The last race of 2009

The Whinberry Naze Dash held on December 26th in Rossendale was the last race of 2009 and 140 people turned up to run in the snow.. the 4 mile fell race was pretty much 2 miles up and 2 miles down and a large amount of people did the event in fancy dress.. I hadn't realised that was the preferred code and felt like scrooge in normal attire..

Straight up a steep ice covered tarmac lane for the first half mile and the juniors all took off like hares, only to go backwards from that point onwards! I was climbing well and in third place at the summit, I didn't let the fact that a green elf was leading dampen my spirits..

Round the trig point and Santa (the real one) handed me a tube of smarties, as I started the descent I lost a place and dropped to 4th as I fumbled with my zip pocket, trying to get the smarties into a safe place. Running back down I was trying as hard as I could not to give up any more places and as I reached terminal velocity the 118 man came past clinging onto his wig..

This did not dint my confidence as the 118 man is very fast downhill so I continued to let loose through the snow with no thought for personal safety.. suddenly.. I slipped and 'BANG' i'm down.. the pressure of impact blew the lid off my smarties and they exploded into the snow..

Get up.. get up!!! (voice in my head).. I'm on my feet and just about to start running when the Green Cross Code Man roars past.. for some reason I feel as though I have to look both ways before starting off again.. this loses another place!!

Onto the road and the icy descent to the finish.. I come home in 9th.. having lost 6 places on the way down, but I'm happy with the run and a fantastic way to see out the year. As I watch the fancy dress runners complete, one young chap finishes wearing only a leather thong and fell shoes.. he turns his back to me and exhausted, bends over to put his hands on his knees.. that totally ruined my day and potentially scarred me for life..

Here endeth theenduranceblog

Sometimes it feels like I'm flying..

Some days it really does feel as though I'm flying.. hills are no challenge, I'm breathing comfortably and covering the ground at a gallop. When you have spring in your stride and things feel effortless it the greatest feeling ever.. those days when everything seems to come together, the planets are in alignment and your bio-rhythms collide to make things perfect. Unfortunately those days are few and far between and generally the next day feels totally different.. I can't understand it, I wish I could bottle it and I certainly can't guarantee or even predict it!!

Make sure when you get it.. you enjoy it.. don't dismiss it.. appreciate it, could you never know when you'll next get it and you may spend the next month or two trying to find it again. On Saturday.. I had it, by Tuesday it had gone.. but it'll be back, I'm just not sure when.. for now I'll just keep going out and doing my thing, enjoying the scenery, taking silly photos and waiting for the next day when I feel like i'm flying..

Here endeth theenduranceblog..