Sunday 25 th August 2019
I seem to have messed up my last post before finishing it so adding a further post!
Today was a ‘social’ run with the running club. Many of the club were racing today and those that weren’t were looking for miles to run in preparation for half marathons later next month.
We agreed to do 12 miles along the Strawberry line cycle track near Axbridge, a victim of the Beeching cuts, the derelict railway line is a lovely cycle/walking route.
Six of us met on a beautiful if somewhat hot morning and ran steadily heading for a six mile out and six mile back run all was going well, steady running in the shade of trees until about 5 miles , it suddenly got very hot with no shade , when one of the group suddenly felt unwell. After a few minutes rest, drink and jelly babies she felt much better, but we all agreed to turn now and run back to the cars. It was a lovely run, quite busy with other runners, cyclists and walkers. Countryside views all around, a lovely running route. By the time we finished we had covered 11 miles at a steady pace, no more incidents ! It was now very hot 🥵
A lovely morning outand more miles to add towards my 1000 mile challenge. I am currently near 700 with 4 months to go !!
I also had a good cycle ride this week, starting from Langport meeting two old friends, heading over to Maunsel Lock, via Athelny Creech etc, beans on toast gave me the energy to return via Rock hill, very steep!! And Kingsbury Episcopi, where we had nice cold drinks, sat in the sunshine. 42 miles covered, yet another great morning ride.
Sunday, 25 August 2019
Two good runs
Sunday 25th August 2019
Well what a turn round with the weather!! It’s been a scorching hot bank holiday so far, following on from a fabulous week of sunshine, very little wind ( for a change). A couple of nice runs this week and a lovely cycle ride with two old friends from Axminster.
Having entered the Herepath Half marathon event at the end of October, I decided it was time to try to build up the miles, so not to be a shock on the day !! So after a great run up and back from Brent Knoll where I ran all the way to the top all 139 metres! Given we only live 9 metres above sea level that’s a good 130 metres and a 10 km round trip, mainly off road, which living in Burnham-on-Sea is as good as it gets .
I decided to follow this with an outing to the Quantocks, given the weather was set to be good for the week, I was lucky in that I picked a day before the really hot weather began.
I was on my own and after negotiating the traffic heading for Hinckley point power station, parked up in Holborn village car park, still very early at 7:15 am, I was the only car in the car park.
I geared up with my Montane Gecko Running sac, spare long sleeve vest, windproof( no rain forecast ) buff, gloves, plastic bivvy bag , two bottles of drink, one a nice Montane squishy bottle and several ‘naked bars ‘ pea nut flavoured, these are my bar of choice at the moment with 149 calories and 15 grams of carbs! I did have a map, but don’t really need on the Qs’ folding glasses and my iPhone ( for photos) I haven’t carried a sac for a few weeks so it did feel a little heavy, however the clever Gecko sac makes it all very comfortable.
I had three quarter tights and my new ‘Raidlight’ running vest, which has pockets! And as I discovered a great material in hot weather, very pleased with this vest! I was using my fell raiser shoes as I was looking for a good 12 miles today over rough ground.
I set off walking up Hodders Combe, a nice introduction to the run, crossing the stream before ascending a steep climb to the ridge of Longstone hill leading to Bicknoller Post, there were spectacular views around, the sun was just appearing from behind cloud, but the cool of the morning meant it wasn’t too hot. Great views down over Minehead, before I pressed on to Halsway Post and Crowcombe Park gate on the main ridge. Crossing the road I ran along the drove, which in the morning air was wonderful, I hadn’t seen a soul yet, even though I had done an hours worth of running. I felt comfortable, keeping my pace down, the focus on ‘comfortable running’ keeping my heart rate down also. When I reached Triscombe, decision time whether to go for Wills Neck! I decided as it was getting hotter and I would cover twelve ish miles anyway missing WN would not be missed .
I turned to run along a path next to the road, a well used MTB track down toward the turn for Quantock Farm. This was a nice bit of single track running!
I entered the plantation and took a track off left down to Quantock Combe which would eventually bring me down to Great wood.this is where the long climb back out of the Combe begins, on good forestry tracks. I turned off to a steeper path at the bottom of Rams Combe, that would finally take me to Deadwomans Ditch. I walked a lot, and only ran if it was ‘easy’ emerging at DWD road and a short snack stop. Here I saw the first people of the day after about 8 miles of running. I then headed towards Dowsborough fort before peeling off to descend Lady’s Combe and the lovely Halfords Combe with its many stream crossings etc
Towards Brent Knoll
View over minehead
Well what a turn round with the weather!! It’s been a scorching hot bank holiday so far, following on from a fabulous week of sunshine, very little wind ( for a change). A couple of nice runs this week and a lovely cycle ride with two old friends from Axminster.
Having entered the Herepath Half marathon event at the end of October, I decided it was time to try to build up the miles, so not to be a shock on the day !! So after a great run up and back from Brent Knoll where I ran all the way to the top all 139 metres! Given we only live 9 metres above sea level that’s a good 130 metres and a 10 km round trip, mainly off road, which living in Burnham-on-Sea is as good as it gets .
I decided to follow this with an outing to the Quantocks, given the weather was set to be good for the week, I was lucky in that I picked a day before the really hot weather began.
I was on my own and after negotiating the traffic heading for Hinckley point power station, parked up in Holborn village car park, still very early at 7:15 am, I was the only car in the car park.
I geared up with my Montane Gecko Running sac, spare long sleeve vest, windproof( no rain forecast ) buff, gloves, plastic bivvy bag , two bottles of drink, one a nice Montane squishy bottle and several ‘naked bars ‘ pea nut flavoured, these are my bar of choice at the moment with 149 calories and 15 grams of carbs! I did have a map, but don’t really need on the Qs’ folding glasses and my iPhone ( for photos) I haven’t carried a sac for a few weeks so it did feel a little heavy, however the clever Gecko sac makes it all very comfortable.
I had three quarter tights and my new ‘Raidlight’ running vest, which has pockets! And as I discovered a great material in hot weather, very pleased with this vest! I was using my fell raiser shoes as I was looking for a good 12 miles today over rough ground.
I set off walking up Hodders Combe, a nice introduction to the run, crossing the stream before ascending a steep climb to the ridge of Longstone hill leading to Bicknoller Post, there were spectacular views around, the sun was just appearing from behind cloud, but the cool of the morning meant it wasn’t too hot. Great views down over Minehead, before I pressed on to Halsway Post and Crowcombe Park gate on the main ridge. Crossing the road I ran along the drove, which in the morning air was wonderful, I hadn’t seen a soul yet, even though I had done an hours worth of running. I felt comfortable, keeping my pace down, the focus on ‘comfortable running’ keeping my heart rate down also. When I reached Triscombe, decision time whether to go for Wills Neck! I decided as it was getting hotter and I would cover twelve ish miles anyway missing WN would not be missed .
I turned to run along a path next to the road, a well used MTB track down toward the turn for Quantock Farm. This was a nice bit of single track running!
I entered the plantation and took a track off left down to Quantock Combe which would eventually bring me down to Great wood.this is where the long climb back out of the Combe begins, on good forestry tracks. I turned off to a steeper path at the bottom of Rams Combe, that would finally take me to Deadwomans Ditch. I walked a lot, and only ran if it was ‘easy’ emerging at DWD road and a short snack stop. Here I saw the first people of the day after about 8 miles of running. I then headed towards Dowsborough fort before peeling off to descend Lady’s Combe and the lovely Halfords Combe with its many stream crossings etc
Dowsborough fort 
I really enjoyed the run down the Combe, and soon Arrived back in Holford and the car. 12 miles done, really pleased, I felt good and could have done more. A great morning out😀
Saturday, 17 August 2019
Long time no post!
Tuesday 13th August 2019
I can’t believe it’s been so long since I last posted on here, I was determined to make it more regular!
In brief, think since my last post I have run 3 off road events, cycled 100k sportive, doing Parkrun most weeks, volunteering once a month, lost a dear little cat to an’elderly male driver’ very sad as she was only a year old ☹️
I have entered the Herepath Half event in October so need to up my miles for that, also the Portishead coast run 10k in September which I did last year, the Herepath will need some hill training, there is a distinct lack living on the flat Somerset coast! So it means driving 20 mins up the road to the Mendips. I have settled into the local running club, attending their evening runs every week , racing in their colours and meeting up like last Sunday for a 10mile run along the strawberry line an ex railway line a victim of the Beeching cuts 😡
We are in the middle of holidaymakers and horrendous traffic on the M5 so going places is difficult, so still no campervan activity☹️
Not doing too badly in races, still pleased with my 53 minute 10k, my Parkrun is 25:21 so would like to get under 25 mins this year. Not entered any road races since Glastonbury. Wambrook Waddle, Quantock Beast and Paulette plod were all 10 k events I came about half way down the field, sadly no age winning!! Very different races, Wambrook and Quantocks were very big hills whilst Pawlett was local and very flat along the river, I did 57 mins for that! I was also the sweeper for a 10 k event at Buckland St Mary, really enjoyed that, very hard course, but enjoyed being last and chatting to marshals etc, it was helping out my friend Rachel who was raising funds for the school.
The Sportive was round the Forest of Dean, in aid of a charity called ‘Pied Piper’ 100k which I rode with my youngest son, even though he hadn’t done a lot he went very well and we had a good bike ride with lovely views. And a good children’s cause.
Saturday 17 th August
Today trying to make up for yesterday when we had a very wet day, and I didn’t get out, I could have, but.......... so today I marshalled at the local park run, 427 runners this week, so a good start to the day. After lunch I ran across and up Brent Knoll, which is our nearest hill, mostly off road down a bridle way,before hitting the hill. I am still trying to run to heart rate, keeping it well down to about 125-130 which makes me less tired and ensures I have something left at the end, I am planning to apply to park Run next week to see how I get on. My maximum was around 160 bpm which is lower than when I raced and my average was133 bpm , only going up on the climb. I was also pleased as I ran all the way to the top!! I stayed most of the time in level 4 except the climb when it went up to level 5/6 !!
I hope all this will enable me finish races better as I always struggle, I also need to build up miles for my Herepath half in October.
I am planning a Quantocks 13 miler this week which should be a good test for my heart rate running as I will apply it this as well.
Perhaps I will post quicker next time! Cycling I have done little as I am suffering saddle sores, and the weather has been making miles difficult, only 25 miles in the last two weeks.
I can’t believe it’s been so long since I last posted on here, I was determined to make it more regular!
In brief, think since my last post I have run 3 off road events, cycled 100k sportive, doing Parkrun most weeks, volunteering once a month, lost a dear little cat to an’elderly male driver’ very sad as she was only a year old ☹️
I have entered the Herepath Half event in October so need to up my miles for that, also the Portishead coast run 10k in September which I did last year, the Herepath will need some hill training, there is a distinct lack living on the flat Somerset coast! So it means driving 20 mins up the road to the Mendips. I have settled into the local running club, attending their evening runs every week , racing in their colours and meeting up like last Sunday for a 10mile run along the strawberry line an ex railway line a victim of the Beeching cuts 😡
We are in the middle of holidaymakers and horrendous traffic on the M5 so going places is difficult, so still no campervan activity☹️
Not doing too badly in races, still pleased with my 53 minute 10k, my Parkrun is 25:21 so would like to get under 25 mins this year. Not entered any road races since Glastonbury. Wambrook Waddle, Quantock Beast and Paulette plod were all 10 k events I came about half way down the field, sadly no age winning!! Very different races, Wambrook and Quantocks were very big hills whilst Pawlett was local and very flat along the river, I did 57 mins for that! I was also the sweeper for a 10 k event at Buckland St Mary, really enjoyed that, very hard course, but enjoyed being last and chatting to marshals etc, it was helping out my friend Rachel who was raising funds for the school.
The Sportive was round the Forest of Dean, in aid of a charity called ‘Pied Piper’ 100k which I rode with my youngest son, even though he hadn’t done a lot he went very well and we had a good bike ride with lovely views. And a good children’s cause.
Saturday 17 th August
Today trying to make up for yesterday when we had a very wet day, and I didn’t get out, I could have, but.......... so today I marshalled at the local park run, 427 runners this week, so a good start to the day. After lunch I ran across and up Brent Knoll, which is our nearest hill, mostly off road down a bridle way,before hitting the hill. I am still trying to run to heart rate, keeping it well down to about 125-130 which makes me less tired and ensures I have something left at the end, I am planning to apply to park Run next week to see how I get on. My maximum was around 160 bpm which is lower than when I raced and my average was133 bpm , only going up on the climb. I was also pleased as I ran all the way to the top!! I stayed most of the time in level 4 except the climb when it went up to level 5/6 !!
I hope all this will enable me finish races better as I always struggle, I also need to build up miles for my Herepath half in October.
I am planning a Quantocks 13 miler this week which should be a good test for my heart rate running as I will apply it this as well.
Perhaps I will post quicker next time! Cycling I have done little as I am suffering saddle sores, and the weather has been making miles difficult, only 25 miles in the last two weeks.
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