THE CONDITIONS were more suited to flippers than trainers. Just about everyone else would take one look out of the window and decided to stay in.
But Kevin Sinfield is not anyone else.
That is why Mossley has played a big part of his preparations for his latest physical challenge – 7 in 7: Together.
The rugby league legend, now skills and kicking coach for England’s rugby union team, will run seven ultra marathons in seven days in seven different locations from Monday, December 1.
Once again, it will be to raise funds for and awareness of motor neurone disease charities in the name of former Leeds Rhinos team-mate and friend Rob Burrow.
He has already raised more than £10 million as challenge six of seven, the number his mate graced, looks set to add much more.
And a day trudging through Mossley as Storm Amy battered the country helped him get ready for what may be coming.
“It helps prepare you for it,” said Sinfield about that run on Monday, November 24.
“Like most people, when you look outside and it’s chucking it down, it’s freezing and it’s windy, the last thing most people want to do is go out and run.
“But clearly, at the time of year we do it we expect poor weather conditions.
“Part of the reason we do it this time of year is because it is poor weather conditions and we like to think people will feel a bit sorry for us and donate a little bit more, plus there’s a little bit of that Christmas feel.
“But certainly training can be pretty brutal throughout the autumn and winter months as it’s got considerably colder and certainly the last couple of days have been very wet.”
Sinfield and his team begin their challenge in Suffolk before heading to Ireland, Wales, South Yorkshire, Cumbria and Scotland before finishing at the stadium he and Burrow are icons, Leeds Rhinos’ AMT Headingley.
And local support as he gets himself ready to go has been huge as he added: “I’ve not been out locally not very much in the last month because I’ve been in London for the vast majority of it, but up until that point probably five or six days a week I’ve been out on the roads.
“It’s a big commitment and it takes a lot of discipline to keep at it and still try and juggle a job and a family.
“I’m not a professional athlete and haven’t been for some time and I think sometimes that’s lost because it’s almost 10 years now since I finished playing, so I’m juggling like most other people are and trying to make the best of it.
“I love running around Saddleworth. It’s my home and I think people are used to seeing me out running now and beeping their horn and giving me a wave and there’s always plenty of support there so yeah, it’s a great place for me to run.
“And it’s hilly, plus for most days of the year it’s wet and windy, so it’s good preparation.”
Burrow may no longer here to support Sinfield after he passed away in June 2024 after living with MND for four-and-a-half years.
But the ethos is the same as when he started with the initial target of £77,777 in 2020 – doing it for a mate.
He added ahead of a challenge that would see him and his team cover 230 miles by the end: “It’s been our strapline from when we started and Rob is still front and centre.
“Like all of us when we lose people, you hold on to your fond memories. It’s not unusual for me to be out running, to look at my watch and it have all the sevens on it, or to see a registration plate that’s got three sevens on it.
“There’s stuff like that that happens to me all the time and they are nice memories to have.
“As tough as it is him not being here, it’s also really, really powerful what he’s left behind.
“I can’t think about him the whole week because I’d just be blubbing wreck, but certainly in the tough moments, I’ll think of him and he’ll drive us on.
“Rob just laughed, he thought we were crazy. He’d be sat at home drinking a nice hot cup of coffee, laughing at us.
“I love the fact he found it hilarious that we were out running in the cold, wet and wind and he was sat at home.
“But I do know this. If it had been any one of our team-mates, he’d have been out there running with us too.
“Although he’s not with us anymore, he certainly is in spirit and we represent the full MND community, especially those we’ve lost along the way.
“Families come out and support us and play a part – the best part has always been around pulling MND families together and making them feel loved, important and supported.”
*YOU Can donate to Kevin Sinfield’s 7 in 7: Together challenge by clicking https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/kevin-sinfield-7-in-7-together-challenge.