Day 15 - Running down the main road

Main road running!

I felt very tired this morning mainly due to a) the prior evening's run, b) fiddling around with the blog and c) getting up at 5:30! I wanted to get todays run done first thing so it wasn't at the back of my mind for the rest of the day. I had decided on a road 10 miler which is an extension of the 'Fruit Farm Loop' of 8 miles. The first 3 miles are down a country lane, then on to the slightly wider lane that leads through the village of Plumley. The route took me past the turn off that I usually take and straight up to the busy A556. The legs felt a little tired at first but once warmed up, I was keeping a good 7:15 to 7:30 pace.

The turn on to the A556 brought together a completely different environment from last nights peace and tranqulity of the forsest and hills. Fortunately the lorries speeding past created a nice breeze and helped to cool me down, it was very humid this morning, the temperature was already 15 C at 5:50 when I left. The main road running lasted for a 2 mile stretch, the highlight was observing the amount of discarded drinks containers and the like on the grass verge by the side of the pavement! It seems perfectly acceptable to some people that it is permissible to treat the side of the road as their personal rubbish bin!!

Off the main road and the next mile and a half on the road back into Knutsford. I took a circuituous route down through the town and out the other side towards home to ensure I clocked up the full 10 miles (didn't want any of this 9.87 miles nonsense today!). Finally home feeling very sweaty.. nice.. half way done now, only the same again to follow...

Stats
Distance: 10.03 miles
Time: 1:14:27
Juneathon Total Distance: 130.86 miles

Day 14 - Up a big hill!

I was all changed to go running this morning but needed to connect to the server in the office first to check on the progress of some overnight changes. Damn! an error to fix, it needed to be sorted there and then so had to put the run on hold. I'll have to go in the evening again (2 days in a row). The weather was glorious today so was disapointed to have not gone out in the morning. Lunchtime brought a welcome change with a trip to the pub as we had a client in the office today. 'Are you having a drink?' 'Oh go on then I'll have a pint!' I've got plenty of time for the effects to wear off before the evening run (what a lightweight!).

With the office quite close to Macclesfield, I thought I would drive up to Macc Forest and hit the trails. There is some great running to be had, with a myriad of trails winding high up to the top of the forest. I parked up and headed off, running around Ridgegate Reservoir, then onto the big climb. The trails were in good condition and cater for mountain bikes so are mainly gravel. I decided the goal was to climb all the way to the top of Shutlingsloe (the highest point in Cheshire at 506m or 1660ft in English money!) Starting off at around 750ft I knew I was in for a good hilly test!

Going up...

...and up!

I wound my way up the trail gradually climbing at around 10min per mile pace. Once at the top of the forest I got to the gate that leads to the stepping stones that lead across the marshy fields all the way to the bottom of the final steep climb to the top of Shutlingsloe. The final 200 metres are hands on knees stuff, climbing up the large boulders to the top. Once at the top a quick breather to admire the view!

Stepping stones...

...at the top!

Having worked one set of muscles, it was the turn for a different set on the descent back down through the forest. I think steep descending can be just as hard (even harder) then going up. I took it steady going down across the stepping stones, there were lots of loose stones and sand, ideal for slipping over. Now back down into the forest I took the right trail to go around the other side. Flying down the gravel tracks a couple of mountain bikers flew past! Out to the furthest point of the forest, there is a great view of the Buxton road weaving it's way up to the Cat and Fiddle pub. A left turn onto the steep road and back on to the trail for the final descent down to the reservoir.

Going down...

...across a brook

The trails are narrow now and wind through the trees, lots of stones and routes, this is what running is all about!! Finally the trail leads back out on to the road and the final half a mile back to the reservoir and the car. Phew, that was a good 6 miles in just under an hour!

Stats

Distance: 6.07 miles

Time: 58:09

Juneathon Total Distance: 120.83 miles

Day 13 - Evening cow racing!

After the abysmal weather at the weekend, today's offerings could only be better. Due to work commitments my only chance for a run today was in the evening. Thankfully the weather improved and the run looked set to be a good one. The plan was for a mainly off road 4-5 miles, nothing too strenuous after the 30 miles total at the weekend. I set off and headed towards a path where I remembered there was another wooden animal carving (an owl this time), not the best photo due to the sun!

On through the farm and across the field where the loop would make a figure 8 course. The field was full of cow pats, which I did my best to avoid but then suddenly felt myself falling as I slid straight across the top of one. With flailing arms I managed to keep my balance and continue on! Once into the next field a lively herd of cows in the adjacent field fancied their changes and 'sprinted' alongside me. I was truly beaten - cows can certainly move!

Racing ladies!

I kept a steady pace, around 7:30 to 8:00 mins per mile across the field to the top of the figure 8 and then returned back down the country lane. Through the farm which was eminating a large manure type smell and back on the trail leading toward Toft Hall. The legs felt a little tired, nothing too much so gently ran in the last mile. I had to stop and take one more photo, it was truly a great evening for a run!

Toft Hall fishing lake

13/06/2011 Stats

Distance: 5.16 miles

Time: 40:22

Juneathon Total Distance: 114.76 miles

Day 12 - Sun then rain!

After a faster paced run yesterday, today's run was always going to be a slower affair. Having seen the weather forecast for the expected rain, I figured if I was out by 8 and back by 11, I would manage to avoid the rain and get a long(ish) run in.  I had a fair idea of todays route, out towards the canal, through Dunham Massey and back through Tatton Park. I hadn't got round to calculating the exact distance but predicted it be in the 16 mile range.

Off I set down Leigh Road past the large gated houses (for you movie buffs, this road was used in the film Empire of the Sun to represent a road during WWII in Shanghai). Through the centre of town and out towards the A556 via Mereside Road, another road with even larger gated houses, home to the occasional footballer and lawyer. The pavement consisted of rough cobbles so extra caution was needed. The pace was still a little quicker than I had planned, around 7:30 pace, this would soon come down once I had reached the 8 mile point and the canal.

Once over the A556 the route winds down the country lanes towards the little villages of Agden and Millington and onwards towards Little Bollington. At around 6.5 miles the lane goes under the M56 where there used to stand a Methodist Chapel from 1834. With the onset of the motorway the building was demolished in 1972, the only reminder now is the plaque which adorns the site.

Another mile on and the lane has a couple of steep up and downs, at the top of the hill it affords a great view towards the hills in the distance at the start of the Peak District. The sun was still out but the grey clouds were not far away, rain was definitely imminent! Across the main road and the lane leads down to the curiously named pub 'Swan with Two Nicks'. Not wanting to become a roadsign photographer I thought I would still grab a quick picture. One of the two signs had been 'altered' and a strategically placed letter 'D' replacing one of the letters (I'll let you figure that one out!). In the interest of keeping the blog respectable I took a picture of the unchanged sign!

I finally got to the canal which is approached by a steep cobbled lane at exactly the 8 mile point in just over an hour. Along the canal towards Dunham Massey, the canal very busy with walkers and boats ambling along the canal. I knew the general direction I needed to go in and there were several options to leave the canal. Gambling on the path needed, it turned out to be the correct one which led me throught the pretty village of Dunham. Over the ladder stile and I was into Dunham Massey Park, a National Trust house set in a large deer park. There are lots of good trails and photo opportunities!

 

The aim now was to weave my way out of the park and head back towards the motorway via trails and field crossings. Turning out of the park at mile 10 I was faced with a mile and a half running on the top of a grassy embankment littered with rabbit holes and copious amounts of cow pats. The wind was very strong now, the sun had departed and what started as a nice sunny morning was quickly diminishing. On to the Bollin Valley Way and the route takes in some nice trails along the river Bollin.

The next mile (mile 12) took in a convoluted route across fields, over the motorway slip road via a farmer's bridge and through a delapidated farm, hence the 10 minute pace. Once through the farm I was back onto the country lanes and I had to consult my map on my phone to check the correct route to take me into the village of Rostherne. I wanted to ensure I took the right lane as there were many options. Having covered 14 miles already I knew there should be at least another 5 miles before I got home, so wanted to avoid any extra miles!

Today they were holding the Race For Life 5K in Tatton Park so I was passed by a constant stream of cars making there way towards the park. Entering the top of the park, I was back on very familiar territory and knew there were 4 miles to go. The rain had now started, I upped the pace on the long gradual downhill (turned out to be the quickest mile at 7:09) past the queuing cars. Once out of the shelter of the trees I was out in to the most exposed part of the park. The wind was howling and the rain now horizontal, I could feel my arms becoming numb (a quick check on the date - yes this was June).

Out of the park and back through the town and home for 19 miles exactly, that was a tough one! I got inside and my daughter said 'what have you done to your leg', 'oh nothing' I replied, glancing down to reveal a good couple of scratches - the perils of trail running!

12/06/2011 Stats

Distance: 19.05 miles

Time: 2:32:16

Juneathon Total Distance: 109.60 miles

Day 11 - Zoooom!!!

A small lie in today (7:30) then out the door for day 11 of the Juneathon. The planned route was another of my 'default' loops more commonly known as the 'deaf dog loop' because of the deaf dog that lived on a farm on the route. The 10 mile route took me out of Knustford along the country lanes towards Jodrell Bank, through Over Peover and back in to Knutsford. The first couple of miles along the main road felt quiet brisk but not too fast. On to the country lane that led me past Jodrell Bank, must take a quick picture!

On I went and the monotone voice of the 'Endomondo woman' (as my wife calls her) signified mile 5 done in 6:47. That's a bit quick I thought, but everything felt good so I decided to keep the pace going. I then took the left turn to take me through the village of Over Peover. A couple of minutes later I'm thinking 'you should have carried straight on, this is not the right way!'. I knew I could just carry straight on then a right turn would eventually bring me back on to the lane I would have been on. I figured this would add an extra mile, 11 miles instead of 10, an extra mile's not going to kill me!!

I've been getting into the habit of taking photographs on my runs, so thought I would try a couple of experimental shots of me running along. I think they are ok (I'll let you be the judge of that) here they are anyway!

The miles kept ticking by at sub 7 pace, I was actually enjoying the faster road pace (still prefer the off-road jaunts really). Along the final lane and then back onto the main road for the last couple of miles, sure enough I got to the 10th mile at the point where there is one mile left to go. The 'endomondo woman' signified 1:10:03 for the 10 miles! Wound down the pace for the final mile and if it hadn't been for a stream of cars that I had to wait for would still have been sub 7! A very enjoyable run at a pace I hadn't planned on, a slower run on the cards for tomorrow when I should break through the 100 mile barrier!

For all you statisticians out there, here are the mile splits from the run (rubs hands - Oooh Stats!)

Stats

Distance: 11.04 miles

Time: 1:17:34

Juneathon Total Distance: 90.55 miles

Day 10 - Running the Gawsworth lanes and paths

So, back to lunchtime running today and a quick visit to the new Waitrose (very exciting) and I picked up a chocolate twist to consume before the run! I had running company today with my boss who is training for the Chester marathon. We agreed on a 6 miler around the country lanes of Gawsworth, a great route we have run many times. No repeat of the rain showers from the previous days, so a sunny run was on the cards.

We were aiming for around 8 minute miling today, nothing too silly. Off we went up the first hill to the main road, carefully crossed, then down the strangely named Tidnock Lane. This is a very narrow lane which eventually turns into a track and then a deep rutted rocky path once through the farm. A nice undulating track takes us toward a sharp right across a field and out on to another lane.

The sun was fully out now and a good couple of hilly miles lead us back down to the main road again. This lead us down the even oddly named Maggotty Lane into the village of Gawsworth. The route winds past the very picturesque Gawsworth Hall and lake, leading us back to the off road route towards the office.

The path is one of a number of routes in the area that dates back to the 1960's and is covered by the Peak District & Northen Counties Footpaths Preservation Society. This path goes across several farmers fields, numerous stile crossings and past a fishing lake which was busy today with many anglers.

The pace had slowed a bit now due to the knee high grass which required a bit of wading through. We finally got off the path and up the final hill to the office, a final jostling of postions and glancing at each other as we pushed the pace for the final 100 metres. Well the legs have held up nicely and are now a third of the way through. A longer run is planned at the weekend, Sunday is not looking good, so it may be a very wet one!

Stats
Distance: 5.97 miles
Time: 49:02
Juneathon Total Distance: 79.51 miles

Day 9 - What time is it?

I was ready for a good run this morning, not quite sure of the distance but I had a rough route in mind. So off I set at 5:59 (yes - out of the door before 6!) for the first couple of miles along the main road. The route then took me off road along the trail leading up to Peover Hall. The path then enables you to run through part of the gardens and past the church before which there is a great sundial (see above).

I had decided at this point the loop that I was going to run and figured it was around 8 miles. There are numerous options to choose from here of varying distances. So once out of the gardens a small country lane takes you into the village of Over Peover itself. It is a short run through the village towards Colshaw Hall and then a sharp right onto a bridle path. I noticed the great wood carving at the entrance and after photgraphing King Canute on Monday had to add this photo to the blog. I know of a few other great wood carvings in the area so will try to run past these in the coming weeks.

Onto the bridle path and the phone beeped signifying the 5 mile point had been reached in 38 and a half minutes. I was pleased with the consistent pace that I had achieved over the course of the last week or so. The path then goes through a gate and across a field, which this morning was full of sheep of various sizes, making for a zig zagging route so as not to upset them too much! Out of the field and past another 'landmark' - a water tower dating back to the late fifties, which is visible from miles around.

The final trail deposited me back on the country lane with a final 2 and a half mile 'burst' back along the main road to home. Mile 7 and 8 both run in sub 7:30 pace ending up with an 8.75 mile run. The legs felt good today and an enjoyable morning run to set me up for the day. Tomorrow will bring up one third of the challenge done...

Stats

Distance: 8.75 miles

Time: 1:06:45

Juneathon Total Distance: 73.54 miles