Taking On The Mountain (Pt 2)

I said back on day 12 that I intended to run up the Black Mountain all the way to the car park at the top at some point during Janathon although I think back then I'd envisaged a warmer, more unseasonably spring-like day than this. 

However, with the road officially closed (albeit one or two 4x4s went past whilst I was out) and the kids at school so no sledgers or snowballers I thought it would be a good idea to run it today and also try to take some photos again to contrast the green mountainside of 9 days ago.  The promised pictures from the top were curtailed somewhat by the low cloud and 20 meter visibility.

The road has clearly been used a bit and there has been a bit of a thaw too which meant that I was able to run either on the tarmac or at worst in some fairly shallow slush rather than have to trample up through deep, virgin snow therefore it was actually a fun run, albeit one that is 3.5 miles uphill on the way out.

Nice touch from the music as well.  As I was running down basking in the glory of knocking this challenge off my list I was listening to the Welsh band "Man" and their song "Many Are Called But Few Get Up"... a good one for runners braving the cold and inclement conditions rather than sticking to their sofas.

Actually, the last time I ran all the way up the Black Mountain I had to put up with a passing cyclist suggesting I get some wheels - no cyclists out there today :)

Day 21 stats...

Distance : 8.24 miles
Time : 1:21:11
Music : Groundhogs - Thank Christ For The Bomb (1970)... on the way up!
            Man - Do You Like It Here Now, Are You Settling In? (1971)... coming down.

The carpark at the top... and oh the view!