Head out at lunchtime in the sun, park at Brigsteer Woods and head up on to Scar. A slightly shorter route as I have a big day tomorrow but it's good to be out.
Friday 26 September 2014
Lunch out - Thursday 25th September 2014
Had planned to run today but go to the Wheatsheaf for lunch instead - might not help much with my fitness but beer, good food and good company lifts the spirits.
Training - Wednesday 24th September 2014
More going backwards than forwards, a frustrating night. I think what Billy said to me on Monday at training is true, just not sure how to deal with this.
Monday 22 September 2014
Training - Monday 22nd September 2014
Not sure if this was sensible but I go anyway. But I don't overdo it, it hurts but I don't come away feeling any worse !
More Wainwrights - Sunday 21st September 2014
Legs in bits again but that's not going to stop me getting out today. So with KA I head over to Patterdale for some more Wainwright ticks.
Up to Boredale Hause, then Place Fell, not a new one as we have been here before. Down to Boredale and a quick zip over into Martindale so that we can add in an extra summit, Steel Knotts. Wainwright describes the summit as only being accessible to the "agile walker".....we manage it 😜
Next stop is Hallin Fell, a very popular summit as just a short walk from the road, but the views are stunning. Then we head back, down to Sandwick and the shore path, which is not flat, back to Patterdale, via tea, cake and fizz at Side Farm.
A stunning day and much warmer than expected; 2 new 'ticks' for KA.
Sca Fell Pike Fell Race - Saturday 20th September 2014
A club championship race this year and one which I had pre-entered. It's only short but brutal enough; a good Helm turnout and weather ok but the cloud base is down to about 1,500'.
Lee and Craig are fired up and GB is grinning ear-to-ear as usual, I'm just thinking about surviving ! The start is flat but soon leads into a rising and rough path; disappointing that dome racers feel the need to climb fences rather than use stiles.....are those few seconds really going to make that much difference; if they are, get fitter !
Then off path and the real work starts, climb to the stile and then it's a grind up the ridge of Lingmell. Into the mist and I follow a line of racers, Brian and GB just ahead and I dig in for the climb to England's highest summit. Not actually very sure of the line we take and decide on following the main path on the return.
Lee passes, in the top 3 and Craig also running well. I overtake Brian just before the summit and then work on descending. After the rocky path, I pick up the trod which leads over to the shoulder of Lingmell and find myself catching Jonny and GB. I overtake but can't keep ahead of Jonny, he gets back in front close to the finish and I have nothing left to close the gap.
Not a bad race but, as always seems to be the case, could do better. Lee is 4th, Craig 3rd V40 and Brian 1st V60.
It's good to be in Wasdale, should have planned it better and stayed over in the Cali.
Saturday 20 September 2014
Training - Wednesday 17th September 2014
I'm still suffering, this must being starting to sound boring.....it is for me too. I don't train well, let's blame it on the cold !
FRA Relay Recce and Pilates - Tuesday 16th September 2014
Probably the last time I do this sort of thing; I take the morning off work and head over to Barbon to recce various bits of the FRA Relay legs. Run in to Eskholme Crag (CP 2 of leg 2), then on to CP 4 of leg 1 (and CP 2 of leg 4.....this is getting confusing). Then a quick look down towards CP 3 of leg 2 and on to the trig, the cairn and then the fallen tree.
From there, just a run back to Barbon, which is most of leg 2 CP 1 to CP 2. A warm and clear day but I feel rubbish, just can't shake off this cold. In to the village shop for a slow and then rushed lunch. Make it in to work, late !!
Then to Pilates in the evening, planks and roll downs are not good with a cold !
Monday 15 September 2014
River / Canal Run - Sunday 14th September 2014
Late afternoon I manage a run from Natland, along the canal to Levens Bridge and back along the river; really don't feel great again.
Fairfield Horseshoe - Saturday 13th September 2014
Not much goes right for me today; I should be racing but I don't and I feel rubbish.
I manage a very steady round of Fairfield, the weather is onside but that's about the only thing that is.
Friday 12 September 2014
Ride to work - Friday 12th September 2014
Logistics ! Car was left at work yesterday but needs to be at the garage for 8am...not ideal. But I have a bike and it's a glorious morning so the 8 miles to work is no great hardship. Dump the bike in the office, grab the car keys and down to Lindale to drop car in for a service and expensive wheel bearing replacement ! But I do get to have a new A3 for the day.
Manage to also fit in lunch at the Wheatsheaf and a Physio appointment with John. Suffering late afternoon, seem to have cold-like symptoms and they come on very quickly so forget the idea of a further ride after work and decide to spend the evening at home catching up on things.
Work - Thursday 11th September 2014
Work gets in the way today; an early start and off to Liverpool and then back to Levens for more meetings. No time to fit in a run, but I can't complain as I have dinner at Rogan & Co in Cartmel.....that's a bit special :-)
Far Eastern Fells and Training - Wednesday 10th September 2014
So settled weather this week and I decide to take a day off. Head over to Hartsop (for a change !) and take a steady climb up to Hayeswater; then to Rest Dodd and an out and back to The Nab, more Wainwright ticks. Back over towards Brock Crags before again checking out the IHR descent route and back to Hartsop. Then lunch at the Mortal Man in Troutbeck, very pleasant.
Later I head to training; what I didn't mention above is that I as STILL SUFFERING from the Ben race......that really does have a lot to answer for ! Training is tough, a Fartlek session over and around Procter land, I hang on but that's about it.
Pilates - Tuesday 9th September 2014
I am still suffering, legs in bits and absolutely no flexibility - it's a struggle !
Training - Monday 8th September 2014
I head along to training as I need to chat to a couple of people about the Relays. That done, I then get into some very steady laps of the playing fields. My legs are trashed, I can manage no more; but that having been said, I notch up 6 miles.
Sunday 7 September 2014
IHR Leg 1 & Wainwrights - Sunday 7th September 2014
A late night but I'm up and out soon after 7; a glorious morning. KA and I head over to Hartsop and have a steady warm-up along the valley. Kath has just finished a night shift and I had the Ben race yesterday, neither are ideal preparation for a run on the fells today.
We climb to Boredale Hause but then detour to Beda Head, Angle Tarn Crags (both to the North and the South summits), Angle Tarn and a further detour to Brock Crags. Then it's all downhill which really isn't great for my legs !! But we make it and grab lunch at More on the way home.
Good to get out but legs now fully trashed.
Ben Nevis Fell Race - Saturday 6th September 2014
So for my 5th consecutive year I am in the race, and what a race. There's nothing else quite like it, yes that are much longer races and yes there are races with much more climbing. But in the UK there just can't be a race that has such a relentless climb followed by a relentless decent - it's a killer of a race.
The forecast wasn't great but, camped at Glen Nevis campsite, we wake to a dry, still and misty morning, so perhaps again the weather will be better than forecast. I am less nervous than usual and don't have the usual feeling of impending doom - that might sounds a bit melodramatic but it's true, so it's good to be a bit more chilled today.
A little drizzle and low cloud does not change my mood and by 1pm it is dry and we are piped to the start line.....and over 500 of us are off ! The road passes quickly but, very early on, my left Achilles is giving me grief, not just stiff but painful. Once on the track I work hard but realise it's going to be hard and not quick. When the track gets steeper, I lean into the climb and this is where it goes further wrong.....using lower back muscles to climb is not a great technique and as soon as I try to straighten I realise why, I am in a lot of discomfort and it's not good.
But I'm not turning back so just get on with it, the trod around to Red Burn is the worst bit and after that it improves a bit and I just keep climbing until the summit is in sight, a relief but short lived as the hard work now begins. I put the effort in, it goes ok but could be, an once was,so much better. Red Bank is wet and slippery, even for the brand new Inov-8 X-Talon 212's.
Back on the track I keep working hard and am relieved once I cut the zig-zags and on to the easier terrain. Once on the road I manage to pick up some speed and regain a few places and even put in a good spring around the shinty pitch at the finish. So I think I finish in about 2:10, if so just a couple of minutes slower than last year but a long way off my PB.
Russ has a steady run and isn't disappointed with his result, or at least doesn't let it show like I do. I am frustrated and disappointed with my running and desperately want to I'm improve.
Home by 10pm, a good trip.
Heading North - Friday 5th September 2014
So heading North to Fort William this afternoon for the big race tomorrow. Meetings to attend first and I manage to sneak in breakfast at More - that was a good way to start the day.
Arnside Ride - Thursday 4th September 2014
From Natland I head out on the Arnside loop. A glorious evening and good ride out.
Training - Wednesday 3rd September 2014
On Helm, 5 long reps to the trig and then 3 short but hard loops of the summit. A good evening, I train hard and train well but shouldn't I be taking it easy.....the Big, Bad Ben is looming !!!
Tuesday 2 September 2014
Training - Monday 1st September 2014
So I drag myself along to KK for a track training session - it's not going to be pleasant. But I survive the 16 reps and perhaps this is what I need to improve my speed ?!
IHR Leg 1 Recce and Staveley Ride - Sunday 31st August 2014
Another day and another recce. Today we head over to Hartsop to recce leg 1 of the Ian Hodgson Relay (IHR). A much brighter and warmer day than yesterday, so shorts and short sleeve tee required.
We park at Hartsop and have a steady run along the valley to Side Farm and then onto the Leg. We take the higher path to Boredale Hause and from there check minor alternatives to Angle Tarn. Then a few more minor route choices lead us on to the steep descent of Calf gare Gill to the Filter House on the track. Then easy running back to the car at Hartsop.
Just a short run out but a useful reminder of the route. Will try this again before the big day.
Then, later, I head out on bike; the usual Staveley loop from home. Not a bad weekend, 2 rides and 2 runs.
Then, later, I head out on bike; the usual Staveley loop from home. Not a bad weekend, 2 rides and 2 runs.
FRA Relay Recce, Legs 1 & 4 - Saturday 30th August 2014
The FRA Relay maps have just been added to website so KA and I use this as an opportunity to head over to Middleton to recce legs 1 & 4. You really do need to be careful how you access these routes, look carefully, there is very limited access to the open fells in this area.
We have a steady run round Leg 1, relatively straight forward. But we are by no means quick. We look closely at various route options and study the terrain around checkpoint 5. From there we head back up the fell to recce Leg 4, almost a direct reverse of Leg 1 except this one takes you to the summit of Calf at 609m; much quicker this time but probably due to our knowing the way and being warmed up.
The hills are a bit bigger than expected and nav could be tricky. Fortunately the early rain and mist had cleared when we set off, sensible choice to call in to Kirkby for coffee and toast on the way.
Barbon Arms served a good pint after the run, but slightly strange drinkers in there......what was that women doing lying on the floor ?!
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