Wansfell Fell Race - 27th December 2015

Took a while to decide on plans for today but eventually come to the conclusion that it would be good to race at Wansfell, but may well regret that tomorrow. 

First stop Epicentre in Ambelside, quick chat with Kate and need to get an essential piece of kit ! Then bump into Julie, who I first met when camping at Stickle Tarn earlier in the year. And the to the race !

It's a popular race, and popular with Helm too, but also brutal, straight up and straight back down, nowt in between and the ground is sodden...will be fun !

Anyway, on with the race; I start steady but strong and climb well, even passing Jonny and a few other Helm runners just below the summit; but then descending is not my strong point, I am soon passed by Jonny and those other Helm runners, plus a few others ! It's steep, wet, muddy and very slippery. I do ok and finish strong on the last road section.

Results awaited.

Then after a quick soup I head out again, up to Loughrigg via the race route and back via Lilly Tarn; a steady pace and hopefully this will have helped my legs after that torturous decent ! 

Boxing Day - Saturday 26th December 2015

Craig, Russ and I head out; original plan had been for Fairfield but forecast is dire, again, amber and even red rain / flood alerts. But actually is not as bad as that and we opt for our B plan, rather than our C plan.  

So to Ambleside and a steady run over the Loughrigg / Silver Howe race route. It is wet and even wetter underfoot, but little wind and not particularly cold either. We make good progress, all keen to burn off the excesses of yesterday, and are soon trying to pick up on Russ's intimate knowledge of the Bermuda Triangle section below Silver Howe; I make some mental notes although it's not clear yet whether this race will run in 2016. 

We are soon heading back, and after the sting in the tail of re-ascending Loughrigg, we head out to Lilly Tarn, the only non out and back section.  A wet and muddy descent soon brings us back to Ambleside and we enjoy coffee and mince pies in the pouring rain ! Wot no Cali !! Then to the Eagle for a well deserved pint. 

Christmas Day - Friday 25th December 2015

It's Christmas Day, but that's no reason not to get out for a short run; head up to Scar, only out for 30 minutes but feel good and makes me feel better about the food I will consume later !

Then a bit later, a short walk up Helm to chat to my best buddy, and to wish him a Merry Christmas....still miss the wee fella so much :-(

River / Canal Run - 24th December 2015

Finished work at lunchtime and had a quick run along river and back along canal; footbridge officially closed, wished I had known that, might have been a more successful run. Dry but very muddy. 

Training - Wednesday 23rd December 2015

With Russ's group tonight for a training session on the Castle. It's hard work, it's very slippery but dry, which is unusual, cooler and breezy. A good session, I work hard and feel good. Thanks Russ. 

Swimming - Tuesday 22nd December 2015

Despite the floods, again, I make it to the leisure centre at lunchtime for a swim; just 20 lengths in an empty pool :-)

Christmas Light Run - Monday 21st December 2015

I join Yvonne's group for the annual Kendal Christmas lights run. A circuit of the most spectacular lights in town, fortunately a steady run and I still feel good after my big race.