There’s beauty in winter sunshine wherever it rises

Sunshine not only provides us with our Vitamin D fix for the day but puts a smile on our face, warms our bodies, strengthens our bones, enables us to see more beauty around us and puts us in a good mood for the day. The last day of a warm weather break away for me always involves a long run, a very early morning start to make the most of running by the sea, sand, waves and shoreside, in sunshine, with a prom of likeminded familiar faces, all out for their morning buzz; where one can run freely and where time means nothing, normality doesn't exist so one can just keep going, and I do. I thoroughly enjoy miles of this euphoria, getting enough sun into my winter beaten body, enough running by the sea and plenty of life’s simplicities to last me until spring.

I intend to run both ways this morning, Arrecife to the left, Puerto Del Carmen to the right. Both are completely different routes, terrain and environment, so one gets to experience the best of both worlds.

When you arise early here, there is a warmth in the air, no need for a top, jacket or hat like a week ago back home in South Mayo, in a wind and weather warning. There’s never a need to check the weather on this island – Lanzarote is always warm with a freshness in the air, a healthy breath to be inhaled. The sun rises magically and early each morning, a friendly hello from everyone you meet, a lady stretching on the beach underneath the stars, a gentleman drinking coffee while reading by the pool, the swimmers gearing up for a safe swim in the ocean, everyone getting to maximise their own hobbies in a relaxing place. As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm and I sure will today.

There is a beauty about arising before the world fully wakens, everything looks amazing in darkness, gently lightened by the stars, moon and prom lights. Sometimes the darkness leading us into brightness is as natural as us gradually wakening up, bringing us from a deep place slowly into our lively day ahead. It calmly prepares us for a bright new day. A cruise ship on the ocean stands out in a beaming glow of colourful lights heightened by the blue shimmering sea, a white, yellow brightness lights the city of Arrecife up ahead, planes flying overhead ignite the dark sky, the Christmas lights still up to celebrate the arrival of the three kings, the reflection of street lights on the water – there’s no need for the head torch out here. No matter what time of the day, there are always people jogging and walking on the prom, a safety exists amongst strangers in a familiar place, everyone looks out for one another, the guards always about, one feels a sense of security, a safeness, a freedom of running in darkness but not in fear.

19 degrees so no need for a top, no wind or rain, no jacket or cap, tea but not like home, no Barrys or Lyons, it still wakes one up. A few stretches on the beach to loosen and wake up the body, the warm sand beneath the toes, a refreshing stroll, the tide is in, the sound of the waves, the smell of seaweed, the taste of the saltwater. I begin to stroll, the soft pavement surface is so easy to trot on. I move along gradually but quickly as the miles fly by out here, the mind distracted, looking forward to an exciting day ahead of breakfast, family walks, sea swims, sandcastles, diving and whatever else we can fit in. No work, no phones, no news, no driving, traffic or stress, life is simple, fun and relaxing.

I begin to run with people; in some ways it’s like the park run, you pass some, you run alongside some and you speak to some. Jerseys, singlets, t-shirts from all over, one gets into a rhythm, a flow of just moving through the motions, unconsciously gaining ground.

I move from the pavement to the sand, a different type of running, runners left at the wall beside others. At first, the soft sand underfoot pulls the calf muscles and one must lift the legs high to plough through – a beautiful feeling on my tired feet. Moving to the more compact surface, a firmer ground, it’s tougher on the feet in some ways but quicker to move on, the waves splashing water out, cooling the legs. The street lights shut down, a red horizon begins to emerge from the ocean, the darkness of the sky still there but not for long.

I begin to get nearer to a man running up ahead, I close in, a Dublin Marathon top, as I get closer, I recognise, I run alongside, we begin to chat. Socialising in the Irish Centre the evening before, this is a great way to clear the head and system. We’re full of plans, ambitions and New Year’s resolutions of what we’d like to do when returning home. It’s easy plot and plan in a carefree world. I wish him farewell and meet the next Irish vest. A female triathlete, winter training, she has begun her morning adventure with a long run, the cycle will be next and then an open water swim. We jog together, chatting about past adventures and more to come, we wish each other well and I say “adios”, as I need to turn and venture back. My runs in the Lanzarote sun end today. I will be back but for now, my mind and body is free and ready for a New Year’s start on the roads and trails of South Mayo tomorrow.

Awoken by the cold, it’s -3 and I cannot run on the road so it’s back to Cong Woods. Two miles in white ice, freezing fog and shivering cold, two more layers on than yesterday but it feels beautiful, harsh and refreshing. A hard, stoney, hilly, uneven surface is a shock to the system – no soft, warm pavements or sand. I begin to get the legs moving but it’s taking a while; leaving 27 degrees behind, returning to -3, the body needs longer to warm up.

The run is slower but the freedom continues, this time in the trees, surrounded by greenery, plants, flowers as opposed to sand and ocean. I realise how much I missed the woods, the nature, the birds. Up ahead a bright light begins to emerge through the forest, it’s the sun, rising and trying to break through. The body picks up momentum, the legs pick up the pace, the arms push through. The sky gradually lights up, the horizon is brightening, a tiny bit of warmth is felt, not like last week but there is something about winter sunshine in beautiful surroundings that makes one feel good. The smile continues, one pushes further and there it is, the sun emerging from the trees, a break in the woods, a magical sight. This morning I am in a very different island, a very different place, alone in a forest, but just as beautiful.

I know now why I love to run in Ireland. Each season brings different beauty, variety, charm, new beginnings, new sightings. Yes, running in the hot sun in a paradise island in January is amazing but when one returns to home, one falls into the naturalism of the current season because the seasons, the rural landscape of the West of Ireland and the changing weather systems all bring a unique variety that keeps us challenged, motivated and interested. It is the variety of choices and options for me that makes running in Ireland an amazing experience each and every time. Greener the hills far away, I absolutely love everything about running in the sun on the paradise island but I might get a bit fed up of running the same way each morning, the same pavement, I would need to venture out a bit, up to the volcano mountains, to keep my variety fix alive.

No matter when or where, what season it is or time of day, sunshine on my hardworking shoulders and legs heats my heart and mind, puts a warm smile on my face and energises my bones, muscles and brain to buzz through the day wherever that maybe. If you get a chance to see a morning sunrise, make the most of it, a January morning sun will warm your face with a bright smile that will last until spring. Sometimes we must exit the darkness no matter how hard than can be.