Weekly Round Up

Well I missed out on the Tuesday Striders run due to lack of motivation (and the fact it was cold, I'd had a stressful day at work and was suffering from low bio rhythms). But then only four of us showed up on Thursday for the Thrash, and so it came to pass that we enjoyed one of Andy's fast ones. Basically from the layby on Long Hill drop down the footpath to the bridge over the stream and then warm up with a run up past Taxal church - you know the one - and then carry on along the track until the dam at the end of the reservoir. This little uphill battle was to get out blood circulating. Well a good sweat later and we continued right along the road, past the entrance to the woods alongside the reservoir and uphill again (Andy does like his hills) to the first gate. Then, pausing for a moment to zero stopwatches, it was an all out blast on mainly flat (who's he kidding!) trails to The Street. 9mins and 57 secs later (I think) Shaun and I were propping up the gate, bent double, gasping for air and waiting for James and Andy (fair enough they did give us a head start). 1.2 miles legend has it, felt longer in the dark. A nimble jog down The Street followed and across the dam road (no resting on these jaunts note) and it was time for the second thrash. A 1 mile burn up along the opposite side of Fernilee. Without stopping Shaun was off and I had to hit top speed to catch him. Half a mile later Shaun did comment that we might have gone off a bit quick but all credit he kept up the pace with me hanging on just off the back. 6mins and 40 something and we'd arrived. Knackered. Legs like jelly but pretty pleased with our efforts. James and Andy followed up and as it turned out Shaun had set the fastest time. Now there's a turn up for the books. (Andy was surprised!) Cloud 9 looms on Sunday.....................