Hello lovely running buddies. How’s your week been?
Being away at the moment, my current running environment is all new to me. The most obvious issue is that it's a whole lot warmer and hillier than I am used to and planning longer run routes isn't easy (Komoot keeps trying to send me down broken up paths through banana plantations 😠).
Besides that though, there are so many new things to see - of course the sea itself, the mountains and the newly formed lava fields (created by the latest (2021) volcanic eruption) scarring the landscape, not to mention the ubiquitous banana plantations!
Having listened to several NRC guided runs and podcasts, which urge me to really take notice of my environment when out running, I really do consciously try to take something noticeable from my surroundings during each and every run (well, except possibly the speed runs where my brain seems to seize up, possibly due to lack of oxygen).
Do you do the same? Especially on those long runs when it's all too easy to disappear inside your own thoughts 🙈
I was thinking, perhaps it might be fun if we could put together a scavenger hunt type challenge based on what we see.
Could you include something (or indeed a few things!) from one of your recent runs in the comments below - as much or as little detail as you like; tell us what you noticed, maybe why it stood out, even a photo if you have one. Then if we get enough ideas, I will use them to put together a mini HU challenge for anyone who wants to join in. After all, there's nothing like a challenge to help put a long run by 😍
So get your thinking caps on and tell us about a recent run and what you spotted along the way. Not all things will be spottable for everyone, but we can make it as generic as possible with a few 'difficult ones' thrown in!
Don't forget, we'd love to hear how your running is going right now too (or even how it's not going, perhaps, if you are unfortunate enough to be stuck on the IC).
Wishing everyone a good week whatever you have planned, and look forward to hearing about your 'spots' 🥰
From The Team xxx
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To get the ball rolling! I had a 7 mile run this morning - hot and hilly for me, all run on legs of lead. No walking ... but several stops for photos as you can see fromt he picture above.
The spots I'm going to mention -
A sports stadium (pitch/field)
Railings (we've been watching them paint these ... still going)
Statue
Balcony
Contagious smiles
I could easily add sea (or at least water) and, of course, bananas!!!
Good morning Linda, this is very exciting for me because I can now see so much better and am not concentrating on whether there's anything to fall over in the path so much.I've been loving your photos, lately I'm not taking so many photos on runs as trying to be a bit more consistent without keep stopping or walking, but I will now 😁.
My list from yesterday's 4k slow but mostly run :
Trees.
Cars .
People.
Dogs.
A jet skier.
Windfarm windmills out to sea.
My granddaughter.
The list could go on and on.....
Enjoy the rest of your time away, keep posting pictures, have fun 😊
Oh yes! This should be a challenge in honour of yourself and your eye surgery 'twin'. Having watched my father's initial reaction after cataract surgery I can imagine how much better things are for you right now - especially now you're back running again 🥰Please don't feel you have to stop and take photos though, I just needed an excuse for a few breaks today 🥵
I took one on my walk this morning, and apart from the usual I saw tyres...lots of tyres and now have a set of safe shiny new ones on my car . So of course I saw the sea too,
I was happy to see the tyres, now they are as safe as can be. The sea is different every day, I haven't managed a sunset walk yet or run but have some beautiful photos from other years
My father lives above the Okanagan Lake, with huge wraparound picture windows. It's a constantly changing view from day to day and dawn til dusk; with some sunsets and sunrises to die for. The sea is even more dynamic though, not just how it looks but how it sounds and smells too. Wonderful!
My run routes always include our beautiful ocean. I never get bored running along it as it changes daily. If I’m very fortunate I also see Dolphins. I’ve also already seen too many snakes this year 😳
I’m 125km off my yearly target so hopefully the snakes won’t get me before I complete that & my metric.
Your photos always look so eautiful RW - I'd love for a view like yours every time I run. Dolphins would be quite something too, how wonderful. But snakes? I think one would be too many for me!!! Do they tend to be be a real hazard for you, something you have to be very wary of while you're running? I think tree roots, kerbs and potholes are the most dangerous hazards I encounter out running 😍Only 125km of that masssive target remaining? That's an awesome achievement RW, well done 👏
We’ve only been in Western Australia for a couple of years but I’ve seen more snakes this year than I’ve ever seen in my life. You have to be aware but as long as you keep a distance it’s all good. I’m certainly not going to be taking photographs of them. They’re pretty quick once they do move 😳
Oooh, scary. When Mr9388 and I were cycling in Canada last year I almkst cycled over one. It reared up as I went by, I stopped beyond it and suggested Mr9389 stop take a photo. He refused!!! For much the same reason as you describe 😅
I gave up my long run with Joan B-S and Coach Bennett to walk and talk to a lady from the gym I used to go to.
As we walked and chatted she spotted a small flock of birds in front of us. Stonechats! 😀 She knew what they were and we stood and watched them up close, showing their gorgeous autumn colour 😍 Then a little bit further on we stood to admire the aerobatic elegance of buzzards
The guided run was nearly finished when we went our separate ways so I ran on, and added some on to make me feel less guilty 😊🏃♀️
Coach Bennett would have been so proud of you Miss W - you took control of that run and owned it (especially that extra bit) 😍What a glorious spectacle, and you may well have missed it all if you hadn't stopped (and you'd absolutely have missed it if you'd stayed on the couch 😀)
I'm glad to hear the weather has improved a bit too - we have missed some terrible stuff by the sounds of it 😱
The weather really changes how the reserve looks and you can’t help but notice it. The flooding had left sheaves of vegetation which the birds have been feeding on I noticed how these are now reduced to much smaller heaps and will disappear naturally back into the earth. The winter foliage has some beautiful seed heads bringing more birds to feed on them. I go there at dusk sometimes when it looks quite different 🥰
All totally free and open to all. I have the place to myself completely sometimes and I love that. Far from the madding crowd sorta thing 🙂
Hello everyone. I still have my “In Rehab Please Pass” sign on, so only a steady 5k this morning. Back to the physio on Friday, but things are improving after some exercise band work, stretches and a bit of weight lifting!
This morning was nice and bright and the autumn leaves and berries are starting to appear. The leaf litter has made a nice carpet over the soggy ground; fortunately it is not slippy. I see all sorts of creatures on my runs - birds, farm animals, horses, foxes etc, depending on the season. The photo shows my trail this morning. It would have been distasteful to take a photograph, but I managed to overtake two other runners this morning!! This is a rare event, as indeed is my being overtaken by someone. I think that I have become a running Trappist! I like the space to think and get things into perspective. I am sure that I miss lots of interesting sights, but my runs still serve a purpose.
For a while, I avoided the specific area where I fell on 12 June, but I didn’t transfer that aversion to the rest of my trails….they are just part of my every day life!
My main trail used to be a railway line, so it drains well and there are relatively few roots showing….I rarely find the few that are there, but tend to make a good job of it when I do!!🤕
Your face plant was pretty spectacular; no repeats required!
A lot of my trails are covered by generous layers of finely crushed stone, hence the absence of roots. The trouble is that it is very abrasive as my knee found out. One fall in 5 years isn’t bad.🫢
Eek, picking that out would be painful! I've had two falls in 6 years I think. One on a canal towpath where I bit through my lip and then the tree root that took out half my front two teeth and injured my hand for the best part of a year!
I'm somewhat resigned to it not being my last tumble, but determined to reduce the odds where I can. My last run I had to choose between a steep downhill cobbled path (cobbled with angular lava rocks, not smooth, rounded cobbles) or the road which was longer, with two hairpin bends ... and no path. I chose the latter and a neon pink vest!!! Whether that reduced the odds or simply changed the risk factor, I'm not sure. But importantly, I survived 😍
I run down a secluded lane alongside a busy road. It’s a route carved out by dog walkers from a pretty village You feel totally cocooned from the world in there. It’s tree root central though. I ran through it the other day and took more care than usual 🙂🏃♀️
I just like running in woodland as it’s kinder on the feet and legs. Oh, and quieter. You have to run with your head down though whilst trying not to bump into things 😁
That looks gorgeous BC - and not a puddle in sight either. Just to be in the middle of nature like that, and to have it all to yourself too, is something to notice for sure. I've never seen a fox on my runs - been startled by several deer and pheasants, but not a fox. Guess I'll just have to keep running!Glad to hear the exercises are helping and that all seems well. Fingers crossed for a glowing report from the physio on Friday 🤞
The sightings tend to be spread out…it’s a while since I saw a barn owl, but there have been plenty of buzzards, kestrels, nuthatches, tree creepers and even a kingfisher and a gold crest on top of the usual suspects like various types of tit, chaffinches, robins etc. I know that I am lucky to have the forest so close to home.
I saw a treecreeper while sitting in the car the other day. Tiny little thing but so busy I thought it was a wren at first but it was it’s behaviour that convinced me it was a tc. It was nearly dark so hard to tell. I think a tc is smaller than a wren. The thing looked hardly bigger than a bumble bee 🙂
it was interested in us and didn’t dart away until we turned in its direction. Very small field of runners Maybe the smallest ever 😁. So, we get strung out over the course, so no thundering of hooves to bother the wildlife 😃.
One day we were standing on the edge of a valley, and we saw a fox hunt in progress on the far side. I looked to our left, and there, about 20 yards away from us, was a fox surveying the scene from a safe distance! Clever animals. 🦊
Hello Linda and all, running along the sea front gives an ever changing vista and I often ask UpTheStanley if he saw this or that, and it’s amazing how more observant I am, probably because I run at a slower pace. Although I often see herring gulls, black headed gulls and pigeons, it’s great to see some rarer visitors such as little egrets, cormorants and on occasion, a black swan. Also where we ran yesterday, we have been following the growth of a swan family from fluffy balls to almost fully grown cygnets but not yet with pure white plumage.
My runs last week were restricted to before and after storms. The first, an 8k along the prom and then up Langstone harbour to the Hayling Island ferry and back . Yesterday was a RunWalkLocal, similar to parkrun but run by the local community in the north of the city, with a choice of 2k or 5k runs. I was pleased to get a RWL PB (32:30), in lovely running conditions .
I thought of you on my run this morning Dexy5 ; running along the marina to the end then turning and coming back ... I touched the wall and thought of Southsea (Nailsea?) 😍I am very impressed by your bird kniwledge and all your spots.
Is RunWalk Local a national initiative or just local to you? Congratulations on your PB - that's a nice time 🤞
I think you were thinking of Eastney, the eastern end of our prom, Linda. Nailsea is near Bristol.
It used to be Great Run Local, run by the Great races organisation, along similar lines to parkrun on a Sunday , but there were not many of them around the country. After the pandemic they abandoned them, but the event director here sought council funding to get it going under the name RunWalkLocal. It is more relaxed than parkrun as there is no barcode or lists of runners. The timekeeper calls your time as you cross the line. 215 runners doing 5k or 2k yesterday and lots of families take part.
Eastney! That's it 😍That's a good turnout isn't it? Especially given how well attended your parkrun is too. Well done to that RD for keeping it going 🥰
I've loved seeing your photos, runs and walks this past week. My runs normally include water, but puddles, rather than the ocean! I also spotted boats, cliffs, a banana skin (luckily), 4 other friendly runners and several deposits of "doggy doos".
I am pleased that, according to Strava, my runs here are stronger than on my last visit.
I seem to be more a consumer than a contributor of this group. I will remedy that! Have a good week. 🙂
Photo of a harbour and cliffs, photo of the sea and sky
Wow, it looks so beautiful. What a blessing the banana peel didn't turn into a more sinister incident 😱 Doggy deposits seem to be an issue here in La Palma too, sadly. Not sure I want to add those to a scavenger hunt list though 😍😍😍Great that you can see an improvement in your running strength - strava does have it's uses (more than just a holiday album 😉 ).
We do love contributors, but consumers are very welcome too 😍
Hiya Linda, if I run on Thursday mornings I count bin lorries. One day I turned the corner and there were 5 of them! No, I don’t live near the council depot, they just all seemed to descend at the same time. It was the day when there were 3 wheelie bins and a food caddy to empty though, so I think they started early to get round everyone. Sorry, I don’t have photos but you all know what a bin lorry looks like anyway.
Unfortunately I’m not running at the moment due to having a wisdom tooth out so I can’t say anything more recent. Hopefully I’ll get out again in a couple of days before I start getting rangry!
Haha. Good spot TC. Maybe change your Thursday route on warm days though 😍How frustrating having to wait to run - especially for you 😅 I hope you're healing well though and back out again very soon.
I'm not sure anyone wants to meet a rangry TC ... poor Katnap 🙏
I love new running routes as there’s always something different to see and hear, and sometimes smell! Enjoy your runs there Linda 😍
As I’m still building up and need continuous runs at the minute I’m heading mostly to the arboretum as I don't have to stop for traffic or people. And the arboretum is glorious in November!
I normally take loads of photos enroute but these were taken on my warmup and cool down. I went late yesterday so there weren’t many people around and it was mostly me and the trees. On my way I saw colour 🌈 Lots and lots of colour. Orange, red, all shades of green, yellow, pink, all blending against a beautiful blue sky but with clouds coming in.
I saw some big lights lying in a heap clearly just waiting to be put up for the Enchanted Christmas events, some huge silver bells already hung up (I didn't get a photos of these), the setting sun glowing through the branches of the trees and highlighting the top of Westonbirt School in the distance.I ran past the welcome stone with details of when the arboretum was opened and by whom. Further on I ran past the Gruffalo, usually surrounded by children but yesterday all on his own ☹️
I saw the tree roots that caught me out once and where I ended up sprawled on the forest floor 🫣 I know now to give them a wide berth! I saw a few walkers, no runners and no doggies in the old arboretum. Dogs are not allowed in this section.
All in all, a lovely run. And all is good with the running body too 👍
No special runs this week,just ones in the dark! Last night's club run was quite amusing when we had 2 teenage boys doing short spurts of sprinting alongside us on the industrial estate til one of them overdid it and had to pull up! 🤪🤣shouldn't laugh really but it was quite amusing!
I've not done much this last week but hoping to get out on a puddly trail run tonight!
Hi Linda, I'm trying to solve my shoe dilemma! how many pairs did you take to La Palma? Do you just wear only trail running shoes, or do you have hiking shoes and running shoes? I have 5 pairs with me for a variety of running, hiking & social occasions - I think I need to consolidate!!
Oh I feel your pain there. Take the shoes and there's only half a case left!!!I have my main running shoes, the oldest pair, and they have done for all my hiking and running while I'm here. I have walking sandals too, flip flops (and ordinary walking trainers which I only wore for travelling). For Canada I'll need a pair of winter boots too. Sigh ... 😍
Yes! You can wear a jumper, fleece and a waterproof on the plane, but not 2 or 3 pairs of shoes!It's good to know that you have managed on steep, rough, volcanic, mountainous terrain in your road running shoes. I've only ever worn hiking shoes, or sturdy walking sandals.
I think I might invest in a pair of trail running shoes for hikes and road running.
It was 6C this morning, overcast, a chill in the wind. A Smoggy summer!🙂. I have had to put on leggings with my black shorts this morning. Except the black shorts have red inserts which extend about 4 inches below the shorts( it has a long phone pocket). Two shirts on top..upper layer is a bright blue great run long sleeved shirt. I look like a psychedelic traffic cone..oh I forgot the hat…probably my blue and yellow version complete with Pom Pom. I should stay in really! Slipping another 5k rehab run before physio tomorrow probably won’t make any difference. But, I am going to run because some part of me hopes I will feel better afterwards. In your own time Tasha, but we all know you can do it and another running day will dawn. In the meantime, do as Linda says…always a good plan!🙂
I finished physio today. Just been running 5ks for the last two weeks. My distance build up restarts on Monday. I like some of the guided tempo and interval runs on NRC HM…a nice buzz without too much distance!Hope your mojo is hiding just around the corner 🙂
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