After the other day’s epic climb, I had an unscheduled day of rest yesterday. Girding my loins, I decided to see if I could do a longer run again. Taking inspiration from The Rubettes’ ‘girded loin pose’ , I set out.
The bitch beckoned, only this time I thought it would be easier if I ran downhill instead. Well what a difference that makes, she’s about 3.5km long, after my warm up walk distance. It took me about 22 minutes to do the downhill, allowing for traffic stops around the blind bends. That’s about half the time taken to run up it. I then took Laundry Lane which has a long winding section with hairpins uphill. In effect I cover more or less the same elevation, only over a 5/6km route.
In theory this is an easier option, same elevation with a longer run-up. Unfortunately today the sun decided to shine on Laundry lane, and nope not much shade to be had. Exacerbated by the fact I had dressed for the cooler morning and had a long sleeved top, I looked and felt like a sweating sausage, in fact I probably smelt like one too! The sun really takes its toll on pace; when its out I lose anywhere between 1 minute and 2.5 minutes a km.
I used the same running method on the steep parts – to run X number of paces and then take a breather. This worked reasonably well, except with little shade, sometimes my ‘breather’ was in full sun, which led to more sweating. Towards the peak of Laundry Lane, there’s a blind left hand with a road leading off it. A cyclist came haring out and of course he wasn’t looking to his right only to his left. When he saw me he got quite a shock, swore (whether at me or himself, who knows), wobbled and continued. I hope that has taught him a lesson to look both ways.
The rest of Laundry Lane went without incident, and then the final push – up the Slope of No Hope this is still not to be sneezed at, taking in a 15% gradient in parts and covering about 45 metres elevation gain in less than a km. I stopped for 3 breathers. I think I could do it in one go, but not after a 10km run.
All in all, a reasonably good day’s work – same elevation gain as my big run, over a shorter distance, so still not a walk in the park.
And another 11km banked – 900km marker -I have you in my sights.
Playlist (my nascent boy band version – thanks to C25Kers and Fb friends for getting me started)
Sugar Baby Love – The Rubettes
Bye Bye Baby – Bay City Rollers
Shang A Lang – Ditto
Pass the Dutchie – Musical Youth
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go – Wham
Forever and Ever – Slik
A Little Bit More – 911
ABC – The Jackson 5
You Raise Me Up – Westlife
Love Me For A Reason – The Osmonds
The Reflex – Duran Duran
When Will I Be Famous – Bros
When You Say Nothing At All – Boyzone
I’ll Make Love To You – Boyz ll Men
What I Go To School For – Busted
Stay Another Day – East 17
A Million Love Songs – Take That
Mandy – Westlife
Seasons In The Sun – Westlife
Boxerbeat – Jo Boxers
Relight My Fire – Take That, Lulu
Everybody – Backstreet Boys
Quit Playing Games With My Heart – Backstreet Boys
Bye Bye Bye – NSYNC
Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble – PJ and Duncan
Stats
Distance 11.18km
Time 1:26:03
Average Pace 7:41 (mins/km)
Elevation Gain 221 metres
Alzheimer’s Challenge
Kms Run 855.44
Kms to Run 1162.56
