Change Of Scenery

Believe it or not, it was actually a beautiful sunny night tonight here in Aberdeen. After three days off from my regime, I was itching to get back out and a pink sky full of fluffy clouds made for a very picturesque background. It seemed to be the perfect conditions to make a change to my usual route and take to the beach.



The path that runs above Aberdeen beach is around 2 miles long and mostly flat, apart from the occasional, brief slope. The road that runs above the path also forms a big part of the Baker Hughes race, so it's very popular with runners, especially at this time of year when the nights are getting lighter and the cold chill is disappearing from the air. It was about 5.30pm when I set off and there were lots of runners dotted up and down the coastline, of varying ages and ability. Some ran in little clusters, all keeping pace with one another, while other more serious runners ran alone with earphones on, clocking up many more miles than the rest. There were a few spritely pensioners putting me to shame, and lots of young students chatting as they jogged. I was the only one running with a dog lead in one hand and a terrier at my heels, but I'm getting used to that.



One thing I knew would happen, happened very fast - my lungs got tight. I've had asthma all my life and can tell very quickly when my body is preparing to go into an attack. I've had them sleeping on floors, stroking cats, walking around stables, cross country PE at school- many other situations - including jogging at the beach. There's something about a coastline and a ragged cold wind that makes my airways shrink. It feels like breathing through a straw - you just can't get enough air in one breath to fill your lungs. I had an inkling this would happen so I had my ventolin inhaler in my pocket and puffed on it a little heavily for about 30 seconds., continuing to run. After that it mostly passed and I was able to carry on with no problem. My legs felt a lot better than last week and I managed a pretty good run.



When I was done I rewarded the dog by finally letting him down to the sand. He loves the beach so much that even as I'm drawing up in the car, he starts whining like a creature possessed, like I'm going to drive off again without letting him out. Opting to do my cooldown walk on the sand was pretty hardgoing, as you have to push so much harder against soft sand than you do against tarmac. With all my muscles all ticking and cooling down, going onto the sand was like adding an extra workout onto my run. How anyone actually manages to run on sand, I have no idea. And Pamela Anderson made it look so easy!