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.