Ran this regular route yesterday in glorious sunshine. Its either six or seven miles, not really quite sure, but a nice circular route with some fine views despite the main roads.
Big news yesterday was the arrival of various bits of UTMB kit - back pack, short sleeve Helly Trailwizard, gaiters, water bottles, collapsible beaker......hope to test these out over the weekend.
Friday 31 July 2009
Wednesday 29 July 2009
Pool Seven in the Rain
Bit of a feature recently, but yet another run in the rain. Always difficult to know what kit to wear, its definitely not cold, but the body chills quite quickly when wet so there is always a need to stay warm.
Still, good run, luckily I avoided the heaviest of the rain and quite enjoyed the route (up Leeds Road to the Dyneley Arms junction, down the big hill into Pool, back to Otley along Pool Road).
Still, good run, luckily I avoided the heaviest of the rain and quite enjoyed the route (up Leeds Road to the Dyneley Arms junction, down the big hill into Pool, back to Otley along Pool Road).
Tuesday 28 July 2009
Monday 27 July 2009
Ring Road sixteen
Not the most glamorous location for a training run, but convenient!
After a weekend at the parents and dropping Emma off for a holiday with her cousins I got dropped off on the way home near the junction of the M1and the A63. I then followed the Ring Road through places like Cross Gates and Roundhay to Moortown and then cut up through Adel, onto the Leeds Road and home.
Quite a good run, including a quick second half, covering the route from the Lanswood pub to home in 41 minutes.
Also tested out an SIS fig and raisin bar (glorified fig roll) that went down very well, so might form part of my UTMB diet.
After a weekend at the parents and dropping Emma off for a holiday with her cousins I got dropped off on the way home near the junction of the M1and the A63. I then followed the Ring Road through places like Cross Gates and Roundhay to Moortown and then cut up through Adel, onto the Leeds Road and home.
Quite a good run, including a quick second half, covering the route from the Lanswood pub to home in 41 minutes.
Also tested out an SIS fig and raisin bar (glorified fig roll) that went down very well, so might form part of my UTMB diet.
Friday 24 July 2009
Just Three
But a nice three - up East Chevin Road, little circuit around Danefield Forest and then back.
Should have been a rest day today, but had decided to do tomorrow's 2 hr run today instead (free up some weekend time), but then just didn't feel like it some how.
So, back on track Sunday (I hope).
Should have been a rest day today, but had decided to do tomorrow's 2 hr run today instead (free up some weekend time), but then just didn't feel like it some how.
So, back on track Sunday (I hope).
Wednesday 22 July 2009
Old Pool Bank six
A really enjoyable run this evening, despite the outward half climb.
Ran up the Leeds Road to Old Pool Bank and then carried on to the very top of the hill. From here there are great views across Wharfedale and of Armscliffe Crag.
The run back is mostly downhill through Danefield Forest, coming out onto East Chevin Road at Danefield Gate for one of the best views in the world - Wharfedale, Rombalds Moor, Cow and Calf rocks, Beamsley Beacon and, on a really clear day, right out to the hills of the Yorkshire Dales.
Ran up the Leeds Road to Old Pool Bank and then carried on to the very top of the hill. From here there are great views across Wharfedale and of Armscliffe Crag.
The run back is mostly downhill through Danefield Forest, coming out onto East Chevin Road at Danefield Gate for one of the best views in the world - Wharfedale, Rombalds Moor, Cow and Calf rocks, Beamsley Beacon and, on a really clear day, right out to the hills of the Yorkshire Dales.
Tuesday 21 July 2009
Pool seven
Quick seven miles in between the heavy showers tonight. Not much to report, no space junk or crashed world war two bombers.
Although earlier in the day I ventured across the Pennines again to a place called Birchwood, near Warrington. Very nice business park (home to BNFL, Atomic Energy Authority, Atomic Police Agency...) but the shopping centre and housing all around were, well, a tad different.
The really spooky thing was wondering back to the station (there were no sign posts so it was all a bit hit and miss - its clearly modelled on Milton Keynes, so lots of paths and cycleways, but with no pavement on the roads, also no signs so no idea where I was going...) and found myself on 'Dunnock Avenue', which lead to Goldfinch Close, Dipper Way, Blackbird's Nest......very twilight zone.
Although earlier in the day I ventured across the Pennines again to a place called Birchwood, near Warrington. Very nice business park (home to BNFL, Atomic Energy Authority, Atomic Police Agency...) but the shopping centre and housing all around were, well, a tad different.
The really spooky thing was wondering back to the station (there were no sign posts so it was all a bit hit and miss - its clearly modelled on Milton Keynes, so lots of paths and cycleways, but with no pavement on the roads, also no signs so no idea where I was going...) and found myself on 'Dunnock Avenue', which lead to Goldfinch Close, Dipper Way, Blackbird's Nest......very twilight zone.
Saturday 18 July 2009
Three more Peaks
Yes, back to the Dales today for another round of the Three Peaks. Wasn't sure how this one would go coming off the back of yesterday's 24 miles (that and the fact it had rained non-stop yesterday and last night), but in the end I had a really good run.
Weather was spot on. Very clear with fantastic views - Pendle Hill to the south, Morecombe out to the west and although it was cloudy, the cloud stayed off the tops for each of my visits. PERFECT!
It was also drier underfoot than last Sunday (that'll be that fast draining karst topography), and with the wind blowing even the descent off Whernside wasn't as slippy.
Busier than last week, but not too congested and overall felt pretty pleased with myself.
Weather was spot on. Very clear with fantastic views - Pendle Hill to the south, Morecombe out to the west and although it was cloudy, the cloud stayed off the tops for each of my visits. PERFECT!
It was also drier underfoot than last Sunday (that'll be that fast draining karst topography), and with the wind blowing even the descent off Whernside wasn't as slippy.
Busier than last week, but not too congested and overall felt pretty pleased with myself.
Friday 17 July 2009
Four and Twenty
It was an awfully wet day today, not a 'tad' wet, but constant, unrelenting RAIN.
So, ideal conditions for a quick four mile run at lunchtime and then a little 20 mile jaunt this evening! NOT.
So, ideal conditions for a quick four mile run at lunchtime and then a little 20 mile jaunt this evening! NOT.
Wednesday 15 July 2009
Dario Melaragni - WHW Race Director
I was shocked today to read that Dario, Race Director of the West Highland Way Race for the last 10 years, died tragically on Sunday whilst out Munro bagging with friends (many of whom are WHW runners).
It really was a shock and I found it hard to believe it was true (given the propensity of WHW forumites to go completely off the wall). Needless to say the tributes are many and moving, and if you knew Dario, or had any involvement in the race, do read them.
http://www.westhighlandwayrace.org/
It really was a shock and I found it hard to believe it was true (given the propensity of WHW forumites to go completely off the wall). Needless to say the tributes are many and moving, and if you knew Dario, or had any involvement in the race, do read them.
http://www.westhighlandwayrace.org/
Three up hill and down dale
No idea how this happened, but my schedule today stated '3 x mile'. In other words, SPEED work?! in the middle of an ultra training plan. Weird.
So, I ignored the speed bit and stuck to the three bit, walking up the 1 in 8 gradient East Chevin Road (poles in use of course) into Danefield forest, and then enjoyed the gentle run through the woods and back into glorious sunshine with stunning views up and down Wharfedale.
Fantastic evening to be running in, but found those three miles quite hard....
So, I ignored the speed bit and stuck to the three bit, walking up the 1 in 8 gradient East Chevin Road (poles in use of course) into Danefield forest, and then enjoyed the gentle run through the woods and back into glorious sunshine with stunning views up and down Wharfedale.
Fantastic evening to be running in, but found those three miles quite hard....
Tuesday 14 July 2009
Thunderous Five!
Just a short five mile loop around Otley, but made all the more interesting this evening by a huge thunderstorm. Not too much in the way of thunder and lightning, but lots, and lots of stair-rod rainfall! Got home a tad wet....
Sunday 12 July 2009
Three Peaks again!
Well, I did it. Not the Three Peaks so much as getting up at 4.15 am on a Sunday morning!
It poured with rain all Saturday night and it wasn't exactly the sound to get you leaping out of bed at 4 am to go and run for the best part of 6 hours. Still, I need the training, so got up, left on schedule at 5 am and was running from Horton in Ribblesdale towards Pen-y-ghent by 6.05.
Needless to say it was fairly quiet and apart from a few walkers getting ready to set off in Horton, I didn't see a soul until the top of Whernside 3.5 hours later.
The weather was warm when I set off and dry, but that soon changed as I ascended the slopes of Pen-y-ghent and rose up into the swirling, misty cloud. Having set off in a long sleeve Helly it was time for coat on and head down. It was getting windy too near the top but I never felt cold.
From the top of Pen-y-ghent I tried a different route to the last run (which I thought was too boggy). This was better, more running on grass (which was really wet after the overnight rain), but lots of styles and a lack of sign posts meant this section to the Ribblehead viaduct still seemed to take forever.
From the viaduct it was the long slog up to the summit (ideal UTMB training - poles out and working well), then the steep slippy descent before the short valley crossing to climb up Ingleborough. This route is pretty much straight up and I felt the effort of the steep climbing, but once on the rocky plateau felt good. All peaks on Sunday were in the mist, so no fabulous views, although there was one 'moment' coming off Whernside when the cloud broke, the sun streamed through and a rainbow lit up the hills and valleys' below.
The run of Ingleborough was uneventful, the sun finally started to come out and I eventually got back to the car about 11:50 am. Job done.
After the quick dash home, bacon butty and tea I raced over to Ellerton near York to hear Pamela perform with the Cantabile Choir - quite a contrast between morning and afternoon!
The new East Window at the restored Ellerton Priory Church.
It poured with rain all Saturday night and it wasn't exactly the sound to get you leaping out of bed at 4 am to go and run for the best part of 6 hours. Still, I need the training, so got up, left on schedule at 5 am and was running from Horton in Ribblesdale towards Pen-y-ghent by 6.05.
Needless to say it was fairly quiet and apart from a few walkers getting ready to set off in Horton, I didn't see a soul until the top of Whernside 3.5 hours later.
The weather was warm when I set off and dry, but that soon changed as I ascended the slopes of Pen-y-ghent and rose up into the swirling, misty cloud. Having set off in a long sleeve Helly it was time for coat on and head down. It was getting windy too near the top but I never felt cold.
From the top of Pen-y-ghent I tried a different route to the last run (which I thought was too boggy). This was better, more running on grass (which was really wet after the overnight rain), but lots of styles and a lack of sign posts meant this section to the Ribblehead viaduct still seemed to take forever.
From the viaduct it was the long slog up to the summit (ideal UTMB training - poles out and working well), then the steep slippy descent before the short valley crossing to climb up Ingleborough. This route is pretty much straight up and I felt the effort of the steep climbing, but once on the rocky plateau felt good. All peaks on Sunday were in the mist, so no fabulous views, although there was one 'moment' coming off Whernside when the cloud broke, the sun streamed through and a rainbow lit up the hills and valleys' below.
The run of Ingleborough was uneventful, the sun finally started to come out and I eventually got back to the car about 11:50 am. Job done.
After the quick dash home, bacon butty and tea I raced over to Ellerton near York to hear Pamela perform with the Cantabile Choir - quite a contrast between morning and afternoon!
The new East Window at the restored Ellerton Priory Church.
Saturday 11 July 2009
Creskeld 10
Bit of an issue with motivation at the moment. Was supposed to do 13 and then run the Three Peaks route tomorrow (means an early start) so struggling to think that's a good idea!
Anyway, did the route out via Pool, up Creskeld Lane to Bramhope and back in on the Leeds Road. Like Thursday though, once I was out and running it felt good and I even started to think tomorrow might be fun...
This mosaic sign at the foot of the Lane is for the Creskeld beef herd - available in all good Otley butchers!
Thursday 9 July 2009
Pool Seven
I love running!!!!
OK, said it. Have been feeling really tired this week, nodding off on trains, struggling to keep my eyes open in a meeting - oops! So, I skipped my run yesterday (no, I didn't literally skip it, I just missed it out altogether) and was tempted to do the same today.
BUT, with UTMB looming large I felt I really needed to make the effort. So I set off to do the Pool seven loop and, after an afternoon of torrential rain was greeted by lovely sunshine, the Chevin was glistening in the light and everything (yes, cheesy) felt right with the world. And, that's when I realised why I run, its so uplifting, and its outdoors in fabulous scenery and its just really, really good.
OK, said it. Have been feeling really tired this week, nodding off on trains, struggling to keep my eyes open in a meeting - oops! So, I skipped my run yesterday (no, I didn't literally skip it, I just missed it out altogether) and was tempted to do the same today.
BUT, with UTMB looming large I felt I really needed to make the effort. So I set off to do the Pool seven loop and, after an afternoon of torrential rain was greeted by lovely sunshine, the Chevin was glistening in the light and everything (yes, cheesy) felt right with the world. And, that's when I realised why I run, its so uplifting, and its outdoors in fabulous scenery and its just really, really good.
Sunday 5 July 2009
East Carlton Nine
No Wimbledon marathon for me today, infact, because the tennis went on so long I had to cut my planned 13 mile run down to 9. Still, ran a good solid run - Menston, Guiseley, Yeadon, East Carlton and home. Didn't take any drink as I usually do on this run and did it all in one go - no stops. Felt good! 
The old church in East Carlton
Saturday 4 July 2009
Seven
'Longest' (and only second) run since WHW. The old, familiar, Burley 'Menst'. Despite another really hot, sultry day (at least it was sitting in the office revising for my RHS exam next week), the run itself was quite cool, made easy by the breeze and was easy and enjoyable.
Hopefully about 13 tomorrow.
Hopefully about 13 tomorrow.
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