Name Change

Seeing as the title of my blog is now outdated, as I very rarely run with Ruby these days (or indeed at all!), I thought it was time for a name change.  I’m going to run the blog as it is until the end of the year as, at that point, I will the have been doing it for exactly three years.  After that, I’m thinking of changing the name to ‘My Mad Fit Diary’. 

You’ve probably all heard of the TV show My Mad Fat Diary and, although I haven’t spent any time in an institution like the main character in the TV series, we can all agree that I’m not right in the head, so I thought this title would be appropriate. 

I’m not sure what exactly will be in it but I think it will be more of a weekly round-up than a blog of each and every run or MTB ride. 

It will, of course, still be from the heart so I apologise in advance for the negativity which will undoubtedly be in most posts.  I’m working on that one though!

Thanks for reading!

Thinking of Hanging up my Running Shoes - No, Seriously!

Tonight I decided to have an easy run/walk with Ruby, just because I haven't run for over two weeks now.

I'm just falling out of love with it, if truth be told.  I'm sick of being in pain all the time and just think it might be time for me to admit that my biomechanics are not suited to running and I should just knock it on the head.

I'm pretty certain that there'll be no more competitive running, at least not for the foreseeable future as I simply don't enjoy it.  If I have a race planned for a weekend then I'll dread the weekend and it shouldn't be like that so why do something I don't want to do?

Running itself has never been something I love, which I know some of you will find that hard to believe.  Don't get me wrong, I love being out in the countryside and the company of my running buddies, but the actual running part is something I do simply to stay in shape and as an excuse to eat what I want, but I don't actually love it like most of my running friends do.  If I could be fit and slim and eat what I like without running, then I wouldn't do it.

Of course, it's not all doom and gloom, there are times when I do really enjoy it (especially when I run on some lovely fast descents) but those times are getting less and less frequent and most of the time the thought of going for a run just doesn't appeal to me.  I'm finding it really hard to get out the door.

Tonight's 'easy' jog, for example, was just filled with pain.  My calves were throbbing and I had to keep stopping to stretch them out and my right ankle was hurting with sharp shooting pain and I have no idea why as I haven't done anything to it.  Things like this happen to me all the time though, my body is just a mess and I think running has a lot to answer for.  I just don't have the biomechanics for it.  I'm sick of getting home and having to plunge my feet into buckets of cold water and having to roll around on a foam roller or pay to have sports massages.  Is it really worth it?  Am I going to mess myself up completely and not be able to even walk very well by the time I'm 50?

Sorry for the depressive nature of this post, but it's just from the heart and the way I'm feeling at the minute.

Total distance - 3.6 miles

Getting Quicker on Gym Ride

My fourth time of riding to the gym and back this morning for my strength and conditioning workout.
According to Strava, I'm getting much quicker at this, having taken 5 minutes off my outward journey and 4 minutes off my homeward bound journey since the first time I did it two weeks ago.

I'm still struggling to climb the hill out of Limbrick on the way home though, but I'm always so tired from the weights workout I've just done.  It's funny because, when I did this hill on my old Sunn bike during the summer, it was much easier.  In fact, climbing hills in general seemed much easier on my old crappy bike.  Duncan keeps telling me my new bike is miles better and, it probably is on descents, but on ascents I'm pretty sure my Sunn was better.  It was built as a race bike though and it has skinnier wheels than my Saracen.

I'm really enjoying my rides to and from the gym, especially the ride there.  Because it's so early and dark, I see all sorts of wildlife like foxes, owls and deer.  Love it!

Total distance - 15 miles

Making Progress on the MTB

It was lovely out this morning and I decided to head off for a ride on my mountain bike but Duncan was already going out with Barry, so I had to go on my own.

I only really have one route I do around here on a weekend because I'm finding it hard to find other routes which aren't too technical for me and which don't involve riding where I shouldn't be.  I don't mind keep doing the same route for the time being though, as it is helping me to see my progression.

From home, I rode along to Rivington, turning off at the Bowling Club and heading up to Yarrow Reservoir.  At the end of the trail, I turned right onto the road and along into Lead Mines Clough.

Now was time to face my demons - the hill out of Lead Mines Clough heading towards Jepsons Gate.  It's only a short hill but it's pretty steep and is full of loose stones and so far I have never managed to get to the top without slipping and having to put my foot down and not being able to get going again.

Today however, I made it!!!  I nearly killed myself doing it but I was so pleased when I reached the gate.  I did slip a few times, but I managed to keep the bike going and not put my foot down and eventually I got there.  Obviously I had to then stop to take a photo of this momentous occasion.

From there, I rode along to Jepsons Gate then down the road to Watermans Cottage and then headed into White Coppice.  The trail into White Coppice was really icy and muddy and it was hard working getting through it all.  From White Coppice I rode up the road and headed for the bridleway through Healey Nab.

I came down through the nab pretty quickly (for me) and looking at my Strava trace later on, I had vastly improved since the first time I did it.  In fact, I had improved on practically everything.  There were loads of segment PRs so that's really pleasing to see.

After Healey Nab, I rode along Back Lane to the Yew Tree and then rode up the cascade back towards Yarrow and down to the bowling club.  I then headed home via Rivington feeling very pleased with my little self.

Total distance - 12 miles

Achy Back Ride

My Wednesday morning rides to the gym are in darkness at the minute as I'm leaving home just after 6am so am having to use lights on my bike.  The weird thing is, not being able to see very well is actually helping my MTB skills because not being able to see how rocky the trail is makes me fear it less.

The ride out was pretty uneventful but the ride back almost had me in tears.  My back was killing me and I had to keep stopping to stretch it out. I don't know why though and whether I have my bike set up badly, or whether I'm doing something wrong when I'm climbing hills as that's where the pain starts.

Also, on my way back home, I was coming down a bumpy section near the top barn and couldn't understand why my bike felt so rigid as the suspension wasn't locked out but it really felt like it.  It wasn't until I was speaking with my brother later about it that he told me it was because when Duncan borrowed my bike on Sunday he had adjusted the air in the suspension so that it was right for his weight, meaning that for my weight it was as good as useless so I had to let a load of air back out. Thanks Duncan, that's you never borrowing my bike again.  He also brought it back to me filthy and with the seat post clasp thing sticking out (I have no idea how to name technical parts of my bike yet, please excuse my ignorance).

Duncan has adjusted my seat for me and brought it forward a bit so I'll see next time I ride whether this helps with my back ache.

Total distance - 15 miles

Boxing!

Given my lack of running lately, I'm trying to mix it up a bit and try new things and a boxing class has just started at my gym so I decided to give it a whirl as I quite like the idea of taking my aggression out on a punch bag.

I must admit I was really nervous.  I have absolutely no co-ordination of which to speak so was terrified of making a complete arse of myself.

When I got there, I found that I was the only one in the class so I got a one to one session.  The instructor's name is Scott Mitchell and he's an ex pro so really knows his stuff.

First of all, he took me though how to stand properly so as to keep a stable posture and we then went through how to move around whilst staying in this stable position.

After that, we moved onto the jab, firstly with the left arm and, once I got the hang of that, with the right.  We then moved onto the left hook, followed by the right upper cut, left upper cut and, finally, the right hook.

Once I had got the hang of it all a bit more, Scott put on some pads and we did some pad work, which I really enjoyed.  The bit I was struggling with the most, was moving my hands back to my face after throwing the punches.

After a bit of pad work, he moved me onto the punching bag.  It's harder work than it looks jumping around it and punching the hell out of it.  I had to do this for a minute, and then do a minute of either star jumps or burpees, both made harder by the use of an aerobic step.  It really did make me feel unfit.  I started off the burpees thinking they were easy but by the end of the minute, I was basically just stepping off the step, rather than jumping off it.

We finished the session off with some core work and I must admit I was dying by the end of it.  Can't wait to go back though, it was a great workout and was actually proper boxing rather than the boxercise classes you see in most gyms.

Icy Ride to Gym and Back

My new riding to the gym thing is supposed to be just for Wednesdays because I usually go shopping on a Saturday morning after the gym but I wasn't doing today as I had already been yesterday so I decided to ride there and back again.

I went the same route out as I did on Wednesday but coming back I made a slight alteration and went up the cascade instead of along The Street just because I'm on a mountain bike so I'd rather be off road and the reason I don't do this on a Wednesday is because I'm rushing to get back home to log on for work and the road is obviously quicker.

I'm getting much better at riding now, although I know that going up the cascade and down the side of Yarrow is hardly technical but it can still be quite scary to a newbie like me when you're going over uneven ground at speed and you know it will hurt if you fall off.

It was pretty icy this morning so when I was going down the steep road hill under the motorway before coming into Limbrick I was quite frightened because I didn't want to brake and skid but was going too fast not to brake.  I wonder when I'll stop being afraid altogether of going downhill at speed?  I'm getting there, slowly but surely.

Total distance - 15 miles 

MTB Ride to the Gym

My exercise is pretty minimal at the minute and this is showing in my clothes, or more in their lack of fit.

With this in mind, I decided to start riding to the gym on a Wednesday morning.  It's 7.5 miles each way so I get in a decent distances altogether.  The problem is trying to find an off-road route there as I won't ride on roads.

From home, I head into Rivington using the bridleway at the back of the school and then drop down and cross the road and head down to the prep school.  From there, I ride along Horrobin Lane, then turn down The Street and head to the Yew Tree.  At the Yew Tree I turn right along Back Lane.  This is quite a long stretch of road, but it's a very quiet narrow road so very few cars go along it and when they do it's nice and slow so it doesn't bother me.  Not one single car passed me on my way out and just one did on my way back.

The road brings me out into Limbrick, which is where I have a stretch of road that I don't really want to ride along.  I know that you can get onto the canal from Limbrick as I've done this on the White Bear Way, but I can't remember what the terrain is like and whether or not it is OK for bikes.  I need to go for a walk there one day and check it out.

The next place I know I can get onto the canal is at Cowling so I have to ride along the road a bit to get there, although I must admit to having gone on the pavement the first time because I'm just not confident with roads.  Before you mock, how many of my road riding friends can honestly say they have never been knocked off or clipped by a car?  Not many I bet.

From Cowling I ride along the canal until bridge 78 which takes me into a housing estate.  I ride down the road, then cross Eaves Lane, making my way down some terraced streets and then eventually come out near Aldi, ride through the car park and arrive at the gym.

Riding there is the easy bit, riding home not so much.  Not only is it practically all up hill but I've also just finished an hour's worth of weight training so I'm usually pretty knackered!

Total distance - 15 miles 

Post S&C Easy Run

On the way back from my strength and conditioning workout this morning, I decided to park up on Horrobin Lane again and go for a quick run up to Bomber Memorial.  I go to Bomber Memorial every year on either Armistice Day or Remembrance Sunday but this year I was unable to go yesterday due to a hospital appointment and wouldn't be able to go tomorrow either.  The day in between would have to do this year.

From Horrobin Lane, I ran to the bowling club and then turned down the side of it.  Instead of running up to Yarrow, I turned right and headed down to Dean Brook.  I then ran along the lane and hopped over the stile into the field.  I went through the fields, coming out onto the road and then dropped down to the gate into Lead Mines Clough.

After running up to the bomber memorial and paying my respects, I continued upwards running along the path which takes you out towards the waterfalls.  I didn't go to the waterfalls though and turned left at the end of the path, climbing the ladder stile into the field and making my way along, dropping back down into Lead Mines Clough.

I ran through the Clough, out onto the road and then turned left towards Yarrow Reservoir, before dropping back down to the bowling club and back to the van.

Total distance - 4.4 miles 

Short Trot to Meet Duncan and Ruby

Duncan said that he was going to drive out and walk Ruby from the Yew Tree this evening so suggested that I run from home and meet him there.  It's only about three miles so I decided it would be a good idea as I didn't have time to go any further than that.

I'm finding it really hard to fit things in these days.  I have no idea how people with kids manage because I don't have kids and have a flexible job where I finish at 3.30 every day, but I still find I don't have time for anything.  I'm finding it really hard just to write this blog and am actually typing this entry some three and a half weeks after the event.

The run was pretty uneventful.  I went from home, along to the bottom barn then down to the bowling club and up to Yarrow before dropping down the cascade and running along Knowsley Lane to meet Duncan and Ruby.

Total distance - 3.1 miles 

Monday Night Recovery Run Revisited

Tonight, after being nervous all day about it, I joined the guys at the bottom barn for the Monday night recovery run. 


I haven't been for about six months and I don't know why but I got really anxious about it. 


It was also time to try out my new, very expensive, Hoka Mafate Speed 2 shoes which appear to be the only Hokas with a decent tread on them. 


There were ten of us out tonight: Me, Abigail, Albert, Tony V, Tony M, Mark, Darren, Michelle, Joc and Brian


But no Josie!  I don't think I've ever been to a Monday night recovery run which Josie hasn't been at before.  I was really looking forward to seeing her too as it's been ages!


I was expecting to be utterly useless tonight, given that I have barely run in the past 5.5 months but I actually surprised myself.  I wasn't great on the descents as I must admit to being a bit wary of them at the minute, given that my foot issue hasn't fully resolved but I didn't do as badly as I thought I was.  I did make quite a few more girly noises than usual though!


The shoes didn't let me down and I didn't slip any more than normal, even going down the scar (I did slightly go over on my ankle but I ALWAYS do running down the scar). 


As we were running past the top barn at the end I commented to Joc that it felt like I was wearing slippers they were that comfortable.  She said I looked like I was springing along. 


It felt great to be back out with the lovely Monday night runners who were all very encouraging and supportive. 


Total distance - 6 miles

Run Ruby, Run

Last night whilst walking Ruby, I realised that it was getting dark and that if I continued to walk I wouldn’t make it home before it got properly dark and I had no torch with me.  I therefore decided to have a little jog with her. 

We didn’t go far, under three miles but I realised that I really missed running with her as she’s my little companion who makes me feel safe when I’m out in the dark on my own. 

With that in mind, tonight I decided to have a proper run with her, like the old days, seeing as she kept up so well last night. 

The problem with running with Ruby, as I have mentioned in previous posts, is that because she has a problem with other dogs and wants to bite them, I have to keep her on the lead all the time but she’s rubbish to run with on a lead because she wants to sniff and scent mark everything. 

In the dark though, and especially when it’s rainy as it was tonight, I can generally let her off the lead for almost the entire run because I can see before her if there are any other dogs around.  If there are other dog walkers they’ll have a torch so I can spot them far away and I also seem to notice the glow of dogs (or sheep or deer) eyes before she does too. 

Tonight, I was able to let her off the lead by the school and then keep her off it for the entirety of the rest of the run, save for a brief period when a bloke and two dogs were coming the other way and I inadvertently blinded him with my Hope. 

We ran along towards the top barn, and then climbed our way through the terraced gardens up onto George’s Lane.  It was horrendously foggy tonight and I could barely see a thing, just about two feet in front of me. 

We ran along George’s Lane and then back home through Wilderswood.

It’s great to have Ruby back. 

Total distance – 4.3 miles (+ around 2.75 from yesterday)

Arthur 2 Times

That’s the name of the MTB route Duncan and I decided to do today, starting at a little village called Cilcain near Mold in North Wales.

I wanted to do a ‘moderate’ MTB route but am loathe to go to trail centres because, as with fell running, I do this sport to get away from the crowds so why would I want to go to a trail centre full of people? I want to be in the great outdoors on natural terrain, not on purpose built trails.
　

Arthur 2 Times is all on bridleways and with the odd bit of C road and is around 18 miles long with around 2,500 feet of ascent.
　

After parking in the village, the route then climbs up the road before arriving at a bridleway and then makes its way along into forests. The weather was lovely today and the bridleway was full of fallen leaves, which crumpled under our tyres.
　

One of the things I enjoy about mountain biking, again like fell running, is that there’s no shame in stopping for photo opportunities. With road running and road riding, it’s just relentless forward motion with the aim of just getting where you’re going as quickly as you can but with mountain biking, it’s much more leisurely and relaxing.
　

With that in mind, there were plentiful stops of admiring and photographing the scenery, as well as food stops, brake pad changing stops and puncture stops.

This is where mountain biking is inferior to fell running – there’s so much faffage involved. With fell running, or any running, you just get your shoes on and off you go but with mountain biking there’s lots of messing about before hand getting everything together, oiling your bike chain, checking the tyres etc. If you’re not riding from home you have to mess about putting your bike onto the bike rack. Then there’s dealing with any mechanical breakdowns out on the trail and washing your bike off when you get back home.

　
The other problem with my new hobby of mountain biking is that if I want to do it with Duncan, where does that leave Ruby dog? I was sent a video the other day of a doggy backpack which fits a dog about the size of ruby is and you strap her to your back with her paws on your shoulder, which looks ace but I’m not sure Ruby would enjoy that and also, what happens if you fall off? Thankfully, we have the lovely Dawn and Dan to look after Ruby for us (although I am a little concerned that one day I may return to pick her up only to find they have left the country with her). However, we would be very bad parents if we kept fobbing our dog off on other people all the time so I might have to find somebody else to ride without, although they would have to be either very patient or equally as useless!
　

Anyway, back to the ride…

　
Whilst the majority was on easy bridleways there were a few gnarly (well, to me anyway, not so much to Duncan) descents, one of which saw me having an ‘unintentional dismount’ resulting in me coming down quite heavily on my cross bar. Thank goodness I’m not a man!

　
The climbs were tough too. I don’t know whether I have lost fitness in the last couple of months or whether my new bike isn’t as good at climbing as my crappy old bike, but Duncan was way ahead of me which, in all honesty, upset me a little. I don’t mean that in a derogatory way towards Duncan it’s just that I should be much fitter than he is so I couldn’t get my head round why I couldn’t climb the hills, especially as I had done so well at it the first time I went out a couple of months back. I wasn’t even breaking a sweat back then, wasn’t in the easiest gear and wasn’t out of breath. It was a doddle. But today, and the last couple of times I have been out, I’ve been finding it really hard work. It could also be due to the fact that on all these times I have struggled, I have done a lot of other exercise on the lead up to it, for example yesterday I did a very tough S&C workout in the morning which has made my hamstrings ache like mad and I followed that with a six mile run, the second half of which was at a decent speed. I also did a spin class on Friday night and ran on Thursday night and, at the minute, that is quite a lot for me.

　
Duncan did suggest that I raise my seat a little which might help and he started quoting studies at me about how a slight increase in seat height can give a 10% power increase or something like that. He has been insisting I raise my seat for ages now but I don’t like the feeling of not being able to touch the ground at all. At the minute, I can only just touch the ground with the very tip of my toes but Duncan wanted to raise it so I couldn’t touch it at all. Eventually, I relented and let him raise it and I actually think he might have been right. It did feel a bit better. However by this point, some 15 miles into our ride, I was already incredibly tired so I’m not sure just how helpful it was and will have to see next time I go out and am feeling fresh.

　
About three miles from the end of our ride, a group of mountain bikers that we had earlier been chatting to said they were going a different way back into Cilcain and Duncan fancied going that way too because it looked quite gnarly. I didn’t want to though and so, for the first time in ten years of Garmin ownership, I actually used the ‘back to start’ function on my watch. It’s amazing! The route we did involved going out for a few miles, then doing a loop and then coming back in those same few miles and as I was past the loop point by now, the way back was the same as the way out. I used the watch and every so often it would beep and vibrate on my wrist and display ‘turn approaching’ which I thought was great. Small things eh? I’m going to buy a cheap mount for it now so I can put it onto my handlebars which will make it easier than being on my wrist.

　
Duncan changed his mind about going the other way back. He made out it was because he was being chivalrous and not wanting to leave me on my own but I don’t buy that because the last few miles were all downhill and he left me for dust so I didn’t see him at all until I was back at the van.
　

There was a little café/shop where we had parked in the village and, even though we needed to get back as we were going out for a meal for my mum‘s birthday, Duncan insisted that no MTB ride could end without a coffee.
　

Really enjoyed the day out and now that I have discovered how great my Garmin is, I’m looking forward to programming routes into it for me to follow so I can go out on my own a bit more.

　
Total distance – 17.6 miles

On a Whim

On the way home from my strength and conditioning one to one session this morning, I was driving along Horrobin Lane when I saw John Coope, Hazel and Nicole running towards me.  On a whim I decided to pull over and have a little jog out with them, seeing as I was already in athletic gear and had some time to kill.

I ran along The Street with them and then towards the Yew Tree and along to the bridleway at Healey Nab.

Part way along the bridleway, there is a public footpath sign on the right which goes into a field. I've never been along this path before, but believed it led out to the bend near Watermans Cottage where all the steps are so I decided to give it a go and I left John and the girls there as they continued on to White Coppice.

It was lovely to have their company for the first few miles and I'm really glad I saw them rather than just driving home and slobbing out on the couch.

The 'new' track was lovely, if a little on the muddy and slippery side.  It was a nice little trail through woodland skirting Anglezarke Reservoir.  When I uploaded to Strava later on, the only one of my friends who has done the route before (or at least Strava'd it) was Adrian H so it doesn't look like it's a route many people do.

At the end of the trail, I followed the road past Watermans Cottage and then turned right after it, through the woods on the other side of Anglezarke.

I then followed the Anglezarke trail out onto the road and then ran along and up the 'cascade' towards Yarrow Reservoir.  From there, I just ran back down to the van on Horrobin Lane, had a quick stretch and drove home.

P.S. No foot pain!

Total distance - 6.1 miles

Pooped!

I went out for a plod at lunchtime today.  My aim was to just run along to the top barn and back.

To say it was an easy plod, it felt like a lot of hard work.  My legs felt like they needed a good oiling to make them work properly, probably due to the pasting Dave gave me at the gym yesterday.

My feet felt fine though and when I got back home, I had an e-mail waiting for me from my healthcare people who are now making me an appointment with a consultant to discuss my options.  It's weird at the minute because there is so little pain left, but there is a dull ache and a feeling that all isn't well but I'm in a kind of limbo land of not knowing what to do about it.  Hopefully this consultant will have dealt with MTP synovitis before and know what he/she's doing.  I really hope so because so far I feel like I haven't had any helpful advice from anyone.

Total distance - 4.15 miles 

Fitness Assessment # 3

As you probably know, I have been doing some strength and conditioning training for the past few months.  I started with a fitness assessment, then did six weeks of training followed by a second fitness assessment where I had improved considerably.  I was then set a further six week programme and, at the end of that, we decided not to do a further assessment because my progress had been so good the last time.  I therefore started my next six week programme and that ended on Saturday.

I had an appointment at Sportesse this morning for what I thought was the first session of my new six week programme but, when I got there, I found that I was having another fitness assessment.  Oh no!  Ah well, I'm just glad that I didn't have time to worry about it beforehand.

I went through all the tests again and had improved again on almost everything.  My squat was now as good as it was possible to get as I could get all the way down.  On my first assessment, I only got to a 90 degree angle. My stride had also increased again and I was able to do more press ups and plank for longer.  There were other tests too which I had improved on and I must remember to ask Dave for a copy so that I can post my results on here.

The only tests I was worse on were:

- I didn't manage to stand on one leg with my eyes closed for as long.

- My sit to stand wasn't as good.  I managed to get to the bottom step but didn't manage to get up whilst holding weights (last time, on my right foot I got up whilst holding a stone in weight).  I think the reason for this though is that my quads have been really tight recently from the mountain biking.

- My VO2 max test on the rowing machine wasn't as good.  This isn't much of a problem though as my cardio work has decreased more and more the past few months since stopping running so I can't expect great results here.  I also hadn't really eaten this morning as my house was devoid of food so I probably didn't have enough energy for a VO2 max test.

All in all though, it was really positive and I'm now looking forward to starting my next six week programme.

Bring it on!

Improving on the MTB

Duncan and I went out on the bikes this morning but I made sure he didn't take me on any silly routes this time and that we stayed relatively gentle so that I could practice my new found skills.

We rode along to the school then to Liverpool Castle and then followed the reservoir along to the prep school.  From there, we rode to the bowling club and turned down the track towards Yarrow Reservoir.

We then continued on into Lead Mines Clough and I had to face that big climb up towards Jepsons Gate.  I did better this time than I had last time (last time I accidentally changed into a harder gear rather than an easier one and ended up stopping dead and not being able to get moving again) but I still didn't quite make it to the gate.  I was less than ten metres away from it though so was really mad at myself for not making it.  If at first you don't succeed, try try try again! 

On the other side of the gate, it is still quite a climb but, legs now incredibly tired, I managed to make it to the top of that one.

We came out at Jepsons Gate and rode down the road to Watermans Cottage.  We then headed into White Coppice and, just before arriving at the cricket club, bumped into Adrian H and Echo out for a run so we stopped for a natter before continuing on our way through the cricket club and up the road.  At the top of the hill we turned left along the road and then right into the bridleway along Healey Nab.  I'm not ready yet to go onto the mountain bike single track trails there so we just continued along the bridleway coming out onto Back Lane.

We rode along to the Yew Tree and then up the 'cascade' back towards Yarrow.  It was tough climbing the cascade but I managed it OK.

We then rode back to the bowling club and along past the side of the prep school, turning left after it and heading up to the road.  We crossed the road and then went up the track onto the path which comes out behind the high school and then we just went home via dog poo alley.

Whilst I was much faster on the descents today, due to my increase in confidence, I was pretty tired and finding the climbs particularly difficult.  They felt harder than they had done when I did practically the same route a few weeks ago.  I have been doing a lot in the past few days though, including my longest run in five months yesterday so I'm not going to beat myself up about it.  I'm just going to concentrate on the positives - I wasn't squeezing my brakes for dear life all the time and felt much more in control on the descents.

Total distance 12.3 miles 

Good Morning Winter Hill, It's Been a While

The pain in my feet has largely gone away now, however I do get occasional dull aches and my second to on my right foot is still numb and tingling.  Even though there is very little pain, I'm aware that there is still a problem.  It's quite difficult to describe but the best I can do is to say that they don't feel very 'well oiled'.

Still, I've reached a point where I just want to get back out running again so have decided to just go out a couple of times a week for short distances relatively slowly.

Usually on a Saturday morning I go to the gym to do my strength and conditioning workout but I did that yesterday and so decided that I'd meet the WFDBWGUA lot this morning and get back up onto the hill.

At the UTUP were EtU and TLoB.  We set off and headed towards the top barn then up through the terraced gardens out onto George's Lane.  We had walked the majority of this but I decided that I wanted to keep the promise I made to myself a few years back of never walking up the Pike.

On the way up, we bumped into Dave J and Charlie-dog who were out for a morning jaunt.  A short natter later and we carried on up to the Pike and I'm pleased to say that I did make it all the way up and my toes didn't seem to give me any grief (I usually feel the pain most when running uphill on my toes).

I decided to rein myself in on the descent and take it nice and slowly mostly because my Hoka trail shoes have absolutely appalling grip on them.  I wonder whether they'll ever make a fell shoe?

At the bottom of the Pike, we ran into Lindsey B and Andy S.  Lindsey was saying she was knackered but I think her achievement in the past few months is absolutely massive.  That girl really is a machine!

After a chat, we carried on along to the kennels then up to Two Lads.  From there, we headed over to the mast, but took the road route rather than the wet route.  Even though I ran it all, it was tough going and my legs felt like lead.

We carried on round to the trig point (I didn't go up to the trig with the others though as I didn't fancy sliding around in my useless shoes and so stayed on the tarmac).

We then ran down the diagonal and I don't think I have ever descended it so slowly.  Again, partially due to my shoes - not only have they got very poor grip but they aren't overly tight around my ankle and so I found my foot slipping around in them - but also because, if I'm completely and utterly honest, I'm scared!  I'm scared of overdoing it and hurting my foot again.  The pain I felt on that day out with John when my foot problems came to a head is not something I ever want to repeat.  It's the most painful thing that's ever happened to me.

At the bottom of the diagonal, I decided to head back as I didn't want to do too much too soon and so I left the others to carry on along towards Hordern Stoops.  I ran along a bit and then hopped over the stile and went down through the plantation to the bridge near Dangerous Corner.  I then carried on to the pigeon tower car park, along to the top barn and then back down to the bottom barn.

I really enjoyed myself this morning and it was great to be back out and with good company.  Thanks for the company guys!

As I'm sat typing this, my big toe on my left foot is throbbing a little but, other than that, I haven't had any problems during or since running.  Fingers crossed...

Total distance - 6.5 miles

Secondary to Primary

Having struggled to fit in any exercise lately due to work, I was determined to do something today, even if just a short run... which is exactly what I did.

I ran from home for the first time in five months and headed down to Rivington & Blackrod School. I then ran along to Liverpool Castle and followed the reservoir towards Go Ape.  I realised that I was feeling really good and running well, although as in previous posts, I probably shouldn't be going well at the minute and should just be plodding during my recovery.  Ah well, I knew I wasn't going very far so what's the worst that can happen.

I finished my run by the prep school where Duncan was walking Ruby and gave me a lift back home.

On uploading my Strava later on, I found that I actually had my second fastest (out of 27) time on the segment 'secondary to primary'.  Oops, probably went faster than I should have done!

Total distance - 2.2 miles

MTB Core Skills Day

As you might be aware, I have recently bought myself a brand new shiny mountain bike, in a bid to get into a different sport which doesn’t involve the use of my decrepit feet as much as running.

I’m pretty useless at it though and am absolutely terrified when the terrain gets a bit rocky, especially when it’s also going downhill. 

Duncan suggested that I book myself onto a skills day so that I can try to build up some confidence and I decided to do a one to one day rather than a group day as I thought I’d get more out of it and, as always, I’m self-conscious so wanted as few people as possible observing my patheticness.

I booked a course in Otley run by Iain Johnson at MTB Cycle Yorkshire.  I decided against doing a local course for the above mentioned reason – my self-consciousness.  I can just imagine being at a crucial moment and then Josie & Co come running around the corner with Josie giggling away at me and stopping to watch. 

Duncan decided that he also wanted a skills day, but a more advanced one than mine so he booked himself one on the Sunday and we decided to make a weekend camping of it. 

We travelled to Otley on Friday evening in the van and drove to a campsite not far from Chevin Forest, where I was meeting Iain the next day for my course. 

We met Iain at the Cheerful Chilli Café and had a good natter before Iain and I left Duncan and Ruby and headed out into the forest to start the course. 

Firstly, I learned the ‘attack position’.  Duncan had already taught me this but had taught me the downhill position where you put your weight right back, whereas Iain showed me the general attack position.  He also told me to keep my heels down and it made quite a lot of difference when I was using the brakes as I felt much more in control. 

After that, he taught me how to keep the bike moving without pedalling but I can’t really explain this in writing.  You use this same technique to pull up the front wheel to go over obstacles, without having to pull with your arms and thus expend more energy than necessary. 

We then went through correct use of gears and I wasn’t too bad at this going into the granny ring at a good time, keeping the chain in a straight line, and not leaving it too late so the chain was at an angle. 

We then learned how to best to take corners and where to control the speed, etc. 

The last thing we went through before lunch was the aforementioned lifting of the front wheel.  I was pretty damn terrible at this and I think the most I got it off the floor was an inch, if that!  Iain but a branch (a very thin one) along the ground for me to try to jump the front wheel over but I kept jumping too early and not high enough.  I think I might have got over it once but I probably did still touch it with the front wheel. 

I forgot to mention earlier that Iain had five go-pros which he was using to film everything and he is going to create a DVD for me so that I can see where I was going wrong/right.   Should be interesting viewing!

We then went for lunch back at the café where Duncan and Ruby joined us as they had been sitting chilling out in the van. 

After lunch we headed back into the forest and moved onto some single track with tree roots.  Iain told me to stand up over the roots and not pedal as they would be slippery.  By the time I got to them (all of 30 seconds later) I had completely forgotten this and sat down pedalling over them.  Iain was quite surprised that I had managed to get over them so easily though when I had completely ignored my advice.  I think it was beginners luck.  He then made me go back over them a few times, picking out my line and standing up doing it properly.  After a few attempts I got the hang of it so we then moved on to something a bit trickier in that it was a hill with tree roots on it.  It wasn’t a terribly steep hill but some of the tree roots stuck out a lot and there were also a couple of protruding tree stumps to avoid riding into.  I was quite good at doing it uphill and managed fine but when it came to riding down it I was a nervous wreck.  Every time I got to a particularly protrusive root, I bottled out and slammed on my brakes. 

The forest was particularly busy today as, despite it being wet earlier on,  the weather was now really nice so every man and his dog (lots of dogs to be precise) were out.  The thing is, people kept stopping to watch me!  Nightmare!

Eventually, after about ten attempts, I finally managed to man up and get the job done.  It’s funny because once you actually do it, you then wonder what all the fuss was about. 

The final part of the day was learning drop offs. 

I had to ride down a slight hill and then drop down a step which looked to be about a foot high.  Only about a metre or so after this drop there was another one of a similar height and I had to go down this too.  When I looked at it I was terrified!  Iain said that I should roll down the hill, get into attack position and then when I was coming up to the first step I should stand tall to see over to where I was going and I should then put my weight back and roll down it, then do the same for the next one. 

I actually managed to do it no problem.  I couldn’t believe it as it looked so frightening I thought I’d end up bottling it at the last minute but I didn’t. 

I was so pleased with myself by the end and my confidence has definitely grown.  I just need to keep it up now so I don’t lose confidence again.  I also need to pay no attention to Duncan when he tries to make me go along stupid routes that no beginner should do, like descending from Two Lads!  

Lunchtime Canal Run

I’ve been so busy at work since I came back from holiday that I’ve been struggling to fit any exercise in so today I made a concerted effort to get out for a short run at lunch along the canal.

The problem with road/canal running is that I go too fast at the start.  I shouldn’t be running fast at all at the minute because I’m recovering from injury so should be taking it easy but I just can’t help it.  I try to slow down but before I know it I’ve unconsciously sped up again.

The canal was closed a short way down so I had to come off and run through the streets which should have slowed me down but vanity made me keep going faster.  I can’t be seen to be plodding through the streets of Manchester!

Needless to say, when I turned around after 1.5 miles and headed back I was knackered. 

I think I just can’t get it into my head that I can’t do the things I was doing pre-injury at the minute and need to build back up again.  Pre-injury, three miles was absolutely nothing so to get tired from it now is pretty rubbish but I don’t want to end up doing too much too soon and making my injury even worse.  It hasn’t completely resolved yet so I really do need to chill out and take it easy!

Total distance – 3 miles 

'The Street'

There’s nothing worse than your first day back at work after a holiday although, luckily for me, I managed to wangle working from home today so that I could trawl through the multitude of e-mails I have been sent in my absence, most of which just announce the arrival of the sandwich lady or enquire after a missing mug. 

After a couple of weeks off, I headed along to Sportess PT in Chorley for an overdue strength and conditioning workout, although I did make up my own workouts a few days on holiday around the pool, using 2.5 litre bottles of water as hand weights.

On my way to the gym, I stopped on Horrobin Lane and decided to go for a little run along The Street.  I had hoped to do a short loop, going up the ‘cascade’ and then down to the bowling club but it was still dark and I had no head torch so decided to stay on the smooth surface of The Street and just do an out and back. 

I felt like I was running quite fast, even though I was comfortable and was rather pleased with myself until I finished and saw that I had only been nine minute miling!  No wonder I felt comfortable!

Total distance – 2 miles

Gozo

My blog seems to have dwindled off of late, due to the fact that I haven’t been running. 

I have just returned from a couple of weeks on the Island of Gozo (part of the Maltese islands), where I did have a few runs out on the cliffs here and there, purely in a bid to burn off some of the excessive calories I have been eating.

My feet still aren’t 100% and I’m in the process of getting more specialist treatment on them but am having to wait for what feels like an age for my healthcare providers to get back to me. 

In the meantime, I’m doing a bit of running here and there, a bit of mountain biking and spinning and, of course,  my strength and conditioning workouts. 

Anyway, back to Gozo…

As previously mentioned I went out a few times onto the cliffs behind our villa.  I was going out first thing in the morning before it got too hot and the scenery was beautiful as the sun was just coming up. 

One day I ran around 3.5 miles into a little town called Xlendi and Duncan rode there (after giving me a head start).  We met up and had breakfast in one of the restaurants and then I ran and he rode back again.  The return leg was just over 2.5 miles as there was a shortcut so I did just over 6 miles altogether which I was quite pleased with given my lack of running during the previous four months.

My total holiday distance was about 20 miles.  It’s funny that I’m pleased with doing that in two weeks when before my injury I was doing that distance in just one morning. 

Gozo itself is lovely and anyone who has been to Malta before but not enjoyed it (it seems to be a bit marmite) shouldn’t dismiss Gozo as it’s completely different.  It’s far more laid back and quiet.  It’s not one for the party animals though, thank goodness! 

Back on the Hill, Albeit by Pedal Power

I took my new bike out for its first spin today with Duncan.

We rode up from our house onto Brinks Row, then along onto Old Rake, coming out on George’s Lane.  We then rode along Matchmoor Lane and turned into Walker Fold. 

At one point, going up a steep hill, I hit a rock and came off the bike a little and Duncan then had to try to teach me how to do a steep hill start as I find it really difficult to get going again when I stop on a steep hill.  I eventually managed it, but only because Duncan was holding the bike steady for me.  I’ll have to keep practicing that one.

Shortly afterwards, Duncan was trying to teach me the ‘attack position’.  I know full well what I’m supposed to do when I’m going down a rocky descent but knowing it and actually doing it are two very different things.  When you have rocks hurtling towards you, it’s terrifying even though you know it’s better to go faster than slower. 

We rode out onto the mast road then rode up it a little, before going up onto Two Lads.  Duncan said I could go back down by the mast road if I wanted to and he’d meet me at the bottom but I decided that if I didn’t keep trying, I’d never get used to descending so I followed him down towards the tanks.  I did have to keep getting off the bike and pushing it though because it was just too much for me.  I felt like such a fool but I suppose everyone has to start somewhere. 

I did eventually overtake Duncan on the descent but this is only because his chain snapped and he was busy fixing it. 

The descent along the path at the side of Wilderswood was pretty terrifying too and again I found myself getting off and pushing the bike down.

I really enjoyed my first time of ‘proper’ mountain biking but I have a LOT to learn.  I can’t wait for my skills day in October.

The elation from my ride did get slightly marred later on in the day after a comment put on Facebook about it.  I haven’t replied to the comment because I know how things like this can escalate into arguments and I really don’t want that to happen.  The thing is, tone can’t be judged on social media and I didn’t want my response to be read in an argumentative way and then end up with tirades of other responses from both my fell running friends and my mountain biking friends all arguing with each other. 

I’m going to try to set out here my views on this and I hope it can be read in a neutral tone.

The comment mentioned that there is no bridleway up on Two Lads.  I fully take on board this point and accept that I shouldn’t really have been there, however…

If the point related to the legalities of this, then aren’t a lot of fell runners (not all, I hasten to add) guilty of this themselves when they routinely trespass on land?  As an example of this, there is no foot path through the plantation across from the bottom of the diagonal towards dangerous corner, yet the barbed wire fences here are regularly scaled and the land run through.  I don't see how I can be criticised for riding on a footpath when runners are running where there is no public right of way at all. 

If the point related to erosion of the land then, again, I’m willing to accept that mountain biking can contribute to this but fell runners themselves are not guilt free.  A few months ago I was running with a group who had been complaining about the damage caused by mountain bikers, but then half an hour later, when running from Hordern Stoops towards Spitlers, the same fell runners choose not to run on the newly laid path/flagging and instead to run along side this, themselves causing erosion to the land which could have been avoided.

My point is that none of us are entirely guilt free when it comes to these matters so can’t we all just enjoy the countryside in our own way (except the 4x4s and motorbikes, they can just bugger off!)?

My only problem with mountain bikers is when they are hurtling down hills with complete disregard to other path users, causing them to have to leap out of their way but I would never do something like that (I couldn’t if I tried to be honest – hurtling is definitely not a word used to describe my descents!).  Duncan would never do something like that in fact, he’s very respectful to walkers/runners as they, and I quote, “are the ones who will pick me up when I fall off”. 

Also, in my personal defence of coming off two lads, I spent most of my time pushing the bike rather than riding it so that’s allowed J. 

Total distance – 5.6 miles

MTB Ride – the Spinning is Paying off!

This morning I fancied going out on a bike ride because I really want to get into off-road riding.  I used to ride a lot as a kid and teenager but haven’t done much at all in the past twenty years.  In the past ten years, I think I may have ridden probably five times, three of which have been this year although they have all been very short and very easy – I rode a three mile blue graded (easy peasy) loop of a forest park in Scotland in May and I have also rode to the Jubilee race and back twice.  That’s it, hardly challenging. 

Truth be told, I’m a nervous wreck on a bike.  The slightest bit of rockiness and I’m hopping off and walking.  This is why I wanted to go out with Duncan, in the hope that he can build my confidence and show me how to do more technical riding.

We set off from home and went down dog poo alley, Duncan on his all singing all dancing full suspension Titus El Guapo and me on my incredibly retro Sunn Vertik with collapsed front suspension (and no rear suspension).

My first obstacle came when we started going down the path at the side of the llama field.  To a normal MTBer, this is absolutely nothing.  To me, it is terrifying!  It’s just so rocky.  I bottled out of dropping off the step and pressed my brakes a bit too harshly making the bike rear up at the back so the back wheel was in line with my head.  At least I managed to stay upright though. 

Onwards we went, dropping down to Liverpool Castle and then following the reservoir along past Go Ape and out to the prep school (yes, I know this isn’t all bridleway, blah blah blah).

We then turned in at the side of the bowling club and followed the track all the way out to the road.  When we were climbing the track, Duncan did comment that, whilst I was a crap MTBer, I was definitely fitter than him.  It’s funny because when I run up that hill, even though it isn’t steep, I find it quite hard but on the MTB I found it really easy.  I always thought that riding up hill was harder than running up hill because you have the weight of the bike to get up there as well as your own weight, but my legs didn’t feel any burn at all.  I think it must be all the altitude spin paying off. 

We rode into Lead Mines Clough and then climbed the steep hill on the left up towards Jepsons Gate.  This is where I had a complete gear change failure.  Up until now (apologies for the lack of technical speak now – I have no idea about bike gears) I had stayed in the middle ring and had just been going up and down on that, but this hill was much steeper and required me to go into the easy ring.  Unfortunately, I assume that the gears on each side of my handlebars worked the same, i.e. the big lever made it easier and the little lever made it harder but that wasn’t the case and so half way up the climb I made my gears harder not easier, forcing me to stop but then I couldn’t get going again and so had to push the rest of the way.  Ah well, you learn by your mistakes. 

Once at Jepsons Gate, we rode down the road towards Watermans Cottage.  Even though this was a flat road, I was still terrified because it was just so fast.  My hands were starting to get sore from gripping for dear life and constantly pressing the brakes.  Duncan left me for dust because I was being so pathetic.  There were the odd potholes as well which scared me but Duncan keeps telling me to just stand up and let the bike to the work.  I’m so scared of hitting something and going flying off over the handlebars. 

We carried on past Watermans Cottage and arrived at the end of the bridleway through Healey Nab.  We rode all the way along the bridleway, Duncan again leaving me for dust when it goes downhill. 

Coming out at the Yew Tree and turning left, we then had a choice of going the easy way down The Street, or carrying on and going up ‘the cascade’ towards Yarrow Reservoir.  I decided to take the latter route as I decided that I really do need some practice so there’s no point in wimping out and making life easier. 

I actually did really well going up the cascade and climbed with relative ease.  I was pretty proud of myself for that.  When we started to go down the hill back towards the bowling club though, I again started to get scared of falling off.  At this point, Duncan insisted that we swapped bikes because he was concerned that my ‘bone shaker’ would put me off riding and did nothing for my confidence. 

His bike was absolutely brilliant in comparison.  For a start, the handlebars are much wider so I felt more in control and also it has full suspension where mine has only front suspension which is collapsed so is neither use nor ornament.  I also preferred the pedals on his bike.  The only thing I preferred mine for was that it seems better going uphill.  This will partly be due to the narrower tyres on mine and also the lack of all the suspension (I think, no idea really!).

We rode back towards the school but this time on the other side of the road, coming out behind the school.

Then it was time for the llama track again.  This time I was going up it but I still had to get off because it just looked too big a step for me to go up.  Duncan made me stop when I got past the rocky bit and told me that I had to practice going up and down it to gain some confidence.  He kept showing me how easy it was but the thought of doing it myself was making me want to cry. 

Eventually, I plucked up the guts and went down it and, like he said, it was really easy, although I don’t think I could do it at the kind of speed him and his mates do.  I also managed to get back up it just by riding into it like he said. 

I do feel like a need some knee pads though as I have a ridiculous fear of coming off and banging my bony knees.  Have you ever banged your knee because it REALLY hurts if you do it hard. 

It’s funny that my MTBing is In total contrast to my fell running.  In fell running, I hate going uphill but love going down hill but on the MTB it’s the other way round. 

Anyway, I’m going to buy myself a decent bike now but I want the best of both worlds.  I want a bike that’s got good suspension like Duncan’s but I want a bike that goes uphill better like mine.  Duncan has suggested I get one with 29” wheels (his has 26”) and that I just go for front suspension as to get a decent full suspension one is really expensive and it will probably be overkill for what I need. 

Total distance – 11.2 miles

Around the Block

I took Ruby out for our usual short walk this morning and I decided to run it as it's less than 1.5 miles so I thought I'd see how it went.

We ran down dog poo alley, coming out onto Green Lane.  We then turned right, up Green Lane, before turning off on the left and following the path up the side of Tigers Clough to the stables.  Going up the hill did feel a bit odd on my toes and I did run/walk this but as I was a bit wary of being up on my toes on the steeper bits.

We continued on past the stables towards Wilderswood then turned right down to Brownlow Road, before turning off along dog poo alley back home.

My feet feel pain free but I'm still very concerned about my numb second toe.  Remember when I did the Cumbria Way and said that it felt like I had a plaster around my toe, well it still feels like that, all this time later.  It's tingly and numb but this isn't the foot I had the MRI scan on so I'm not sure if this is something other than my synovitis.

Total distance - 1.3 miles

Overwhelming Urges!

It has been 12 weeks now since my injury really flared up in the Lakes and I haven't run since. 

However, on Sunday I was walking Ruby up to Two Lads and, on the way down, heading towards the water tanks, the urge to run overwhelmed me.  I love running downhill and, as I had Ruby off the lead, I decided to have a bit of a trot. 

It felt amazing! 

I really enjoyed myself but this came to an end for two reasons:

1.  I wasn't in running clothes and therefore not wearing a sports bra.  I really don't understand how women, especially women more endowed than me, can run without a sports bra.  It's awful and makes your boobs ache, or is that just me?

2.  I came across some sheep and so had to quickly get Ruby back on the lead and there was no way I was going to carry on running with her dragging on the bungee lead to get to the sheep.   

So the run didn't really last long, probably quarter of a mile at most.

My feet felt fine whilst running but, again, the throb was back afterwards.  I really can't put this injury into words, it's too difficult to describe.  The fact that there is very little pain now is frustrating because I feel like I can run but I'm still aware that there is a problem. My feet just don't feel right and will throb and 'clunk' from time to time.  I also have no feeling in my second toe of my right foot (this isn't the foot which was initially injured) and can stick a pin in it without feeling it. 

This morning I took Ruby on our short walk which is just a loop from home around the stables up the hill. It's about a mile and a half and I did have a little bit of a jog on and off throught this.  Again, it felt great but, again, I was still aware that something wasn't right.

Part of me thinks 'screw it, just go out and run' but the other part of me things 'am I going to end up making things even worse and causing more damage?'.

On speaking to a different physio socially, she said that she has come across MTP synovitis before and that, whilst it can sometimes be treated with physio, quite often a referral needs to be made to an orthopaedic surgeon who will do injections, which is something I have read about on the internet.  I'm just really frightened of going down that route because when I discussed this with another runner, he informed me that his other half had had injections into her foot and this had destroyed her fat pad, which has obviously hindered her running ever since.

Very frustrating.