Week 16 - Getting Back on it?

After my weekend in the Lakes I had a couple of days of not doing a right lot, other than walking Ruby.


Wednesday, 18 April 

Knowing that it was going to be lovely and sunny this evening, I decided to go to the morning altitude spin class so that I could get outside in the evening sunshine.

The morning spin class is easier than the evening one though as there is more rest between the sets, it's still a good workout though, I just don't almost die in it like I do in the evening one.

Tonight was Leo's Duathlon which is a low key Lostock Running Club event.  Aa with last year, Josie was borrowing my bike so I rode a mile up the hill to meet her.  The problem is, once I got there, I didn't actually want to stop and just wanted to go for a nice bike ride in the sunshine.  Ah well, there's always another day.

Whilst the duathlon was taking place, I had a little run up the stream climb to the water tanks and across to the mast road, which is where the transition from bike to run takes place.  After that, I ran back down again with a competitor who wasn't sure where she was going.

The first home was Julian, but he's a Horwich RMI athlete and so not eligible for prizes as they are awarded to Lostock athletes only.  First lady home was Josie and obviously I took credit for having the winning bike.  I think Josie has the bug now as she really enjoyed riding my bike and wants to get one of her own.

After the race, I rode back down with Julian and Sally.

Quite an epic day really as I also took Ruby on a three mile walk before going up to the Duathlon.

Total spin bike distance - 21km
Total walking distance - 3 miles 
Total MTB distance - approx. 2 miles
Total running distance - approx. 1 mile



Thursday, 19 April 

Tonight I just went for a longish walk with Ruby, again in the sunshine.  I can't believe this weather - I was wearing gloves less than a week ago and today I'm wearing suncream! 

Total walking distance -  4 miles (classed as longish when it's straight from work and with the length of time Ruby spends stopping and sniffing)

Friday, 20 April 

After being stuck in the office all day, I got off the train and, knowing I had running kit in the back of the van, decided to park in the car park by the school at Rivington and go for a short run before getting home to Ruby.  

I just ran along to the reservoir then alongside it all the way to the prep school.  I then headed to the bottom barn and crossed the road, going up through the woods which run parallel with the lane to the top barn.  I came out and then ran along the track which comes out at Rivington and Blackrod School and I then made my way home along dog poo alley.  

Once home, I went straight back out again with Ruby and looped my way back to the car park to retrieve the van. 

Total run distance - 3.3 miles

Total walk distance - 2 miles 

Saturday, 21 April

This morning Duncan and I drove to Chorley to get some shopping and go to Screwfix.  Duncan then drove me over to Brinscall and I got onto my mountain bike.  

I just wanted an easy ride as my ribs are still not right from my violent coughing attack over four weeks ago so I didn't want to do anything which involved too much core work and I knew the route back from Brinscall was just mildly undulating rather than steep hilly.  

I rode along the back alongside the goit and didn't realise that part of this is footpath and cyclists shouldn't be on it.  This is an example of where I think that rule is daft.  I'm wholly onboard with some footpaths being unsuitable for cyclists - ones which are soft underfoot and so easily eroded, however when it is a compact path like this one, I really don't see any issue as long as you respect other path users. 

I rode along to White Coppice then straight across on the track, coming out at Waterman's Cottage.  From there, I turned right along the road and then up onto the bridleway through Healey Nab.  I'm not a competent enough MTBer to tackle the purpose built MTB trails within Healey Nab so I just stayed on the bridleway, coming out onto Back Lane.  I was on the road for a bit now as I turned along Knowsley Lane and then headed up Parson's Bullough Road.  I turned off the road at the top of the hill and went along the path by the side of Yarrow Reservoir, coming out at the bowling club.  

I then made my way through Rivington and along to the school before heading home.

Later on today, I took Ruby out for a nice walk in the sunshine.  We headed up past Wylderswoode Stud but then turned off down Brinks Row, crossing over Factory Hill onto the footpath to Foxholes, then across to the adjacent footpath which goes through the memorial forest.   From there, we went up the side of the disused quarry onto George's Lane, then along a bit, climbing up at the Armstrongs Quarry.  I haven't been this way in ages so it was nice to have a change of scenery and I prefer this neck of the woods as it is much quieter than Rivington.  In fact, despite the beautiful warm sunny weather, I barely saw a soul until I was asked for directions back to Smithills by a couple of ladies near Burnt Edge.

I made my way though the Smithills Estate, coming out onto the mast road and then crossing over and heading for the water tanks.  I was looking over at the Pike where I could see tens of people on top, yet where I was and on top of Two Lads, there was nobody.

From the water tanks we just dropped down onto George's Lane and back home via Wilderswood.  

Total MTB distance - 8.75 miles
Total walking distance - 4.25 miles