A nice relaxing run with Ruby-Tuesday this morning.
We ran along to the barn, then out onto Sheephouse Lane and up to the Pigeon Tower car park. From there, we zigzagged up through the terraced gardens, coming out at the Pigeon Tower. We then ran up the Pike and I nearly broke my promise of always having to run but not because I was tired but because it was so icy and I wasn't wearing my Orocs today. I ended up climbing the grass to the left of the steps as that was far less icy and I did manage to run it all without walking. It would have been awful to break my promise on the last day of the year!
We took the curly route down from the Pike as Ruby was, once again, in one of her incredibly annoying moods where she kept crossing my path and tripping me up. Part way down, for some strange reason, my Garmin lost satellite reception. I kept running but it wouldn't clock up my mileage. I hope this isn't the start of yet another problem with this 610! Normally, I wouldn't care and would just continue running home but it's the last day of the month and I hadn't reached my 200k (125 mile) Strava challenge goal so I needed to make sure I reached it. I reset the watch and switched it off and back on and it then found a satellite so we continued on our way (hence two Strava links below) and I'm pleased to say that I achieved the 125 mile goal.
Well, that's it. Goodbye 2014 and hello 2015, hope all your running goals are reached this next year!
Happy running!
Total distance - 5.6 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/234813734
http://www.strava.com/activities/234813738/overview
Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Tuesday, 30 December 2014
Disappointing Tempo Session
The plan for this morning was a one mile warm up followed by three miles at race pace then a mile cool down.
It wasn't until I got home that I realised how badly I had done. I felt like I was zooming along on the three miles because I was feeling really sick and running as hard as I could, but looking at my Strava stats, it was REALLY slow! All three miles were over a nine minute mile pace! That's way off my race pace and I can't understand why as I didn't feel like I was running that slowly. I know it was on mildly undulating trails rather than roads but so are the vast majority of my races which I do much faster than this (around 7.50 minute mile pace)!
Perhaps it's because I hadn't eaten anything before I went out which I don't normally do as I usually feel too light headed to run on an empty stomach?
Who knows, all I know is that I'm not rite impressed. Can't even blame Ruby because I left her at home. Off to sulk now.
Total distance - 5.1 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/234423323/overview
+ cool down http://www.strava.com/activities/234428181
It wasn't until I got home that I realised how badly I had done. I felt like I was zooming along on the three miles because I was feeling really sick and running as hard as I could, but looking at my Strava stats, it was REALLY slow! All three miles were over a nine minute mile pace! That's way off my race pace and I can't understand why as I didn't feel like I was running that slowly. I know it was on mildly undulating trails rather than roads but so are the vast majority of my races which I do much faster than this (around 7.50 minute mile pace)!
Perhaps it's because I hadn't eaten anything before I went out which I don't normally do as I usually feel too light headed to run on an empty stomach?
Who knows, all I know is that I'm not rite impressed. Can't even blame Ruby because I left her at home. Off to sulk now.
Total distance - 5.1 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/234423323/overview
+ cool down http://www.strava.com/activities/234428181
Monday, 29 December 2014
Ice Ice Ruby
Just a quick run to the barn and back with Ruby this morning as I was due to go out for the day. It was still really icy underfoot, especially on the road sections so I wore my Orocs again. They were definitely worth the money as they make running on ice far less scary.
Ruby was being particularly annoying this morning and ran across my path twice, sending me flying. She also stopped dead in front of me at one point and I ended up kicking her in the head. Sorry Ruby, but you'd think you would have learned by now!
It was lovely running through Rivington just as it was getting light this morning. I like when it's really cold but also beautifully sunny and bright.
Total distance - 3.3 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/234073419
Sunday, 28 December 2014
The Hangover
I drank a bottle of white wine to myself last night. I now wish I hadn't. I don't even really like alcohol all that much so why I felt the need to drink it all I have no idea.
I didn't wake up until just after 9.00 and so unfortunately was too late to join Dave, Martyn and Clare for Dave's birthday run, although it's probably for the best as I could barely shuffle this morning, let alone run.
Duncan drove out to Lead Mines Clough to walk Ruby and so I decided to run home from there but with a couple of detours to take it up to five miles.
I ran through Lead Mines Clough, to the bomber memorial and then back out again. I then ran (if you can call it that, it was so slippery!) along the road before turning left to run along the side of Yarrow Reservoir.
For almost my entire run the sun was shining into my eyes and I could barely see anything. I spent a lot of time running along with my hand to my head trying to shield out the sun.
I ran along the new path at Dean Brook, up the steps and through the field and then went up Sheephouse Lane. I continued along the path at the side of Sheephouse Lane, past the turn off to the barn and then noticed a public footpath sign which went through a field I have never been through before so I decided to follow it for a change. The path took me through a few fields and over a stile and I then came out at a kissing gate not far from the Pigeon Tower car park. I then ran along the path at the back of the barn, all the way along to the school then home.
It was really hard work! The combination of too much wine, icy ground and sun in my eyes did not make for good running and I was utterly exhausted. Ah well, at least I got out there and it was a lovely morning - so much so that there was a group of people out walking near the barn, half of which were wearing onesies (?!)
Total distance - 5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/233699469/overview
I didn't wake up until just after 9.00 and so unfortunately was too late to join Dave, Martyn and Clare for Dave's birthday run, although it's probably for the best as I could barely shuffle this morning, let alone run.
Duncan drove out to Lead Mines Clough to walk Ruby and so I decided to run home from there but with a couple of detours to take it up to five miles.
I ran through Lead Mines Clough, to the bomber memorial and then back out again. I then ran (if you can call it that, it was so slippery!) along the road before turning left to run along the side of Yarrow Reservoir.
For almost my entire run the sun was shining into my eyes and I could barely see anything. I spent a lot of time running along with my hand to my head trying to shield out the sun.
I ran along the new path at Dean Brook, up the steps and through the field and then went up Sheephouse Lane. I continued along the path at the side of Sheephouse Lane, past the turn off to the barn and then noticed a public footpath sign which went through a field I have never been through before so I decided to follow it for a change. The path took me through a few fields and over a stile and I then came out at a kissing gate not far from the Pigeon Tower car park. I then ran along the path at the back of the barn, all the way along to the school then home.
It was really hard work! The combination of too much wine, icy ground and sun in my eyes did not make for good running and I was utterly exhausted. Ah well, at least I got out there and it was a lovely morning - so much so that there was a group of people out walking near the barn, half of which were wearing onesies (?!)
Total distance - 5 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/233699469/overview
Saturday, 27 December 2014
Snow Blind
Duncan dropped me off at the UP this morning at 8.31 and, as nobody was there, I set off straight away to avoid getting cold. It wasn't very snowy around this area really and I ran along to the prep school then along past the bowling club towards Yarrow Reservoir.
I then went down the slipway and along Knowsley Lane then though the kissing gate opposite the end of The Street and into the field. It was really wet and boggy through here and the bit where you come out onto Back Lane was horrendous. There was no way of trying to keep my feet dry here.
Running along Back Lane was hard work as it wasn't icy enough for my Orocs to have much of an effect and was just more of a sheen of frost which was really slippery. Thankfully there's not much road before turning off on the right towards the farm and then heading along to Healey Nab. I ran up to the trig point then back down again and then crossed the very boggy field to the steps which go down to the road by Waterman's Cottage.
I ran past the cottage then turned right and ran through the woodlands towards Anglezarke but then turned off, following the signpost to Manor House Farm.
I came out onto the road at Manor House Farm in a world of my own and accidentally turned left instead of right. I didn't even realise until I had been running along for quarter a mile then I got my map out and realised that Jepson's Gate was in the opposite direction so I turned round and retraced my steps. Again, the road was really icy so my running was pretty tentative.
At last I got to Jepson's Gate and the snow was a bit deeper here. The view was amazing so I stopped to take a photo, although the photo doesn't do it justice (you can seem the mast in the distance)...
I ran down into Lead Mines Clough and then up the other side onto the path to Simms and Higher Hempshaws. This path was my favourite part of the day as the snow was really fresh and nobody had been there before me, the only footprints being from sheep and some bird with very big feet.
I soon found myself running in thick fog and it was getting more and more difficult to see where the ground ended and the sky began, everything was just white! As I got near to the road, a mountain biker came the other way and said he was glad to see me as he now knew he was going in the right direction. I was also glad because I could now follow his tyre track and get myself to the main road.
The main road was deserted. It was really icy and snowy and only one car passed in all the time I was running along it to the end of Belmont Road (George's Lane) and that was going incredibly slowly.
I ran along Belmont Road and got to the bottom of the diagonal. Decision time, do I go up it or do I carry on along the track? I chose the former.
It was still thick with fog and the path was ridiculously hard to find. Luckily I found some Roclite tracks in the opposite direction so I used these as a guide, although this still didn't help me from sinking up to my knees on numerous occasions and, at one point, up to my thighs. It was extremely deep in places and I started to wonder what on earth was going through my head when I had decided this was a better idea than carrying on along Belmont Road.
After what felt like an hour, I finally saw one of the smaller masts looming through the fog in the distance. By now my legs were covered in snow and my hands were too where I had used them to catch myself on the numerous times I had tumbled forward.
It was really foggy up on the mast road and I could only see a short way ahead. I ran down and then saw the sign for the footpath to Two Lads so I followed it but I lost my bearings and seemed to be heading off too far to the right. I eventually saw a wooden bridge through the fog to my left and knew that was the way up so headed off towards it, sinking a lot en route. It's funny how you can run the same route all the time but then a bit of snow and fog completely throws you off course. Makes you realise how easy it could be to get seriously lost in bad weather.
Eventually arriving at Two Lads, I took a few seconds to think about which way the path down was towards the water tanks! Seriously, I was totally snow blind by this point. How can I not know which way the water tanks were???
I ran off and, after a short way, bumped into a friend who has a Patterdale Terrier named Tilly so I chatted to him for a while before continuing on my way home.
Even running from the tanks down to George's Lane I fell over a couple of times. I had now lost track of how many times I had fallen over during this run and I'm not usually one for falling (hopefully that's not tempting fate).
From George's Lane I made my way home via the side of Wilderswood and, as soon as I got through the door, Duncan had a brew ready for me, which was seriously well received.
Really enjoyable run in the snow but it's always nice to get home!
Total Distance - 13.2 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/233325001
I then went down the slipway and along Knowsley Lane then though the kissing gate opposite the end of The Street and into the field. It was really wet and boggy through here and the bit where you come out onto Back Lane was horrendous. There was no way of trying to keep my feet dry here.
Running along Back Lane was hard work as it wasn't icy enough for my Orocs to have much of an effect and was just more of a sheen of frost which was really slippery. Thankfully there's not much road before turning off on the right towards the farm and then heading along to Healey Nab. I ran up to the trig point then back down again and then crossed the very boggy field to the steps which go down to the road by Waterman's Cottage.
I ran past the cottage then turned right and ran through the woodlands towards Anglezarke but then turned off, following the signpost to Manor House Farm.
I came out onto the road at Manor House Farm in a world of my own and accidentally turned left instead of right. I didn't even realise until I had been running along for quarter a mile then I got my map out and realised that Jepson's Gate was in the opposite direction so I turned round and retraced my steps. Again, the road was really icy so my running was pretty tentative.
At last I got to Jepson's Gate and the snow was a bit deeper here. The view was amazing so I stopped to take a photo, although the photo doesn't do it justice (you can seem the mast in the distance)...
I ran down into Lead Mines Clough and then up the other side onto the path to Simms and Higher Hempshaws. This path was my favourite part of the day as the snow was really fresh and nobody had been there before me, the only footprints being from sheep and some bird with very big feet.
I soon found myself running in thick fog and it was getting more and more difficult to see where the ground ended and the sky began, everything was just white! As I got near to the road, a mountain biker came the other way and said he was glad to see me as he now knew he was going in the right direction. I was also glad because I could now follow his tyre track and get myself to the main road.
The main road was deserted. It was really icy and snowy and only one car passed in all the time I was running along it to the end of Belmont Road (George's Lane) and that was going incredibly slowly.
I ran along Belmont Road and got to the bottom of the diagonal. Decision time, do I go up it or do I carry on along the track? I chose the former.
It was still thick with fog and the path was ridiculously hard to find. Luckily I found some Roclite tracks in the opposite direction so I used these as a guide, although this still didn't help me from sinking up to my knees on numerous occasions and, at one point, up to my thighs. It was extremely deep in places and I started to wonder what on earth was going through my head when I had decided this was a better idea than carrying on along Belmont Road.
After what felt like an hour, I finally saw one of the smaller masts looming through the fog in the distance. By now my legs were covered in snow and my hands were too where I had used them to catch myself on the numerous times I had tumbled forward.
It was really foggy up on the mast road and I could only see a short way ahead. I ran down and then saw the sign for the footpath to Two Lads so I followed it but I lost my bearings and seemed to be heading off too far to the right. I eventually saw a wooden bridge through the fog to my left and knew that was the way up so headed off towards it, sinking a lot en route. It's funny how you can run the same route all the time but then a bit of snow and fog completely throws you off course. Makes you realise how easy it could be to get seriously lost in bad weather.
Eventually arriving at Two Lads, I took a few seconds to think about which way the path down was towards the water tanks! Seriously, I was totally snow blind by this point. How can I not know which way the water tanks were???
I ran off and, after a short way, bumped into a friend who has a Patterdale Terrier named Tilly so I chatted to him for a while before continuing on my way home.
Even running from the tanks down to George's Lane I fell over a couple of times. I had now lost track of how many times I had fallen over during this run and I'm not usually one for falling (hopefully that's not tempting fate).
From George's Lane I made my way home via the side of Wilderswood and, as soon as I got through the door, Duncan had a brew ready for me, which was seriously well received.
Really enjoyable run in the snow but it's always nice to get home!
Total Distance - 13.2 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/233325001
Friday, 26 December 2014
Numb Feet = Fast Feet ???
Duncan dropped me off at the end of Wallsuches this morning as he was going playing ball with Ruby over at Ridgemont.
I ran along Wallsuches for a short way, then went up a short flight of steps on the right and ran alongside the fishing lodges (that's a pond for anyone not from Lancashire). I then climbed up onto George's Lane and headed towards Wilderswood, which is where I bumped into Ed who was out for a walk. After a brief natter, I continued on my way and ran up to Two Lads in the fog.
From Two Lads I ran cross country to the mast which was really boggy (surprise surprise). I then went to the trig point and then set off down the diagonal. The diagonal was so muddy that my shoes totally clogged up with mud and I found myself running out of control. I was just sliding down and it got quite scary so I had to try to gain some control before I fell on my backside. Eventually I got to the bottom in one piece and then ran along the track and then up Noon Hill. Noon Hill to the Pike was VERY wet. My feet were freezing and soon became quite numb. For some reason, numb feet seemed to serve me well though and my climb to the Pike via the steep grassy bit up from the kissing gate seemed really easy and I then ran straight over the top and went down which again I seemed to zoom along (although according to Strava I was 13 seconds off my PB).
I then got onto George's Lane and headed for the kennels then ran down the field opposite which again, I felt like I was zooming through and this time I was right as I got a Strava PB, taking 9 seconds off my previous time (although not a course record, I'm 4 seconds off that).
From the bottom of the field I ran towards the stables then turned left towards Wilderwood then down to home.
Had a really good run despite having been really tired when I first set off.
Total distance - 6.7 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/233324955
I ran along Wallsuches for a short way, then went up a short flight of steps on the right and ran alongside the fishing lodges (that's a pond for anyone not from Lancashire). I then climbed up onto George's Lane and headed towards Wilderswood, which is where I bumped into Ed who was out for a walk. After a brief natter, I continued on my way and ran up to Two Lads in the fog.
From Two Lads I ran cross country to the mast which was really boggy (surprise surprise). I then went to the trig point and then set off down the diagonal. The diagonal was so muddy that my shoes totally clogged up with mud and I found myself running out of control. I was just sliding down and it got quite scary so I had to try to gain some control before I fell on my backside. Eventually I got to the bottom in one piece and then ran along the track and then up Noon Hill. Noon Hill to the Pike was VERY wet. My feet were freezing and soon became quite numb. For some reason, numb feet seemed to serve me well though and my climb to the Pike via the steep grassy bit up from the kissing gate seemed really easy and I then ran straight over the top and went down which again I seemed to zoom along (although according to Strava I was 13 seconds off my PB).
I then got onto George's Lane and headed for the kennels then ran down the field opposite which again, I felt like I was zooming through and this time I was right as I got a Strava PB, taking 9 seconds off my previous time (although not a course record, I'm 4 seconds off that).
From the bottom of the field I ran towards the stables then turned left towards Wilderwood then down to home.
Had a really good run despite having been really tired when I first set off.
Total distance - 6.7 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/233324955
Thursday, 25 December 2014
Merry Christmas!
Christmas Day can only mean one thing... a morning run up the Pike!
Tony H came round just after 9am and, both wearing ridiculous headgear, we set off towards the Pike. We firstly ran down to the school then went up towards the terraced gardens, rather than going straight up the Pike race route.
I'm not going to lie, the climb was a struggle for me this morning, perhaps a mince pie for breakfast isn't the best fuel?
We finally reached the Pike and I was so relieved that the rest of the run was now downhill as I'm not sure I could manage any more up today.
The sun was shining right into our eyes running off the Pike so we couldn't see a thing but we both managed to stay upright. Running along George's Lane I noticed Duncan and Ruby up ahead taking a photo of us...
After a quick hello, we continued on our way and ran back down by the side of Wilderswood. Tony left me at the end of dog poo alley and headed home for one of Brenda's famous breakfasts. Yum! Bacon butties for me and Duncan in a bit.
Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and Santa brings you lots of goodies!
Lots of Love,
Christa, Duncan and Ruby!
Total distance - 3.25 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/232635867
Tony H came round just after 9am and, both wearing ridiculous headgear, we set off towards the Pike. We firstly ran down to the school then went up towards the terraced gardens, rather than going straight up the Pike race route.
I'm not going to lie, the climb was a struggle for me this morning, perhaps a mince pie for breakfast isn't the best fuel?
We finally reached the Pike and I was so relieved that the rest of the run was now downhill as I'm not sure I could manage any more up today.
The sun was shining right into our eyes running off the Pike so we couldn't see a thing but we both managed to stay upright. Running along George's Lane I noticed Duncan and Ruby up ahead taking a photo of us...
After a quick hello, we continued on our way and ran back down by the side of Wilderswood. Tony left me at the end of dog poo alley and headed home for one of Brenda's famous breakfasts. Yum! Bacon butties for me and Duncan in a bit.
Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and Santa brings you lots of goodies!
Lots of Love,
Christa, Duncan and Ruby!
Total distance - 3.25 miles
http://www.strava.com/activities/232635867
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