Kilian and me......

Three runs last week were all over-shadowed or upstaged by greater sporting events.   My 4 mile pre-breakfast gallop through Mollicar Wood and back through mown fields to escape the impending heat paled to insignificance by England's routing of Columbia in the football World Cup later in the day.

On Tuesday's pre-breakfast gallop    (Click to enlarge)

I'd been feeling rather proud of myself when Strava told me I'd achieved my second fastest ½ mile, one mile and one km times even though I'd set off feeling a bit groggy through lack of sleep.  Then along come Gareth Southgates boys to win an incredible penalty shoot-out for the first time since 1996.

Bedtime,  except it wasn't

After full time, extra time, then penalties, it was way past my bedtime when the match finally finished.  After further sleepless nights (damn heat) it was Saturday before I ran again.

What's that climbing over the wall?

Then, it was another short one.  "Where do you want to go?" my wonderful partner had asked over a quick cup of coffee after our commute back to Hebden.

Heading for Grassington

"Through the fields to Grassington and a quick run back along the river" I'd replied, not sure whether I could even manage that after a glance at my phone said the temperature was already 75ºF, and climbing.

Reaching the Wharfe 

Ah well, mad dogs and English (people) go out in the mid-day sun, so off we went - wearing shades and smothered in Factor 30.  I'll swear I'm getting dafter in my dotage....

Stepping stones and Linton Church

We hadn't gone more than 250 metres before our first distraction and photo stop.  "What the heck's that?" I asked when a large, strange shaped balloon wafted around in the breeze by Longthorne's garage. It transpired some enterprising young lady in the village has begun selling Ice cream at that very spot.
She wasn't there.

C'mon, let's head for home

Water in the river was low and stepping stones were high out of the water making it an easy passage to Linton Church.  There was a wedding there and one of our neighbours was on his way to play the organ.  He was so smartly dressed I didn't recognize him!

Siesta time for sheep

Sheep were moving into the shadow of trees to escape the heat.  Two runners passed without a word, either too hot or too full of their own importance. I hate that.

Pleasant running alongside the river.

Chestnuts by the river offered a small amount of shade for us, but many of them have been stricken by some strange disease that is killing them off.  Their skeletons lie all along the river bank.

Tree insect!

We met very few people and surmised most were staying at home well stocked up with beer and barbecue fodder ready for the 3 pm kick-off between England and Sweden in the World Cup.

Not far now to a shower and a few cool drinks

Leaving the river we stepped briefly onto the road before turning up the ghyll path for the steep climb back into Hebden, and home.  On hot days like these I sometimes wish I wasn't so much of a gentleman and could barge into the shower first!
With no television set to watch I deserted the garden at 5 o'clock to Google the World Cup score, 2 - 0 to England. 
They'll do for me.

Not much sunshine up the ghyll on Sunday

My wonderful partner was out of the house at 9.15 Sunday morning on National Park Ranger duty.  I was off on my own shortly afterwards on a 10 mile run I haven't attempted for many months.  Mossdale.  If my friend Antonio should think I'm training for the Burnsall 10, then rest assured, I'm not.

Happy, but a bit sweaty in Mossdale

  This was indeed an ideal training run for Burnsall in years gone by with its 1,000ft of ascent to strengthen the legs and mainly downhill finish to develop a bit of speed. I last ran Burnsall when I was 80 and (again) took the prize for 1st local runner!

Agitated lapwing

On Sunday I was lucky.  The forecast got it a little wrong.  It was mainly cloudy when I set off up the ghyll and as I rose higher there was a gentle breeze to cool the sweat on my forehead.  Both lapwings and curlews got very agitated as I ran past their breeding grounds in the jaws of Mossdale, so obviously still had fledglings.

Stile in new rabbit-proof fence 

Everywhere was tinder dry making for very pleasant running, down the length of new fencing (erected overnight) into Yarnbury, then back down the ghyll to a village heaving with weekend walkers.  I'd no appetite for food but probably drank 2 litres of fluid to replace all I'd lost.

Bare House, track to Mossdale and that new fence

Unusually, I'd been carrying my phone and heard several strange bleeps as I ran along.  I'd ignored them but on a later check it was my old running friend Doug Tilley informing me of Kilian Jornet's attempt to break Billy Bland's 36 year old record of 13 hours 53 minutes for the Bob Graham round in the English Lake District.

Kilian Jornet  (Picture from internet)

 Kilian is the amazing Catalan runner who has run up the highest mountains of each continent including two ascents of Everest last year without oxygen.  I wasn't surprised to learn he smashed Billy Bland's record by just over an hour to finish in 12 hours 52 minutes.  His run of 66 miles over 42 Lakeland summits with roughly 28,500ft of ascent somewhat snuffed out my little 10 mile jaunt round Mossdale!
Ah well, maybe next week...