So after the torrential downpours and major floods I decide on a short ride out around the Lyth valley. I take it steady, there is still a lot of standing water and gravel and debris on the roads. Heading up into Brigsteer, I ride upstream !
Friday 29 June 2012
Training - Wednesday 27th June 2012
Expected rain but it stays dry. We run 8 reps up the 'front' of the Helm, steady back down - another hard session, it is warm and muggy and flies are a nuisance during recovery.
Scar Run - Tuesday 26th June 2012
So not run here for ages and now twice in two days, this is no bad thing.
Run the same route, this is one of my favourites, it is warm and muggy but great to be out.
Monday 25 June 2012
Scar Run - Monday 25th June 2012
Not been on Scar for a long time, so drive to Brigsteer Woods and head out on usual route. Ideal conditions but hard work today; good to back on Scar, visiting familiar places.
Ultra 50 Recce - Sunday 24th June 2012
Much drier today, the wind has eased and the floods and rivers subsided. Drop a car at Tilberthwaite and run the Ultra route from Ambleside to Tilberthwaite. Good conditions and chat with another guy out reccying the same route and race.
Decide to then head on to the finish at Conistion, quick cafe stop and then low level route back to Tilberthwaite. A good run out, about 18.5miles and feel comfortable.
Lyth Valley ride - Saturday 23rd June 2012
After the horrid day yesterday and heavy overnight rain, the morning is dry and the breeze dries the roads. Usual route around the Lyth valley. more of a chore than a pleasure today; soon after I'm back the rain starts again.
River / canal run - Friday 22nd June 2012
A horrid day, non-stop heavy rain, swollen rivers and flooded roads....so head out for a run along the canal path to Levens Bridge and back along the river after work. It is wet..under foot and over head but so what.
A good run out, something therapeutic about running in the rain, as long as it is not for hour after hour !
Lyth Valley ride - Thursday 21st June 2012
I decide on a steady ride out around the Lyth valley, return via an alternative route: Brigsteer hill....a hard climb. Then drop down to Prizet and along Hawes lane, a slightly shorter route, just 12 miles tonight.
Hawkshead 10k - Wednesday 20th June 2012
The third race of the Kendal AC series. So far I have not been able to better my time from last years races, could I manage this tonight ?
Conditions are ideal and I feel in reasonable shape; it is a big field, a good turn-out from the Helm ladies (Jo, Victoria, Lindsay, Shelley and Amanda) and just one other Helm male (V60). I run well but lag behind others who I am normally ahead of, this is disheartening; however, before the left turn at the end of the lake, I am catching a group of 5 runners and, one by one, I overtake them and stay in front on the long run back along the east side of teh lake.
I finish 7th, 36mins 49secs, 5 secs ahead of last year - at last !! 2nd V40 so no prizes tonight but a good result. I stick around for beer and burger; a good evening but a few absent friends.
Wednesday 20 June 2012
River / canal Run - Tuesday 19th May 2012
A good run along the river, past Force Bridge and then on to canal path to Kendal; back along river to Hawes Bridge. A 6 mile route, a pleasant evening.
Training - Monday 18th May 2012
If I remember correctly: 5 x 400m, 4 x 300m, 6 x 200m & 4 x 150m (=5km) - all hard work, I only really come alive on the last set. Has to be done though !
Sunday 17 June 2012
Staveley Ride - Sunday 17th June 2012
I need some breakfast so head out through town, Burneside, Bowston and to Staveley. Coffee and croissant and then back via Crook, Underbarrow, Brigsteer and Prizet. A good ride out, hardly summery weather though !
River / canal run - Friday 15th June 2012
Lunchtime run - along river and back along the canal. I decide to not wear a jacket, 5 minutes from the end and torrential rain I guess it could have come 5 minutes after I started !
Arnside ride - Thursday 14th June 2012
Another blustery ride - Arnside tonight, the chip shop is calling ! A good ride but hard going.
Training - Wednesday 13th June 2012
Not been on the Helm for a while. It hasn't got any easier - a good session but I should have taken it easy, big race looming !
River / canal run & Lyth Valley Ride - Monday 11th June 2012
A day off but decide to take it easy. Short run along the canal to Levens Bridge and back along the canal.
Later on I ride usual Lyth Valley route.
Beinn Achaladair & Beinn a'Chreachain - Friday 8th June 2012
A short drive to Achallader Farm and head off on the well worn path to these two munros. It is windy an a bit wet but could be so much worse.
A make good progress, the rain stops and the clouds lifts but it remains windy. The first summit is climbed easily and a good path leads to the second. I pick a descent line, it is easy going and I'm soon into the forest and pick up a path which later crosses the railway and leads back to the farm; another two munros climbed, 35 to go !
Then off to the LAMM.
Glas Tulaichen & Carn an Righ - Thursday 7th June 2012
An early start and drive North to Spittal of Glenshee to climb these two elusive munros; many times before I have intended to climb these but it's never happened, today I am determined.
Set-off by lunchtime and make good progress along the significant bull-dozed track. This goes almost all of the way to the summit, I'm in the mist but navigation is easy.
Then head North to the outlying Carn an Righ, a much more isolated summit. Easy walking leads back and along a long valley. Back to the Dalmunzie Hotel in less than four hours; a good munro walk.
Decide to drive over to Killin so that I am well placed for tomorrow.
Loughrigg Walk and Lyth Valley Ride - Wednesday 6th June 2012
No energy this week, manage a steady walk up Loughrigg and then coffee and cake in Daisy's cafe.
Then out on bike in the evening, usual route around the Lyth Valley.
Then out on bike in the evening, usual route around the Lyth Valley.
Arnside Ride - Jubilee Monday 4th June 2012
A blustery day, I head on usual route to Arnside, back roads avoiding the traffic. Arnside is a busy place, I decide on ice-cream as the sun is shining instead of coffee and cake; as soon as I do this, the sun disappears and a cold wind blows !
Helvellyn & The Dodds Fell Race - Sunday 3rd June 2012
So just after 12 hours ago I left Threlkeld and now I am back again for this Club Championship race. Not done this one before, the cloud is down, it is cold and windy; I think of Martin still on his BG.
My legs are a little jiggered from last night's run but I make good progress up Clough Head, keeping ahead of Craig....this could be his day !
On to Great Dodd, skirt Watson and Stybarrow then to Raise, Lower Man and Helvellyn; the visibility is poor and the wind very strong, I navigate well, recces and BG's help a lot.
As I turn and retrace the outward route I fail to see Craig but see Mick, Ali and Lindsay, other Helm runners. I later find out that Craig decides to head towards Thirlmere !!
I pick-up a few places on the way back, running strong and finish in 7th (2hrs 49mins) managing to scrap a prize - :-)
My legs are a little jiggered from last night's run but I make good progress up Clough Head, keeping ahead of Craig....this could be his day !
On to Great Dodd, skirt Watson and Stybarrow then to Raise, Lower Man and Helvellyn; the visibility is poor and the wind very strong, I navigate well, recces and BG's help a lot.
As I turn and retrace the outward route I fail to see Craig but see Mick, Ali and Lindsay, other Helm runners. I later find out that Craig decides to head towards Thirlmere !!
I pick-up a few places on the way back, running strong and finish in 7th (2hrs 49mins) managing to scrap a prize - :-)
Langdale Ride and then BG leg 1 - Saturday 2nd June 2012
As a pre-BG pacing warm-up I park at Elterwater and ride along Great Langdale, steep climb up to Blea Tarn and then good downhill to Little Langdale. A short drink stop at the Three Shires Inn and then back into Elterwater.
Then on up to Keswick for a 7pm BG leg with Martin Spooner. Four others pacers with us so relatively easy duties. It is dry but a coll and breezy evening with some cloud on the summits.
We set-off at a fast pace and make close to 10 minutes by the summit of Skiddaw. Martin's knee decides to cause trouble, an ongoing injury that decides to flare-up again. He controls this well, half expecting it and pooping pills to deal with the pain.
On to Calva, all is going well and we make a few more minutes. He directs us to a different line off of Calva, a good trod and this works well. An easy river crossing through the Caldew and then a trudge up to the Common, into the cloud and on to the summit of Blencathra.
One of the pacers has a different descent route, a Hall's Fell Ridge variation; we go with this, it avoids the ridge but is steep and, in places, loose; however, it does bring us out belong the crest and easy running leads us to Threlkeld, 10 minutes up and in good shape.
Martin goes on to complete his BG in just over 22 hours, a great effort in difficult conditions.
River / Canal Run - Friday 1st June 2012
After work I manage a quick run from Natland along the canal path to Levens Bridge and then back along the river.
Friday 1 June 2012
Lyth Valley Ride - Thursday 31st May 2012
Usual route, I manage to get my average mph to 16 - a bit cooler and threat of rain but it holds off.
Levens 10k - Wednesday 30th May 2012
Can't believe it's a year since I was last here ! A warm evening and not an overly large turn-out. Dave R, Jo, Victoria and Lindsay from Helm.
I am getting slower, 36:55 - 4th overall and 1st MV40 (I think).
Lyth Valley Ride - Tuesday 29th May 2012
Another pleasant evening, ride the usual Lyth Valley route - in a rush tonight, need to get to Sandra Scott's for details of her Joss Naylor Challenge (JNC).
Training - Monday 28th May 2012
Another tough session, it is hot and hard work. Not exactly sure what we did, lots of 300m reps, 250m reps, 200m reps, 150m reps and, I think, even 125m reps....it's all a blur in the end !
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)