Happy New Year and welcome to the second quarter of the century (ain't that a scary thought!). In Murphy's law style, the year has kicked off with a bit of challenge. New Years Eve saw some extreme rain fall on an already sodden Manchester, flooding several areas (mercifully no where too close to us) and leading to housing evacuations and road closures. I believe the A555 airport relief road is still not quite open and its now the 11th... It was extreme. Then a few days later, the snow came and the temperature plummetted....
New Years Day was one of the few days over Christmas that Martin and I had planned something, namely Martin's annual parkrun. I had mooted a trip to the Lakes but given the weather forecast we had kept it more local and waking up to the very wet world, this was completely the right choice. The club has put Lyme Park parkrun in the series again and usually this would mean a handful of us making it down on New Years Day. However, social media soon shared the devastation around Didsbury and Chorlton and most people didn't make it. In fact there were two of us (and I didn't know the other person) plus Martin. However, I ran it with Martin who got a 2 minute PB on the course (which had a slight diversion) despite the sogginess.
Parkrun with Martin
I had missed my run New Years Eve so I was keen to do a bit more so I had planned to run to Hayfield for lunch with Martin. Setting off, I was a bit nervous as I was worried I would get stuck in the flooding. But I listened to the beautiful Ffern podcast as I headed out the park and it helped me feel a bit more connected. There was a a few huge puddles at the gates but then heading over the hills towards New Mills was not as bad as I feared until I got to the lane down which was now a torrent. I was very glad I had left the dog as this was more technical and slippy that it usually it is.
In New Mills the water was cascading through the Torrs. This is a lovely spot with many options for walks and a bit of interesting architecture. I was heading in the direction of the Sett Valley trail, which is the old train line down to Hayfield. I have done the other end of it before, but it was nice to do this end (and also avoid feet getting any wetter).
The Torrs, New Mills
The Sett Valley trail being mostly flat and good surface, I made good progress and met Martin at the Hayfield car park where I changed my clothes in the public toilet (a bit grim) and headed to the wonderful Packhorse for lunch. Driving home more stories of flooding and road closures reached us and I was very thankful we had managed to have a relatively normal day.
Back at the long run
Then it was back to work and training. My first long run of the year was not brilliant as I had been called overnight for work, and frankly didn't want to go. But I headed up to Rivington and did a more hilly run than the Great Hill loops I had been doing before Christmas. Being the first weekend of 2025 the front half of the hill was very busy, but I managed to keep plodding up. In fact I ran rather a lot of the hill up, which surprised me. As I went away from the popular areas a freezing cloud cover covered the hill and more of the ground was icey and snowy. There were fewer people here but still more than normal. I plodded on, podcast on to try keep me distracted. I don't think I relaxed in to it until I reached the mast but eventually my mind joined me in what wasn't a bad run. The descent was enjoyable though the section through the busy cafe part was less so, and I am amazed at the stupidity and neglectfulness of some people: over flowing bins, fights for parking, taking up the whole path, general gormlessness. When I get like this I realise it is time for me to leave and eat something. So I did, rather than drag another 10 minutes out of myself.
Surprise reservoir at Rivington
But the worse of the weather was yet to come. Yellow and Amber weather warning were out that night, and most events sensibly cancelled. Though it hadn't been overly cold, snow came that night plastering the north of England. I had been due to run canicross on the Sunday but the weather warning stopped me from travelling which was wise as it was called off and the Lakes had real road issues. I managed a run in the fresh snow as it rapidly turned slushy from home with the dog. The god loved it but by 8.5 miles we were down with wet feet and damp. Still, 20+ miles in a weekend is pretty good.
But then it turned cold. Fortunately the roads around Manchester coped and I dropped my husband at his eye surgery appointment before work with no problem. It might have been easier if I hadn't. I was hosting a teaching day for trainees so blissfully unaware until I got home but surgery hadn't gone particularly well.... its nearly better now but its been a long week with a hisband who can't see and is in a lot of pain (and very bored). It also wrecked my plan to run Monday but at least it was back to Barre class (after I had fed him and settled him for yet another hour of sitting in the dark with only audio input). Then Tuesday overran at work meaning no running that day either (and a very bored sad husband in the dark at home alone for many hours).
During this time we had a few more flurries of snow and temperatures kept falling. Come Wednesday the paths were icy and snowy, and near out house compressed to that wonderful slippy surface. Fortunately I didn't have too much work on. Between taking my chances with Yaktrax on the pavements and just hitting the gym, I hit the gym for the next three days. Work was mercifully okay on Friday as I was feeling the pressure of the husband and the running and getting work done. But running happened; it just wasn't very good or very enjoyable. Even the yoga class I treated myself to was a bit of a phaff!
With the cancellation of nearly every parkrun in Manchester and cross country (due to the portaloos freezing of all things), I reassessed my weekend. It was actually an opportunity: daylight hours to do a long run and a husband who can at least watch TV for a bit and leave the house now. This meant the long run was an option. But one of my big things for the year has been to enjoy my running again, so I recruited two friends and made up a route that included a bit of a recce for the Peak Dividie, and I thought was a bit short (but likely to still take as long in the snow).
We started off at the Werneth Low car park which fortunately wasn't too full (but was when we got back). We ran/shuffled up to the war memorial where the view of the Peaks before us was frankly stunning.
Then it was along the edge of the park on some lovely flowing paths. I felt tired but the joy of having people with you is committed. The paths were pretty mixed! Some were very icy, others very softy and muddy. We were mostly heading down hill to the river but then headed up through some very lovely woodland before hitting frozen fields. There were multiple paths that seemed to go across people's drive ways and some slight unintuitive turns so that was worth recceing. Then we were climbing again, including the incredibly icy Sandy lane where a landrover skidded sideways ahead of us (no danger). This was a very slow section and I was struggling. It took us 1 hour 20 to do just over 4 miles. I was right to shorted the route.
But then we were back out on the hills proper and found Robin Hood's Picking Rods and promptly reaslised we know nothing about them. But we posed for a photo anyway before heading up on to the stunning Cown Edge.
The Edge was glorious. We were all in agreement we didn't need to extend the route and the run along the edge made that decision entirely wonderful. We also saw people sledding and snowboarding as we reached the end. It was really quite snowy buut the path was mostly well trodden. At the far edge we met a bit of crusting but nothing major. It was beautiful and magical.
The next section was the descent in to Charlesworth and then a long road section. This was fine, if not very exciting. The last bit had no footpath and was abit dicey with the traffic and bends and ice so I will need to modify this bit for future use I think. Its tricky as the river crossings are a bit limited here.
Then it was back along the river path from Broadbottom and back up what felt forever to Werneth Lowe. At just under 11 miles it had taken us nearly 3 hours with the conditions but I was so glad for the company, fresh air and reminder I can in fact enjoy running and tougher conditions.
A warmer weather front is set to sweep in the start of the week and hopefully that will see the end of the ice but I suspect more mud will follow. Things are in the diary but lets see what happens with the weather!
