Dartmoor Adventures -Blue and Me

Early run from Lady Wood to Owley Gate towards Glaston Corner. Thunder on the edge of the moor and another cloud rising on the skyline so decided to keep to the edge. Some lovely views and total solitude apart from the start when the fox hounds passed us in the car park . Blue was such a good dog going through the field of them. Once out we were on our own. 6km.

    Sunday Morning Run

    Rarely do I run in the early morning, but today seemed to hold much promise.

    Always starting on an incline means pace doesn’t settle straight away. I decided to go to the very top of the hill as Sunday’s are generally a bit quieter on the narrow descent; suffice to say, I had to pause four times to allow traffic to pass. Turning left at the bottom, follows the contour of the hill with the gentlest downward tilt. This is enough to get the stride correct and to achieve flow. For a kilometre and a half, the run is the best. There follows a short stretch on the main road to the bridges and then left along the river. It was already warm so it was good to be beneath trees. From the river, the road twists steeply to the village and then a steady upward slope home. 6.5km and the whole day still ahead!

    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.