Warm day heats up in Nahant

Running on Nahant Beach in Nahant, Mass., on Sunday, with a Westie catching up. (Photo / Laura Arena)

Sunday afternoon, Laura, Daisy and I went to Nahant Beach for a 2-mile walk. We parked in one of the spots along the causeway and walked across the sand. A gentle surf meant practically no waves on the light-blue waters.
With the Tides Restaurant behind us, we walked toward Lynn, passing the Halfway House on our left. Daisy found her friskiness, exchanging sniffs with an Irish wolfhound that leaped up to paw me. This friendly red dog was one of many we saw with their human companions.
Quite a few runners and walkers also showed up, some in sweats like me, but others in shorts. I did a few sprints and Daisy joined me for at least one. It was good to see the little ball of white fur scampering over the sand.
I have fond memories of this beach from summer running clinic sessions with James Green of Marblehead, who placed second in the 1959 Pan Am Games. I told Laura that the Ward Bathhouse on the Lynn side always seemed to hang in front of me forever on the run back during those clinics. I also enjoyed the swims through the surf and the runs along the causeway at the Thursday-night Nahant Beach Triathlon, not to mention the pizza from the Tides at the end-of-the-season party.
A few kites fluttered in the sky as we neared the Lynn bathhouse, with seagulls riding the waves. We decided not to go all the way across. I pointed out to Laura the stone steps along the seawall that marked one end of Coach Green's own training runs ... three miles to the Tides and back, four times total, for 12 miles. She said she thought Nahant to Swampscott along the beach might make a good run and maybe I will try that sometime.
Well, we did get to Nahant to Swampscott, albeit by car. We parked by the Swampscott Yacht Club and stepped out onto the beach. A friendly dog wagged its tail at Daisy, then ran at full speed over the sand. The setting sun cast an orange glow onto the clouds and over the water and Laura took a sunset shot.
It was good to revisit a favorite running spot in Nahant, and to see the sunset in Swampscott!

The sunset by the Swampscott Yacht Club in Swampscott, Mass., on Sunday. (Photo / Laura Arena)