There was a strong north-easterly wind blowing as I started my run at lunchtime yesterday from Stinky Bay, though going up the path it was hardly noticeable I was well aware that when I got to the top and ran along the cliffs, I was really going to feel it. I was wearing a vest, trackies and gloves which was probably not the best plan but last winter I had run in Krakow when it was -20C wearing the same kit and ended up sweating in the sunshine.
Wrong!!! Jersey has a very different way of dealing with people like me, the wind is cold, strong, damp and sucks the heat out of a body at unbelievable speed, I had forgotten that or just thought I was tough enough not to notice. Anyway it felt colder than the Carpathians, there wasn’t another fool about and I had to keep moving as fast as possible to keep moderately warm, that part at least was good.
To be honest, when the weather is like that there is not an awful lot to feel inspired about, there were no birds around either, more sense than me. I had to stop a few times to adjust my leg which was squeaking because I hadn’t adjusted the ‘O’ ring seal properly before I started (impatience is something I thought I’d been cured of but it comes back to bite me every now and then :) and I found myself looking for a boulder to sit behind just to get out of the worst of the wind.
Well, I went as far as Gronez Castle then looped back next to the race course, no-one there either, the model airfield was deserted but there was one person sitting in a van, wearing a coat with engine and heater running.
When I reached my car I couldn’t help but think how nice it would be to have just climbed Mogielica in the snow, I was much warmer last January when I was there ;)
