Proper Chrimbo and a challenge.

Happy Christmas to anyone reading (ok, that is MAINLY me. I know)
Some thoughts on the Wrekin Hills Challenge:
Take several points on a trip round the Wrekin, and provided you visit them all, you knit together a very nice - and challenging - little challenge.
Starting & finishing at the gate at the foot of the main path, visit these points in any order:
Wrekin * Ercall * Lawrence Hill * Maddocks Hill * Little Hill * Willowmoor Ridge *

I'm working on the grid refs at the moment, will add them later.
Do it, record the route, record your time and join the "club" :-)

Mortimer Forest 11/12/11

I had a bad experience at MF in '09 which resulted in my damaging my ankle and being out for most of '10, leaving me fat and demotivated. I'm still a bit fat and demotivated but at least I'm running better now, though I have a problem with slippy downhills and my stud-less Walshes don't help me at all and I'm only running in them out of a misguided sense of loyalty :-)

So.. those are the excuses posted; actually Mortimer Forest '11 was a good run. Tough as ever. The first real climb is a hands& knees scramble up a muddy bank, if you don't get well up the field it's very slow progress. That is then followed by a lot of trail running which was quite muddy in places. There is a sequence of small hills near the water facility which were not a lot of fun for the weak & feeble rubbish slidey man. I was running very well on climbs, but once on the slippery stuff all bets were off and I reckon it cost me about 10 minutes. The 2nd climb was tough as usual and by High Vinalls there were lots of hands on knees. Saw my friend Colin hiding from the elements in the trees with a camera; in any other circumstances this is slightly deviant behaviour but Colin laughs in the face of convention and anyway he would have been freezin' up there. One tortuous descent through the trees later and I was on the road home but feeling not a little disappointed that I hadn't done myself justice. But on reflection I finished in good order with no aches and pains at all so I feel I've gained revenge on this tough race. What's next? new shoe investment, for sure. Thx to Al Tye for the lovely pic :-)

Gravy Pud Fell Race 4/11

It was undeniably grim yesterday. We left home early to visit Gill's mum and for me to escape to go and run the imaginitively-titled NorthernBoysLoveGravy Gravy Pud Fell Race

.

I had planned the trip to th 'Nth' degree, even going on to Google streetview to see what the road turns looked like, where the best place was for car parking etc.

This wasn't really the issue, the issue was the weather. As we approached Stockport it began to rain a little, the nearer to Tintwistle I got, the lower the temperature was and the more the rain intensified. It went dark, and the warning signs indicating whether it was safe to use the Woodhead Pass looked like they were twitching into action. I parked up safely near the village hall which was very small an

d had more of a hint of a caravan about it. I sent a text to some friends which had more than a hint of a last will & testament about it.

All the time, rain poured off the slate roofs and ran down the m

ain street. Oh, well, I'd better find the pub then.

The pub was a very pleasant little place, just off a green space/war memorial which on a summer's day would have been very lovely. But on a day like today, well I just wanted to get inside. Every one was very friendly inside, they had the fire going etc. Top stuff! There were the day's papers to have a browse through and in the corner one intrepid runner was carbo loading with a pint before the race. Which is a bit 'ard.

To the race. The start (and finish) was along a cobbled lane which took us out onto the moor. Once upon the moor there was a sharp climb on a trail and then a drop to a narrow wooded bridge. This was not good, as not having local knowledge and being a bit of a girl I lost about 20 places cos I didn't cut the corner. Grr.

I made a few back on the climb away from the stream, and normal order was resumed until the real big climb of the day which was a hands & knees scramble up to a little cairn(Lees Hill). By this time it was hailing into the rain and stinging every part of the body not covered by cloth, and even some that was.

On the grass was a sparse covering of - yes - snow. Eek! Over the top we go - and a long, fast descent which wasn't as quick as it should have been, because of the deep slippy mud that was fast becoming a feature of the run. But I got going ok, and didn't lose any places. Yet more climb, then a patch though some trees and deep, deep water puddles/mud as we dropped down to the reservoir. I was going really well here and reeled a few in. I steeled myself for the inevitable collapse as we climbed back up to the start lane but found that once I was up the climb, though the taps were full on, I was able to maintain it all the way to the finish. Not a brilliant finish position - but I'm sure the performance is a considerable improvement on recent showings. It felt good and strong.

This was a brilliant race. My only regret is not stopping for a pint, but as hypothermia was a real prospect, it was a quick jog back to the car and true warmth :)

Winter Sun

I was out on the hill today.

The sun was shining in all its Winter glory.

The dark days are now upon us and the Winter Sun is so different to her Summer counterpart. There is no warmth in the Winter sun. She wears a coat and scarf, not a dress.

Her rays are low, bright and they bleach the landscape; green is grey, grey is black, brown is black too.

The sheep are blurred and uninterested, barely lifting their heads. The wind is sharp and it cuts through you if you're daft enough to stand still.

Your ears hurt, your toes are cold and your nose runs all the time.

Even the birds say "why me?" as they look for some shelter in the bare trees.

But the holly leaves have hardened up now in time for Christmas and the Mistletoe, well yes, that looks good too. If you see a Robin, that's a welcome dash of red.

And in a few days, the nights will start drawing out again....