I didn't get chance for another run in the Lakes today so went out for one as soon as we got home.
I thought I would be sluggish as I had just driven back from near Penrith and had been stuck on the M6 car park for a while too so was feeling a bit stiff but I soon got into a good pace. I went straight up through Wilderswood onto George's Lane and then up the path towards Two Lads but instead of turning left towards Two Lads at the water tanks, I carried on up to the mast road. I then turned right, ran down a bit and went through the gate on the left heading out to the Trespass Stone. From the Trespass Stone I ran up to Smithils Reservoir. At the far side of the reservoir I headed off over to Whinberry Hill, then Egg Hillock. Once I was at Egg Hillock I was undecided on what to do next. I decided to head down to Shaly Dingle and see if I could then find a route which took me out on the Belmont Road somewhere, so I could climb up the hill from San Marino to the top of Winterhill. When I got down to Shaly Dingle, I could see a path to the right so I followed it but ended up at a big gate which said 'no public access beyond this point'.
Not having a map, compass or phone with me, I didn't fancy getting lost so I just retraced by route back to Egg Hillock, Whinberry Hill and the reservoir. I was making good progress so thought I would just do pretty much a reverse route back home but going via Two Lads this time.
I was feeling really good and decided to try for a course record off Two Lads so I really went for it. When I got home and saw my pace I was really elated. I had run the whole nine miles in a 10.15 pace.
A 10+ minute mile pace might sound slow and if I had run on the roads or trails I would agree, but for the type of run I did, by my standards, this is brilliant, especially over a distance of 9 miles. When I did Bull Hill fell race last year, which is the best I have ever done in a fell race and made me part of the winning ladies team, I did it in a 10.43 minute mile pace and that was 3.5 miles shorter than the run I did today and didn't have as much climb so I'm really pleased with myself.
Plus I have now reached and exceeded my Strava 200k in June goal. I also got a few Strava course records today too. I can have a day off tomorrow now :)
Total distance - 9 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/159667437
Sunday 29 June 2014
Saturday 28 June 2014
Stickle Tarn or as I like to call it 'a big hill'
Duncan really had a bee in his bonnet about going camping this weekend as we have never taken Ruby before and I'm not sure whether she ever went camping with Sean and Maria before we had her so he wanted to see how she would take to it. We left early morning and headed up to the Lakes with no real plan in mind for where we were going to camp. We drove up to Ambleside and then headed across to the Langdales. Duncan decided he wanted to go for a walk up Stickle Tarn, which he hasn't done since he was a kid. Apparently this is one of the most, if not THE most, climbed hill in the Lake District, so we felt a bit touristy but I've never climbed it before so I was definitely up for it.
I decided to work on my climbing and run up it, but with stops for Duncan and Ruby to catch up to me. I also walked some of it with them because it would have been a bit rude for me to come out for a nice walk with Duncan but then bugger off and leave him. I actually felt really good running it though and was quite pleased with myself.
Ruby really does have issues with crossing water, which is quite amusing. There was a bit where we had to cross the ghyll over stones and boulders and Ruby was having none of it. She was terrified even though it was only a short jump from stone to stone. We had to pick her up and carry her across them all. She's like that when going over a slatted bridge too. Bless.
Once we reached the top, I decided to have a little run along whilst Duncan and Ruby had a well earned rest (don't forget Duncan is only six months post his hip replacement so is only just getting back into walking and this was definitely a challenging walk). I just ran out for a short way then turned back again.
We had only put a couple of quid in the parking meter as it's all we had on us, which only gave us two hours to complete the walk so we had to get a wiggle on going back down.
I actually found it harder going down than up to begin with as it was really steep and rocky. A short way down we got chatting to a bloke and I said 'anyway, we need to dash as we only have 20 minutes left on our parking ticket' to which he replied, 'you'll never get back down there in 20 minutes' so obviously I took this as a personal challenge, asked Duncan for the car keys and told him I'd see him back at the car. I took Ruby with me and off we went. So many people commented to us about how amazing it was that we were running because it was difficult enough walking. It made me feel really proud and motivated.
I'm pleased to say that not only did I get back to the car inside 20 minutes, I did it in 15! Still feeling good and knowing Duncan was a way behind me, I ran down a lane and back so that I could make the run up to a nice round three miles. Duncan didn't arrive until 20 minutes later though so I'm a bit gutted that I didn't run further but nevermind, there's always tomorrow.
Later in the day we drove out to my favourite place in the whole of the Lake District - Wasdale. We went in the Screes in and asked about camping. They had a campsite there at the pub which was only £10 per night (that was altogether, for both of us and Ruby!) so we couldn't argue with that as most places in the Lakes are really expensive. The facilities are basic but we were only staying for one night so it wasn't a problem. They were clean and that's all that matters.
After we set up camp we drove out to the lake. I love it there as it's so peaceful and quiet and there aren't many places in the Lakes like that, which is why we usually go to Scotland instead. Here's a few piccies I took whilst we sat out by the side of the lake and chilled:
Duncan and Ruby:
A rather blurry selfie:
Later on we went back to the Screes Inn for our tea and a few drinks and then went to bed around 10am. The campsite was lovely, except for one thing - a family of chavs all dressed in their onesies. There were three young kids with them all running riot and we just heard constant shouts from the mother of 'Destiny, be quiet!'. When we went to bed I overheard the mum telling the kids they had to be quiet now as people in other tents were trying to sleep, which I thought was very considerate of her. However, no less than ten minutes later the kids were totally silent but the mum, another girl and two blokes were making loads of noise. Laughing really loud, shouting and listening to a TV I think and this went on until about 1am. Why would a family like that choose this kind of campsite that has absolutely no children's facilities whatsoever?
Anyway, other than their noise, it was a lovely camping trip.
Total distance - 3 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/159667438
I decided to work on my climbing and run up it, but with stops for Duncan and Ruby to catch up to me. I also walked some of it with them because it would have been a bit rude for me to come out for a nice walk with Duncan but then bugger off and leave him. I actually felt really good running it though and was quite pleased with myself.
Ruby really does have issues with crossing water, which is quite amusing. There was a bit where we had to cross the ghyll over stones and boulders and Ruby was having none of it. She was terrified even though it was only a short jump from stone to stone. We had to pick her up and carry her across them all. She's like that when going over a slatted bridge too. Bless.
Once we reached the top, I decided to have a little run along whilst Duncan and Ruby had a well earned rest (don't forget Duncan is only six months post his hip replacement so is only just getting back into walking and this was definitely a challenging walk). I just ran out for a short way then turned back again.
We had only put a couple of quid in the parking meter as it's all we had on us, which only gave us two hours to complete the walk so we had to get a wiggle on going back down.
I actually found it harder going down than up to begin with as it was really steep and rocky. A short way down we got chatting to a bloke and I said 'anyway, we need to dash as we only have 20 minutes left on our parking ticket' to which he replied, 'you'll never get back down there in 20 minutes' so obviously I took this as a personal challenge, asked Duncan for the car keys and told him I'd see him back at the car. I took Ruby with me and off we went. So many people commented to us about how amazing it was that we were running because it was difficult enough walking. It made me feel really proud and motivated.
I'm pleased to say that not only did I get back to the car inside 20 minutes, I did it in 15! Still feeling good and knowing Duncan was a way behind me, I ran down a lane and back so that I could make the run up to a nice round three miles. Duncan didn't arrive until 20 minutes later though so I'm a bit gutted that I didn't run further but nevermind, there's always tomorrow.
Later in the day we drove out to my favourite place in the whole of the Lake District - Wasdale. We went in the Screes in and asked about camping. They had a campsite there at the pub which was only £10 per night (that was altogether, for both of us and Ruby!) so we couldn't argue with that as most places in the Lakes are really expensive. The facilities are basic but we were only staying for one night so it wasn't a problem. They were clean and that's all that matters.
After we set up camp we drove out to the lake. I love it there as it's so peaceful and quiet and there aren't many places in the Lakes like that, which is why we usually go to Scotland instead. Here's a few piccies I took whilst we sat out by the side of the lake and chilled:
Duncan and Ruby:
A rather blurry selfie:
Later on we went back to the Screes Inn for our tea and a few drinks and then went to bed around 10am. The campsite was lovely, except for one thing - a family of chavs all dressed in their onesies. There were three young kids with them all running riot and we just heard constant shouts from the mother of 'Destiny, be quiet!'. When we went to bed I overheard the mum telling the kids they had to be quiet now as people in other tents were trying to sleep, which I thought was very considerate of her. However, no less than ten minutes later the kids were totally silent but the mum, another girl and two blokes were making loads of noise. Laughing really loud, shouting and listening to a TV I think and this went on until about 1am. Why would a family like that choose this kind of campsite that has absolutely no children's facilities whatsoever?
Anyway, other than their noise, it was a lovely camping trip.
Total distance - 3 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/159667438
Friday 27 June 2014
Rushed Run (Got a Night out to go to!)
I worked through my lunch today with a view to leaving an hour early so I could get a decent run in before the Horwich RMI 90th anniversary celebrations tonight at Spice Valley.
Unfortunately, things didn't go to plan and I actually ended up staying at work later than usual due to a big client request which came in last minute.
I still wanted to get a run in (need to get to that 200k Strava goal by the end of June) so I just took Ruby on a rather rushed run down to the barn and back.
Nothing interesting to report from the run but the night out was good. There should have been 21 of us but there ended up only 15. As usual, the food was delicious and I'm pretty sure everyone enjoyed themselves.
A few of us headed over to the V&A afterwards for another drink and I appear to have been roped into do a navigation leg at the FRA relays! How did that happen, I wasn't even drinking!
Total distance - 3.3 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/159667441
Unfortunately, things didn't go to plan and I actually ended up staying at work later than usual due to a big client request which came in last minute.
I still wanted to get a run in (need to get to that 200k Strava goal by the end of June) so I just took Ruby on a rather rushed run down to the barn and back.
Nothing interesting to report from the run but the night out was good. There should have been 21 of us but there ended up only 15. As usual, the food was delicious and I'm pretty sure everyone enjoyed themselves.
A few of us headed over to the V&A afterwards for another drink and I appear to have been roped into do a navigation leg at the FRA relays! How did that happen, I wasn't even drinking!
Total distance - 3.3 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/159667441
Thursday 26 June 2014
Speeding (not me though)!
After a lovely lunch with my great friends, I wanted to get a decent run in to burn off the cappuccino cake (which was delicious by the way) so I headed off in the car with Ruby towards Anglezarke with the aim of getting around 6 miles in.
I was driving along Lever Park Avenue at about 32mph heading towards the school, when I noticed that the 20mph lights were flashing. Just as I started to ease off (so was still doing 30mph) a Saab came flying past me. It had come out of nowhere because I had looked in my mirror only moments before and it was nowhere in sight. It must have been doing at the very least 50mph - in a 20mph school zone! Clearly I made a hand gesture out of the window to the moron driving, who I noticed nearly took out a cyclist a bit further along the road.
We arrived on the dam on Knowsley Lane and parked up. We headed towards Anglezarke car park and then followed the path by the side of the reservoir. I really love that path through the woodland. It's ideal for a nice easy run. At the start we were going pretty well but, as usual, Ruby soon began to tire. By the time we had got down to Watermans Cottage she was just trundling behind me so I decided to abort the run towards White Coppice and just head back to the car on the other side of the Reservoir. We climbed the steps around the corner from Watermans Cottage and then crossed through the field out onto the path by Healey Nab. This path seems to go on for ages before it comes out onto the road.
When we got onto the road we ran along and, where the road bends to the right, I usually go over the stile on the left and through the farm fields, coming out opposite The Street, but today I decided to follow the road instead as I've never been that way. This brought us out at the Yew Tree and perhaps added a small amount of distance. I was still slightly disappointed when I got back to the car though to have done less than 4.5 miles. I set myself a Strava goal to do 200k in the month of June and at the minute I'm 14 miles off (sorry for mixing kms with miles) which sounds easy to get to in four more days but I'm going away at the weekend and am not sure if I'll fit any running in. I'll also only have time to do 5 miles maximum tomorrow so I'm not sure if I'll make it to that 200k mark. I'll have a good go though. Going to travel in my running gear on Saturday so Duncan can just kick me out and go wait in a pub a few miles down the road for me if I have to.
On my way home there was yet more bad driving, this time the opposite though, well at the start anyway. I was following a car doing 25mph all the way along from the barn towards the school, even when the road straightens out. It's a national speed limit road at this point! I was in no rush though so wasn't too bothered but the thing that got me the most was that as soon as we passed through the 30mph sign the car sped up! I slowed down to just over 30 and that zoomed off ahead of me doing at least 40!
Anyway, sorry for the rants, just felt the need to share.
Total distance - 4.4 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/158484559
I was driving along Lever Park Avenue at about 32mph heading towards the school, when I noticed that the 20mph lights were flashing. Just as I started to ease off (so was still doing 30mph) a Saab came flying past me. It had come out of nowhere because I had looked in my mirror only moments before and it was nowhere in sight. It must have been doing at the very least 50mph - in a 20mph school zone! Clearly I made a hand gesture out of the window to the moron driving, who I noticed nearly took out a cyclist a bit further along the road.
We arrived on the dam on Knowsley Lane and parked up. We headed towards Anglezarke car park and then followed the path by the side of the reservoir. I really love that path through the woodland. It's ideal for a nice easy run. At the start we were going pretty well but, as usual, Ruby soon began to tire. By the time we had got down to Watermans Cottage she was just trundling behind me so I decided to abort the run towards White Coppice and just head back to the car on the other side of the Reservoir. We climbed the steps around the corner from Watermans Cottage and then crossed through the field out onto the path by Healey Nab. This path seems to go on for ages before it comes out onto the road.
When we got onto the road we ran along and, where the road bends to the right, I usually go over the stile on the left and through the farm fields, coming out opposite The Street, but today I decided to follow the road instead as I've never been that way. This brought us out at the Yew Tree and perhaps added a small amount of distance. I was still slightly disappointed when I got back to the car though to have done less than 4.5 miles. I set myself a Strava goal to do 200k in the month of June and at the minute I'm 14 miles off (sorry for mixing kms with miles) which sounds easy to get to in four more days but I'm going away at the weekend and am not sure if I'll fit any running in. I'll also only have time to do 5 miles maximum tomorrow so I'm not sure if I'll make it to that 200k mark. I'll have a good go though. Going to travel in my running gear on Saturday so Duncan can just kick me out and go wait in a pub a few miles down the road for me if I have to.
On my way home there was yet more bad driving, this time the opposite though, well at the start anyway. I was following a car doing 25mph all the way along from the barn towards the school, even when the road straightens out. It's a national speed limit road at this point! I was in no rush though so wasn't too bothered but the thing that got me the most was that as soon as we passed through the 30mph sign the car sped up! I slowed down to just over 30 and that zoomed off ahead of me doing at least 40!
Anyway, sorry for the rants, just felt the need to share.
Total distance - 4.4 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/158484559
Wednesday 25 June 2014
Still not 100%
Duncan dropped me off at the barn this morning for my early run. I had intended to do 5-6 miles, heading off towards Lead Mines Clough, however it was evident not long after I started running that I had not recovered from my sickness bug from Monday. My stomach was churning and I was having cold sweats, i.e. where my face was really cold but sweating and this is before I had even really got started running so it was nothing to do with that. I felt sick and dizzy and, if I had left from home, I would have just turned back but because I had been dropped off I had no choice but to carry on.
At one point, nearly two miles in, I actually had to have a sit down on a bench for a couple of minutes because I felt so energyless.
By the time I got home, a mere 3 slow miles later, I was behaving like I had just run a marathon. I was really out of breath and sweating profusely, even though I had only slowly jogged for a few miles.
Total - 3 miles :(
http://www.strava.com/activities/157883989
At one point, nearly two miles in, I actually had to have a sit down on a bench for a couple of minutes because I felt so energyless.
By the time I got home, a mere 3 slow miles later, I was behaving like I had just run a marathon. I was really out of breath and sweating profusely, even though I had only slowly jogged for a few miles.
Total - 3 miles :(
http://www.strava.com/activities/157883989
Tuesday 24 June 2014
Chunder!
Today was my first run since my epic adventure on Saturday. I was out at a track and field event all day Sunday (helping out, not competing) so I didn't get chance for a run and then yesterday was written off because at around 12.30 in the morning I started being sick and this went on until about 10.00am. This is the second time this has happened in about six weeks even though usually I'm never ill and haven't had a sick day off work since 2007!!! I still haven't as I took yesterday off as a flexi day instead (seeing as I have a ludicrous amount of flexi built up - more than I can ever possibly take).
I actually lost 4lbs in weight which most girls would be really pleased with but seeing as I'm scrawny anyway I'm a bit worried that I might fall down a grid when I'm walking down the street.
Anyway, enough of that. I felt better today, just pretty light headed due to not eating yesterday but, as the day went on and the more I ate, I started to feel good enough to go for an easy run this evening.
It really was an easy run though, just to the top barn and back with Ruby in the rain. I felt quite sluggish at first but started to feel OK towards the end. Hopefully I'll get a decent run in tomorrow.
If anybody is wondering about the title of this blog, to chunder means to be sick. It's a great word which apparently came about in ye olde days on ships where somebody was going to throw up over the side and they would shout 'watch under' so that people on lower decks knew to get out of the way of the falling vomit and it was then shortened to 'chunder'. I love finding out things like that (I'm a nerd in case you don't already know).
Total distance - 3.3 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/157638300
I actually lost 4lbs in weight which most girls would be really pleased with but seeing as I'm scrawny anyway I'm a bit worried that I might fall down a grid when I'm walking down the street.
Anyway, enough of that. I felt better today, just pretty light headed due to not eating yesterday but, as the day went on and the more I ate, I started to feel good enough to go for an easy run this evening.
It really was an easy run though, just to the top barn and back with Ruby in the rain. I felt quite sluggish at first but started to feel OK towards the end. Hopefully I'll get a decent run in tomorrow.
If anybody is wondering about the title of this blog, to chunder means to be sick. It's a great word which apparently came about in ye olde days on ships where somebody was going to throw up over the side and they would shout 'watch under' so that people on lower decks knew to get out of the way of the falling vomit and it was then shortened to 'chunder'. I love finding out things like that (I'm a nerd in case you don't already know).
Total distance - 3.3 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/157638300
Saturday 21 June 2014
Coope's (Baker's) Dozen
Today, I UTUP'd with the WFDBWGUA lot to do an extended version of the Coope's Dozen. For anyone new to my blog the Coope's Dozen is a local run which takes in 12 summits around the West Pennine Moors and I did my first one a few weeks ago which you can read about here http://6legs2heads.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/coopes-dozen-unofficial.html
That blog details each summit. The difference today was that we added in Darwen Tower between Old Adams and Great Hill. We though this would add a further five miles, taking the total to 23.5 miles but it added a bit more, taking the total to 25 miles. If you look at my Strava stats, however (below), you'll see that it doesn't quite get this far but that's because my battery died, moments from the end of the run.
At the start there was myself, Pauline, John and Ed Swift. Pauline wasn't doing the whole route and wasn't planning to do the trip over to Darwen Tower, however, she did take some excellent photos along the first half of the route, like this one:
Photo courtesy of Pauline Charters
I felt so much stronger on this run than I did on the Coope's Dozen a few weeks back, even though this one was much further. I could actually have carried on and run further, even though I had already run 6.5 miles further than my longest ever run.
One of the highlights of the run is when John and I arrived at the summit of Great Hill, where there was a group of D of E kids sat around who were in total awe that we had run to the top. They just couldn't believe it and were even more impressed when John told them how far we had run and were planning to run. John said, and I agree, that it really restores your faith in today's youth as most of the time you just get laughed at and given grief from kids and aren't idolised by them at all.
I briefly left Ed and John just as we arrived back into Rivington Village as I wanted to make a mad dash for the barn before my battery died on my Garmin as it had been beeping at me for a good hour and a half by now and I wanted to make sure it recorded the entire run but, unfortunately I didn't make it, the battery dying just as I turned onto the track to the barn. The lads weren't far behind me though and I think we all may have made it back in under 8 hours.
Sorry for how short this blog post is, given how long the run was, but I'm totally exhausted and just want a good lie down now. It really was an epic adventure and I loved every minute of it, even though my legs are now very red and blotchy and covered in cuts and scrapes from the undergrowth.
I had such a lovely time and great company. Can't wait for the next one. What are we adding in next time - Peel Monument?
Does anybody know why the stats on Strava are totally different to the stats on Garmin, even though they ave uploaded from the same device? For example, Strava says our total 'moving' time was only 6 hours 10 minutes but Garmin says it was 7 hours which is a hell of a difference. I assume Garmin is the one to believe? The elevation is also different by around 400ft and calories are different by nearly 1,000!!!
Total distance 25 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/156398945
That blog details each summit. The difference today was that we added in Darwen Tower between Old Adams and Great Hill. We though this would add a further five miles, taking the total to 23.5 miles but it added a bit more, taking the total to 25 miles. If you look at my Strava stats, however (below), you'll see that it doesn't quite get this far but that's because my battery died, moments from the end of the run.
At the start there was myself, Pauline, John and Ed Swift. Pauline wasn't doing the whole route and wasn't planning to do the trip over to Darwen Tower, however, she did take some excellent photos along the first half of the route, like this one:
I felt so much stronger on this run than I did on the Coope's Dozen a few weeks back, even though this one was much further. I could actually have carried on and run further, even though I had already run 6.5 miles further than my longest ever run.
One of the highlights of the run is when John and I arrived at the summit of Great Hill, where there was a group of D of E kids sat around who were in total awe that we had run to the top. They just couldn't believe it and were even more impressed when John told them how far we had run and were planning to run. John said, and I agree, that it really restores your faith in today's youth as most of the time you just get laughed at and given grief from kids and aren't idolised by them at all.
I briefly left Ed and John just as we arrived back into Rivington Village as I wanted to make a mad dash for the barn before my battery died on my Garmin as it had been beeping at me for a good hour and a half by now and I wanted to make sure it recorded the entire run but, unfortunately I didn't make it, the battery dying just as I turned onto the track to the barn. The lads weren't far behind me though and I think we all may have made it back in under 8 hours.
Sorry for how short this blog post is, given how long the run was, but I'm totally exhausted and just want a good lie down now. It really was an epic adventure and I loved every minute of it, even though my legs are now very red and blotchy and covered in cuts and scrapes from the undergrowth.
I had such a lovely time and great company. Can't wait for the next one. What are we adding in next time - Peel Monument?
Does anybody know why the stats on Strava are totally different to the stats on Garmin, even though they ave uploaded from the same device? For example, Strava says our total 'moving' time was only 6 hours 10 minutes but Garmin says it was 7 hours which is a hell of a difference. I assume Garmin is the one to believe? The elevation is also different by around 400ft and calories are different by nearly 1,000!!!
Total distance 25 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/156398945
Friday 20 June 2014
How Do I Get Out of This Field?
Working from home again today (seems to always be a Friday these days, which is nice!) so Duncan dropped me off again on his way to work. He dropped me at the same place as usual, the gate off Rivington Road into the fields which we call 'Old Rachel's'.
Instead of doing my usual route today though, over towards Higher Hempshaws and Simms, I took a left turn instead of a right with a view to heading back towards Sheephouse Lane and the campsite. All was going well until I got to a crossing of paths with a wooden signpost and decided to take the right hand path. This took me over a stile and into a field, heading towards a penned off area full of horses. After running along the side of the fence I couldn't find a way out and seemed to be heading towards Simms, which I didn't want to go to so I turned around and ran back to the signpost and followed the route the other way which took me onto a defined path. After following the path, I went over a stile into a field of sheep where the path no longer existed. I couldn't find any well trodden route either but the arrow on the stile pointed me right so I stayed along the edge of the field and kept going. I got all the way to the end though and couldn't find a way out so carried on along the fence and ended up going in a circle. I then found a gate which took me out onto the road, which I assumed, correctly, to be Sheephouse Lane. I was just around the corner from the campsite so I ran down towards Lead Mines Clough.
Before getting to Lead Mines Clough, I turned off into the fields on the left and ran along until I got to Dean Brook, then ran into Rivington and along to the top barn.
When I was heading towards home, I heard a big rustle to the side of me and assumed it was a clumsy squirrel but out ran a beautiful deer right across my path. It was so close I could have reached out and touched it. Really made my day!
Total distance - 5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/155815968
Instead of doing my usual route today though, over towards Higher Hempshaws and Simms, I took a left turn instead of a right with a view to heading back towards Sheephouse Lane and the campsite. All was going well until I got to a crossing of paths with a wooden signpost and decided to take the right hand path. This took me over a stile and into a field, heading towards a penned off area full of horses. After running along the side of the fence I couldn't find a way out and seemed to be heading towards Simms, which I didn't want to go to so I turned around and ran back to the signpost and followed the route the other way which took me onto a defined path. After following the path, I went over a stile into a field of sheep where the path no longer existed. I couldn't find any well trodden route either but the arrow on the stile pointed me right so I stayed along the edge of the field and kept going. I got all the way to the end though and couldn't find a way out so carried on along the fence and ended up going in a circle. I then found a gate which took me out onto the road, which I assumed, correctly, to be Sheephouse Lane. I was just around the corner from the campsite so I ran down towards Lead Mines Clough.
Before getting to Lead Mines Clough, I turned off into the fields on the left and ran along until I got to Dean Brook, then ran into Rivington and along to the top barn.
When I was heading towards home, I heard a big rustle to the side of me and assumed it was a clumsy squirrel but out ran a beautiful deer right across my path. It was so close I could have reached out and touched it. Really made my day!
Total distance - 5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/155815968
Thursday 19 June 2014
Sheep on the Pike
An easy run with Ruby tonight, kitted out in my new Aldi running gear.
We ran from home to the top barn and then along to the Pigeon Tower car park. We then zig-zagged our way up to the Pigeon Tower by the nice gentle 'driveway' climb. Once on George's Lane my intention was to run to the Pike but it was covered in sheep! I try to avoid sheep as much as I can when I'm with Ruby as all she does is pull and pull on the lead which is no fun at all when you're trying to run, though I suppose it does help me get up the hill! I wonder if this is a new thing, sheep on the Pike, as I've never seen them on there before. Perhaps they just escaped from an adjoining field or something. I decided to just keep going along George's Lane towards the kennels and there were more sheep just before I got there, actually on George's Lane. Pretty sure they must have escaped from somewhere.
We just dropped down the side of Wilderswood and ran home where I left Ruby wolfing down her tea and went and did an abs workout.
Total distance - 5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/155546727/overview
We ran from home to the top barn and then along to the Pigeon Tower car park. We then zig-zagged our way up to the Pigeon Tower by the nice gentle 'driveway' climb. Once on George's Lane my intention was to run to the Pike but it was covered in sheep! I try to avoid sheep as much as I can when I'm with Ruby as all she does is pull and pull on the lead which is no fun at all when you're trying to run, though I suppose it does help me get up the hill! I wonder if this is a new thing, sheep on the Pike, as I've never seen them on there before. Perhaps they just escaped from an adjoining field or something. I decided to just keep going along George's Lane towards the kennels and there were more sheep just before I got there, actually on George's Lane. Pretty sure they must have escaped from somewhere.
We just dropped down the side of Wilderswood and ran home where I left Ruby wolfing down her tea and went and did an abs workout.
Total distance - 5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/155546727/overview
Tuesday 17 June 2014
Track!
Decided to get my rear into gear and go down to the track tonight with the club. I hate the track but I forced myself to go because I do always feel quite good afterwards when I know I've done a good session and given it my all.
Tonight's session was 4 x 800s, 5 x 600s, 6 x 400s with 60 seconds recovery. The problem there is that the recovery starts when the first runner gets back to the start so by the time I got back we were setting off again.
I started off with the intention of doing every other rep so I could get a recovery in but then decided to halve the reps instead and try to do as many of them as possible.
I ended up doing:
1 x 800
6 x 400
4 x 200
I was running much faster than my race pace so my Garmin showed a 7.16 pace for 3.3 miles, which included my warm up so I was pretty pleased with that. It really pushes me along being at the track because the other guys are so fast that I seem to be swept along with them. For example, I was keeping up with and, at times, passing Gaynor, who runs much faster than me normally. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. It may mean that I'm not pushing myself hard enough in races or it may mean that I'm pushing too much at the track, which would explain why I kept getting pain down my shins? Ah well, what doesn't kill me will only make me stronger.
Still hate the track though. Running round in circles is BORING!!! Might go back next week, might not. We'll see.
Total distance - approx 4 miles including warm up and cool down
http://www.strava.com/activities/154780642/overview
Tonight's session was 4 x 800s, 5 x 600s, 6 x 400s with 60 seconds recovery. The problem there is that the recovery starts when the first runner gets back to the start so by the time I got back we were setting off again.
I started off with the intention of doing every other rep so I could get a recovery in but then decided to halve the reps instead and try to do as many of them as possible.
I ended up doing:
1 x 800
6 x 400
4 x 200
I was running much faster than my race pace so my Garmin showed a 7.16 pace for 3.3 miles, which included my warm up so I was pretty pleased with that. It really pushes me along being at the track because the other guys are so fast that I seem to be swept along with them. For example, I was keeping up with and, at times, passing Gaynor, who runs much faster than me normally. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing. It may mean that I'm not pushing myself hard enough in races or it may mean that I'm pushing too much at the track, which would explain why I kept getting pain down my shins? Ah well, what doesn't kill me will only make me stronger.
Still hate the track though. Running round in circles is BORING!!! Might go back next week, might not. We'll see.
Total distance - approx 4 miles including warm up and cool down
http://www.strava.com/activities/154780642/overview
Monday 16 June 2014
Tasty Treats
Yesterday we went to the Houghton Tower Farmer's Market which was full of delicious food. If you haven't been before, I'd really recommend it. It takes place the third Sunday of every month and there are loads of stalls selling things like cooked meats, raw meats, vegetables, cheese, chutneys, cakes, fudge, chocolate, pies, fish, even dog/cat food!
Most stalls have free samples (even the dog food stall had free samples for Ruby) so I made a bit of a pig of myself - what's new there I hear you say.
Anyway, I'm telling you this because it's the reason I went for a run tonight when I hadn't really planned to. I bought myself the best pie in the world, ever yesterday - barbecue pulled pork. Words can't explain how delicious it was but, by it's very nature, I'm guessing it's pretty unhealthy so, as I had a massive slice of it for lunch today, I decided I'd better go for a run.
We just did a nice easy route round Rivington, starting from home and heading to the top barn, then down Sheephouse Lane with a quick detour along Dean Brook, then back towards the Bowling Club and along the side of Rivington Reservoir. Once home I did a kickboxing arms session as I'm desperately trying to get back into my other exercise routines, rather than just running. I used to do a lot of kickboxing, yoga, pilates, toning, etc workouts and really want to get back the definition I had a few years ago so I'm trying to get even just a short workout in most days after my run.
Ruby yet again attacked a Rottweiler on our run so I've come to the conclusion that I may have to get her a muzzle. At least that way I'll be able to let her off the lead without fear of her biting another dog. I obviously still won't let her off around livestock but I'd really love to be able to run with her off lead a bit more. She was very tired again today and trotting really slowly behind me, it's just too hot for her. We took it slowly though and it took me an hour to run a mere five miles and that didn't include the times I stopped my watch whilst she drank from streams and 'did her business'.
Total distance - 5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/154397760/overview
Most stalls have free samples (even the dog food stall had free samples for Ruby) so I made a bit of a pig of myself - what's new there I hear you say.
Anyway, I'm telling you this because it's the reason I went for a run tonight when I hadn't really planned to. I bought myself the best pie in the world, ever yesterday - barbecue pulled pork. Words can't explain how delicious it was but, by it's very nature, I'm guessing it's pretty unhealthy so, as I had a massive slice of it for lunch today, I decided I'd better go for a run.
We just did a nice easy route round Rivington, starting from home and heading to the top barn, then down Sheephouse Lane with a quick detour along Dean Brook, then back towards the Bowling Club and along the side of Rivington Reservoir. Once home I did a kickboxing arms session as I'm desperately trying to get back into my other exercise routines, rather than just running. I used to do a lot of kickboxing, yoga, pilates, toning, etc workouts and really want to get back the definition I had a few years ago so I'm trying to get even just a short workout in most days after my run.
Ruby yet again attacked a Rottweiler on our run so I've come to the conclusion that I may have to get her a muzzle. At least that way I'll be able to let her off the lead without fear of her biting another dog. I obviously still won't let her off around livestock but I'd really love to be able to run with her off lead a bit more. She was very tired again today and trotting really slowly behind me, it's just too hot for her. We took it slowly though and it took me an hour to run a mere five miles and that didn't include the times I stopped my watch whilst she drank from streams and 'did her business'.
Total distance - 5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/154397760/overview
Sunday 15 June 2014
Temporarily Misplaced!!!
Despite my navigation training a few nights ago, I today lived up to my user name and found myself 'temporarily misplaced'.
I set off for my long run and had thought that I'd have an easy one around Anglezarke.
I went along the path to the side of the road to Rivington and then headed down past Go Ape and along to the Prep School. From there I ran down to the Bowling Green and turned right heading towards Yarrow. I then decided not to go ahead with my cop out 'hill avoision' route and instead to head off onto the open moors.
I turned right before heading up the path to Yarrow and ran down the hill and then along through Dean Wood, crossing the stile into the farm land and then running over to Dean Head Lane and dropping down into Lead Mines Clough.
Through Lead Mines Clough, I ran up to the Bomber Memorial and then kept going up the path along the top of Limestone Clough, eventually ending up in the open moorland. I kept going, following the stream but then I suddenly lost the path. I kept picking up sheep trods here and there so followed them along but then got to a point where I wasn't entirely sure where I was. I had been hoping to get to Round Loaf but I've only ever done it in the opposite direction and so lost my bearings a little. Luckily, I had a map with me so I just traced where I had come up along the stream and orientated the map to the mast which I could see in the distance. Looking at the contours of the land I was able to work out pretty much where I was so I just kept heading in the direction to where I thought I might pick up a path.
Rather a ridiculous thing for a fell runner to admit, but I don't like running through moorland when I'm not on a sheep trod at this time of year because I'm terrified of trampling on a birds nest as there are loads of ground nesting birds round these moors. I managed to keep finding trods and so followed them, jumping over lots of streams cutting through the ground, and falling into some that I didn't notice were there!
Eventually, I could see the flagged path in the distance, which goes up to Great Hill. I followed the path and headed down towards Rivington Road. Once on the road I turned right and then left onto Belmont Road/George's Lane and then climbed up the diagonal to the top of Winter Hill. By this point I was exhausted and the climb to the top was very slow and mostly walked. I just couldn't summon up the energy to run up it and even struggled just walking. Think I was having an off day, not helped by how hot and sunny it was today.
At least once on the top I knew that the next three miles home were all pretty much downhill, save for the slight climb up to Two Lads from the off road route from the mast.
I ran down the water tanks side off Two Lads and, coming in the opposite direction, were a group of middle aged women in very inappropriate walking gear. They were all wearing floaty chiffon numbers and other such outfits but the most annoying thing about them is that, even though they all saw me running towards them and even smiled and said hello, none of them actually moved out of my way! I had to run around them through the long vegetation and stumbled in a pothole. No harm done except for ruining my chances of a Strava PR, although I was so tired I don't think that would have happened today anyway.
From George's Lane I then ran down through Wilderswood then home.
Lovely run and nice to be able to use my map and keep up the navigation training.
Total distance - 11.5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/153828557
I set off for my long run and had thought that I'd have an easy one around Anglezarke.
I went along the path to the side of the road to Rivington and then headed down past Go Ape and along to the Prep School. From there I ran down to the Bowling Green and turned right heading towards Yarrow. I then decided not to go ahead with my cop out 'hill avoision' route and instead to head off onto the open moors.
I turned right before heading up the path to Yarrow and ran down the hill and then along through Dean Wood, crossing the stile into the farm land and then running over to Dean Head Lane and dropping down into Lead Mines Clough.
Through Lead Mines Clough, I ran up to the Bomber Memorial and then kept going up the path along the top of Limestone Clough, eventually ending up in the open moorland. I kept going, following the stream but then I suddenly lost the path. I kept picking up sheep trods here and there so followed them along but then got to a point where I wasn't entirely sure where I was. I had been hoping to get to Round Loaf but I've only ever done it in the opposite direction and so lost my bearings a little. Luckily, I had a map with me so I just traced where I had come up along the stream and orientated the map to the mast which I could see in the distance. Looking at the contours of the land I was able to work out pretty much where I was so I just kept heading in the direction to where I thought I might pick up a path.
Rather a ridiculous thing for a fell runner to admit, but I don't like running through moorland when I'm not on a sheep trod at this time of year because I'm terrified of trampling on a birds nest as there are loads of ground nesting birds round these moors. I managed to keep finding trods and so followed them, jumping over lots of streams cutting through the ground, and falling into some that I didn't notice were there!
Eventually, I could see the flagged path in the distance, which goes up to Great Hill. I followed the path and headed down towards Rivington Road. Once on the road I turned right and then left onto Belmont Road/George's Lane and then climbed up the diagonal to the top of Winter Hill. By this point I was exhausted and the climb to the top was very slow and mostly walked. I just couldn't summon up the energy to run up it and even struggled just walking. Think I was having an off day, not helped by how hot and sunny it was today.
At least once on the top I knew that the next three miles home were all pretty much downhill, save for the slight climb up to Two Lads from the off road route from the mast.
I ran down the water tanks side off Two Lads and, coming in the opposite direction, were a group of middle aged women in very inappropriate walking gear. They were all wearing floaty chiffon numbers and other such outfits but the most annoying thing about them is that, even though they all saw me running towards them and even smiled and said hello, none of them actually moved out of my way! I had to run around them through the long vegetation and stumbled in a pothole. No harm done except for ruining my chances of a Strava PR, although I was so tired I don't think that would have happened today anyway.
From George's Lane I then ran down through Wilderswood then home.
Lovely run and nice to be able to use my map and keep up the navigation training.
Total distance - 11.5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/153828557
Wednesday 11 June 2014
Navigation Training - Holcombe Moor
Tonight, I picked up Colin Wood and drove to Steve Pearson's house, where Steve then drove us to Ramsbottom for some navigation training on Holcombe Moor.
It was a lovely evening and the Two Towers race was on but we didn't see any of this and just bumped into a few people warming up.
We ran up a short way and then Steve handed the reigns to us, asking us to take turns in getting to certain places on the map.
The first few places we went to we just used the map and found our way using our surroundings, e.g. walls, streams and contours.
At one point, I was trying to get us to a spring and couldn't help but feel we had come further than we should have done. At this point, Steve taught us about pacing out and, as we had been following a stream, he pointed out a stream junction that we hadn't yet crossed. He told us to walk along until we got to the stream junction, counting our paces. When we got to the stream junction we looked at the map to see how far it was away from the spring (which we had already passed) and used our pacing to work out how far back we would need to go before we arrived at the spring. It was incredibly useful information!
Later on, when we were more onto the open moors, we started using our compasses as well. Colin really wanted to try to take the most direct routes from point to point, rather than just finding paths, so we found ourselves running through all sorts of marshes and long grass and we got really soaked, even though it was a dry sunny evening but it all added to the fun and was good compass training.
Speaking of compasses, when I got my brand new £25 Silva Expedition 4 compass out and we were all trying to get a bearing, Steve said to me 'where have you been keeping that compass?' I said, 'in the drawer, why?' to which Steve replied 'look at it and look at ours and tell me what's wrong with it'. I did and it was pointing in completely the opposite direction! Useful.
Near the end of the route was an extremely steep muddy hill which we had to get down, which apparently was also on the race route. It was so slippery that I kept just bouncing into trees to slow me down so I didn't just slide down on my backside.
I didn't get home until 9.45 but had a great night and can't wait to have another go.
It was a lovely evening and the Two Towers race was on but we didn't see any of this and just bumped into a few people warming up.
We ran up a short way and then Steve handed the reigns to us, asking us to take turns in getting to certain places on the map.
The first few places we went to we just used the map and found our way using our surroundings, e.g. walls, streams and contours.
At one point, I was trying to get us to a spring and couldn't help but feel we had come further than we should have done. At this point, Steve taught us about pacing out and, as we had been following a stream, he pointed out a stream junction that we hadn't yet crossed. He told us to walk along until we got to the stream junction, counting our paces. When we got to the stream junction we looked at the map to see how far it was away from the spring (which we had already passed) and used our pacing to work out how far back we would need to go before we arrived at the spring. It was incredibly useful information!
Later on, when we were more onto the open moors, we started using our compasses as well. Colin really wanted to try to take the most direct routes from point to point, rather than just finding paths, so we found ourselves running through all sorts of marshes and long grass and we got really soaked, even though it was a dry sunny evening but it all added to the fun and was good compass training.
Speaking of compasses, when I got my brand new £25 Silva Expedition 4 compass out and we were all trying to get a bearing, Steve said to me 'where have you been keeping that compass?' I said, 'in the drawer, why?' to which Steve replied 'look at it and look at ours and tell me what's wrong with it'. I did and it was pointing in completely the opposite direction! Useful.
Near the end of the route was an extremely steep muddy hill which we had to get down, which apparently was also on the race route. It was so slippery that I kept just bouncing into trees to slow me down so I didn't just slide down on my backside.
I didn't get home until 9.45 but had a great night and can't wait to have another go.
Total distance - 6.4 miles
Monday 9 June 2014
Slow Plod, Nowt Interesting
Tonight’s run was another slow plod with Ruby around Rivington. She really does struggle with the heat and prefers to go out on much cooler days but I don’t like to go out without her because she hates being left alone and anyone who is a dog lover and has a dog with separation anxiety will understand how difficult it is to go out and leave them all alone. She’s good company too and, even though I look like a freak, I do chat to her as we run along. Things like ‘come on Ruby, we’re nearly home now’ or, when we get to a crossing of paths ‘which way should be go Ruby?’. Mental I know but it beats talking to myself.
We just ran alongside Rivington Reservoir and then down the side of the bowling green, dropping down to Dean Brook and back into Rivington Green via the steps and the kissing gate. We then took the path which runs alongside the road back home.
Most boring blog post ever! Too tired to write anything more.
Total distance – 4.75 miles
Sunday 8 June 2014
Ruby is a Liar!
I have just realised that this is my 100th blog post.
I had to take Ruby with me on my long run today as Duncan isn't in so I didn't want to have to walk her first and then go for a run, I just wanted to get running.
We set off from home and headed to the top barn. From there we went across to Sheephouse Lane and then through the kissing gate opposite the stocks, dropping down the steps to Dean Brook. We then went up by the side of Yarrow Reservoir and ran along until we got to the road, then turned left and down to Anglezarke. We ran around Anglezarke with the intention of coming out at Waterman's Cottage but, as we got to the field which is usually full of sheep, you guessed it, it was full of cows instead! They were actually on the path too so that was that and we had to turn round. This is getting pretty ridiculous now. I was going to title this post 'The Cows Strike Back', but I knew that any nerds reading this would correct me on my order of Star Wars themed titles.
We turned round and took a different route back to Knowsley Road, going past High Bullough Reservoir. After coming back out onto Knowsley Road we went up the hill on the bend which takes you back up to Yarrow Reservoir and then went back down to Dean Brook, up the steps, through the kissing gate and back onto Sheephouse Lane.
We headed back up towards the barn then turned left and ran up behind it and round to the steep path that takes you out on 'the driveway', where we then crossed over and went up the even steeper path that brings you out at the Pigeon Tower.
Ruby had been VERY slow on this run. I put it down to the heat this morning but, strangely, she didn't seem to want to drink anything. We passed loads of streams, puddles and reservoirs but she wasn't interested, even when I stopped and tried to encourage her to drink.
By the time we got onto George's Lane, she was just trundling behind me. The thing is, as the title suggests, she's a little liar. She pretends to be tired and trots along behind me making people feel sorry for her because it looks like I'm just dragging her along but then when she sees another dog, squirrel or sheep in the distance, she legs it past me and tries to get to them (she doesn't seem to have grasped the fact that she's on a lead yet).
During our run I thought about this a bit and then decided, aren't we all a bit like that? We're totally knackered in a race and half dead but then we see the finish line in the distance and all of a sudden there's a new found energy which enables us to get that sprint finish that we would never have thought we had in us a couple of minutes earlier.
From George's Lane we just headed back home at a very slow pace indeed.
Total distance - 10 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/150872441/overview
I had to take Ruby with me on my long run today as Duncan isn't in so I didn't want to have to walk her first and then go for a run, I just wanted to get running.
We set off from home and headed to the top barn. From there we went across to Sheephouse Lane and then through the kissing gate opposite the stocks, dropping down the steps to Dean Brook. We then went up by the side of Yarrow Reservoir and ran along until we got to the road, then turned left and down to Anglezarke. We ran around Anglezarke with the intention of coming out at Waterman's Cottage but, as we got to the field which is usually full of sheep, you guessed it, it was full of cows instead! They were actually on the path too so that was that and we had to turn round. This is getting pretty ridiculous now. I was going to title this post 'The Cows Strike Back', but I knew that any nerds reading this would correct me on my order of Star Wars themed titles.
We turned round and took a different route back to Knowsley Road, going past High Bullough Reservoir. After coming back out onto Knowsley Road we went up the hill on the bend which takes you back up to Yarrow Reservoir and then went back down to Dean Brook, up the steps, through the kissing gate and back onto Sheephouse Lane.
We headed back up towards the barn then turned left and ran up behind it and round to the steep path that takes you out on 'the driveway', where we then crossed over and went up the even steeper path that brings you out at the Pigeon Tower.
Ruby had been VERY slow on this run. I put it down to the heat this morning but, strangely, she didn't seem to want to drink anything. We passed loads of streams, puddles and reservoirs but she wasn't interested, even when I stopped and tried to encourage her to drink.
By the time we got onto George's Lane, she was just trundling behind me. The thing is, as the title suggests, she's a little liar. She pretends to be tired and trots along behind me making people feel sorry for her because it looks like I'm just dragging her along but then when she sees another dog, squirrel or sheep in the distance, she legs it past me and tries to get to them (she doesn't seem to have grasped the fact that she's on a lead yet).
During our run I thought about this a bit and then decided, aren't we all a bit like that? We're totally knackered in a race and half dead but then we see the finish line in the distance and all of a sudden there's a new found energy which enables us to get that sprint finish that we would never have thought we had in us a couple of minutes earlier.
From George's Lane we just headed back home at a very slow pace indeed.
Total distance - 10 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/150872441/overview
Saturday 7 June 2014
No Cows Today
After leaving home this morning at 9am, sitting on my backside all day until 5pm and having consumed two packed lunches, I decided I should go for a run this evening to work off some calories.
I have spent the day in Wigan inputting results for the track and field event which Horwich were hosting. I've never done this before and must admit that, in a geeky way, I quite enjoyed myself. I work with spreadsheets all day at work so doing it in my spare time shouldn't be fun but somehow it was. I really am just a spreadsheet nerd.
A big well done to everyone who competed at the Northern League event today, and especially to Mark and Debbie who both had their debut race on the track!
It had been a pretty miserable day weather-wise but really cheered up as we were leaving the event. It was lovely and sunny and, whilst being driven back towards Blackrod and looking out to the hills, they just looked so tempting, even though I hadn't planned to run today. After Trevor dropped me off at home, I went in, threw off my top layer of clothes (I had been wearing shorts and t-shirt all day in case I suddenly got the urge to compete but, shocker of shockers, I didn't) grabbed Ruby's lead and off we went. I didn't even change my trainers which was pretty silly as I was wearing racing flats and ended up going for a muddy run where I was slipping and sliding all over the place.
We ran down to Rivvy School, then up the road and took the 'middle path' which is the rock one that takes you up to the terraced gardens. I had only planned to run down to the barn and back but the middle path just seemed to call out to me. We ran through the terraced gardens, coming out by the Pigeon Tower, and then ran along George's Lane, down Old Rake and along Brinks Row before dropping down onto Brownlow Road and heading home.
Total Distance - 3.9 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/150638102/overview
I have spent the day in Wigan inputting results for the track and field event which Horwich were hosting. I've never done this before and must admit that, in a geeky way, I quite enjoyed myself. I work with spreadsheets all day at work so doing it in my spare time shouldn't be fun but somehow it was. I really am just a spreadsheet nerd.
A big well done to everyone who competed at the Northern League event today, and especially to Mark and Debbie who both had their debut race on the track!
It had been a pretty miserable day weather-wise but really cheered up as we were leaving the event. It was lovely and sunny and, whilst being driven back towards Blackrod and looking out to the hills, they just looked so tempting, even though I hadn't planned to run today. After Trevor dropped me off at home, I went in, threw off my top layer of clothes (I had been wearing shorts and t-shirt all day in case I suddenly got the urge to compete but, shocker of shockers, I didn't) grabbed Ruby's lead and off we went. I didn't even change my trainers which was pretty silly as I was wearing racing flats and ended up going for a muddy run where I was slipping and sliding all over the place.
We ran down to Rivvy School, then up the road and took the 'middle path' which is the rock one that takes you up to the terraced gardens. I had only planned to run down to the barn and back but the middle path just seemed to call out to me. We ran through the terraced gardens, coming out by the Pigeon Tower, and then ran along George's Lane, down Old Rake and along Brinks Row before dropping down onto Brownlow Road and heading home.
Total Distance - 3.9 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/150638102/overview
Friday 6 June 2014
Cows III - Return of the Runner
I was working from home again today so, as usual, I got Duncan to drop me off on his way to work so I could get a decent run in nice and early.
It was a beautiful morning, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Duncan dropped me off on Rivington Road at the entrance to 'Old Rachel's' again, which is one of my favourite runs. As last Friday, I ran along to Higher Hempshaws and continued towards Lead Mines Clough.
I had set my Garmin for an interval session of 5 x 1/2 miles which I intended to do at around a 7.45 pace, with 1/4 mile recovery in between, starting with a one mile warm up.
My one mile warm up ended and I started my first half mile of effort and... oh no, cows!!!! Right, I'm getting sick of this now. It's now three days on a run that I've been confronted by a field of cows where there aren't usually cows. This time I was on my own though so I decided to brave it. As I approached, a few heads turned to watch me. More and more turned round and it was quite intimidating. I had all sorts going on in my head like 'don't make eye contact' as if that would help. Luckily, they weren't at all interested in me and just carried on munching the grass but they really helped me with my first effort as I had felt quite tired to start with but I just wanted to get past them as fast as my little legs would carry me. Thanks cows!
I got to the gate and my first effort was over and I started on my quarter mile recovery. Why is it the quarter mile recovery goes so fast? It seems like only seconds before I'm giving it beans again. The next half mile, which dropped me into Lead Mines Clough, was pretty downhill which was nice and I felt really good and strong. At this point I was regretting having put a long sleeved top on though and was contemplating whether stripping down to my sports bra/crop top would constitute indecent exposure. I decided it would and so kept my top on.
The third effort was quite hard as I was starting to get tired at this point, probably because I hadn't eaten enough before I come out and I don't run well without having a lot of food. The fact that I had a few glasses of wine last night might also go towards explaining why I was a bit lethargic this morning.
Effort four was better than effort three and took me out to the Bowling Club, where I actually had to stop for a few seconds to catch my breath before starting my recovery.
During this recovery, I passed Chris F and his dog running through Rivington towards the prep school. He looked far fresher than me and he'd probably been running twice as fast.
I got to between Go Ape and the reservoir and my watch beeped for effort five. Finally, the last one! I was really tired now and my calves were getting pretty tight. This was my worst effort of the lot, by quite a long way. I was so happy when my watch beeped again signalling the end of the last effort. Thank goodness, I'm sure that last one was a mile not half a mile.
My pace for the five efforts was:
1 - 7.14
2 - 7.16
3 - 7.50
4 - 7.36
5 - 8.32
Efforts 1 and 2 were much faster than the pace I had aimed for (7.45) and effort 4 was a bit faster too. Effort 3 was ever so slightly slower and effort 5 was a lot slower.
Again, it is a bit of a cheat as the majority of this run is downhill but the Strava graph makes it look much more downhill than it actually is as it's only very gradual and in some places, barely noticeable, for example, on my first half mile effort I could have sworn there was more uphill than down, but then I suppose I was too busy concentrating on the cows.
Total distance - 5.75 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/150226387/laps
It was a beautiful morning, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. Duncan dropped me off on Rivington Road at the entrance to 'Old Rachel's' again, which is one of my favourite runs. As last Friday, I ran along to Higher Hempshaws and continued towards Lead Mines Clough.
I had set my Garmin for an interval session of 5 x 1/2 miles which I intended to do at around a 7.45 pace, with 1/4 mile recovery in between, starting with a one mile warm up.
My one mile warm up ended and I started my first half mile of effort and... oh no, cows!!!! Right, I'm getting sick of this now. It's now three days on a run that I've been confronted by a field of cows where there aren't usually cows. This time I was on my own though so I decided to brave it. As I approached, a few heads turned to watch me. More and more turned round and it was quite intimidating. I had all sorts going on in my head like 'don't make eye contact' as if that would help. Luckily, they weren't at all interested in me and just carried on munching the grass but they really helped me with my first effort as I had felt quite tired to start with but I just wanted to get past them as fast as my little legs would carry me. Thanks cows!
I got to the gate and my first effort was over and I started on my quarter mile recovery. Why is it the quarter mile recovery goes so fast? It seems like only seconds before I'm giving it beans again. The next half mile, which dropped me into Lead Mines Clough, was pretty downhill which was nice and I felt really good and strong. At this point I was regretting having put a long sleeved top on though and was contemplating whether stripping down to my sports bra/crop top would constitute indecent exposure. I decided it would and so kept my top on.
The third effort was quite hard as I was starting to get tired at this point, probably because I hadn't eaten enough before I come out and I don't run well without having a lot of food. The fact that I had a few glasses of wine last night might also go towards explaining why I was a bit lethargic this morning.
Effort four was better than effort three and took me out to the Bowling Club, where I actually had to stop for a few seconds to catch my breath before starting my recovery.
During this recovery, I passed Chris F and his dog running through Rivington towards the prep school. He looked far fresher than me and he'd probably been running twice as fast.
I got to between Go Ape and the reservoir and my watch beeped for effort five. Finally, the last one! I was really tired now and my calves were getting pretty tight. This was my worst effort of the lot, by quite a long way. I was so happy when my watch beeped again signalling the end of the last effort. Thank goodness, I'm sure that last one was a mile not half a mile.
My pace for the five efforts was:
1 - 7.14
2 - 7.16
3 - 7.50
4 - 7.36
5 - 8.32
Efforts 1 and 2 were much faster than the pace I had aimed for (7.45) and effort 4 was a bit faster too. Effort 3 was ever so slightly slower and effort 5 was a lot slower.
Again, it is a bit of a cheat as the majority of this run is downhill but the Strava graph makes it look much more downhill than it actually is as it's only very gradual and in some places, barely noticeable, for example, on my first half mile effort I could have sworn there was more uphill than down, but then I suppose I was too busy concentrating on the cows.
Total distance - 5.75 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/150226387/laps
Wednesday 4 June 2014
Cows 2, The Sequel
We set off from home today and I decided to take a different route up to George's Lane than usual, as a bit of a trial before the road is closed later in the month. We ran down to Green Lane and then up and across to Tiger's Clough. We then ran all the way up Tiger's Clough, coming out onto George's Lane. As there were no signs on the gate to George's Lane re the road closure, I'm hoping this means this route will be OK when the works start. We ran up the Pike and I wanted to get a Strava PB but, unfortunately, Ruby had other ideas and kept sniffing so eventually I let her off her lead so I could get ahead of her but I didn't manage to beat my PR as I had already lost too much time, which is a shame really as I was feeling quite energetic tonight (though my pace won't evidence this - Ruby was sniffing EVERYTHING tonight).
We ran down the steps off the Pike and along George's Lane/Belmont Road (I'm never quite sure where the change from one to the other is) to the Pigeon Tower and then carried on along Belmont Road until we reached Rivington Road. After turning right onto the road and down it a bit, we then went along the path on the left which runs alongside the road all the way into Belmont. It was ridiculously muddy along here and Ruby sank to her neck a couple of times.
We got to where the path goes into a field and... stopped dead! LOADS of cows! They were all across the path through to the next field too, so we would have had to get within a metre of them to get through. Not going to happen.
I didn't want to head back along the path we had come to though because it was so boggy I didn't want Ruby sinking anymore. Plus, Duncan was picking me up in Belmont on his way home from work so we could drive into Bolton to Decathlon.
I could see a gate across the way which went out onto Rivington Road, but this involved going down a very overgrown steep descent and across a stream but it was pretty much the only option so off we went, being really careful where we put our feet because I was worried about trampling on a bird's nest or something. Eventually we picked up a trod so I felt much happier as I knew we wouldn't trample anything. We crossed the stream and got to the gate, which I had to pick Ruby up and put her over because it was locked.
We then ran along the road, past the gravel car park and along the wooden bridges down to the Blue Lagoon. We then ran down the road and met Duncan in the Black Horse car park.
My question is - what's with all the cows? They seem to be everywhere at the minute and there aren't usually many of them, at least not that I have seen. There are usually lots of sheep, but not cows. Duncan thinks they might have been put there as land management for grazing.
Total distance - 4.8 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/149487963/overview
We ran down the steps off the Pike and along George's Lane/Belmont Road (I'm never quite sure where the change from one to the other is) to the Pigeon Tower and then carried on along Belmont Road until we reached Rivington Road. After turning right onto the road and down it a bit, we then went along the path on the left which runs alongside the road all the way into Belmont. It was ridiculously muddy along here and Ruby sank to her neck a couple of times.
We got to where the path goes into a field and... stopped dead! LOADS of cows! They were all across the path through to the next field too, so we would have had to get within a metre of them to get through. Not going to happen.
I didn't want to head back along the path we had come to though because it was so boggy I didn't want Ruby sinking anymore. Plus, Duncan was picking me up in Belmont on his way home from work so we could drive into Bolton to Decathlon.
I could see a gate across the way which went out onto Rivington Road, but this involved going down a very overgrown steep descent and across a stream but it was pretty much the only option so off we went, being really careful where we put our feet because I was worried about trampling on a bird's nest or something. Eventually we picked up a trod so I felt much happier as I knew we wouldn't trample anything. We crossed the stream and got to the gate, which I had to pick Ruby up and put her over because it was locked.
We then ran along the road, past the gravel car park and along the wooden bridges down to the Blue Lagoon. We then ran down the road and met Duncan in the Black Horse car park.
My question is - what's with all the cows? They seem to be everywhere at the minute and there aren't usually many of them, at least not that I have seen. There are usually lots of sheep, but not cows. Duncan thinks they might have been put there as land management for grazing.
Total distance - 4.8 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/149487963/overview
Tuesday 3 June 2014
Cows!
Another run with Ruby tonight in the lovely sunshine. We set off from home and ran straight up to George's Lane. I'm a bit worried by all the signs saying no access to George's Lane for two months from 21 June as I run up onto here 50% of the time and I'll really miss it, even though it's only for a couple of months.
We ran along to the dog hotel and then up to Two Lads. From there we ran down to the mast road, crossed over and ran the reverse of the Two Lads race but then turned off and headed down towards the quarries. We went through a kissing gate on the right heading along the top of the quarries where a fox was chasing some crows through a field of sheep. It didn't manage to get any though but the sheep got a bit of a scare.
As you'll see from my Strava map below, all of a sudden we stop dead (the part of the route shown at the bottom right. This is because the field was full of cows! I appear to have recently developed a fear of cows, especially when I'm running with Ruby. I keep hearing horror stories about them and it's surprising how many people have had a run in with them. I decided it would be best to just turn round and retrace our steps.
Instead of going all the way back to the part of the mast road where we turned off on the outward journey we headed left and came out across the road from the gate which leads you back to Two Lads. When we got to the water tanks we turned left and headed back down to George's Lane and then back home the same way we came up.
Total distance - 5.05
http://www.strava.com/activities/149140236/overview
Monday 2 June 2014
Love Running, Hate Racing!
That's pretty much how I'm feeling at the minute. In fact, it's pretty much how I've always felt. I kept racing because I thought I'd learn to enjoy it, but it just hasn't happened yet. Every weekend that I have a race planned, I'm filled with dread and don't look forward to the weekend.
I think I'm going to knock racing on the head for a bit because I'm really enjoying just running at the minute. No pressure, just lovely runs at whatever pace I choose.
I don't actually know why I hate racing though and I really don't want to give it up for ever, I just think I want a break and time to build up my speed, strength and stamina a bit and feel more confident and ready to race.
I think it's probably because I'm quite self-conscious as when I think about doing local races I'm filled with dread but when I think about doing a race far away where nobody knows me, I feel OK about it. Weird I know, but if you regularly read this blog then you'll know that I am pretty weird so it shouldn't really be a surprise.
I've just upgraded my Strava account to premium as it's free for 30 days so that'll help to keep me motivated although, like I said, I'm actually really enjoying just running without any pressure at the minute.
Tonight, my calves were still pretty tight from the weekend runs so I just went for a nice easy run to the top barn with Ruby. We ran to the barn via Rivvy School and then went out onto Sheephouse Lane, down towards the tea rooms, but then back in towards the top barn again, then home.
There was a HUGE amount of squirrels out and about tonight so Ruby was trying to dart off after them left right and centre which was pretty annoying. She doesn't seem to realise that she's on a lead and can only get so far. Bless her, she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Total distance - 4 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/148715144
I think I'm going to knock racing on the head for a bit because I'm really enjoying just running at the minute. No pressure, just lovely runs at whatever pace I choose.
I don't actually know why I hate racing though and I really don't want to give it up for ever, I just think I want a break and time to build up my speed, strength and stamina a bit and feel more confident and ready to race.
I think it's probably because I'm quite self-conscious as when I think about doing local races I'm filled with dread but when I think about doing a race far away where nobody knows me, I feel OK about it. Weird I know, but if you regularly read this blog then you'll know that I am pretty weird so it shouldn't really be a surprise.
I've just upgraded my Strava account to premium as it's free for 30 days so that'll help to keep me motivated although, like I said, I'm actually really enjoying just running without any pressure at the minute.
Tonight, my calves were still pretty tight from the weekend runs so I just went for a nice easy run to the top barn with Ruby. We ran to the barn via Rivvy School and then went out onto Sheephouse Lane, down towards the tea rooms, but then back in towards the top barn again, then home.
There was a HUGE amount of squirrels out and about tonight so Ruby was trying to dart off after them left right and centre which was pretty annoying. She doesn't seem to realise that she's on a lead and can only get so far. Bless her, she's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Total distance - 4 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/148715144
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