DIVE!
My ‘out and back’ AKA ‘Plan B’.
This past Sunday I headed out for a 20 mile run. It was likely to last around 3 hrs and provide some more training towards my Scott Snowdonia Trail Marathon at the end of this month, not to mention my fundraiser/longest run ever in August. So I set myself a loop from Hillsborough, up along the A57 to Moscar and across the Ladybower bridge to Stanage Edge and home via Redmires/Lodge Moor.
I bumped into Tom Saville at Rivelin Dam and we exchanged a quick hello before wishing each other well and carrying on.
As I reached the high point at Moscar – I was dive bombed by an angry bird that was nesting nearby. At least six times I was attacked at head height from one side, then the other. The only thing allowing me to time the evasive moves was the shriek it made seconds before swooping at my face. Taxing to say the least.
The entire time this was happening on the narrow trod beside the busy main road, I managed to keep hold of my banana peel, because littering willy-nilly is just wrong (!)
I attempted the detour from Cutthroat Bridge to the Ladybower Inn (to avoid the main road with no pavement), but missed the rather obvious fork in the trail and headed to Derwent Edge before coming to terms with the mistake. I opted to go back the way I’d come, so to preserve the intended distance and to keep from overrunning on the 3hrs I’d suggested I’d be out (dinner was waiting when I got home).
I was pleasantly surprised to find that the birds left me alone if I ran on the opposite side of the road – avoiding oncoming cars instead. Much better.
The stats from my M400 watch via Polar Flow.
I settled into the mundanity of the 7mile continuous downhill that I’d just done in reverse and expected that all my fumbles were behind me…
Which is when I attempted a simple drink from my soft flask and instead of unlocking the bite valve – I unscrewed the entire top, which meant covering both hands and my entire right forearm in 4:1 sport drink.
So for about the last 4 miles I ran with what I’ll call ‘Sticky Jazz Hands’ – all fingers extended to try and dry them quickly. Not good.
Anyway, another near 20 miles in the bank for Snowdon.
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