Juneathon Day 9 - 2011

Another 4 mile run early this morning at 7.45am as I was gardening at 9.30. Passing the Greene King Brewery my memory was drawn back to the recent Real Beer and Food festival in Bury St Edmunds. This was the 2nd year of this event and I really recommend it as an enjoyable morning or afternoon. This year there was the added attraction of live music and very good weather. There were many good products I sampled in the food & drink  tent. Two products that really stood out for me in terms of quality were both made in Suffolk by local producers which were:

a Smoked Fish Pate made by Pinneys of Orford Suffolk. After sampling I just had to buy and I am glad I did as this made a very enjoyable accompaniment with some cheese and biscuits and with salads. I haven't seen or heard of Pinneys before but they they have a website and from this I can see you can order on line or visit their restaurant in Orford. The fish pate I bought was a combination of mackerel,trout and salmon.

 I am not sure if you can buy this in a local shop or supermarket in Bury St Edmunds but will definitely buy again.

The 2nd Product I chose was a local Suffolk cheese from the Rodwell Farm Diary at Baylham Suffolk. I tried both of the cheeses they make and both are very good but decided to buy the Hawkston as I like crumbly cheeses. Their other cheese was also good with the memorable name Shipcord. Again they have a website where you can place orders.

Needless to say both the pate and the cheese has long since gone!

The recent dry weather which dates back at least to march continues. The River Linnett shown in this photo is currently dried up.

After 9 days of Juneathon I am doing OK with no injuries. I would have liked a few miles in the bag but 36.25 is good and gives me a fighting chance of beating my Janathon total.

 

Six Mile run at the Saxongate Water Meadows Bury St Edmunds Suffolk

It was a cloudy grey morning as I set off for an easy 6 mile run. I decided to run around the Saxongate Water Meadows in Bury St Edmunds.

Water meadows in Britain are an endangered shrinking habitat constantly under pressure from road and housing development. The Saxongate Water Meadows depend on volunteer support for their general upkeep and well worth it is as it home to many wildlife species. The water meadows here surround the River Linnet and once belonged to the Church and the Abbots in the Benedictine Monastery in Bury.

Wildlife to be found here include

• great crested newts
• palmate newts
• smooth newts
• frogs
• toads
  

Wildfowl:

• coot
• mallard
• moorhen

Mammals:

• water shrew
• water vole
  

Birds in the area include:

• blackcap
• great spotted woodpecker
• heron
• kingfisher
• coal tit

I ran slowly this morning and felt tired from the off. The Runners World SMART schedule is leading me to increase my mileage every week and I am already at 36 miles a week if I complete  my long run tomorrow with no problems. Last year in 2009 I only ran higher mileage than this on 2 weeks of the year. I average 23.5 miles a week last year so the schedule I am following  is a significant increase. No wonder I am a little tired.

My 6 mile to day were run in 54 minutes exactly 9 minute miling so it certainly wasn't quick for me. My splits show 8.19,9.02,9.11,9.20,8.56,9.10

The 3rd photo on my post shows a lost childs umbrella probably dropped and then blown by the wind into the water.


I also completed the 1st session of week 6 of the hundred push ups programme. I stuggled a bit with this as well today and did sets of 40,30,25,25 and 40. I was supposed to do 50 on the 2nd and last set so I will need to repeat this session or go back a week before  I move on again.

River Linnett Run Bury St Edmunds Suffolk

7pm 5.3 miles in 43 mins 20 secs
Week to date mileage 11 miles
Month to date mileage 66
Average weekly rate 29.8 miles
Average monthly rate 130
Year to date 972
Lifetime 10566

I warmed up for 10 minutes before running to the start of this 1.5 mile route .This run takes you from the fields at Westley Bottom to the Spread Eagle Pub in Horringer Road. The route follows the course of the River Linnett and is mainly on grass and footpaths.

I ran one quicker interval and one easier paced run . My first interval was 12.19 (8.13)and the second a slower 12.57 (8.38) but both were reasonably slow.According to mapmyrun this is exactly 1.5 miles however you do have to cross 2-3 roads and there are a few turns and many dog walkers use this path so you have to keep an eye out for what might come towards you and whats on the ground .

River Linnett Bury St Edmunds

5.30pm 6.2 miles in 49 mins 54 seconds

Week to date mileage 6.2

Month to date mileage 36

Average weekly rate 31.6

Average Monthly rate 137

Year to Date 994

Life time 8772

I decided to to do a circular run along by the River Linnett. I went out as far as Westley Bottom and returned into town emerging at the Spread Eagle before continuing on over the Holywater Meadows to Cullum Road. I didn't follow a particularly course but I saw enough to think there is a good circular run that can done here.

Horringer Farm and Newmarket Road

5.10pm 6 miles in 48 minutes 53 seconds

Week to date mileage 6

Month to date mileage 136

Average weekly rate 31.5

Average Monthly rate 137

Year to Date 676

Life time 8454

I set of for a run this evening with no real plan or direction. I initially set of along Newmarket Road and then decided to head of road. Sometimes the River Linnett is down to a trickle and is easily hopped over in places near Horringer Farm. Today after much rain the river was a bit more tricky. Although still easily hopped over with just the minor inconvience of two wet feet, climbing the wet river banks was much more hazardous so as to avoid slipping back in the river and avoid the massed stinging nettles.

However crossing the river was accomplished despite the nearby dog walker's encouragement ' You don't want to do that' he said. I said don't worry I do this all the time. I don't know why I said this as I have never done this before.

After this the weather turned to heavy showers and I got a good soaking and the wind picked up so that I felt I had been inside a washing and drying machine backwards.

Enjoyable run I must remember to cross the river more often!

Ickworth Park Mordaboys Wood Suffolk

10am 11 miles in 1 hour 28 minutes.

Week to date mileage 16.4

Month to date mileage 16.4

Average weekly rate 33.4

Average Monthly rate 145

Weather: Cold and grey

This was an out and back run of 45 minutes each way through Ickworth Park to Mordaboys Wood. At the end of my run I reached a lovely white house not far from Little Horringer Hall.

The route through Ickworth Park follows the River Linnet which is no more than a trickle at the moment as water levels look very low.

The sheep were plentiful and were willing to pose for a photo.
On this path I saw another two routes I can explore another day. It looks possible to continue beyond Mordaboys Wood out to Westley Village and to make this a circular run.

I could also have cut back through Twist Wood however signs warned of Roe Deer culling so I will give that a miss for a while.

today's long run wasn't planned at the start of the week but it has helped me catch up with my mileage for the week but isn't great preparation for Lakenheath 5 on Sunday.