Saturday 28th July

My mother always warned me about going out with fast women, and Saturday morning was proof that we chaps never learn.

The Saturday Squad was down to two, NLN and YJ (who was feeling anything but after a week of tiredness, aching joints and lack of motivation).It may have been foolhardy to pair up with the ever improving NLN and to even consider the usual warm up lap. But that was how it was and back at the Lower Barn for the usual start time the decision was made to repeat the run to Darwen Tower a fortnight earlier aiming possibly to shave a bit off the time. By the Tockholes road, with legs that were beginning to tire, YJ was beginning to regret the choice of route, a feeling that was barely improved when reaching the Tower four minutes up on the previous fortnight. NLN skipped along merrily, but the pace was slowing due to fatigue on my part.

The return to the Lower barn got slower and slower and we trundled back to Rivington 16 minutes behind the target time. NLN looked as thought she could have gone round again. What a change in a month. The build-up to the Joss Naylor run had gone well and left me feeling strong on the big day and hoping that the improved fitness would stay with me during the summer. So far that has not happened and the long Saturday morning outings seem to be afflicted by a reduced pace (more apologies to all). As long as the stamina is still there, and you can't grumble at 5 hours on the go and still running after 22 miles, there is still hope for a reasonable run in the Downland Challenge Ultra Run, a 30-miler on July 27th in West Sussex.

YJ

Note from NLN

YJ is too kind as usual. Having run in the Lakes with John two consecutive weekends before his Joss I know how strong he was going and look forward to seeing him back in form any Saturday soon. Sadly recovery time is never as quick as we would like it to be!

FSS and I had plannned to have a run round the first leg of the 55@55 route on Sunday but waking up to steady rain we decided to reduce our carbon footprint and go local. Starting at White Coppice, to make it easier to get to the Dressers Arms at the finish, we set off in fairly muggy conditions over Healey Nab. Not long before a light shower arrived and the waterproofs were on an off untill the Chinese Gardens when the heavens opened on the approach to the Pike. Up and over Winter Hill and down to Hordens and we were beginning to feel a bit of a chill. We decided to recce a new (to us) footpath that YJ and I had seen a runner on the day before, just before Dangerous Corner. This took us over to the slabbed path, missing out Spitlers Edge, and then onto Great Hill. Could be a useful foul weather alternative for our Saturday excursions. The rain went off and a good drying wind followed us back to the car and on to refreshments at the Dressers.


Saturday 5th July

YJ asks - will anyone be at the Lower Barn at 8.30 this coming Saturday (July 5th)?

NLN says - family commitments mean no show for me