Forgive me, I’m a little behind with posting updates.
Last Sunday the clocks went back an hour. A mysterious habit that seems to have different explanations depending on whom you speak to. However, it gives us an extra hour and, for that, I’m grateful. Sunday was also time for a longer run and I decided to throw a hill in to add to the challenge! Ha, sounded good at the time!
I set off from home in Oakham, feeling the usual slugishness of a sedate Sunday afternoon and headed out towards Barnsdale, which is on the North shore of Rutland Water. The first track on my iPod was ‘Self Preservation Society’ from the original soundtrack of the ‘Italian Job’… rather apt, I thought, and a great tune for finding my pace.
"Through the Gate.." Rutland Water at Barnsdale. Photo by kind permission of Tina Negus - see her work on Flickr
Barnsdale has the challenge of being perched at the top of a hill but with spectacular views out across Rutland Water. Any distraction is a good one in my book and calming Autumnal scenes do wonders for the spirit. It is surprisingly mild here compared to this time last year when we had snow. I can only assume that this mildness has helped create the explosion of gold, russet and ochre amongst the trees that I was running beneath. The track is nice and steady for a while but undulates occasionally which provides a little extra work for those glutes! As the path eventually dips away from the roadside, the sheep come into view and the vista changes so that you can see out across the Water.
Ahead lies a really nasty steep incline where I really had to lean in and use forefoot running to get the maximum purchase. Just when I thought I was at the top, the path continued on it’s steep journey. I had a carb drink in my Camelbak (a fashionable little number tied around my waist!) which allowed a quick refuel whilst on the hoof.
The end of my run upwards is marked by the Barnsdale Lodge Hotel on the left and the road to Barnsdale Hall Hotel on my right. As I reached my marker, the light was beginning to fade. Turning round to run the whole distance downhill was a joy! The night was drawing in but, with all my recently purchased day-glo gear and flashing armbands, I was lit up like a mobile Christmas tree ..an odd sight, I’m sure!
So at the end: 8 miles done with a whopping great hill in the way! By April, I’m going to own each and every hill in Rutland!
