An early ride - Saturday 8th October 2011

Up and out early today. Ride usual route around the Lyth valley, it's good to be out and I am lucky to get the best of the weather today....I stay dry !

Work..... - Friday 7th October 2011

A rare occasion.....work gets in the way today....no running and no ride :-(

Scar run - Thursday 6th October 2011

It is a cold, wet and windy day but there are occasional bright spells....do I feel luck ?

I park at Brigsteer Woods and no sooner am I through the gate and into the field I am blasted by a heavy and cold shower. The rain is hitting me horizontally, not nice !

But it is good to be out and running this route. The heavy showers continue but this won't stop me today....I only stop once, at my usual place.

Thereafter I press on, it is cold and I am glad of my hat, rumour has it that it was 27c here last week, not sure if to believe this or not. All weather conditions were thrown at me on this run, even hail stones...makes you feel alive though !

The last week of training on the Helm - Wednesday 5th October 2011

And what a night to be out.....it is cold, wet, windy and already getting dark. Russ devises a good little rep session working in pairs - this keeps us moving most of the time, not an evening to be standing around.

I work hard and run well. Then to Station Inn for a quick drink to celebrate (or commiserate) the last night on the Helm.

A run and a ride - Tuesday 4th October 2011

Have not run the canal / river route for a few weeks so decide to head out that way for a lunchtime run.

It is an easy route but hard work today, I manage to stay dry but it is a gloomy day.

Still dry after work so I head out for my usual Lyth valley cycle route - I really enjoy this and it is good to be back out on the bike. However, within a few weeks at the most it will be dark and I need to decide whether to risk the roads ! 

Track Training - Monday 3rd October 2011

Having run hard but not that long yesterday I decide to tackle the track session.

Two warm-up laps and then 8 full laps with a short recovery between each. I work hard and run well, it is good training.

Ian Hodgson Relay - Sunday 2nd October 2011

So me and Rick on leg 2 - it was an early start, I go to registration and then ferry cars and people to Hartsop for the start of the leg. Phil and Andy run leg 1 and come in in good time and looking wiped, Rick and I set-off at a pace, a fast pace and we are soon in over-taking mode.

We climb fast and hard towards the Knott, this is no longer a checkpoint and we skirt around the back on the path; we pass Russ, he takes pictures and gives support. It is windy and we head into the mist, we get to the first checkpoint on High Street and continue to run well towards the Beacon and get a good descent line to the Threshthwaite Mouth.

We are running well and then climb well again; however, it now goes pear-shaped, we get confused, we are not using a map or compass and soon realise we are going wrong; it takes a few moments to realise what we have done and where we are; we correct and get to the tarn - I am wound-up and angry at my complacency.

We descend well along St Raven's Edge and then drop steeply to the hand-over at Kirkstone. We live and learn by our mistakes....sorry guys !

Chris and Geoff take-over on leg 3 and then Garry and Rob on leg 4; we finish 5th Vet team and pick up a prize....I am surprised.

The ladies do great and come 5th, our A team also do well and finish in the top 10. My first run in the IHR, it is a unique and great day - thanks to the many Helm supporters that we see on course.