big moon jog

Bad Moon Rising

So needing to test both my lighting system and my new running pack I headed into the hills at about a quarter to nine. I rode up on the bicycle locked it up and spent the next 10 minutes faffing around trying to get everything on, working, and taking some pictures. (it might have been wise to work out how to take pictures in the dark with that camera before I set off)

I had carefully prepared a playlist full of moon and night songs, which of course I promptly left on the bike.

It was just possible to run by the light of the moon, when on the relatively open access lane but it was not possible when in the trees. The lighting system worked ok but I will try swapping the lights around to see what it looks like with the stronger light on my head. I may end up buying another version of the XP2 despite the relative lumens it does seem much stronger on the trail.

 The run itself was good, it seems running up hill in the dark is a little easier than in daylight, maybe because you can't see the top of the hill and all your concentration in on the few feet in front of you. It was a little eerie at times when things scurried off through the undergrowth but the only wild boar I saw were in the housing estate well below the trail head while I was riding up. It was only a 5 mile loop but I felt strong, it felt easy and I only fell over once.

The Nathan pack worked well and was very comfortable and the bottle in the front pocket wasn't a big problem. Not sure it is the answer though.

All in all a great evening out, I got home about 11:30pm just in time to turn on the tv and watch some football.

I heard in the morning that I had a place in the STY short course version of the Ultra Trail Mount Fuji (short course being a mere 90km). So I thought I'd better go run in the hills. Time constraints, previous arrangements, general laziness and my immeasurable ability to faff around meant that I didn't get out there until a bit later than planned. I hadn't actually linked the routes up in this order, in this direction before and it was good, but quite tough.

The run was a bit shorter than I was expecting but I was out for 1:45 hours. So given that my foot still has not healed properly and that I am suffering a little from a cold it was plenty long enough.

I think they may be planning on closing one of my favourite bits of trail.
What do you think?

Sumiyoshi do

My first trail run since the Kumano Kodo race and my injured foot. The injury I now believe to be a partial dislocation of the cuboid. There have been a couple of pops from the foot followed by the pain lessening, still it is generally ok if  I keep it strapped and I'm a little careful with it. It did not particularly like the uneven surface and gave me moments of pain, but for the most part it was ok and it was just brilliant to be up in the hills with Sarah again. It was a bit cold getting up there on the bike though.

Running up from the pond was a bit of a challenge particularly with   my foot so heavily strapped and we both quickly reverted to walking. Which is no bad thing.  It may have been the temperature or maybe something else but while the large fish were still in the pond all the small fish had disappeared as had the  terrapin that is so frequently seen. The water was as clear as I've ever known  it. 

Sumiyoshi -do looked completely different with the trees so leafless and the trail so clear of debris. 

And what goes up must eventually come down.

It's a much nicer jog down to the pond and the dirt road back to the bike. It meant a little bit of a dance for me to avoid the jarring to my foot.

One of very few pictures anyone will ever see of me dancing.