Sunday 28 November 2010

A 10.5 mile run this morning to Bottisham, Swaffham Bulbeck and White Fen. I added a extra bit in Swaffham Bulbeck up Quarry Lane. Weather was bright but cold and frosty. Time was OK at 1hour 33'04".

A pair of Swans on Swaffham Bulbeck Lode. A Roe Deer near White Fen. Otherwise not much seen today.

Friday 26 November 2010

A good run this morning on a cold frosty morning. The temperature was around -2 to -3. I ran the same route as yesterday, but set off later (having driven Joanna to Stansted Airport). It was already starting to get light, but Jupiter could still be seen well over the A14. A very quick time this morning of 45'55".

A group of House Sparrows were heard in a garden in Albert Road and just before "The Missing Sock" 2 Muntjacs ran across the road, narrowly avoiding an oncoming car.

Lots of Blackbirds around and at the end of the old railway line there were several Fieldfares. A Cormorant flew over the old railway line and 2 more over Station Road. At the start of the bridleway there was a flock of around 20 Starlings. Just before Station Road a Buzzard was seen flying away across the field.

4 Moorhens again at the pond.

Wednesday 24 November 2010

My first run after Sunday's half marathon. Feeling fine only slight stiffness. I ran the 9k route to Bottisham, Lode Mill and back along the railway line. A very good time of 48'33". The weather was cold and frosty, with the sky just beginning to get light as I left home. Jupiter was shinging brightly in the South East.

2 Buzzards were in the woods between Lode Mill and the old railway line. A heron and 4 Moorhens were at the pond in Station Road.

St Neots - Half Marathon - Sunday 21 November 2010

My first half marathon. Weather was cool but not too cold at around 7 degrees. There was also quite a bit of a breeze. With a forecast time of 1 hour 52 I decided to try to stick with the 1 hour 45 pacers.

The race started up the hill out of St Neots on Potton Road and then headed to Abbotsley. The first mile was quick at just over 7 and half minutes. The second mile was just under 8 minutes and the third about the same. Just after 3 miles the route turned right up a steep incline along High Green and continued uphill along Pitsdean Road. This was very energy sapping and the water station at the top of the hill was very welcome.

Just before the 4 mile mark the route turned left towards Waresley. This section was flat at first and then became a steep downhill stretch. Here I was able to open up a bit and pulled ahead of the pacers where there was less runners. The downhill soon became another uphill to the 5 mile mark. The total time at this point was still within 8 minutes per mile. The road flattened out again before turning right, the route was then downhill into the village of Waresely. At the bottom of the hill the road turned left again along the B1040. At 6 and half miles (halfway) we had another water station. Just before 7 miles the road again turned left back towards Abbotsley. I was starting to fall behind the pacing group at this stage so I took my energy gel.

I closed the gap a bit as we approached the 8 mile mark just before Abbotsley, but with the hill again at the Green and Pitsdean Road I decided to let them go, as I was already ahead of my target and didn't want to overstretch myself. The second time up Pitsdean Road didn't actually seam as bad as the first time. At 9 miles we were at the water station again. After this the road turned right at the top this time along Drewels Lane towards St Neots.

A flat section followed for the next mile. Then from the 10 mile mark the route was all downhill. The foul smell of a chicken and turkey farm (sorry about the pun!) was enough incentive to push a lit harder at the stage. The route then twisted its way past the Abbotsley Golf Course, before the final water station at 11 and half miles. Immediately after the 12 mile marker we were back on the B1046 having completed the figure of 8. The road then retraced our steps over the A428 and the railway line down into St Neots. Near the end of Potton Road the route turned into Ridgeway through the housing estate past the 13 mile marker and finally to the finish - in a time of 1 hour 47'15".

A Buzzard was seen soaring over the woods along the road to Waresley and 2 more over Waresley village.

Thursday 18 November 2010

My route this morning was through Bottisham and Lode to the start of White Fen Drove, then back along the old railway line. Set off before sunrise but quite a bit warmer this morning. 7.4 miles in 1 hour 5'30".

A few early Blackbirds in Quy and Bottisham. About 30 Jackdaws heading over Lode, following by a larger mixed flock of Jackdaws and Rooks. 2 Herons in the usual places along Bottisham Lode. A flock of about 18 partridges was flushed by the first Heron. Also along Bottisham Lode a male Kestrel was seen just before the bridge. A Green Woodpecker was in a grassy field along the track to Quy Fen. Another Heron was at the pond in Quy.

Tuesday 16 November 2010

A cold and frosty morning. Not so muddy today due to the frost, apart from a few places. I ran 8 miles to the end of White Fen Drove and back. After my face had warmed up (after about 1 mile) it was a pleasant run, particularly at about 5 miles where the route heads back to the railway track. Here the sun had just risen over the trees and was lighting up the white frost fields.

Large number of Jackdaws and Rooks in the field along Quy Water again. There were also 2 Herons along Quy Water just before Anglesey Abbey, one of which stayed just ahead of me all the way to the mill pond. Another Heron just before White Fen Drove and as I turned into the drove another was heading towards me across the fields. A covey of 11 partridges in a field along White Fen Drove.

As I headed back over the bridge there were Redwings, Fieldfares and 3 Long-Tailed Tits. At the end of the avenue of poplars there was a Buzzard. Along the railway track were more Long-Tailed Tits and a Fox was walking down the track by the gate towards Quy Water. A Kestrel was seen along the bridleway.

Saturday 13 November 2010

An 11.5 mile run at Brandon Country Park this Saturday. Called in at Brandon Brewery on the way, but they were closed. Weather was dry and not too cold. The ground conditions were very good.

We did the Blue Cycle Route and 2 laps of the extension at Mayday Farm.

Have bought a season ticket for the car park, so will try and go several times over the next few months. Had a nice sandwich, coffee, pot of tea and cake in the visitor centre tearoom.

Not many birds to see - A Jay, Green Woodpecker and a few Great Tits were about all. The feeders at the visitor centre hadn't been filled up, so nothing here. Some Grey Squirrels and at Mayday Farm lots of deer tracks of various sizes - Muntjac, possibly both Roe and Red Deer too.

Wednesday 10 November 2010

A 10k run this morning. The weather was cold but dry and a little windy, however there were a few spots of rain towards the end. Not a quick time at 58 minutes. Very muddy through the trees at Anglesey Abbey.

2 coveys of Partridges were seen with about 12 at Quy Water and around 18 along Fen Road. A large flock or Rooks and Jackdaws in the field just before Anglesey Abbey. 2 Herons seen along Bottisham Lode, opposite the cottages and near the bridge by White Fen Drove. Previously I have assumed that these double sightings represent the same bird flying on ahead of me, but today the 2 came together. Another Heron was at the pond in Station Road. Also in Station Road a Wren was singing away.

A Buzzard was low overhead along the railway line.

Sunday 7 November 2010

A run of just under 10 miles today to Oily Hall (NT). It was quite cold when I left home at just before 9, but by half way it was feeling much warmer.

A Grey Heron was seen in Bottisham Lode. A flock of about 50 Goldfinches were at Oily Hall. There were several gulls on the Polo Club fields, including Lesser and Greater Black-Backed.

A party of Fieldfares were seen along Quy Water. Several fish seen in Bottisham Lode.

Friday 5 Novemeber 2010

Ran to Bottisham and Lode this morning, then on to the start of White Fen Drove. The weather was dry, but cloudy and windy. It had been raining overnight so the ground was wet and very muddy in the usual places. Distance 7.4 miles in around 1 hour 8 minutes.

Grey Heron seen along Bottisham Lode and a couple of Moorhens. Also along Bottisham Lode in the trees opposite the cottages I heard a Great-Spotted Woodpecker and eventually managed to see it as I looked back over my shoulder as I ran passed. Another Great-Spotted Woodpecker was along the bridleway, and here there were 3 Lesser Black-Backed Gulls in a field. About 18 (Red-Legged) Partridges flew across the track between the barley fields. 2 Grey Squirrels seen along the railway track. Finally a Mistle Thrush was in Station Road.

Wednesday 3 November 2010

The usual 10k run this morning. Fairly slow as still recovering from Sunday's 12 miles - just over 57 minutes. With the clocks having gone back at the weekend, it was much lighter than last week.

Starting to look Autumnal now, the strong winds this week blowing many of the leaves off the trees. Also getting muddier, especially through the woods along Quy Water at Anglesey Abbey and the end of the bridleway.

Grey Heron seen just before Anglesey Abbey and another one along Bottisham Lode. Also 2 Kestrels seen - Bottisham Lode and Station Road, Quy.

A Kingfisher was seen along Bottisham Lode and a few Moorhens. A couple of Skylarks were in the barley field.

Sunday 31 October 2010

My longest run to date. I extended my route to Swaffham Bulbeck by continuing to Swaffham Prior and reaching White Fen via Station Road. At 12 miles this was good training for my upcoming half marathon. My time of 1 hour 51'19" was not too bad.

In Swaffham Bulbeck a runner came out of his house ahead of me and ran down the street at a fair pace. I thought to myself "I'm sure he's not doing 12 miles". Sure enough, after about 100 metres he turned into the volunteer fire station and proceeded to open up the appliance garage doors. A few moments later 2 cars came up the street at high speed. I didn't get to see the fire engine heading to whatever the emergency was, as I had turned off the main road. Full respect to the men who do these jobs in their spare time!

I passed a Kestrel sitting on a telegraph pole just outside Swaffham Prior and another near Lode. Along the railway track there was a group of about 20 Fieldfares, my first sighting of these Scandanavian visitors this winter.

Thursday 28 October 2010

An early start this morning, well before sunrise, hence it was pretty dark for most of the run. Today I ran to down Albert Road to Bottisham and then to Lode, passed the mill and back along the railway line. A distance of 9k in 51'19".

Not much seen due to lack of light, but several blackbirds and robins heard signing. Blackbirds seen in the latter part of the run. A Muntjac was flushed out of the field immediately after Lode Mill.

19 October 2010 - Deer Lake, Boyne Falls, MI

On our trip to Michigan we stayed here for a week, at the Mountain Run at Boyne resort in Boyne Falls. The resort is popular for winter sports. About 3 miles from Boyne Falls is Deer Lake. A 10.5 mile run took me over the mountain, right round the lake and back again.






The run started off flat for the first mile and went passed the Grand Lodge. On the small lake opposite the Lodge there were some Mallards and many Canada Geese.










After passing the Lodge the route turned left along Mountain Pass Road and started the 1 mile or so climb.

Blue Jays, American Robins and Song Sparrows were seen.

From the top the final half a mile to the Lake is downhill and passes the golf course on the left-hand side.

There was a flock of Canada Geese on Deer Lake.

At the bottom of Mountain Pass Road, I turned right along Deer Lake Road to circle the lake anti-clockwise.

After about half a mile I turned left to go along the Northern edge of the Lake.

A mile along this stretch and then the road turned left again to go South down the E Jordan - Boyne City Road. Along this mile and a half stretch I saw a White-Breasted Nuthatch in a garden.

The road then turned left again onto the C48 Deer Lake Road.

From here it was a mile back to Mountain Pass Road. Along this stretch a Woodpecker was heard calling, but unfortunately not seen. There was also a roadkill skunk at the side of the road. Once I had run past it I could smell its strong musky odour.

Back at the Golf Course and ready to start the climb back up Mountain Pass Road.

At the chair lift the worst of the climb is over.






From here it's a nice downhill run back to the Lodge. Some Black-Capped Chickadees were seen in the trees.

Mountain Run at Boyne condos with the ski slope behind.

http://gb.mapometer.com/en/running/route_815748.html

11 October 2010 - Grand Rapids, MI

Our run of around 6 miles centred on Richmond Park in the NW suburbs of Grand Rapids. Setting out along Bristol Ave NW we turned into Richmond St NW passed the Washington Park Memorial Gardens then entered Richmond Park. House Sparrows and American Robins were seen along Richmond St. In Richmond Park we ran around the edge of the pond, which had many Mallards, Canada Geese and Ring-Billed Gulls.

We then turned onto Tamarack Ave and then right onto Sylvia St. This residential area became more industrial as we turned left onto Alpine Ave. Here we headed up to the railway line and turned left onto Parnell Ave just before the railway bridge. This road took us along beside the railway line into Walker township and back to Bristol Ave. More Robins were seen here as well as Mourning Doves and Blue Jays.

Turning left on Bristol Ave took us passed more industrial units then the West Catholic Central High School. As we crossed a small stream, just before the high school, a Great Blue Heron flew out. At the side of the road a bit further on was a roadkill Opossum.

Having completed the circuit we headed back down Richmond St again to the park where we headed into the woods at the edge of the park. This took us a steep hill and then back down again into the park. From here we headed home and saw a male Red Cardinal in a garden in Bristol St.