A trig point & a cabin

The route for today's run took us over Chunal Moor, starting with the climb up to Wormstones crag from Gnat Hole. Views over to Glossop are superb from up there. On the way up we were joined by the cuck-oo cuck-oo call of a cuckoo down in The Twitchlins, a cluster of trees at the bottom of Whitehorn Clough.

At Wormstones crag

Continuing on we reached Harry Hut trig point at 440m, so a climb of about 225m in 1.6km...a superb challenge for us all and rewarded by views up to the Kinder Plateau.

Approaching Harry Hut trig point

From the trig point I took us on a little trod (sheep track/little path for runners delights) across the top end of Whitehorn Clough, and down Chunal Moor to the shooting cabin. Along the way we saw a few grouse and a few hairy caterpillars.

I think this might be an Oak Eggar?

http://ukmoths.org.uk/show.php?bf=1637 please correct me if you can correctly identify this little one.

Dropping down the moor to the shooting cabin we practiced our downhill aeroplanes - a great technique for giving you balance on descents.

Aeroplanes

Looking back to Wormstones from the cabin

From here we were able to enjoy the downhill path towards Brae Clough and back to the road at Derbyshire Level. The predicted rain didn't arrive - we even had to stop to take off jackets it was so warm!

View from road showing most of today's route on a sunny Chunal Moor

Three Sunny Trigs & Tortuous Tufty Tussocks

In my diary I have a plan for my upcoming runs. They track alongside the goals I have set for myself this year. One thing that's slipped recently has been the fortnightly long runs. Two weeks ago I did a 16km run (including an ascent of Kirk Fell in the Lake District so lots of walking), the week previous 15km, then before that we have to go right back to the middle of March for a 20km run. These facts did not please me, as my aim for the end of June is to run (as comfortably and strong as possible) around the Edale Skyline (35km), and I'm aiming for under 5 hours.

A review of my goals for the year was just the wake up call I needed.

It's no surprise, and I don't mind at all, that my own training has taken a back seat. Since qualifying as an off-road leader in running fitness, and qualifying as a personal trainer, I've been taking out groups and doing one-to-one runs with clients on a very regular basis. Because of this, my average weekly distance is about the same. I'm just not getting my own long runs in. It's all part of the settling in process to my new line of work.

But, to reach my goals I need to push outside of the comfort zone. And that's what today was all about.

For today's run I only had a vague route in mind, and had only roughly worked out distance. I didn't want the constrains of knowing I had Xkm to do, and a specific set route to follow. The only things to tick off today were time (around 3-4 hours), distance (20km would be good, 25km superb), rougher ground than I normally run on, and finally, more ascent than I would usually plan into a long route. I was going to be pushing myself outside of that comfort zone.

The run was tough. My whole body feels shattered. But, I am thoroughly pleased that I continued to push throughout the run. There were several points where it would have been easy to cut the route short and head home. This was compounded by the searing heat and sun beating down on me. I had no shade except for the very first kilometre and a small pause by a beautiful rock formation on the North edge of Kinder.

I'll share the photos now, I think you'll agree it was a grand run out onto Bleaklow, Kinder and back to Glossop. 22.2km with 1096m of ascent in 3hrs 18.

the first climb from Spring Cabin to James Thorn

Nearing Lower Shelf Stones, looking back to James Thorn with Glossop in background

Higher Shelf Stones trig point (621m)

Already feeling hot, just 6km done. Higher Shelf Stones in background as I run along Crooked Clough

Waterfall in Crooked Clough with Higher Shelf Stones in background

Signposts at Snake Summit, looking South

Featherbed Moss

Thousands of cloudberries on Featherbed Moss

Dropping down  into Ashop Clough, Kinder North edge looming up above....I'm about to go up that!

The North edge of Kinder a little closer

But it's hard going as I'm contending with knee high grass tussocks

Nether Red Brook - I'm aiming to the West of this, you can see the steepness of the climb I'm facing 

I made it....I'm on the North edge of Kinder - from here I bashed across the moor over many many peat groughs and boggy dammed groughs. Proper hands pulling on heather in parts, and slip sliding down steep groughs. Loads of fun.

Sandy Heys trig point (624m)

Superb running on the drop down from Sandy Heys towards Kinder Reservoir

Then the long climb back up to Mill Hill via William Clough

William Clough

My third trig point of the day, Harry Hut (440m)

Glossop nestled below Chunal Moor

If you want to see the route I took head over to strava - there's a link to my stats at the right hand side, towards to top of this blog.

Easy does it

I did a long run yesterday, 22km in fact, and did I have two short guided runs scheduled for today but both of those plans fell through. It would have been really easy to just do the rest of my work and then potter around for the remainder of the day, enjoying a surprise 'rest day'. But wait. The sun was shining, and my legs didn't feel all that tired. Amazing. I could feel overall tiredness in my body which you'd expect from a week with 37km running, three x30 minute sessions on the turbo, a very brisk 6km walk, plus walking to town and back about 5 times. But, I actually felt like going for a run.

So, I set myself a rough plan to go up to Wormstones, a small outcrop of rock above Glossop, and about 3.5km from home. If I felt good at the 2.5km mark I would have a steady run/walk up the incline to the crag. My legs felt great on the way up. Yes, I wasn't pushing, and yes I was enjoying the bits I walked. Isn't that what it's all about on days like today. 

A damp peaty boggy path

As I reached Wormstones I just couldn't resist going that bit further and onward to the trig point at Harry Hut...

The trig point at Harry Hut, Kinder plateau just visible in the background.

I contemplated carrying on upwards, picking up the flagstones then turning left, and soon after left again to bring me down via Chunal cabin....but I wanted to enjoy the downhill section I'd just climbed, back the way I came it was. After a couple of minutes soaking in the view and taking a few photos I turned and headed down. The ground was very wet, surprisingly so given last night was dry and my run earlier in the week on similar terrain had me trying to figure out how the ground had dried out so much. Not here though. Even on the mowed sections of heather the ground were sodden. Lovely to run on though, I will have to pop back up there more often, especially before the heather grows too much.

Wormstones crag just sticking up next to the path...with Glossop way down below.

I surprised myself with the time it took me, I'd had a very relaxed approach to the run today and still managed to cover 8.5km in just over an hour. I have the idea now that I could probably do this route in under an hour...if I take off the stop at the trig point, the stops to take photos, and push a little on the climbs it seems very possible. We'll see next time! I guess it will depend if I'm after a challenge or a steady run.

10km

That was the aim and that's what I did. I was also aiming for 500m ascent in there too, and on the route I'd planned online it had about 489m so I thought it was pretty much in the bag as long as I kept one foot going in front of the other. Not so...the garmin showed only 393m elevation gain. Mildly disappointing, but I know for that route another time.

The route took me along Derbyshire Level and up the lovely track and path to the Shooting Cabin below the grouse butts. Under foot the path was still pretty hard packed even after the rain we've had in the past week or so. I stopped for a few minutes to take in the view and catch my breath. Once again the uphill route and yet another headwind would not allow my lungs to relax. I'd taken my inhaler before setting off but needed it before I reached the gate onto the path. I tried with the buff over my mouth again but found after 4 or 5 breathes that I was just needing fresh air. Trying to stick to my 50paces running, 50 walking I  headed up the hill behind the Shooting Cabin. The path was a bit off to the right so I bashed through the heather for 100m, stumbling upon a rather large caterpillar. Maybe one of these?

Drinker Caterpillar

But I'm no expert so if anyone knows what sort of big hairy caterpillars are around on Kinder let me know.

Not much further along the path and I'm buzzed by two curlews chirping away. They're classed as a large wader but breed on damp grassland and moors...I wonder if I was a little close to their nest?  Moving up a little more and I get spooked by, and spook, a grouse!

Still struggling for breath heading up I'm pleased the ground is softening...sticking to the edge of the path I avoid the worst of the bogs, but dodging them takes more effort and concentration. I guess I'm gonna be swollowed by one at some point, until then I'll keep avoiding them!  At last I reach the paved path and can enjoy some speed on the top. I contemplated adding a short trip to Mill Hill but stick to my route and known distance. I'll keep that one for next time, knowing it will be tempting to head North(ish) along the Pennine Way and across to Bleaklow/Doctors Gate...the possibilities for running routes is a little mindblowing and quite distracting!  Must get my fitness up so I can just go run run run.

Bogs along the path up to Harry Hut were growing in size. Thankfully my breaks work or one would have swallowed me good and proper! I'm past the stage of liking having clean shoes, it's not that I worry about. I'd just rather not be waist deep and sinking all alone up on Kinder! At the trig point I paused for a moment or two, taking in the view on this gloriously sunny day...then big breath in and on my way down down down, past Wormstones and on to Gnat Hole. Looking at some photos online there's some great images of the path down in winter....in a weird way I can't wait for those conditions.

A small exploration of the Gnat Hole paths was had; the path is covered in leaves, mud and tree roots - not ideal when my left ITB around the knee was giving me some minor pain. Back to the road and trying to get a rhythm of 50paces running, 50 walking. Determined to stick to that but not quite managing it on the uphill stretch. Along the flat I was noticing my knee a little more, perhaps the tarmac hardness wasn't doing it much good. I returned home via Jumble (don't you just love the name of that place) to a well earned massage and ice application on the knee. Resting up now, contemplating how I can get my breathing better/easier.

Total time: 01:23:10
Moving time: 01:18:19
Elevation gained: 393m
Distance: 10.01km
Avg HR: 168bpm
Max HR: 183bpm