Born To Run And Long Run In The Hills!

I LOVE running in the hills, It is what my soul desires!
This was only my second long run in the big hills this year, heavy rain most weekends has kept my in the sandhills.
And even today I stayed on the road to avoid the dreaded mud which has turned the dirt paths into a quagmire!
WHAT A SUMMER!
Setting off from Parbold village I headed straight uphill and for the climb of stony Lane.
With the wind on my back I felt pretty powerful, once I reached the steepest section I used a special running technique which allows me to climb very steep hills faster, It Works! but I can't divulge how to do it here as one of my rivals might get to here about it!
And I need every advantage going at the next Harrock Hill Race.
The second climb was the fearsome Hunters Hill which I blasted up pretty well, sprinting over the top at almost 11 MPH !
I then returned back down Stony Lane and headed over to Ashurst Beacon's  2 mile climb.
Then followed a hairpin descent to Appley Village and the final climb of the day.
The downhills seemed the hardest part of the run, as my legs are not used to the downhill hammering.
Anyway pretty pleased with my climbing form, just hope my legs recover in time for next weeks Rubbish 5 K.

 

Born to Run: The Secrets of Kenyan Athletics

Thanks to Mandy for sending link

Former Irish athlete and 5,000m world champion Eamonn Coghlan travels to Kenya's highlands to uncover a little-known story - the role of Irish missionaries in securing Kenya's dominance in world athletics. He meets Brother Colm O'Connell, a modest priest who played a major role in fostering Kenyan distance running and who is now considered one of the world's top athletics coaches. Watching him train the 800m world-record holder David Rudisha, Eamonn observes at first-hand his unlikely but lasting legacy. Part travelogue, part tribute, the documentary also features an interview with Eamonn's childhood hero, the great Olympic athlete Kip Keino.

 
watch
online
on BBC iPlayer

Heat and Hills Take There Toll!

My first training run of the year over the Parbold hills coincided with the hottest day of the year!
I felt OK over the first 2 climbs but I exploded on the 3 rd climb!
Lack of fitness and the heat meant my final ascent up Hunters Hill was at a snails pace, once over the top I was able to coast down to Parbold village for a well earned Ice Cream and cold drink :0]
man that felt like a 3 hour run yet it was only 1 hour 36 mins !!!
i hope to get this up to a 17 mile 2500 ft of climbing run by the end of June.
Wednesdays Harrock Hill race went worse than planned, my  legs blew on the second long climb!
I faded back to finish well down, unlike last year when I finished 13th and was flying.
At least my weight seems to be dropping back down closer to racing weight.
talking to Steve McLean after the race he recommended doing some hill sprints to build back the power I've lost after my 2 month injury.
On Thursday I followed his advice and did 10 x 20 sec sprints up and over some short steep hills on the Rubbish 5K course.
The idea is to build up 20 efforts!
Never Give Up Hope, You Never Know Whats Round The Corner :0]