It's been a couple of weeks since I've done any running. Got a bit carried away after the excellent Gartmorn 6 (my race report here), perhaps should have had a rest day, or should have stretched more, not sure really. But either way, by the Wednesday walking wasn't easy, let alone running.
Didn't really enjoy reining it in, but didn't really have a choice. I'd been enjoying stepping up my training and doing more running so much but sadly it's often the nature of long-term injuries that you have to be prepared to still endure the odd setback on the road to recovery. Doesn't seem fair! But you have to be philosophical about it (and patient) and remember you've come back from worse already. So the weekend after Gartmorn I just walked up Arthurs Seat with Zoe, which was superb - it was her first time to the top and it was great conditions for it, and then this weekend I nipped out for 30 minutes on my bike. It went well and I actually felt better today than I had before, so I decided to chance my arm and head out again today.
Wasn't really sure where I was going to go so I decided to take my hybrid, a Revolution Courier which I bought back in about 2004. It's my oldest and cheapest bike. It's also my favourite and the most reliable. The others (a mountain bike and a cyclocross which I have kitted out like a road bike) are so specific they're actually less useful, especially when it comes to riding around the variable roads of Edinburgh.
I headed out east to Musselburgh and took a path I've not taken before, round the coastal side of the nature reserve and lagoon between Musselburgh and Prestonpans. Although I've done the coastal trail further along past Prestonpans, I've always taken the road on this side for some reason - probably because I was on a road bike or because, before that, I didn't know it was there.
Anyway, it's good track, and it's strangely beautiful in places. I say strangely because a lot of it isn't traditional attractive coastal scenery and rural landscapes. You have the reserve on one side of you and a thin strip of wasteland between you and the sea. Populated on one small beach by a discarded TV on a stand and various other 'found' objects mascarading as some kind of impromptu art nouveau. Plus some other very low-key and unexpected landmarks along the way.
And although I suspect some of my enjoyment was down to those lovely endorphins I've missed so much while I've not been running, it's also nice to see new landscapes and appreciate them for what they are. And I took a few photos (including a couple using the excellent Hipstamatic app) for your enjoyment too!
