Ride - Sunday 23rd February 2014

It's wet and it's windy, just as forecast and not expected to ease. So rather than putting off the inevitable I get kitted up and head out from home on bike.  Across Queens Road and then climb Brigsteer Road which I follow to the village.

Then to Underbarrow, Crook and Staveley; had planned to stop for coffee but cold and wet and although it would have warmed me, setting off again would not have been much fun. So I push on, through Bowston, Burneside and then up Hollins Lane.

Home, wet and cold and a lot of soggy kit to sort. But once showered head back to Staveley, in the car this time, for a 'Big meaty breakfast' in Wilf's, it was worth the wait !

High Cup Nick Fell Race - Saturday 22nd February 2014

A club championship counter and, as organiser, my selection. Have run this once before, in 2010, when it was last in the club champs. Can only remember the main run up to the Nick and back along the top (Pennine Way), the out and the back had been wiped from the memory, must be an age thing.

Once again a good club turnout, maybe the champs will be a bit more competitive this year. A big field too on this blustery but relatively dry day (although there was a hail storm on the way to Dufton). I had talked this race up, as being fantastic scenery so I was pleased that the Nick was not shrouded in mist, I hoped fellow racers looked and the views and agree with me on this. 

There is more road and track at the start than I remember, it's hard going but as soon as we on to the fell it gets worse: mud, mud and more mud. It's hard going, at least for me, and both Sharon and Shaun pass me as if I'm standing still. I dig deep, why does everyone else seem to float over the mud and I sink deep into it ? 

The views are impressive and the final climb to the Nick is more of a scramble. Once up, we get the full blast of the wind which had been behind us on the climb. It's now 4 miles to the finish (5 to the Nick), mostly on the Pennine Way. I gain on Shaun and make sure that I build a reserve of energy before passing him; I want to stay in front this time and not just struggle past. 

I really do give it everything, I never look back but know he is breathing down my neck. The track is rough, the field muddy and the last track slightly uphill. But the end is in sight, I don't ease off and finish just 10 seconds or so ahead. 

Again some impressive Helm results. I enjoy the race, it's hard and I need to find the speed I once had. Photos and results to follow. 

River / Canal Run - Friday 21st February 2014

Head out at lunchtime for usual river / canal circuit. Stay dry, but the mud !!!!

Rest Day - Thursday 20th February 2014

Out to Wilf's to see Heather Dawes at a 'slide and supper' evening, just finished reading her book "Adventures in Mind". 

Orienteering - Wednesday 19th February 2014

So training this week is an orienteering event on the Castle, kindly and well organised by Ben. At last a dry Wednesday evening but the mud just keeps getting worse. I am paired with Imogen, Craig and Amanda's 13 year old daughter, a very good runner for her age.  

After registering, reading the rules and listening to the briefing we are off and I decide on a full-on climb to the castle to get us warmed up ! The first few controls are easy to find but number 11, the holly bush, proves illusive so we decide to push on and not waste any more time. All goes well. We are up and down the castle, down to the ski slope, onto Gooseholme, the scout hut, then the canal path beyond Parr Street. 

We are running well and I use map reading as an opportunity to catch my breathe, these youngsters are just too energetic. Back on to the castle and we have time to go back to the holly bush, we eventually find the control and head out towards the Castle stores for the last control. 

We are back in 49:30'ish and prove to be the 1st Junior / Senior Team - well run Imogen.  She is chuffed as she beat both her Mum and her Dad - sorry guys ! Hopefully she'll share some of her chocolate prize with you. 

Then to the Castle Inn for a quick pint and home to sort the very muddy kit. 

Pilates - Tuesday 18th February 2014

Week 2 of Set 2, still seem to be enjoying this and perhaps starting to gain from it.

Cunswick WL Route - Monday 17th February 2014

Head out from home with Russ, down Windermere Road and the cutoff towards Golf course and pick up the Winter League route. We run steady and it's surprisingly mild, but the mud.....it's getting too much. A good run out and then a hose off at home, more wet kit. 

Arnside Ride - Sunday 16th February 2014

So after seeing Birthday Boy Barnus, he's now a teenager....hopefully not a terrible one ! :-) I head over to Natland and set off for a ride to Silverdale and Arnside. It's a pleasant afternoon, some blue sky and sunshine but still breezy and cool. 

Usual route and relatively uneventful, due to the ongoing austerity measures I don't stop for coffee in Arnside but instead call into Booths, Milnthorpe on the return route and grab my free hot drink and an Eccles cake, bargain refreshments !

Less than three weeks to my cycle holiday....not sure I'm getting enough miles in the saddle !?

Carnethy 5 - Saturday 15th February 2014

So the fun bus and the Quattro head North, a big day out for Helm runners, with over 20 of us going to the race. It's only short, 6 miles and 2,500' of climbing but has a great following; the race is always over subscribed and only (!) 600 are lucky enough to make the cut; this obviously reduces on the day and, I think, 503 were at the start line.

So after a very wet, sleety and snowy drive North we make it to Penicuik to register and take over a section of the school hall. Plenty of time to eat, get changed and decide on fell shoes......I should have only brought one pair it would be so much easier, but instead I have three pairs: X Talons, Orocs and Baregrips, all Inov-8 of course.  

Given how wet the ground is decide on the Baregrips, a very sensible choice.  The forecast was for the weather to clear in the afternoon and it certainly does, some blue sky, sunshine but still windy and cool. So we catch the bus to the start and setup our base camp, there is no way I'm taking my big jacket off until just before the start. 

A quick warmup, a cup of coffee and  numerous pees and the to the start line. I don't have a race strategy but am keen to feel better than I did this time last year, it went horribly wrong then and has never really recovered. I start steady, the first field is very wet and muddy and then into the climb. It's heathery and snowy but I am going ok and work hard to the first summit, Scald Law. 

Then fast running and very little climb to South Black Hill. Although it's breezy and cool I am too hot with my waterproof on so on the climb to East Kip off it comes. This is a short steep climb and then soon on to West Kip, all is going well, not overly fast but enjoying it and not feeling rubbish. 

The descent from here is treacherous, wet grass, slushy snow and some mud too but the Baregrips, grip. I catch and pass Shaun and then dig in for the fast flat running before the last big climb, Carnethy. This goes ok, the weather is kind and the views to the Firth and Edinburgh are fantastic. From the last summit I descend well, running down the scree and really enjoying this. Even the run across the field at the end goes well. 

So not my quickest time, perhaps even my slowest but I feel good and have enjoyed the race; this must surely be the first step to my racing becoming competitive again. The Club runs well and we are 4th Team.  Back to the school (eventually) and showers followed by school dinner in the canteen, all good fun.

Having been patient on the drive North I decide not to stick with the bus on the way home, we have a good journey....a long day out but good fun. 

Report and results:

http://www.carnethy.com/#February

Rest day - Friday 14th February 2014

So Carnethy race tomorrow and a busy day at work, so it becomes a rest day.

Canal / Scar Run - Thursday 13th February 2014

I head out mid evening, a bit later than expected. It's going to be muddy, and probably windy and probably wet too....it is !

Head out from Natland, down to Hawes Bridge along the canal path to Sedgwick, then upto the Strickland Arms and then to Sizergh Castle. Actually it's not too wet and it's been windier, but the mud is....muddy !

Then to Helsington, towards Scar and then to Brigsteer Road and Whetstone Lane. More muddy paths to Prizet and then road back to Natland. A very good run out. 

Training - Wednesday 12th February 2014

So another big storm blows in, this one worse than the ones before; 100mph winds forecast and more torrential rain.....so I head out to training. 

For the first time ever I actually wear waterproof leggings for the run to QKS. Running up my drive is a bit like being on a treadmill, a lot of effort but very little progress !

We head to the golf course, 5 reps on the track; not fully into the wind, more side on but both on the ups and the downs. The rain is horizontal and it actually gets windier on every rep. It's a relief to finish and head home; soaked, cold and battered.....another good session and, for a second week in a row, I do ok. 

Pilates - Tuesday 11th February 2014

Off to Pilates, in the snow ! It's getting easier and the moves / stretches are becoming more familiar.

Potter Tarn - Monday 10th February 2014

Can't face training so meet up with Russ for a run from Staveley to Potter Tarn. Uneventful in many ways but that's no bad thing. Out for just over an hour, a little light rain, some mist at the tarn and mud on the way there and on the way back. A good run, glad you could make it Russ. 

Orienteering, Back Beck - Sunday 9th February 2014

Russ has often invited me to take part in an orienteering event (he's into this and even joined a club !! ) but, up until now, the timing has never worked. But today it does and so four of us, Russ, Kath, Jacob and I, head over to Bouth in the South Lakes to compete.  

The weather is reasonable but forecast to be very windy on the fells, this makes today's choice even better, relatively low level and very wooded.  As three out of the four of us have never orienteered before we decide to unofficially pair up; Russ and Kath, me and Jacob (we paired up in the Helm orienteering event last summer and won....so no pressure then !). 

We all choice the 'Blue' course, the second longest and second most technical. The intricacy and detail of the map is way beyond what I am use to and the scale takes some getting use to. But once we did at the start we soon get the hang of it and find the first control easily enough. However, it then goes wrong, very wrong, and we (or should I say I) struggle to locate the second control and end up being misplaced, unsure where we are and where we need to go......Jacob puts us right !

Russ and Mum, who we had overtaken at the first control are now clearly ahead but we concentrate on our own race. All goes well. We navigate and run well but it is still tricky, the enclosed wooded terrain makes it even tougher.

A slight blip between controls 8 and 9 but then we run and navigate well and catch up Russ and Kath at control 11, them arriving there from the opposite direction to us. We then pull away, benefiting from not having worked a 10 hour night shift (!!!!) and locate the few controls very successfully.

We finish in a time of 77:17, well down the field but a good first effort for us both. Russ and Kath finish soon after us, again having a good race with the occasional navigation issue. 

A good day out, well organised and will be back for more.

Results:

http://www.lakeland-orienteering.org.uk/uploads/cobaltresults/2014/1392094800_7126467593fa657c071f37ead97cb427.html 

An early ride and then a late run - Saturday 8th February 2014

I head out early on bike. It's dry but very breezy. From home, across Serpentine Road and onto Brigsteer Road and follow this all the way to the village. I realise as I head steeply down that my brakes don't work, fortunately at the hairpin there is a track where leads straight on and allows me to slow.....lucky no cars about. I then descend carefully with just an ounce of braking power !

Then onto Underbarrow, Crook, Staveley.....coffee and Danish.....Bowston, Burneside, Hollins Land and home. A good ride out. 

Then, unplanned, I head over to Sedbergh late afternoon and run Billy's 'Carnethy' route. The wind is behind on the way up Crook, and again onto Arrant Howe. But the descent from here is madness, the wind is close to blowing me off the ridge, a real struggle even running downhill, not pleasant.

Follow the wall round, a bit more sheltered, and then climb Winder, again the wind is is close to being too much. Don't stick around on the summit, a rapid descent back to Sedbergh and a welcome tea and cake in camper. 

River / Canal Run - Friday 7th February 2014

So my original plan was for a run on the Scar, but I get delayed and decide to run the usual route from the office out along the river and back along the canal. The sun is shining, that's a rarity, and I am fooled into thinking it will be pleasant running.

Perhaps overhead it is, but underfoot the mud is as bad as ever and I regret my revised plan.  But a run is a run and all helps to improve my overall fitness.....or so I believe.  

Work - Thursday 6th February 2014

All work and no play today.

Training - Wednesday 5th February 2014

So I run down to training with Chris, in the rain again, and hoping we are heading to golf course so I get a short run home. Just my luck, Billy decides on Castle, it's going to be a tough evening !

But, despite an early knock back that puts my head in totally the wrong place, I train well, perhaps even very well, still some life in the old dog yet....but is it a one off or can I keep this up, training next week and then Carnethy will be the real test...last weeks session was a disaster !

So only 5 reps but each contains two long climbs to the Castle, I dig in, up into the rain and wind and legs respond well....Billy even announces at the end of the session that "Dave White is back"....no pressure then ! 

Pilates - Tuesday 4th February 2014

So it's me and the girls again for week 5 at Pilates ! I think it's doing me good, I'm certainly improving and some of the moves / positions / stretches seem to be getting a little easier. But I still struggle when there are so many things to think of for each exercise.....I'm still working on moving my 'pelvis into neutral positions whilst the instructor has moved on to doing things with her sternum, rib cage, stomach and even pubic bone !!!

Scout Scar Run - Monday 3rd February 2014

Just can't face training on a Monday at the moment; too much mud, too many people and too much pressure.....just don't need any of these at the moment.

So head to the Scar with Craig and KA, not a great evening but the run is ok. About 6 or 7 miles and stays dry; across race course and then an up, down and up before heading across to Helsington church; from there, drop down, along, along again and then the big climb back onto the Scar, to the mushroom, then the trig and back down to the cars.  Headtorch issues affects some more than others ! 

Fairfield and then an afternoon ride - Sunday 2nd February 2014

Head over to Ambleside and unsure of plans; forecast was for cold and windy, but less windy than first suggested. The Horseshoe looks inviting, as it always does, and is often my default choice; so decision made, the Horseshoe it is.

It is windy, but on the way up it is from behind and helps. Above about 500m I enter the snow, slushy at first and then a crust, this makes for hard going as I constantly break through this.

But higher up it is more frozen and I put on microspikes which work well. The light conditions on the summit make for hard navigation, a little mist and white all around. There are some big drops and cornices so I take extra care.

Hart Crag is wild, the wind is full on and the snow conditions again make for tough going. Heading down is into the wind and a hail storm is unpleasant, came close to using my goggles.

But, all in all, good to be out.

So here's what the Felltop Assessors said about conditions on Helvellyn earlier today:

Fell Top Conditions on Sunday 2 February

Readings from Helvellyn summit at 13:30

Temperature minus 1.4°C Maximum wind speed 32.7mph Wind chill minus 11.2°C Average wind speed WSW 27.9mph

There has been an overnight thaw so there is now little snow on paths below 400m. Between 400m and 550m the snow is very wet and thawing. Above 550m the fells are covered with a substantial amount of snow. The depth of which varies enormously from a couple of centimeters on windblown aspects to 90cm in drifts on east through to north facing aspects. An average would be between 15 and 20cm at 900m. The snowpack is mainly soft often with a frozen crust making trudging through it laborious. The recent snow has not bonded to previous accumulations; this was especially noticeable on east through to north facing slopes where the top 3 - 5cm was windslab, making the snowpack unstable. Similarly large cornices exist above east to north facing slopes and gullies, so please keep well back from the edge.

Both Striding and Swirral Edges are now in winter condition covered by a substantial amount of mainly soft snow, so exposed routes such as these should only be tackled by those experienced in and equipped for full winter conditions.

Full winter clothing and footwear are essential for anyone venturing onto the fells. For those going above the snowline and attempting, or traversing, steep ground an ice axe and crampons are also essential as are good navigational skills. Deep snow obscuring features, combined with low cloud and high winds will make navigation challenging above the snowline.

Climbers: please note that the gullies are full of loose snow topped with unstable cornices so are not in condition.

Later in the day, I head out on my bike from Natland; around the Lyth Valley route, not been this way for months. A good ride and get back just as light fades.

Silverdale / Arnside Ride - Saturday 1st February 2014

First things first, need to put my new tax disc in the car ! Then over to Natland for a ride out to Arnside, but with the extra Silverdale loop. 

Surprisingly it looks dry out but just as I set out from home a brief and light snow shower; that tells me it's cold and judging by the way it is passing the window horizontally, windy too ! So well wrapped up from head to toe in Gore Bike Wear, I set off. 

I usually get well over half way round (Arnside) before stopping for coffee and cake but due to self imposed austerity measures I pull in at Booths in Milnthorpe and pick up my free coffee and a delicious 69p Pecan Danish pastry. 

On with the ride, uneventful really but good to be out and the weather kind too; but I was right, cold and windy. 

Back late morning and then over to New Hutton to take the Big Man, Barnus, out for a walk at Lambrigg. It's even colder and windier there but he's up for it, bounding around, perhaps to keep warm.....he's the Man :-)

January 2014

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December 2013

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