Not been this way for a while. It's a balmy 20c out there today, not what I expect at this time of the year. Usual route and uneventful, but I run well....perhaps that does make it eventful.
Friday 31 October 2014
Turbo - Thursday 30th October 2014
Turbo trainer is back in action - I stick at it for 30 mins....on a 2 mins steady and 1 min hard regime. What fun...not !
Training - Wednesday 29th October 2014
On the Castle again, Billy in charge and it's a short and fast rep night. What does this mean, well, a short fast, flat sprint and then into the shortest and steepest climb to the Castle, recover on way down. Sounds easy....x 10...no, it's not !!!
Pilates - Tuesday 28th October 2014
I switch to the later session today as I have been in Edinburgh and late home. This week I get it, perhaps it's the change of scenery !!!
Training - Monday 27th October 2014
Back to QKS tonight; it's mild and hard work...what more can I say !
Bike Ride - Sunday 26th October 2014
Bike rides at this time of year can be hard work. Less than a mile from home I get a flatty, the wheels are tished up and, very soon, as are my hands ! It always worries me using my spare tube so early on, what happens if I get another....think positive !
One of my usual routes today; from home, Brigsteer Road, Brigsteer, Underbarrow, Crook, Staveley....latte & pastry....Burneside, Hollins Lane and home.
Good to be out and I manage to avoid further punctures.
Three Shires Race Route - Saturday 25th October 2014
So Russ and I decide to head over to Little Langdale to run the Three Shires Race route. Had expected better weather but as we park the rain comes down, more horizontal than vertical !
But, what I have already forgotten to say is, that Russ very kindly offered bacon rolls before we set off; no hesitation to accept and a very disappointed Craig had to decline the offer as he was XC racing today.
Back to it, soon after we start we detour to Cathedral Quarry, not been here before - it's amazing and well worth a visit. Then onto climbing Wetherlam, perhaps my least favourite climb in the Lakes. I dig in, the weather turns more grim and it is a big relief when we make the summit; but not conditions to linger so straight on towards Prison Band and Swirls Hows, now that climb is more like it.
At the summit the wind is even stronger, we head towards the rebuilt memorial at the Halifax Bomber wreckage and then Russ gives me much need navigation tuition....thanks for that Russ ! Down to Three Shire Stone....yes I manage to navigate successfully, and a steady climb to Blisco; the weather improves a bit and on the descent I even decide to take my leggings off.
The final sting is the climb up Lingmoor, but I feel good and push on. Little Langdale looks far away from here but it's a surprisingly quick descent and we are soon back at the Cali for tea and mince pies...yes, it's that time of year again. Hawkshead Brewery on way home too...beer and tapas, think I return home heavier than I started today !
Friday 24 October 2014
Scout Scar - Thursday 23rd October 2014
Head out in the wind and rain at lunchtime for a run on the Scar. Meet up at Helsington Church and have a good run along the top and back again.
Training - Wednesday 22nd October 2014
On the Castle again and, ahead of training I do three things different !
1. I buy some "energy"
2. I eat a banana instead of a bowl of cereal
3. I want to train well
Whether it was any one of these different approaches or a combination I'm not sure - but it worked; I felt I trained well and had a little spring in my step....not said that for a while.
Loughrigg - Tuesday 21st October 2014
I have some holiday to use up so take the morning off and head over to Ambleside. A good run up and over Loughrigg, fighting against the tail end of the hurricane but not as bad as expected. From the summit, drop down to the road and then around Loughrigg Tarn and back over to Lilly Tarn.
Then an early lunch and potter in Ambleside before a mad dash to work.
Training - Monday 20th October 2014
So our last week at KK before we head to QKS. My effort is limited tonight, not intentional but just find myself taking it easy. Maybe that will do me some good.
FRA Relays, Middleton Fell - Sunday 19th October 2014
So after a big build-up and numerous recce's, it's off to the races ! Forecasts not great, very windy and possibility of heavy showers. I'm V40 team captain and running leg 3, the nav leg, with GB.
All goes well, the team arrive....always a good start and Phil Rigby puts in a good effort on leg 1; Paul and Craig head off on leg 2 and run really strongly and then GB and I are off. The leg is surprisingly short and navigation straight forward but I work hard to keep with Garry and he's definitely holding back for me. So I guess a bit disappointing for me but Jonny on leg 4 puts in a fine effort and we finish about 12th Vet team overall. I'm pleased with that.
It's a good, but long, day out and the 5 other Helm Teams all run well, especially the ladies and Dave's Mixed team.
Btw, I still have a pile of left behind kit....that will teach me to disappear when it's time to take down the team tent !!
Longsleddale Ride - Saturday 18th October 2014
Head out mid afternoon for a ride from home to Sadgill, the head of Longsleddale valley. It's a beautiful valley and one which sees little traffic.
Dry and not overly cold but breezy, a round trip of just over 20 miles.
Monday 20 October 2014
Potter Tarn - Friday 17th October 2014
An evening run with Russ. I don't want to go too far as important race on Sunday but have been busy all day and want some fresh air.
Out along river and head up to the tarn; then short route back down to Mill Yard. Just what I needed.
Pilates - Thursday 16th October 2014
A late call and I head over to Windermere for a catch-up class. I always seem to 'get it' here, not sure what's different :-/
FRA Relay Recce and Training - Wednesday 15th October 2014
A cool, breezy day and time for one last look around the fells above Middleton. We park at the official start and follow the flags through the fields to the open fell. We locate the control marker by the fallen tree and then the hard work begins.
A big pull up to CP 2 and then easier running to the Calf; steady downhill from there, past the stone cairn and down to the control marker at the path junction. We try different routes from there to the fell gate, not much in it and we suspect that the main path may well be flagged on race day.
Steady back to car and then into Kirkby Lonsdale for brunch at Plato's.
Later, head to training. We spend some of the session on a strengthening routine and then to the Castle for a shorter, but no easier, session.
Tuesday 14 October 2014
Training - Monday 13th October 2014
Just don't get it tonight. Someone comments to me that they feel that their legs rarely hurt because they don't have the energy to get to that stage......that sums up perfectly where I am too.
FRA Relay Recce - Sunday 12th October 2014
Misty morning but I have the feeling it will soon clear; I'm right, Middleton is chilly but basked in sun. Seven of us head out to recce leg 2, the longer leg. We check out different lines, some better than others, and enjoyed the steadier pace and lack of pressure. A good run out.
Then later head out on Scout Scar for a 6 mile run, that doesn't go well !
Ride - Saturday 11th October 2014
Feeling better so head out on bike in the afternoon. From home, Brigsteer Road, Brigsteer, Brigsteer Wood (where I shelter for 10 minutes due to a torrential downpour), Levens, Brigsteer, Underbarrow, Crook, Staveley (no coffee and cake stop today), Burneside, Hollins Lane......puncture....Windermere Road and home.
Feel good, maybe shedding a few pounds helps !
Friday 10 October 2014
Hopefully next week will be better - Friday 10th October 2014
I'm not well and stay off work, that's very rare for me.
Things get worse - Thursday 9th October 2014
No run today, a visit to the Docs and out for dinner but don't feel great; I think a bug has been manifesting all week and I'm not well during the night.
Training - Wednesday 8th October 2014
Back in town and now meet in Kirbie Kendal school. Just a short run out to the Castle tonight. It's a bit wet and very dark. Top tip, if you have a spare headtorch and lend one to someone, keep the best one for yourself.....I will, next time !
Only six reps but I don't feel good and run very badly. On the way back we get drenched, why couldn't it have waited just a few minutes ?!
River / Canal Run & Pilates - Tuesday 7th October 2014
Head out at lunchtime, usual river / canal route. But a pleasant surprise, I see Salmon jump in the River Kent; an absolutely stunning sight and a first for me.
Pilates in the evening, first time in three weeks and my flexibility and strength have definitely suffered.
The start of a real tish week - Monday 6th October 2014
Little goes right today and that sets the tone for the week ahead. Don't really want to say anymore about this.
IHR - Sunday 5th October 2014
I'm part of the Vet Team and am paired with Jonny for leg 1. That really suits me, a shorter faster leg and good to get it over with and then enjoy the day.
Conditions are ideal for us, a little low cloud, dry'ish and not too breezy. This year we start from the playing fields in Patterdale, this must surely add considerably to the leg (!). We run well and all goes well. We finish in 20th, with Helm Elite in 19th !
My camper has kindly been driven to Hartsop, that works well and we then follow the race; to Kirkstone, Brotherswater and back to the finish.
Our Team continue to run well and we finish 20th overall, I think that a credible achievement. Full results: http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2014/IHMR2014Results.pdf
Our Elite struggles and ladies do ok. But it's a good day out, and even manage another visit to Chesters on the way home !
Nav Training - Saturday 4th October 2014
I instruct on a Navigation training day; theory in the morning and then out with the group in the afternoon to put it all into practise; Boredale Hause and Angle Tarn area, familiar terrain for me but not for the participants. A rewarding day.
Friday 3 October 2014
IHR Leg 1 Recce - Friday 3rd October 2014
I'm now running the leg with Jonny, so we head over to Hartsop to recce the leg together. The weather is fowl there, Kirkstone Pass seems to be the watershed, dry and bright to the South, low cloud and wet to the North.
A steady run along the valley and then even steadier to Boredale Hause. It's rough from there to Angle Tarn but route finding and route choice are good. Then a short climb and cut right to the top of the ghyll. We eventually decide on a plan and are soon running down the track back to Hartsop.
A worthwhile trip out.
Carn Na Drochaide - Thursday 2nd October 2014
Last day in Scotland so decide to climb another Corbett....this just might catch on with me ! A short drive, past Linn of Dee to the road end, Linn of Quoich. Just me a very smart looking M3 in the parking area....but he doesn't have a cooker in his vehicle....I do, so have a cuppa before I set off.
I follow the River Quoich for a few kilometres and the cut up on a small path to the minor summit of Carn Na Criche. Easy walking along a broad ridge, but again battling into the wind, leads to the Corbett summit at 818m.
My guidebook suggests a path to start with but then knee deep heathery; actually the path continues all the way back to the track, that's a relief.
Only a short outing, back to Braemar for a quick bit of shopping and then head home, via Tiso for a late lunch.
My next trip to Scotland will be a wee bit more organised and structured; but perhaps a few easy days out might have been good for me.
Sgor Mor - Wednesday 1st October 2014
A short drive along to Linn of Dee, the first few miles follow the route of the Lairig Ghru race, which I ran last year for the third time
Linn of Dee is a stunning place and quiet at this time of year. I follow the River Dee to White Bridge and then follow it North West before heading up steeper ground to the granite outcrops on the summit of Sgor Mor (813m). The views down to the Lairig Ghru and to the big Cairngorm summits are spectacular.
Then over a couple of smaller tops before a very heathery descent back to Linn of Dee. A good little circuit, another breezy day and would have been tough going on the higher summits.
Creag nan Gabhar - Tuesday 30th September 2014
So need to drive today, it does add 4 miles of road walking but it's still not going to be a long day out. So South along the A93 to Auchallater Farm before heading off on a track into Glen Callater.
It's dry, cooler than yesterday and very breezy, but cloud is high and its dry. I soon climb onto the ridge and follow this for a few kilometres to the summit. No other walkers about, but can hear stalkers in the distance !
Then a short drop down to another track and a long walk out of Glen Callater, back to the A93. So not a long day out but another tick and time to browse in Braemar and check out the new coffee shop, The Bothy.
Ben Gulabin - Monday 29th September 2014
So I head North in the Cali, first stop Tiso on the outskirts of Perth....porridge and then eggs on toast, now that's a good way to start a trip.
Then on to Spittal of Glenshee and time to stretch my legs. I am lacking any real plan or motivation on this trip, I have just 5 munros left to climb, one big day out but the forecast is not favourable for that this week so a loose plan to climb a few Corbetts (2500' to 2999').
Ben Gulabin is just a short climb, mainly on a track. It's not the most spectacular of routes but fits in well today. The views from the summit, North to the Cairngorms are stunning; it's good to be out.
Then back to the Cali and up to Glenshee ski area, it's a steep climb but the twin turbo, 180bhp makes easy work of it. Down to Braemar, and book into one of my favourite sites for the next few nights.
Langdale Horseshoe Recce - Sunday 28th September 2014
It's not a great forecast but KA and I decide to recce this race route, although neither of us will probably get to race it this year. It's not as cool as it looks and we soon build up a head of steam climbing to the left of Stickle Ghyll to Stickle Tarn.
Visibility here in not much ! We climb up the back of Pavey Ark and then KA leads us on a bearing to what would be the checkpoint on Thunacar Knott. Another bearing fro here takes us to Martcrag Moor and a descent to cross Stake Pass. We follow the BG route up through Rossett Pike and then OCT route to Angle Tarn and Esk Hause.
The trod below Esk Pike is wet and trudge, despite it being dry for months...KA manages to go in ankle deep...messy Duck ! Then up to Ore Gap, visibility is still poor so we follow the main path to Bowfell and down to Three Tarns. Decision time, we nearly opt to head down the Band but decide to push on, just in case either of us do race. But again we follow the main path rather than trying to find the trod around the back of the Crinkles.
We find the main summit (and checkpoint) easily and then head towards the Bad Step, however, we skirt this on an intricate path that we both know. Then a contour and good running towards Red Tarn and the last climb of the day to Pike O'Blisco. The trods from here are obviously, it was Three Shires just a week ago, down to the cattle grid, campsite and back to ODG.
We're out for a long time, but we had both been out yesterday and conditions were not ideal and we needed to concentrate.
Then to Chester's for a late lunch.....delicious.
LDWA Lakeland Four Passes - Saturday 27th September 2014
Last ran this three years ago, with KA and RC back them just RC today. It's a great route and we decide on a plan to take it steady and enjoy the day.
From Rosthwaite we head down Seathwaite and then to the first checkpoint at Stockley Bridge. Weather is ok and I get to try out my new Inov-8 running shorts. Then on to Styhead and down to the second checkpoint at Wasdale Head. Russ gets into gear on the rough decent, no surprise there !
Then a long, steady climb to Blacksail Pass, two of four, and then down to remote Ennerdale and Black Sail Youth Hostel. It turns a bit wet here and we decide to put on jackets, this should make it stop and it does ! Up and over Scarth Gap Pass, a rough descent takes us to Gatescarth Farm, time to refuel. Sandwiches, rice pudding and fruit cocktail, just what I need to get me up and over Honister Pass.
Much to my surprise I bump into a work colleague from our Liverpool office on the climb, it's a small world. Russ picks up again on the rough descent to the pass...yes, we descend to the pass ! Quick running from here leads us back to Rosthwaite. 18 miles and plenty of climbing. A good day out, thanks Russ.
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