Somewhat challenging Thursday training

I don't think I should blog about every single Eryri Harriers training I do! I think that would get very tedious. But my third Thursday Night training was quite memorable. I didn't really know what to expect! The announcement said we would go into the mountains. But no further specifics were given.

They showed up on that warm evening. Quite a large crowd appeared! And after a while we set off. And we seemed to follow the same route as we had done the week before, wearing our Hoka’s. I was happy with that! The route is beautiful and it has plenty of climbing.

Glorious evening 

At some point we seemed to be doing one part clockwise that previously we had done anticlockwise. That seems to be the only difference. But then I asked Dyfed, who was leading the run, if we could at some point stop at a little stream. I was rapidly getting through my water, and I imagined I wasn't the only one! Did this spell disaster? I saw him thinking a bit of where we could find water.

Running into the sun on a spoil heap

Coming off the spoil heap

We stayed on last week’s route for a while, to Cefn Du. From there things went a bit avant garde. We went down in a north-western direction, which involved a rather small path. I found it difficult to run on! It was one of those narrow paths through heather, and quite often that path is cut into the terrain, and because of the heather plants you can't see where you put your feet. But I hadn't seen nothing yet.

Me in lots of heather

Small runners in big landscape

The path got smaller and smaller and sometimes it was barely visible. There was a lot of walking going on! And not all of the vegetation was friendly. The heather in itself is a bit scratchy, but it was interspersed with gorse and hawthorn which are worse. Every time we headed through a gate I hoped things would get better. Often they didn't! Sometimes it just led you into a field with high bracken with brambles hidden among them. I wasn't enjoying this part very much. But at some point I did hear some gargling, and I dug around a bit in the vegetation until I had uncovered the tiny stream. At least I had water again! And Dyfed immediately pointed out that that was what this detour was for: to provide me with hydration. Yes, just blame me! As if last week’s route wouldn't have had water.

Lost in bracken

Trudging through vegetation 

Descending a muddy field with high grass

Finally we got onto the asphalt road through the old quarry workings. This is the part where the county had intended to have a massive industrial estate where slate quarrying had ceased. It had been a failure. There was only one company there. I think everyone was happy to be out of the vegetation. And without further ado we ran back to the village and the parking lot.

Chris (my colleague who is also in the club) had spoken of jumping into the lake, which was right by the car park, after the run. I didn't have a towel or anything with me, but I liked the idea! And I had thought of dumping my running belt and my watch and suchlike in the car before doing so, but half the running club just walked straight into the water when they reached it. I figured I might as well. So I took off my belt, watch, and top, assumed no one would nick them, and walked into the water. I kept my socks and shoes on as they were minging from the cross-country run! A soak in the lake would do them good. 

It was really nice to be bobbing around in the lake for a bit! The majority of runners was in there. Some actually had towels in their cars, but some were like me and were just winging it.

Most of the club in the lake. Pic by John

When I got out I changed into a dry top, and just accepted my wet shorts, socks and shoes. I put a spare running shirt on the seat of my car, and sat on that to keep the dampness limited. Then I drove home.

Some of this run wasn't quite my cup of tea, but it had been memorable. And I had had nice chats with lots of people. And I absolutely love a little swim after a run! But next time I will pack my towel, and some dry knickers…