Having been woken by my dog, Tilly, who wanted letting out, it was then I noticed I'd woken late and wouldn't make the first GB Ultra recce run of the Snowdon 50 Ultra... Great!
I needed to get a long run in as part of my training for the Chester 100 Ultra so apologies sent; I planned today's run.
I've got a pile of map printouts of runs I wish to do and ones I've ran. I found one around the Clywdians, close enough to make it before lunch and long enough to meet my distance requirements. Let the adventure begin.
I like to call my runs adventures because that's what they are. They'll never be training runs or quality sessions. My idea of quality, for running, differs from most keen runners. This isn't a poke at those runners. I couldn't push myself as hard as they do. I'd take my hat off to them, but my head would get cold... I've got little hair on my head!
My run started from Coed Larawyfan which is north of Moel Arthur. With a bag full of water, food for the day and a map I set off. Oh, it was raining.
Having trod many sections of today's run before I felt I didn't need to check the map often and so the adventure unfolded. I ran, okay there was walking. At path intersections I'd just select the one which went in the general direction.
So it was that I found some new places and places I recognised. It was great.
One of the best places I uncovered was a small woods just north of Moel y Plas. As I moved through the woods, the trees sliced through the blank of fog which was rolling down the hill. No photo could ever capture the atmosphere. It was a wow moment.
It had to happen. Something would try to ruin the day. This was my doing and can only be down to poor admin. Putting on the wrong shorts and forgetting my 'Body Glide' before and during the day equals, a sore later half of the day. I always like a challenge and so as I continued North towards Moel Famau I asked myself, "what can I use to fix this which nature can provide". Can I say Frog Spawn doesn't last that long? I'll leave it there. I'm just glad no-one was about to see me fishing it out of a pond!
I became desperate and to my rescue can a team of Reservists who were training for an event. I knew they'd have a first aid kit amongst them. With no inhibitions I asked them if they had any 'lube' for my chaffing. I'm sure the story is being told over a few beers.
I could run again... I took it easy on the final section as there were some slippy downhill moments. I may have cursed.
Back at the safety of my car,for the first time, I checked how far I'd ran. 41km.
To spend the day on the hill, not worrying about food, water and the route made this a special day. Finding new places, even working through my painful challenge added to the adventure and all help answer the question, Why I Run.
My adventures will continue though I'll forego the chaffing experience next time if you don't mind.
I needed to get a long run in as part of my training for the Chester 100 Ultra so apologies sent; I planned today's run.
I've got a pile of map printouts of runs I wish to do and ones I've ran. I found one around the Clywdians, close enough to make it before lunch and long enough to meet my distance requirements. Let the adventure begin.
I like to call my runs adventures because that's what they are. They'll never be training runs or quality sessions. My idea of quality, for running, differs from most keen runners. This isn't a poke at those runners. I couldn't push myself as hard as they do. I'd take my hat off to them, but my head would get cold... I've got little hair on my head!
 |
| I seem to be alone today... Strange! |
Having trod many sections of today's run before I felt I didn't need to check the map often and so the adventure unfolded. I ran, okay there was walking. At path intersections I'd just select the one which went in the general direction.
So it was that I found some new places and places I recognised. It was great.
One of the best places I uncovered was a small woods just north of Moel y Plas. As I moved through the woods, the trees sliced through the blank of fog which was rolling down the hill. No photo could ever capture the atmosphere. It was a wow moment.It had to happen. Something would try to ruin the day. This was my doing and can only be down to poor admin. Putting on the wrong shorts and forgetting my 'Body Glide' before and during the day equals, a sore later half of the day. I always like a challenge and so as I continued North towards Moel Famau I asked myself, "what can I use to fix this which nature can provide". Can I say Frog Spawn doesn't last that long? I'll leave it there. I'm just glad no-one was about to see me fishing it out of a pond!
I became desperate and to my rescue can a team of Reservists who were training for an event. I knew they'd have a first aid kit amongst them. With no inhibitions I asked them if they had any 'lube' for my chaffing. I'm sure the story is being told over a few beers.
I could run again... I took it easy on the final section as there were some slippy downhill moments. I may have cursed.
Back at the safety of my car,for the first time, I checked how far I'd ran. 41km.
To spend the day on the hill, not worrying about food, water and the route made this a special day. Finding new places, even working through my painful challenge added to the adventure and all help answer the question, Why I Run.
My adventures will continue though I'll forego the chaffing experience next time if you don't mind.
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| Moel Famau |
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| The finish.. can anyone smell burning? |