surface of the Prom'. No cars at all today, the summer holidaymakers long gone, and the winter-breakers, still tucked up , warm and snug behind the curtained windows of hotels or B and Bs. The sea shimmering in the clarity of a winter morning, the sand, white-wave frilled and the rippled flatness stretching , gold-tipped towards a distant horizon.
One photo here for Seaskimmer !
Resisting the temptation to run along the sand, I made my way towards the castle.. my feet, almost noiseless, landing lightly and gently on the ground. Low-lit clouds, small sea-birds bobbing in companionable symmetry on the Bay, and the air, like a fine wine, crisp, dry and with a sharp salt after-taste. So much to see, and as ever the sheer joy of running, in such a place on such a morning threatens to overwhelm me.
I have run and rambled for nearly two years now and the pleasure never diminishes.
Running slowly and a quick glance at the Garmin tells me, I am doing as I should.. a slow 1st K, and as I head towards the Lifeboat Station the scent of coffee, and breakfast in the making, reaches me and makes my tummy rumble.... foregoing the hill leading to the castle, ( I have not run since Tuesday last week and I am old).. I head up towards the centre of the town, but I turn off, along Tanygrisiau Terrace and cut up towards the school.
Now...this was a little bit of a mistake, because, having last run this route previously, it was on a Sunday, when there were no children, or parents, or buggies and babies! Clearly, they had never seen anything quite so awesome , sorry, unbelievable, as this weird old lady trogging along, head-banded, buffed, rosy cheeked and grinning like a Cheshire Cat! But, they accepted me gracefully,and with Good mornings and a few Bore da-s , I was past and heading around the base of the grassy hill and towards Marine Parade. Terraced houses, Christmas bedecked, bay windows with trees of all shapes and sizes, baubled and bangled, elegant, gaudy, tinselled and tasselled.. what a change from my Summer runs!
Out onto Marine Parade... the terraced, pastel coloured B and Bs, closed for the winter, no vacancies. signs in the window and the self-catering apartments empty of self-caterers... down the steps onto the lower promenade , wet gloves from holding the hand rail, as I headed along towards the coastal path. This beach is my favourite, but not with the holiday makers. It is stony, with huge pebbles, and slopes quickly, a rock-pooling beach and not for swimming. This morning, silent and brooding, beneath the shadow of the castle. I reached the end of the promenade and ran up the steps quickly, and on a whim,turned and ran along the coastal path. The path is narrow and runs right along to Pwllheli; too far for me this morning, so just a run to the first cottage and turn there. As I ran, my thoughts wandered as they do.. the hedge was too high for me to see the view, so I just ran, picking up speed a little as my legs found their happy pace. This is where I start to feel like I can run forever.
I always take my friends from the forum with me; you are there, believe it or not in my head and many of you at certain times, in my heart. Laugh if you like...but it is how it is This morning, a few friends were uppermost in my mind, some going through rough times, feeling sadness or grief, coping with loss or illness, and just trying to make sense of it all. They were with me and I shared my run and the wonder of the day with them. Running along, the branches thinning on cliff side, the morning lightened and I glimpsed the sea, cold and grey here, stretching out, a silent witness to a waiting world, and words from Dylan Thomas's. A Child's Christmas in Wales came into my head.......” the rim of the ice-edged fish-freezing waves”
somehow, they seemed to fit
Reaching the cottage, I turned, knowing the 3K I had intended to run, was complete, but I carried on, back down onto the lower promenade and along and round again. A dog walker now on the beach, cars moving along the parade, workmen renovating one of the small hotels , clattering and clanging, loud-mouthed laughter echoing as I finish my run. A satisfying and steady 4K. Slowing to a walk... I realised I now had to walk back home! So a quick phone call to Mr OF... and the pleasure of the return journey.
The walk up below the castle was chilly and I was glad to make the relative warmth of Beach Bank... still no-one on the Esplanade as I took a few more photographs...the day, so promising, was beginning to darken and as I turned up the bank for home the first drops of rain were beginning to fall. Winter rain, like icy confetti.... welcome on my warm cheeks and quite unable to dampen the elation of spirit in my heart.
Runners be aware!!
On the 6th day of Birthday...
Running along Ipanema beach front
Weston-S-Mare Half Marathon
