Training Week in Croyde

Not a club event this, but coach Tom Watson often takes a group for a training week down at Croyde over Easter, and this year we were lucky enough to have sunshine almost the whole week.


Running along to 'Baggy Point' for the first time, we were shocked to find that much of the gorse had burned down. However, this turned out to be not so much of a case of 'forest fires North Devon-style' as managed regeneration - you could already see new green shoots poking through the ash.

This headland really is called 'Baggy Point', although I've never found out why

Saunton Sands is very long and flat, just the sort of place for a good threshold run.
		Even coach got the bug on this occasion
With the sun coming off the sea, this was also the ideal place for silhouettes



Croyde is on the north coast of Devon, and with the gulf stream washing 1000 miles further south at this time of year, the Atlantic is as cold as in January. "Get your legs in the water for 10 minutes" might be easy for coach to say, but it takes a positive attitude to get in.




"Time's Up"

To go surfing at this time of year, you really need a wetsuit

Tom didn't see the need for a wetsuit, but (as you can see from the photo below) his teeth were properly chattering by the end, and it took him until half way through the afternoon's run to warm up again

The lifeguards were probably pleased to see us leave.
Don't ask about the rules as I don't think there were any.


Between the runs and outdoor activities, computer games provided 'quiet' recreation

No training camp would be complete without a go-kart championship




Joe turned out to be champion, once again. He'll soon be old enough to drive a real car, a frightening prospect.