A bright frosty UTUP

Five of us set off from the usual place this morning, TS (The Shadow - see earlier), JtE, Ed and Paul Murray joining me. It was Paul's first outing with us so, as a warm up, he ran over from his Belmont home. YJ sent us off on our run while he commenced his morning walk. I hope it will be sooner rather than later that he is back running with us. Ed was tapering for Sunday's Preston Guild marathon and so only ran to the Pike and back whilst the rest of us continued to Two Lads before TS made his way home leaving Paul, JtE and I to head up to the mast. Descending to the Blue Lagoon demonstrated how poor a descender I am as these two septuagenarians sped off into the distance. We made our way round to leave Paul at his allotment before trying out a a new route suggested by Paul over Edge End to Hordern Pasture. Thence it was a case of picking up the path to Lower Hempshaws and skirting the bomber memorial to return via Alance Bridge, Dean Wood House and Rivington. On the climb near Lower Hempshaws we were caught by 48 year old youngster from St. Annes out for a training run. This gave me a bit of incentive to stretch my legs, to find he was looking for his first sub 60 10k - I think he'll make it. By the team we reached the bridge, what started off as a severely bitterly cold morning was now quite warm in the glorious sunshine and the view over Yarrow Reservoir was wonderful. Ten miles in the end.

Clocks back tomorrow then its maybe a track session followed by a day off work on a 16 mile LDWA walk over Pendle on Wednesday. As it will be Hallowe'en, I shall have to be on the look out for witches.