A Cycle ride to Tuddenham Suffolk

My cycle ride today turned into a little longer ride than I planned. I forgot to take a map and the route I planned wasn't possible as I missed a turn. Still I came up with an alternative circular ride of 20 miles my longest yet.

My route took me from Bury St Edmunds through the villages of Risby, Cavenham and out to Tuddenham. The name, Tuddenham, dates back to AD 854 and is derived from the Anglo Saxon ‘Tudda’s home’ and is about 10 miles out north west from Bury St Edmunds. The icknield way passes through the village which is on the edge of heathland

I had planned to turn towards Higham and Gazeley but instead found myself 10 miles out. Rather than directly turnaround and follow the same route back I instead followed a road back to Higham, Barrow, Gt Saxham and Lt Saxham and then back into Bury.

The verge on the route between Lt Saxham and Bury  was covered in poppies and other wild flowers.

Total time for the ride was 1hr 43 minutes for the 20 miles for a 5.10 mile pace

Review of my Running in January 2010

It has been a successful start to the new year for many reasons for my running. I have largely been injury free just a slight IT band ache on the outside of my left knee but only when I purposely try to stretch it to see if it is still there. It doesn't affect my running at all at the moment.
My stats show

•  a total of 152 miles for the month 
• I ran on 22 days 
• My biggest mileage week was 39 miles for this week beginning the 25th of Jan
• My longest run has been 11 miles on the 24th and 31st of Jan 
• Fastest paced run was my tempo run on the 20th of Jan 4 miles in 33 mins for 8.09 pace
• Slowest run was an easy run on the 8th of Jan 5 miles in 46.41 for a 9.20 pace
• My average weekly rate is currently 34.3 miles
• My target for the year is 1400 miles and I am currently up on this by about 30 miles
• I have run 4 tempo runs and 4 long runs
• My weight is down from 86.5 to 84.5 kilos in this month
• No hill sessions recorded which is a weakness for me at the moment
• No races in January

For England and East Anglia January 2010 will be remembered by many as an unusally snowy month. Certainly for the first 2 weeks any runners venturing out had to combat the elements. Snow in Suffolk in recent years has often been confined to February.

I have practically started  again with my running after losing all my fitness following sciatica and then a cracked rib meant my training was patchy and non existent for many weeks at the end of 2009. It will take many months to build up a base of miles but January has been a good start.

For my long run this morning I did 11 mile on road to Risby and then on to Barrow in Suffolk. I did a 5.5 mile out and back run. I don't normally take a drink with me but today decided to take an isotonic bottle. To be honest it didn't work well carrying a bottle in one hand , it was too heavy and at about 8 miles it was a relief to bin and suddenly my arm felt free to move unburdened.

The round towered church in the village of Risby is St Giles
 and th pub shown is the Crown and Castle

It was bright and cold this morning and it was good to see so many other runners out training on their long runs.

The views of icy roads and fields are looking towards Barrow in Suffolk

Risby Suffolk

The end of my 1st week of the Runners World SMART coach schedule called for a long run of 10 miles at a 9.20 mile pace.

Where to run? With the current snowy conditions  I am happy to run 5 miles up and down the same piece of road or in a park but didn't fancy doing the same for a long run.

Luckily over night there ws no more snow and there had been something of a thaw. It being a Sunday morning and very little traffic I ventured out running on the minor roads to Risby in Suffolk. As can be seen from the photo the roads were partially clear. I was able to run around two thirds of the way on the roads and switched back to the snowy paths and pavements when traffic approached.

I ran out 5 miles to my turning point just beyond the Highwayman's Vineyard.  
This is now a bed and breakfast .

My time for the 10 miles was 1 hr 29 mins 06 seconds mile splits 8.52,8.53,9.18,8.39,8.51,9.04,9.11,8.51,9.00 and 8.27

My pace was fairly consistent throughout and I was able to complete week 1 for a total of 31 miles. For the last mile I put in some extra effort and I switched from the Phedippidations podcast ( Steve Runner talking about his ambition to run a marathon in under 4 hours) to the Lillingtons The Too Late Show which always gives me a boost to run a little quicker.

Having completed Week 1 of my schedule I recognise that on paper that this is the easiest week.  I am reasonably tired so I am going to have draw on reserves of energy. Another way to look at it is that Week 1 of a running schedule is one of the hardest because it is the first step out of the door which is the most mentally difficult especially in the current weather conditions.

Risby Suffolk

An out and back run from Bury St Edmunds to Risby in Suffolk. A long lunch time run the weather being a litle cooler and less humid I felt a lot more comfortable then I have done for the last few weeks.

I ran out 5 miles my route taking me out along the Newmarket Road and under the A14 flyover before turning towards Risby past the crematorium. The edge of Risby village is reached at around 3.5 miles. As I wanted to do a 5 mile out and back I continued on along School Road before turning right along Hall Lane and then turning right along the Flempton Road.

What has also helped with the longer runs is drinking my own electrolyte drink before the run. For this run I just added a pinch of sea salt to a pint of squash and it seemed to help though it could simply be a placebo effect!

Since then it looks as if there many recipes for making your own sports drinks and ditching the expensive sports drinks you can buy such as Lucozade and Gatorade.
The recipe I am going to try first is this - One third cup of honey, 1 litre of water,and a pinch of sea salt . Many of the recipes suggest adding half a teaspoon of baking powder as well. Mix all the ingredients together and keep chilled. I will let you know after I have tested and tried this out a bit.
This was a good enjoyable run in Risby.

Risby Suffolk

A Friday lunch time a break from work enabled me to do a ten miler out to the village of Risby near Bury St Edmunds Suffolk.

My 10 miles took 1hr 25 minutes 26 seconds which is an 8.31 average pace. This gives me 23 miles for the week and 88 miles for the month. I am certainly puttin gin the miles and have got used to my new Nike Air Pegasus 25 shoes. Having bought a pair in JJB Sports in Bury I saw the same shoes in Cambridge at Sportshoes Direct at Lionyard Walk for £20 less! Always frustrating to waste money but I have learnt lesson not to touch JJB Sports and I generally haven't had cause to use it previously buying on the internet to find running gear.

There is a good waffle tread on these shoes which gives a good grip for off road running .

The weather was good, sunny but with a fair amount of cloud so the temperatures were not excessively warm for running. I ran out along the Newmarket Road , up Westley Road and immeadiately first leftpast the Crematorium. Close to Hyde Cottage the poppies are in full bloom.

In Risby I took this picture in the village centre presumably of a former pond? This is quite a large green area with a central hollow.






















I followed a minor road known as the Lackford Lane which leads straight to the Bullock Lodge Farm. However before going that far I chose to follow a footpath off road which leads out to Risby Little Wood.

Here the fields are planted with wheat which is green unlike the barley which is on the point of turning yellow.

















































On my return back into Risby I was confronted by a young family of expectant ducks hoping for a meal .

I returned to Bury feling in good form . I checked my splits which were at 5 miles 43.17 and for the return I ran 42.08 a negative split always leaves you feeling good.



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Now playing: Gregory Isaacs - Stranger in Town
via FoxyTunes

Risby Suffolk

4pm 7.5 miles in 58 mins 39 mins

Week to date mileage 126miles

Month to date mileage 114

Average weekly rate 30 miles

Average monthly rate 130

Year to date 738

Lifetime 10338

Left it a bit late in the day for a run but considering last nights race didn't start to 7.45pm I think it is fair enough. I ran out along Westley Road and the Newmarket Road under the A14 and up past the Crematorium and out to Risby.

Left the camera behind but wished I had brought it as the hedgerows are absolutely beautiful. However feeling a little tired I enjoyed the run more than I thought I would.

I have ordered some new running shoes but this time from Do Running
instead of Joe Jogger mainly because i fancied a change from the Asics Gel GT 2110 I have worn for the last 1000 miles. The prices on Do Running compare well with Joe Jogger and they do throw in a free t shirt so worth a try I think . We will see how the delivery takes. I am going for a pair of Reebok Prem Ultra III's which seem a bit on the bargain price size and time will tell if this is a false economy.

Risby Suffolk Circular Run

1.30pm 9.3 miles in 1 hour 16 mins 04 secs

Week to date mileage 37

Month to date mileage 121

Average weekly rate 30.5

Average Monthly rate 133

Year to Date 1194

Life time 9214

I set out with the sky looking a lillte ominous although there was a mixture of sunshine and heavy clouds. I thought I just might get away with it but I was mistaken. Initially I set out to run to Ickworth Park but changed my mind fancying something different. I ran along by the River Linnett to Westley Bottom before coming back up hill on to the main road heading for the Saxhams.

This is a busy road at the best of times so when an opportunity to take a bridleway on the right near Crowswood Cottages presented itself I took it. This is a very quiet path some of it underneath trees but with views of open farmland for miles.

Eventually you come to a place called Warren Lodge and the path requires you to hurdle a fence and this takes you through someones back garden. This I wasn't comfortable with simply not knowing if at any moment a pack of dogs might descend upon me but there was little choice.

At this point the sound of thunder began to rumble and I had to consider what to do carry on in the open or hide under trees. I presumed it safer to continue. I had reached a road which took me over the A14 at Risby arriving at Deer Cottages and I then ran past the antique centre Risby Barn.

At the village green near the war memorial I took a right past the vilage hall and headed back along the road past Hyde Cottages, the crematorium and into Bury running along Newmarket Road and back home. At Newmarket Road the road had becomes torrential and I was absolutley soaked my shirt sticking to me. The roads were flooded and I had to judge the puddles and on coming cars though an extra splash at this stage made no difference.

I never mind running in rain but I was a little concerned by the lightning and thunder but 40 minutes from home I had little choice but to run.

Hyde Wood Circular Run Bury St Edmunds Suffolk

10am 7 miles in 54.51

Week to Date mileage 23

Month to date mileage 98

Average weekly rate 32.7

Average Monthly rate 142

Weather: Sunny & cool

A lovely sunny day but still cold enough to require gloves and a hat along with tracksters and a sweatshirt. The route takes me from
County Upper School over to Howard Middle School and I then pick up a footpath which takes me over fields until I reach the Westley Road. This part of the run isn't great as I run along side the busy B1106 until I turn sharp right on the road to Risby. As soon as you turn though the road is nice and quiet passing the Crematorium on the right and what can only be described as Pig World on the left. Hundreds of pigs were sunbathing and rolling around around in glorious mud. The next landmark is the lovely Hyde Cottage and it is just past here that you turn right again.

You soon reach Hyde Wood which is a
very square shaped wood. Before I reached it I could a lot of shooting going on. This wood is often used for pheasant shooting and today they were out in full force. I saw several pheasants make their escape as the guns blazed and I wondered if I should carry on thinking that it would only take one stray shot and I could say bye bye.However I spotted the shooters and they were some distance into the centre of Hyde Wood.

Eventually you leave the road beside the wood and emerge into a fairly lofty position looking down over miles
of landscape on the Hyde Road. The Sugar Beet factory could be seen in full production steamy smoke rising from its tower.

The Hyde Road leads into Fornham All Saints and from here I run back into town and the County Upper School.

Previous times on this course

19 Nov 54.09
22 Oct 52.44
17 Sep 52.20
16 Jul 53.43
11 Jun 53.25
21 May 54.26
9 Apr 55.31
22 Jan 55.15

So today's run was rather slow but it was very enjoyable and that what matters.

Risby to Little Heath Suffolk

10am 8.3 miles in 1hr 10 mins.

Year to date mileage 959

Month to date 8.3 miles

Average miles per month 106

Average weekly rate 24.5

Weather: Sunny blue skies nice breeze

Course: From Risby Village Hall I had the intention of running out to Barrow. I gave this up as the road runs close to the main A14 and there were to many lorries to make it comfortable.

Instead I retraced my steps and headed out on the Tuddenham road. I took a turning along the Lackford Road which was very quiet. I followed a footpath for a mile or so but this just took me back to the other side of Risby.

Again I retraced my steps and then continued along the Lackford Road. After a while the road turned into a dirt track which I followed across farm land. Apart from pheasants and rabbits I never saw a soul though the landscape around was absolutely wonderful and truly the heart and soul of Suffolk.