The Walker With Heart

No, not a post apocalyptic religious loon post... I've been looking forward to Rivington, it was going to be hard, cold work and definitely more of a speed hike than a run (my kit sorted that out).  It was cancelled for the best of reasons, safety... According to the excellent information the organisers couldn't get the car up to the start or the feed stations, so apart from no food, if any of us had come a cropper we'd have had problems getting out! So the paths around home are in a more dangerous state than I care to run in - yes that sounds odd, but on flat pavements with ice in patches I'd be at more risk than on a hill... It's the patches that would get me... which leaves me grumpy, on a mild carbo-high and champing at the bit to do something!!! I also have an essay due in on Thursday, so having to concentrate instead of just running is doing my head in... Oh well, there's plenty out there that does my head in (a mild rant - R...

The fun in the fens was freezing, a howling wind driving sleet and snow into our faces... However, it was a damn good course and I ran very well for someone with as little training in as I have at the moment.  My second fastest Half, in hostile conditions - I can live with that:-) The rest of the week has been my usual mix of busyness with work and busyness with charity stuff... and a run... The Midshires Way is a fairly big trail.. Though based on the conditions underfoot it isn't used much in winter, and I can see why.  In trail shoes I should be able to keep moving forwards, rather than 3 forward and 1 sideways.... I felt a bit better when I saw a sheep goes sideways down a hill... So not fast, but tough.  A night at an excellent youth hostel and the rest of the Monsal Trail saw me into Bakewell in time for an early lunch, a mooch around the shops and then back to Liverpool for some cross-training - or Ceilidh dancing as its otherwise known. All went well...

This was my fun run, a gentle 10 miles over and around some of my favourite countryside. Nothing special. And I smiled and I loved it. Yes, my pack was overloaded (trying to do an overnight with a 20l running sack was a push).  Yes, I was slower than I should be (must remember to focus). However, up past North Lees Hall (home to the Eyres) and through some damn fine bouldering - I was amazed a climber was up and cranking as I went past (ok, they could drive up closer than me).  Up through the cleft up onto the Edge itself, and then the hopscotch began... From rock, to rock, via bog and clumps of snow.  It wasn't fast at all, just gentle plodding, faster than I'd walk; slower than I'd run. Then across to Burbage Rocks, more hopscotch or the gentler path?  For once I took the gentler path, half a mind on next weekends, and meandered down, along the road for a bit before the detour to Millstone Edge, a cut down through...

Ok, The training's not been brilliant, in fact compared with most years it's pretty much non-existent... But the next two biggies aren't the target for the year... Focus... The main target is 100 miles in 3 and a bit days in August. Focus... All of this is just training, just getting the kit right, just getting me right... Focus... Two good runs this week, a 10k and a 5 miler... Both after long days in the office, both on nights where the easiest thing would've been to stay in and do something else instead. Focus... This weekend is mainly fun, a 10 mile run up to and along the edges over Hathersage. Speed isn't the issue, getting the 10 miles in my legs is. Focus... I need to get my fuel and hydration back to how good it was - I'm not bad, but I can, and must, do better - mainly drink more when running and afterwards. Focus... So, on to Fun in the Fens - The Cambridge Half Marathon , followed 2 weeks later by Raptur...