Sunday run – January 27

I’m still getting used to driving out to Alty to start my weekend runs, but it is worth the effort ten times over.

Apart from the fact I get to enjoy some good company along the way, and that I force myself to dig a little deeper to keep up, the routes from there are tremendous compared with my usual trails alongside the Mersey.

Today was another of those wonderful runs. Off road on soft footpaths for most of the first few miles – so perhaps a little slower due to the heavy mud in parts – then back through Dunham Massey and Hale (see last post for links). All fairly flat, and very beautiful.

Thanks to the mild, dry weather – and the fact we were running at lunchtime – Dunham Massey was busy just at the point I began to overheat. Nevermind.

In terms of overall fitness, today’s run was good news. Not only did we manage to shave off a few seconds/km off the pace(we’re getting close to the 5min/km barrier now) but we also added well over a mile on last week to the point that we covered the best part of 9m. I’m probably running alone next week, so I best start plotting a good 10m route now!

That said, I definitely felt the pace a few times today – unlike my company for today who, as well as nursing a hangover, confessed to having squeezed in “a cheeky 9 miler” just 24 hours earlier.

Still, for the first time, I’m beginning to think that the Coniston 14 is now becoming a realistic possibility!

Graph below. Map is nigh on impossible, thanks to the lack of footpaths on GMaps, and my lack of knowledge of the area!

A good start

Today was what running – to me – is all about. The distance was challenging, but didn’t leave my legs like lead. The pace felt as fast as I could muster, while still holding conversation (just) with my running mate. Oh yes, and it was a really great run in fantastic surroundings. And a chance to catch up with a friend.

For some of those reasons, it was not a textbook, steady-paced run, as my Nike+ graph shows.

This is a rough map of where we went. Starting out in Altrincham, we headed towards and around Dunham Massey, a 250 acre country estate (and mansion) owned by the National Trust, complete with deer park. Our only problem came when we found that the River Bollin, which runs nearby, had burst its banks and flooded several fields and around 25 metres of our path. Oh well, at least the puddles in my trainers kept my feet cool for the rest of the run.

Returning through Hale back into Altrincham, we managed an average of 5mins 11 a km (or 8:21 a mile) – not great by any stretch, but not bad either considering this was my first ‘proper’ run for about three months.

A good start.