http://www.over50sforum.com/picture.php?albumid=873&pictureid=7282The final run of 2015 took place this morning almost before it got light, the early part of the run takes me across a waterlogged field and through a wood. A strong gale courtesy of Storm Frank blew me in a zig zag line along the path but had dried out the waterlogged field and even in the dark I managed to navigate my way to the other side. Puddles reflect light so even in the dark you can avoid them. The wood was very dark but no puddles, I could hear my shoes slapping on the sodden leaves though, I passed a surprised dog walker whose torch left me blinded and I stumbled blindly around for a few seconds, luckily my feet touched the ground in all the right places and it wasn’t long before I popped out on to a deserted road. The going was easy now with tarmac paths and street lighting, and by the time I reached the lane it was just light enough to plot a dry route through the tractor furrows and soggy bits. I arrived home and entered my time and comments in the log, and as it was my last run this year, calculated the culmination of all the runs completed in 2015, it came to 810 miles. Not bad considering a couple of months of layoffs due to injury.
And so after a hasty shower and a bowl of porridge we sped off to Scarborough to see the New Year in at the Palm Court Hotel, the weather is horrendous and the rain is pouring down (so thanks again Frank) but the car is safely parked up for the next three days and I’ve wrapped my hand around a glass of red wine after a delicious four course meal.
So it’s goodnight from a completely stuffed me, and hope to see you at six thirty for the pre-breakfast walk along the front……… What do you mean no!
Well I didn’t make the early start this morning, I opted for a shower and a full English. I did eventually get off about eleven and proceeded on an inland route out to Scalby Mills where I dropped down on to the sea front. http://www.over50sforum.com/picture.php?albumid=873&pictureid=7288
This is the Pub at Scalby Mills and it’s where I turned back to walk along the sea front. What usually is no more than a stream emptying into the sea has turned out to be white water rapids as Yorkshire tries to shed some of it’s floodwater.
As I worked my way along the North Bay under a clear sunny sky I wondered if this beautiful day is by way of an apology for the recent bad weather, the man upstairs wanted us to leave 2015 on a happy note…
I look up to the Clifton Hotel where many happy memories have been made over the years, but nothing stays the same and we are making new memories at the Palm Court.
After twenty odd years though I still have a soft spot for the old place. Our regular room was in the tower on the second floor.
Phone is ringing now, it’s the wife wanting to meet up in the town for a sandwich, she’s been enjoying a walk round town foraging through the sales. Just a steep set of steps now and I’ll be back in the hum drum of retail life and the end to another year.
Just time to have a look at the GPS watch and see how far I’ve been…Five Miles.
Am looking forward to the early morning and my first run of 2016…Happy New Year to anyone who has accidentally stumbled into Bob’s Bits…see you next year…
An excellent New Years Eve bash saw us falling into bed at just gone two thirty. It was nice to get my shoes off after dancing most of the night. No rest for a runner though, the alarm woke me at six thirty and I was out on the road for seven. It was still dark with just a flash of red in the eastern sky. Going was quite slippy in places due to a covering of frost, after the mild weather it took me by surprise but once I got to work on Olivers Mount the boiler fired up and I was soon up to running temperature. A minute or two slower than last year but satisfying all the same. It ended up being 5.45 miles in 1 hour and 4 minutes…And so I start the New Year with a bit of work to do.
It doesn’t seem like two minutes ago since I was fighting my way through the crowds in Tesco trying to get the last few bits for my Christmas dinner, and now we’ve eaten, drank and danced our way into the new year. Where the hell did 2015 go?
I enjoyed the three night stay at the Palm Court in Scarborough and the New Years Eve party was one of the best yet, but I always look forward to New Years Day evening best, a time to reflect on what happened last year, and what I hope will happen this year. It was during a quiet drink after dinner I began a conversation with a chap sat beside me; Turns out he was a runner, seventy one years old and he ran every day, it was like I’d known him all my life. Managed to exchange e-mail addresses, possibilities there.
I managed to keep the lights on in ‘Bob’s Bits’ over the New Year but I didn’t get any comments so I suppose everyone was either enjoying the festivities with their families, or caught up in the discussion about rules. (or just bored to death) Sometimes it can be a lonely place - Tumbleweed blows across the page… There are a few people on this forum who are outspoken and make waves (you know who you are) but you know what? I seek out their posts and comments and I even agree with them sometimes. I would hate to see them go or be stifled by too many rules. I didn’t have time to surf the forum while I was away and It’s taken me a while to catch up with all the gossip.
Anyway, I bunged on my running shoes and pulled on some shorts and went off for a run this morning. Half way round I bumped into an old running friend and he was walking (a prolific runner in his day, far faster than me, he even won stuff, unlike me) He’s sixty now and as I approached him he looked fuller in face and far too healthy to be still running, and he dropped a bombshell; he was recovering from a Heart Attack. I was gobsmacked, he was the fittest guy I knew, he never smoked or drinked much and Heart trouble had not been in his family. What is going on when most older runners I meet have got Heart trouble or had a Heart Attack. I wished him luck and continued on my run, ten years ago he would have run me ragged, and I realised how lucky I was still being able to get out for a run.
No way to avoid the rain this morning, I even left it until eight before I splashed off down the road. The only good thing I can say about the weather is ‘It isn’t cold’ so it just required tee shirt and shorts with a light waterproof top, legs are waterproof anyway.
I had thought that after the 21st of December it would start to become lighter in the mornings, but if anything, it’s getting darker. After the last few days of rain I thought it best not to venture down the lane so I’ve been sticking to the road, unfortunately my shortest road course is six miles and the lane is only five, it’s a mile further than I wanted really and this morning was beginning to tell. The legs were getting tired by the time I got home and I probably went a bit too fast. A good time though.
The puddles almost met in the middle of the road and it can get a bit dangerous when somethings coming and I’m in the middle of the road, in the dark! Fortunately it’s a quiet country road and the only traffic is just a few four by fours taking the kids to school. I had to walk when I was at school, rain or shine. Perhaps that’s why I’m like Bear Grylls now Eh…Not on your Nellie!
Just had the most fantastic eight mile run.
I seem to have lost my way a bit just lately (sorry about the pun) I have been huffing and puffing round three and six mile runs wondering where my speed has disappeared to. But this morning I set out at a very steady pace and realised that it was going to be a longer run than usual. It was so warm 13*C and the gloves were soon stashed away in the pocket of a running top I could have well done without. It was a no brainer as I arrived at the road junction that would turn my six mile run into an eight mile run. I could have run forever this morning and it reminded me of something that I have recently forgot…Optimum Pace Running…Imagine a bank account. A sprinter would withdraw a lump sum, but the long distance runner would only make small withdrawals over a long period. Result: No injuries, long distances covered, and such a satisfying feeling without being wiped out when you arrive home…
My porridge with honey even tasted brilliant…now it’s Shower time…
Let Sunday begin…
did I tell you about the time I could have run forever? I probably did on thread 4??
I used to jog daily around the back streets of nowhere land but this one morning something snapped in my brain - chemicals obviously but I was so saddened as I had to cut it short for work - that morning I felt supercharged and could have run for ever - no aching legs - breathing fine - mind exploding - could have done a marathon!
Yes, I know what you are saying Gummy, only another runner would know what it feels like when you are in ‘the zone’ and I sometimes get so excited I can’t wait to boot up my computer and get my thoughts down in print.
The truth of the matter is; barring holidays every day starts off the same, you are faced with a blank sheet of life, the world is your Oyster, but by lunchtime you realise that it is just turning into another yesterday. Happy days…
Mobility is the most precious thing to me, and luckily I have always recognised the need for daily exercise, and managed to incorporate into my work routine, when in the Accounts Office, I would cycle the nine miles each way (taking about 25 mins each way) then due to the nature of the job, walk about 3 miles a day around the industrial complex, folks who exercise just for exercises sake tend not to maintain it.
Absolutely true Spitty, and I also find that people trying to lose weight by running soon get disenchanted. Personally I run because I love the freedom and being out in nature with all the changing seasons, but like meditation, I can relax, just be me for a while without distraction and sort out any problems that might be clouding my mind. Keep doing what you are doing Spitty I’m sure that mobility keeps mind and body in good shape.
I’ve always been a Grafter OGF, my fortitude has enabled me to get folks to pay me for being so, sort of, don’t pay a gym membership, get someone to pay you for doing the same.
(1) King Henry II built a castle there in AD 1100
(2) With the discovery of a Spa it became the first seaside resort in 1735
(3) The Grand Hotel was completed in 1867 by architect John Gibson.
(4) It contained 4 towers representing the 4 seasons 12 floors = the months – 52 chimneys = Weeks of the year and 365 bedrooms representing the days in a year.
(5) Anne Bronte died at The Grand in 1849 and was buried in the graveyard at St Mary’s Church.
(6) Scarborough was bombed from the sea by the Germans during the first world war.
(7) Big Game Tuna fishing was popular off Scarborough with Lorenzo (Lawrie) Mitchell-Henry landing an 851 pound Atlantic Bluefin Tuna on rod and line in 1933 which remains the British record to date.
(8) Rock Star Robert Palmer grew up in Scarborough attending Scarborough ‘Boys’ high school.
(9) Some famous films were made on location here including:- Little Voice –Possession – Chorus of Disapproval.
(10) - And I was there Today! How good is that?
Just a three miler along the canal towpath this morning but it was into the teeth of a gale, legs felt like I was running uphill but that could be down to all the walking we did in Scarborough yesterday. Strangely I didn’t see any dog walkers while I was out, I suppose in this wind it would have blown the dogs into the air on the end of their leads, a bit like kite flyers. Wouldn’t want to have to clean up the droppings though…
All the same, it was good to be out and as I stepped back into the house and closed the door the peace and silence after being blown this way and that was uncanny…
Interesting facts about Scarborough Bob, most I didn’t know. I knew Robert Palmer was a Yorkshireman, he was born in Batley same as my hubby, I thought he was a great entertainer and died way too young. From what I understand the Grand Hotel aint so grand any more !!
Its been a wild and blustery day here on the Yorkshire coast, didn’t stop us going out but was sooo glad to get back in one piece. Were watching the trees hoping they stayed upright but lots of branches broken off !!
Nice to see you in Bob’s Bits Val. I suppose Scarborough is my most visited place. From taking holidays there as a boy to courting various ladies through my teenage years, to introducing my daughter to Scarborough when she was just a young pup.
And now in retirement I need no excuse to find myself running the cliff paths or just meandering through the pretty back streets or even staying a few nights when celebrating a special occasion. It was while walking around the town on Thursday that I realised how little I knew about my favourite place, so I did some detective work and it revealed some very interesting facts.
You have heard correct Val, the Grand Hotel is not quite so grand any more, the older these large leviathans of the nineteenth century get the more expensive to maintain they become and only the prestige ones survive. Holiday accommodation has changed over the years and comfy beds can be found cheaper at Premier Inns and Travelodges.
The Grand Hotel was taken over recently by Britannia Hotels (who also own Pontins) and despite their attempts to ‘spruce the place up’ will not return the Grand to it’s former splendour and opulence.
The wind seems to have died down a bit now, and tomorrows run might be a little less traumatic, it’s only a three so hopefully I won’t break into a sweat. The highlight of Saturday comes from the Tesco scones that seem to have become a regular treat (easily pleased these days) and ‘The Voice’ later on, although Paloma Faiths voice gets on me wick. Rock On…
we ‘ran’ through Scarborough in 2000 in our hire car - I think we must have skirted the town itself and found ourselves in the suburbs leading to the steep incline to the beach. One of our main purposes was visiting the first Scarborough as we have our own Scarborough with beach in WA OZ.
almost impossible to find a parking spot - this was July - but did get a short one and my endearing memories of the place were - the overpowering smell of fish and chips with salt and vinegar - and the myriad of deck chairs not only on the beach but the esplanade. so we had a fleeting glance and then headed for York and Castle Howard. It would have been nice to stayed a few night and looked around but we also had to visit Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Cornwall and then Bristol and finally Hampshire.
Yes Gumbud, Scarborough does get busy in the summer especially at bank holidays.
There is a brilliant little car park on the South Cliff that is beyond the walking range of most holidaymakers, so that’s where I go. But between October and March it’s free parking all along the marine drive.
It made me hungry thinking about the smell of fish and chips, they must be the finest in Yorkshire.
As a child it was always Brid for our holidays as an aunt had a caravan there. I loved the place, it was definitely the highlight of the year. I can remember being so envious of the schoolchildren in their smart uniforms, I thought they were so lucky to be ‘on holiday’ all the time!! After moving to the coast and becoming a seaside landlady, it became obvious that Yorkshire folk either liked Scarborough or Brid and rarely both but then they are completely different resorts so I guess no surprises there.
Its sad about the big old hotels like the Grand going downhill, they must be so very expensive to maintain, and folk are used to high standards for little cost these days, particularly if they’re used to staying in hotels abroad. Often in this country the reception areas are good but the bedrooms remain in a timewarp. Sad but true, we’ve experienced a few !!
