Pilates - Tuesday 31st May 2016

To Pilates tonight, hoping for an easy class but full on beasting of the quads ! And then I come close to falling asleep in the relaxation time......but it wasn't me that snored or, earlier in the class, that f@&!;d !!!

Bob Graham Leg 4 - Monday 30th May 2016

So the Helm Vet Ladies Billy Bland Challenge is fast approaching and I join Marie and Amanda, plus Chris, Billy and Lindsay, on a recce of Leg 4. Logistically this leg is never that easy to recce, we decide to park at Honister and run around Moses Trod and through Beck Head, and then the long rough descent to Wasdale. We are already in need of refilling bottles from the beck, it's a hot day, and water is very scarce on route. 

It takes the best part of two hours just to reach the start of the leg and then the 600m climb up Yewbarrow awaits us.....great ! It's had work going up here, the sun is beating down, we are guzzling our limited supplies of fluid and there is no breeze. But we climb well, and are pretty much on schedule at the top.

Then we're onto Red Pike, another long climb and even hotter. But all goes well, then out to Steeple and we pick up the trod under Black Crag to Wind Crag and climb to the summit of Pillar; a huge and impressive mountain. It's a long way to Kirk Fell and I lead us on a detour to find much needed water......boy that's refreshing.

Kirk Fell, then the big climb up Great Gable, that's a hulk of a fell, and soon the lower summits of Green Gable, Branbreth and Great Knotts pass. Then it's just a steep descent the Honister and much needed tea and coke. 

A cracking day out, a long and tough leg but a very worthwhile recce. 

Langdale Run - Sunday 29th May 2016

Original plan was to race at Helvellyn and the Dodds, but for various, and the right, reasons headed to a Langdale instead. Parked at ODG and steady run along track before tough climb to Stickle Tarn. 

Then to Thunacar Knott, Harrison Stickle, Pike O'Stickle, Rossett Crag and Bowfell.....on the BG route. A fanstastic day to be out, perfect visability and very hot, particularly in the valley. 

Brigsteer / Crook / Staveley Ride - Saturday 28th May 2016

Head out from home, across to Brigsteer, Levens, Brigsteer, Underbarrow, Crook, Staveley, Burneside and then home. A pleasant day to be out and I managed to avoid the idiot drivers that I have seen out on the roads recently !

Swim - Friday 27th May 2016

20 lengths for me today and no aggravation of my intercostals !

Sour Howes - Thursday 26th May 2016

Most of my day is spent either in the car or in meetings so by the time I get home I am keen to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. Still not running and need to be careful that I don't overdo it but a short fell walk should be ok. Park on Moor How Lane and head along track past Dubbs Reservoir and then up a wee ridge line to the summit of Sow Howes. 

I try to be clever in my choice of descent route, it partly works and I am soon back down on the track and it's just a short steady walk out to the Cali.  

River Walk - Wednesday 25th May 2016

No training for me tonight, so I settle for a pleasant, but chilly, stroll along the river.

Buttermere Walk - Tuesday 24th May 2016

So Bryn is en-tour and undertaking some serious recces of the Lakeland Ultra route; I'm seriously out of action, and gutted at this, but have no wish to let the man down.  So I head to Buttermere after work, some pub grub and then a wonder around Buttermere, a very pleasant evening. 

Once back I prepare for a long wait, crack on with reading my book and expect a Bryn style epic......but no, he rolls in fairly soon after, no fuss, no drama, no epic.......I'm almost disappointed but suitably impressed with his fitness, ability and, above all, dedication to the cause :-) Perhaps the epics are no more ?!

Canal / River Run - Monday 23rd May 2016

So I should be resting, but have a steady run along the canal / river with KA.....but I suffer, the intercostals are once again damaged :-(

Coniston - Sunday 22nd May 2016

So I have had an uncomfortable night, have once again damaged my intercostals. But intended to run today, some distance, and didn't want to let others down. So we decide on the Turner Landscape race route, starting from the bottom of the Walna Scar road.

But it only takes a few minutes of running for me to realise that I can't do this, we go our separate ways; I heard to Goats Water, Goats Hawse, Coniston Old Man, Brim Fell, Swirls How's and back a similar way; even this is not great and there's very little running. Probably shouldn't even have done this, and for lots of reasons wish I hadn't. 

Buttermere / Sailbeck Fell Race - Saturday 21st May 2016

Disappointed to not be running the Old County Tops race today, KA and I head to Buttermere for the Buttermere / Sailbeck race. This will be my third time, and previous times have not been good, weather issues with very serious and fatal consequences. 

It again feels ill-fated, as we pull into Buttermere, the rain is lashing down and conditions are far from ideal, but at least it's forecast to improve; and improve it does. The rain has stopped by the time the race starts and the cloud base has lifted. 

We run together, it's hard work over Ard Crags and then we dig in for the climb to Causey Pike. All is going ok until we come across another run who has fallen and banged his head. Others runners are with him, but it is the two of us who decide to stick with him and make sure he is ok. It's surprising just how quickly the cold sets in; we wrap him in his jacket and hat and gloves, and them both need to do the same. 

He is definitely dazed and these are not ideal conditions to be left alone. We stay with him and take a much steadier run to Crag Hill, Whiteless Pike and to the finish; we both felt this was the right thing to do, particularly given the past history of this race; it's always there for another day, and it's important that we are too. 

Swim - Friday 20th May 2016

A lunchtime swim, an empty pool and 20 lengths.

Scar Run - Thursday 19th May 2016

A lunchtime run from Sizergh Castle, joined by a four-legged friend.

Latrigg Fell Race - Wednesday 18th May 2016

I am keen to run this race, a new one for me. I head North, made easier by the border being open again, at last :-). It's a pleasant evening an ideal for a run on the fells, but this is not really a run on the fells, instead a mad 30 min blast !

But sort of good fun, but at the same time, it hurts !

I do ok, not a disaster but neither is it my best race, but I am content, especially as I have a chocolate ice cream post the race. 

Results

Pilates - Tuesday 17th May 2016

Back to my usual class, a good one tonight

Potter Tarn & Potter Fell - Monday 16th May 2016

So home from Scotland earlier than expected, meet up with KA and head over to Staveley for a run over Potter Fell. 

Out along the river, then up to Potter Tarn. A pleasant evening to be out, then climb higher towards the brow and cut off left to climb Potter Fell. Good to stretch my legs after the long drive, but hard to believe that when I woke I was wild camping at Loch Avon and then climbed a 4,000' mountain this morning. 

Cairngorm Trip - Saturday 14th, Sunday 15th & Monday 16th May 2016

So it's the big road trip North, with the lads; Russ, Craig and I head off to Cairngorm Ski car park in the X3, via breakfast in Tiso, Perth.

Journey goes well and we are soon parked up and I start faffing with my kit, what a surprise........

Eventually we head off, on the path towards the Coires; but actually we want to be on a different path and didn't fancy the detour to it so we head cross country - not sure that's a good start.

Anyway it works, we are soon on the path heading the Chalamain Gap and dropping down to Lairig Ghru. It's warm, the sun is strong and it's hard work on the climb to Braeriach, at 1296m....it's a biggy ! 

Cooler up here and my Rab lightweight softshell works a treat. We then follow the coire rims to Sgorr an Lochain Uaine (1258m) and then to Cairntoul (1291m). a relatively easy descent to the bealach and we drop sacks for the quick out and back to Devil's Point. 

It's then down to Corrour bothy, taking care on the snow at the head of the Coire; it's a busy place, a group of D of E's camping outside the bothy; we eventually spot a quieter pitch and share this with the D of E leaders.

A chilly night, so Craig tells me in the morning; my Marmot Plasma and Hilleberg Enan work a treat. After a leisurely start we head towards Ben MacDui but cut off south, again dropping packs, to climb Carn a'Mhaim (1014m). It's a cooler day and we are well wrapped up, it's good to be able to stop and make a brew every so often.

Then to MacDui, Britain's second highest at 1309m, we see a few people and again have a brew. The slopes from here leading down to Loch Etchachan are holding a lot of snow, but spikes and crampons not required as we run down the slushy slopes. Another out and back to Derry Caringorm (1155m) and then it's time to find a place to camp. It's Baltic at the Loch so we decide to drop to Loch Avon, via a quick peek at Shelter Stone.

Camp on the shores of the loch was idyllic but did not suit my tent, it relies on tension and the sand is not good for holding pegs firm. I am a little set back on a bumpy bit of grass, a shame really but still a great place to be; albeit the loch is flippin freezin....so I found out when I stripped off for an all over wash !

T'was a windy night but not as cold. We set off early, heading back to the car. Along the loch for a short way then climb Coire Raibert and onto Cairngorm summit (1245m). The weather station is frozen and has large icicles hanging. a quick descent through the jumble of ski paraphernalia and we are back at the car; quick change and then into Aviemore for a full cooked breakfast.

A great trip, thanks guys. 

Swim - Friday 13th May 2016d

So I've been at Rathbones for 15 years today, and to celebrate we all head to Hole'int Wall, Bowness for a curry and stodgy dessert.....delicious; bit of a trip down memory lane and how time flies !!

Anyway, hard to stay afloat at swimming tonight but I manage to survive 20 lengths. Now home and need to get sorted for my trip, heading to the Cairngorms early tomorrow.  

Pilates - Thursday 12th May 2016

A change of session as I couldn't make Tuesday; a good session with some interesting new moves and toys ! 

Cautley Fell Race - Wednesday 11th May 2016h

I head over to Cautley with KA; I have low expectations for this race, but it's a glorious evening to be out.......cool and breezy up high though. 

It's a fast start but the pace quickly slows as we head very steeply up Yarlside; I do ok, it's a killer though. Eventually the angle eases and I work hard to break into a run for the summit. It's then a fast, grassy descent to the top of Cautley Spout and a steady climb to the elaborate sheepfold. Then another steep climb, followed by a windy run to the summit of Great Dummacks. 

Here the fun really start, a very steep flagged descent, this hurts but is short-lived; soon running back along the track to the finish. I pleased with my time, just a minute slower than last year; could have been much worse. 

Results

London - Tuesday 10th May 2016

All work and no play; but would recommend the Churchill Arms in Notting Gate.

Training - Monday 9th May 2016

Training, on a Monday, not been there for a long, long time. Not really looking forward to it but, actually, not as bad as expected and I do ok. But need to get sorted and back to it.....ideally sooner rather than later. 

Not the Fred Whitton - Sunday 8th May 2016

Another glorious day; hot, sunny but breezy again too. Head out from Natland, to Arnside via: Crosscrake, Viver, Milnthorpe, Dallam Park and Silverdale; stop there for a much needed lunch and amazing to watch the tide come in......the awesome force of water. 

Then head back via Sandside, Heversham, Hincaster and then threw in the Levens loop too - gets us close to 35 miles. Oh, and a fizzy drink stop at Strickland Arms and got stung by a bee......I survived !  

BG Leg 3 - Saturday 7th May 2016

A long day, a tough day, and not a that great day. 

Up and out early but a late start; park at ODG and then a long run along Mosedale and up to the top of Rossett Gyhll; it's a hot day, humid and risk of thunder storms later. 

Then BG route to Bowfell, Esk Pike, Great End, Broad Crag, I'll Crag, Scafell Pike, Foxes Tarn, Scafell and descent to Wasdale. Revived by a can of coke, we then head up to Styhead, Sprinkling Tarn, Angle Tarn and back down Rossett Gyhll and along Mosedale. 

All tough going but surprised myself for finding a second wind on the return leg from Wasdale, it's a long way back ! And we escaped the stormy conditions, well at least the overhead ones ! 

Sizergh Run - Friday 6th May 2016

Head out at lunchtime, park at Sizergh Castle and head up to Helsington; a 5km loop x 2. Glorious day. 

Swim - Thursday 5th May 2016

Enjoy a very quiet 20 lengths in the pool at lunchtime today.

Howgills 13 - Wednesday 4th May 2016

Want to get some miles in so head to Sedbergh to run the Howgills 13 trail race route. Through Lockbank Farm, head left and then to the summit of Winder. From there, contour Arrant How and head to the Howgill's highest summit, The Calf. 

It's a glorious evening but a cool breeze which keeps us moving. A descent NE and eventually dropping down into Borrowdale. A descent of Cautley and then it's the long plod back along the valley, eventually we get to Sedbergh, a much needed cuppa is quickly made once back at the X3.  

Pilates - Tuesday 3rd May 2016

Hadn't planned to be here tonight as was due to be in Scotland; but always good to be in class, another good session. 

Fairfield Horseshoe - Monday 2nd May 2016

A crappy start to the day and not just because of the weather; having wasted the morning I head out at lunchtime for a run around Fairfield, at least I get the best of the weather. Chilly on the tops and the odd hail shower, but otherwise all ok and an uneventful Round; this is my 'default' fell run and I never tire of it. 

Potter Fell - Sunday 1st May 2016

A damp and gloomy day; I have little motivation but put on my running kit and head over to Staveley.  Suddenly I feel a little more motivated, not sure why, and run out along the river and up to Potter Tarn. Had thought of dropping down from here, but head up to the brow above Gurnall and then head up to Potter Fell and over to Brunt Knott; then a steady decent back to Mill Yard and a treat: coffee and croissant :-)

Some distance - Saturday 30th April 2016

Had hoped to race at Coniston but for various reasons, including it being short-coursed, I make other plans. Run from Elterwater, over Lingmoor, back of Blea Tarn, Little Langdale, Tilberthwaite, Hole Rake, Coniston, Monk Coniston, Tan How's, Black Crag, Skelwith, Elterwater - probably about 20 miles. A reasonable day, the high fells look stunning - Spring snow.