Weekend Plans

5.30am start notwithstanding, Saturday was probably the most amazing day I've had all year so far and hands down the most incredible course I've run too. Never been round Woody Bay / Heddon Valley before and it's even more breathtaking than in the photos on the coastal cliff paths. The descents were definitely technical with large stones & roots etc. and the paths weave precariously close to sheer drops. The trail equivalent of an infinity swimming pool in places where the path switched back behind the cliff and all you could see leading up to it was sky ahead until you were actually on the turn itself at the cliff edge.

Absolutely blown away - sun came out and could hardly keep my eyes on the trail. All the effort I've made since January to take on proper trail running was rewarded by the privilege of being fit enough to run this course. People had flown over from Norway, France etc. for the races and the fields were really strong - some crazy fast times. It's one of the ones everyone wants to do it seems and so blessed with the sun and clear viz. Even if I nearly froze my balls off in the early morning strong biting Easterly wind between registration and the start - but so glad I wore a short sleeve tshirt !

Punishing run physically even at the 6.6 mile distance I did - descended from the top of the cliffs right down to the Heddon River and into the valley at pretty fast pace with a couple of tough uphills on the way. Then a 2-mile climb back up cliffs before the final mile or so that was "normal hilly". Ended with a short impossible to run super-steep hike to the finish, just when you thought your time was doing OK and the finish line was just round the corner ? Marathon runners were coming in as I left in absolute bits barely able to stagger to the finish.

I did my little segment in 1h04 and missed my elusive 1hr 10k split time by 36 seconds ?. Had to stop twice in the final mile and stretch my hamstring as it had tightened up with the pace escalation on top of the hills to the point I feared it would cramp up. Plus I eased back too much on the long 2-mile uphill after going too fast in Dorset and getting lactic overload that trashed me cardio-wise. I'll get it right one of these days haha. Placed 31 / 160 which isn't too bad and overall better than my 1st tough race in February anyway.

Just really wish I'd worn a gopro. Can't race and also stop to take pics ! Few from the event base anyway

20190406_091312 by 103 Alex1, on Flickr

20190406_134318 by 103 Alex1, on Flickr

^^ Topography of whole area

Exmoor profile by 103 Alex1, on Flickr

^^ Crazy course altitude map

20190406_084844 by 103 Alex1, on Flickr

^^ was so wet the parking got too muddy and they moved the car park 7 miles away at 2 days' notice. Had to bus there & back never my favourite but was so good in the end I forgave them ?

All over bar the wrecked legs and 2 hour drive home ! >>

20190406_130632 by 103 Alex1, on Flickr

Can I do it all again when my legs have recovered please ? :twisted::lol:
 
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feeling surprisingly fresh after timewarp! guess tomorrow might be harder. and on thursday it‘ll all start again at caprices festival! last quick escape before the summer. can‘t wait for the modernity daytime part up at 2500masl!
 
in the end Tenerife had its sunkissed moments although not without unwanted dramas - away from the main tourist strips, it is an astonishing island of forests, wilderness, dunes, lunar landscapes, ash fields, with constantly changing vegetation - at times almost English in feel, at others more like the Mojave or Pyrenees. we covered a fair bit of the old island in a clunky Ford Ka - getting that around the mountains bends was character-building (and relationship-testing..) but the car hire (Orlando) were fantastic. 29€ all in for 4 days, completed paperwork in all of 5 minutes. Teide was rammed of course, so we never made it up the teleferico (cable car) which was sold out, but the park is next-level in any case. Icod de los vinos and La Laguna are nice towns too, throwbacks to sleepy 'colonial' Spain. I found myself missing the Atlantic a lot, the freshness and the breeze. I think you begin to appreciate greenery and basic oxygen after any length of time in BCN. We stayed at the aparthotel los dragos in puerto de santiago which was very good (awful raw frankfurter breakfast aside) and they were very helpful when my phone vanished (no pix sadly). I overheard on the tarmac bus that some pals of the loud american 'spring break' kids on our plane had been chucked out of the same hotel (which warmed my heart). I cannot lie, there are not a lot of evening options at PdS/los gigantes, so we restricted ourselves to the 'Route 66' live music bar down the road, which was very funny (but also very friendly) - 3 nights of covers bands from UK, Belgium, Italy playing Santana, the Killers and Eagles to elderly (and not so elderly) Scots and Scandinavians sat around the tables. Definitely worth supporting if you're in the area. And that was as hedonistic as it got! Comparing with ibiza, england, cyprus and other islands, I think it is interesting how many are divided between north and south, physically and psychologically. Not entirely sure why that is but I certainly got a flavour of Tenerife's real diversity. I'm sure we will be back!
 
Out with the girls Saturday afternoon for lunch (and lots of drinks!), my Mum’s birthday on Sunday so hopefully I won’t be too hungover for those celebrations!

Somehow need to fit running and cake making in there somewhere ?
 
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