To the Tabular Hills

My long-for-me run was postponed from Saturday to Sunday but with the bonus of being based next to the North Yorks Moors. I planned a 25km run northwards out of Pickering, picking up the Tabular Hills Walk before returning south to Pickering.

My workflow of Viewranger on Android via gimporter to Garmin 935 worked a treat to set up a instant route to follow. However this approach doesn't work when the route is diverted, as it seems to be in the quarry. As it was a Sunday I allowed myself to hunt around in the quarry for the path to Haugh Rigg. However being sandwiched between quarry workings and a live rife range I had to accept that I'd missed the track.

I resorted to the road and then a sunken track to Newton-on-Rawcliffe. Next time I'm in the area I'll have to try descending along the ridge into the quarry to show the correct route.

Next my route continued through the lovely woodland of Stony Moor, which is no doubt boggy when the weather is normal, along the Tabular Hills Walk to Cawthorn Moor. I must say that I was finding the run to be hard work and was glad to note 'only' 10km remaining.

In Cawthorn I headed south, off the signed walk through expansive fields with Pickering just visible in the distant valley.

I finished off with a few km along the A170 back to town. I must admit that even though there were no obstacles I started on a run/walk routine to stay comfortable as I'd a week of hiking ahead of me.

Not stopping whilst running with someone else

Today's run included the ascent of Porter Clough. I used to run this weekly and always found it a tough little hill. I set off fairly gently but met another runner just after Forge Dam cafe. We chatted on the climb and I determined to keep up with him. It was a struggle and left to myself I would have gone more slowly. I thought I'd have achieved a reasonable time but actually my time for the clough was one of my slowest! Looking back at the data my heart rate was falling in the steepest part, perhaps I was running out of power in my legs? I was breathing hard though!

Maybe I also need to acknowledge that I won't achieve the times of 5 years ago?

5 years on...

After hearing last night's weather forecast for today I didn't hang around after breakfast. I wanted to be out and about before it became too hot. Seemed like a good day for my Blacka Moor 'half marathon'.

From the outset I felt tired, heavy legs, hot; even though the air temperature was moderate at a mere 19ºC. I admit that I didn't push myself but by the end I'd really had enough.

Looking back at my GPS data I first logged this route in the summer of 2013 when I was 1 minute per km faster! I don't have heart rate data from that run so can't compare 'effort'. I'm aware that I kept my heart rate low today whereas historically I used to try hard on every run, but even so, it still felt tough today.