So then, this week has been a great week of running for me with
three very distinct runs all with various weathers to contend with – and also to
relish…
The Friday morning run with Sandra and Let’s Go Run was a
short affair and a good thing too. We met at St Andrew’s school and ran for 40
minutes through icy rain, slowly losing the feeling in our extremities but
giving ourselves (all 3 of us) a smug feeling of how hardcore we were to be so committed that we would run in such horrible conditions. Also, please bear in mind
that as I’m new to running I haven’t yet acquired thermals and was doing this
in shorts and a t-shirt only. Bring it on!
Midweek I ran out with Gavin (another TB runner) and we did
about 5 miles including a timed one-mile tempo run. What was remarkable about this
run was the fog (freezing as it was). As we emerged into Bath city centre and
the whole place was lit up with a backdrop of Christmas lights and shrouded
with a dense layer of grey fog I had one of those “I love running” moments. We slowly approached the Abbey tower and got have a proper look as it rose eerily and majestically into the foggy winter night; what a treat. If, however, I were seeing this from my car, I'd probably have about two seconds to admire the view before having to pay attention to the taxi about run into me or the suicidal tourist about to jump in front of me. Yes, if you want to see Bath in a new light, go running. Of course you could walk, but why anyone would be out walking on a night like that, I don't know.
On Sunday I joined up with Let’s Go Run again and we did a
wonderful 10k run. Again the weather was odd and we found ourselves running
in glorious sunshine at one point with rain simultaneously beating down on our heads
(never did get that). From there we were literally chasing a
rainbow as we ran through the park. The run itself took us from the sports centre, along the river, up through
Victoria Park and The Approach and then into yet another area of Bath that I
haven’t been to: We went off road on the Cotswold Way and up the hills to a
very muddy Primrose Hill. Along from there we emerged by Kingswood School and
then finished off the run with a very fast and hugely exhilarating belter all
the way down Landsdown Road and back to the sports centre. Once back in town, it was fun trying to
make our way around a bunch of Sunday shoppers with just over a week to go
until Christmas, but we just about managed to zigzag around them with no
collisions.
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| View from the Cotswold Way (taken by somebody else on a sunny day) |
If we (the TB runners) do collate our runs into some form of 'Transition Guide to Runs Around Bath', this 10k will definitely go on there. It’s great training as
the long slog up the hill really works you, but the scenery is fantastic and
the blat down the hill at the end is great – says his inner child. This run
comes highly recommended; thanks Sandra for showing it to me.
