In the Rain

Wednesday 5th August

On stepping out,the wind blasted in my face and the misty rain came horizontal .I settled into a good rhythm and followed the ridge road a couple of km. Once running downhill, the gradients are steep- and due to the wet roads- I erred on slow and steady as the tractor- worn ridges are slipppery and the roads well pot- holed . Glad of my trail shoes.

This was near enough 10km . Coombeshead , Murtwell, Beenleigh, Westleigh .

Still warm in the sheltered lanes even though there was steady drizzle and dripping trees. The wind picks up as I run up to higher parts and the trees roar. Rain by this time came horizontal and as I pass gateways the South Westerly blasts in my face. There is something magical about being in the elements.

Not without issues though as it was indeed slow and from the outset one toenail was digging into my shoe . The Saloman trail shoes-though perfect for this terrain- are hard and although one foot was comfortable the other was not and so balance was off as I was careful on lessening the weight on that side.

Some good parts where the gradient down was shallow and I could touch down lightly meant I could cover ground more efficiently. Finding an efficient way to run which uses as little effort as possible is something I am working on. Some of tonight’s run was hard due to limitations.

Evening in each Direction

Look West:
A golden band paints the western sky
Grey threads drawn through, 
Soft edges dissipate. 
Leaves which earlier were twisted and wind-blown 
Cast silhouettes;
The black moorland outline 
Is defined
Like the back of a sleeping giant.
Look North:
Cyan Blue and misty grey 
Softness as the light diminishes;
A world of stillness broken 
By the fleeting shapes that 
Cross the sky.
Look South:
The distant hills
Of violet hue 
Where the land meets the sea
Look East. 
Beyond the dark shapes of trees
A whisper of light
Pulsates once then twice
Through the night
The lighthouse beam 
Twenty five miles away
Look west:
Night.


Needing to run

I needed to run too: this week has been monumental . Firstly, the stress of clearing my Father’s house has begun. From his care home, he phones often and more often on who is collecting what, when and how. So my brother and I meet to decide. This week I had to collect furniture and artefacts . That meant hiring a van – a task itself. Next we had to reconfigure our house in order to accommodate things. Therefore I am in the swing of clearing out and reducing our home too. The stress is evident ( with so much to do) but cleansing and liberating to declutter. I am determined to continue just like I have tried to declutter my life and slow down.

Suddenly, I have lost that destressed state which I had acquired through lockdown. Tonight I was in need of a run ( with all going on I have missed four days). And so in the lane on a steady 6km it felt redemptive to release the tiredness of endless cleaning and clearing,placating ,justifying, defending which I have had to do this week .

Oh for the love of running (which was ultimately very slow as a teenager sped past me ) whilst I was lost in thought.

That lane earned its name as The Thinking Lane long ago -and for good reason.

Technical review

8km around the local area in new shoes- Lincombe Westleigh, Beenleigh. Kept a constant speed and near- enough flattened out the time on the hills ( of which there are several on this route ). Short and steep inclines were easy. The long slow climb was more steady at 6km point.

New Sauncony Triumph 17 trainers seem responsive and stabilising. PWRFLEX+foam cushions the ride (hopefully to save the knees) and seems smooth. They are lighter than they look and airy too. As a result The stride is lengthened. Grip is good. Lucky to get them in a 45% sale. I go through trainers so quickly. (These guarantee 400 miles – we’ll see).

Most of this season I’ve used the Salomon Speed Cross 5 trail running shoes as the roads are rough and often I’m running on tracks and grass. They are great- fast but hard and so the knees suffer. They took a while to wear in: they are cut high and graze the ankle bone. Even so I have persevered with them and they cover ground well up to 10km. They have been my preferred shoe when roads are wet and slippery. Negatives – they are my heaviest shoe.

Hopefully a change of shoe will add comfort over the summer which is when I tend to get longer runs in more frequently as time allows.They are a neutral shoe and balance seemed good.If true to reviews they will perform well . I did knock a few minutes overall today due to a longer balanced stride . The first three Km were consistently around the 7 min range.

Interval timing

I tried this : 2000m in 14 mins ;1000m in 8mins :800 M in 6mins and 500M in 5mins .In the rest after 2 Km I was level with the field where I saw 6 hares two days ago . I could see heads and ears which looked taller . Carefully, I climbed the gate : two roe deer grazing . Slowly, I walked along the perimeter until I was almost drawn level . Two hares were with the deer. The start of rain must have hidden the scent as I got so close. Typically, I was without my phone . When the deer saw me they moved with such leaps and bounds which was utterly amazing and made nothing of the jump over barbed wire into the woodland of the valley . The hares went several directions before deciding to follow suit. By now it was raining steadily . But what did I care – that was brilliant.

Inheritance

The gifts engraved from birth to now
Are etched upon the mind;
A long awaited time
Mixed with fear and sadness too
The sense of responsibility held
Is in trepidation endowed;
Like guests who visit 
These treasures duly must settle in 
As a sense of disorder prevails
Upon the streamlined nature of the home 
I as custodian am 
Must welcome in and find a place  
For them until they move on again; 
Entrusted that they remain secure
And will a legacy provide
For those who follow on from us;
And so a sense of continuity ensues;
A Timelessness  and solidity 
A sense of place for now 
Connects us with the past
And informs us for the future
And so a sense of peace returns
As quietly a new normal resumes;
This is the nature of inheritance.


Star-gazing on Dartmoor

Determined to get a good view of comet Neowise before cloud returns later this week, we headed to the moors shortly after midnight. With biscuits and flasks of coffee , it felt like a min- adventure.

It was a total surprise to see so many Campervans parked up – everyone in staycation I guess. Anyway we duly parked in a small car park above Hexworthy. The same light pollution though that we get at home, though the sky was bigger. The comet last night was more faint than the night before – though the tail is long – and there was a fringe of light cloud near the skyline in the NorthWest.

It was fun all the same: we saw a few meteors, satellites and of course Jupiter and Saturn are bright side by side in the South. The Perseid meteor shower is not yet at its peak, so we shall venture out again another night when the skies are clear.

Photo by Matt Holland taken over King Tor

Running the slow lane

21st July

Short run training tonight 1km x5 working on flow and balance.

Sky Runner by Emilie Forsberg is such an inspiring read. She runs because she loves it and runs to live.

Run often, Run far,Run short,Run fast,Run slow
But never run away from the joy of running.

So tonight I met more in the lane than ever: two tractors, two vans, one car, one horse, one runner, one walker.

The highlight was that the fields have just been cut and the gates left open. I decided to run the one which has a flat part to the top. That was good for pace. Then the long sweep to the bottom was fast and then the run along the bottom which is bordered by the trees in the valley. I’d seen the hare, so I knew he’d be there . But I was in for a treat – his partner and four half grown leverets.

Just like Emilie – there is joy in running.

Photo from WordPress