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| Tonights target (see the transmitter?)... |
As today was the longest day of the year, I had planned to run in the evening and take the opportunity of one of the 'office runs' - the climb to the top of Croker Hill and back - a round trip of 10.5 miles. The transmitter that sits atop Croker Hill is visible from miles around and at 1325 feet makes up one of the hills on the Gritstone Trail.
With the office at roughly 425 feet this meant a climb of 900 feet. The first mile and a half is mainly downhill to the canal (I'm supposing to be going up!). Then once on the canal (see yesterday's lunchtime run) it was a nice 2 mile run along to the junction of the road which leads to the start of the climb. At the junction is an old swing bridge which turns to allow boats through on the canal. I arrived there just as a boat had gone through so didn't have to wait long. The real climb started now in the final 2 miles to the top.
A short climb up the country lane and then the sharp right on to Croker Lane for the steep climb up to the Lee Hills Quarry. An old shovel from one of the old cranes serves as the sign for the entrance.
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| Lee Hills Quarry |
The lane then gave way to a gravel track with many cattle grid crossings. A few cows were giving me a hard stare (no chasing after me today!). On through the first farm and I kept getting the occasional glimpse of my final goal. The gravel path now is a more muddy affair and starts to climb more sharply before reaching Croker Farm. The farm dog went ballistic (behind the fence thankfully) as I went past.
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| Going up... |
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| Nearly there... |
In to the final half a mile or so to the top and the path continues on going up sharply. I felt as though I was expending energy for a 6 minute mile pace but actually only achieving a 10 minute mile pace. I was thinking back to a run up here in December last year in all the snow and this part of the route had knee to waist height snow! No such problems today and I finally made the top with the sun poking out behind the clouds.
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| At the top... |
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| The very top... |
Once over the top of the hill there are great views looking out towards Macclesfield forest and Shutlingsloe where I ran last Tuesday (see 14/06 post). The run was now all downhill literally speaking, down the farm lane and out on to the A54 Congleton to Buxton road. Fortunately the road was farily quiet this time of night, so didn't have to shelter from many cars. After three miles at over a 9 minute pace the next 2 miles flew past at the 7 minute pace.
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| Roadside flora... |
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| Going down... |
So after a quick descent down the A54, with a few switchback bends and past the Bosley Reservoir I ended back up on the main road to the office. I could certainly feel it on the knees after the 2 miles of fast descending. The final 2 miles back down the country lane brought me back to the office for a nice evening 10.5 miles.
Distance: 10.47 miles
Time: 1:24:04
Juneathon Total Distance: 187.02 miles
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