Loughrigg & Silver Howe Fell Race - Sunday 26th February 2012

Not overly motivated to race today but drag myself along - glad I did, a great, low-key race.

From the Under Loughrigg Road, by the bridge from the park, the route follows the main path to Loughrigg and then drops steeply down to the top of Red Bank. a multitude of paths and trods then lead to Silver Howe. Fortunately visibility was good otherwise this section could be tricky.

Turning at the top the route heads back the same way, over Loughrigg and towards Ambleside. However, there is then a diversion out to Lilly Tarn and an unmanned checkpoint. This confuses many, but I run with a Kendal and an Ambelside runner and, together, we hit it spot on and get the good line back down to the main track.

I run well, coming 16th. Others from Helm include Ant, Brian. Chris, Ali and Dave A.

A hot shower back at registration is a luxury and then soup, tea and cake - not bad for just £3

Carnethy Race Route - Saturday 25th February 2012

A windy day up North, go for a run around the Carnethy race route.

Arthur's Seat - Friday 24th February 2012

In Edinburgh for work so manage an early morning run up Arthur's Seat - a great little hill in a great city, could happily spend a lot more time here - back to teh hotel for smoked salmon and scrambled eggs.

Nought today - Thursday 23rd February 2012

No time to run or ride today

Training - Wednesday 22nd February 2012

Billy spoils us tonight - a once in a lifetime opportunity !!

The Sedbergh Road from the Castle Green Hotel to the junction at the top of the hill (1 mile further on !) is closed due to re-surfacing - oh what fun.

5 reps of this, long, steady up and brisk pace back down - that 5 miles of up and 5 miles of down, plus the run there and back - no wonder I look and feel whacked.

But, as always, a good, well though-out session.

Rest day - Thursday 23rd February 2012

That's it - no running or biking today, I enjoy a rest day.

Lyth Valley Bike Ride - Tuesday 21st February 2012

Home a little early having taken Barney to the doggie hospital in Chester for a check-up - he gets the all clear :-)

It is still light so head out on bike around my usual Lyth Valley route - no punctures today but use my mountain bike.....those big, knobbly tyres are hard work....must get some new tubes for the road bike !

Back just as it gets dark, not much charge in my front light !

Training - Monday 20th February 2012

It is wet, windy and much milder - this can mean only one thing.....back to mud !

Actually not too bad, a good, hard session - thanks Shaun.

UTLD 50 Recce - Sunday 19th February 2012

I had planned to run the 'Golden Pearl' race at Reston Scar but had concerns.....only ran 6 miles last weekend at Carnethy and have the HPM looming, also it was a stunning day !

So decide to run from Ambleside to Coniston on the last 16 miles of the Ultra Tour Lake District 50/100 route. It is a great route and the weather stunning; i make good progress and consider running back the same way; however, opt to follow the Cumbria Way as far as Skelwith and then back over the shoulder of Loughrigg; this is a good choice, some great paths and visit Tarn Hows, as do thousands of others !

Out for about 5 hours and cover 25 miles - this is more like it.

Staveley Cycle Ride - Saturday 18th February 2012

So head out from home to Sizergh and then up and over to Brigsteer - there has been a lot of hedge trimming and, as a result, I get a puncture; only a tiny thorn so deicde to replace tube and then manage to snap valve...not great, but I get by.

On to Underbarrow, Crook and diown into Staveley for hot chocolate and cake at Wilfs. Back via Bowston, Burneside and cut through town.

A good 22 mile circuit but don't enjoy the town bit at the end !

Sheffield Pike - Friday 17th February 2012

This is more like it.....a morning meeting in Pooley Bridge....an opportunity for a short run on the fells.

Head up Glencoyne, past Seldom Seen Cottages. A dry bright day, almost Spring like and great views of the snow-rimmed higher fells. Cut off left, climb steeply and then follow a good little path to the summit.

Quiet up here, head due West and then drop steeply North to join the main path back down Glencoyne. Only out for just over an hour, a great little route....think I need to visit these clients more often :-)

River / canal run - Thursday 16th February 2012

Head out for usual loop - uneventful but needed to be done !

Training - Wednesday 15th February 2012

No ice this week, we head back to Kendal Green and do sets of 5 Green Hill reps followed by a lap of the Green at race pace.....4 sets in total. Hard work and I work hard.

Lunchtime run - Tuesday 14th February 2012

A pleasant day so head out for usual river / canal run - a good run, a bit slippery in places but manage to stay upright.

Training - Monday 13th February 2012

No let up tonight, the mud has returned and Shaun works us hard - little more to be said.

A cautious ride - Sunday 12th February 2012

Still a little ice and snow on some lanes so I take it very steady. Head out on usual 14 mile route around the Lyth valley, no breaking records today but good to be out on bike again....bring on Spring.

Carnethy 5 - Saturday 11th February 2012

So a big build-up by Billy for this race and we manage to get 13 Club runners there - we travel as a Club, we run as a Club and we return as a Club - this is what it's all about.

A good day out, great race, great atmosphere. I run well but fail to finish inside 1 hour, this is now my target and I will be back again to beat this; but, I am pleased with my position in terms of those from the Club.

Full details, photos and results:

http://www.carnethy.com/ri_c5.htm

River / canal run - Friday 10th February 2012

So a little less snow and ice about today so tackle my usual lunchtime run - good to be out and the Oroc's, once again, come in useful.

Black ice day... - Thursday 9th February 2012

Black ice everywhere today....not brave enough to tackle a run or ride !

Training - Wednesday 8th February 2012

Not looking forward to this - the pavements are icy !

We head up to Horncop Lane and Kendal Green, getting there is not great ! However, once there the going is mainly ice free but we soon abandon plans to include Green Hill - we go up this once and all fear coming back down !

Again a shorter session due to Carnethy and to the conditions; however, we have been warned, normal long, hard sessions resume next week !

Scar run - Tuesday 7th February 2012

The sun is shining and snow still on the ground - a good day for a run on the Scar. Great conditions and a good run out, slightly shorter route than usual and glad of my Orocs.

Training - Monday 7th February 2012

So snow still on the ground but, actually, conditions pretty good. A slight crust, then a couple of inches of snow - slightly harder work but not slippery - still, as a precaution, wear my Orocs.

The sky is clear, a very bright moon and chilly !

A shorter session - Shaun and Billy wanting us all to run well at Carnethy on Saturday !

Fairfield Horseshoe - Sunday 5th February 2012

So after the heavy snow that fell Saturday afternoon and into the evening I needed to decide on a plan of action. Should I stay low and local, avoiding the treacherous roads or should I head into the Lakes and up onto the high fells – for me this didn’t require much thought……head high.

The roads were not great but I made it to Rydal and, fully kitted up for all eventualities, I set-off with nab Scar being my first objective. The sky was blue and the sun shining but a low mist covered the lakes, what a fantastic sight. The going was hard under-foot, deep, soft snow and no one ahead of me to break trail.

After Nab Scar the snow got deeper, this was really hard work, not much chance of running. On to Heron Pike and Great Rigg where another runner catches me; he soon realises that by overtaking me he would be breaking trail and, not surprisingly, his pace slowed considerably and mine increased.

Unfortunately the good views on the way up came to an end on the summit of Fairfield, I was in mist and needed to concentrate hard as visibility and clarity reduced considerably. The descent from the summit over the rock sections was made much easier by the soft snow and the summits of Hart Crag and Dove Crag passed easily.

From here I was again out of the cloud and enjoying great views. At last I could run and made good progress down to High Pike and Low Pike, before then dropping down to Rydal Park and back to the car for a welcome cup of coffee and cake.

This was the fells at there best, great conditions and a classic route.

　

Reston Scar - Saturday 4th February 2012

The snow, as forecast, starts to fall in the afternoon and I head over to Staveley for a quick run around the Reston Scar race route. A cracking little route but the downhills were a bit slippery even with my Inov-8 Orocs on !

A good run out in the falling snow - in for coffee and cake at More Bakery and then tackle the snowy roads on the way home.....my car is great but I still want one of these :-)

Potters Tarn - Thursday 2nd February 2012

I have a late morning meeting in Windermere so take advantage of being in this direction. Park at Mill Yard in Staveley, and a bit like a cartoon character, I arrive in my suit and set-off in my tights !

Head up through Craggy Woods and then over the Potter's Tarn - it is a stunning day, cold, sunny and blue sky - the fells looks majestic, covered in snow. It is fun identifying all the peaks, the views are great.

I drop down through the woods to the river and back to the village. A good run out is finished with a top-notch bacon and egg roll at More bakery - it's not all hard work....I am very lucky.

Training - Wednesday 1st February 2012

It is below freezing as we set off, a bit of a hill / fartlek session - we keep moving and when running hard it is always in an uphill direction ! Horncop Lane, Green Hill, Queen's Road, Undercliff, Captain French lane and back to Green Hill. I work hard and it is hard. Minus 3 when I drive home !

A day off - Tuesday 31st January 2012

A lot going on today, no time for a run or ride.

A steady run - Monday 30th January 2012

After yesterday's 24 mile run I decide to pass on training but, instead, head out for a steady river / canal run after work. Am I becoming older and wiser or just soft, Russ thinks that I am two of the three....thanks Russ.

It is a cold and clear night; the mud that has lined this route is now dry and hard and the going is good. a sensible choice, I hear from Russ that training is, as always, hard work (it's good for you Russ !).

That's Lyth - Sunday 29th January 2012

It feels that this event comes round much sooner than once a year. The 24 mile route from Kendal, heads over Cunswick Scar to Underbarrow, Crosthwaite, Whitbarrow Scar, Witherslack, Coates, Brigsteer Woods and up and over Scout Scar before dropping back down to Kendal.

It is cold and clear, ideal conditions. Four of us, Garry, Craig, Kath and I, run together. The views as we head up onto the golf course are stunning, an alpine glow across the fells as the rising suns catches the snow. We stop at the various checkpoints and enjoy drinks and food but forgo the hot dogs at Witherslack....they smell disgusting !

We are back just before 12, a sub 4 hour round is good going and we tuck into more food and drink. A good day out and plenty of other Helm runners taking part.