Fun in the sun with morning park run

The mountains are behind me, the sun is above me and the sea is calling me. Los Ancones provided the mountain fix last week and the sun park run will meet the speed need for this week. Every Saturday morning a local group in Costa Teguise organise a park run, just like ours back home but with a little contribution by all participants towards a charity. Locals, holidaymakers, kids, adults, all turn up at to venture around the most beautiful 5k route at their own pace.

It's Easter weekend and Holy Thursday and Good Friday are both bank holidays in the Canaries so the buses are on a very limited schedule but an early morning start got us here on time. For years, Easter was a large extended family gathering in our circle, with aunts, uncles and cousins meaning a very special occasion. Covid came, an uncle fell ill and passed away. The celebration passed with my uncle; it was such a difficult time and many of us had to find ways of coping with a different type of Easter weekend. The quick burst of speed this Easter Saturday morning will have me park a lot and freshen my mind up for a newer tradition, of celebration with my close family. Past family traditions are extremely important, never forgotten, but sometimes time moves us on through the ages, through the generations. Newer traditions begin, times change, and the next stage begins. One never forgets but sometimes we must let things go.

The morning arrives and I tiptoe into the bathroom, where the bag and gear can be grabbed without disturbing anyone, moving as quietly as possible to the door, opening with as little light as possible and legging it to the tearoom. The smell of fresh pastries, the steam from the coffee machine, the sight of breakfast, it's all too early, so I settle for the taste of tea, a simple pleasure on an early morning adventure.

I had a daft notion that I might run to the start but it’s a bit too far, I’ve a bit to bring today and a bus goes all the way to and from. It is possible to run all the way, from one part of the island to the other, all off road, but that will be for another adventure, as today is a fun run, with friends, on holidays.

Walking along the path to the bus stop, it is so calm and quiet, the brightness appearing as I reach the stop. The cruise ships along the ocean, the lights of Puerto Del Carmen all along the shoreline, a beautiful sight. I check the phone, some messages from home, but I park it until after the run, until the mind is clear. There is a wonderful feeling about slowly walking to a feel-good place, in shorts and a t shirt, where there is no chill, no rain, where one does not have to look at a watch or to think about the day ahead, to drive anywhere, to bring a jacket. The bus arrives giving an opportunity to see some countryside not visited yet. I am amazed at the barren, openness of the landscape, the red, the ash, not a sight of a tree or greenery; I do miss the Irishness when away.

Our stop off is at the post office. The tourist world is beginning to awaken, not a coffee shop or pub open, just the smell of cleaning up from the night before. A meandering walk to the marina and a twisting, turning, winding road to get me to the town centre, where one could end up going around in circles. A different climate exists down here, a hard, fresh breeze and I’m already getting a sense of what's ahead; hills and heaps of them, wind and a strong one, sunshine and a hot one. It’s 9am and the sun is beaming up from above the mountains visited just a few days ago.

People begin to emerge from streets, side roads, and the beach. Some look tired, some look fresh, some ready for jogging, some ready for walking. A written form and signature to sign in, a contribution to charity, a local top to purchase for anyone who’d like to. A buzz, a fun, a laugh amongst the crowd. Everyone chats to each other. The music begins, it gradually gets louder, livelier, we’re called for a stretch, dance and warm up along the beach; this is amazing, the happiness of strangers united through exercise in sunshine.

We’re brought to the start and told it’s out and back along the sea, exactly five kilometres. In beaming sunshine, off road and all along the sea, everyone is smiling and laughter is heard along the way. Everyone has company, everyone has support and one cannot get lost.

The adrenaline from this morning so far blanks out any negativity, it feels good. I had completely forgotten that it’s Easter weekend, I run faster, I forget more. I am sandwiched between two high powered gentlemen that makes me feel like a midge in a swarm of bees. I need to get out but don't yet, I could do with the shelter from the wind. Then a downhill so I push on, people walking, cycling and jogging all around us. Boats, ships and jet skis to the left, mountains, seashores and beaches up ahead, but we turn back to face into the sun and wind.

It’s now hurting a bit so it’s head down and push through. I begin to think of how good I will feel when I return, a mile to go, let’s enjoy this. A small but tough incline, a sharp corner, and then the wide-open prom.

The beauty up ahead distracts the mind, the sun rebounding off the glistening sand, the bright blue ocean calling us in, this will bring me home. I can hear the music that we started with, I can hear the cheering that sent us off. I am tired but strong, I had a few moments of sadness but now I feel happy, a burning push to the end. A welcome finish, a brilliant run, an okay time but a wonderful experience.

I sit on the wall and get my breath to the sound of the waves, to the feel of the heat on my tired legs, to the sights of the beauty around me, and then I spot the two high powered runners, separated by the toughness of the final hill. One falling behind, I jump up and encourage him to come through. It’s amazing how quickly the body recovers once it has a chance to get one’s breath and so we support our fellow runners to the finish.

We began with music and a dance and we finish with yoga and a stretch. Sometimes I am not great at stopping still but out here you get a chance; the surroundings stop you, the weather and the people inspire you. As I look out to the ocean, the waves early this early morning had reflected my feelings, crashing against the rocks but rebounding back, and now they’re calm just like I am now too, floating along the shoreside, happily sailing through the day.

A 5km sun park run met many needs today, speed but also a need to remember the past and embrace the future because while traditions and memories will always be part of us, it’s new traditions and celebrations that will bring us through.