This week's sessions

This weeks been a good one so far. I took Rob out to do the Cullingworth run and explore a bit more in that area. We weaved together footpaths to create a lovely run taking in hewenden, sugden valley, goistock and my favourite valley; little ridge wood. It was a nice 8 mile tempo run in the mud to kick start the week and we undid all our hard work by going for a curry in Haworth. Tuesday training was high-jacked to travelling to London for a day at the British Library. Wednesday I managed an early run before work, doing my usual (an hilly !!) 3.6 route to check on the latest long- legged foal. Thursday I headed down to the club and we did a lovely run heading up a mile hill climb to Gilstead, over Bingley Moor to East Morton and then a fast 3 mile tempo run along the canal back to Beckfoot. It was great to pick up the pace and stride out the last three miles and I found the session really good.

Now to plan the rest of the week. This mornings a.m. run was scuppered by the need to laze in bed with the mog and a cup of tea! Out tonight or double up tomorrow? Hm, how strong is the call of white wine...

Cullingworth's Secret Lake

Focusing on just running for pure enjoyment and adventure I armed myself with my trusty OS map and headed in pursuit of the secret lake I knew about but never dared to venture to. Heading off the viaduct and to my new favourite lane; Turf Lane, I took a steep downhill path under more evidence of the old railway into thick woodland with murky water glimmering through the tress. It was huge! It was a bit lonely down there so I didn't hang around too much and pressed onto a new path to suss out a quiet valley of Cullingworth I always seemed to get lost in - Sugden House area for those in the know! I passed gorgeous properties and open farmland before coming out at Sugden and descending into the valley which is an amazing shape and switching back, following the old railway along Ellar Carr Beck. It was somewhat lonely and remote and I'd have had more nerve to explore if Mr Webb had have been at my side but we'll do that another day. The myriad of amazing footpaths brought me out on The Guide Pub Road and I trotted, covered in mud, along the road and through Goitstock. At the end of my lane I met a lovely woman who had lived in the village for 40 years. She accompanied me on the last 1/2 mile recounting tales of an old railway carriage on Tan House and her friend that used to shout from it to call her up for a cup of tea! Running, learning, exploring...I love it all.

Up with the lark

Waking early, it was a delight not to hear the rain slashing against the window so I headed out for a speedy three miles. I'm loving making routes up as I go along so I created a somewhat convoluted route that took me back to the dreaded Sandy Lane hill from last night! A nice little run with slightly heavy legs. It was good to see some super fluffy calfs at Lee Lane Farm!

Steady Eddy

On Wednesday night I headed doe a quick hilly five miles around Wilsden. Never short of hills in my neck of the woods I headed up the main street to Crack Lane before enjoying a gradual down hill to Lee Lane before taking the long climb back up to Cottingley. It's a killer hill climbing out of Sandy Lane to Wilsden and one I love to push myself up because one at the top, it's a glorious fast decent over 1.5 miles to home - apart from the steep bit that leads to my front door. It was a good session totalling 8.5 minute miles which was good over the hills.

Matfen adventure

For our second wedding anniversary we stayed at the amazing Matfen Hall Hotel and were lucky enough to get a free upgrade to a premiere room. It was huge, with expansive views across the estate. We had two days away and really made the most of it. On the Monday, in a tight window of sunshine, we headed out to do a gentle five miles around the estate - through farm tracks, wheat fields and lanes we explored like lord and lady of the manor before retreating to the spa! Our actual anniversary - today - was spent in The Star, a Michellin star restaurant in North Yorkshire. After filling our boots with fine fodder we simply weren't capable of bending down to put our running shoes on...let alone run!

Running to love running

After a frustrating and long morning at the hands of the dear NHS, I plotted a route to rack up some long miles and to concentrate on what I love...just being out there. I headed from my house up to the farm, taking check of the bull, his herd of freisans and all the lovely fluffy calves and headed up Wilsden Hill and over the viaduct...a great start to any running adventure. At Cullingworth I was going to head straight up the road as I wanted to concentrate on pushing myself a bit faster over a long distance. But, I saw a lovely lane veer to the right and I couldn't resist! Turf Lane was new to me and was a great adventure. Climbing gently on a lovely track between farmlands and woodland was far better than the road and after a bit of style hopping and gate thrashing I realised I had done a long 'D' shape totalling 1.5 miles to bring me out where I wanted to be, the strangely names 'Flappit'. I dropped down into Haworth enjoying the long drop, and seeing the farmer make a wonderful job of restoring his walls, and took a left along the long road to Oxenhope enjoying the views of the the Worth Valley. Into Oxenhope I took the Leeming road that climbed up to the reservoir and continued to climb up to the Dog and Gun. Pushing myself all the way my pace was semi-tempo and I felt strong after a few days rest. At the Dog and Gun I took the winding roads back to Manywells then spied another new lane which I had no idea where it would go. At 10 miles in with only a £2 coin for refreshment it was a bit of a gamble but paid off by delightful fast descending, rock leaping and branch-ducking until I finally found my bearing..Coldspring Mill, a delightful Mill nestled in the valley with an outdoor shop and tea room. After a quick peruse of tents, on I pushed back to the main road and into Cullingworth. Knowing home wasn't far away I upped the tempo to try and be home in under 2 hours. I dropped down to lovely Goitstock, climbed up, up and up from Hallas Bridge to my lovely lane and enjoyed the last 3/4 mile stretch gloriously down hill to my little front door. A great route, dead on 12 miles (in 1hr 56), that emptied my head of the grumpy gremlins that had take up residence in the first part of the day. I love running. It's good for the soul.

Penance - VO2 session

Completely floored by the hard and spongy Widdop race last Wednesday, for one reason or another I haven't had my shoes on since then, meaning four days of complete non-running activity! It was great! Trips to Manchester, leisurely strolls around East Morton, to long pub lunches and hiding by the pot belly stove from the lashing rain.

But guilt keeps creeping in. It gets you like that. I berate myself for the lack of mileage, missed club sessions and the effort that my running pals will be putting in while I refrain. So, by means of penance I headed out in this evenings sunshine to do a session I dread; the classic 4 x mile repeats VO2 session, aimed to build up lung capacity to push you longer and further, (much needed after Widdop's performance!). Needless to say it was hard and even my beeping watch packed in half way round but I pressed on and had a good little session on a great route I mapped out for myself around Harden. In total the session measured 7.5 miles...not a bad comeback and certainly not bad for a Monday!