total parkruns: 301
parkruns this year: 2
course PBs this year: 0

had planned swansea today so we could hot foot it over to square peg for a nice feed and mug or two of coffee but the weather had different plans.

overnight the snow, frost and ice descended leaving south wales like a white ice rink – parkruns everywhere cancelled. we were on alert about swansea and had the gnoll as our back up..no go..cancelled. so off to porthcawl with 700+ other runners – wild! it was rammed with folk – first one of the year usually draws a crowd but this was an attendance record for them. had to pay to park – no way was I getting in the free spots along to prom today. kudos to the team it was seamless to us runners – felt safe and looked after on the course – every attempt made to keep us away from icy patches with marshalls at the worst spots and everyone seeming to be sensible and keeping some distance from each other on the sketchy parts of the course.

I ran with rhian and tasha and we took our time. mainly because of the conditions but the fact we have a 7mi trail effort tomorrow also grounded us a bit. feel like my running has been a bit all over the place this past two weeks – odd weeknight racing and extra parkruns playing hell with routine but it’s probably a good thing to shake it up and have a period of just running for the joy of it – no pace, no expectations – just lacing up and getting on it. normal service will resume next week and I’m kind of looking forward to it. enough chaos now thanks.

this was the last parkrun I’ll do with rhian until February and quite a bit longer for Tasha as they’re off to australia – no way could breakfast be missed. offerings in porthcawl are a bit shit for a vegan – there are some great cafes but they’re always rammed and lots just don’t cater. if anyone has any recommendations I’d be glad to hear them please.

so back down the M4 to swansea and the beloved square peg. as we were driving there we could see why they called off parkrun..the path was white with snow/ice. we teetered along the pavement to get to peg where we were treated to the usual hearty welcome – honestly it is the best ✨

a long while later – breakfast stuffed, extra coffee and a slice of cake consumed and we made our slip slidey way back to the car. suddenly fancied an ice-cream – team Powell need no convincing so we called to Joe’s – on the coldest day of the season so far – to have a cone. perfect end to our last supper!

bloody love parkrun, all it has brought me and what it continues to provide. it is a cult.