An ambition fulfilled...

The week of the Tata Steel Cardiff Bay 5 was a big mileage week for me. I'm a bit behind on my blogging but will get up to date over the next few posts...

Three days after the race I decided to fulfil an ambition of mine - to run from Culverhouse cross to Cowbridge. Mummy and Daddy Penguin live in Cowbridge, and Culverhouse is a big intersection/out-of-town shopping centre on the outskirts of Cardiff. It is one long road between the two, the A48, and it had long seemed like a HUGE target to actually run all the way.

I had scoped it out previously on one of many trips to see the Penguins, and had determined that there was a path on one side or other for about 2/3 of the way, and then a deep verge the rest of the way. I had also noted that the verge grass had just been cut, so now was the time.

I dropped off Monkey1 and Monkey2 at the Penguins' house, and caught a lift to the top of the Tumble with Mummy Penguin. The Tumble is a big hill out of Culverhouse, and I thought it would not be cheating to run from there, and would save a huge hill right at the start of the run that might have led to injury, or exhaustion too early in the run.

The first few miles were great. I made really good time, and enjoyed the different perspective on the road yielded from running not driving.

Then I inadvertantly crossed from the path to the verge too early (an extra 1/2 mile of path was available) and running on the verge was terrible - really hard-going on the feet, and my pace plummeted. I also found that the deep verge disappears just before the sliproad down into Cowbridge, and I had to run down the old Roman road track - nice scenery, but tough on the feet again.

But I achieved it. Another mental goal ticked off.