Take Me Home Mumbles Road To The Place That I Love

 I was born in Neath, moved away in 1997 when I went to Uni but have come back to see mam and dad who live in Neath.  Regular readers of this blog will know that I am taking dad up to live by us up North at the end of the week so this is very likely to be the last time that I run a South Wales parkrun. 

I thought long and hard about which one to do, there a quite a few near Neath that I haven't done and would get me my 50th different location but it only really came down to two options, both of which I have ran before.  One of my favourites places in the world, 'Up the Gnoll' or Swansea Bay.  In the end, it came down to the Gower, which was the first place in the UK to be named an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Much like the Gnoll, I had some great memories of my childhood spending many a long summer exploring Bracelet,  Caswell and Oxwich Bays and that's without the glorious days watching Viv Richards, Matthew Maynard and Waqur Younis torment all before them at St Helens but  when I asked dad which one would prefer he had no hesitation in saying Swansea.  

We last came down here in February 2023 when I wasn't particularly fit and I ran 23.19, before this month I had got back into training specifically for parkrun, that has gone to pot somewhat since I came down but I am still in better run shape than I was 18 months ago so figured I would give it a go.  (Not helped by my forgetting to look my time up before I ran) 

Now, this may be down to me, but for some reason when I put the post code for the parkrun or the Secret Cafe (best coffee and breakfast in parkrun land) into my Sat Nav, it did not come up, but weirdly, St Helens cricket did !   Quick heads up in case same thing happens to others.

There's plentiful parking around the start, if you get there early head to the wonderful Secret Bar and Grill The Secret Beach Bar & Kitchen (thesecretswansea.co.uk) if not there are several other car parks nearby. 

This is an out and back course in a similar vein to Ystylafera two weeks ago.  Completely different but equally as stunning views.  With all due respect to Ysty, this is even more beautiful than that.  To have a parkrun running alongside the sea , the sound of the waves lapping on a more or less flat course (with a slight slope at the turn around point) and the beauty of Swansea bay keeping you company is the coup de gras for a farewell to South Wales' parkruns

This is the type of parkrun where you will need to position yourself quite carefully at the start as there is some congestion when you begin.  We had 580 runners today and it took me about a minute or so to get into my running pace, I'd imagine if you started further back you could be held up quite a bit so you really need to place yourself according to your pace.

Once you set off though, it is very flat (joint 7th in the UK) you start off opposite St Helen's cricket ground (new home of the Ospreys) and head off down the sea front before heading off slighty right onto the coastal path.  What is really helpful though, is that there are kilometre markers throughout the course which helps you to pace yourself and gives you a great target when your starting to fade, especially on the way back.

Today we were very lucky in that Tri Hard Harriers were pacing us, I kept an eye on the 23 minute chap pulling ahead of him in the last kilometre and really surprisingly came home in 22.09 which is the 20th fastest time out of 508 runs, pretty happy with that.

After that we all went to the Secret Bar for breakfast.  I cannot recommend this place enough, the range of the food (including cockles) is very impressive, the portions large and the coffee delicious, even though my American nephew put the milk in his tea before he added the water (have a look at the picture before which shows my horror !)  

After spending a good 40 minutes or so pigging ourselves out, we headed on down towards Mumbles to have a look at the lighthouse before finishing off in Bracelet Bay near Cresci's for ice-cream.

There were some visitors today but if you are visiting Swansea Bay parkrun from any decent distance, I'd highly recommend spending a weekend down here.  Especially in the summer as it is a stunning part of the world, the seaside, the cafes, the wonderful volunteers, the run location, and the flat course make this one of the overall best parkruns I've done.  

Thank you Swansea, thank you Gnoll, Ponty, Brynbach, Porthcawl and Ystralyfera.  They say that you can take the boy out of Wales but you cannot take Wales out of the boy.  I have been living away from Wales longer than I lived at home but I will always be very proud of being Welsh, I love the beauty of the country, the self depreciating and warm humour of the people and how everyone has been so much to my 2 nephews (both of whom said they want to move here)   

As Dylan Thomas said....Swansea 'An ugly, lovely town, crawling, sprawling by the side of a long and splendid curving shore.  This sea side town was my world' 

Racing parkrun, and thank you to Run For All Neath

Gnoll 20 July 

I love parkrun and I love the Gnoll grounds.  My brother and his boys (Gavin and Dylan) flew over from the States this week.  One is 19 and the other 14.  Gavin, the eldest, a couple of years ago, had an 18 minute PB, since then though, he has really got into his rugby and has put on a lot of muscle and hasn't done a lot of distance running, even though I am around 25 years older than him, I fancied racing him and seeing if I could take his American ass (have to cater to his vocabulary) down.

The two boys, Gavin and Dylan have done parkrun before last time they were down in 2017 and I have been extoling the virtues of it ever since so I was very excited that they lined up on the start line with me today.

I also was given the privilege of doing the first timers briefing today.  This is one of the best volunteers roles someone can do.  It gives you the chance of not only telling tourists about your parkrun but also welcoming 1st timers to the madness of parkrun and as I explained to Sue Rideout and Nicola Davies the gateway to the addiction.  Ladies, behold parkrun Day (also one word, always lower case) the day formally known as Saturday.  Both of you got a really good time today.  The challenge you now have is beating it next week

Today, thankfully was a break from the really hot weather.  Even though it was still very warm there was a touch of rain in the air which made for almost perfect running conditions.

One of the best things about having my American cousins over to stay is showing them how hospitable and friendly us south Walians are.  They loved and love 'Nana Wales 'Grampa Wales' but without an exception, the courtesy and kindness shown wherever we've been makes me very proud to be from the lovely part of the world, from friends of my parents who have popped in to say hello to the lovely people up Neath Rugby Club who have been so accommodating allowing them to have a kick about on the pitch to inviting Gavin to train with the team next Tuesday.  

That warm Welsh welcome was extended to my parkrun family.  Thank you to Darren,  Lauren and Andrea and everyone else for coming over to chat and being so lovely which them feel like part of the set up. (even though Dylan pinched one of the tokens...sorry...(he did give it back)) 

I could be lazy and just say have a look at my previous run report for a description of the course but it's such a good 'un, and I really liked the way in which Darren described it to me as he is spot on.

It really is like a computer game.  First level is a very pleasant jaunt around the pond , no trouble, no lives lost.  Second, getting a little bit tasty, maybe think that you possibly went out a bit too fast on the first lap as here, you go round the pond, but then head a bit off road down to the cellars before coming back for your third lap where you will face the momma and poppa bear, the Al Pacino, the Pontypool Front Row, the Big Boss Man of hills and the main baddy of the parkrun level......  The Hill of Eternal Peril !  

Here you will face, steepness of the levels for which you will not have encountered before, a hill so washed in loose gravel and sparseness of foot grips that seasoned mountain goats would probably think twice, a hill where only exceptional runners run up without taking a walk break....it is therefore here where I ran up, and flew past the exhausted Gavin, being the young scamp that he is and sprinted off like a gazelle dosed up to it's tits on E Numbers and fizzy pop to enjoy the mad dash back down the other side, a quick trip back around the cellars and the final push for home.

We all know that parkrun is not meant to be a race, it is a run, but you know what ? When  Gavin flew past me in the first 500 metres, I made a deal with myself that he was either going to leave me in the dust or he was going to blow on the hill.  I therefore ran a lot quicker than I have in a long time, to keep him in sight and finished over a minute quicker than when I last ran here, two weeks ago and only 20 seconds slower than my PB.    Many thanks also to (I think it was) Steve Williams and his dog for the nip and tuck run we had together.  Racing someone (even if they may not know you're racing) certainly makes things far more fun.

One of the things I love to do at this parkrun is to bring my dad down and wave at him (less and less vigorously with each lap) through the cafe window.  Having three generations of the Richards family at parkrun meant a lot to me, especially being at the Gnoll.

We're taking dad back up North to live near us at the end of the month and I'm not sure where we are going next week, may well be here for a return smackdown with Gavin or we may vernture over to Swansea for a flat sprint.

If this is the last time I visit this very special place, can I thank each and every one of you, especially all the runners at Run for All Neath for making me feel so welcome when I asked about going for a run many years ago when visiting mum and dad.  You are exactly what a running club should be.  

Much love to you all.

    

Why is 'Y' not a Y

 

Ystylafera 13 July 2024

And relax....

Now that is exactly what I needed !

I'm still down in Wales and I'll probably be down here for the rest of the month, sorting out things for dad, making sure everything is in place for mum's funeral on the 24th and shamelessly plugging my begging people to donate towards the MS Rehab centre in Swansea(John Richards is fundraising for The South Wales Ms Therapy Centre (justgiving.com) )

Unlike last week, there was no doubt that  I was going to do a parkrun.  The only question was where.  After quite a slow start to getting into parkrun, they are popping up thick and fast in Wales.  Today was my 506th parkrun and the 49th different venue, having ran Gnoll, Ponty, Brynbach, Porthcawl and Swansea in Wales,  I looked at the 5K app and found  that Ystalyfera and Maesteg were the two nearest NENDYs to my dad's house.    

I looked at Ysty  on Youtube and was immediately sold.  What a stunning looking place and also a rare flat one.  It is an out and back but it is so beautiful, (see the waterfall picture around 3/4 of a mile in)  you really don't notice and it gives you time to properly concentrate on your pace.

Firstly though, getting there.  Best thing to do is use the postcode of the Junction Cafe (SA9 2HA - What Three Words, Orders Presumes Juggles) which is where everywhere meets (or use the big Asda just across the road) 

Now, I didn't have What Three Words and the stupid Sat Nav took me through Seven Sisters and ended up dumping me around 100 yards up the road by down a No Entry Street)   If you get lost, stop and ask for directions  as all the locals know where the Big Asda or the Junction Cafe are

When you do (hopefully) arrive, there's plenty of space by the cafe, where you will see a parking marshal.  The way to the start is very clearly marked, taking you over the bridge (where it is legally required that you must stop and take a picture) and then its just a short walk to the start, if you can get there in time without taking more pictures.

As it is an out and back course, there's plenty of places to leave your stuff and there are always people there to keep an eye on them.

Now the course itself.  It's flat, probably with a slight slope on the way down.   My splits were 7.28, 7.36 and 7.32, so it's a course where you can get your pace on and split it up into various sections...The waterfall, the photographer, where the fast runners come back, (Chris Tones flew past me just before the half way point and finished well clear in 17.03 for a new PB) , other runners on way back etc.

You can also race (obviously theoretically as parkrun is most definitely a run not a race) the person in front of you.  I managed to do just that on that way back using the two lads in front of me to pace and trying to pull them in which I just did before the end) 

For such a young parkrun (today was it's 12th)  it's incredible to see how well the team has everything done to a tee.  This is by far and away the youngest parkrun I've done since I've been doing my reports and you'd see no difference between this and one of it's oldest cousins, Bramhall.  (Brucie Bonus that this is the first 12th parkun I've done)

I also feel that I am repeating myself but this, too, is fighting for the medal for one of my favourites.  It's nice and fast like Swansea,  Stretford or Alexandra but there is something about the 'newness' and stunning location (saying that Swansea Bay is hard to beat) which I really loved.

Finished the run, got my time, handed in token...yakkaty yak....now for the serious part.  We've had the parkrun, what about the coffee ?

Its is well documented from previous run reports that the food is top notch, and I concur (had the medium breakfast, sausage and bacon was some of the nicest I've ever had)...what about the coffee ?  Well, the scurrilous rumours from previous penners of this report did not appear to be quite as first seemed.  

I am a coffee snob, I don't spend my money on many posh things but I have bought a really nice coffee machine so it was much chagrin, alarm and a slight degree of discombobulation (no idea what that word means it sounds 'shouty' enough to work) that I ventured into the Junction to check out the brews.  Now, it is fair to say that it was not a bean machine with the dizzying sounds of beans being ground up and served with a delicious aroma of coffee goodness but it was also not a sachet.  They had one of those machines that you put a packet it.  Not top class, but not like it had been reported.

My biggest takeaway though was the food, it was absolutely lovely.  I was only surprised that there were not more people in there, hopefully it got a bit fuller later on after I left.  Really important to support our parkrun cafes.

Cycle Route 43 is a very odd name for Ystalyfera parkrun but I can see why.  There is a 'challenge' that some folk like to do in that they try to collect parkruns with the names starting with every letter of the alphabet.  Ys are rare so if they did have a parkrun starting with Y, this lovely village would be packed with people trying to 'collect it'  It's a gorgeous place and the 133 runners today was just about perfect.  So I can well understand why this was done.

As ever, I loved this run, a lungs bursting, full speed parkrun is antidote to loss.  I cannot over emphasis enough the power of getting out in a beautiful place and getting away from it all.  Running as fast as you can, looking at waterfalls, stunning views and then sitting down for a lovely breakfast.

Route 43....thank you x

The Essence of parkrun

Gnoll parkrun 6 July 24

I was born extremely rich and very privileged.  I don't mean in an Eton, private school, Nannies and ponies type of way but being blessed with two of the most wonderful people you could ever imagine. My mam and dad.  That, I would like to think is worth far more than fancy holidays and expensive trainers.

I don't live in Neath anymore, moving away from home when I went to Uni, but I was brought up there. My childhood memories centre around going 'Up the Gnoll'.  Lazy, hazy days of summer were spent hiding in 'the den' (as you come up the hill on the left where parkrun used to go) that we were sure only we knew about, making yourself sick on the 'dizzy roundabout' on the field on the left where we start and the weird metal gym equipment on the grass behind the finish (I think).

My birthday parties in mid summer were not spent in paid for rip off places but my whole class were bought sausage and chips from Mrs Opals and the day playing cricket, football and rugby up the Gnoll and drinking loads of pop.  All made possible by a combination of two things.  My parents and the beautiful Gnoll grounds.

I'd imagine that it's pretty clear from my blog how much I love parkrun.  To have a parkrun in one of my favourite places in the world is so special to me.  Vast majority of the time, when I come home (will always call it home) I'll run here.  I have ran at Swansea, Ponty, Bryn Bach and Porthcawl but I always prefer to run here as it's so special.

My mam died this week, and running has been a sort of antidote to dealing with the loss of someone that was so selfless, so dignified and so strong in her fight against Multiple Sclerosis.  I've got up and ran most mornings, around the Gnoll grounds and down the Neath Canals.  I found it to be a mind cleanser and a way of escaping into your soul, to deal with things that should happen in your sleep (rather ruined by blasting out 'Live and Let Die' on my headphones at mile 6,) which I've not really had enough of.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to do parkrun this week, only had about 2 hours sleep last night and got up at around 5.30 to have a bit of a potter and to sort more things out in the house.  Of course, when  around 8.30 came about, the inevitable happened and I made my way up past the Gnoll gates, the 1st pond and up the hill to parkrun.

As soon as I saw the 2nd pond, I must confess getting a bit emotional. the wonderful memories of summers past came flooding past, with last summer when I pushed my mam up the hill where we spent 3-4 hours eating ice-cream and making fun of my dad at the forefront of my mind.  

Being a good British lad, I shook my head, went, bwamwaamea and carried on walking.

The parkrun itself, as you can see by the picture is centred around such a gorgeous location.  You really do  get a bit blasé about it, but today we had visitor from around the parkrun world, including at least two lads from clwb Bryn Bach (even though the gits beat me) and somewhere called 'Bushy' ?  (Must be a new one not heard of it before, don't you hate these newbie parkruns jumping on the bandwagon ) 

For those who haven't done it before...where have you been and why haven't you ran the only parkun that beats the (second) best parkrun in parkrun world, Woodbank ?

It's a three lapper, but, by Jingo, it's a helluva lot more than that.  It's a three lapper that is gradually longer and tougher than the one before it.  

You start with a tour around the pond, (check out the wooden bridge and the rapids on your left on the far end), you go around again, but this time run down to the old cellars from the Gnoll House.  Third time ?  Well, there's a reason there's no pacers here (at least I don't think there are) It's a climb up a beauty of a hill, across the top, before a mad as beans sprint/slip and slide down the hill, finishing off with another trip to the cellars and a sprint home to where the cafe and all your bags are.

One of things I miss about Neath are the accents.  Mine has been tempered somewhat with living away for 20 odd years, but there is nothing better to make you smile than some of some of the most enthusiastic marshals belting out support in a strong South Wales accent.  Never change Neath, I love you all. 

Cafe is really worth a visit, the coffee is really nice and a wide selection of baps (even though I always go for sausage and egg)

This is my favourite parkrun for many, many reasons.  Thank you to the kind people up there today that were aware or became aware of what was happening.  You're very special and your words meant a lot.

We are not asking for flowers for the funeral, but if anyone can make even the tiniest donation to the MS Centre, it would mean the world.

Take care of each other and don't sweat the small things, they really, really don't matter x

John Richards is fundraising for The South Wales Ms Therapy Centre (justgiving.com)