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.

Kinder Downfall fell race recce

Sunday was a glorious day, sunshine and a cool breeze - perfect for running in the hills.  I'd arranged to run the Kinder Downfall race route with a friend, just to get a feel for how I'll get on during the race which is coming up on 22 April. To my delight Beryl and Carl from Glossopdale Harriers joined us so their past experience of this race was going to be useful in learning a few quicker lines around the edge of Kinder.

The race is about 16km with around 600m of ascent. The route is mostly uphill from the start to about the 5km mark, then it undulates round the edge to Kinder Low and for the last 5km or so it descends back down to Hayfield.

My reason for reccying the route was because I was curious to know how long it would take me, I've done bits of the route before, just not in one go. It's not a route I needed to worry about navigation on either, knowing the area and all the paths removes that obstacle.

I'd mentally broken the ascent into three sections - up the Snake Path to the White Cabin (followed by the short sharp descent to the reservoir), then up William Clough, a short slight drop to the bottom of the final brutal climb up to the top of Kinder corner. The run wasn't about speed, I was just out to get a feel for the climbs and see how a bimble-run time would compare to previous results.

Heading up William Clough - the second of the three uphill sections

Beryl almost at the top of William Clough

Near the top of the final climb to Kinder corner.

Carl is looking back northwest as I've just spotted Tim + two other runners + dog. We'd dropped them off at Monks Road on the way over to Hayfield. We later heard they'd run towards Little Hayfield then over to Sandy Heys. A decent leg stretch for Tim considering he ran 38km only a couple of days before.

Me and my shadow....looking back towards Kinder corner with Mermaids Pool clearly visible

The edge path...undulations and rocks....important to pick your feet up or risk tripping

Leaving Edale Cross behind we head off down to Hayfield

This run was the second outing for new fell shoes - INOV8 x-talon 212's. I have to say, they are very comfortable, light and grippy. Just what you need in the hills, though in the dry conditions on this run did give me a bruised heel a few days later. I'll have to consider the shoe options carefully on race day.

It was a stunning day to be out running. I did more eating and drinking practice (to avoid the cramp scenario like I got at the end of Kinder Trial) and felt really strong. We rolled back into what will be the finish area down near Hayfield cricket ground after about 2hrs 15mins and 15km. There were plenty of stops to check out better lines, trods and just to enjoy the views. I'll be aiming to run into the finishing funnel in under 2 hours on race day. Wish me luck!!

Round up

Busy few days ...did an hours recovery on the turbo on 25th, then caving in Bagshaw Cavern on 26th - just a walk in with a couple of short crawls for a few hours. Got a nice bruise on my left forearm now. Rest day on 27th.

Sat 28th run up Shelf Benches with a friend. Extended the route on last time by running all way towards Doctors Gate to the FB then left and up the steep ground towards James Thorn - then contouring round to Shelf Benches higher up than last time, and a wonderfully enjoyable trot down the track to Shire Hill. I felt good on the rougher ground on the top, keeping a slow pace where we were running as the friend I was out with normally runs on roads so was breaking her INOV8 shoes in for the first time off road. Interestingly, she stumbled a few times and I can see why fellrunners have to pick up their feet a lot more than road runners - having to constantly avoid the tuffs of grass and heather when off the path certainly adds a different element to the run which I must work on more. It was very windy on top of Shelf Benches so we didn't hang around, heading back down and retracing our steps on the hard packed/grassy track. I was deliberately keeping my line on the most difficult part of the path to build up my experience on rougher ground. Along the track over the fields, past the farm, we were on a 5:30/km pace which I was really pleased with having already done 8.5km. Back home and 10km done. Nice.  My INOV8s were comfy as, no issues whatsoever.

Total distance 10.01km; overall time 01:32:21, actual moving time 01:19:46. Stops just navigation and showing my friend various features of the route the boys were taking (they were reccying the Shelf Moor Fell Race route). Elevation gained 315m.

Its interesting running with someone else, it adds an element I'm unsure I like in some ways, particularly as this is my back garden. I was constantly wondering whether I was running too fast, too slow, if the conditions were too much for her, if the distance would be too much, or the terrain too difficult. As it was, she did fabulously, and I can see she'd make a good off road runner with some improvement in ankle strength. I already feel that my ankles are improving, just need to get my quads stronger and get out running more. I think a lot of my concerns about running with someone else are more about whether I come up to their standards, and if you run with someone often enough those thoughts would just disappear because you'd know what each other was capable of - or at least how far you can push them.

Moving on...later that day we all walked up to Wormstones (3.5km each way) and did some climbing - even me! I did 2.5 routes - giving in to my headspace on the attempt of one route but then going back to finish it off and show myself I can do it.

Sunday we hiked up to Kinder Downfall via William Clough and down next to Red Brook Clough...total time 2:59:29 (moving time 2:33:29), distance 11.94km, elevation gain 437m. Lungs kicked off on the ascent and took ages to settle. Must remember to take my inhaler before getting on to the hill as that certainly helped on my last run. Weather stayed dry which was lovely after the heavy downpour in the morning, but it was very windy on top. Great to see the downfall being blown back up!!