Training in the snow and the slush

Earlier this week I signed up for the Albion Running, West Country Hilly 50 miler so the plan was to start getting some higher mileage weeks and some more elevation. Then the Beast from the East hit Britain and I assumed that plan would go out of the window for this week.

I was wrong.

After a 16 mile run last Sunday and the school 5k club on Monday, weather and work commitments suggested that was me done for the week particularly when Thursday and Friday were declared snow days.

However, after I'd been out for some snowballs and sledging with my little boy (courtesy of snow day number 1), it became clear that the snow would not stop me. In fact, the snow was only a couple of inches deep and fresh so the going underfoot was not as slippery as I thought it might be. So, it was on with the kit and out into the elements for an enjoyable 22km.

Friday (snow day number 2) was not so successful. Clearly there had been some thawing overnight followed by a flash freeze which meant stepping out in the morning was not a step out into deep, crisp snow but a step out onto ice encrusted snow. It was treacherous underfoot in walking boots so heaven knows what it would be like in trail shoes. I didn't bother to find out. I spent the afternoon working on this website and editing the footage from Thursday's run.

Saturday came and went without incident (or training) but the thaw was on and by Sunday morning the pavements and roads were clear and I was looking forward to so more miles.

Out on the trails of the local country park for Sunday morning and the thaw wasn't quite as advanced as it was in town. With deep slush along most of the trails, the going underfoot was slippery and my feet got cold and wet early on splashing through puddles but sun was shining and the air was fresh. So I bagged another 23km and some photos.

Andy