Friday 16 November 2012

A road-based run this morning through Bottisham, including a loop of Beechwood Avenue.  Just over 5 miles in 44'24".  The weather was dry and not too cold.

Wednesday 14 November 2012

9k run to Bottisham and Lode this morning.  The weather was dry and fairly warm.  The railway track and bridleway are still very muddy.  The mud slowed by down for the final mile and a half, overall time was 46'44".

Several House Sparrows heard in Albert Road this morning.  A Great Spotted Woodpecker was seen flying over in Lode.  5 Moorhens were at Lode Mill and a few Long-Tailed Tits were in the bushes just after the mill.

Sunday 11 November 2012

Had a run this morning to Fen Ditton and Horningsea.  I took the raod route to Fen Ditton to avoid the inevitible mud along the droveway.  It was still very muddy along the stretch past Allicky Farm.  This route is slightly shorter than the normal route at 7.5 miles.  A reasonable time of 1 hour 3'56".

A Great Spotted Woodpecker flew across the road just after Horningsea.

Saturday 10 November 2012

A very wet and muddy Cambridge parkrun this morning.  The rain had stopped by the time the race started but there were large puddles and lots of mud all around the course.  As a result a slow time of 22'57.

Thursday 8 November 2012

Bottisham and Lode 9k route again today.  Weather was quite a bit warmer today.  A reasonable time of 46'25".

A Jay was seen in the Maize field along the railway track after Lode Mill and 2 more Jays were seen just before the gate.

Tuesday 6 November 2012

This morning I ran along Colliers Lane to Anglesey Abbey and back through Bottisham, going to the end of the village rather than taking Bell Road.  The weather was cold and frosty.

There were 3 Hares in the field at the start of the road from Lode to Bottisham and a Great-Spotted Woodpecker flew onto a telegraph pole at the farmhouse on the left hand side of the road opposite the small spinney.

Sunday 4 November 2012

Histon & Impington Bonfire Burn 10k.  Unfortunately the race was marred by heavy rain and a 15 minute delay at the start.  I was hopeful of a new PB but this was scuppered by being thoroughly drenched with soggy shoes and socks, together with slippery/muddy conditions along the Mere Way off-road section.  Despite teh conditions I achieved a respectable (gun time - no chip time available) time of 45'19".

Friday 2 November 2012

The usual run to Bottisham and Lode.  9k in a slow time of 48'32".

A Buzzard was perched on telegraph wires in Albert Road and surprisingly didn't fly away as I ran past.  A Kestrel was seen near Bottisham.  A Great-Spotted Woodpecker flew across the road to Lode.  A Sparrowhawk was seen darting away along the old railway track, which remains very muddy.

Tuesday 30 October 2012

A slight variation on the Bottisham and Lode run which involved setting out through Quy and past the church to Newmarket Road.  Rather than 9k this run was just over 10k.  A reasonable time of 52'42".  With the end of BST it was lighter than previous mornings.  I managed to trip over the gate along the railway track this morning, landing on my face in the mud.  Fortunately the ground was quite soft.  A cut knee and hand were my only injuries.

A lot of birds seen in Lode this morning.  Near the old hall (awaiting renovation into houses) their was a Chaffinch, Long-Tailed Tit and a few House Sparrows.  4 Swallows were perched on wires in Mill Road (my latest ever Swallow sighting).  Just past Lode Mill 2 Muntjacs ran from the field into the trees.

Sunday 28 October 2012

A gentle 11.5 mile run with Joanna to Swaffham Prior.  The weather was dry but fairly cold.

2 Kestrels seen along the route.  Along Bottisham Lode there were 3 Mute Swans and a Moorhen.