Diggers and Bras

We set off today with only one goal in mind – hills! We’ve been avoiding them for most of this week so it was time to get back up there and so off we went from home straight up to 2 Lads. Unusually, I was feeling really good at this point. I say unusually because most times when I go straight up from home I’m totally knackered before I even hit George’s Lane. I made the decision that if I still felt good once I got up the Pike I’d make this my long run which I would usually do on a Saturday. It turns out I was feeling good on top of the Pike, so much so that when I ran down it I decided to go back up again.

There was a Land Rover parked on the road up to the Pike at the gate to the path to the mast and there was a sign up saying ‘danger plant machinery’. In the distance, on the way to the mast, was a digger. No idea what UU are up to now but I wouldn’t be surprised if they ban us from running over there too.

We dropped down onto Georges Lane, to the Pigeon Tower, and then continued along Belmont Road. At the far side of Belmont Road, before coming out onto Rivington Road, I passed through the gate where I found a bra hanging from the fence! Not really something one just loses when out and about in the country like a glove or hat.

We then ran along Rivington Road a bit towards Dangerous Corner, but then turned off towards what I only know as being called ‘Old Rachael’. The path we followed leads through farmland and eventually comes out into Lead Mines Clough. From here we ran up to Bomber Memorial then back down again, through Leads Mines Clough and out towards Yarrow Reservoir. We then ran along the side of Yarrow back towards Rivington, to the top barn and then home.

Whilst running through the farmland before Lead Mines Clough I started to get a bit anxious as many times when I’ve run this way there has been a herd of cows. I’ve never been bothered about cows before but recently people keep telling me stories about cow tramplings and that these are sometimes triggered by dogs. I haven’t run amongst cows with Ruby before and I got to thinking – how fast do cows run? Could I outrun one? Luckily I didn’t need to find out as there were no cows, just a lot of sheep which Ruby wanted to chase but thankfully I kept her on the lead. You’d think after being yelled at that much and yanked back she would learn but alas, no!

Total distance – 11.1 miles