October summary

The end of October is in sight.
November on its way - clocks have gone back = darker mornings and darker nights.
Runs at nights / evenings will now have to be road runs - (need to take care of knees)
These are not my favorite runs by any means but, are something that I will be doing.

October has been a really great month of running for me this year.
No races but I have run some amazing routes and runs that I have wanted to do for a long time - 15+ miles to Peel Tower and back for eg.
At the moment I feel like there isn't any run I know of that I can't do - Strong at the moment.
This last week I have run over 50 miles. Not too extreme but pretty good - 2 marathons in a week!
Besides the increase in miles that I have done this month I have and do at the moment feel fit and strong.
Runs at the moment are between 2 1/2 hours and 1 1/2 hours and at the end of them, I feel like I could run them again!
However with Winter approaching I need a slight change in plan with runs.

The Plan

Monday - Bike / Evening run
Tuesday - Badminton + BW exercises Pups, Sups and squats
Wednesday - 1hr football + Bike / Evening run
Thursday - Badminton + BW exercises Pups, Sups and squats
Friday - Bike / Evening run
Saturday - Either 8 ish miles or 15 ish miles + BW exercises Pups, Sups and squats
Sunday - Either 8 ish miles or 15 ish miles + BW exercises Pups, Sups and squats


Swap Saturday with Sunday runs as and when needed with one of them being a rest day again, as and when.
Evening runs will be done at a high tempo incorporating hills and distance - minimum 45 mins try to do 1 hr runs on nights out.
BW exercises are a must.
Well thats the plan - from tomorrow we'll see the results!
Note to self - Make the most of weekend runs!

Sunday 31st October

Fantastic day for running today.
No wind, mild temperatures, ground not too boggy.
Met Nick at Clough Head Car Park - started out as a 'potential' gentle trot round, turned into a really good training run. That's the beauty of knowing the moors you run on - you can just keep adding bits on as you feel like it.
Followed the same route as Fridays run - felt good today, after we'd got the first hill out of the way!
As I said, started pretty steady, but pushed it on the climbs, great feeling to be able to run up steep hills!
Fantastic run - thoroughly enjoyed it.
Had pencilled in a race for Saturday, The Shepherds Skyline - Click for the link not sure I'll be able to make it.
Nick however will be running and ... no pressure Nick but I'm expecting an improved time on last years run, good luck and - watch this space!

150 Sups and 250 Squats

Talking of watches, mine said -
70 mins, Avg HR 144, Max HR 165, Cals 805

View after the first climb

Best part of the run has to be running into and out of Deep Clough. If you can run this, you can run anything!

Friday 29th October

Change of plans.
Clare went into work this am so I managed to get a run in.
Went back to the Oswaldtwistle moor run for a bit of variety and also you can keep adding extra sections on if you fancy.
Ran from Clough Head Car Park staying on the side opposite the reservoirs.
The first climb was pretty tough, followed te route for the Rossendale way, right out towards the last farm on the moors. Had a look around 13 stone hill, this was a stone circle at some point in the distant past, this is all that now remains -

Ran to the last farm and retraced my steps until I got the old quarry.
At this point I turned left and followed the track you can see for about 1/2 a mile.

Then over the road and up the hill opposite that looks over the Grane reservoirs. Back down then a long drag up the track to the tops. Very windy today! Ran across the tops to Deep Clough.
Down and back up the other side - Tough
The image below shows Deep Clough, my route brought me into it from the right hand side and out to the left

Followed the Rossendale route back, crossed the Grane rd, turned left over the style, spent 20 mins this side up a few small climbs and returned back to the car.
Legs are tired, but strong at the moment, these long runs are really helping.
Watch says - 92 mins, Avg HR 137, Max HR 155, Cals 973.
Around 10 miles

Try to get a bike session in tonight and get bak into PUps, SUps and squats.

Bike session -
Tension set at 30 out of 50 for 20 mins, tension moved to 40 for 10 mins, tension moved to 50 for 5 mins.
Similar to a hill session
Watch says - 35 mins, Avg HR 108, Max HR 131, Cals 235
3 sets of 50 SUps

Thursday 28th September

Badminton tonight - really good fun, lots of laughs.
Short sharp runs for an hour - great but pretty tiring.

Rest of the week -
Tomorrow will try to get a run in at some time, gentle trot around some moor land, maybe Oswaldtwistle moors for an hour.
Then Thursday night badminton for an hour.
Friday, another gentle trot somewhere, rest day Saturday and a BIG hill session on Saturday - the big dip on Ossy moor is a fair challenge, not too high but very steep! - Just about runable from bottom to top.

Wednesday 27th October

Hameldon Hill fell race route.
This image of the route is done on Google Earth so not exact, but it is close ish to the real route.

Been and come back!

Basically out and uphill for 3 miles, then turn round at Hameldon Hill Trig and come back.

Tough run - set off from Peel Park Pub a bit too quick, up through the Coppice OK, but legs were heavy.

Particularly my right hamstring, pretty tight, need to stretch more this week.

Under the bridge for the dual carriageway and up towards the farm.

Moleside - a small hill, but tough to run!

Got to the top here and was really blowing!

Moors were pretty boggy today, pretty quick along the pathed section and up again towards the style at the bottom of Hameldon. Got here in 24 mins - pretty quick, but hard work.

Up and around Hameldon and back to the style in 35 mins.

Tried to push it coming back, but I was really beginning to feel my hamstring so eased off a bit.

Tough up the last climb to the top of the Coppice and back to the car park.

Felt more like a race than a run.

Watch says - 53 mins, Avg HR 145, Max HR 164, Cals 704

I reckon in next years race I can go under 50 mins - that's the aim anyway.

Just checked the times from last years race and 53 mins would have moved me up 20 places, I ran 54 mins in last years race.

Bike tonight and see if I can ease off my hamstring. 

Accrington from the Coppice

Hameldon Hill - And very boggy moorland!



Thursday night will be badminton for an hour, then maybe bike for an hour.

Might go for a gentle run Friday, rest Saturday and some hill work Sunday - Big Dipper on Oswaldtwistle moors I think.

Tuesday 26th October

Badminton tonight.
As always plenty of quick, sharp running.
Legs were tired tonight after the big run Sunday (15 miles) and all day walking yesterday.
Probably go for a run tomorrow - Hameldon Hill fell race route 6 miles 1100 ft.
That's the plan anyway - steady away!

Monday 25th October

Golf! - First game in ages and ages, at least a year!
4 of us at Pleasington Golf Club.
Met at 9.30, teed off at 10.00am.
At times hit the ball well, out drove the others, wedge shots not as good, putting poor!
27 holes later! - Driving better, chipping average, putting still poor!
A good day was had by all!