Finally, a Half Marathon Runner Again!

 I've probably mentioned in passing here and there the half marathon I had been training for, and how my training had been stymied a bit by getting cellulitis in my leg, and pulling a muscle in my backside. 

Well earlier in the month I walked down to Sconce Park, full of trepidation at 745am on a slightly chilly morning, to pick up my race pack for the start at 9am. I was running for a local hospice I had raised some money for, and was resplendent in one of their "technical running shirts". 

I don't know what was that technical about it, it caused some rather painful chafing. 

A thousand runners, the vast majority of them looking rather fitter than me, were milling around, stretching, fuelling with energy drinks, bars and gels, and applying various hi performance creams to their limbs. Me, I had eaten some very retro cola bottle sweets. 

IBS is such a pain sometimes. Well, most of the time. 

A Mrs Motivator gave us a pre run stretch routine, and then we formed up in a long conga line in predicted time order. I was towards the back, with my fellow two hours 20 people. 

We then crocodiled out the park like a school trip, before beginning our run on the main road. 

I started far too fast. Of course I did. But running with the 2 hour 20 pacemaker just seemed very un-natural, so I just went off and did my own thing, knowing full well my legs were going to fall off at some point and hoping to get as far as I could before this happened. 

I was hoping to get to 10 miles. I made it to exactly 8, on the long two mile country lane section which I knew was going to be a bleak, hard and lonely section. Being a mainly rural course, there weren't the cheering crowds you get at the London Marathon. Unsurprisingly. 

The next mile and a half or so was a real struggle, more so as it was getting quite warm by now. I would force myself to run for brief sections by saying "Tree", "Sign", "Hedge" or "Water Stop" before walking again. 

Fellow runners must have thought I was going mad. 

After getting to Thorpe village, it got easier, helped by the hospice putting a cheering squad at the 11 mile mark, with the pull of home drawing me along, albeit pretty slowly. 

I trotted through the finishing line in two hours 17, and immediately drank all the things, and ate a bag of haribo like a pig. I felt pretty proud, and so did my sister, which was the loveliest part of the day. 

Now, will I do it again? 

Si 

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 01.09.26 

Snowdrops. In November.

 My idea of Spring is perhaps different from others; I consider it to be the season when the ground starts erupting with new growth and flowers, new colour among the green and browns. 

That being said, the idea that Spring stars before Autumn has finished is a bit of a reach. Yet here we are, snowdrops are out in the cemetery. 

Si

All text and images are copyright CreamCrackeredNature 01.12.25 

The Last of late Season Colour

 The warm weather disappeared largely very quickly, replaced by unsettled weather and occasionally heavy rain that blocked my guttering and caused water to run down my kitchen and living room walls. 

Plaster wrecked, good job I'm renting. 

Back issues have eased, but sciatica remains an issue some mornings when I wake up. I get into some mad positions when I sleep. 

So, what's out there?

White butterflies are still around, honey bees too and bufftailed and common carder bumblebees. All feeding of the last flowers in bloom - hawkbut, bristly oxe tongue, the occasional creeping thistle. Ivy mining bees have also been around feeding off guess what ivy flowers. 

I'll show you what I've found. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 20.09.25

Bumblebees are Up!

 January was endless, February seemed endlessly grim. Not a lot to see anywhere as cold weather and grey skies seemed to set in for weeks on end. The early emergences of early January seemed to stall. 

The last few days however, have seen a return of actual springlike conditions; sunlight and a smidgen of warmth have returned. I feel like I have returned too, with more enjoyment in the outside once again as I seek to burn out the endless Tourette energy.

And at the same time, we have seen an explosion in light and colour. 

Today I wish to concentrate on one species. The better conditions have brought the the return of the big, busy and buzzy buff tailed bumblebee queens, that have been loving pollen bathing in the colourful crocus carpets we now have in the town's green spaces. 

Particularly impressive has been their beep buzzing noise they make when they lumber into the air after feeding, like an overladen World War 1 aircraft.

I hope you are enjoying seeing them on the wing too!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.03.25

New Emergences

 Having had a lovely family Christmas with the three of us - stepfather, sister, and myself, with the new year it is always exciting to anticipate the blooming of the first "spring" flowers.

Only, it has already happened!

As well as the snowdrops I've shown you, I've found aconite already in the Friary Gardens, and also crocuses in the cemetery.

Crocuses! In December!

I wonder if the anticipated freezing snap we are about to have will slow things down a bit, after all it was a very mild festive season, but I'm just pleased to see the colour for now, as the days begin to lengthen.

I hope you all had a very happy Christmas!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 02.01.2025

Guess What's Back?

 Got out for a run late afternoon, where the clouds were just beginning to break up after an entirely grey day. 

The run had an objective in mind; to head to the cemetery to see if there are any snowdrops in flower, And sure enough there were! Right where I was expecting, the place they always come into flower first, just the one bunch in flower at the moment, but, they count!

The lake was peaceful, gently rose gold gilded, with the ducks congregating for a feed of grain from a young child. 

The sunset that followed, as I ran along opposite the hospital, was a firey and glorious spectacle. 

Is anything growing where you are?

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 15.12.2024

December Thoughts

 We have had snow, ice, and storms, and I've been perhaps a little lazy and not been outside as much as I'd like. Possibly a touch of post suspected covid fatigue, possibly a desire to stay warm under a duvet as much as possible!

The weather has also made it tricky for running, and also the time of year. October and December are quiet months, with the world almost feeling in stasis; a pause to recover and renew. The last few days, however, I see signs of the world waking up and me with it. 

Hazel catkins have appeared, and there are a few shrubs in bud. In my planters, my allium spears are up and I reckon if I was in the cemetery - not recommended with high winds and a lot of old trees, I'd see snowdrops waiting to flower. Indeed, next weekend, when I visit the cemetery I think I will find a snowdrop in bloom. 

The season of finding flowers will soon be back!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 09.12.24

Well I'm Still Finding Things!

 I've been doing a fair bit of running again, and getting faster to boot! This seems to be spurred on by the purchase of a new semi-smart watch, an Amazfit Bip 5 with onboard GPS. Sadly, because I live in the centre of town the GPS is often borked on one one of my main running routes and has me running 2km before it even registers one, but outside of that one road it seems fairly accurate, and I'm now running 5km in just over 29 minutes.

We are still getting days of mild weather, often preceded by grimly misty mornings for me to cycle through. Lights are on all the time now, including my head torch at night. Sadly, I haven't been able to see Comet A3, town lights are too intrusive. 

So that's running, cycling and being rubbish at astronomy covered, what of nature? We have entered the autumn holding pattern, with goldfinches flocking up and robins the only birds still singing. Meadow pipits have arrived at work for the winter. When I can find something in flower, there's still the occasional hiney bee around which gives me joy and delays winter sadness. 

Counting down already to the first snowdrops.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 23.10.24

More Photo Diving - Bumbles and Butterflies

 Well, as the amount of wildflowers out there diminishes as autumn prepares to drape its rust and gold wings over the land, there has nonetheless been some hot days that have brought pollinators out to coralberry, marigold and coreopsis at work and at the park. 

Butterflies have been in desperately short supply this summer, and now that the meadow browns, ringlet and gatekeepers there is very little out there. My own buddleia has had the odd peacock dropping in, but small tortoiseshell and comma have been virtually non-existent where I have been pounding the tracks or having a gentle walk. 

I hope my readers have had better luck. Certainly some local folk here have found silver washed fritillaries in town, which is unheard of before. 

Of course, I haven't seen them. 

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 21.08.24