Wimpole 10k Hoohaah

A rather warm morning for this 10k run.  The ground underfoot was pretty dry, with just a few avoidable puddles.  With some steep hills the temperature soon tired me out.  I achieved a reasonable time of 49:51.

A Chiffchaff was heard in the woods.

Thursday 25 April 2013

Due to overnight rain I avoided the potentially muddy areas and ran the 9km route through Bottisham to Lode Mill and back along the old railway line.

A Collared Dove was seen sitting on a nest on the side of a house in Lode at the same spot as last year.  Several firsts for the year today:
- Several Whitethroats heard (1 seen);
- Blackcap heard, where the track from Lodestar joins the old railway line;
- A male Bullfinch seen along the old railway line;
- 2 House Martins in Vicarage Meadow.

I also saw or heard, a Kestrel, 2 Swallows, several Yellowhammers, Chaffinches, Long-Tailed Tit, Geat Tits, Robins, Dunnocks, Blackbirds, House Sparrows, Chiffchaffs and Skylarks.

Sunday 21 April 2013

Good conditions this morning. I ran the 10 mile route along Heath Road to the Wilbrahams and back through Teversham Fen.  Apart from one short stretch along Little Wilbraham River where the path was still flooded it was pretty dry.

There were a lot of birds in the hedgerows along Heath Road, including a Corn Bunting, Reed Buntings, Yellowhammers, Chaffinches, a Meadow Pipit, Linnets and 2 Wheatears.  A Buzzard was seen here too and a Hare.

A Chiffchaff was heard on arrival in Great Wilbraham and 2 more at Little Wilbraham Fen.  4 Swallows were seen and a male Marsh Harrier was soaring over the reedbeds at Teversham Fen.

Wednesday 17 April 2013

A cool morning with the ground slightly damp after light overnight rain.  Today I ran the 8-mile route to the end of White Fen Drove.

A lot of wildlife was seen this morning:-
A Heron, Several Moorhens and a Swan along Quy Water.
A pair of Lapwings just before Anglesey Abbey - chasing off a Crow.
2 Green Woodpeckers heard (one seen) at Anglesey Abbey and another on the grass of the field along the track parallel to the railway line.
2 Chiffchaffs heard at Anglesey Abbey and another at Quy Hall.
A Jay was seen at Lode Mill.
A Fox walked across the road along White Fen Drove and a Hare was seen here too.
A Buzzard flew off from a telegraph post along the track to Lodestar.
2 Roe Deer were in the fields after Lodestar.
A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was seen in Station Road.
Also several Blackbirds, Chaffinches, Wrens, Dunnocks, Yellowhammers, Blue and Great Tits either seen or heard.

Ickworth 10k Hoohaah - Sunday 14 April 2013

A return to the site of my first ever competitive run for the Ickworth House 10k.  This is a wonderful National trust property in Suffolk.

The temperature was good for running but there was a strong wind.  The wind really made itself felt at times, to add to the complication of the 2 steep hills.  A further complication was the amount of mud along the stretches through the woods.  It was really hard to stay on your feet at times and this slowed me down a lot.

The run started off at a quick downhill, tail-wind pace of 4.04 for the first km and 4.17 for the second.  At the worst point my pace was down to 6.04 for the fifth km.  By this point any chances of a good time were well and truly gone.  I finished in a respectable 29th place (out of 207) in a worse time (by just 5 seconds) than my first run in 2008 of 52:03.

I heard my first Chiffchaffs of the year today and a Nuthatch.

Saturday 16 June 2012

Cambridge parkrun this morning.  Weather was dry and fairly warm.  Some stiffness this morning before the run, so fairly pleased with my time of 22'12".

A couple of Chiffchaffs heard and at least 3 Blackcaps.

Wednesday 30 May 2012

A tiring 8 mile run to Lode this morning, coming back via Quy Fen and Allicky Farm.  Weather was dry and bright, but the grass was dewy.

The Moorhen was again seen sitting on a nest along Quy Water.  2 Great-Spotted Woodpeckers heard at Anglesey Abbey.  Several Swifts seen over Lode.

A few Chiffchaffs and Whitethroats heard.  In the fields after Lodestar a couple of Skylarks were seen, and in the ditch were a pair of Reed Buntings and a pair of Corn Buntings.

A Roe Deer and a Muntjac were seen.

Saturday 26 May 2012

A hot day today for Cambridge parkrun.  Despite the heat I managed my best time of the year at 21'56".

A few Chiffchaffs heard singing.

Sunday 13 May 2012

A trip to Brandon Country Park today.  Weather was dry and it was quite warm at times.  I basically ran the blue cycle route with a few little additions. Total distance was about 7 miles.  Finished off with kettlebelling and boxercise in the orchard picnic area.

A Green Woodpecker was seen and a few Chiffchaffs heard.

Saturday 12 May

A good parkrun this morning.  The course was still a little muddy in places, but not too bad.  A respectable time of 22'03".

A few Chiffchaffs heard and a Buzzard was soaring over at the finish.

Saturday 28 April 2012

Parkrun this morning.  Heavy rain before the start had eased off to a light drizzle by the time the run started.  The course was very muddy though, with large puddles.  Considering the conditions, my time of 22'22" was reasonable.

A few Chiffchaffs heard.

Friday 27 April 2012

A run to Horningsea this morning.  Weather was dry and fine.  The ground was muddy in places after the heavy rain of the last few days, but fortunately the puddles were all avoidable.  A fairly slow run at 1 hour 09'49" for the 8 mile course.

3 Buzzards were seen, along the track to Allicky Farm along the byway before and after the pink house.  A Jay was also seen along the track to Allicky Farm and a Great-Spotted Woodpecker after the farm.  A Chiffchaff was heard in Station Road, Quy and a few Skylarks heard too.  2 Swallows were seen in Station Road and another 2 in Horningsea.

A Hare was on the track just before the bridge over the A14.

Sunday 22 April 2012

I ran the Lode 10k route in a good time of 48'37".  I set a new PB to Lode Mill of 15'19".  Weather was dry and cool.

A Swan was on the riverbank at the start of Quy Water.  A Blackcap was heard at the start of Anglesey Abbey woods. 2 Bullfinches were seen in the bushes along Bottisham Lode.

A Green Woodpecker flew out from the trees along the track to the Lodestar fields and another was feeding on the grass towards Quy Fen.  2 Reed Buntings, 2 Skylarks and 2 Lapwings were seen in the field after Lodestar.  The Lapwing were seeing off a couple of Crows.

A Jay was seen along the old railway line.  A Swallow was seen over Bush Farm in Station Road.

A few Chiffchaffs heard. 

Saturday 21 April 2012

A good run at Cambridge parkrun this morning.  Weather was cool and dry.  Despite having to stop to retie my shoelace I finished in my best time this year of 21'57".

A few Chiffchaffs heard.

Tuesday 17 April 2012

A short run to Lode and back along the old railway line this morning.  It was raining quite hard at the start and with a strong cold wind it was quite unpleasant.  Fortunately the rain stopped by the time I got to the Lode Mill but wind was just as cold.

A Grey Wagtail was seen at Lode Mill and a pair of Grey Partridges along the old railway line.  A couple of Chiffchaffs heard.

Wednesay 11 April 2012

Lode 10k route again this morning.  Weather was dry but rather cold.  Heavy rain in recent days has left the course quite wet in places.  The grass was wet and dewy.

2 Green Woodpeckers at Angelsey Abbey and 2 Chiffchaffs heard here too.  A flock of about 20-25 Fieldfares were on the Lodestar field.  2 Reed Buntings and 2 Skylarks in the next field.  Another Green Woodpecker was seen just before the old railway line.  2 Stock Doves were in the field along the old railway line.

On returning to Station Road, one of the Swans was seen swimming along Quy Water.

Saturday 7 April 2012

Cambridge parkrun this morning.  Weather was dry and mild.  A large turnout made the start a bit congested.  Quite tiring run in a time of 22'18".

8 or 9 Chiffchaffs heard around the park today.

Tuesday 3 April 2012

Lode 10k this morning.  Weather was dry and cool.  My fastest time this year at 53'00".

Chiffchaffs were heard at Anglesey Abbey at the start of the woods and near Lode Mill.  1 Green Woodpecker seen.  A male Kestrel was seen at the Jack of Clubs.  2 Roe Deer were in the fields along Fen Road.

A few Yellowhammers seen too.

Sunday 1 April 2012

A visit to Brandon Country Park today.  Weather was cool and dry.  I ran the Blue Cycle Route with the additional 2 mile loop at Mayday Farm.

2 Woodlarks heard and then seen over a newly felled area close to the Country Park.  A few Chiffchaffs heard around the route.  At Mayday Farm several finches were taking advantage of a small pond, the flock included some siskins.  A possible Goshawk was seen drifting high over the woods.

2 Muntjacs seen as well.

Saturday 31 March 2012

Cambridge parkrun.  Good conditions today, being dry and cool.  I achieved my best time at Milton this year of 22'06".

7 Chiffchaffs heard (1 seen) around the course.