Namaste Snowmen...

Delighted to have survived a wintery lap of the Cavey. Three weeks since cankling myself.

Rehab report
'Rehab is for quitters' as brother Monty reminded me.
Most grateful for Andys advice. Alternative training has ranged from bizarre ninja balancing, jogging on the nursey slopes avec mon baggette. After week at 1800m with a stunning view of Mt Blanc I was itching to get back running.
House completely snowbound. Lane full of snow.. passat hibernation for the next four weeks. Nephews kindly helped us to break trail over four fields to get to house. Using kids plastic sledges to manhaul luggage, groceries, and rubbish in and out...bit of craic but such a hassle.
 

My gentle return to running planned for Ballyboley forest became a 45 min stepper work out in two foot of snow... cankle was well iced and so were my hips as headed off trail and fell into a sheugh. I now seek forgiveness from the mother superior of trail runners as I was seen running.... on a treadmill... I have not succumbed to dreaded tarmac yet.

Inspired by Ralph's Divis mountain run where he inadvertantly ran over the roofs of two snow burried cars it was time to get up and at it.

Between the sick, the lame and the coffee shop a depleted team was summonsed to Belfast castle. Pastoral visit as RG called with big G... great to see him out in his shed MOT prepping a car... hope to see him out with us in the future.

Five copies of the Irish News...hilarious to see Roberts neb on pg32. Humble apologies to A + RK being relegated to the Vauxhall conference of healthcare professionals... aka dentists. Delighted Michael PR is widening Stand by Me audience via this wee project.

A was a late withdrawl due to work hassle...left R and RG who was going with full kit test of shorts, lycra+leggings. Just a canklet now which RG attributed to an allergic reaction to last nights treadmill shame. 100yrds in and we hit 'nam'... track littered with fallen trees, huge ones uprooted under weight of recent snow. Blood hound R was over trunks, under boughs, through folliage with the allure of snowy trails. Packed crisp snow under torchlight was great fun.

'Time to test the ankle' as RG called the route over stile. With no trail visible we made a best guess through the crust... heavy going in places... we made the transmitter mast. R's scorching descent left RG for dead. Next climb no sign of sherpa feet as were both into knees and even a tumble for mountain goat R. RG wheezed up the hill... to find R with his 'Godsent' taxi...we knew it was for R as it was a tasty choc coated wafer. The taxi RG ordered was motorised... preferably with an orthopaedic bed and oxygen... that would be an ambulance then.

Cracker night view from McArts. RG declined the red for the longer but safer track home. Hard packed with a few steeple chase snow drifts kept R amused. RG thought it and R said it 'not sure what Andy would say about this for a cankle rahab route'. 'A wiff of sheep?', suggested RG, as he was cagey on the descent.

Orange eyes startled R...a gruffalo?... no it was one of the cavehills wild horses. Mistaking horses for other animals seems to be flavour of this months burgers. A solid pace to home. Delighted to report no drama but plenty of interest on tonights run. 4.7miles 71minutes... no records. Great to be out running together again.