"Cistern's Clough At Night"

                           "you are never really lost but are just temporarily not sure where you are!"

With just a head torch, map and compass it's time for some night navigation practice. At 2,000 feet up on a cold wet March evening with gusts of up to 70 mph Axe Edge isn't the most hospitable place to practice some navigation across rough terrain in the pitch black! Parking up at Cistern's Clough it was a case of take a bearing from the map that you could hardly hold still and head into complete darkness. But over two hours later it was with a great deal of satisfaction that we found our way back!

"Sacroilliac & Kinder Scout"

The niggling back is having physio and is apparently an inflammation of the SI joint. After an easy two weeks it is still not settling down, although it didn't prevent me from doing a six hour navigation course up the two thousand foot ascent of Kinder Scout. As the photos show it was an absolutely glorious day on what can otherwise be a treacherous part of the world where multiple layers and an ability to use a map may be a matter of life and death!

"Bosley Cloud"

 A mixed week of running but ending with the annual trip over and round the nine miles of Bosley Cloud. Despite being a couple of minutes slower than last year (finishing in 1.27.39) with a persistent back niggle I took it easy early on and really enjoyed myself as the photos 9at least the downhill ones!) show.

Week 9. Weekly mileage 26. Annual mileage 233. Sessions 46. races 6.

"Wollaton Park and The National XC Championships"

The last race and for me the highlight of the cross country season is the English National Championships. Although this is the oldest XC race in the world it was a first visit to Wollaton Park in Nottingham and for what turned out to be a fantastic day. The sun shone for once and the wide sweeping and undulating course provided for a superb venue. Although I finished way down the field it was still a great run and I finished the 7 plus miles in 1hr and 26 seconds.

I even made it into  the centre spread photo of Athletics Weekly!

Week 8. Weekly mileage 28. Annual mileage 207. Sessions 41. Races 5.

"Bairro Alto"

Every opportunity for some hill climbing up and down the tramlines of the fununculars of Lisbon and in particular around the tight side streets of Bairro Alto.

"Lisboa"

Off for a few days in Lisbon and a chance to  run in slightly warmer climes!

"Wythenshawe Park XC"

It may not be a photo of  a windswept and muddy Wythenshawe Park but a view of Teggs Nose from a run earlier in the week is certainly more interesting!  Yet another horrendous XC fixture in what is normally a flat and fast race. It was such a bad race that I haven't even bothered to look at my time or finish position!

Week 6. Weekly mileage 33. Annual mileage 155. Sessions31. Races 4