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Last nights RATRun was from an old favourite, The Cock and Pullet in Sheldon. The planned route was going to have 2,000 feet of ascent and even though my hamstring felt OK'ish I was going to just have a gentle trot around the fields on my own. However there were only four of us, one of which has an iffy calf, so we all went on a compromise steady route.
With a strong, cold, north westerly wind blowing in icy drizzle we set off over firmer than expected fields to Magpie Mine. On to Once A Week quarry and down to Horse Lane. Along the very lightly used concessionary path to Ricklow Dale, down into Lathkill Dale and up Bagshaw Dale behind Monyash. More fields to Nursery Fields Farm and on to Johnson Lane Farm followed by half a mile of tarmac back to Sheldon.
Just over 6.5 miles, a measly 459 feet in 1hr.
Huge portions of delicious, reasonably priced cheesy chips, proper cheese because Clair likes us, were washed down with equally good Farmers Blonde 4% from Bradfield Brewery. The same beer as last week but 60p per pint cheaper than The Ashford Arms which is no more than a mile away, as the crow flies!
The hamstring felt OK after yesterdays ride and run but is very sore now as I have been to see Charlie Baker, of On The Back Foot fell running podcast fame, who has massaged it, and everything around it, with his razor fingers!
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Sometimes, I feel the need to simply head up onto a fell, to sit and slurp a coffee from a flask, and munch some sandwiches, while leisurely taking in the vista. No beads of sweat, rolling down the forehead, or heaving chest, and certainly without a nagging desire to flatter the watch, and speed off again. Today was one of those days.
So...fellWALK, from the Grammar School in Kirkby Stephen, along the Yomp Route (slight detour to Bullgill) and then up onto Wildboar, to savour the views from the lee of the trig and shelter. Then return back to Kirkby, with a further detour to Nateby and Hartley. 17.78 miles.
Cool, stiff NNW wind and the occasional brief shower, but the gods smiled on me at the summit, serving an interlude of sunshine and stunning 360 degree views, to the coast to the west and the Lakes and Pennine ridge (Crossfell to the 3 Peaks). After Kirkby, not a soul spotted, other than half a dozen fellponies.
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Club night.
Quite a decent atmosphere tonight in our group... couple of guys having had a good London Marathon... myself reporting back after a weekend of racing... the Uni guys back from easter break... and a couple looking forward to racing this weekend at the Cov Half Marathon and the BMC track meeting.
Tonight was 5 x 600 metres.
After the weekend's efforts i couldn't face the full session so i only did reps 1,3,5.... meaning a long rest between the reps.
1:55
1:53
1:50
Pretty pleased with that... 1:50 is down towards 73sec lap pace.... ok it was long rests, but getting close to my usual 400mtr pace.
Finished off with 5 x 60mtr sprints.
10 miles for the session, and 3 miles easy this morning.
I can't face a hill session yet, so the club session for the weekend is simply a parkrun. So assuming i feel ok i'll give that a bash... whether i'll be able to knock out a pb after last weekend, it might be a stretch too far... but i'm hopeful of having a decent run out.
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Trip to the Lakes.
Bowscale to Bowscale tarn, then up the corrie wall and onto Bowscale Fell, and following the ridge to Bannerale Crags, dropping down to Glenduramekin beck, and up Southerfell and along, then down to just above Mungrisedale, crossing the beck again and through the boggy ground and the path up and over to Raven Crags, climbing up the ridge, edging the 'corrie' and down again to Bowscale. 7.55 miles, 3061 feet, 3 hrs 12 mins. 'Hot', but pleasant NE wind on the ridges. Glad I put some suncream on.
It's been a while since I last visited what used to be a regular running area for me, and I was surprised how busy it was even on a Thursday in early May. There seem to be several coach loads of kids studying Geomorphology (?) on the path up to the tarm, and another lot joined when I arrived back at the car.
A discrete dip in the Caldew river afterwards was much welcome.
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I did an epic run in a similar area, probably 5 or 6 winters ago...
Starting in Mungrisedale, i think i took in Souther Fell, Mungrisedale Common, Bannerdale and Bowscale, Carrock Fell (basically the reserve of the descent of it in the Old Crown Round... never again!), High Pike, then a long trek round Lingy Hill and Little Calva, up on to Bakestall, then back to Keswick over Skiddaw.
Certainly one for the memory bank... was a cold day and it was absolutely torrid by the time i reached Skiddaw and light began to fade... was certainly good to get back to the warmth of Keswick.
A great area to be out in.