In the Beginning

----------------The Run -----------------------------

Below is the reason why I started to run, but now I run for different reasons, I run to see the natural landscape, I run to explore, I run to see, I run for myself and I run to be free.

Training runs or social jogs or what ever you want to call then, I do it because I feel apart of the landscape am within. I feel lost in the woods, and stunned by the gaze of a deer or halted by the flight of a bird. There's so much to see and so much to explore, I even pause for thought, a moment to consider, a moment to enjoy.

I've seen Deer, Foxes, Grouse, Snakes, Red Kits, countless Sheep and Cows, Wild Horses, Ponies, and much more. The point is there's always something unexpected, something new. This maybe the changing seasons on the locality or maybe a somewhere far away, either way its great to see.

Fell, Trail, Ultra running has so many friendly faces, so many people to offer a hand or a foot. Its a great community, you really do feel apart of a growing secret society. Whether your new to running or an old hand, I hope your enjoy seeing something new and become apart of one of the oldest sports in the UK.

------------------ The Waddle ----------------------

There are many reasons why people start running, to get fit or because of a trauma, or some other reason.  Well, I started for both reasons. Before running I had started to develop a bit of a porky pig belly, and I wanted to put an end to this porkieness. Before I started to sound like a ducktail, as my waddle was firmly developed.

I started to combat the waddle with a 4 mile road run, in which I returned in a sweaty mess.  This went on for a while, until my waddle had subsided into something that resembled a lazy dog walk. I then turned this into an 8 -10 mile jog, which completely got rid of my waddle before deciding to do the Long Mynd in Shropshire.  This is a 50 miles around Shropshire and Wales.

You, maybe thinking that’s a bit of jump, and you would be right in thinking so. Well I suppose it is, it’s more of a human cannon ball without a safety net.  I suppose I decided I wanted to run before I could run. Why I decided to do this was because of a few regrets.  Regrets are a funny thing, not ha ha funny but because you are never able to amend them, not matter how hard you try.  I suppose that’s why they are called regrets.  Lucky I only have a few.

So this crazy thought and moment of madness turned into an ambition. And to be able to achieve this, I needed the help of my brother, Forest Bethell.  He had been running in the hills, the woods, and in Welsh mountains for a while.  He suggested going on a few runs with him, and also suggested taking part in the Long Tour of Bradwell  which is part of the run further series.  I thought that sounded like sensible advice, how wrong was I. The answer, very wrong indeed. I would of been better beating myself to death with a pillow. Yes I learnt that fell running, and ultra running is a drawn out experience, that slowly torments you.  Why do I carry on. Here’s why, the excitement, the thrill, the butterfly’s that turn my stomach and the heartache when either it goes wrong or right.