Today was the day set for the second of my big-ticket running goals whilst on my holidays... what I've been calling "The Great Orme Challenge". Yesterday involved a hard morning on the hills followed by a long afternoon "resting" in the King's Head listening to American folk music and "carb-loading". Still, at least I had an early night!
Woke early to clear skies and glorious sunshine, which as we all know is not a runner's friend. Only one option - straight up and out before the gremlins have time to put on their sun cream.
So the Great Orme Challenge was to run around Marine Drive, which is the scenic roadway around the headland. It's "only" 9k so the distance wasn't the issue... it's the climb! It's uphill for pretty much the first 4k, with gradients of up to 20% and a total elevation gain of 148m. Not my usual type of terrain!
Anyhow, it was just a matter of slow and steady... REALLY slow at the steepest parts... and, sadly, the downhill part didn't seem a whole lot easier than the uphill (certainly not as effortless as for the cyclists who were whizzing past, getting a couple of k free after the hard work of the climb!).
And then it was done. Just under 70 minutes in total, and back to the hotel in time for breakfast (of the full English variety but so much nicer knowing you've already run off the calories).
So now I need some new goals! Oh, wait... the Alderley Edge 10k is in a couple of weeks!!
10K Goal Achieved ;o)
Wk4 R3 - wibble wobble
Yes!
Week six run 2
Achieved my goal!
