One last cheeky mid week Tentsmuir run

What can be better than a mid week run on a beach and through a forest? How about you throw in a cheeky wee crepe? Oh, go on then.

This is to be my last random mid week run as I move job to more regular working hours. I also just passed my driving test and so decided this would be my first solo drive. Tentsmuir forest, A place so brilliant It should be known the world over. It also meant I  didn't had to travel too far as I've never filled the car up with petrol and some traditions should remain so.

Also, why didn't anyone tell me having a car is just so much easier. I didn't need to look at bus time tables, pack loads of spare kit to change into after so I don't get cold and a two hour run doesn't take up the whole day getting there and back on the bus.

Once setting off apart from nervously trying not to crash I also wasn't sure what run my legs were up for. I had to do either: 10 x 1km repeats, 15 km easy or 21km easy. My legs were still a little sore so I ditched the 1km's. They belong to a day that wont be made any worse by wanting to vomit at 5 minute intervals. 

 

So we would wait and see how I felt and play it by ear on the 15/21km issue. Having arrived safely at the car park by Tayport and only checking 7 or 8 times I'd locked the car I was off. Considering it's winter and fife has been hit by some truly horrible weather recently it was a perfect day for running. I decided to head to the beach and try to see some seals. Once passed the entrance  I didn't see another soul until I got back to Tayport.

I started off skirting round the forest toward the nature reserve and beach. Once there the views were great. There's something about the beach that makes you smile. It's infectious, I found myself running along with a huge cheeser on my face for no other reason than I was happy in that moment.

 

The smile didn't last too long though as sand is bloody hard work on the legs. 15km it was. once round the corner of the nature reserve I went closer to the beach to try and see some seals and get to firmer footing. Sadly I got neither, though I did run through the water. Yes I'm a child.

 

 

All this happy care free running though wasn't helping the state of my legs so I decided to head inland towards the forest looking for some of the fun single track stuff that the mountain bikers use. This is my favourite part of the forest as you never know which way it'll turn next.

 

After a while I got to some diversions where the forestry commission are taking some trees down by the main car park due to high winds. This meant either I turn back and go the way I came or I run round the diversions and do the 21km. A wee swither to myself and off I went in search of a new path. That mean running though the dunes. Finally I made it onto gentle well maintained forest path. Hallelujah. The last few miles flew by with the hope that I could get a crepe if I got a move on.

 

 

 

 

What's that I hear you ask. A crepe? Did I run to France? Oh no, Tentsmuir just got even better. Due to the forestry works the 'crepe shake has moved from the Main Car Park to the Tayport entrance of the forest and now sits perfectly for me to get a post run snack. It's like running god's blessed me. 

 

On a serious note, the Crepe shack seems to have been established for a wee while now. It was my first time and I loved the product and the idea. Fife, Dundee and Scotland in general needs more of these great entrepreneurial businesses. If you fancy a wee walk or a  cycle/run treat give it a go. Brilliant stuff.

My view to eat my crepe

 

 

 

 

Lastly this was my route and pace etc. The drops tent to be me either looking for a place to turn or taking a photo. The run ended up with 89m of gain which although not a lot seems crazy for such a flat route.

 

 

 I know I say it a lot but don't you just Love this place.

 

 

 





The Tentsmuir Cure

I have been cured, thankfully not like an Italian meat. It was the beautiful Tentsmuir Forrest.

Finally, a week which has included running. Since last Friday I ran 3 times. I know that  isn't very often, but for me it has been fun, and most importantly stress free.

It started with a regular 4 mile run I do, with easy to remember mile markers (no I don't use a GPS, a story for another blog). The only thing to say about this is that it's important to remember to eat after night shift, and before a run. In future I must remember this point.

The second run was 6 miles and an attempt to get a base line on where I am in this thing called 'fitness'. In the end I completed it in 53 minutes feeling fairly fresh and comfortable throughout. So not really any further forward but happy I can improve on it fairly easily. Under 50 minutes? We'll have to wait and see, though that is a big chunk of time to take out.

Then we get onto the fun stuff. I had planned on doing some 'hill training' but knowing that this was going to be a session on a day off  hill reps didn't fill me with joy. Instead, I wanted to try some of the trail runs I had read about in Suzie Allison's book "Scottish Trail Running: 70 Great Runs". After an hour or so looking at the various runs on offer and linking them with trains and the weather I opted for a local run through Tentsmuir Forrest. Suzie Allison's book recommends a figure of 8 starting from the main car park that is about 9km long. Having run/cycled through Tentsmuir a few times I'm familiar with the area and so changed it a bit.

Create Maps or search from 80 million at MapMyRun

If you're reading this living in Dundee or anywhere north of Tentsmuir Forrest, don't bother going all the way to the main car park. It's a pain in bahookie and an extra 15 minutes drive, more if your on public transport. You can get to the other end of the Forrest very quickly (2 minutes) from the car parks by the caravan site in Tayport. 

Anyway, that top tip aside, I got dropped off in Tayport on the main road by my lovely wife on her way to work. From there I ran down to the water's edge and simply followed the tay until you get to the entrance of the forrest. Rather than go straight in and run along the main forestry tracks I followed the path that runs between the forrest and the beach. It's a really easy area to run in because despite there being too many paths to remember you can't really go wrong. Too far one way and you're on the beach and then in the drink. Too far the other way and you're on the main forestry road. The whole route is flat but there are the ups and downs you would expect when playing near dunes and the like. I turned off that section when I came to the beach as I didn't think my calfs were up to that sort of sustained assault.

 

the view from the point I turned into the forrest

Instead I turned right and ended up on the main path until I got to the ice house and then followed Suzie's route. This is probably the most fun section as it is so varied. One minute you are on open moorland and the next you are dodging trees and hoping the path keeps unfolding in front of you.

Having to 'jump' the fence made it more fun

a beautiful straight section

This sort of running reminds me of being a kid and just running for fun, so you can't help but speed up as you twist and turn, up, down and around trees, roots and puddles. It was very quiet, the whole run I only saw one cyclist and one forestry worker van. It was this section where I wish I'd worn contact lenses. I kept steaming up and gambling when I could take  off my glasses and wipe them without falling. Thankfully I am becoming less accident prone and returned injury free. Eventually the path takes you to the main car park at the Leuchers end of the Forrest. This area has toilets etc and a great beach.

the empty car park. If this was the west coast or the south it'd be mobbed. East coasters don't know how lucky they are

The sea and a huge beach, when the legs are stronger I'll be back to run along it.

I had a drink here and decided to return by the main path. The beauty of Tentsmuir is that there are so many paths all pretty much in a grid you can just do what you like and not have to run the same route twice. The main path is much flatter and well maintained. Because of this the return journey was quicker with only the odd stop to take a photo or check the signs. 

I do love Scotland. Miles from anywhere and for no other apparent reason than they could, someone has left this painting next to one of the many public notice signs. Brilliant.     

By the time I got back out of the forrest and past the Tay I had ran for 1hr 54 minutes including lots of photo stops and a drinks break. The rough route I did shows about 11-12 miles of running but with all the twists and turns it might me more. I doesn't really matter though. Hopefully, that's not what these sorts of runs are supposed to be about. I didn't have any time pressure or anything to particularly train for. All that was left to do is go out and have fun, take some photos, and not fall over.

Did I mention it was raining? No. It was. The only down side was getting the bus back to Fundee. Getting colder and colder. Must learn to drive.

A great run, though I might be sore the 'morn. I'll definitely do some more trail routes, maybe even some hills. 


A wee note, please feel free to leave comments etc. As I continue this blog it might get a bit dull if I just recount my runs. So hopefully I will do more trail routes and maybe some stuff on running books, that sort of thing. I will also try to enter some races, I do need to train for something. So if you want  to know anything or just want a blether go ahead.


I'll be sore the 'morn -does that work? Maybe not.