Week 27 - A great week and over 50 miles covered
Sunday 8 October 2017. It was a lazy day, but I did a few little jobs about the house. If you have read last week's post, you'll probably sense I'm that that happy about what I achieved. I only ran 19.5 miles and walked 6 miles. It was the 26th week in my "Long Run Back to Fitness" and it was a real step down from the two weeks before. However, I never make a plan or draw up a time-table for what I am going to do - I just listen to my body and do as much as it allows me each day.
Monday 9 October 2017. I went for a walk at 3 pm. It was cloudy, but it was dry. I thought my legs might be a bit stiff after yesterday's long run, but they seemed fine. I had three halves of apple today for the horse. You can hear how happy he was to see me at the start of the video below.
As I walked on I noticed three tractors in the large field opposite. One was making large round bales, one was wrapping them in black plastic and the other was collecting one bale at a time and taking it away. It was interesting to watch all three work and it was the first time I've ever seen the bales being wrapped in the black plastic. These will last all winter to feed the farmer's cattle.
In The Glen I collected litter and took a few photos and videos. It was the first time I have collected litter in a few days. However, the main point was to get my legs going again after yesterday and see how much it had taken out of me. As usual, I walked to the waterfall first. There was still no sign of the bull or the cows and the volume of water in the river had dropped greatly, due to there being less rain in the last few days. However, the water was really clear.
On the way back from the waterfall there's a small area with a fallen tree, just below the path, which teenagers sometimes use as a bench. I have often seen them gather there on summer evenings for a bit of underage drinking. In the undergrowth near this is a plastic football which has been there for over a year. I don't know why, but today I decided to take a photo of it.
As it was Monday afternoon The Glen was almost empty today. I passed a man with a dog, an elderly man with a young boy (I assume his grandson) and another elderly man with a very young girl. After I said hello to the man and young girl, she asked "granddad, do you know that man?".
On the river path, in the middle of The Glen, is a solitary bench. I call it the graffiti bench. From how it looked today, it seems as if a few people had a bit of a party here last night.
By the time I reached the car park, my carrier bag was full and I emptied it in the litter bin. I filled it again by just walking around the car park.
After emptying the carrier bag again, I walked over the footbridge from the car park, up and around the old reservoir and along the long flat path. There were a few empty cans and bottles, but it was mostly clean. The sun broke out as I climbed up to the upper path and everything glistened.
When I reached the car park again I had a full carrier bag of litter. After emptying it I walked back along the river path towards home. However, I saw a couple of unsightly bottles on the far side of the river and I knew if I walked around I could get to them. That I did, and on the small, dead-end, path on the way there I also picked up more. I went back and dumped the dirty carrier bag and its contents in the litter bin.
After I completed the chores around the house I had a shower. I didn't need to cook as my youngest brother was catering for his football team last night and so much hot food came my way. I was cursing him two hours later as I was still potting it all up and washing the huge containers it came in.
I set off just after 5.30 pm for my run. I had nothing in mind apart from doing at least 5 km and getting the week off to a good start. As I approached the field, the horse lifted his head and neighed loudly - I think he was happy to see me. Apple eaten and I walked on towards The Glen.
I jogged down and over the entrance footbridge, then over the river and set off on my laps on the upper paths. As I crossed over the river I passed a man with a small brown dog. It was off the lead, but it was well-behaved.
The entrance / exit footbridge from the river path.
I never know why, but my first lap always seems the most difficult. It was cloudy and it was late and it was humid. I knew the light would not be great for long, so I just set about my business. Even the second lap felt difficult, but I was determined to complete at least five. On my third lap a man, woman and dog appeared, they were walking around The Glen for the next half an hour. On my fifth lap an attractive tall, blonde woman, dressed in black and pink, was getting out of her car as I was approaching. She set off jogging in front of me and I wished her well. I passed her a couple of times later. Before she disappeared, I saw another younger woman jogged past, below on the river path. It was the faster girl I had seen for the first time last week. I was now on my seventh lap and was feeling really good. I would continue to see her for the next three laps, but always passing her coming from an opposite direction.
I couldn't believe I had got to ten laps, I was still feeling great, but the light was starting to disappear. On the eleventh, the light was similar and I had to concentrate really hard to see my footing. However, I thought I was running on the same footprints and it would be OK - I just wanted to keep going. On my twelfth and thirteenth lap the light was really bad. I found it really difficult to see my footing on the steep climb up to the old reservoir.
The steep climb up to and the old reservoir and the path around it.
I was in two minds, when I finished the lap, about doing a fourteenth as I've never been in this territory before. I decided, what the hell, and set off on another lap. The amazing thing was, I was still feeling so good. I was just in a flow, but I was scared I may trip over something on the ground. As I climbed back up again to the old reservoir, I decided this would have to be my last as I'd be running blind on the next one.
The good thing about the path around the reservoir is it has a bit more light, so I decided to do a few laps of it. I done four laps as I still wanted to run as far as the waterfall. Parts of the path on the way there were so dark, but I managed it without tripping.
I still felt good, so I didn't need to stop. I just turned around and ran back to and over the exit footbridge. I climbed up out of The Glen and ran all the way back home. I passed the young girl, who always visits The Glen at night and said hello - it really showed how late I was out.
I still did not feel tired and I went straight in and changed. My youngest brother was there, talking to my mother and eating some of his left-over food from the previous night. I quickly wiped myself down and got a lift with him to his pub. I watched Northern Ireland get beaten by Norway in the World Cup Qualifying, but apparently they have qualified for the qualifiers. However, I was so pleased with my run tonight and the most I have done in 21 years.
Overall, I ran 15.6 km (or 9.7 miles) tonight and I walked a mile. Not a bad start to a week. Maybe someday soon I may even break the 10-mile barrier, but I won't plan for that. If it happens, it happens.
Monday 9 October 2017. I went for a walk at 3 pm. It was cloudy, but it was dry. I thought my legs might be a bit stiff after yesterday's long run, but they seemed fine. I had three halves of apple today for the horse. You can hear how happy he was to see me at the start of the video below.
Horse happy to see me and he gets extra apple today.
As I walked on I noticed three tractors in the large field opposite. One was making large round bales, one was wrapping them in black plastic and the other was collecting one bale at a time and taking it away. It was interesting to watch all three work and it was the first time I've ever seen the bales being wrapped in the black plastic. These will last all winter to feed the farmer's cattle.
Wrapping large round bales in black plastic in Irish field.
In The Glen I collected litter and took a few photos and videos. It was the first time I have collected litter in a few days. However, the main point was to get my legs going again after yesterday and see how much it had taken out of me. As usual, I walked to the waterfall first. There was still no sign of the bull or the cows and the volume of water in the river had dropped greatly, due to there being less rain in the last few days. However, the water was really clear.
Waterfall and river with less water.
On the way back from the waterfall there's a small area with a fallen tree, just below the path, which teenagers sometimes use as a bench. I have often seen them gather there on summer evenings for a bit of underage drinking. In the undergrowth near this is a plastic football which has been there for over a year. I don't know why, but today I decided to take a photo of it.
Football in the undergrowth.
As it was Monday afternoon The Glen was almost empty today. I passed a man with a dog, an elderly man with a young boy (I assume his grandson) and another elderly man with a very young girl. After I said hello to the man and young girl, she asked "granddad, do you know that man?".
On the river path, in the middle of The Glen, is a solitary bench. I call it the graffiti bench. From how it looked today, it seems as if a few people had a bit of a party here last night.
Graffiti bench in the middle The Glen.
By the time I reached the car park, my carrier bag was full and I emptied it in the litter bin. I filled it again by just walking around the car park.
After emptying the carrier bag again, I walked over the footbridge from the car park, up and around the old reservoir and along the long flat path. There were a few empty cans and bottles, but it was mostly clean. The sun broke out as I climbed up to the upper path and everything glistened.
Top path in sunlight.
When I reached the car park again I had a full carrier bag of litter. After emptying it I walked back along the river path towards home. However, I saw a couple of unsightly bottles on the far side of the river and I knew if I walked around I could get to them. That I did, and on the small, dead-end, path on the way there I also picked up more. I went back and dumped the dirty carrier bag and its contents in the litter bin.
The litter bin and footbridge from the car park.
I set off home along the river path for a second time. The sun had disappeared, but soon reappeared. I wasn't looking for litter anymore, I was just enjoying the scenery. However, I did notice that one of the bottles I had walked a long way around to collect was still there - I did pick up two, but one was not one of those I had originally seen. Maybe, a job for another day.
The sun soon came out again and the centre of The Glen looked great. It was so noticeable how clean and low the river was, how the leaves were falling from the trees and how a young kid lost their hat. The hat has been hanging from the same branch for a few days now.
Leaves falling, low river and a child's hat.
On leaving The Glen I have to pass over the exit footbridge. It crossed over the old, disused relief channel that used to supply the now disused reservoir. As I climbed up the hill and out of The Glen I noticed some fungi I took a photo of a few days ago. I took another today. They looked a bit sad, but they make a lovely pair and made me smile.
A nice pair of fungi.
It was a slightly longer walk today. I was out for about two hours. On getting home I had a cup of tea and changed into my running gear. As you can probably guess, my legs and body were feeling good. I set off again, walking towards The Glen, intending to get a run in tonight. It was 5.45 pm when I left and I knew I wouldn't have the daylight to do a long run. The tractors were still removing the large bales and the horse watched me the whole way as I passed.
Jogged down into The Glen and set off on my laps. I wanted to complete at least four, but I managed seven. On my last couple of laps the light was starting to go, but it didn't stop me from doing eight laps of the old reservoir on my last lap. I finished at the waterfall and I felt tired, much more than after my longer run from the previous night. I had to stop for a while and stretch, then started jogging again. Back to and over the exit footbridge, up out of The Glen. I passed a young girl with a large Alsatian on the way, luckily she held it as I ran past. It meant cutting the sharp corner and made it steeper. This didn't help me with the climb up on the last few yards to leave The Glen - it is a very steep few yards and a bit of a killer. The 70 yards after that up to the road junction is almost as bad.
The very steep climb up the last few yards out of The Glen.
I jogged all the way back into the village and stopped just 70 yards before home. I was bloody tired, but I changed quickly and walked to and back from the local shop. I wanted to get home in time to watch Wales v Ireland in the last qualifying game for the World Cup. I wanted to see Ireland win, but I also have a soft spot for Wales as have often had a beer with their Manager and Assistant Manager. Two very nice guys.
Today I ran 8.2 km (or 5.1 miles) and 0.9 km (0.56 miles) a total of just over 5.6 miles and I walked 4 miles. I'm really pleased with how much I have already done in two days. I just hope I can keep it going for the whole week.
As for the football, Ireland won 1 - 0 and have now qualified for the qualifiers, Wales finished third in the group and will not be going to the World Cup.
Before I went to bed, there was a beautiful moon in the sky and it was just coming across the leaves in the trees. I love taking videos of the moon. I've named it "Tree Monster grabbing The Moon" as that's what it looks like to me.
Tree Monster grabbing The Moon - tonight over Ireland.
Tuesday 10 October 2017. I had a shower, stretched and went out at 5.40 pm. I walked past the field as the horse watched me from the embankment. I left the apple by his gate. It was cloudy, fresh and a bit windy, the ground was wet, but it wasn't raining. Almost perfect conditions for running. I started jogging 100 m earlier than usual. In The Glen the light wasn't great but it was OK. A lot of leaves had fallen, so I had to be careful underfoot as they camouflaged the paths.
I crossed over the river and set off on my laps using the upper paths. As usual, my first lap always seems the most difficult. I was only intending to do 4 or 5 laps tonight. On my second lap I passed my old school friend with his dog. I passed him twice more. As I passed through the car park on my third lap a couple, their young son and dog (I think a Golden Retriever pup) had stopped to talk to a man at the entrance. I would pass them quite a few times later. the son was loving The Glen, playing in the river and running up and down hills.
I completed five laps and on the fifth I decided to do a few laps of the old reservoir. I seemed to have got caught in a loop as I ended up doing 20 laps. Each lap is about 120 m and it's almost flat and a bit addictive. For a few of the laps the mother was standing on the path while the son and the father were playing below.
I finished at the waterfall and stretched for a while. I felt good, but I stayed there as it was so peaceful and the gentle breeze was so refreshing. It really surprised me how well the light held tonight as this time last night it was a lot darker.
I jogged back to the exit bridge, climbed up out of The Glen and along the road. There were two runners a couple of hundred yards in front of me and I sped up to see if I could make any gains on them. By the time I had stopped, at the horse's gate, I don't think I made any ground on them.
I picked up the apple and walked on. The horse was on top of the embankment watching me. I called him, but he stayed put. When I got to the small wall, at the opposite end of the field I called him a few times, as I was stretching, but he just kept looking down at me. I waited a few minutes then gave up on him. I threw the two halves of the apple into the field so he could have them later.
I walked home, changed quickly, walked to and back from the local shop. I didn't need to cool down as I had already done that waiting for the horse. It was the first time he has watched me and not come for his apple.
Today, I ran 7.7 km and 0.7 km, a total of 8.4 km (or 5.2 miles). I also walked just over a mile. It means that in the first three days of this week, I have run 20 miles and walked 6 miles. I really hope this week will be a further breakthrough.
Wednesday 11 October 2017. It's my mother's bingo night again, so I need to be out and back ready to take her. However, because of the nights closing in I have to get out earlier. There is one thing I do worry about with the darker evenings and a clock change coming up soon. Will I be able to run on pavements and the road? I worry because a few years ago I go a bad case of "Policeman's Heal" or "Plantar Fasciitis" by doing a standing job. I didn't run at the time, but it was painful standing. I just feel I need to lose some more weight for it not to affect me again.
I checked the weather forecast and it claimed it was going to be sunny all afternoon, so I went for a walk at 12.10 pm. It was sunny when I left, but it soon clouded over. I walked around The Glen taking a few videos and photos and collecting litter.
As I was walking around I passed two men. One was walking one dog and the other had two dogs. It's lucky they were all on leads as when they passed each other, by the car park, they had to be pulled back so they didn't attack each other.
I walked up the steep hill, around the reservoir and along the long flat path. I walked very slowly, scouring the areas around me for anything that didn't look part of the natural surroundings. At three different points I spotted football, well below me, in the undergrowth. I've never seen any of these before, but I'm sure they've been here for some time. They were all in places which were very inaccessible. So, it means there are at least four footballs here.
The entrance / exit footbridge - there were a lot more leaves on the path tonight.
I crossed over the river and set off on my laps using the upper paths. As usual, my first lap always seems the most difficult. I was only intending to do 4 or 5 laps tonight. On my second lap I passed my old school friend with his dog. I passed him twice more. As I passed through the car park on my third lap a couple, their young son and dog (I think a Golden Retriever pup) had stopped to talk to a man at the entrance. I would pass them quite a few times later. the son was loving The Glen, playing in the river and running up and down hills.
I completed five laps and on the fifth I decided to do a few laps of the old reservoir. I seemed to have got caught in a loop as I ended up doing 20 laps. Each lap is about 120 m and it's almost flat and a bit addictive. For a few of the laps the mother was standing on the path while the son and the father were playing below.
I finished at the waterfall and stretched for a while. I felt good, but I stayed there as it was so peaceful and the gentle breeze was so refreshing. It really surprised me how well the light held tonight as this time last night it was a lot darker.
The river at dusk in The Glen.
I jogged back to the exit bridge, climbed up out of The Glen and along the road. There were two runners a couple of hundred yards in front of me and I sped up to see if I could make any gains on them. By the time I had stopped, at the horse's gate, I don't think I made any ground on them.
I picked up the apple and walked on. The horse was on top of the embankment watching me. I called him, but he stayed put. When I got to the small wall, at the opposite end of the field I called him a few times, as I was stretching, but he just kept looking down at me. I waited a few minutes then gave up on him. I threw the two halves of the apple into the field so he could have them later.
I walked home, changed quickly, walked to and back from the local shop. I didn't need to cool down as I had already done that waiting for the horse. It was the first time he has watched me and not come for his apple.
Today, I ran 7.7 km and 0.7 km, a total of 8.4 km (or 5.2 miles). I also walked just over a mile. It means that in the first three days of this week, I have run 20 miles and walked 6 miles. I really hope this week will be a further breakthrough.
Wednesday 11 October 2017. It's my mother's bingo night again, so I need to be out and back ready to take her. However, because of the nights closing in I have to get out earlier. There is one thing I do worry about with the darker evenings and a clock change coming up soon. Will I be able to run on pavements and the road? I worry because a few years ago I go a bad case of "Policeman's Heal" or "Plantar Fasciitis" by doing a standing job. I didn't run at the time, but it was painful standing. I just feel I need to lose some more weight for it not to affect me again.
I checked the weather forecast and it claimed it was going to be sunny all afternoon, so I went for a walk at 12.10 pm. It was sunny when I left, but it soon clouded over. I walked around The Glen taking a few videos and photos and collecting litter.
The footbridge in the centre of The Glen and the three footpaths.
As I was walking around I passed two men. One was walking one dog and the other had two dogs. It's lucky they were all on leads as when they passed each other, by the car park, they had to be pulled back so they didn't attack each other.
I walked up the steep hill, around the reservoir and along the long flat path. I walked very slowly, scouring the areas around me for anything that didn't look part of the natural surroundings. At three different points I spotted football, well below me, in the undergrowth. I've never seen any of these before, but I'm sure they've been here for some time. They were all in places which were very inaccessible. So, it means there are at least four footballs here.
The latest three footballs hiding in the undergrowth.
I walked to the waterfall. On the way I looked for the football I had taken a photo of just a few days ago, but it had disappeared. It's such a coincidence as it was there for such a long time. Near the waterfall I saw a small field mouse disappear under some foliage. It was too quick for me to get a photo or a video.
I walked back to the car park via the top path. On the way I didn't find any more litter, but I did clear broken branches and stones from the path as I am always weary of spraining my ankle again when I come back for a run.
When I reached the car park, I noticed the sky had got very grey and it started to rain. It soon got very heavy, but luckily I was sitting on a bench with a over-hanging tree protecting me from it. So, this was the sunny afternoon which had been forecast just over an hour ago?
I walked back to the car park via the top path. On the way I didn't find any more litter, but I did clear broken branches and stones from the path as I am always weary of spraining my ankle again when I come back for a run.
When I reached the car park, I noticed the sky had got very grey and it started to rain. It soon got very heavy, but luckily I was sitting on a bench with a over-hanging tree protecting me from it. So, this was the sunny afternoon which had been forecast just over an hour ago?
Complaint about the weather forecast from a bench above the car park.
As soon as the rain died down a bit I started to walk along the river path towards home. Just as i entered the woods everything started to get dark, the wind began to pick up and the rain started to bucket down. I started to take a video of the trees swaying in the wind and the sound of the rain. Then suddenly the temperature dropped dramatically and large hailstones started to pelt down. I stopped filming as my head and arms felt like they were about to freeze solid and the hail was so violent I was afraid it may damage the camcorder. The whole scene was like something from a horror film.
Scary afternoon in The Glen.
The rain, hail and wind were so violent and I got soaked and was freezing. There was none of the usual protection from the trees. It was almost as if they weren't even there. It was almost like hell appeared in one second. I started to walk swiftly towards home and within no time at all the hail had stopped, the temperature increased and it was only drizzling. However, I kept going. I stopped to give the horse his apple. I was expecting him to be hiding, from the weather, in his little house, but he was standing on top of the embankment again. I called him a couple of times, but he just kept staring at me. I was soaked and still feeling really cold, so I didn't wait about. He watched me throw the apple into the field - he can have it when he's ready. I went home and changed.
I did plan to go for a run later, but I decided not to. Maybe it's time to step back and be thankful of how much I have already achieved this week. I still may a few days left and I'm feeling my body needs a rest. I did walk 3 miles today - so it's a bit extra in my legs.
I cooked sweet and sour chicken with rice, and prepared some potatoes for chips to go with it, for my parents' dinner. My mother always has that after her bingo. At the bingo, we all won nothing, but it's my mother's main night out.
My mother loves Nolan Live on BBC 1 Northern Ireland and it was back on, for the first time in months, tonight. It was very exciting and trended at number 1 on Twitter for all of the UK. It's worth a watch as it's a bit shocking. The programme is usually available shortly after the show, but it's now two hours later and it's still no available. I'll put the link below as soon as I can. Anyway, 22 hours later it was available on BBC iPlayer. Very strange. Though that's the way of Northern Ireland politics.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b097tnf6/nolan-live-series-10-episode-1
Thursday 12 October 2017. I got the bus to Armagh City through Tassagh. It's a lovely country journey and follows the River Callan for part of the journey. I took a short video from the bus.
I spent most of the day walking about in Armagh City. It was cool and dry so with walking quickly it was very pleasant. I got home at 4 pm and had a cup of tea and a mince pie. The shops seem to start selling these earlier each year.
I changed and went for a workout just after 5 pm. On my way to The Glen I left the apple next to the gate of the field. I started jogging 100 m early again and, on reaching the footbridge over the river, started off on my laps. As usual it takes a lap or two to get into a steady rhythm, but when I did I felt very comfortable. Although, my legs did feel a bit weary.
Four laps is always my minimum aim, as it means I'm jogging for over 20 minutes, but I always like to make it at least five, as that's over 5 km. However, I just usually keep going until my body tells me it's enough or it gets too dark. Another thing which seems to keep me going, is seeing friendly people out enjoying a good walk or a run. Tonight, was a good night as there were lots of friendly people. Some men walking their dogs, two young lads walking an overenthusiastic Golden Retriever puppy which kept running under my feet, two teenage lads out for a walk, a tall blond woman jogging, my old school friend with his dog, a husband and wife power-walking (he was once a great Gaelic footballer) and a teenage boy with two girls his own age codding about.
I was very pleased with my run tonight, as I completed ten laps and on the last one done ten laps of the old reservoir. The 120 m around the reservoir go so quick and I seem to speed up doing them. I finished at the waterfall and I did feel a bit tired. After stretching and enjoying the peacefulness of the place, I started jogging again. It was also starting to get dark. I jogged up out of The Glen and all the way back to the gate of the horse's field. Once again, he was on top of the old railway embankment looking down at me, and once again he refused to come. I threw the apple into his favourite spot and walked home.
As it was Thursday night again, I had to prepare for my mother's two friends arriving. This meant red wine, biscuits and cheese and crisps. It was a good night for my mother.
Today I ran intervals of 11.6 km plus 0.7 km, a total of 12.3 km (or 7.6 miles). I also walked 2.5 miles.
Friday 13 October 2017. What a date and what a day. It's a very famous day of things going wrong and scary things happening. I won't go for a run today, but I'll go for a walk just before it gets dark. I may see some scary things in The Glen tonight.
I set out just before dusk, it was about 6.15 pm. I left the apple by the horse's gate again as he was nowhere to be seen. In The Glen I walked to the waterfall first. It was just starting to get dark.
I took a lot of videos tonight and I collected some litter. I set off from the waterfall back into The Glen, crossed the footbridge over the river and along the river path. Because of the tree coverage, there was less light inside The Glen than out in the open.
When I reached the car park it was empty and the only sounds were those of the river, small birds singing in the trees and the odd car going past on the nearby road. It did start to rain gently, but it wasn't unpleasant.
The Glen was completely empty tonight. Maybe, it was because of the date, the overcast sky or it was dusk. However, I'm sure there'll be people here later, doing whatever they get up to at night. There certainly were last night as one of them left an unopened packet of doughnuts in the middle of the car park. I picked them up and put them in the litter bin.
I walked over the footbridge from the car park, climbed up to the old reservoir and walked around it. The video I took does make it look a bit darker than it actually was.
I turned right and along the long flat path, over the sluice footbridge and on past the exit / entrance footbridge, then left and over the river.
I hadn't seen anything seen anything scary or out of the ordinary yet. I didn't really expect to see anything strange. Though it was starting to get a lot darker. After the footbridge I turned right and started to climb up along the top path. There was still some light coming from the open fields to the right of the path.
A short distance further along I took a video of walking downhill towards the car park. You will see how the camera picks up more light as I come out from under the trees.
As you can see from above the car park was still empty, and I still hadn't seen anyone tonight. I set back into The Glen along the river path. It was really dark in there, but at least I could just about see where I was walking. I'm not sure I'd want to be in here any later than this tonight. A person's mind can really play tricks on them when you hear noises around you, but can't see everything.
I did plan to go for a run later, but I decided not to. Maybe it's time to step back and be thankful of how much I have already achieved this week. I still may a few days left and I'm feeling my body needs a rest. I did walk 3 miles today - so it's a bit extra in my legs.
I cooked sweet and sour chicken with rice, and prepared some potatoes for chips to go with it, for my parents' dinner. My mother always has that after her bingo. At the bingo, we all won nothing, but it's my mother's main night out.
My mother loves Nolan Live on BBC 1 Northern Ireland and it was back on, for the first time in months, tonight. It was very exciting and trended at number 1 on Twitter for all of the UK. It's worth a watch as it's a bit shocking. The programme is usually available shortly after the show, but it's now two hours later and it's still no available. I'll put the link below as soon as I can. Anyway, 22 hours later it was available on BBC iPlayer. Very strange. Though that's the way of Northern Ireland politics.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b097tnf6/nolan-live-series-10-episode-1
Thursday 12 October 2017. I got the bus to Armagh City through Tassagh. It's a lovely country journey and follows the River Callan for part of the journey. I took a short video from the bus.
On the bus through Tassagh.
I spent most of the day walking about in Armagh City. It was cool and dry so with walking quickly it was very pleasant. I got home at 4 pm and had a cup of tea and a mince pie. The shops seem to start selling these earlier each year.
I changed and went for a workout just after 5 pm. On my way to The Glen I left the apple next to the gate of the field. I started jogging 100 m early again and, on reaching the footbridge over the river, started off on my laps. As usual it takes a lap or two to get into a steady rhythm, but when I did I felt very comfortable. Although, my legs did feel a bit weary.
Four laps is always my minimum aim, as it means I'm jogging for over 20 minutes, but I always like to make it at least five, as that's over 5 km. However, I just usually keep going until my body tells me it's enough or it gets too dark. Another thing which seems to keep me going, is seeing friendly people out enjoying a good walk or a run. Tonight, was a good night as there were lots of friendly people. Some men walking their dogs, two young lads walking an overenthusiastic Golden Retriever puppy which kept running under my feet, two teenage lads out for a walk, a tall blond woman jogging, my old school friend with his dog, a husband and wife power-walking (he was once a great Gaelic footballer) and a teenage boy with two girls his own age codding about.
I was very pleased with my run tonight, as I completed ten laps and on the last one done ten laps of the old reservoir. The 120 m around the reservoir go so quick and I seem to speed up doing them. I finished at the waterfall and I did feel a bit tired. After stretching and enjoying the peacefulness of the place, I started jogging again. It was also starting to get dark. I jogged up out of The Glen and all the way back to the gate of the horse's field. Once again, he was on top of the old railway embankment looking down at me, and once again he refused to come. I threw the apple into his favourite spot and walked home.
As it was Thursday night again, I had to prepare for my mother's two friends arriving. This meant red wine, biscuits and cheese and crisps. It was a good night for my mother.
Today I ran intervals of 11.6 km plus 0.7 km, a total of 12.3 km (or 7.6 miles). I also walked 2.5 miles.
Friday 13 October 2017. What a date and what a day. It's a very famous day of things going wrong and scary things happening. I won't go for a run today, but I'll go for a walk just before it gets dark. I may see some scary things in The Glen tonight.
I set out just before dusk, it was about 6.15 pm. I left the apple by the horse's gate again as he was nowhere to be seen. In The Glen I walked to the waterfall first. It was just starting to get dark.
By the waterfall at dusk in an Irish Glen.
I took a lot of videos tonight and I collected some litter. I set off from the waterfall back into The Glen, crossed the footbridge over the river and along the river path. Because of the tree coverage, there was less light inside The Glen than out in the open.
Short walk along the river path in Irish Glen near dark.
When I reached the car park it was empty and the only sounds were those of the river, small birds singing in the trees and the odd car going past on the nearby road. It did start to rain gently, but it wasn't unpleasant.
Birds singing by car park in The Glen.
The Glen was completely empty tonight. Maybe, it was because of the date, the overcast sky or it was dusk. However, I'm sure there'll be people here later, doing whatever they get up to at night. There certainly were last night as one of them left an unopened packet of doughnuts in the middle of the car park. I picked them up and put them in the litter bin.
Unopened doughnuts on the litter bin.
I walked over the footbridge from the car park, climbed up to the old reservoir and walked around it. The video I took does make it look a bit darker than it actually was.
Climb up to and around old reservoir at dusk on Friday 13th October.
I turned right and along the long flat path, over the sluice footbridge and on past the exit / entrance footbridge, then left and over the river.
Walk along the long flat path, past the exit footbridge and over the river.
I hadn't seen anything seen anything scary or out of the ordinary yet. I didn't really expect to see anything strange. Though it was starting to get a lot darker. After the footbridge I turned right and started to climb up along the top path. There was still some light coming from the open fields to the right of the path.
The climb up along the top path as it's getting dark on Friday 13th.
A short distance further along I took a video of walking downhill towards the car park. You will see how the camera picks up more light as I come out from under the trees.
The descent from the top path to the car park.
As you can see from above the car park was still empty, and I still hadn't seen anyone tonight. I set back into The Glen along the river path. It was really dark in there, but at least I could just about see where I was walking. I'm not sure I'd want to be in here any later than this tonight. A person's mind can really play tricks on them when you hear noises around you, but can't see everything.
Scary walk through Irish Glen in dark on Friday 13th October 2017.
As I climbed up the path, on my way out of The Glen, the small birds in the trees were in full voice. Usually it just the sound of lots of Ravens making a racket in the trees, but tonight there were none to be heard.
Small birds singing in The Glen at dusk on Friday 13th.
Although by now it looked almost completely dark inside The Glen, you can see as I walk out and back onto the road that it wasn't completely dark in the open.
Exiting dark glen at night.
On the way home I stopped by the gate to the field and picked the apple. The horse was still nowhere to be seen. I continued on to the small wall at the other end, but still no sign of a horse. I called his name out "horse" and looked to see if he was hiding in his house. It was dark by now and maybe he'd settled down for the night. Eventually, I thought I had seen his head pop out of his door, but I couldn't be sure because of the dark. I called out a few more times and he did come out and hide behind the trees. All I could see were his white socks and spot on his face. You can see, from below, he did stop being stubborn and came for his apple.
Hiding horse eventually comes for his apple.
On my way home I diverted to the local shop. I wanted to get back in time to see the first game of this year's European Rugby Cup - Ulster v Wasps in Belfast. It wasn't a great game and Ulster won by 19 points to 9.
I hope you have enjoyed some of my videos from tonight. I'm sorry I didn't capture anything scary. However, I was pleased to get out for the walk and covered about 3 miles tonight.
Saturday 14 October 2017. I went for a walk at 4 pm. I had my camcorder, a carrier bag and an apple for the horse. The horse was being stubborn again, but he did come for his apple.
In The Glen I walked around quickly. I just took a couple of videos and photos and collected what few pieces of litter I passed. I also cleared some wood and stones from the footpaths as I intended to come back later for a short run. Many leaves have fallen on the paths covering hidden dangers, plus I've had one sprained ankle recently and didn't want another.
Autumn in The Glen with lots of leaves on the path.
The only person I saw tonight was my old school friend walking his dog. We chatted a few times when we passed. He walks very quickly and the poor old dog has to work hard to keep up with him.
Old school friend and his dog on path in front of me.
After walking around twice I headed towards home. On the way the horse was standing expectantly at his gate. I said hello, but I didn't have another apple for him.
Expectant horse by his gate.
When I got home I changed into my running gear. I checked a few of the sports scores, stretched and was back out by 5.25 pm. I started jogging early and was almost knocked over by a tractor just before I entered The Glen. I said earlier I was only going to do a short run tonight and I kept to my word. I felt tired, but I completed five laps and on the last I also did ten laps of the old reservoir. I finished by the waterfall and stretched for a minute at the bench. I also sat down for a while, enjoying the sound of the waterfall, the birds singing and the peacefulness of the surroundings.
I started jogging again and continued all the way home, via a climb up the black path and some extras. I cooled down, changed and walked to and back from the local shop.
The extras brought my second interval up to 1.5 km. The first interval was 6.5 km, thus making a total of 8 km (or 5 miles). I also walked 3 miles today.
It was a good end to the week and it's been my most productive week to date. In total I have walked 17.5 miles and ran / jogged 33.1 miles. I'm really happy with that.
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