Having run at the Netley 10k on 19th May, the intention was that I would increase the distance in the intervening weeks before the next 10k race. But due to Covid recovery, postponed wedding anniversary trip, appalling weather and a tooth extraction, it just didn’t go to plan. Given that my next 10k race at Exbury Gardens is in 10 days, I thought this was the week to do another 10k. I had a failed attempt on Monday because my legs just didn’t want to go further than 5k. So I looked at the weather forecast this morning - no wind! No rain and light cloud. So I got into my running gear while UpTheStanley headed for the gym for weight training.
I headed to the north foreshore of Portsmouth , and ran south along the shared path, towards the athletics track where school children were competing in inter school athletics. Turning round I headed back north and towards Lakeside, the home of the Portsmouth Lakeside parkrun. The sun had come out and it was so beautiful running along the edge of the lake, with wild flowers blooming on either side of the gravel path and geese, duck, coots and swans swimming on the flat water. I stopped every now and then to take a picture, or drink some water, and felt no pressure to look at my watch. Runners and walkers said hello and this really was the perfect run to get to my magic 10k.
As I left this area. I saw a bird of prey fly to a perch. Is this a kestrel or a sparrow hawk? I need to check my bird book, unless someone here knows.
Back to the foreshore and the wake park, checking out our pair of swans and 7 fluffy cygnets who are still doing well. 10k done with a running time of 77:30 and elapsed time of 83:00. I’m very happy with that, and am ready to go for it at Exbury Gardens. Hopefully it will be cooler than last year.
UTS joined me for a cappuccino and a toasted sandwich outside the cafe while we watched newbee wake boarders learning their craft .
The wind and the rain will be coming back!
Written by
Dexy5
10 Miles
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The perfect day for that run Dexy. I also did a 10k yesterday but not so picturesque - Purbrook, across to Bedhampton, then pounding back up Portsdown Hill!😩
All sounds lovely. I expect that being back at 10km after feeling poorly must feel good. Sorry I don't know what the bird is. I really enjoy spotting a bird that isn't usually around. Not happened much recently though. Happy injury free running 😊🏃♀️
It’s so satisfying to get that run ticked off before race day, so you can chill now and enjoy the day.
Lovely photos Dexy 😍 but I have no idea about birds so can’t help even though we get lots of different ones in our garden and the odd bird of prey. We did have a hedgehog yesterday, just walking along the patio and then disappearing into the garden. Lovely it was.
All I can say is boo to the wind and rain 🙁 We’ve had quite enough already.
That sounds like the run, and apres run, that you really needed Dexy5. I managed a 4K recovery run in the sun this morning; it has clouded over and rained since, but I absorbed a few rays. I might get the Mr White Legs award on Scilly next week!
I can’t identify your bird from the photograph; my best guess is sparrowhawk. We get quite a few of them around here….they sometimes come into our garden to feed on other birds, leaving a headless corpse surrounded by feathers on the lawn! They even take pigeons. Eyes bigger than stomachs as my mother would have said!
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