Pretty cold weather

It was very cold and also very picturesque today. Ideal running conditions, if you've got nice warm kit - which I have.

The snow has nearly all gone now. I can't remember a time when snow has lasted for a month. Normally it's gone in a week. Here's me obeying all the rules of photographic composition while taking a photo of the snow.

The nights are getting longer which augurs well for evening runs in the not-too-distant future. I was out at 4:30 today and it was fine. The longer evenings should also allow me to get some road bike miles in - I'm planning another 90-miler in about 2 months' time.

For those not aware of the winking man. Here's a link: http://www.winkingman.com/pages/where.php

I found another slightly winking could-be-a-man-if-you-have-a-good-imagination, and the sun was behind it which made for a nice photo and an excuse to stop again. Looking at it again I think the man would have to be wearing a very elaborate hat.

This blog is probably playing havoc with my training as I keep stopping to take photos. I'll try to get serious and just post GPS traces in the summer.

On the way back I found these icicles, which also amused me. I thought they looked like the top of some monster's mouth about to bite down.

Two days - two runs

This feat might seem trivial, but it's a big step in the recovery from my seasonal malaise. After running yesterday, I wasn't sure if I was going to go out today as well. But this was decided in Buxton's excellent art cafe in the Pavillion Gardens. After ordering two veggie breakfast for the kids to share with me, it became apparent that they only wanted the egg. So I was forced to eat my own weight in hash browns, veggie sausages, beans, toast and tomatoes. In fact there was so much, we had to give the ducks and pigeons the rest of the toast.

So after this feast, I felt I better do something energetic so went out for a 5 mile run. As you can see, there are still some large dollops of snow about. Especially on footpaths sheltered by walls. It might be gone in a week or so.

Also [news flash] after proudly announcing in my last blog entry that Cloud Nine will be my comeback race, this now clashes with something. So it'll be Wolf Spit (really called Wolf's pit - but that's not as funny) instead; which is the week after.