Back in the field....

After the whole lockdown things started to lift (a bit), I decided I couldn't wait anymore to run in some hills. But I wasn't prepared to share with the crowds of people that would inevitably descend on my sacred places.

So the choice way: get up early, or go somewhere off the beaten track.

The problem is places are often on the beaten track for a good reason.

So I got out of bed at 5:45 ( I was awake anyway) and pulled on some running stuff, dug out my old gear and did the 15-20 minute drive to Rivington for an early ascent of Winter Hill.

The first ascent felt surprisingly okay; I took the fell race route up so its surprisingly well paved until the field at the top. The ponies stared bleary eyed at me as I passed, and the sheep were untroubled by my noisy breathing. It wasn't fast but I felt good. But towards the top I had a quick walk and took a photo (the best excuse for a breather).

Turning right on the old road at the top, I trotted along to Pike's cottage and the ascent to Two Lads. The path up is a bit of gully in places due to rain damage and foot fall but dry weather meant it wasn't too bad. Apparently I was only 9 seconds off my best time. I always think the views from Two Lads are even better than the Pike but its much less crowded. So far I had seen one far worker at the bottom of the hill and that was it. There was actually a bit of frost under foot, especially in the shade.

I had planned to run to the radio towers in the distance and air was clear. I could hear lots of birds and see  them flitting out of their nests if I got  too close. I stuck to the paths to stop any inadvertant damage and caught the rotary way up to the masts. The cotton grass created a lovely soften of the light.

The telecommunications area is always a bit weird. There is rarely any sign of life, and at this time in the morning there was none. I went pass the plaque to the murdered traveller, and the plaque to the downed airmen and their passengers and tried not to think of zombie movies that would be well set here. 

The next section is along the edge of the hill, which is almost a ridge at times. You get great views over the Pennines and often up Yorkshire (I think...) and I jogged along the bouncy grass happier than I have felt in a long while. I could see miles, including the Lake District as I came round the north side of the hill. The descent down the to Hordern Stoops was in worse nick than I remebered, probably again due to storms and foot fall, and my eye was out so the descent was slower than before. I didn't feel my normal flow down the rocks. Descents are usually something I am good at so I was a bit sad to see six weeks had made me rusty.

There its up the Old Belmont road which is a nice gentle climb and passed the pidgeon house and on to the Pike. The ascent of the Pike was slow and I felt the lack of any real speed or hill work over the last few weeks. There were already 4 people on the Pike, at before 8am. It was going to be a busy day up there evidently. The views were lovely, and I saw two other fell runners approaching across the moor from the mast. They looked a lot less rusty than me and a LOT faster.

From the Pike I descended back to the Old Belmont road, and then took this South until I reached the wide sweeping descent down to the edge of the gardens then back to the road. At the bottom there were the last of the blue bells. I hit the road and hammered out the last few hundered metres, dodging the odd cyclist and one van coming up the other way. 

I felt so much better for the run. I headed home happy and excited and glad to have escaped the Covid craziness at least temporarily. 

I need these outings to stay sane I guess, so next week I'll try and do another early moring assault  on somewhere, or even do Rivington again by another route. I am so very glad to be back trail running!