Gusty day - run - come what may... 🏃‍♀️

Facebook - it’s a helpful little blighter at times isn’t it.  Cardiff Bay 10k page post this morning - "3 weeks to go - are you ready?"  No - clearly not 😂.  So despite the 50mph winds there was nothing for it I had to pull on that running gear and get out there.  So I did. 🍃🌬

What a delight it was tearing across the village in my usual “I’m half dying” style the wind blowing straight through every item of clothing I had on - bitterly regretting my decision to leave my gloves at home.😰  I took the wild idiot dog known as Benji Boo - even he was looking back at me as if to say “really, we are really doing this?”. Yup boy we are! So we battled onwards.

Very interesting moment as we entered the castle grounds - I dropped the lead (it was the cold 🤣) - that would be at the same time Benji spied the Shetland ponies🐴 - oh man - he’s dashing towards them being very vocal - meanwhile I’m trying to drag my poor exhausted legs UP the hill to try and grab his lead. Flipping dog I’m thinking - I have to say the Shetland ponies did not flinch 😂.

I was determined now I was out (not the only mad fool I have to say) I was going to do at least 5k. So I took my usual route towards our neighbouring village.

At this point I was trying to take in the wonder of nature all around me (ignoring the main road and the juggernauts flying past me at 60mph - about the same speed as the wind 😱). Looking up at the trees swaying - well I say swaying .... more like wildly flapping, branches being tossed like a surfer in the waves; anyway it was at this moment I thought .... I hope one of those trees doesn’t come down on me. I would not want that moment to be my glorious exit! Quickly followed by the thought of my sister standing delivery my eulogy saying “she died doing what she loves”. Errrr no she flipping well didn’t! As much as I love a little run. More apt would be if I left this world whilst in the middle of the dance floor busting out my best dance moves whilst my friend is at the bar getting us a tray full of rainbow shots 🌈😂. That would be more like it!

Anyway as if it could not get any worse and I was wishing I hadn’t taken myself further away from home and kept it short the heavens opened. Hail - lovely HARD hail 🌨- Benji looked at me and if looks could kill. I swear I heard him say "if only that tree has taken her out". Ouch hail being blown horizontally hurts! It’s like someone sticking needles in you. Thankfully it was a short downpour.

Too cold to even take a proper photo!

I did also ponder as I plodded along - this time last year I didn’t even own a pair of trainers and had only run for trains or buses. What a difference in 11 months - couch potato to mascarading as a “runner”. If I can do it - anyone can - just believe you can - no matter how slow you are or how short your distances - it doesn’t matter - it’s your time, your goal, your life, your glorious moment of peace and quiet (or in my case your chance to listen to cheesy 80s music).







So to the homeward stretch - little blip when I discovered my Fitbit had stopped tracking 😡 I need to count every centimetre of my journey - honestly. Never mind - I was home - 6.4k under my belt. Big whoop whoop 🙌🏻.

I added a final mile to my run by running to this sign - this was the sign I was running to when I did RED January as I knew if I ran to here and back home that was my minimum 1 mile.

10k in three weeks time - maybe, just maybe I will able to get through it.

Just to say despite all of the above I actually found it quite exhilarating- I know I’m strange like that 🏃‍♀️🤔🤷🏻‍♀️.

#runnersblog #cold #windy #MIND #runforyou #mentalhealth #staystrong 💪🏻

6.4k done and dusted - yay!