Despite having lived in Torquay for 18 years, I don't think I had ever once been running. Why would I have done that?! So, it's Christmas, and I need to run a marathon. This was easier said than run.

Faded seaside glamour

Having been back in Torquay for a few days and partaken in the usual Christmas eve drunkenness, I was in need of doing my long run for the week. I had done a few 10k runs, but now needed to plan a route in the locale. 

Beautiful beaches, fields, never ending countryside I hear you say. In theory yes... Relying on the parents taxi, I started my run in Dawlish with the intention of running back to Torquay - about 42km with a few twists and turns added. It started well... nice run on the beach, next to the railway line, through Teignmouth (home of 'Muse') and then in theory back along the 'main' road to Torquay.

What I hadn't realised at the time is that NO roads out of Teignmouth are graced with the basic amenities afforded to other roads in the country. Pavements were clearly off the council agenda and the narrow country lanes simply didn't have any... I consider running in Joburg at night 'dangerous', but running along two lane roads with absolutely no space, really wasn't wise.

Extreme training

So, after doubling back 3km and finding two other roads with the same predicament, there I was, freezing my arse off on the platform of Teignmouth train station. I was attracting some interesting looks from some local simpletons who had clearly planned a day out to somewhere like Paignton. Wearing an overly tight running top with a hydration pack, whilst steaming, was clearly something these people had never seen before - resulting in baffled pointing and indeterminant grunts.

I have never had to catch a train during a run, but there you go... no option. After the 10 minute ride to Newton Abbot (a town I would happily rate as amongst the top 3 worst in the country), I got off and ran the final 10km or so back home.

Not a great run, but I think the key takeaway is one that I have learned many times before. No matter what the obstacles, you just have to keep going and plough through.