A Second (!) Breakfast and a Bit of Planning The plan for today was a nice, gentle ten miles with a friend (who put me on to Longest Day Run in the first place!) around Dovestones and Chew Reservoirs near Greenfield. She had told me though, that she had been unwell yesterday so it was a sad but not entirely unexpected text over breakfast this morning that let me know I'd be running alone again. This was confirmed by a failed attempt to rally a few troops. So what, am I the only person who leaps out of bed eager to run at 7am on a Sunday!? I decided to take on a bit more fuel and have a rethink - I didn't have to go out to Greenfield and in fact, saving that run for when we could do it together another day seemed a nice idea and saved me the hassle of getting the train there and the indignity of the sweaty train back!
Yeah, What_E_V_E_R. I plotted a vague route along the Irwell out past Broughton and back down through Salford. Possibly not ten miles but easy enough to add a couple of loops round Manchester on if needed. Anyway, I told myself, I only really needed to do 4 miles to get myself to my target of 30 for this 24 hour period so perhaps it was wise to not plan too much and just go by feel, especially given yesterday's mileage! Unfortunately (or maybe not!) I had spent so long trying to memorise some complicated bits later in the run I hadn't properly worked out how to drop down onto the footpath by the river from the city centre so this plan never germinated. Taking this as an intervention by Atalanta, I decided it might not be a bad idea to stick to an easier route for today; I hadn't yet determined how well I'd warm up and avoiding unexpected navigational errors was probably wise.
| | Having decided this, I picked a nice, long straight road out of town and coasted along, thinking that it would be easy to just turn round whenever I needed to and not get lost, sticking close to buildings and hopefully some toilet options! I ended up going through Cheetham Hill and finding myself at Heaton Park. Useful. I had been thinking of doing a 'dummy run' out that way to determine how sensible it would be to run to the Heaton ParkRun! As it was about 5 miles to Heaton Hall, which is the start, I think it's possibly not one for a 5k PB but quite good if I fancy a 13 miler one Saturday morning! I ended up running to a little folly on the top, grandly named The Temple! |
This. This is why I love summer. And England. But mostly just summer.
| After stopping briefly to take these piccies (such a lovely day and a very good view!) I jogged down to make the most of the park toilet facilities while I could (you so didn't need to know that. I'm sorry.) and then knowing I was on track for my ten miler, having already bagged 5 I started a rather smug run back into town. As I am a bit allergic to turning round and going back the way I came, it wasn't far down Bury Old Road before I decided to take a right and see if my hunch that I could get onto Bury New Road that way was correct. Thankfully, I wasn't wrong but I later decided to go right again and take a route back to town that avoided the main road. I'm not a big fan of car fumes at the best of times. | 
The Ad-Hoc Longest Day 2 Route!
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And Home in Time for Tea and Cake <3 I made it back home at about half past 11; 45 minutes to spare before the end of my 24 hour period and having clocked 11.3 miles! Unfortunately, it didn't occur to me until I was in the shower that if I'd have pushed just a little further I could easily have done 2 more miles; a half marathon, which would have taken me to close to 40 miles instead of the 37.8 I've managed. Still, I have decided recently that miles are like pints (once you've done one it's hard to stop; the more you have the worse you feel afterwards but by next weekend you've forgotten the pain and dive straight back into the joy again!) and that last mile may well have ended up being the one I shouldn't have had! Feet up and tea with home made Lavender Scones and Strawberry Jam on the balcony was not a bad idea!
So that's that for the Longest Day Run 2014. I've run a second, albeit unofficial marathon, had fun pushing myself to see what I could achieve physically and massively enjoyed being outdoors in the English summer. I'm so lucky to live close to such lovely running routes and it always seems to be such a good way of connecting with a landscape, which seems quite appropriate for the summer solstice, even if there were no stone circles involved! I've also clocked more miles in 24 hours than I ever have before as well as peaking at over 65 miles in one week; my longest distance ever. Many thanks to all at Longest Day Run for the organisation! So glad I participated and hope the event was the success you hoped for! See you (virtually at least!) next year!
Juneathon Week the Third! Yep. That's the most running I've ever done in seven days. Legs are still attached. For now.
