Training Log Archive: ba-ba

Decided to go clockwise, which very few of us did. The main problem today was that I couldn't push myself running on my own - I was going at a pretty steady training pace. Skidding all over the place along the trail to Moorfield Road, and it was a long slushy slog from there onto the moor where I had little motivation. Then a big slog across to the flanks of Kinder - where all the people who had gone anticlockwise were on their #5. I was on #2. Then had to find my way to Harry Hut, which I managed, but very slowly as I didn't want to end up miles off course. Here I caught someone up, who it turned out had started out 8mins after me. oops. Was running quite well from here through the last 3 controls as I had someone to pace myself against, but I was still running well within myself. Stacked it coming down towards herod farm on slippy mud. OMMjacket could now do with a wash...
Shane won in 79, 2nd was 82 and 3rd was a Durham Uni bloke in 87. 87 was easily gettable, just my usual problem of not being able to hit race pace on my own. Good course planned by Des. Fairly easy, but had a control which was always going to be tricky no matter which direction you took the course (clockwise - Harry Hut; anticlockwise - the sheep pen)
here's a rough approximation of my route

These new Inov8's don't seem to be affecting my heels nearly as much as previous pairs. The massive heel-seg on my right foot must scare them into submission.

Boxing day at the Fox, just like old times - first time I attended this I was 18 days old, a whole 21 years agoooo. Morris, Music, Robbinson's, Carols, dodgy folk songs, slither back over the hill to home, crash on sofa, Robbies headache circa 8pm

Out through the fields and up to Mellor Cross. (nice views of a rather grey Manchester), down over the Railway to Strines, up to the canal, along here for a bit before dropping underneath a different railway to Mousely bottom, back home along the Goyt (a river name Kryton would be proud of), through the Torrs (for the first time I've been there the archy screw was working!) and SVT.
Tough in the snow, even along the flat - this was meant to be a run with little resistance, but there was more than I was anticipating - the first km took me 9mins (hilly), and the first 2.5 nearly 18 (and 1.5k of that was flat)!
route

I don't trust these scales...

Went for a bit of a low-level explore on footpaths into Cheshire, with the aim of getting to Robin Hood's Picking Rods. Had the OS map in my hand for most of it as I didn't know where the hell I was going, but only spent about 5 minutes floundering in a field I shouldn't have been in.
Up behind the Pack Horse and over to Mellor Cross, before cutting across to Mellor then Mellor Chapel. Then went to Hollywood and some paths to the Gun Road. Across this to the Picking Rods (Whay!) and on up to Cown Edge. Here there were ~12inch snow drifts - maybe a bit more in places. Awesome :D Down Cown Edge into Rowarth and Little Mill, through Thornsett Fields Farm then across to Stich Lane before heading back.
Was tough running today. The snow was above my shoes for most of the way, only abating for a few quicker snow-covered tracks, and was feeling the heather hopping from yesterday.
Spotted some fantastic-looking sledge-hills on my wanders - shame they're all a bit too far away to walk to.
Lovely sun out today. As I'm not going skiing (again) this season I'll have to make the most of this snow. Going Sledging in a bit - time to dust off the Pizza Tray and hope I don't end up in the barbed wire!

Once again, climb and distance from the OSmap

Just had a look in the Go Outdoors christmas sale catalogue. They're selling 330's for £49. 2 weeks after I payed £59! Bastards. Still, might stock up. They also have F-lites (with a picture and description of RocLites) for ~£20! and MudRocs for £45. May head in to the Stocky branch tomorrow as I the uppers on my current Roclites are definitely perishing. Might have something to do with running in forests with them...

C • sale 2