I assessed the meteorological conditions this morning when I popped outside with Flipper for her to have a wee, turns out this is no indication of what to expect on the fells! 3/4 length tights, a merino vest, a polypro jersey and my Montane featherlite jacket were what I deemed enough. A last minute addition to my kit bag were my featherlite pants and a polar buff. I drove with Flipper to the ice-cream van carpark and headed up from there, slow going as still a lot of ice about. It was very foggy and colder than I had anticipated. I was seriously glad of the last minute kit additions when I was on top of Winter Hill in freezing fog and wind pulling my pertex trousers over my frozen, dappled, bright-pink legs. I was aiming for 10 miles but as I started down the Belmont descent the ice just got too much and the realisation that nobody knew where I was, Glyn wasn't at home, I was already wearing all my clothes and nobody else was out on the hills made me think better of it so I turned back. Still a good run though with 6.2 miles on the Garmin and a reminder of my own stupidity when it comes to respecting mother nature, she can be right nasty with the weather sometimes!
Friday, 9 January 2009
In praise of pertex
I assessed the meteorological conditions this morning when I popped outside with Flipper for her to have a wee, turns out this is no indication of what to expect on the fells! 3/4 length tights, a merino vest, a polypro jersey and my Montane featherlite jacket were what I deemed enough. A last minute addition to my kit bag were my featherlite pants and a polar buff. I drove with Flipper to the ice-cream van carpark and headed up from there, slow going as still a lot of ice about. It was very foggy and colder than I had anticipated. I was seriously glad of the last minute kit additions when I was on top of Winter Hill in freezing fog and wind pulling my pertex trousers over my frozen, dappled, bright-pink legs. I was aiming for 10 miles but as I started down the Belmont descent the ice just got too much and the realisation that nobody knew where I was, Glyn wasn't at home, I was already wearing all my clothes and nobody else was out on the hills made me think better of it so I turned back. Still a good run though with 6.2 miles on the Garmin and a reminder of my own stupidity when it comes to respecting mother nature, she can be right nasty with the weather sometimes!
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10 comments:
Yay we have mileage totals!
I was so slow over at Ramsbottom, not sure what speed I should be aiming for when doing lots of climbing as usually run on flatter and easier surfaces!
I don't worry about speed offroad, too many variables. Time on feet and distance I worry about.
Well done on the runs girls. Annoying that the ice is still around
I can't believe you even thought of heading up there in 3/4 lengths at this time of year! Fleecy full length tights for me (though thinnish for running) and I still always end up with a freezing cold arse. Its always a lot colder up on the tops of the West Pennine hills, deceptively so I have found out!
Trio - second what juls said, I don't worry at all about pace off road, just distance. I was reading something yesterday about training for really long fell runs and it was saying the main thing to concentrate on is time on your feet in the fells.
Julbgas - I've taken to running in merino underpants so bum is toasty warm. A guy on Wednesday night ran with us in shorts, which is maybe what lulled me into thinking I might be OK in my 3/4 lengths.
Men like to be hardcore and run in shorts!
Surely the time you need to spend depends on how long you are out? I was slow today but had a bit of walking where otherwise I would have fallen over and running down icy cobbles is hard!
I must run on winter hill at some point.
Might investigate some Merino breeks for myself, I always have a cold bum when running at the minute.
Julbags - I got lucky and found some icebreaker ones in the sales.
now you're a fell runner ;)
Better to be too warm than too cold, I say! You can always strip layers off. Let that be a lesson to you! ;o)
Lesson learned, honest, I'll wear more next time!
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