Carolyn makes "Go Faster Food"

Looking out of the window this morning, I knew that if I either stuck to the bare minimum of 6.2 miles or ventured further I'd get soaked to the bone.  Pat sent me a text this morning with news direct from a weather app on his iphone that at 2pm it would be "sunny".  I met him at the agreed 2pm out side the Diggle Hotel, and yes, it was sunny.  Breezy also, but none the less, it was sunny.

We ventured up the boat lane, up to Standedge cutting, and took the Pennine way route along the "Diggle Skyline" and picked up a favourite route of ours, The Cotton Famine Trail - an ancient transport link that was built to give folk jobs due to the "Cotton Famine" during the American Civil War.   It's an impressive view,  one that gives you the immediate feeling that you  are as far away from civilization as it is possible.  The rain lashed us as we made the way back over the moors and headed back towards Diggle.  Soaked to the bone, we completed 9 miles.  Thanks Pat for the company and for setting the pace - a good run.

After showering, I thought Carolyn was out walking the dog, however she was busy baking some energy-boosting treats from Kate Percy's recipe book "Go Faster Food".  What a nice surprise - really thoughtful and they taste great.  Honey, Lime & Ginger Oaties and Chocolate Biscuit Cake.  The oaties can be eaten anytime, however the chocolate biscuit cake is designed to send energy into tired muscles.  Thanks Carolyn!

Kate Percy's book



Oaties and Cake - just what a runner needs!


Does that mean the more I run, the more of these I can have?

Today's run - 9 miles on the nose

Diggle Beach

It feels good to reach another mini-milestone.  That's 30 in 30 days now.  I decided to mix road and trail on today's run (7.5 miles) - and took in a big breath of what felt like sea air when I was approaching Brun Clough Resevior from the Pennine Bridleway.  Looking across I noticed how low the water was, and that it has revealed a beach.  I should add that it's hardly resort standard, nor a "secret cove of my own" - however amused me to think that Diggle could ever boast such a landmark.

"Diggle Beach"

Later on this afternoon, I took the dog for a walk back up there to take a few photos of "the beach" and also the landscape that is on a the desent back home from a few of my regular routes.  This morning's sunshine gave way to this afternoon's downpour, so both Meg and I got soaked all in the process of getting a photo for this blog.  What's pretty disappointing is also the drop in the water level has also revealed Brun Clough Resevior as a past flytippers' regular drop off point.  Large industrial gas bottles and the roof from the cab of a lorry were two such items now visible. Let's hope this stops.

From the top of Brun, heading towards the boat lane



The clever sheep keeps dry by not following the others



Mid-way down the boat lane, heading home

Yes..You've got your photos, so can we go home now please?



So by my calculation, I will have completed a third of the challenge by next Wednesday (13th July)...

Faster

A thought about the daily runs struck me this week.  What if I continued to side with caution and continued the runs on the road at an "easy pace" ?  Part of me says this is sensible, the other part says I should dispense with any idea of "playing it safe" and up the pace on every 3rd run.  This will ensure I notice the progress I'm making and be in with a good chance for a good time In Newcastle on the 18th September.  That's not to say I'm "Captain Slow" or anything - it's just something for me to consider, once I hit 30 runs tomorrow.  Having said that, I really went for it on yesterday's run - and noticed I'm getting faster when I want to be.

I'd like to offer some more "thank-you's" - first of all to Brendan Rooney, who is based in our Edinburgh office.  Brendan heard about the 100 runs through one of the SME's who have been working on a project and been spending time up there.  Brendan decided to fundraise for the JDRF by completing the Barrathon - Half Marathon around the Isle of Barra.  He did this last weekend, with a finishing time of 2 hrs, pipped by his brother by 30 mins - I'm really grateful to him - thanks Brendan.

Next "thank-you" goes to Michael from Rainbow Running, as he sent 2 of their long sleeve running tops in the post (see photo below). Thank you's are also due to Sophia Cannelli and Sarah Brown for their donations on my Justgiving site, My mate Paul Edwards for nice words of encouragement in his letter this morning, and Pat for the company and encouragement on this afternoon's off-road run. I forgot to thank Geoff and Jan at the Diggle Hotel for keeping the Helly Hansen box for me when the courier needed a signature. Richard Jones, Editor of the Saddleworth News Website has also put another post online to spread the word about be reaching 25 runs this week - thanks for this.  Last of all to Carolyn for putting up with me getting up so early, and for making the best smoothies a runner could want.

Friday's run - Diggle - Friezland - Greenfield - Higher Arthurs - Uppemill - Dobcross - Home - 6.5 miles
Today's run - Diggle - Standedge - Oldham Way - Cattleshaw Res - Pennine Bridlepath - Diggle - Home
8 miles

Looking forward to hitting the 30th tomorrow...