It’s been a funny old running year. For much of it I just couldn’t get going. It was a struggle. On two successive Sundays I bailed out of my long runs and got the bus back home. I felt sluggish.

Our glorious west coast
Everything hurt. Although I continued to lead groups on Saturday morning, and Wednesday evenings during the summer I stopped enjoying it so much. I didn’t feel up to entering races. In fact I entered four half-marathons (Southampton, Winchester, two in Jersey) but didn’t make the starting line in any of them.

Stirling Castle

Rozel Harbour
I started wondering if it was time to pack it in altogether.

Fishermen’s Church, La Rocque

At Radier Farm
At which time I considered my diet again. Not for the first time in my life. I dusted off the juicer, hit the fruit and vegetable shelves, started following my own preaching about avoiding processed foods.

At Queen’s Valley Reservoir

South-western rockscape
And what a difference it made, almost immediately. My body reacted joyously, I felt loose again, less achy, a spring in my legs. The enjoyment came back.
Once more I started to look forward to running. Early morning runs before work became a habit. The miles built up. I happily ran in the last few races of the year, the highlight being a 52-minute Autumn 10k, the age-equivalent of my best time set eight years ago. I hit my 1,000 mile target which, at one time, was looking hopeless.

Petit Port

Overlooking sand dunes

Harbour, St Brelade’s Bay

Neolithic passage chamber, St Ouen

Bouley Bay

Misty evening on the dunes

Super Slow run, St Lawrence

View up to Portelet Common from Ouaisné

Old Smugglers Inn

Railway bridge, St Clement

Site of former Mont Mado quarry

St Martin’s Churchyard

St Catherine’s Woods

Windmill, St Mary

Dappled sunlight, Grantez

L’Etacq

A break from jogging the trails at Grantez

One more of our west coast
So looking towards a good 2019 with renewed enthusiasm.
This is an inspiration to me too. Better eating, more exercising, and fewer excuses. Thanks for the virtual smack up along the side of the head.
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Hello EQ. It should really not be a surprise to find that your body repays you when you treat it properly. One of these days I’ll learn that lesson. Happy New Year 🙂
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What an inspiring post, Roy! Good for you! It would certainly be difficult to stop running with the views you enjoy. Happy New Year!
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Thank you Jill and Happy New Year. Yes indeed I count myself very fortunate to live where I do.
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Brilliant, Roy. What in heaven’s name were you eating before you got out the juicer, nothing but hot dogs and store-bought white bread?! Do I need a juicer or can I just gorge on fruits and veggies? And here I thought it was just part of the aging process to have less get-up-and-go. And you managed 1000 miles. I stand in awe. AND you completed your latest novel (I have just reached the beginning of the scary part)! You need to take a bow, my friend. Happy New Year, Roy. (Btw, what’s the usual most common way of getting from the UK to Jersey?)
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Thank you Jane. Every now and again, living alone, I drift into lazy eating habits. And it always comes as a revelation once I stop eating crap and start considering what’s best to fuel my body. You’d think I’d have learnt the lesson by now 😦
I appreciate you picking up S&D and giving it a go. I suspect not everyone will want to.
We have pretty good air links with London and Southampton in particular, though it’s a pricey ride these days. And there is a fast ferry link – useful if you wish to take the car.
Happy New Year Jane.
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Roy, I’m happy the new diet paid dividends and I’m in awe of all your running. I love the photographs and would love to walk the routes … taking breaks to enjoy the lovely views (and odd pub meal!) Wishing you a great running season in 2019 -enjoy!
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Thank you Annika. Maybe you’ll come to see us one day 🙂
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I’ve only been once to Jersey on a day trip for business … what I saw I loved and there was even half an hour to enjoy the beach! I’d love to return … some day perhaps!😀
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That’s awesome, Roy! I’m so glad you found your back to the joy of running. I hope to get back into workouts. I’ve started 2019 strong as far as walking, but maybe I need to switch to more fruits and vegetables to get back into feeling like I want to be fit.
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Hi Julie. It’s a virtuous circle really – being active = wishing to eat healthier = feeling more active. For some reason I break that circle from time to time. Hope to read about your fitness gains in 2019, all the better for your explorations 🙂
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You’ve run in some quaint and lovely places, Roy. Wishing you many more in 2019 (and all best with that juicer too!)
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Thank you Janna. We are very lucky. And with all old(er) runners there’s also the realisation that if we stop we’ll be unlikely to start again. I love the appropriate quote ‘The day will come when I won’t be able to run. That day is not today’.
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Love this. Makes the progress you make with each run–health, a bit of beautiful scenery, and some lovely fellow runners–really stand out:).
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Thank you Kristine. Indeed, multiple benefits for which I am always grateful.
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Great post! Congrats on a great year 🙂
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Not so good Taushah, though a good finish. But thank you 🙂
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Jersey looks absolutely stunning; what a place to live and run. You must have some breathtaking routes judging by these photos. It’s amazing the difference a change in diet, or habits, can make I think. I find that regularly too: that some foods can kind of clog up my running – physically and mentally – if that’s possible. Well, well done on turning your running around and I look forward to reading more about it!! 🙂
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Hello Avriii 🙂 Indeed Jersey is amazingly diverse for such a small place and running opportunities are endless. I found Ireland, beautiful though it is, a bit restricting in that way. Yes, as to diet it’s stuff that I know but just keep forgetting. Thanks for your visit.
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Your photographs are spectacular. I’m jealous you get to wake up and head out for a run there! Really looks beautiful. Happy running 🙂
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