Shelf Moor Fell Race 2015

Time once again for the local Shelf Moor fell race to be organised by the Glossopdale Harriers. I'd volunteered again this year to help put out the flags on Saturday and then sweep the race route on Sunday. Both days had glorious weather and the views onto Bleaklow, Kinder and beyond with the blazing purple heather were fantastic. I hope the racers took a brief moment to glimpse the beauty on race day!

The Saturday Flagging Party:

Sunday's race day - not many pictures as I was too busy running at the back of the race:

And a final photo to show off the beautiful heather, taken on a guided run I lead about 10 days before the race:

B29 Overexposed Commemorative Fell Run

On 3rd November 1948 'Overexposed' - a Boeing B29 Superfortress plane - crashed on the Bleaklow plateau, high above Glossop. This is the largest wreckage site in the area and to commemorate this we are organising a guided fell run to the crash site. Running Delights have organised several group and individual runs onto Bleaklow, and we've been featured in the Buxton Advertiser and Derbyshire Times. We're timing this run to coincide with the annual memorial service which is held at the site at approximately 10.45am.

The possible options for this commemorative run are:

1. meet at the summit of snake pass and run over Bleaklow, taking us around 1.5hrs and a 6km run or:
2. run from Old Glossop up Doctors Gate, returning over Bleaklow for a run of around 15km and 2.5hrs.

Either choice gives us plenty of time to attend the memorial service and pause for thought at the wreckage site. At the time of the crash the RAF Mountain Rescue attended the incident, and continuing their good work today Glossop Mountain Rescue Team are responsible for this area of the Peak District.

Once I have an indication of interest I'll finalise the details and add them onto the facebook Event page. This run will take us to a higher elevation than our usual Running Delights sessions so it will be weather dependent and clothing to suit the conditions on the day. The cost will be £5 with any additional money raised being donated to GMRT.

Final approach on the run up to Higher Shelf Stones and the plane wreck

For details of how to book on this guided fell run head over to the facebook Event page or call/text Lynne on 07985251185.

Running Delights 'Wreck Run' as featured in Derbyshire Times and Buxton Advertiser

Fun Running in the Rain

Rain really doesn't bother me, if you've got the right gear on then all is good. Thankfully rain didn't bother today's runner who I was guiding around the hills up onto Bleaklow. Both well equipped for off-road running, and with a 10km/6mile route planned, we set off. As we climbed higher the drizzle got heavier, and visibility remained fairly good so we could see most of our route at various points. When running in a new area it's good to do a route where you can look back and see where you've been.

Looking down Dowstone Clough with Yellowslacks Brook in the bottom

Along the way we saw three herons flying above Shelf Brook, then curlews with their distinctive call singing out. Once up on Shelf Moor and skipping across the peat groughs and through the heather there were plenty of mountain hares to be seen...too quick for the camera though.

Shelf Moor

Shelf Moor

View back to the Pike and Shelf Benches where we've run from

Just before we got to Dowstone Clough there was a patch of fungi, most unusual looking with frilly edges.

Although it looked quite distinctive I've now flicked through my Mushroom and Toadstools of Britain & Europe book and am baffled by the array of options it could be. If you can identify this one please let me know! The largest ones in the pictures above are about 2-3cm across.

The path near Dog Rock, on the way to Yellowslacks

Guided runs on a one-to-one basis or for groups can be organised. Contact me for more information, and have a read on the Guided Running page. Organised Running Delights sessions will be posted on the facebook page.

Summer Solstice

As the earth turns on its axis it also tilts. The degree of the tilt varies throughout the year - meaning different parts of the world are either closer or further away from the sun - and hence receive more or less daylight on a given day. It's because of this tilt and the changing daylight hours that we have seasons. During summer for the Northern Hemisphere the earths axis is pointing towards the sun, and we have more daylight hours than during winter. The summer solstice marks the day when we have the most daylight hours.

The exact time and date of the solstice varies each year, but it always falls around 20 or 21 June. This year it is at 10:51am on Saturday 21 June 2014.

The word solstice is derived from the Latin words sol (meaning sun) and sistere (meaning to stand still). This is the point where the sunrise and sunset appear to reverse direction and after this point daylight hours begin to get shorter again. That is until the winter solstice on 21 December, when the cycle returns to lengthening daylight hours.

Running Delights are celebrating the summer solstice with a gentle off-road run from Old Glossop. We'll leave from the turning circle at 10am. See our facebook page to book on (£5 per person) and for more details closer to the date.

Hail does not stop Happy Running

Brilliant running by everyone on today's guided Running Delights off-road session. The weather was mixed, with a cold westerly wind blowing and rain showers threatening (my spare gloves and buff were appreciated). Thankfully the heavy rain held off, but we did have one delightfully exfoliating hail shower just as we reached the summit of Cock Hill!!

Heading up from Old Glossop past Blakemoor Plantations

Climbing up Blake Moor

Not far to Cock Hill summit trig point...and that lovely hail shower!!

Everyone at the trig point with Swineshaw Reservoir way below us...
...you can just make out the hail falling but sunshine behind us!

Descending down through the quarry

Approaching the plantations

Very poor photo of my first 2014 lambs

Dropping down through the trees

Washing our shoes in the brook

If you want to join me on a guided run head over to the Running Delights facebook page where I have the dates for upcoming runs scheduled in the Events section. Guided runs on a one-to-one basis or for groups at other times can be organised, just contact me to get a date fixed up. More information about guided runs here as well.

Sunshine & Exploration

Today was the first Running Delights off-road session. The morning dawned foggy to quite a low level, but over the course of a few hours (and before we set off) it had all disappeared and we were bathed in the morning sunshine. We were running in t-shirts and enjoyed stunning views over Glossop on our run up onto Cock Hill. Here's some photos to give you a flavour of our session:

Looking towards Kinder from top of the steep bit! Well worth the view

First view of Cock Hill

Running up towards the rampart below Cock Hill summit

Admiring the view of Glossop from a new perspective

At Cock Hill summit trig point

Descending through the quarry

Swineshaw Reservoir in the distance - spot the helicopter

Closer view of the helicopter

Cock Hill from walled path

Returning to Old Glossop

Guided runs on a one-to-on basis or for groups can be organised....contact me for more information or have a read on the Guided Running page. Organised Running Delights sessions will be posted on the facebook page.

Bunnies and Birds

Had such a glorious run today. Looking out of the window it seemed like the top of James Thorn was in clag but that was my chosen destination for a guided run. We were visiting a few lesser known paths (trods known to fell runners), and taking in the memorial at the top of James Thorn, dedicated to those lost in a Lancaster which crashed there (see this website for info on wrecks). Luckily the clag lifted, and the sun came out to take the chill off the easterly wind.

Path heading up to Doctors Gate

Memorial at the top of James Thorn, Lower Shelf Stones emerging from the clag in the background

Spot the mountain hare; Yellowslacks in the distance

Running on Doctors Gate path

Returning to Mossy Lea

Spot the kestrel

We saw several mountain hares whilst out, their coats are gradually turning back to summer colours so they'll get less easy to spot as the next month or so passes. Lapwings were in flight as well, singing their strange and haunting song. Alas they fly too quick to capture with my phone camera, but the kestrel was hunting so we paused to watch a moment.