It's tough at the top.

It was a Sunday morning in September last year and we could not muster the enthusiasm to go for a run. We decided to go for a walk instead and look for a new route to run when we felt a bit more like it. The route that we walked was five miles long and definitely undulating, we decided we would need a reasonable level of fitness before we could tackle it. Winter set in and the wet weather made it impractical but today seemed perfect.
We set off at a modest pace knowing what was in store. It was the warmest day of the year so far and a pleasure to be out. Surprisingly running down the first track there was no one else about, no walkers or dog walkers. Crossing the main road we enter a field and hit the first hill, it is very steep and difficult to get into a rhythm. Once over the top the sun lights up the countryside and we could see for miles. Catching our breath we ran down the side of a hill to the stream at the bottom. Past a dozen bee hives which we give a wide berth to and follow the stream on a path that is like soft sand. After half a mile we turn sharp right and the main climb begins. The first section is up cultivated land. The hill is then too steep for ploughing and we are on grass. It would be all too easy to walk and probably as quick but we push on with thighs on fire. Eventually we can see it levelling out and we swing around the top of the field and can look down at the climb we have made. Someone walking their dog along by the stream looks tiny. After running through a gap in the hedge we skirt around a field that has broad beans just pushing through. On past a farm then up again to the highest point of the run before plunging steep downhill back to the main road. Climbing again towards town we are only a mile and a half from home. Lungs are bursting and legs are shot but a mile and a half to go we have to hold it together somehow. We made it and now only have four to run tomorrow. It will be flat.

Too good an opportunity to miss.

Another sunny day and a light south westerly breeze is too good an opportunity to miss. Breakfast digested it was time to get out and run. Half a mile of flat road to warm up with and then we are in our element. A short section of track was followed by our first taste of fields. The oil seed rape that is planted in the field is now a foot high and well established. In another month or so it will be chest high. When it reaches maturity it is chin high and covered in bright yellow flowers, which gives quite an unusual experience seeing just people’s heads bobbing up and down as we run. A short run down the main street of a village takes down an open track that has become very dusty. A bridge takes us over the small river which is much more peaceful now the winter rain and snow has passed. Continuing on the track it climbs gently around a field where horses graze. At the top we pass the farm which has had its barns converted and sold as upmarket accommodation. On the left is a small windmill that is about fifteen feet high and painted white. I must take a picture of it one day and find out what it was used for. Pumping water is my guess. We move on along the road and over a cattle grid before turning sharp right into a farm entrance and downhill. Through the farmyard we take a path that crosses the river again higher up stream then across the meadow that has sheep with their lambs grazing. There is a lake on the left that has water fowl on various kinds on it. The fields are sloping upwards and the running is becoming harder. Crossing a road we are then running on tracks again. We rejoin the track we went out on and make our way home. A circular route of five and a half miles, four of those being off road. Added to the run we did on Sunday this leaves less than nine to run to achieve target for the week.

Missed the marathon, but not much.

The marathon was already in progress when we left home for our Sunday morning run. We had planned to leave earlier but I overslept, a result of too much gardening yesterday. The sun was shinning and it was warm so I gave my legs their first glimpse of daylight this year. I also left my wind proof jacket at home. The first few steps came as a shock to my body but it soon adjusted. Stripped of the outer clothing meant I did not get so hot during the run. It was probably the most lumpy run that we do climbing over five hundred feet and burning eleven hundred calories. All the major climbs are in the second half but we got the pace right early on and it was enjoyable. Ten and three quarter miles it was our longest run for a long time and a very good start to the week. The late start and length of the run meant that we missed the finish of both the men's and women's marathon on TV but hey the run was worth it.

Lark Ascending

Friday already, where does the time go to. Well yesterday was spent mostly on the end on a spade in the garden digging for victory. Anyway my back is aching but no good grumbling just get on and run. Only a little over four miles to cover so the choice of routes was endless. Once again I chose mainly off road, we had a mixture of sun, rain, hail and thunder yesterday but I felt we could find some fields that would be relatively dry. Down a track and turning right down a path we were soon in open fields. Sheep with lambs took little notice of us as we skirted around where they grazed. I heard a skylark singing overhead, the first this year I think. Only one part of the field still slightly flooded so that was ok. Leaving the fields behind we ran up the Main Street through a village before turning onto a track that lead to within a short distance of home. The run was over four miles which means we have again reached our twenty five mile target for the week.
Good luck to all those running the London marathon on Sunday. We will probably go for a run early  then get home to watch the finish on TV.

Roe! deer,deer,deer.

With less than ten miles to run to achieve our weekly target we set off yesterday (Wednesday) knowing that a five plus run would leave a very modest effort on Friday. We ran the first part well within ourselves then put in a bit of effort on the first hill. Once over the top we coasted down the other side, not letting up we turned onto a country road that undulated until we came to a village. I had to stop at the main road to cross and could not get running again on the hill the other side. After walking the steepest part I set off again, the road continued rising for the next half a mile before I got some respite. Some more undulations and then we turned onto the main road. Looking into the field on my left I saw four Roe Deer grazing on a crop on winter barley. It was the same place that I had seen them a couple of weeks ago. We pressed on taking a slight detour to add a bit more distance to the run. It was five and a half miles which only leaves four and a quarter for Friday. It was gardening in the afternoon or to be more precise digging. I may have overdone it a bit as my back is suffering today. Probably a good thing we are not running today although I have been gardening again.

Finally finished the book that I was reading, “The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay” It was very informative and showed the hard work that went into cracking the Germans coded messages during World War Two. It also talks about the men who pioneered computers which are also of great interest and how the British government were not willing to invest in computers commercially, leaving that to the Americans. The book is available on Amazon, you can click on the link on the right to view and purchase it if you so desire.

Off to a flying start.

Monday is a funny day; it used to be a day off running to fit in small jobs after the weekend. The unsettled weather we have been having has encouraged us to run when it is fine and for the last couple of weeks this has included Mondays. On the back of yesterdays ten miles I thought five today would be good and leave us a wide choice of days to complete the other ten.

It was sunny and mild; birds’ singing in the trees it was very pleasant. People who were out walking their dogs looked almost human. It was one of those if only days. If I hadn’t paused for breath here and run a bit harder there we would have recorded a good time. I suppose in part this was because it was mostly on the road and not as lumpy as normal. The last part was the worst as usual, a half mile drag up through the housing estate. A straight road that just keeps on rising then we turn a corner and climb again. Home cannot come soon enough. Shower then lunch followed by a spell in the garden digging. I was hoping it would be rain stopped play as my back is now killing me.

If it is fine tomorrow I’m not sure if I will be fit to run or not. Look on the bright side it may rain.

What no hat or gloves? Is it summer?

The first day I have gone for a run this year without the aid of hat and gloves. The sun was shining albeit there was quite a strong southerly wind blowing. Because of heavy recent rain I decided on a route that kept us mainly on the road. We set off at a brisk pace, this lasted for about three miles when the petrol started to run out. We had been running into the wind and when the course got a bit lumpy fatigue started to set in. I never recovered from this and it was tough going for the rest of the way. We saw a lot more runners out this week, most appeared to be travelling better than us. Unfortunately the worst of the hills were in the second half, knees wouldn't lift and lungs didn't convert oxygen into energy very efficiently. Walking up the steepest parts became the norm. Having finished last Sundays run at nine and a half miles I was determined to get ten this week if possible. With this in mind I altered the last mile to a downhill route and battled on to the end. When I uploaded the run to Garmin the walks that showed up on the graph were disappointing. Further analysis however showed that when we were running it was at a quickish pace which was a pleasant  surprise. Climbing four hundred feet and burning eleven hundred calories was a good mornings run.