Run Britain Days 63 - 71: The Pembrokeshire Coast Path
The Fastest Known Time (FKT) for the stunning 186 mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path is a little under two days. The female record(and the second fastest known time overall), set in August of this year is just over 48 hours.
I’m very conscious of FKTs because sometimes I feel like I am completing my own challenge too slowly. When I compare the week that I took to complete the Pembrokeshire coast path to the 48 hour record, my efforts feel quite slow.
Could I be running quicker? Yes, I think I probably could. In fact, I think I probably will start running a bit quicker when I am back to being fully supported. Because then I will have a bit more energy to take on the running and at the moment, I am quite tired from all the planning.
I think when I am supported, I will also be a bit more focused. On days when I am running on my own, I am easily distracted by taking pictures, sending voice notes or (badly) checking how many reactions my Instagram stories have gained.
I am looking forward to being able to focus more on the running (and the writing) when Heather comes back. But I am glad I did Pembrokeshire unsupported, because I had the most amazing week with wonderful people.
Friday brought the first proper sunshine I had seen for what felt like several weeks. Sure, it was mixed with the odd heavy downpour which has become ever-present in Wales. But it was nice to not feel like I was running in a cloud.
I’m staying in Pembroke which meant a train journey back to the start point. I am not one for early arrivals at stations, but with just one train every two hours in this part of the world, I made sure to be at Pembroke station in plenty of time and with plenty of snacks - unlike Cornwall and Devon (which are equally remote), seasonal openings seem to impact everything from the ferries to the cafes in this part of Britain and I didn’t want to be stuck on the coast path with nowhere to stop and no sustenance to keep me going.
I set off from Tenby before sunrise (my first pre-sunrise start of the trip so far) and I loved it. The magnificent beach between Tenby and Penally was all mine and I was able to watch the sun coming up beyond the islands out in the sea.
That’s not to say the conditions were ideal. The wind on the coast path remains fierce and when that is mixed with a sideways rain, I had to pull my buff up to my eyes to prevent a painfully cold face. But I made it to Freshwater East beach well before lunchtime and found a place for a drink. Which turned into a place for a one and a half hour lunch break because I couldn’t resist getting cosy under the blankets in front of a very warm radiator.
The afternoon took me to Freshwater West which, although I didn’t know it at the time, is the site of Shell Cottage and therefore, of course, Dobby’s grave. It is an exceptionally beautiful beach, on which Dobby’s ‘memorial’ (left by Harry Potter fans) remains long after filming has finished. It’s funny to so deeply mourn a creature who has never existed, but people clearly do. The memorial is piled high with painted stones and socks for the house elf.
Saturday was completely rain free. My mood has definitely become very dependent on the weather, but today’s excellent running was probably boosted more by the fact that I was joined by Amber.
Amber is an excellent runner, but I did think that a marathon on the coast path, less than a week after smashing a personal best in the Malaga marathon might be stretching it. I am running very slowly, but normally when I run a road marathon, especially a quick one, I am unable to walk properly for at least a fortnight.
But we managed a great morning of running and a quick afternoon - made quick because of the need to make the ‘once every two hour’ train back to Pembroke. Amber definitely got a full taste of the winter coast path and all its mud.
Sunday was a difficult one. I think perhaps because heading into Christmas with no plans to see my own family and friends felt quite sad. But then Harry turned up. An amazing surprise which massively cheered up my day off (a day set aside for planning for the new year). I am amazed that I don’t feel like I need time off for my legs. I am tired, but I feel ok about the continued runnning, mixed with a fair amount of walking.
And then to Christmas and an incredible few days of running around the St David’s area.
The picture that’s the header for this website was taken just outside of St David’s one August and when I pictured the same spot in December, I was not imagining the same blue seas and clear skies. But, if anything, the weather on December 23 was even better than in that August.
I love St David’s so much that I added an extra 8km onto my run so I could pop into the city and the Fat Face there to buy myself a Christmas present (more than two months with just one jumper means that jumper is a bit disgusting, so I have bought another one which means the original can be washed).
By Christmas Day the wind had picked up a bit which meant my 16 miles completed on the big day itself were quite tough. But I followed it with the most incredible and biggest Christmas dinner.
I’ve had the most wonderful few days with the Thomas family enjoying the Pembrokeshire coast path. The company, the weather, two lovely dogs, amazing food and the best shower I have ever used have made for a really special Christmas time.