Loughrigg - Sunday 22nd February 2015

I had hoped to get some distance in today but weather not great, so my B plan was for Loughrigg / Silver Howe Chase but given my twinge I pass on both. But I do head over to the race, the weather is grim, heavy wet snow and will be windy up high too. 

I respect the racers, tough conditions and a tough little rough too. For me, it's up to Lilly Tarn, Loughrigg, Loughrigg Tarn and back over the shoulder of Loughrigg. Some discomfort but could be worse, back at the race registration I cheekily use the showers and have some soup.....don't tell anyone and definitely don't mention the tea bags !!! 

Well done to the Helm racers, fortunately this is a low key race and, for once, we don't take-over but our ladies do well :-)

Ride - Saturday 21st February 2015

A glorious day but definitely chilly. Well wrapped-up I head out on bike from Natland - usual Lyth Valley route, not been this way for a long time. 

See Craig out training hard - but be tough after night shift. 

Small detour on the way back, we head into Sizergh Castle for a hot chocolate in the tea room - very nice :-)

Rest - Friday 20th February 2015

ditto !!!

Rest - Thursday 19th February 2015

Not much to say, it's not right and it's not fair !!!!!

Training - Wednesday 18th February 2015

First week back since my op and it doesn't go well. All day I have felt a twinge in my groin, perhaps just some scar tissue but it's uncomfortable. Well within the first few minutes I know things are not right, I stick it out to the Golf course and manage one rep but worry that I'm doing some damage. I head back, tail between my legs. Hopefully it's nothing serious, things have been going well, maybe just overdone it a bit. 

River / Canal Run & Pilates - Tuesday 17th February 2015

Have not run this route since early December, it's good to head out at lunchtime and run a steady 10.5k. It's tough going, legs still tired from Carnethy. 

Then after work head to Pilates; hopefully this will start to get easier, it has done before. 

Rest Day - Monday 16th February 2015

Legs not in a good way today so I rest them.

Potter Tarn & Potter Fell - Sunday 15th February 2015

It's a glorious day but unfortunately things don't go to plan and I heard out in my own in the afternoon. From Staveley I head along the river and then up to Potter Tarn and onto Potter Fell.  I manage to also include Brunt Knott and feel strong all the way round. No time for coffee and cake today, need to get home and complete some chores.  

Carnethy 5 - Saturday 14th February 2015

It's been a big build up for this race, Helm are set to dominate and aim to bring back the Claymore. This year is the 45th Anniversary of the race and a record 515 runners are competing in this mini classic; just 6 miles and 2,500' but it has it all. 

The majority of travel North in minibuses, KA and I decide on the comfort option and travel in the Quattro ! It's going to be a long day out, away at 8:30 and after a coffee and croissant stop, we are there soon after 11. The masses soon arrive and we take up our usual area in the school hall. 

As always, time passes quickly and we are soon on the bus to the start. Deposits my having said that its always freezing before the start, today it's not but no harm in having plenty of warm clothing. After just a brief warm up we are soon underway. 

Conditions are good, earlier low cloud has lifted and the route is obvious. The first climb is always tough, but I make steady progress and soon running towards Scald Law and then East and West Kip. Descend to the valley at the back and I'm not looking forward to the big climb up the back of Carnethy. Shaun is close behind me so I keep pushing hard, it's not as tough as I expect and I'm soon at the summit. 

I actually like the descent but the last few hundred metres across the field and through the boggy sections is tough. I finish in about 1:07, surprisingly only 1 minute slower than last year. Helm run well, the lads are in with a chance of the Team prize and KA is a credible 3rd in her category. 

Then coach back to the school and dive for the showers and the in to the canteen for school dinner ! This doesn't quite hit the spot, so it's fish and chips in Biggar on the way home. So we do win the Claymore and there is talk of this being shown off in Weatherspoons later, I opt for the early night option !

Results

Rest - Friday 13th February 2015

No running today, lunch at the Wheatsheaf instead :-)

Cunswick Scar - Thursday 12th February 2015

Just a short run out tonight; from Queens Road, across the golf course and a quick circuit of Cunswick. A good route but don't want to overdo it as it's Carnethy 5 on Saturday. 

Scout Scar - Wednesday 11th February 2015

Decide to have a run on Scar; across the race course and the usual circuit, across towards Helsington and then along the Scar to the mushroom. 

A good run out but must get back to training soon. 

Pilates - Tuesday 10th February 2015

Back to it, had tight I was only going to renew and start next week but there's space so I stay and complete the session. Well sort of, I've definitely lost a lot of strength and flexibility but it will come back, I'll just keep plugging away. 

Rest day - Monday 9th February 2015

A busy day at work and decide to give my legs a rest today. Did contemplate turbo trainer but garage, as well as the house, in a mess so don't bother.

Fairfield Horseshoe - Sunday 8th February 2015

A cold, misty and gloomy day - well in the valleys anyway !

Head over to Ambleside, need to stop for coffee and pastry first, and then to Rydal. No parking, so head back to the cricket pitch, this is useful and I will use this again. It gives a more gentle warm-up to the Fairfield Horseshoe. 

We are soon above the cloud, it's much warmer up there and the views are absolutely spectacular, a complete cloud inversion. Not much snow left and ice not much of an issue. We make steady progress, legs tired from racing last night. 

The views carry on being fantastic and it's a shame to drop back into the mist and colder air as we descend the last summit. A great route in great conditions.

Petzl Grizedale Nightrunner - Saturday 7th February 2015

Well that's the name of a race, the third in a series of three. Had entered a while back and was focussed on this being my first race since my op and, obviously, first race of the year. 

Only 10k and on good trails through the forest; well way marked and with my Silva Headtorch on full not issues finding the way. We head over early, register and get sorted, as always I take too much kit and too many shoes so deciding what to wear is always difficult. 

But it shouldn't be too icy and the trails are hard so I decide on my Salomon Speedcross, 3/4 length tights, Helly and Inov-8 Windshell. Oh and also wear my new Peak Performance headband, having been wanting to wear this for a while now :-)

Anyway back to the race, after a quick warm-up we head to the start, together With the other 261 runners; there will inevitably be a bottle neck through the first gate so I get to the front. Soon off, I go at a good pace and soon settle in to the race. But 10k's can be full on, and this one is no exception. 

For a circular route there seems a lot of uphill, but this is what I enjoy and sometimes keeping the effort up on the descents and flats is harder work. Considering the number of racers, I run on my own most of the way and in,y pass or get passed a couple of times. 

I am pleased with my race, 11th position and a time of 43:04. KA has a fantastic race, 19th overall and 2nd lady, so we need to stay for prize giving :-)

Then need food, shame nothing organised after the race so head to Zeff's for a pizza and beer - well deserved. 

Results

Scar Run - Friday 6th February 2015

Back on the Scar again, this time for a run at lunchtime. I'm more focussed today and really enjoy our route but don't overdo it, I have my first race of the year tomorrow !!

Scar Run - Thursday 5th February 2015

It's a struggle tonight, but eventually I get myself ready and drive up to the Scar. My legs are tired and I'm not fully focussed but I get on with it. Only out for about 50 mins; another cold and clear night. 

Orienteering - Wednesday 4th February 2015

Again it's cold and I join Russ for an orienteering event on the Helm. There no an overly friendly bunch but I can't let that put me off. 

So there is the option of one loop or two, actually there's not really an option, I'm hardly going to settle for one. 

I run with KA, we run well and navigate well. One loop is clockwise and then at the changeover we head anti clockwise. 

We finish in about 48 mins, a few mins ahead of Russ who also runs well. 

Results

Howgills - Tuesday 3rd February 2015

Another cold day and I plan and organise myself for a night run on the Howgills.

I park just along from the People's Hall and reluctantly take off my down jacket. I head up through farm and start on the Carnethy race route. I'm soon warm but actually don't regret wearing an extra layer. The climb up Crook is tough, patchy ice but not enough to need microspikes. 

Then on to Arrant How, again the climb is tough and as I approach the top the wind picks up; it's a Northerly again and with it comes some flurries of dry snow. My legs are suffering and mindful of ice, I decide to head straight to Winder and forgo the big descend and extra climb. Good running from the summit soon gets me back to my car and a very welcome cup of tea. 

 Good to be out on the fells in the dark.

Rest - Monday 2nd February 2015

Had planned to run either at lunch or after work, but didn't. Had planned, instead, to use turbo trainer this evening, but didn't. Perhaps the rest will do me good. 

Black Combe Fell Race Route - Sunday 1st February 2015

Another cold, clear and very windy day. A short aborted run towards Cunswick Scar from home sees me the travelling west to Silecroft and a recce of the Black Combe fell race. I have only run this once and had forgotten just how tough the climbs are, perhaps I was fitter then. 

But it's a great route, two tough climbs, one at the start, the other two thirds in, and that's the killer ! The views are again spectacular, the Isle of Man, Morcambe Bay, Southern Scotland no the whole of the Lakeland fells, all plastered in snow. 

From the summit, the running is great, a big horseshoe to White Combe and then a steep descent to the valley and a killer climb to the South summit of Black Combe; at least it's good running all the way from here to the finish. 

It's only 2c back at the car, so hot tea is good, as is the pint in Broughton on the way home. 

Potter Tarn - Saturday 31st January 2015

Out early for just a short run to Potter Tarn; again it is cold, very cold and now a real Arctic blast adds to the mix. Out along river, through the woods and up to the tarn; it's clear but icy in places, I'm glad of my Inov-8 Oroc's. 

Head back down the steep fields into Staveley and then straight into More for a bacon roll :-)

Howgills (Carnethy race route) - Friday 30th January 2015

I take the morning off and head over to Sedbergh to run the infamous Carnethy race route. There is snow on the ground but conditions are relatively good and the weather fantastic; it's hard work though and not getting any easier. 

But I get round and don't suffer afterwards; full English in Sedbergh certainly aids recovery !

Scout Scar - Thursday 29th January 2015

Another cold day with some snow on the low lying fells around Kendal. I head over to Helsington for a lunchtime run on the Scar. It's really cold and soon it's a blizzard, that's more like it. I love running in the snow and when it's snowing, so ideal conditions. A good route up and over the Scar, down and back up again (I know where I mean but not easy to explain); back at the cars I amazed that the road is covered in snow, as is my car; I decide against Brigsteer hill and instead opt for Whetstone Lane and back along the bypass. 

London - Monday 26th - Wednesday 28th January 2015

Three very full days in the big city, no time to run :-(

Potter Fell - Sunday 25th January 2015

It's a wet afternoon and I head over to Staveley for a run on Potter Fell. It's cold too, so we're well wrapped up. Out along river, through the woods and then up to Potter Tarn and onto Gurnal Dubs. It's wild up on Potter Fell and I'm glad we're no higher than this, but actually we go a few metres higher onto Brunt Knott; don't linger here, it's even wilder here, so head straight down and back to camper to change into dry clothes. 

A good run out though. 

Fairfield Horseshoe - Saturday 24th January 2015

So my first big outing, I decide on my favourite route. It's going be cold, breezy and plenty of snow and ice in the mix too.  But it's clear and dry so it looking forward to being back in the big fells again. 

I set off steady, slow to be more precise, but it's about getting round rather than breaking any record today. The views are stunning but it is seriously cold, I'm glad of my thick powerstretch tights and balaclava. Not many people about, maybe just as well given how icy it is, I where my microspikes from the first summit to the last. 

So I make it round in one piece, felt ok actually but definitely not quick.