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Poet on the Run

Finding sense and making art – one run at a time

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A hell of a lot can happen in ten years. . I rang in my twentieth birthday in the Black Forest. I was smiling, sure. And in many ways it was one of the best months of my life - I found a place that made me believe in magic again, hiked in the mountains, swam in some lakes, met some awesome people (one of whom is still one of my very closest friends), and kicked off my Erasmus year in style. In others though, it was the worst, and I was quietly falling to pieces having just lost my dad, and stuck in a relationship that was so deeply toxic and abusive it took me years to recover. . But that's what my twenties were. A chance to grow. A lesson in becoming. Every epic high, every crushing low, every friendship built and lost, every mistake, every success, every single time I had to start over from scratch, a lesson. Each time getting back up a little bit smarter, a little bit stronger. Learning to roll with the punches and come back swinging with a grin on my face. . Now I get to close out that decade and look forward from where I am now. Sure, there's some stuff I still need to work on. Things that are within my power to make better. But damn, it's a better place to be standing in. Today I'm ringing in thirty as a runner. Hell, an ultramarathon runner. Having run the entire length of the SW Coast Path. Knowing exactly how much I am capable of. Knowing there's still so much more to be learned and discovered. With a wonderful, supportive partner by my side, who has my back no matter what. With friends and a community who have been there through all the (mis-)adventures and who make life that much more fun just by being in it. . So yeah. Here's closing out a messy, chaotic chapter that got me to where I am now. Here's starting the next chapter with a strong heart and steady feet. . Would I go back and change the way I made it here? Not a bloody chance.
You can take the girl out of the Westcountry... 🙈 Because how else do you spend a birthday if not armpit deep in a hedge, covered in scratches, stings and sticky burrs in the name of sloe gin? 😉 #countrygirlatheart #hedgerowharvest
Hill days with this one 💚 I'm still not ready to get back to running so today featured a hike along the horseshoe to summit Pen y Fan and Corn Dhu, making a tough but interesting 10 mile loop. All the better for good company 😊 #summeradventure #partnersincrime
Leftover reminders of a lovely day yesterday celebrating a much loved friend's wedding, best enjoyed back out in the hills 💜 #summeradventure #partnersincrime
Not always running, but always happier among the green hills 💚
About yesterday... Coming in only four weeks after @racetothestones, yesterday's 50k was always going to be a tough one, but when you have an amazing community of lunatics, anything is possible 😜 Hugely proud of everyone who ran at the @svp100ultra races yesterday, especially all the first time ultra runners tackling their first 50k. I was stoked to run the first half with @corenhanley running, chatting and enjoying the views. By the second checkpoint she was looking really strong but my legs were telling me that I was pushing it trying to run at autopilot 50k pace so I sent her on ahead and dialled back the speed for the remainder of the distance so I could just concentrate on just enjoying the countryside, and getting through the miles with a smile on my face. Later on in the race this was came with a bonus as I was able to run a spell with @steveskinner_ who was taking on the 100km looking calm, collected and strong. Massive thanks need to go to Matt the race director and the volunteers out there making the race such a friendly, welcoming event, and there is no way to thank @melanies_mckay and @jamesdpoole enough for being there at every single checkpoint as we got in, being ready with encouragement and unflappable good advice, making sure everyone got through alright. Getting to the finish line and hearing the Advent Runners cheering was incredible, and all the better because they were there until all our people were in. Everybody had a properly lovely day out and enjoyed themselves, and all the first timers were buzzing from the success and the fun they'd had. As for me? I had a lovely long bimble out with friends, felt good through to the finish, and somehow still came out of it with a 50k PB (probably by sheer dint of it a) being a race and b) being flat 😜) SVP50K, you've been a bloody good day 💚 #svp50k #crewlove

Recent Posts

  • Tales from the Trail: Inconvenient Water
  • Tales from the Trail – Homecoming
  • Tales from the Trail – Dorset
  • Saddle Up
  • A Memory of Witches: Hiking the Harz

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A hell of a lot can happen in ten years. . I rang in my twentieth birthday in the Black Forest. I was smiling, sure. And in many ways it was one of the best months of my life - I found a place that made me believe in magic again, hiked in the mountains, swam in some lakes, met some awesome people (one of whom is still one of my very closest friends), and kicked off my Erasmus year in style. In others though, it was the worst, and I was quietly falling to pieces having just lost my dad, and stuck in a relationship that was so deeply toxic and abusive it took me years to recover. . But that's what my twenties were. A chance to grow. A lesson in becoming. Every epic high, every crushing low, every friendship built and lost, every mistake, every success, every single time I had to start over from scratch, a lesson. Each time getting back up a little bit smarter, a little bit stronger. Learning to roll with the punches and come back swinging with a grin on my face. . Now I get to close out that decade and look forward from where I am now. Sure, there's some stuff I still need to work on. Things that are within my power to make better. But damn, it's a better place to be standing in. Today I'm ringing in thirty as a runner. Hell, an ultramarathon runner. Having run the entire length of the SW Coast Path. Knowing exactly how much I am capable of. Knowing there's still so much more to be learned and discovered. With a wonderful, supportive partner by my side, who has my back no matter what. With friends and a community who have been there through all the (mis-)adventures and who make life that much more fun just by being in it. . So yeah. Here's closing out a messy, chaotic chapter that got me to where I am now. Here's starting the next chapter with a strong heart and steady feet. . Would I go back and change the way I made it here? Not a bloody chance.
Adventures, Running, SWCP, Trail Running

Tales from the Trail: Inconvenient Water

So it’s been a little while since I did a proper write up but this one seems apt to start … Continue reading Tales from the Trail: Inconvenient Water

Tales from the Trail – Homecoming
Adventures, Hiking, Running, SWCP, Trail Running

Tales from the Trail – Homecoming

And on the fifth day, I was in Devon. My running buddy John had decided to come down and run … Continue reading Tales from the Trail – Homecoming

Tales from the Trail – Dorset
Adventures, Hiking, Running, SWCP, Trail Running

Tales from the Trail – Dorset

Well, I have a whole new appreciation for why they call it ‘the Rollercoaster’…. Day 1 took me from Studland … Continue reading Tales from the Trail – Dorset

Saddle Up
Adventures, Running, SWCP, Trail Running

Saddle Up

It’s go time. Eighteen months of preparation, of training, worrying, pushing myself to the limits of what I could handle, … Continue reading Saddle Up

A Memory of Witches: Hiking the Harz
Adventures, Hiking

A Memory of Witches: Hiking the Harz

“So, I need to test this shiny new tent out – fancy thru-hiking a trail up by you?” Those famous … Continue reading A Memory of Witches: Hiking the Harz

Poetry

On Growing and Forging

Over time, I’ve learned a lot about survival. How it can shape you. How sometimes growing is the last thing … Continue reading On Growing and Forging

Beginnings
Poetry

Beginnings

I had a conversation with a dear friend some years ago, about the circular nature of time. While he was … Continue reading Beginnings

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