To Chinley and Hayfield from Marple

Armed with my new Garmin Forerunner 10 (thankyou Steve), I have been logging my recent runs whilst I try to get the miles up in preparation for the Grindleford  Gallop in March. When I ran this in 2012 I was underprepared and ran out of steam very badly by Chatsworth. I got very cross and tired and I don't want that to happen again so preparation is the key I guess. 
Last Friday I ran from Marple to Disley via the Peak Forest Canal and then followed the Gritstone trail to Bollington. The ground was very soggy indeed and the it was slow going from Bowstones to Sponds Hill as I dodged the claggy swamps. Once at Bollington I decided to join the Macclesfied canal and continue all the way back to Marple for simplicity. By Adlington my thighs and glutes were killing me and I was running out of steam. I'd had a small snack of chocolate and a fruit bar at Bollington but it wasn't enough fuel. Lesson learned. I stopped at Higher Poynton for Ribena and a Freddo chocolate bar and in my haste to eat and drink I left my Hilly gloves on a table outside. Annoying. 
I had been aiming for modest 12 minute miles to avoid running out of steam too early but I made the mistake of unevenly pacing myself and spending the last 4 miles or so jogging lamely and whining to myself.

Still, lesson learned, I set off today armed with chocolate and plenty of jelly babies and a plan to have a small snacklet every 3-4 miles whether I wanted it or not. I wore road shoes, because most of the route was to be lanes and paths, aimed for the same pace and didn't gallop off too fast. (Not very likely in any case). Miles 2-3 are all uphill from Marple Bridge to 5 Lane Ends at the county border at the top of Mellor Moor End. I made reasonable progress and the weather was very good today. Downhill into New Mills was a nice free ride for my legs and then I crossed the Hayfield road to Laneside. I followed Laneside up and up and up. God it was steep. I did a lot of walking but if I hadn't I would have been catching the 358 bus back from Hayfield later. From Laneside I joined the track that becomes Over Hill Road, commonly known as Tesco view to GVS. I reached Chinley in 1.5 hrs (8.5 miles) and turned left at the war memorial to follow Maynestone Road, a pleasant (but uphill) little lane that leads to Peep o' Day on the Hayfield-Chapel road. At Peep o' Day I took a picture of the cracking view towards Kinder and had one of my scheduled snacks. I then followed the path across the fields to Phoside, it was very slippy and I fell over twice in the sticky mud. I could hear Tracy Vernon laughing in my mind. I was glad I didn't have to do the nasty uphill up Foxholes Clough that features in the Famous Grouse race. 
Down into Hayfield (11.5 miles 2hrs 18mins) and a quick pee stop at the Visitor Centre (because it was there). I trotted along the Sett Valley trail and as I got to 14 miles I could feel my legs getting a bit rubbery. I think I'm still only good for Half-marathon in comfort. At Thornsett I was overtaken by two mad galloping horses on the loose which was quite alarming. I went through New Mills and along the Strines Road, as I knew that the Torrs trail would be a slow mudbath. At Strines I walked up to Plucksbridge and joined the Peak Forest canal for the last few miles into Marple. It was nice to meet my old colleage Sue along the towpath and have a quick chat.
I arrived home after 4hrs 20mins or so. The auto pause on the Garmin makes you seem faster than you really are so I always look at the real time elapsed. Not too bad and almost on target. 19.69 miles in total.

Cressbrook Crawl 11-05-13

This race started at the Cressbrook Club in the lovely White Peak. There were only myself and Lee from GVS present as the Mt Famine race (too fast, too steep, too hard) was on the same day. Lots of runners came from the Eastern areas of Derbys and Notts but I didn't feel isolated as these races are always so friendly. The race itself is 6.5 miles 1100ft and I had deluded myself that it was a category C but it appeared to be upgraded to a B. The weather was ideal for running, cool and damp.


After a short road section the run drops down to Litton Mill and as we know in fell races, an early downhill preceded a very stiff climb up the other side of Millers Dale then across through fields to High Dale and along to Monsal Dale. The White Peak scenery provided a lovely contrast to the gritstone of the Dark Peak and the fields were full of cowslips and violets. However I didn't have chance to study them in detail as I was actually trying to run. Many walkers looked on in awe and wonder as idiotic middle aged people in vests bombed past them on Monsal Dale. The final section was a killer and not because of any hills, the Monsal trail is flat as flat and drained my little legs. The final climb up to the club in on road and very horrid uphill all the way. However there was a warm welcome and a lovely pint at the end which made it all worthwhile.

Kinder Downfall - The Final Episode

Sunday 14th April, 11.30am. Along with nearly 300 other lycra-clad lunatics I am standing on the bridge in Hayfield as Dave Soles, the race organiser, gives us our final instructions for the Downfall race. Nobody can say I haven't prepared; along with Ruth and Barbara I have recced the route 4 times in 6 weeks. Still, to say I am nervous would be an understatement. I have had my pre race meds to stave off the achy leg and I have all my kit ready (unlike certain other GVS members). Numbers are called for the kit check, not me or anyone else I know, and we're off! Up Kinder Road in a blur of (mainly Pennine) stripy vests and off left onto the Snake Path. I hang back, right back, I feel totally washed out at the start of fell races and tend to lag from the start. I was pleased that a lot of the runners did not run the fields to the shooting cabin, evidently saving your legs is a common strategy.

 The fast boys and girls were way, way ahead by the time we reached the narrow path above the reservoir and as we reached the bottom of William's Clough I managed to fall in the mud. We pressed on up in our little gang of 3, at the back but in sight of the rest. Looking up, the Downfall was being blown back like smoke from a factory chimney, a weird sight. A walker making his way down warned us that it was very blowy up at the top, as we neared the checkpoint at the fingerpost the wind was so strong that I could barely stand. Pressing on up to the top was very, very hard. My face was being blown about all rubbery and it was impossible to take 2 steps without clinging on. We headed slowly toward the downfall, it was quite scary close to the edge, and I put on my outer jacket as the stinging water pelted me.

Once I have crossed the downfall there is a great sense of relief, it's the turning point of the race. I caught up with 3 ladies ahead of me and felt a bit better: we were at the rear but not doing so very badly. As we ran over the gritstone towards the trig point I felt I was going quite well and even managed to capture that great sense of freedom and enjoyment that comes with fell running. We finally headed off down the stone flags and bore left down to Edale Cross and the 2nd checkpoint.

The rocky path down from Edale cross is best avoided so we made our way down over the grass then bore off to take the path on the right that leads down to the fields and Tunstead House. I managed to fall over again chasing Barbara along the narrow stony path. Did she look back? Did she heck!

Through the fields I was provoked into running like a mad person by a man who came out of the sidelines and started yelling at his wife that she could "take her out." Since they were both keen to be such winners I let them pass. That last mile along the road is a killer and I needed my legs.

The final stretch saw me hardly running. I'd totally lost any energy and plodded my way past the campsite and along the lane and across the bridge to the football pitch and the finish. I was totally elated, Barbara had finished a minute ahead and Ruth a little behind me. We did it! Now, when's the next one?

Cracken Edge, South Head and round the Roych

I set off from the car park in Whaley at 9am today in the company of Ade, Dave and Tracey. I had planned a route to go up from Buxworth, over Cracken Edge and to South Head. It had snowed again in the night and though it looks pretty on the hills I wish it would turn a little more Springlike now.

Tracey at South Head

We set off along the canal to Buxworth then up across the fields, with a bit of messing around (my fault) and up the steep lanes to join the track to Cracken Edge. Tracey and I followed the bridleway round to Peep o' Day, the boys went via Big Stone and we met at the road. We crossed the main road and climbed up the track to South Head. Once again, the boys showed their mettle by going up to the summit whilst Tracey and I toiled round the track. I will not bore you with the excuses (my stiff leg, Tracey's chest) but suffice to say my progress was slow.

Ade and Dave run down from South Head

We continued along the bridleway all the way via Roych Clough (fell over here in the mud, again) until it meets the main road that leads to Mam Tor. We then dropped down towards Chinley and picked up the tram track to return. By this time I was absolutely knackered and could scarcely run so Tracey and I pottered back to Whaley and let the boys run on.

Time nearly 4 hours. Views stunning.

Kinder Downfall pt 2: The Mummies Return

Ruth and Barbara looking windswept

So what should a Mum like me expect to do on Mothering Sunday? A spa day? Shopping in town? A lovely   
meal? A 10 mile run round Kinder?
Yes, you are correct. Ruth, Barbara and I set off from Hayfield for the second stage of our training for the Kinder Downfall race.
A small amount of snow had fallen, not enough to be troublesome, but it was incredibly cold and icy and the wind was bitter.
We aimed to make better progress than last week but conditions underfoot were treacherous. By the time we reached the shooting cabin I had already fallen over (in front of a group of girl guides). As we progressed up Williams Clough the ice got worse and the wind blew even stronger once we reached the top. I was wearing 4 layers of clothing which I have never done before. We paused near the trig point for flapjacks and toffee crisp pieces to keep our energy levels up.
It was still stunning though and the views were marvellous, thank goodness it was dry and no low cloud to obscure the path.
It was a relief to reach Edale Cross and shelter. The path down was too slippery to run at all. It is a nasty path littered with broken rock at the best of times.
Back down to Hayfield and straight home for hot showers. Time nearly 3 hrs.

Kinder Downfall

A lovely bright Spring day again and Ruth, Barbara, Tess the dog and I set off to recce the Kinder Downfall race route. We have all entered this race and hope not to keep the marshals waiting too long at the finish line.  The initial run up out of Hayfield up to the shooting cabin above the reservoir is not too steep but then comes the leg busting, rocky, hop and skip climb up Williams Clough. Once that's done it's up up up again to the top of Kinder and the Downfall. There was still plenty of snow on the ground which made the uphills very tricky. The views are stunning though and there is such exhilaration in running up so high and free. We met a few familiar faces up there and got some race tips from the Buckleys of Glossopdale who I had spoken to at parkrun yesterday The descent from Edale Cross passed rapidly but our legs were like rubber on the lane back down by the campsite. Paul had passed us on the route, being a speedy chap, and he was waiting at the Royal in Hayfield where we had a well-earned drink outside. A lovely end to a great morning run out.

Marple Parkrun

Along the riverbank

A lovely crisp, bright morning and I decided to go down to Brabyn's Park for the parkrun. I always enjoy Marple parkrun, there is a good atmosphere and the slight competitive feeling makes me run faster than I would normally do. No mud today, it has been dry for a week, so I pelted round as fast as seemed reasonable given the still twinging right hamstring/nerve pain. Finished in 27.22 which is my best this year but could do better (of course).