This morning I drove out to Knowsley Road to head out for a steady run around Anglezarke on such a lovely morning.
I ran towards Anglezarke car park and then along the path following the edge of the reservoir and heading through Gorsyfield Woods (I didn't know this is what it was called but it came up as a segment on Strava).
I carried on through the farm fields and eventually came out at Waterman's Cottage. Deciding that if I continued along the reservoir I wouldn't get a long enough run in, I diverted a little and headed to White Coppice.
I went past all those scary sheep again but today, not having Ruby with me, they were completely different and just minded their own business whilst I passed, even though I got really close to their lambs.
I got to White Coppice and then headed back along the parallel path back to Waterman's Cottage and then up 'Higher House Lane Climb' (another segment on Strava).
I carried on along Heapey Fold Lane then out onto Back Lane. I then turned off on the left and headed along the (still muddy) path into the fields which come out onto Knowsley Road opposite The Street so from there I just headed back to the car.
It was a lovely run and I had set off with just an easy run in mind but, as I was feeling really energetic, I picked up the pace a little and pushed myself a bit more.
My hip pain is still ongoing but it doesn't actually hurt when I run so it's hard to know whether I'm overdoing it or not. I actually found something on the internet yesterday which perfectly described the pain I have in both my hip and groin (the groin thing only hurts when I cough, sneeze or do crunches!) and said that the hip will feel fine on running but then a few hours later it will seize up on activities like getting out of a car. This happens to me all the time, even though I stretch and ice after running. It's definitely getting better though so I just need to keep up with the strengthening exercises Maria gave me.
Total distance - 5.9 miles
Monday, 5 May 2014
Sunday, 4 May 2014
Turns out I'm not as bad a runner as I thought
Whilst out with the Swifts yesterday, John was telling me about his stats on Run Britain for his age category so I decided to have a look at mine as I have never looked into it before. It actually made for very pleasing and extremely surprising reading:
I can't believe it! Am I missing something? How on earth am I in the top 11% of V35 women in the whole country? If this is correct and I'm not misreading it, then WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO! But if anyone would like to correct me and bring me back down to earth with a bump then I promise I won't cry.
Today's run was just a pretty leisurely one as I was still a bit stiff from my long run yesterday. Duncan dropped me off by the Prep School in Rivington and I ran up Sheephouse Lane and then onto the path which runs along side it. I then headed right towards the barn and went left just after it, heading towards pigeon tower car park. Before I got to the car park though, I continued on the path round to the right and then went through the kissing gate on the left which then climbs up onto the driveway. From there I ran up the driveway and zig-zagged my way up onto George's Lane at the Pigeon Tower. I wimped out of the Pike today and just carried on along George's Lane then headed home through Wilderswood.
Total distance - 3.9 miles
Week's total distance - 32.7 miles (woooo, back to over 30 miles again!)
- Overall, in the whole country (men and women) I rank 76908 out of 309422 - that is just inside the top 25%
- In just ladies I rank 16697 out of 125439 - that's in the top 14%
- In vet 35 ladies I rank 1865 out of 17110 - that's in the top 11%
I can't believe it! Am I missing something? How on earth am I in the top 11% of V35 women in the whole country? If this is correct and I'm not misreading it, then WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO! But if anyone would like to correct me and bring me back down to earth with a bump then I promise I won't cry.
Today's run was just a pretty leisurely one as I was still a bit stiff from my long run yesterday. Duncan dropped me off by the Prep School in Rivington and I ran up Sheephouse Lane and then onto the path which runs along side it. I then headed right towards the barn and went left just after it, heading towards pigeon tower car park. Before I got to the car park though, I continued on the path round to the right and then went through the kissing gate on the left which then climbs up onto the driveway. From there I ran up the driveway and zig-zagged my way up onto George's Lane at the Pigeon Tower. I wimped out of the Pike today and just carried on along George's Lane then headed home through Wilderswood.
Total distance - 3.9 miles
Week's total distance - 32.7 miles (woooo, back to over 30 miles again!)
Saturday, 3 May 2014
A Swift Run
Today I went down to the bottom barn for an 8.30 start with the WFDBWGUA crew. Both Ed and John Swift were out today, along with Kev Latham.
We set off towards top barn and then up through the terraced gardens to the bottom of the Pike and then up the Pike. John was on a mission at this point as he wanted to beat his recent times of getting from the car park to the Pike, which I'm pleased to say he managed.
From the Pike we ran down the Pike Race route onto George's Lane and then along to the dog hotel and up to Two Lads, although Kev went cross country from the Pike and met us at Two Lads. Kev then left us at this point and headed back down again, and we continued on past the quarries and to the Trespass Stone. From there we ran up past the shooting hut and all the way up to the mast road, where we then headed up to the trig point.
Now came the big challenge - a timed run down to the bridge before coming out onto Belmont Road. I had great fun at this point as running fast downhill is what I'm good at and what I enjoy the most about fell running. I did stumble a little at one point though which made me ease off a little (I'm fine running down hill until I start thinking too much and then I sometimes start to get a bit scared) but this didn't last and I soon got my nerve back and picked up the pace some more. Unfortunately, I went across a bridge and thought that this was the target bridge but it wasn't, although I probably only lost a few seconds. I eventually got to the actual bridge in a time of 5.57 with Ed close behind at 6.09 (sorry if this is slightly wrong Ed, I can't quite remember). John got down in sub 8 minutes and we then went along Belmont Road a little and the down through the plantation which takes you out near to dangerous corner. Instead of heading to dangerous corner though, we turned left and headed back for the barn, via Pigeon Tower car park.
We arrived back at the cars after 9.2 miles but I had been dropped off and so still had to get home but I wanted to get over 10 miles in so didn't mind. I ran along the side of the reservoir and back home via Rivington School.
I must say this is the most enjoyable run I've had in a long time. Everything about it was perfect, the company, the course, the weather, the conversation. I really didn't want it to end and could have stayed out all day. I've been a bit down on my running lately but this has really picked me back up.
Thanks Swift boys!
Total distance - 11 miles.
We set off towards top barn and then up through the terraced gardens to the bottom of the Pike and then up the Pike. John was on a mission at this point as he wanted to beat his recent times of getting from the car park to the Pike, which I'm pleased to say he managed.
From the Pike we ran down the Pike Race route onto George's Lane and then along to the dog hotel and up to Two Lads, although Kev went cross country from the Pike and met us at Two Lads. Kev then left us at this point and headed back down again, and we continued on past the quarries and to the Trespass Stone. From there we ran up past the shooting hut and all the way up to the mast road, where we then headed up to the trig point.
Now came the big challenge - a timed run down to the bridge before coming out onto Belmont Road. I had great fun at this point as running fast downhill is what I'm good at and what I enjoy the most about fell running. I did stumble a little at one point though which made me ease off a little (I'm fine running down hill until I start thinking too much and then I sometimes start to get a bit scared) but this didn't last and I soon got my nerve back and picked up the pace some more. Unfortunately, I went across a bridge and thought that this was the target bridge but it wasn't, although I probably only lost a few seconds. I eventually got to the actual bridge in a time of 5.57 with Ed close behind at 6.09 (sorry if this is slightly wrong Ed, I can't quite remember). John got down in sub 8 minutes and we then went along Belmont Road a little and the down through the plantation which takes you out near to dangerous corner. Instead of heading to dangerous corner though, we turned left and headed back for the barn, via Pigeon Tower car park.
We arrived back at the cars after 9.2 miles but I had been dropped off and so still had to get home but I wanted to get over 10 miles in so didn't mind. I ran along the side of the reservoir and back home via Rivington School.
I must say this is the most enjoyable run I've had in a long time. Everything about it was perfect, the company, the course, the weather, the conversation. I really didn't want it to end and could have stayed out all day. I've been a bit down on my running lately but this has really picked me back up.
Thanks Swift boys!
Total distance - 11 miles.
Friday, 2 May 2014
Memory Like a Sieve
Whilst I'm out running, all sorts of ponderings go through my mind and I always think 'Oooo, I'll mention this in my blog later on' but once I've got home, done my stretches, physio exercises, any other exercises, had a shower, cooked tea, eaten tea, etc, etc, I have forgotten it all. I have just sat here for ten minutes trying to remember what it was I thought about earlier that I wanted to mention but it's no use, it's gone. It will probably come back to me on tomorrow morning's run but then I'll forget about it again by the time I come to write my blog.
Tonight was just an easy run around Rivington with Ruby. We ran down from home to Rivington School, then along to the Prep School following the reservoir. My aim was to try to beat my 'secondary to primary' Strava segment but, unfortunately, it was too hot for Ruby and she made me stop so she could have a drink and a paddle in the reservoir. Ah well, I'll just have to try again on a day when I'm on my own.
Once we got to the Prep School, we just turned round and ran back home again the same way.
Total distance... erm, I can't remember! Oh yes, it was 4.2 miles.
Tonight was just an easy run around Rivington with Ruby. We ran down from home to Rivington School, then along to the Prep School following the reservoir. My aim was to try to beat my 'secondary to primary' Strava segment but, unfortunately, it was too hot for Ruby and she made me stop so she could have a drink and a paddle in the reservoir. Ah well, I'll just have to try again on a day when I'm on my own.
Once we got to the Prep School, we just turned round and ran back home again the same way.
Total distance... erm, I can't remember! Oh yes, it was 4.2 miles.
Thursday, 1 May 2014
Welcome to Strava
I finally got around to signing up to Strava the other day and I'm pretty impressed with it. I already have a CR which was unexpected but very pleasing.
The only problem I have with it, is that it makes me look even slower than I actually am, because I can't explain on it that the fact it took me 15 minutes to run a mile is because Ruby spent half that time sniffing, weeing, pooing, trying to attack other dogs, etc.
Turning to tonight's run, I was due to go to the club's hill session but, as usual, Duncan scuppered my plans by announcing that we had to go to Southport to pick up our 'new' car - another Peugeot 106! This time in silver and with six more horses than the last one to power it. I'm not sure I'll be able to cope with the sheer speed of the 1.5 diesel beast!
I decided to do something of a hill session anyway with Ruby so we set off down towards Rivvy School. You might sense a theme here in that I always seem to head off in that direction. The reason for this is that I know there is a bin that way for Ruby's little presents and there are absolutely none in the other direction - and the council wonder why people don't bother to pick it up!
Once we got to Rivvy School we headed up and took the middle path - the bumpy one which ascends up towards the terraced gardens. We then headed through the terraced gardens and down the driveway towards the pigeon tower car park, but turning right before we got there and heading up the steep hill which brings you out at the side of the Pigeon Tower. From there we then ran down George's Lane to pigeon tower car park and then back up the driveway and again up the steep path to the side of the Pigeon Tower. We then ran along to the Pike, going up the stepped side. The wind was ridiculous up there, really strong! We started to head down the curly route but then headed back towards the steps, turning off before them and heading up the steep bit to the left of the steps back to the Pike. I had let Ruby off the lead by now because I already knew that there was nobody up there and nobody on their way up there so no other dogs for her to attack. As she was off the lead I decided to treat myself to a run down the grassy bit, which I don't often do these days as Ruby tends to drag me down. I didn't go as fast as I usually do though, despite the wind pushing me down, because Ruby was running behind me and because I couldn't see her I was paranoid that she would end up running through my legs and trip me up, as she tends to do now and then. Also, the wind pushing me down was more of a hindrance than a help as it made me feel a bit out of control so I eased off a little.
From the bottom of the Pike we then headed along George's Lane and down Old Rake and back home.
Whilst running tonight, I kept trying to speed up so that I could get home and see if I had any more CR's so Strava really is a good motivational tool.
I have just uploaded my entire 2014 Garmin history to Strava and am surprised to see how many CRs I have, some of them pretty decent. My favourite I have seen so far (haven't looked through them all yet) is 'Belmont Road Climb', where I am currently fastest female and overall am 15th out of 64. Looking back at my blog for the date I achieved this, I see that I was just on an easy run with Ruby so I did this without even trying which is why it's my favourite one at the minute. It's really motivating.
Total distance - 5.15 miles
The only problem I have with it, is that it makes me look even slower than I actually am, because I can't explain on it that the fact it took me 15 minutes to run a mile is because Ruby spent half that time sniffing, weeing, pooing, trying to attack other dogs, etc.
Turning to tonight's run, I was due to go to the club's hill session but, as usual, Duncan scuppered my plans by announcing that we had to go to Southport to pick up our 'new' car - another Peugeot 106! This time in silver and with six more horses than the last one to power it. I'm not sure I'll be able to cope with the sheer speed of the 1.5 diesel beast!
I decided to do something of a hill session anyway with Ruby so we set off down towards Rivvy School. You might sense a theme here in that I always seem to head off in that direction. The reason for this is that I know there is a bin that way for Ruby's little presents and there are absolutely none in the other direction - and the council wonder why people don't bother to pick it up!
Once we got to Rivvy School we headed up and took the middle path - the bumpy one which ascends up towards the terraced gardens. We then headed through the terraced gardens and down the driveway towards the pigeon tower car park, but turning right before we got there and heading up the steep hill which brings you out at the side of the Pigeon Tower. From there we then ran down George's Lane to pigeon tower car park and then back up the driveway and again up the steep path to the side of the Pigeon Tower. We then ran along to the Pike, going up the stepped side. The wind was ridiculous up there, really strong! We started to head down the curly route but then headed back towards the steps, turning off before them and heading up the steep bit to the left of the steps back to the Pike. I had let Ruby off the lead by now because I already knew that there was nobody up there and nobody on their way up there so no other dogs for her to attack. As she was off the lead I decided to treat myself to a run down the grassy bit, which I don't often do these days as Ruby tends to drag me down. I didn't go as fast as I usually do though, despite the wind pushing me down, because Ruby was running behind me and because I couldn't see her I was paranoid that she would end up running through my legs and trip me up, as she tends to do now and then. Also, the wind pushing me down was more of a hindrance than a help as it made me feel a bit out of control so I eased off a little.
From the bottom of the Pike we then headed along George's Lane and down Old Rake and back home.
Whilst running tonight, I kept trying to speed up so that I could get home and see if I had any more CR's so Strava really is a good motivational tool.
I have just uploaded my entire 2014 Garmin history to Strava and am surprised to see how many CRs I have, some of them pretty decent. My favourite I have seen so far (haven't looked through them all yet) is 'Belmont Road Climb', where I am currently fastest female and overall am 15th out of 64. Looking back at my blog for the date I achieved this, I see that I was just on an easy run with Ruby so I did this without even trying which is why it's my favourite one at the minute. It's really motivating.
Total distance - 5.15 miles
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Short Tempo Round Rivvy
Due to a physio appointment at 8.45 this morning I decided to do an early speed session beforehand. Duncan dropped me off at Rivington Green and my plan was to warm up for a mile and then do two miles at an 8 minute mile pace with the rest of the run a warm down.
I set off to the bowling club and used the road by the side of Yarrow Reservoir as my warm up. I turned left down the hill onto Knowsley Road when my watch beeped for a mile so I picked up the pace and turned down The Street. I have to say, it was tough! I think it was just too early for me and I hadn't eaten (I don't function well without food first thing in a morning) so I was really struggling but I kept it up although I made a decision to alter the session slightly and have a half mile recovery jog at the end of my first speed mile before doing the second mile. I finally reached the end of the first mile and slowed it down as I ran along Horrobin Lane. It was a lovely morning, really sunny and full of bird song.
I turned up the side of the Prep School and down towards Rivington Reservoir. A short while later my watch got to 2.5 miles so I started my second mile of speed. Again it was quite a struggle but I muddled on however had to stop at one point to adjust my shoe laces which I was nearly tripping over. It was such a relief to get to the end of that mile and begin my warm down home. I was really exhausted and wasn't even running that fast really. I only managed 8.20 for the first mile and 8.49(!) for the second, which was pretty disappointing.
Memo to self - eat something before you go for a run in future!
On my way back up dog poo alley I came across an amazing photo opportunity but, unfortunately, didn't have a camera with me. There was a little squirrel sitting in a tree, holding a deep pink rose in it's paws and burying it's head into the center of it now and then, lovely.
Total distance - 4.25 miles
I set off to the bowling club and used the road by the side of Yarrow Reservoir as my warm up. I turned left down the hill onto Knowsley Road when my watch beeped for a mile so I picked up the pace and turned down The Street. I have to say, it was tough! I think it was just too early for me and I hadn't eaten (I don't function well without food first thing in a morning) so I was really struggling but I kept it up although I made a decision to alter the session slightly and have a half mile recovery jog at the end of my first speed mile before doing the second mile. I finally reached the end of the first mile and slowed it down as I ran along Horrobin Lane. It was a lovely morning, really sunny and full of bird song.
I turned up the side of the Prep School and down towards Rivington Reservoir. A short while later my watch got to 2.5 miles so I started my second mile of speed. Again it was quite a struggle but I muddled on however had to stop at one point to adjust my shoe laces which I was nearly tripping over. It was such a relief to get to the end of that mile and begin my warm down home. I was really exhausted and wasn't even running that fast really. I only managed 8.20 for the first mile and 8.49(!) for the second, which was pretty disappointing.
Memo to self - eat something before you go for a run in future!
On my way back up dog poo alley I came across an amazing photo opportunity but, unfortunately, didn't have a camera with me. There was a little squirrel sitting in a tree, holding a deep pink rose in it's paws and burying it's head into the center of it now and then, lovely.
Total distance - 4.25 miles
Monday, 28 April 2014
Weighty Issues
I’ve noticed lately that my weight fluctuates ridiculously from day to day. For example, I weighed myself yesterday morning and was 8st 10.6 and I weighed myself this morning at exactly the same time and I was 8st 13.0. That’s a difference of nearly 2.5lbs! This happens all the time and I thought my scales might be a bit dodgy but when Duncan uses them his weight doesn’t fluctuate like this. I always listen to people on diets talk about how they 'lost a pound this week' but I wonder how they know because I lose and gain pounds from day to day. I really am a freak of nature.
Anyway, onto today’s run…
Just an easy quick run tonight with Ruby. We went down towards the llamas but as we got half way past, Ruby did her business which I dutifully picked up but I knew that there was no bin going forward, only a bin going backwards so we turned around and headed for the bin and, from there, I decided to change my route and go up Green Lane a bit and then turn off up the hill and down into Tiger's Clough. We then came out onto the concrete road and headed back down towards the school (I didn't want to go up because that would involve running through a field of sheep and we all know what happened last time I did that with Ruby). We then headed along in the direction of top barn but turned right before we got to it and went up the hill, through the terraced gardens, and out onto George's Lane.
We ran along George's Lane and then home via the edge of Wilderswood.
Total distance - 4.15 miles
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