Sunday 9 December 2012

The 9 mile route to Swaffham Bulbeck.  Again windy coming back - finished in a slightly slower time of 1 hour 17:57.

December 2012

During the winter months the choice of routes is restricted due to the dark mornings, wet tracks and icy paths.  I managed the following runs in December:

2 December 2012 - Swaffham Bulbeck, with the inclusion of a loop up the hill at Quarry Lane, a total of 9 miles.  Again a strong head wind coming back to Lode, but a faster time than last week as 1 hour 17:07.

4 December 2012 - A morning run to Bottisham again.  A slow time today of 48:23.

9 December 2012 - The 9 mile route to Swaffham Bulbeck.  Again windy coming back - finished in a slightly slower time of 1 hour 17:57.

11 December 2012 - Still too wet to go anywhere other than along the road/cycle paths so the usual Bottisham loop.  A good time of 45:09.

15 December 2012 - In the hope of seeing some Waxwings (failed unfortunately), I ran along Newmarket road past the airport and then back through Fen Ditton.  Just over 6 miles.

16 December 2012 - Swaffham Bulbeck again in a good time of 1 hour 13:07.

18 December 2012 - Bottsham Loop - 45:07.

23 December 2012 -  Swaffham Bulbeck - 1 hour 16:01.

26 December 2012 - Bottsham Loop - 41:55. A new PB for this route.


30 December 2012 - Swaffham Bulbeck - 1 hour 13:39.

Sunday 25 November 2012

Due to the muddy conditions I tried a new longer tarmac run today through Bottisham and Swaffham Bulbeck coming back along the cycle path to Lode and then back into Bottisham.

A bit of a head wind coming back but finished the 8.8 mile course in a time of 1.17:35.

Tuesday 23 October 2012

Home early from work today so I managed to get an 11.5 mile run in before it got dark.  I ran to Bottisham, Swaffham Bulbeck, Swaffham Prior and back through White Fen to Lode.  Weather was slightly foggy and the ground was wet and muddy in places, especially the road out of Swaffham Prior and the track down to Swaffham Bulbeck Lode/White Fen.  The railway track had also been churned up by farm vehicles.

A lovely Barn Owl was seen hunting over the fen at Swaffham Prior.  A Mute Swan and 5 Moorhens were seen along Bottisham Lode.  A Kestrel was hovering in the field opposite the bridge in Lode.

Sunday 2 September 2012

A long run today in preparation for next weeks half marathon.  A 19km run through Bottisham, Swaffham Bulbeck, Swaffham Prior and White Fen.

2 Buzzards seen as I left Swaffham Prior.

Sunday 12 August 2012

Another 10.5 mile run to Swaffham Bulbeck.  No time for today due to stopwatch failure.

Along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode a Hobby flew over, heading south,  possibly migrating buy may just have been part of its daily hunting routine.

Sunday 5 August 2012

In preparation for next month's Half Marathon I did a longer run today.  I ran through Bottisham, Swaffham Bulbeck and White Fen - 10.5 miles.  A reasonable time of 1 hour 33'.

Sunday 11 September 2011

A 12 mile run this morning to Swaffham Prior. Weather was dry and warm but very windy. A good time of 1 hour 39'40".

Several House Martins over Vicarage Meadow and a lot in Main Street, including around 25 on telephone wires. 2 Green Woodpeckers in Swaffham Bulbeck. A Kestrel was seen as I entered Swaffham Prior and another as I left the village near the football ground on Station Road.

A Corn Bunting was perched on telephone wires along the road to Upware. Another Green Woodpecker was seen along the track to the Lodestar fields. 1 or 2 Swallows seen too.

Sunday 13 March 2011

This morning Joanna joined me for the 10.5 mile run to Swaffham Bulbeck and White Fen.

A Green Woodpecker was heard yaffling at Bottisham Park. A Buzzard flew over White Fen Drove. In the field along Fen Road a few Lapwing were defendingtheir terretories.

Wednesday 9 March 2011

An 11 mile afternoon run to Swaffham Bulbeck and White Fen. Surprising the river bank was quite dry. Weather was warm and bright. Time was 1 hour 40'49".

Not many birds seen, but 5 Roe Deer in the field alongside White Fen and another ran across White Fen.

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.

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.

Saturday 2 October 2010

Ran 10.2 miles this morning through Bottisham and Swaffham Bulbeck, then back along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode and through White Fen to White Fen Drove. The weather was fine and dry however the grass sections of the run were very wet and muddy in places. Finished in a decent time of 1 hour 32'41".

A late Swallow was seen in Bottisham. Along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode there was a Green Woodpecker and a pair of Mute Swans with 6 full-grown young. A Great-Spotted Woodpecker was heard in Quy Park.

Friday 2 April 2010

A morning run to Swaffham Bulbeck, along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode and back through White Fen to Lode and Lode Mill. Weather conditions were fine, dry not too cold and only a light wind. Total distance run of 10.6 miles (17.1km) in 1hr 31".

Not a great deal of wildlife seen, but there were a couple of Roe Deer on White Fen and another 2 at the top end of White Fen Drove.

Swaffham Bulbeck Lode - Looking back towards Swaffham Bulbeck. Ran along the right hand bank .

Swaffham Bulbeck Lode - Looking towards the River Cam.

Saturday 27 February 2010

My longest run so far. 10.5 miles to Bottisham, Swaffham Bulbeck, along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode to White Fen, then across White Fen , along Bottisham Lode to Lode Mill and back to Quy along the old railway line. A nice scenic run , whether was quite warm but rather windy. The head wind was noticeable when I turned for home at White Fen. Rather muddy on the off-road stretches, particularly along Swaffham Bulbeck Lode. I think next time I will try the other bank as the north side where I ran today was not only muddy, but had a 6-foot high bank so I had no views of the lode. My time was a respectable 1'39:30, slightly behind my target time for 10 miles.

Not a great deal of wildlife seen. 2 Kestrels a few Red-Legged Partridges and several Tits (including a couple of long-tailed), Chaffinches and Blackbirds. A Jay was seen just before Swaffham Bulbeck also a couple of Mistle Thrushes. 2 Grey Squirrels seen.

http://gb.mapometer.com/en/running/route_419164.html