It’s been quite a tough week running wise, lots of miles and as much climb as I can manage given the topography of my local running networks. The last fortnight has seen a steady rise in the weekly mileage, the legs, body and head seem to be in the right place to make the concerted effort to begin to make an idea actually happen. As ever, and indeed this will continue to be a heavy issue, time is always a factor. I am driven by routine though although I am a woman so naturally that is subject to change! The last fortnights routine has been going well and it’s allowed me to start building the miles in earnest, I’m confident given the nature of family life and the season that is almost upon us this will all too soon be working against me. It’s now where it really matters to get out when I can, regardless of painful legs, lashing rain and howling wind because if I even momentarily think I’ll have a night off the likelihood of being able to make up for it the next day is practically impossible.

With that in mind and given I raced yesterday and have climbed in excess of 1200 steps at work today (yes I counted!), Mondays long run is still on the agenda. This does mean however the weekly shop will see me setting off for the supermarket at 10pm tonight, I think this will certainly be treated as a mental aptitude test all from a training perspective obviously!

As I said I raced yesterday, in the loose sense of the word that is. I felt heavy legged from the start but then that is due to the amount of miles in them so only natural really. I didn’t want 2 days off prior to the run as the only agenda was to beat last year’s time and treat it as mileage and climb towards that weekly total. With such a demanding long term goal in mind my training has to be specific and that doesn’t mean 20 miles a week and lots of rest in order to fly round shorter distance race courses.

The Roaches is 15.7 miles for the pedants among us but is billed at 15, either way long enough in all the mud! There’s about 4000ft of climb although I have to admit to not realising that until this morning when looking at Marks blog as it actually didn’t feel like it. I've certainly taken a posotive from this as was felt I am clearly getting better at the ups - surely?!

From the off I managed to do nothing better than the usual shuffle and got a bit peeved at getting stuck in all the traffic on the way up to the roaches trig as there was no way of passing people along the single track path and I’d already fallen behind with having to wait in the queues for the various stiles. I had the bit between my teeth though by the time the descent through the woods came managed to dodge by a dozen or so people all tip toeing on the rocks, I really love those technical rocky descents and decided tactically from the off to really try to use my best bit to my advantage and take no prisoners! I always find people that pass me on the way up relatively easily but rarely stay ahead on the way back down, I’m just buggered at the next climb and the same people pass me again and it then becomes the proverbial cat and mouse race with those around me!

The clock was ticking on this one though and with a time to beat the glances at the watch were frequent. I knew I was up on last year certainly in the first half as I’d got a lot further on the route before the front runners were coming back the way. I like these out and back races as it gives you a chance to see the leaders and familiar faces, of course the downside is every lovely decent you zip down you now know you have to climb on the way back!

I started to bonk in the woods on the way back and although had had 2 gels by this point realised the legs didn’t want to respond. Mentally rather than think ‘oh sod it’ which a few months ago I certainly would have done and no doubt would have stopped to ‘admire the scenery’ I now compare every climb to Yewbarrow on a scorching hot day, nothing does compare therefore nothing can be so bad. My methodology is to concentrate on continuing to climb regardless. Each step is one step nearer the top, each step should be as strong as the last and each step will not get more painful than it currently is. It worked, although aching and tired I did NOT stop on the climbs I climbed as strong as I could and no, not as fast as others around but then it may have been more efficient? I kept the breathing controlled and the heart rate as low as I could all with the view these climbing weeks will get tougher and tougher and this is all early days training wise and that is the perspective I am taking and the way I need to approach it in respect of that 2010 goal.

All that aside I pushed where I could and enjoyed the run, well when it was over! I managed a pb and DID beat last year’s time by a whole 20 minutes, can’t ask for more than that, over a minute a mile faster on the back of 2 long and heavy weeks and with faulty asthmatic lungs! I must be doing something right??

My Girl

The end of a busy week saw me get some precious time with the youngest of the brood. As a baby she was the one permanently on my hip, probably because she didn't walk until she was nearly 2 out of sheer laziness! Both boys are away this weekend, Laurence is in respite for 3 nights, the first time he's been away for that long so I am, it's fair to say, not exactly relaxed! It's a double edged sword, he goes away so we can get much needed time to recharge and I spend the whole time worrying! I know he'll be alright, he always is but a child with no 'voice' is always going to be a worry. Oliver is away down south visiting grandad on the proviso it's a very early trip back sunday so he doesn't miss his rugby - he was more than a bear with a sore head last weekend after the waterlogged pitch led to the match being cancelled. So that leaves me and my princess. We spent the evening singing and dancing to Mamma Mia, when we eventually worked out how to use the DVD player - it seems she's a dab hand at it! Tomorrow is an early start and a very busy day! Just as well I'm on rest day, although I don't suppose it will feel much of a rest. Since September began and the beginning of the academic year there has been a sudden surge in extra curricular activities for the children and I seem to be to-ing and fro-ing more than I ever have, that and the fact they are older these activities now finish a lot later, there really are NOT enough hours in the day.

Still managed to run this week though. I won't quite have hit the target by sunday by am not far off.

Monday was a wet and windy 10 mile road run, as hilly as I could make it although the playlist on the Ipod really needs looking at as I'm getting very bored with it, pavement pounding needs some seriously motivational tunes, I must address this post haste! Tuesday was 7 miles, road again, rain again. Wednesday was up in the fells with zero visibility! It was mild though, no real rain to speak of although damp, no wind but lots of mist! The head torch just didn't cut the mustard at all, could barely see a thing and if I went over on the ankle once I went over on it a hundred times. Still, over 2 hours running covering a fair distance it was a good and enjoyable trot out. Thursday was a bit of cross training with a spinning class cycling on the static bike and going hell for leather I felt sick at the end only to get straight out of the class to do a speed session around the 200m indoor track with Oliver. He did really really well, I was very proud of him, his running is really coming on and what's more he enjoys it. I wouldn't entertain taking him if he didn't want to go but he managed a good strong session. After a mile warm up etc we did some sprints with jog recovery then some 200m fast efforts then I gave him a 75m or so head start on a lap and had to catch him, jesus, that was a serious effort from me that's for sure, It certainly constituted a tough session by the end of it!

So, almost at the end of the week and I wanted to get a friday run done before our girls night in. Another miserable day of non stop rain but the running window was 4pm out the door or not at all. OMM smock on again, I seem to be getting more use out of the thing then ever before, I headed out minus dave who would NOT budge off the sofa. He shouldn't be on it anyway but is using the 'I'm scared of fireworks' thing to his full advantage! The river paths were as muddy as I've seen them and the feet were soaked within 5 minutes of setting off. I ran my lovely muddy off road route in the opposite direction and found it a lot harder...it seemed a lot more up hill so I'll make an effort to do that more often when I can. I took the headtorch as thought I might need it. At one point I felt I might get away without using it but with about a mile to go I had to give in to the fact I obviously haven't been eating enough carrots and reached into the bumbag.

hey, I even ran through a field with a BULL in it. There's a first.

Legs a bit achey tonight now, so a rest tomorrow, if you can call it such. Imogen and I have a full girls only day tomorrow, we're off to the salon and then onto a friends for lunch after a spot of shopping and I'm really looking forward to spending a day with her, they seem so few and far between these days.

Racing sunday and all being well a weekly total of 53 miles will have been reached.

Starter for 10

Motivation Monday. Always the toughest day in the week to get out the door, probably due to a long weekend and a tiring day at work. I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds running on the dark winter nights a bit of a chore? Not so much because I don't want to run, I do. I am however, reduced to a limited number of routes all involving lots of tarmac and traffiic. My new method ensuring I definately drag myself out is to get in from work, get my jobs done and get changed into the running gear so I'm 'ready' as soon as my husband walks in to hand the baton over! Invariably in winters gone by I've had a tendancy not to do this and end up getting engrossed in some task or other meaning the minutes tick by leading to the inclination diminishing at a rapid rate!

My 'plan' is to ensure I do a double figured run on a monday. It's so nice to start the week with 10 miles in the bag. 2 miles shorter than last monday but last night was a hilly run, the hilliest I can make it from out of my door and to be honest I felt really good at the end. I've a slight niggle on my left leg that I don't want to exacerbate. One method of knowing I was running a bit quicker was the fact I had run further before my favourite song came on the playlist on the Ipod! A fool proof method at measuring progress I feel?!

Tanky's

Tanky’s trog is basically a run from Marsden to Edale it offers a wonderful challenge crossing Black Hill, Bleaklow and Kinder Scout during the route. This is not as easy as it may appear on paper as it is tough and demanding especially in poor weather. It equates to about 24 miles and 5400ft of climb over some of the most peat bogged terrain I have ever seen, with only three road crossings, the choice of route is huge it’s as much a logistical nightmare as anything else too. You need to have a vehicle at both Edale and Marsden which are some 90 minutes drive apart in order to ‘shuttle’ to and from the race start and finish.

With the fact the route choice is so vast, it’s more than prudent to go and have a look at least a couple of times before the event. Race day is December the 6th, I couldn’t do this race last year and running over that neck of the woods is predominately unfamiliar territory for me. This in mind it was an early start heading for Crowden on Saturday in anticipation of a long day out. It couldn’t have been more perfect weather wise; visibility was excellent as was the precipitation in that there was NONE! I do love running in the winter months, well when it’s not hoofing down! At long last though, I stop over heating!

We picked up the race route from the Youth Hostel at Crowden turning left crossing the busy road and almost immediately over a path on the right drops onto a concessionary path by Torside Reservoir. We followed this up the end of the reservoir, crossing over by the weir and up through a small wood to the road. From here we ran onto Reaps farm picking up the Pennine Way on the right and beginning the climb onto the fell. There were a few other runners out too but all coming in the opposite direction – I started to wonder if they knew something we didn’t! After a fair bit of route considering and map deliberation we continued throughout the morning making our way over to Bleaklow Head looking out to Kinder in the distance with Black Hill behind. We bypassed Wainstones, fell in and out of bogs, hopped over heather and scrambled in and out of peat hags, sliding all over, cursing the lack of grip no matter how superior the technology!

Keeping with the Pennine Way going south down Hern Clough to the top of Alport Low then veer off over the rough moor slipping into the head of Upper North Grain. There’s a good path once you reach an old shooting cabin, fording the stream and bringing you down to the A57 Snake Pass road. We veered off left quite a bit earlier than this though to see if the more direct route would be an advantage but after coming back the above way I’d say not! It was tough ground going the way we did and certainly no gain on the time front. I think another look would be worth the trip out though as I started to get very confused with it all by the end of it! We ran as far down as the Snake pass road and stopped for a quite nibble on a cereal bar before making the return journey back to Crowden. The run back wasn’t as straightforward either as the day was all about route choice. We got back to Bleaklow head and opted for a run to Lawrence edge. Taking a bearing at the Head we scanned the horizon for a feature and pin pointed something that was unlikely to move!

It was another slog over bog after bog until reaching the ridge at Rollock Stones. There is a fence line to follow but never having run there we initially opted for the direct route until realising that was another section of very rough ground and energy sapping peat! The path to Lawrence edge is easy enough though although the sound of gun shots at the firing range was a worry! I was hoping it really was just a clay pigeon range and they weren’t about to take pot shots at the moving targets further up the fell!

We took a completely wrong descent down to the quad track however and had to slide and scramble down a rocky ridge, wet algae covered boulders are not much fun and the bruises on the knee are living proof!
Eventually making it back to the reservoir it was a short run back to the car and a clean dry pair of socks!

Until the next time…..

The weeks round-up, so far.

It’s been a good week for running on the whole, not a particularly adventurous one, well apart from Saturday but I’ll mention that separately. It started with a 9 mile race last Sunday at Passing clouds and after a non successful run it would have been easy to treat Monday as a rest night. Thinking of next year and the bigger picture, I put the trainers on and headed out the door for a 12 mile run. A good start to the week I thought, it was a slog of a run, dark and windy and boring as anything but it was done. Tuesday was similar to Monday only 4 miles shorter at 7 miles and run anti-clockwise! Wednesday, 2 of the children (it being half term) were at a birthday party at 4 pm at one of these wacky warehouse type places. Rather than use the 2 hours just sitting there drinking hot chocolate (I’m off the coffee!) I decided drop them off in my running kit and run from the party venue. It was too far away to drop them and drive home so I ran through Grimsargh and down into Longridge and covered about 8 miles as a guess as was out for just over an hour and really pegged it for the last mile! It was a lovely evening and very sunny and nice to run along somewhere completely different.

Thursday was another 8 miles along the river from home. My mother in law was visiting from down South for a few days so it meant I could get a day time run done as opposed to having to wait for the usual evening slot. Another beautiful day, it was certainly good for the soul to be out there. 35 miles in the bag since Monday, (44 if I include Sunday’s race and day 1 after the week off!)

Friday was a rest day and much needed.

Saturday was definitely ‘time on my feet’! over 5 hours of running but with no garmin I'm not sure exactly how far we ran but am guessing at about 14 maybe more?

Sunday was the run with the collie lady and at 7 miles takes the weeks total to in excess of 56 miles (65 including that race!!)

Day 1 starts again today now (monday) and hopefully I can keep that tally high and end sunday with another 60 mile week. Fingers crossed.

A fateful encounter??

Whilst out on my run yesterday afternoon in the howling gales and torrential rain I was running along close to home thinking if I can get my arse out of the door and run in this I can run in anything! I'd chosen a particularlly odd time of day to go running! I'd normally have gone first thing but had a long day in the hills saturday and diving into the trainers at 8am sunday wasn't the first thing on my mind.

I walked Dave about 9am and the usual woodland path right out of my door had water cascading all the way through it. After returning home saturday with what looked like trench foot I was hopping and skipping my way through the woods in a fruitless task in keeping my feet dry and more importantly warm! The walk was cut short as I was soaked to the skin and wanted a 'nice cup of tea' but I felt a run was imminent!

Conscious of trying to start some serious milege increase now I'm looking at getting a short run from home in on the weekend day I'm not racing or recce-ing. Again, it's all about time though and fitting it all in. I'm looking for another job and hopefully one where the hours mean at least 2 days a week off. At the minute I work monday to friday and ordinarilly that shouldn't be a problem but work doesn't end at 'home time' it's merely one door closing and the other 'job' starts as soon as the key turns in the lock back at base!

Anyway back to my point! I headed out of the door late sunday afternoon, full kit included! I rarely run in a coat I get so hot but the OMM waterproof was donned, bum bag with gloves, spare buff, inhaler and head torch (just in case). It was nice to be able to make the most of the light albeit grey and gloomy. Now winter is upon us my evening running has been reduced to tarmac pounding along the main carriageways and is mind numbingly boring. I appreciate my river runs all the more whenever I get chance in the winter to do them. The usual route takes on a whole different look and appeal. The dry summer track becomes a squelchy muddy mess and the overgrown nettles have withered away to be replaced by a bed of fallen leaves with that familiar smell and fantastic russtling sound as you plough through them.

I was merrily minding my own business, head down, Ipod on. I wasn't even attempting to run in that gale and rain without something to take my mind off it! All of a sudden on running up a hill I felt something on my legs crashing into me, I let out a screech as was in a complete daydream and was woken with a start! I looked down to see the most beautiful young collie dog. Looking up there were 1,2 no 3, err 4, 5, 6 Oh my God 7 more! They all came bounding over and ranged in age and inquisitveness! Ben I later found out was the one that caught my eye and a very friendly and stunning chap. The lady did indeed own all 8 collie's her husband breeds and trains them and would you believe only live about 10 minutes from me and it turns out I run passed their house on my route!

I told her my tale of longing for a running companion and she replied telling me to call in as she was sure her husband could sort a dog out for me, in fact he wasn't sure what he was doing with Ben yet, he may be up for grabs!! Wow....I thanked her and ran away grinning from ear to ear, who'd have thought? A miserable day, a field in the middle of nowhere and a chance encounter with a complete stranger. Now all I have to do is convince my husband Dave needs a friend!

In all fairness it won't be happening whilst I'm working as I am, but there again this is also an issue I'm currently trying my utmost to reslove....here's to hope!

Passing Clouds

After a week of feeling under the weather if I hadn't gone and done a race then it would have been another week of low mileage and I really can't afford to do that. It's been a few pretty easy weeks on the whole just ticking over which I think was needed after a busy summer but now is the time to redress that and start getting those quality miles in. All very well in theory but putting it into practice can be a challenge in itself.

With that in mind rather than head over to Yorkshire for a race I've already done I decided to venture to Staffs. for one I hadn't. A couple of miles longer than Withins, Passing clouds was 9 miles and 1800ft of climb.

A few usual suspects about and on the whole a clear day I took the inhaler before setting off as wasn't exactly feeling 100% but it didn't seem to help much. I soon adopted my back marker position and shuffled on. The climbs were hard, not because of gradient but because I felt like I was functioning on only half a lung. Umpteen stiles to climb and gates to vault and muddy boggy fields in abundance, even a pile of slurry to run through. It took what seemed an age to warm up, it was a long slog to the top of the roaches but I was pleased I ran the whole way up it. Something I wouldn't have been able to last year. It was slow and very steady but at least it was a run.

I can't remember all the various names of hills, land marks etc as invariably just have my head down and am 'getting on with it' so the map shows where we did indeed run! The run down from the roaches was a section I felt 'ok' but that's probably because it was downhill and my favourite bit! Looking up though I hadn't realised there was a serious sting in the tail and that we had to climb up Hen Cloud, oof it was horrible, I think I'd expelled all my energy on the blast down, another coughing fit later and it was a trudge to the top. The run back in was the same as the run out but by this point the heavens had opened and those that weren't quick enough to miss the shower got a soaking.

I was hesitant about racing and during was cursing but after finishing I was glad I went and did it!