This is not a guide to trail running. This is my account of how I am finding the process of learning a new sport in my 30s

When we are young, we start new things all the time. Either our parents say we have to (dressing ourselves) teachers encourage us to (sport, music) or friends show us how to. All of the things we now do as routine, were once new. Everyone should remember this each time we are embarrassed, shy, angry or disappointed when we take up something new and are not immediately good.

Recently, I have had the opportunity to be in the countryside for an extended period of time. The excuses I have for not going trail running when I am in the city (no trails, too far, not enough daylight etc) are not here. At the moment I can open the door and step onto the moor. I have been.

I am documenting this partly for me and my accountability, as well as something to look back on and inspire others who are starting out.

Run 1, Day 1 – 8.5km

Wet and Misty. Last year I learned to like mist and wet because it created a wonderful environment for photographs of trees and paths. Telling myself that I might find something beautiful, I dressed and made my may out of the house. As soon as I was running, I was fine. It was slippery, uneven, tiring and lovely.

Part path, part road – I did walk/run intervals. I had planned to do a simple local loop but once I got started I wanted to go further.

It takes me about 5k to warm up, and at present fitness about 7k to risk injury. I chose to do some extra hills and moorland. It is much harder to go quickly on ground like that. I find that the uneven ground, where you need to stop, risk skipping and have to take care – seems to reduce my risk of injury.

Run 2, Day 2 – 3.5k

I set out at sunset with tired legs. It was a beautiful sunset run and I was too distracted by the colours and rock formations to focus on the running part. I did some running with plenty of off-pathing scrambling through heather. I climbed a rock and watched the sunset. I was there for the joy of it and didn’t worry that it was not a ‘run’. It was getting out there and it was magical.

Run 3, Day 4 – 13.5k

This one was fun – I woke up and wanted to run to a local land mark. You know when you can see something from your house, be that a wind turbine, factory chimney or a mountain; and perhaps you know how to drive there but you have never waked there? This was one of those things. A prominent stand of trees, in the distance. In the sunset photo you can see it silhouetted below and to the right of the sun.

I used OS maps to plan the route (but forgot to download the map. When I got lost I only had a red line on a white background – lesson learned). It seemed like I could make it there and back again before work at 9am.

It was wonderful to run through the valley, dew on the grass, lambs in the fields. The morning was just getting started. I set off in full sunshine but by 8am it had clouded over and the best of the day was gone. If I had not done the morning adventure, I would not have seen the sun that day.

I am happy that I made the choice to get outside.

Run 4, day 5 – 7k

My legs were heavy – I went for an evening run. I had miscalculated sunset time vs the distance I was doing. I had not planned the route and got lost a few times. I was not able to run up the hills – I was too tired from the day before. The track I had chosen across the ridge was too rocky in the twilight to properly run it – and I was going slow so as not to twist my ankle. It was windy, cold and quite hard to see.

Despite how all that sounds… I was very happy to be outside. I had not planned or prepared properly and had learned another valuable lesson.

Run 5, Day 7 – 3k

This was a Saturday. We had planned a hike for later that day. The hike was to be 14k therefore I did not want to do too much beforehand. It was a beautiful morning. Sunrise was stunning over the hills. I set out to do a 20 min HIIT run using one of my running apps. I love having a PT in my ear telling me what to do and telling me how great I am for ‘just showing up today’.

This was my final run of the week. I chose a path that soon disappeared, had to scramble through some heather.. but I had another lovely time being out. I had not been injured all week and am looking forward to week 2!

Total Km in week 1: 35.5k