In the club race season we are heading into a few 10K's so really need to be doing at least 6 miles on sessions and not 5K's.
I took a few days off work and headed to Edale for a bit of hiking, it has been quite some years since I have been hiking, camping and been to the village, I was probably around 14 when doing the Duke of Edinburgh award so nice to be back.
So on Wednesday 5th June I took on the ascent of Hollins Cross, Mam Tor and Lords Seat
The ascent was tough and good for the fitness, the views at the top over Castleton and Edale are breathe taking.
Whilst there I had a recce of a 5k route I intend to do when back in Edale (I intend to do plenty of visits there as there are loads of walks to do) it takes in the start of the Pennine Way to Upper Booth and I missed the path at Barber Booth which will avoid Edale Rd (very narrow and not good for traffic avoidance)
Sunday 9th June - Oldham's Toughest 10K
The race title is not to be underestimated, Oldham is a hilly old place and when Alan Keane and I decided to create an Oldham 10K for the Milltown races series I tried to make the "flattest 10K" in Oldham and even that had Salmon fields and Henshaw street back into the Town Centre.
But those do not compare to "Park Bridge" the last 3K of this race are pure pain. The race starts and finishes at the Lions Den in Alexandra Park and heads off up to the top right of the park like Oldham parkrun and downhill, once through the boating lake you exit the park at the main entrance and turn onto Queens road and head up the hill
The large part of the course then is manageable along Abbey Hills Road and Lees New Road so my pace felt good and was keeping the big hills at the end in mind and settled in for the last 3K.
The first set of hills I managed... just, other runners passing by reminding me to keep my head up which was nice!
At 8/9K my legs just went and I needed to walk up the hills, my heart was jumping out of my chest so reminded myself that this was not just a race but largely a training run albeit running at tempo.
It was so good to see the finish and managed to claw some places back and kicked in for the last 100m. No flying feet this time!
One downside to the day, I lost my shades somewhere after the race boooooo.
Keep Running
Mark
