Crunchy Ice Run!

We were all caught out despite the weather forecast and woke up on Sunday morning to a huge dumping of snow at street level!   Our children wanted to go out promptly at 7am to catch every snowflake known to mankind on the rational basis that "It might not last!!!"

However, the snow has decided to stay with many consequences:

• Beautiful snow photos
• Sledging and snowball mayhem
• Streets reclaimed by feet and not cars
• Two days of school closures and "working from home"!

I did not venture out yesterday when it pretty much snowed all day but today I did take the opportunity to log off early and go for a little jaunt along the River and Canal.

Beautiful scenery again, the sun was dipping and also the temperature so not much time for hanging around to take in the scenery.   I did take a few stops though for the following shots:

The run was 9.8km; moving time of 55:16 and average pace of 5:38/km.    Exhilarating 😄

Sun setting - the Darren on the left and the Table Mountain to the right.

Close up of the Darren above Crickhowell

Sugar Loaf in the distance and a real trudge session through the snowfall here!

SNOW RUN!

Its quite rare to have snow in December, especially in Crickhowell but the weekend forecast was snow, and the heavens delivered!

Many races and events were cancelled this weekend, including the weekly local Park Run but I had to venture out....not least because I had a few G & T's the night before and felt a bit fuzzy!

Its a lovely route and the hideous hill climb from the Canal up to the Hillside car park is worth the views and near cardiac arrest at various stages on the way up.   I was particularly pleased to see that the segment which is posted on Strava is named "I HATE THAT HILL".....and I have to agree!

But feast on these lovely photos!

 The Hillside Mission church is a haven for roosting bats and is managed by The Vincent Wildlife Trust

 Views out towards Llangattock Cave Network

 Looking back towards Llangattock Escarpment

The peril of trail running.....the unseen briar caught my trusty bobble!

The run was a 14km slow 1:41 trudge (average pace of 7.14/km)  as the conditions underfoot were largely unseen along the cave ridge and elsewhere, very muddy and wet.   However, loved every minute of it 😍

Gwent League XC - Pembrey 3rd December 2017

Oooh! - My first running post of December...the months are really starting to count down!

I have decided not to panic yet about fundraising and instead focus on getting Xmas done and dusted with my aim to start thinking of training proper in January.  (actually I am a bit nervous about raising £2k...especially as Christmas is upon us and everyone will be or about to be skint!)

At the moment, I am enjoying the chance to run for Parc Bryn Bach and on Sunday 3rd December, travelled with my lovely running friends to the scenic setting of Pembrey, just outside Llanelli.

Based on my trusty old Garmin Forerunner 15 - I clocked 6.2km with a time of 29:49 and given the  relatively dry, flat course, was pleased with my overall effort.

However, my addiction to marshmallows, the odd biscuit (pack) and little Xmas (and Autumn) treats in the office have seriously resulted in the creeping on of some extra poundage and today with my weekly "weigh-in" colleague, I have discovered that am the heaviest I have been since just after last Xmas!   

  

I know I need to stop eating crap sugary stuff but I just can't help myself so I think its time to get the Chimp Paradox book back out of the Local Library and start preparing to Train my chimp ready for the shock it MUST receive shortly.