Sometimes when I’m with my friends around a dinner table, or just about to finish an amazingly hard race or training session, there is that similar, warm, nostalgic feeling and the ache that ‘I wish this would never end’. But it has to. It must. You can’t stay put around that figurative table. I wonder is this what makes ultra-running so appealing? The joy, the pain, the events, are all that much longer-lasting? Happiness is such a transient, pernickety thing, and whilst particular instances of joy cannot, of course last forever, and there will be troughs and lows to follow, no doubt, the beautiful thing about this amazing life is: there will be other times. Not the same as previous experiences of course, but different, new, exciting. So, if you’re feeling doubt for any new path or adventure or journey you’re about to embark on: don’t. It’s all just a ride anyway. I forget who spoke about this, I should really look it up hey, but he spoke about life being just a ride: it goes up, it goes down, but it’s all just a ride. Was it Bill Hicks? (Answers on a postcard please!) This quote was sent to me by a very dear friend the other day, and it sort of sums up what I’m rambling on about:
Anyhoo, I persevered and was soon running through the Junction and onwards towards City Road, which again Google maps informed me was the best way to get there. When I was about 2-3km away and City Road started to veer around up the hill as if to go towards Charlestown, the pavement seemed to disappear and it looked like there wasn’t really a safe pedestrian route up there (but maybe there is after all??? Any advice on this is definitely welcome!) so I thought I would cut in and take a ‘safer’ route using the roads just off to the left – big mistake: huge! I stupidly manage to get myself lost somewhere in between City Road and Scenic Drive, in the many quiet, hilly streets there. Wtf… It was ridiculously hot now. I was failing. I was also now running late and conceded my defeat and sent a message saying I wouldn’t make the 6pm start. Sweat had dripped heartily into my eyeballs when I had stopped to write my message to them so I was now temporarily blind with stinging-af-eyes. What else could go amiss??
When I eventually got up onto Scenic Drive it was about 6:10 but the map told me I STILL had 2 km to get there. Arrghh, so close yet so far… I turned left onto Scenic Drive and began the long run home to Carrington from there, with Glenrock teasingly tantalisingly close on my right, literally just across the road. I thought about just going for a solo run in there anyway and hopefully bumping into them but I was kind of fearing a bit of heat exhaustion now, having been running in the heat for a while now and my water was getting pretty low. Running down and past Merewether Ocean Baths it seemed most of Newcastle had the much better idea to go for a dip in the ocean instead – it was packed! I make silly decisions sometimes…. Anyhoo, what was meant to be a beautiful evening trail run, turned into a two and a half hour sweaty solo mission. Oh well. I did run a new route which is a good thing, but I don’t think I will attempt running in 40 degree weather again.
SO pleased then that this morning’s run was perfect weather conditions! Not too hot and not stormy or raining. Just right. And so awesome. Trail running with some wonderful people just makes me smile, and is the best way to start the day, so thank you to all you excellent Five30 runners from this morning! I will definitely be back.
I hope your weeks and weekends have been just as awesome! Lou xx
Ps – in other news: I have now completed the 150km virtual run challenge that I was doing – this morning’s run brought my total to 156km for the month of November so far. Interesting experiment as I never track how many km I actually do in an average month.
Pps - a few photos from this morning (thanks Roz for taking them!):