The morning after the day before

Some might like to have a rest day after the exertions of a 10k but thats for mere mortals.

Which is why yours truly forced the rug rats to get up super early 

and climb Pen Y Fan early doors for a breakfast on the summit. Spotty2 had also been woken early and this obviously interfered with his toilet routine because by the time he was released on the mountain side he had evacuated his bowels in the back of the truck and spent the 35 miles or so journey rolling in it. He was covered and very smelly.

This is he looking  very affronted after being unceremoniously washed in the river, it helped a bit but he still looked a bit of a state and very whiffy. 

Not to put a downer on the day the boys set off up the mountain side.

Which we had, on this approach, to ourselves. 

The views were incredible, 

Quite soon we were on the summit again

and ready for the

compulsory summit 

pictures.

The obligatory selfie

and a cooked breakfast.

He did get a share.

The route down took us to the really nice burger van 

but as I had left my cash card in the car we had to walk back to our start and try the one by the car which looked promising 

but you can tell from their faces it was not the best fast food. Spotty2 ate the lot, he's not quite so choosy. 

 

Its all about ME

So here we are, again

the Spitfire 10k, my 5th year at it and knowing full well there is no possibility of a personal best today

the aim was to just finish without being last or dying. 

Thankfully I managed it, 10 minutes slower than my PB but 712th out of some 1100 runners and halfway up my age group so no embarrassment. 

Just to show today was all bout me we took some pics. 

The medal went with the haul of previous hard earned metal work. 

Just to show there is life in the old legs 

when we got back to Rock HQ later in the day 

we took the dogs for a walk and found a new place in the woods, probably the work of Wood Elves. 

Spotty2 was very happy with the walk in the shade. 

While the apprentice made use of a non elfen swing. 
 

Easily distracted

Instead of focusing on training for the 10k I might have 

set off to the coast again, this time with rug rats (read water) 

for a quick spot of kayaking ....once the tide comes in

which it did. 

It was on the drive back when MBAOSPW announced that the calendar I hold in my head was indeed very inaccurate and the 10k is not as I presumed a week on Sunday, but in fact Sunday. 48 hours away.  
 

Its a start

The date looms large and the inevitable conclusion reached is that yours truly has not done the requisite training for the man test ahead, the Spitfire 10k so with the help of an ex special forces personal trainer as very gruff Irishman with a sense of humour equal to my own a 5km fun run was undertaken. Curiously enough was also completed without serious injury or embarrassment. The plan is to do another 5km run next week, which is surely enough training to do the 10k.

This was obviously a sign.... well obviously. 
 

Sadly missed

 This brilliant picture of the best Bernese ever, Rocky, popped up on my phone marking the 4th anniversary of his crossing the rainbow bridge. 

New toy at the Rock

In an effort to try our my fav new toy 

a day was hastily arranged to get to the Gower without the rug rats and so yours truly found himself all at sea but with a paddle in new boat. Verdict, great kit, absolute bargain. 

It also doubled as a handy seating area when on dry land as tried by Dan the man 

who is the the proud owner this handsome fellow, no not this one,

 this one, Barney. Danny and Mel used to have HPD or Harvey Puppy Dog, a fine berner from the Dolyhir clan original litter and like so many other owners are now firm friends.  

Obviously when presented with a large expanse of water yours truly had to get in it, but it was a bit too warm for the Numb Joy swim team.

Once water sports were done we had to have lunch, and what do you have at the coast on a Friday, fish!