The Atlantic Coast Challenge my 3-day holiday. This may sound a bit strange to many. I hear many question ”why would anyone choose a trail marathon a day for 3 days as their chosen holiday?” The Atlantic Coast Challenge is 3 consecutive days of running a marathon (or thereabouts) distance on the Cornish coastpath. As a trail runner and lover of all things outdoors and high energy, this is of course my perfect vacation and well deserved time off.
Let me explain and possibly tempt you…
Trails = views to remember forever.
Marathons on the coast = huge amount of physical and emotional effort and time.
Fellow runners = friends you already know and those you are yet to meet.
Time on feet = time spent practicing mindfulness and my personal meditation.
Food = loads of it.
Phone = in flight mode.
What’s not to like and what’s stopping you? 😂
Whether your thing is running, walking, cycling, yoga, writing, the list is endless, chose your thing and book yourself 3 days on that thing, Not 1, not 2, but 3.
This is the second time I have competed the Atlantic Coast challenge, and both times it’s delivered a punch.
I run the north Cornish coast a lot, so why would I really consider this to be a thing I look forward to every few years.
Space, time, consecutive days running, and let’s be honest we all need some accountability at times, even me!
Spring and Summer are my seasons, Autumn, although can be glorious, reminds me that the colder temperatures are on their way, and this scares me more than I am willing to admit or will share here, as I mentioned in a previous blog, this is for face-to-face conversations and connection.
This challenge is every Oct, so in the Autumn, which is a great way for me to take part in something that I would usually radiate too in the warmer months. This year however turned out to be a scorcher, with 20 degrees daily, I was in my element.
There was discomfort in my left big toe due to wrong shoe choice on day one which turned out to be quite painful by day 3, and with this pain caused some nausea which pain often does. But, throughout the pain and discomfort, I managed myself well, I know what to do, I’m good with pain.
New friendships were hatched, and stories shared. Checkpoints delivered gold and Pony waited with chocolate oat milk, tonic water and hugs. The sun never stopped beating down, my buff tan line is of epic proportions 😂
To summarise…
Day one, I ran, I smiled continuously, I met new friends on the run, I basked in the sunshine while doing the thing I love the best.
Day two, I ran, I smiled continuously, I met new friends on the run, I basked in the sunshine while doing the thing I love the best.
Day three, I ran, I smiled continuously, I met new friends on the run, I basked in the sunshine while doing the thing I love the best.
Need I say anymore?
This morning I received this message from a very dear friend ‘’How are you feeling lamb, probably energised knowing you xxx’’
Yep Sal, you know me so well. Energised, re charged, re vitalised and whole.