I meet up in Staveley with Russ and we head out through Craggy Wood and up to Potter Tarn. Not much energy tonight, running on empty but it's good to be out. The Petzl Nao performs well and despite the sodden ground we make good progress and head back along the river to the village. The odd shower but otherwise a calm and chilly evening.
Tuesday 29 October 2013
Training - Monday 28th October 2013
The ground is very wet and the going is soft. But I train well and get stronger as we approach the end of the 18 reps !
Black Crag and Tarn Hows - Sunday 27th October 2013
Still the storm does not arrive but there are heavy showers and blustery winds.
I need to call into Ambleside and manage a run out. I park just down from the Drunken Duck and head up to Black Crag; it's very windy on the summit and we struggle to stand up but it soon subsides as we drop down from the summit. On to Tarn Hows and, on new paths to me, down towards Monk Coniston. Then on more familiar ground, the Cumbria Way back to Tarn Hows and cut off back to the Drunken Duck.
A good run out, almost 10 miles for me and just the odd blustery shower.
Dunnerdale Recce - Saturday 26th October 2013
A late decision to go to the recce and good one. Billy and Shaun pass on their knowledge to us all, this will definitely come in useful if I decide to race. It's a cracking little route and I can now see why so popular with Helm runner s(and there is a beer and pies after the race).
The rain and strong winds do not materialise and it's a relatively pleasant morning, out for about an hour and a half and then into Broughton for brunch.
River / Canal Run - Thursday 24th October 2013
This is becoming a regular Thursday night feature. After work, a run along the river and back along the canal. In a rush tonight, off to the Low Wood for dinner later.
Training - Wednesday 23rd October 2013
At the Castle again; only 6 reps this week....but the catch, they are the longest reps I think we've ever done.
Each rep is a double climb to the Castle and added distance this week too. It's tough going, I work hard but struggle to keep with the group but, by the last, rep seem to find my way and some energy too.
Turbo Training - Tuesday 22th October 2013
So the evenings are now cold and dark and I have decided not to risk being out on my bike this year. So instead, a turbo trainer might be the solution. Set-up in the garage I soon realise that without the rush of air this is going to be hot and hard work. I manage two Dire Straits songs....Tunnel of Love and Telegraph Road, both are 15 minutes long so I'm not as soft as I first sound ! Perhaps this is the way forward for my cross training this year.
Training - Monday 21st October 2013
Back to QKS tonight, the reps are just as tough and 18 of them; the good performance of all the Helm teams at yesterday's FRA Relays is no excuse for an easy session !
FRA Relay Recce - Saturday 19th October 2013
I head down to Llanberis, the venue for this years FRA Relays, in the camper and make it there in time for a recce of the start and finish of leg 2; I'm running leg 3 with Paul Upton but it's still good to get the lie of the land.
Then out for dinner in Llanberis and back to the bunkhouse where the ladies team are staying.......staying in the camper in the car park is definitely the better option, despite the heavy overnight rain and thunder.
Friday 18 October 2013
River / Canal Run - Thursday 17th October 2013
Head out from Natland after work. Along canal and back along river, then an extra short loop. Headtorch needed tonight.
Training - Wednesday 16th October 2013
Castle again tonight and only 10 reps ! A sprint start and then into the steep climb to the Castle and steady back down. A good session but tough.
River / Canal Run - Thursday 10th October 2013
Head out after work from Natland. Along river to Levens Bridge and back along canal path, back just before dark.
Training - Wednesday 9th October 2013
At the Castle again tonight. A real tough session, 8 reps but each is a double so we climb to the Castle 16 times. Completely wasted on the first 6 reps and seem to get going on the last 2.
Tuesday 8 October 2013
Rest Day - Tuesday 8th October 2013
I have a lodger for a few days.......Barney :-) We head over to Staveley for a walk and then coffee and cake in Wilf's - a good morning.
Training - Monday 7th October 2013
The last night at KKS; it's a mild evening but the grass is wet from the earlier rain. I work hard, I do ok.
Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay (IHMR) - Sunday 6th October 2013
This year I am again on Leg 2, but not with Rick as I have been the last two years; he's running well, too well for me so only Craig can be his match. I'm with John Bagge, we have both recce'd the route, albeit separately, and have run together before. I think it will be a good pairing.
We arrive at Hartsop early and have plenty of time to get organised, Shaun and Mark are on Leg 1. They run well and we are soon off. The mist Is down and it looks breezy on the tops. The track gets harder every time, it is relentless as is the grassy climb which then follows.
This takes it out of me and where John is able to pick the pace up on the more steady ground I struggle. I dig deep and work hard to the summit of High Street. The visibility is very poor and it is windy but we are confident of our route and don't need to refer to the map.
A good decent into Thresthwaite Mouth and I am climbing strong to the tarn, with John staying with me. I think we pass a team or two here, having been passed initially on the track. We hit the tarn perfectly and are then joined by an Ambleside team who approach from a different direction. I expect them to pick up the pace and leave us behind but we stay with them, then overtake them and then pull away.
We run strongly to the finish, it turns wet and the final descent is nasty, as is the injury John sustains when he tries his best to impale himself on a gate.....I though I was going to either carry the gate still attached to him or prise it off of him !
Garry is at Kirkstone waiting for us, but Billy still has his big jacket on....come on guys ! We, as a team, do fantastically; Garry and Billy run really well, as do Craig and Rick. We finish 18th overall and are 3rd Vet Team. Our Open team come 5th and at one pint were leading the race. Ladies come a credible 6th.
Full results:
Langdale Ride - Saturday 5th October 2013
Park on Elterwater Common and head down Great Langdale, up to Blea Tarn and then into Little Langdale.
Pretty much the Langdale Half Marathon route, up to the Coniston Road and then an extra loop to the Drunken Duck and Clappersgate. Back to Skelwith Bridge and a further loop past Loughrigg Tarn and past the hostel before dropping back to the car.
Just over 16 miles and some good weather.
Thursday 3 October 2013
Cunswick Scar Run - Thursday 3rd October 2013
Out on the road again, an early start so I don't feel bad getting home early. I take advantage of this and drive to Queen's Road for a run on Cunswick Scar.
Up and over golf course and then onto the Winter League race route. It's a wet night but I don't let this get to me; I run well and according to Strava, 6.3 miles and 855' of climb.
Training - Wednesday 2nd October 2013
So we are back in town but stay off-road. Tonight at the Castle, 5 steady reps up and race pace back down. Then on to 6 hard reps up and steady back down. I surprise myself, I run ok. The Silva runner performs well.
A milder night than I expect and just the occasional downpour, far better than forecast.
Tuesday 1 October 2013
Lyth Valley Ride - Tuesday 1st October 2013
Head out after work from Natland. Usual route around the Lyth Valley; not been around this way for a few weeks.
Training - Monday 30th September 2013
A big mistake - body and mind not in it tonight. I manage 8 reps and then settle for 4 steady big laps. Not a good evening.
Edale Skyline - Sunday 29th September 2013
A tough race, despite ideal conditions. I finish in about 3:34, almost 30 minutes quicker than the only other time I raced (2008); but both physically and mentally I am way off where I was last year and the year before.
The Helm V50 team claim first place, a fantastic effort.
Arnside Ride - Saturday 28th September 2013
A glorious day. Head out on bike from Natland to Arnside. Deal with a RTC (old people should not be allowed on the roads !) and then have afternoon tea before heading home. Then a mad dash as decide to head to Edale tonight for tomorrow's Skyline race.
River / Canal Run - Friday 27th September 2014
Head out at lunch, a warm day. Usual route, out along river and back along the canal - no cow issues today, that's a relief !
IHR Leg 4 - Wednesday 25th September 2013
I make it back from Liverpool a little early and with the brighter weather decide to head out with Kath to re-recce leg 4 of the Ian Hodgson Relay route. But we're a little late leaving and the mist has again dropped onto the fells. I fear this could be a tough run and darker soon than I would prefer.
We climb to Hart Crag and are soon in the mist, I play safe and take a bearing. From the summit we then head to Fairfield, I take the safe option and stick to the path rather than trying to find the racing trods in the gloom.
Next objective is St Sunday Crag, we get a good line but I am quietly concerned about finding the racing line from the summit; the mist is thick and the light is fading fast. I use my compass again and it all works out but my relief is shared by all !
We eventually succumb to using head torches and it is good to drop below the mist and see the lights of Glenridding below. Down to Patterdale and the. We take the off-road valley route along to Hartsop and back to Brotherswater.
It's good to be back and we make it in to the pub just in time to order food - this is good, as is the beer. A bit of a mini epic, but I was prepared and made no mistakes.
Staveley Ride - Tuesday 24th September 2013
Head out from home, usual route through Burneside, Staveley, Bowston and back through Burneside. An uneventful ride apart from the herd of cows which had congregated at the cattle grid at the top of my drive. They're a lively bunch and oblivious to my trying to move them on - instead I move on, bike over wall, me over wall and then down a steep grassy and bumpy slope to join driveway on the far side of the girls !
Too long in the car - Monday 23rd September 2013
A 500 miles round trip for a 40 minute meeting in Cambridge - had to be done. Too late home for training and whacked anyway.
Late afternoon run - Sunday 22nd September 2013
Out later than expected; park in Natland and run down to Hawes Bridge then along canal path and into Levens Park. Back along the river to just past Force Bridge.
Then a change of plan, up to the Strickland Arms, through Sizergh Castle and onto the Scar. Then down to Prizet and back to Natland. Legs tired, 8th consecutive day of running.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)