“Over The Bowstones”

Last day and last race of the year, the excellent Bowstones Fell Race. Just shy of seven miles climbing from Higher Poynton through Lyme Park and across to The Cage with a super fast two mile descent to the finish. Run in sunny breezy weather I was very happy to get round in seventy one minutes, although over four minutes slower than 2016!

Week 52. Weekly mileage 30. Annual mileage 1057.  Races 30.

“Club Challenge”

“Post Christmas Pensioner’s Potter”

 

 A sunny wintery morning for a seven miler over to Wincle with the Thursday Potters! I started with new yellow Inov 8 Mudclaws but they aren't yellow any more!

“CAFOD Fun Run”

Annual four and a half mile trip round Bollington via the canal and Middlewood Way in 35.35 and just sixteen seconds slower than last year. Very pleased with a 7.59 pace.

“Boxing Day On The Bollin Valley”

A sunny and mild seven miler to run off the previous day’s excess down the Bollington Valley and around Prestbury.

“D Group Pre Christmas Potter”

A chance to keep the legs turning over with a lovely six miler along the Middlewood Way and canal.

“A Freezing Riverside Park”

The last cross country of the North Staffs League was cancelled due to an icy car park! Instead I went for a steady but frozen run down Riverside Park.

“Snow Fun, No Fell Handicap!”

Due to impending heavy snow, on top of that already lying freezing on the ground, the Annual Fell Handicap was rightly cancelled  days before. But a Sunday morning group started from the Hollins and still went up Shutlingsloe where the wind chill was minus a lot! Running back to Langley and then home I clocked sixteen miles. Time for a snooze!

Week49. Weekly mileage 32. Annual mileage 979. Races 28.

“Three Inch Nail!”

From going reasonably well on the second lap of the Manchester XC fixture at Kenworthy Fields I was brought to a grinding halt by a three inch rusty nail straight through the mudclaw sole and insole, sock and up into the little toe attaching all four together! Race end of. A&E visit , infection and tetanus jab means no running for a week at least. Will I be ready in my new inov8’s for next Sunday’s Fell handicap?

“Final Harriers Magazine Run”

After over twenty years of delivering the club magazine time has finally caught up, making it the last one to be published in physical format. For the second day running the four and a half miles was in rain and hail showers.

It was good to get a couple of mentions, with a men’s V55 800m record of 2.46.7 and coming joint second in the men’s masters track and field champs!

Week 47. Weekly mileage 20. Annual mileage 27. Races 27.

“Shuffalong Lane, Sleet And Hail!”

As usual the weather for the Cheddleton 10k pudding run was not kind! Wind, rain, sleet and hailstones all combined to make for a tough three laps. Taking it steady I was happy with a pedestrian 50.46.

“Fell Handicap Half Recce”

Glorious sunny and clear morning for receeing the first half of the Fell Handicap, with a return via the forest. Eleven miles of perfect running.

“No More Moles Please!”

“Langley 7”

 

“Parkhall Cross Country”

 A shortened two lap 7k course for Round 2 of the North Staffs XC League. In good dry conditions I ran well for a 36.01.

Week 43. Weekly mileage 30. Annual mileage 823. Races 25.