Kiruna - Thursday 6th August 2015

Another early start and another SAS flight, North to Kiruna, well inside the Arctic Circle. My race, the Tierra Arctic Ultra, is run in conjunction with the Fjallraven Classic; 2300 backpackers from 25 nations, so the registration is a hectic place but the small counter for the Ultra has no queue ! 

The place is buzzing, I engross myself in it and bump into Michel who led my trip on the Kungsluden Trail last year, he is guiding a group on the Classic. 

Time flies, I pitch my Nordisk Telemark (it feels at home in Scandinavia !), sort my kit, dine out and then set numerous alarms; I am paranoid about missing the bus at 4am, it's the only way of getting to the start of the race !

Heading to Sweden - Wednesday 5th August 2015

Client meetings and then an early evening flight to Stockholm; a comfortable flight with SAS and then an overnight stay at the Radisson Blu; not long now to the big race ! 

Pilates - Tuesday 4th August 2015

A good class and I get it; Rebecca really is good at this.

Strengthening Session - Monday 3rd August 2015

Head over to Ambleside to try Paul Tierney's Outdoor Fitness Class; he's just won the UTLD 100 so must know his stuff ! 

He does, a good session, focussing on posture and core strength. But I use muscles that I don't usually use and think I might feel this in a day or so ! 

Hope to be back for more soon. 

Coniston Fells - Sunday 2nd August 2015

Head over to Coniston for a run on the fells. It's claggy and muggy but the earlier rain has cleared. Up "Snakey" bank, onto Wetherlam, Swirl How, Brim Fell, Old Man of Coniston and decent via Goats Water. Then to Ambleside for tea and scones at Cafe Treff. 

Arnside Ride - Saturday 1st August 2015

Ride out from Natland to Arnside. Coffee and cake at the Sardine.....has to be done. 21 miles and recorded on Strava !

Thursday 2nd April - Friday 31st July 2015

So a long time off from my Blog and a lot to catch up on.

There have been good runs and not so good runs, good races and not so good races and good times and some not so good times - I will catch up but need to start fresh.

But I can't let this period pass without mentioning a few highlights:

• The Skye Trail (1st - 5th April) - a fantastic trip, great scenery and really good to spend the day walking with Dave Till and having with him, Niall and Jenny in the evening at the Slig (where I ate every evening of the trip - the backpacking never materialised but hitch hiking did !!).
• Loughrigg Fell race (8th April), one of the favourite short races - did ok, and the chips after always taste great. 
• 15th April - picked up my new car - X3....great car. 
• 18th April - Anniversary Waltz fell race: really enjoyed this, as I always do - a great Spring day too. 
• 25th April - 3 Peaks: a new race for me and grim a day. Still trying to get my fitness and endurance back, ran with KA, that really helped (both of us, I think). 
• 4th May - a Reece of Duddon with KA. 
• 11th May - ran with Bryn, work friend, who is competing the UTLD50, he suffered but went on to greater runs :-)
• 13th May - Caw Fell race, another new one for me; a glorious evening but the out and back route is not as easy as it might sound. 
• 16th May - Old County Tops; ran with old BG friend Paul Jackson; we were well matched and had a great day out. 
• 20th May - Cautley Fell race, a mini classic. 
• 21st - 23rd May - Fisherfield 5 (nee 6); a fantastic trip with Russ....oh and I compleated my Munro Round :-)
• 24th May - Helvellyn & The Dodds Fell Race; a great race and ran well. 
• 30th May - Grisedale Horseshoe race route and then to Nic & Charlie's wedding. 
• 6th June - a wild trip to Skye with KA (the weather was the wild part) and a shortened Trotternish Fell Race, much to both of our reliefs. 
• 10th June - Dockray / Great Dodd fell race - steady but much better weather than on Skye.
• 13th June - Howtown Fell race; a great route and ran well. 
• 15th June - out with Bryn again,a really enjoyable 24 miler from Kentmere to join the UTLD 50 where it crosses the Roman Road and then the race route back to Kentmere; he's really improved, all his hard work paying off. 
• 17th June - Gill Garth Gallop - a new race for me and not one that many people have heard of - no "Green Army" there, much to my delight. 
• 20th - LDWA Derwent Amble route and then mad dash to watch and support at Gummer's How. 
• 27th - 28th June - Lairig Ghru; one of my favourite races and, not surprisingly it's in Scotland; a good trip and race with KA. 
• 4th - 5th July - Saunder Mountain Marathon at Torver. A great weekend, ran with Craig and glorious overnight camp at Tilberthwaite. Came 9th in Kirkfell, a good result but could have done better. 
• 8th July - Reston Scar Scamper; not a great result but a good evening. 
• 9th July - a glorious evening walk up Helvellyn with the guys from work. 
• 12th July - long trail / fell run from Portinscale with KA. To Seatoller, Stockley Bridge, Seathwaite Fell, Glaramara and then all the way back to Portinscale - it wears us both out. 
• 15th July - a glorious evening run around Fairfield Horseshoe. 
• 19th July - Kentmere Horseshoe fell race; a new one for me and really enjoyed it, shame I couldn't have run a bit faster though. 
• 20th July - an evening run over Loughrigg. 
• 21st July - an evening run around Fairfield. 
• 24th July - a 12k run from Portinscale, over Catbells and back along the shores of Derwent. 
• 25th July - out to support Bryn on the 50; he did great 12hrs 30mins. :-)
• 26th July - 25k around Kentmere and Longsleddale, cold and wet !

Hibernot !!

And a few last words to finish; sadly Barney is no longer with us; a very tough decision to make, but the right one; the wee fella was suffering and that wasn't fair. He had a fantastic life, and I believe could have wished for no better. He was spoilt by us both and by his Grandparents, we all adored him.

Not a day goes by without my thinking about him; he is laid to rest in two of his favourite places and I try to visit one of them each week; he has fantastic views and I'm sure he's content there.

He was, and always will be, my best buddy :-)