Beach run

I’ve taken advantage of a “reading week” at university and removed myself out of the rat race down to my parent’s caravan in Devon. The weather is glorious, and since it’s not the school holidays, thankfully the site is almost free from screaming children and barking dogs.

I thought it might be a nice idea to go for a little run along the beach, and had visions of me striding, Pamela-Anderson-in–Baywatch-style across the sands through the breaking water. Hmmm.  It didn’t quite work out like that. Running on sand, whether it be dry (gets in your trainers) or damp (makes your feet wet) is actually bloody hard work. The blazing sunshine probably didn’t help either, and the fact that I was wearing black made me sweat like a pig. Still I impressed myself by managing to go 2 miles – although very slowly, without having to stop.

I then decided that I’d run back on the coastal path, which has the most stunning view of the beach, and is surrounded by fields filled with happy little lambs, and it almost made me glad that I had made the effort. Apart from the uphill bits, which I had to walk because my lungs still don’t do uphill. For anyone who knows the area, I went from Woolacombe beach to Putsborough Sands and back along the south west coast path.

All in all, I’d managed 4 miles, with just a tiny little stop in the middle. It took me 47 minutes, which I know is not very fast, but I am proud of myself for making the effort. I might try it again later in the week and see if I can do sub 45 minutes.

Due to a limited internet access I have struggled to find an appropriate motivational quote for the week. However, I did find the following on my phone which seemed appropriate. It struck me while I was on the coast path, between desperate gasps for breath, that however much I might have been struggling at that moment, I was actually incredibly fortunate to have the good health to be there at all, and the freedom to just go for a run. Sometimes I do like to moan a bit and I forget that actually I am incredibly blessed in life. 

Thank you for reading.