Swinsty reservoir.

Another busy start to the week meant I had to abandon my planned run on Monday. I suppose I could have got up at 5am, but as I'm not training for anything in particular, I let it go for an extra hour in bed.

From Wednesday, things were calmer, especially as I'd taken the day off. We were off to Skipton in Yorkshire mid morning to collect my daughter who had spent a few days up there with her cousin in a rented cottage. So plenty of time for a run.

Still keeping with my trying-not-to-break-anything plan, it was yet another 8 minutes x 3, this time with the iPod, something I've not done for a while. I also allowed the pace to increase a little to an average 9:46 (gosh!). This all felt fine and although my ankle complained gently during the run, it felt fine afterwards.

After showering, and being Valentines day, there was breakfast in bed, flowers and such to sort out for D before the family climbed into the car for the two and a half hour drive via Manchester to Skipton. Stopped at a nice country pub on the way for lunch and arrived ready for an afternoon walk in the Peak district before heading home.

We drove out to Swinsty Reservoir and had a lovely walk round in some very pretty countryside. Ah - I miss being in hilly landscapes. It's fairly flat where I live, but having spent 5 years in South Wales, you miss the valleys. Here's a selection of photos taken on my Treo, so not best quality!

 

 

Fewston reservoir, taken from the dam between Fewston and Swinsty.

 

As we walked we were passed by a couple of runners. This would be a fantastic place to train, a fairly flat path around the lake, just over 3 miles round. Oh, I envied them.

On Friday, I got my second run in, yet another 8 x 3, this time in the rain. It took a while for my hands to warm up - it was 6C with a light wind, so there was a bit of a chill - and looking at my pace, it seemed to have encouraged me to try getting home sooner ave. 9:24. Again no problems aside from not being able to see much when my eye-glasses misted up. And this time without the iPod, as I didn't want it to get a soaking.

Planning to move back up to 9 minutes next week to try it out again.

All the best.

Mr Stumble.