3rd November The hard yards


Less than three weeks to go now till the Benidorm Bash, well two actually if you count a week of tapering ie not running at all, which I certainly intend to count. So it's been a case of putting in the hard yards whether I feel like it or not, a situation that has been helped by running some fresh routes, one new and one that I haven't run for ages.

First up on Saturday was a run along the canal at Cromford, then the long climb upto Black Rocks, a bit of relative flat past the start / finish of the newly established Park run, and then another climb upto Middleton Top before a final section through the Hopton tunnel. Then it was simply a case of turning round, retracing my steps and enjoying the fact that all the nightmare hills on the way out, were now lovely downhills on the way back. A total of 9 miles and all before breakfast.

Then tonight it's been a 5 mile run through the grounds of Newstead Abbey doing what we call the Abbey carrot field loop. although for the first time in ages we actually ran it in what to me is the original or forward direction. Not that that made it any easier. 

Five of us pierced the gloom with our head and chest torches, together with two unrelated canine companions who would you believe it just happened to be called 'Eric and Ernie'. What a lovely way to 'bring me sunshine' on a spooky night in the woods. 

Now it just trying to strike a balance between getting miles in the legs and not doing too much to cause a niggle or actual injury. Another couple of longish runs are on the cards after which I might actually stand on the start line feeling ready to run for once.

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