This, that, Macc' Forest and Shutlingsloe, Axe Edge Moor and the other.

Still no sign of a date for my knee operation.  I am trying to make the best use of the limited mileage that the injury will stand while avoiding traveling long distances to run for a short while.  I do miss my all day runs, particularly now.  I do not know if I genuinely prefer running in winter or whether it is just association with excellent past runs (and the fact that many areas are often quieter).

Macc' Forest and Shutlingsloe 
Although I feel it is barely worth the drive to the Peak District if I am only going to run a few miles, I do sometimes treat myself.  Macclesfield Forest and Shutlingsloe is accessible and it is easy to pack the ascent in.

Left - Heading down to the reservoir from Shutlingsloe.  Right - The atmospheric path from the bridleway to Forest Chapel.

A loop from Standing Stone car park taking in Shutlingsloe (round then up from the south, down northward into the forest), the Forest Bridleway and Forest Chapel makes for an atmospheric run of around seven miles which is easily extended.  Ascent is a little less than category A by my most common variation.  Taking in Tegg's Nose gets the length up to nearly nine miles and the ascent even closer to 250' per mile.  I do find the descent from Tegg's Nose on the paved bridleway tough on the old bones though.  I used to run it frequently, as part of my old, 'standard' ultra training route.

Axe Edge Moor 
Late December saw me abandon an attempt at the Macc' Forest run.  The area was heaving with people and continuous roadside parking from Langley to Standing Stone car park (and beyond) had caused serious traffic problems on the narrow roads.  I drove past Standing Stone car park hoping to find somewhere quieter and ended up on a layby off the A54 at the side of Axe Edge Moor.  The moor was well off my map so I had to play it carefully and stick to evident paths, I tried to remember my route in order to retrace it, but I was fairly certain the distinctive imprint of my Walsh's would help me find my way back.

 Looking south east(ish), Axe Edge Moor close to the start of my run from the A54 layby.

The breeze was very light, the sun shone and a moon was just visible in the blue sky, all this and a stunning snowscape.  This was one of those runs that I will remember for a long time. 

I took the Dane Valley Way through Danebower and Reeve-edge Quarries to Orchard Farm where I left the Dane Valley Way heading towards Knotbury.  A start in Cheshire, through Derbyshire and into Staffordshire.  Originally, I had planned to run for 45 minutes then go back.  I was turning back on myself here and there as I found my way about so I decided to run for an hour instead, I was sure my way back would be truer and quicker.  I checked my watch after what seemed no more than ten minutes and I had been out for fifty!  I had been enjoying myself so much that time had just whizzed past.  I ran for another ten minutes then reluctantly turned back.

Stunning snow covered landscape and a clear blue sky.

There were few places where I could not see the route before me so finding my way back was fairly easy.  There was a confusion of paths in one hollow, but sure enough I could find my own stud pattern to guide me.

Though I doubt that ambient temperature had risen above freezing all day, the radiant heat of the sun had softened the knee deep powder on the last part of the path back.  This bit became much harder work than it had been on the way out, either because of the melting or because I was less fresh.  The snow was no longer too cold to melt on my shoes either and my feet, which had been dry so far, got quite wet.  They only had to put up with it for a few minutes though so had no time to get cold.

I got back to the layby in exactly one and a half hours so my out-back compensation guess was spot on.  I put on a jacket, dealt with frozen laces and then found my sandwich.  I put my warm hat on, but it was so hot I took it off again.  It was perfectly comfortable to let my bare feet dry in the sunshine before putting on shoes and socks for the drive home.  A truly memorable run to end 2014.


The other 
I am keeping my mileage down to a very frustrating 25 miles a week or less.  That seems to be as much as my knee can stand.  My consultant confirmed that it is OK to run providing it does not cause pain.  I am interpreting that as - 'mostly' does not cause pain, because while the occasional landing or twist does sometimes hurt, on the whole ordinary day to day use may hurt as much or more.  Tension in my quads when running seems to stabilise my knee and attention to foot placement and avoidance of twisting helps.  All the same, upping my mileage does seem to cause delayed onset pain and I do not want to risk months without running again.

I am experimenting with the proportions that make up my weekly mileage.  My longest long run since last winter has been just under 15 miles so far.  I am also running only three times a week to maximise the rest period between runs.  Though both walking and running were painful a few months ago, walking, even 20 miles or so seems entirely comfortable now (provided I start pain free).  I am trying to fit long walks into my general schedule in the hope that it will help to maintain fitness at as near pre injury levels as possible.

I am still struggling to keep my weight constant, I have now cut around 7000 calories a week from my diet!  I seem to be thinking about food all the time.  A time when it seemed impossible to eat enough feels like something I must have dreamed.