Maxine's Walk

Running to music

This morning I had one of my best runs ever, I covered about 8.5 miles through the Cheviots at a good steady pace and the reason for this? Music! I have always struggled with maintaining a rhythm in my running, I start to feel tired and then walk for too long before getting going again. I know other people run to music but until now I always felt I should be enjoying the scenery and that included hearing the sounds of the birds etc. But I thought I would give it a try so I bought a tiny ipod shuffle, uploaded some songs and away I went. What a difference! I have been flying along this morning - I put on a bit of a mix including Amy McDonald, Take That, The Baseballs and the best one for my running pace 'You can't stop the beat' from Hairspray!

My route today started from just west of Wooler up over Gains Law along the St Cuthberts Way past Tom Tallon's crag. I then turned right and took the path up Yeavering Bell, a bit of a climb but the views from the top were fantastic - it was also really windy. I ran back down with the wind behind me and took the footpath up to White Law and then along to Gleadscleugh. The last bit was along the track round Humbleton Hill and then back to the car. A total of 8.5 miles which was a good training run for the Kielder Marathon just two weeks away.

Northumberland Ultra Marathon

Last weekend I ran in the first Northumberland Ultra Marathon - 62 miles - organised by AdventureHub. I'm not sure why I chose one of the longest, most gruelling courses for my first Ultra except for the fact that it started from Wooler, it was local, I know the Cheviots reasonably well and I am fairly fit. Only problem was I only found out about the race in June and didn't really start training until July and even then I wasn't sure what kind of training to do for such a long race.

And so it was that on Saturday morning at 6.30am I found myself assembled with about 15 other runners in a small marquee just outside Wooler. It was just light and pouring with rain when at 7am the hooter sounded and we all strolled out of the tent to walk up the hill into Wooler - this was my kind of race! Some fitter people did decide to start running while the rest of us walked and ran our way into the Cheviots.

After 7 miles I reached the first checkpoint as the back marker - thanks to Lee for the coffee, caffeine was definitely required as the next section involved the steep climb up Hedgehope hill (714m). I didn't know at the time but Tim and Lee were tracking me up the hill through some very powerful binoculars! From Hedgehope I descended towards the south and caught up with Lynn who had taken an unfortunate tumble and hurt her shoulder. We continued on together keeping each other going through to checkpoint 2. By now my right foot was giving me real problems due to the very rough ground and constant falling into peat bogs - thanks to Neil for bandaging it up! We were promised soup at the next checkpoint so off we went only to be stopped in our tracks by Pigdons Leap - a very steep down to a stream followed by equally steep up the other side. Apparently there is a path here somewhere but we were up to our shoulders in bracken looking for it whilst trying to avoid sliding down the sheer drop. Eventually we made it down to the stream and clambered up the other side to rejoin the path proper. From here we continued over Bleak Law and were joined by Sean - who had been a little lost! Checkpoint 3 provided us with the much awaited soup - thank-you Heather, and then we set off up Clennell street along the edge of the Kidland Forest. This was where things started to go wrong, my hips were hurting going uphill and my right knee hurt going down, in between I just felt worn out. I made a decision to get to the next checkpoint and then call it a day - I knew that if I was hurting this much now it would be foolhardy to attempt the Pennine Way section in the dark as it is also high and exposed. Getting to that checkpoint seemed to take ages but eventually at 8.10pm we made it and Lynn and I both stopped, we had done 37 long, hard miles and felt very pleased with our efforts. We were transported back to Wooler and given hot drinks and wrapped in warm clothes. Tim was waiting there to take me home - no way would I have been able to drive anywhere!

On Sunday morning it was a real struggle getting up and down the stairs - mostly aching thighs and my right foot looked a little misshappen and purple in places! But now it is Tuesday and already I am thinking of my next Ultra, probably the Yorkshire Ultra in January. This is also organised by AdventureHub - a great company who were so supportive of us all and looked after us so well during the race.

My next race is the Kielder Marathon in October - need to do a bit more training first!

11 miles through the Cheviots

Had a great run today in the Cheviots, the weather forcast had been for rain but the sun was shining and there was very little cloud - could easily see the top of Cheviot. I set off from Wooler Common carpark and went up and along the bridleway to Broadstruther, I chose to go this way as it is the first part of the Ultramarathon course so I thought I would test out some of the route. It was an easy to follow track all the way along with a great downhill stretch in the middle, then up to the cottage in middle of nowhere at Broadstruther - I wonder if anyone lives there! After the cottage the bridleway turns south and eventually meets the road at Langleeford. I wanted to carry on up Hedgehope Hill but it was already 2.30pm so I decided to climb as far as Housey Crags before turning south back to Wooler. It was a really steep climb up the hill, at the top I sat and looked at the path ahead clearly visible going straight up the side of Hedgehope Hill, I can't imagine doing that in a months time - it's going to be a really hard climb and right at the beginning of the day will take everything out of my legs! Still once I get to the top there will be a great downhill stretch on the other side and hopefully that is the worst climb of the day. The path from Housey Crags to Langlee Crags was only just visible and was very wet and boggy, once up on Langlee Crags I had to use my iphone compass to find the path off down to the track. I had a great run down the track all the way to Carey Burn where due to the footbridge being rebuilt I had to paddle accross the river! Luckily my shoes have holes to let the water out as well as in. From Carey Burn bridge I ran back up and over to Wooler common and back to the car. I was a bit disappointed in the time as I was out for 3 hours 15mins and only did 11 miles but some of it was very steep and also I couldn't run all of it as it was just too wet and boggy. I am hoping that in the actual event I will get some good downhill runs to increase my average mph otherwise I might be struggling with the time.

Plans for the summer- the end is in sight

It seems ages since I last wrote on this blog but things have been a bit busy. Now the summer holidays are nearly here and it is time to finish my challenge of getting from Berwick to Helston. The plan is to travel by bike firstly from Edale to Derby to fill in the gap and then from Witney to Helston, which should take 7 days - it's about 350 miles. We are going to visit the Eden Project while we are down there, somewhere I've wanted to go for a while and you get in cheaper if you arrive by bike! At the same time I am also training for my first Ultramarathon - the 62 mile Northumberland Ultra which takes place on August bank holiday weekend. I have been doing lots of long runs along the Northumberland coast and also through the Cheviots which is where the race takes place. I am looking forwards to it, my biggest worry is getting blisters so I am trying out different socks and plasters to see what works. Today I took the bus down the coast and then ran the 12 miles back to Berwick which I did in a time of 2 hours which I was really pleased with - now if I can just keep that up for another 50 miles...!

Pennine Way - finished!

On Easter Monday I got on the 6.30am train out of Berwick to arrive in Hebden Bridge by 10.00am ready to complete the Pennine Way (or at least the Pennine Way starting from Hadrians Wall). I had 42 miles left to do so the plan was to walk and run 26 miles on the first day to Crowden and then walk 16 miles the second day to Edale.

 
From the station I followed a lovely path that took me up through the woods where the Bluebells were just starting to come out.

 

This was a steep uphill path and it wasn't long before I was looking down on the town of Hebden Bridge.

 

I continued on up and up following the Pennine Bridleway.

 

I think they must have strange supermarkets round here!

Eventually I rejoined the Pennine Way and arrived at Stoodly Pike Monuement.

 

I had carefully planned out my route but arrived at Stoodly Pike a full half hour ahead of schedule, that made me feel really good and I set off at a steady jog southwards. I passed a few reservoirs making my way up onto the moors where I could look down on Manchester in the distance and see aeroplanes descending into Manchester Airport.

 

I was amazed at how many people I passed also out walking, running and mountain biking on what I assumed would be empty, desolate moorland. The thing is on this section the Pennine Way crosses a major A road or Motorway every 5 miles or so and is sandwiched between Leeds and Manchester so is actually quite easy for people to access. Every major road I crossed had a full car park along with attendant Ice-cream van, also being a sunny Easter Monday it had encouraged people out to enjoy the countryside.

I had arranged to meet Tim and the boys at Wessenden Head so that James could join me for the last section over Black Hill but he was running late so we arranged that they went straight to the campsite and I would slog on alone. By the time I got to Wessenden Head I was slowing down and had lost my extra half hour, also my left hip was really beginning to hurt. I walked slowly up Black Hill knowing that once I got to the top it was then downhill all the way to the campsite. The first bit was easy enough, following the stone flags, I even managed to continue running for a bit but then the final section along the edge of Laddow rocks was when it got really tough. This is where the path gets really narrow and is right on the edge of a rather high drop, the path then starts to descend but it is a scramble down over the rocks and by now my hips, knees and thighs were beginning to say 'enough'. Eventually I made it to the bottom and arrived in the campsite only 45 mins behind schedule.

I was asleep by 9pm

The next day James and I set off at 8.30am to finish the last 16 miles. After leaving Crowden and crossing the reservoir we had a steep climb up onto Bleaklow, the wind was really blowing hard down the valley and it was hats on and hoods up to protect our ears. Once up on the edge we ran quite a bit, as by now my legs had loosened up a bit, following the path all the way up to the summit of Bleaklow. It was a bit of a moonscape up there and after a bit of compass work we located the path going south and headed on down to the crossing of the Snake Pass where Tim and Ben met us with lunch.

After a quick pasta salad and a banana we were off again over the moors and onto Kinder low and Kinder Downfall. Despite a stiff headwind we made good time and had a good run from Kinder Downfall along to Edale rocks - although following James is like chasing a mountain goat as he leaps from one rock to another!

 

 

As we came past Edale rocks we looked down and saw Tim and Ben coming to meet us at the top of Jacobs Ladder.

 

Jacob's Ladder is steep and a real knee killer going downhill, we took it slowly (well I did, James continued to leap and run at speed, I think he might make a good fell runner).

A couple more miles and then finally we made it to the end of the Pennine Way (or the start if you're going the other way)

 

I was completely shattered by now, luckily Tim was there to drive us home, I slept most of the way back.

Amazingly 3 days later I have just one blister to show for it all, my thighs did ache the next morning but that soon wore off, I might just wait a couple more days though before I go out running again.

 

Sticky Toffee Pudding 10K

Went over to Cartmel last weekend for the Sticky Toffee Pudding 10K trail race. The organisers said it would be wet and muddy and it lived up to all expectations.

The race started from Cartmel racecourse and then went in a circular route along tracks, roads and footpaths before returning to the racecourse through the woods.

 

There were just under 300 people in my race. Kez took these pictures from the Grandstand.

 

It was great to be charging along the racecourse but this was only for a short distance and then we all came to a grinding halt as we turned the corner and went out through the gate. From there it was onto a track and out away from the racecourse.

This photo was taken by the professional photographers at the 1km mark.

 

Don't know why I look so serious!  After the track it was onto a road for a long steady uphill and then we turned onto grassy and in places muddy footpaths across the lower fells. All the runners were getting more spread out by now and I settled into a steady running rhythm with short walks on the uphill sections. At one point the route got really boggy and we were hopping across the tussocks, the man in front of me put his foot into one particularly boggy bit and came out with only one shoe on! Everyone was shrieking and laughing as they went along.

Towards the end we came to a river crossing which some people went through and others, me included, took the footbridge.

 

The last section of the course was along some road and then down a track finishing with a punishing climb up a hill through the woods, then down through the woods and back to the racecourse.

 

As you can see from the state of my shoes and legs I was pretty dirty by the end. I was pleased with my time 1hr 6mins and my place 53rd out of 175 female runners.

March weather!

All this week the weather has been getting better and better - warm and sunny, so this afternoon I decided to get out for a run along the cliffs. I started off a little slow and stiff, probably because I worked quite hard on the gym treadmill on Tuesday night, but after about 2 miles I started to loosen up. I took the coast road down to Spittal and then along the cliff path to Cocklawburn, I ran all the way to the end of Cocklawburn beach before turning around and taking the same route back to Spittal. I finished off with a steady stroll up to collect Ben from School and including this covered just over 9 miles.

I didn't run particularly fast which was just as well because the views along the coast were just so georgous I might have gone over a cliff edge.

I am trying to build up my mileage now ready for the Pennine Way in the Easter Holidays but will have to take it a bit easy next week in preparation for the 10K Sticky Toffee Pudding race which I am running on April 2nd. This is billed as being a wet and muddy race but if the weather carries on like this I'll be packing my sun glasses and shorts!

February weather!

Went out yesterday for what was planned to be a 10 mile run but ended up doing just 4.6miles. The weather was drizzly and cold and the ground was wet and muddy. James came with me on his bike and we lost count of the times he got stuck in the mud - a that's on a mountain bike! Took the route along the River Tweed and saw lots of wildlife - a heron, grebe and lots of ducks.

Today went out on the bikes for a quick circuit of the town, good to exercise the muscles without the pounding on the joints that running gives. Weather is still wet and cold - it just feels miserable.

I have just entered the Kielder Marathon which is in October - seems ages away at the moment, plenty of time to get some training in.

Looking forwards to some warm spring weather so that I can get out and put in some proper distance runs, it can't be too far away now!  

BUPA Great Winter Run - Edinburgh

Today I ran in the 5K Great Winter Run in Edinburgh.  We woke up to roads covered in black ice and travel news that mentioned difficult driving conditions and that Edinburgh airport was closed until midday because of the freezing conditions. We decided to go by train. We went to Waverley station and then walked about 15 minutes to Holyrood park.

The park was beautiful, covered with fresh snow, but absolutely freeeezing!! Because of this the course had to be changed and what was going to be a circuit of the park - right around Arthur's Seat- became an out and back run along the tarmac road.

First run was the Junior Great Winter Run which James and Ben were both in - James came 15th and Ben 38th, both in really good times.

Then it was my turn, first a warm-up then we were off, first the fast club runners then the rest of us in three waves. I was in the second wave and found myself struggling to go fast enough. Because of the altered course we were running on only half the width of the road and so it was difficult to pass people.  I followed my walk/ run routine taking into account the hills on the course, so I ran for about 5 mins and then walked for 1 min. After the 3K marker the course was downhill and I ran on strongly without walk breaks to the finish.

I finished in 32:15 and was 45th in my age and gender category. I was really pleased with this, it was a good start to the New Year

Enjoying the snow

We have had piles and piles of snow up here in the last month, at first I wasn't sure about running in it. Then I did a few short runs wearing my walking shoes, it was great fun but the powder snow was quite deep.
This is my watering can in the back garden and as you can see it is almost covered with snow. But all this snow was not going to stop us so James and I put on our running gear and set off for a quick run.

 

 

A couple of months ago I bought myself a pair of proper trail running shoes, they are Saucony xodus and I have to say they are absolutely fantastic. I have worn them in mud and rough ground and now snow and (touch wood) I haven't slipped once. I am also very pleased that I bought a pair of thermal running tights- they might look daft but they are lovely and warm which is what you need when running in temperatures of -10 deg C!

I have to get lots of training in over the holidays as the boys and I are running in the Great Winter Run in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh in January. My race is 5K and the boys are doing the 2.5K Junior run.

The reward for braving the sub-zero temperatures were some fantastic views and just georgeous winter weather.

 

 

Just watched the weather for next week and apparently there is going to be a slow thaw, not sure if I like the sound of that, slush is going to be much worse than powder snow.