PRE-CHRISTMAS DOVEDOLE PLOD

Four runners from Derby GG & four runners from Sheffield GG met in the main carpark at Dovedale, with santa hats at the ready, to explore the trails & probably (definitely) get a little wet.

Luckily for us, the rain held off, but we had the River Dove to contend with!

We set off (along the right hand side, the tricky-terrain-side) of the river to avoid the floods & after a little while, we were on the main footpath of the trails, making for easier running. We went over the wooden pathways (where the troll resides), pass the caves & skirted around the hills, reaching the end of the scenic Dovedale walk by the cafe. From here, just over a mile of road running awaited us.... up hill. We tackled it with gusto, meeting at the top for a snap, before enjoying our descent through boggy fields & a bit of a scramble down a steep, rocky pathway leading back to the River Dove.

We rejoined the trail alongside the river, crossed another bridge & we were on the home straight with 2 miles to go - yeeeha!

We came back to where the stepping stones should have been, but due to heavy rain fall, they were no where to be seen. And as GoodGym'ers are there to do good... we thought that we should probably check where the stones are, right?

In to the river we waded! It was apparent that at first we thought it was only going to be knee height, but the icy waters soon became waist high, leaving us all with squelchy (& cold) butts for the last kilometre back to the cars... now on the better side of the river to run on. Silver lining to wet butts?

Once back at the carpark, we stretched, chatted & ate some biscuits shaped like Christmas trees, 'cause tis the season.

All in all, a fabulous afternoon on the trails with the GoodGym family! Let's do it all over again in the New Year?!

Big Loves x