"Christmas Eve run"

 An easy six miler over The Hollins and along the Macclesfield Canal best described as "sun, rain, hail, gale force gusting wind and sun!"

Week 52. Weekly mileage 26. Annual mileage 1289. Races 44. Sessions 183. 

"The Club Fell Handicap"

Fourteen miles & 4,000ft of climb, that's the Annual Club Fell Handicap Challenge. Always held a week before Christmas the weather this year was extremely kind with the winds on top of Shining Tor (pictured)only being described as gale force! as always I was out there for a long time (3.02.05) but managed to knock three minutes off last years time and navigate from the sweetie tree in Goyt Valley without turning an ankle. Photos show reluctant runners in front of the pub fire pre race! Views to Shutlingsloe the first climb and finishing back in Langley three hours later!

Week 51. weekly mileage 29. Annual mileage 1263. Races 44. sessions 178.

"Sherdley Park XC & the Stockport 10"

For the first time in many years I ran back to back races, cross country mud on Saturday and road mud on Sunday! I had forgotten how monotonous road races can be even the Stockport 10 which had plenty of variation and views as I jogged round to a personal worst of 81.18.

Week 50. Weekly mileage 30. Annual mileage 1234. races 43. Sessions 174.

"Killer Hill Cross Country"

 

Back to one of my favourite courses and the final round of the North staffs XC League where for once it wasn't sub zero temperatures and a mud bath. I had a really good run covering the six miles in 47.20.

Week 49. weekly mileage 23. annual mileage 1204. races 41. sessions 169

"Recce To The Sweetie Tree"

Three weeks to the annual club fell handicap race and a chance to actually see where the famous "sweetie tree" is deep in the Goyt Valley. it was a glorious morning for fell running with views for miles in every direction. The penalty for not visiting the tree is twenty minutes but if the mist comes down it will take me a lot longer to find it than that!

Week 48. Weekly mileage 25. annual mileage 1181. Races 40. Sessions 164.

"Parkhall XC"

 

Another great day of xc at Parkhall on a dry and fast course but why do I always get photographed behind the runner with the stupid hat on!

Week 47. Weekly mileage 28. Annual mileage 1156. Races 40. Sessions 160.

"Sweeping The Langley 7"

Back again for the annual job of being "sweeper" in the local Langley 7. It's a challenging hilly course for even the top club racers so for the back markers its not for the faint hearted, but as always we have a good laugh and everyone gets round (but not before telling me to shut up as I carry on chatting going up the steepest hill!)