APPARENTLY!!!

Apparently, the weather was being kind to us out on the Mary Townley loop... But did it really really really have to rain quite so relentlessly in its' kindness????

Being around people

Being around, running alongside, attempting navigation with, swapping equipment tips ... With fellow aspiring competitors, was the very essence of this training weekend, in my view.

Spine Race : training weekend

This weekend, I made it up to Hebden Bridge for the Spine Race training event. Aha, I thought when I booked this : a few chats, discussions about navigation and kit, meet fellow competitors. Imagine the distress when I opened the itinerary to find that the Saturday incorporated a 47 mile training run, carrying all mandatory kit, with scenarios thrown in. Even the training weekend felt bigger than me.

Well, to my relief, I survived the run. I have revised my kit yet again, after the info given, experimenting with some items, and talking to other participants. An invaluable weekend to attend, and I loved every minute.

Possibly more importantly for me, during this event I met and ran with other aspiring participants (apparently we are called Spiners). We have semi arranged to meet at the starting line of the real thing, and at least begin the event together. This in itself, has taken some of the worry out of the pre race build up.

The whole thing still looks horrendous though.

School running club : the return

Last year, we started a small running group for Mums and Dads, after school drop off. Just an hour, one morning a week, running around the local park with a few sprints thrown in. Time for the parents, not just the kids.

It became quite a special hour, I thought. An opportunity to off load, talk about any general worries including those related to childcare. Just as importantly, a chance to run outside and dodge the puddles.

Long may it continue, these times. We may be a bit rusty, but I still think we're doing quite well. And it all helps keep our sanity intact.

The Spine Race..... It won't quite be these views

I started running the first few miles of the route, to negotiate my gps system, and then got carried away soaking up the views around Kinder Scout. Get these views while we can, it'll all be different in the winter. Amazing. The Dark Peak.

The Spine Race - starting point

A little trip to Edale today, to the start of the Pennine Way and beginning point of the Spine Race. A real buzz standing at the start, wondering how it's going to feel in January - the nerves, the weather, the anticipation.

Ouch... Again

Yesterday, I managed to sustain yet another running related injury. Running at speed around a blind corner, straight into the path of a surprised cyclist. To be fair, I don't think either of us should have been travelling at any speed on city pavements. In a bid to protect myself, protect the poor young chap, and stop his bike falling, I managed to hyperextend all my fingers leaving some bruising and a mildly dented pride. No huge head injuries for either of us, thank goodness.

This is a minor injury in what is becoming a long list of running related items. Multiple tendon sprains, ligament strains, increasingly crunchy knees, scrapes and cuts, even a broken nose: have all been due to falls whilst on the road and trails. I don't count black or missing toe nails as any kind of 'injury' any more, just par for the course. Whoever thought running was a safe sport, was surely not thinking it through.

I cannot be the only one. I don't even consider myself particularly accident prone.
Still, always good to have a story to tell.