Pilates - Tuesday 18th February 2014

Week 2 of Set 2, still seem to be enjoying this and perhaps starting to gain from it.

Cunswick WL Route - Monday 17th February 2014

Head out from home with Russ, down Windermere Road and the cutoff towards Golf course and pick up the Winter League route. We run steady and it's surprisingly mild, but the mud.....it's getting too much. A good run out and then a hose off at home, more wet kit. 

Arnside Ride - Sunday 16th February 2014

So after seeing Birthday Boy Barnus, he's now a teenager....hopefully not a terrible one ! :-) I head over to Natland and set off for a ride to Silverdale and Arnside. It's a pleasant afternoon, some blue sky and sunshine but still breezy and cool. 

Usual route and relatively uneventful, due to the ongoing austerity measures I don't stop for coffee in Arnside but instead call into Booths, Milnthorpe on the return route and grab my free hot drink and an Eccles cake, bargain refreshments !

Less than three weeks to my cycle holiday....not sure I'm getting enough miles in the saddle !?

Carnethy 5 - Saturday 15th February 2014

So the fun bus and the Quattro head North, a big day out for Helm runners, with over 20 of us going to the race. It's only short, 6 miles and 2,500' of climbing but has a great following; the race is always over subscribed and only (!) 600 are lucky enough to make the cut; this obviously reduces on the day and, I think, 503 were at the start line.

So after a very wet, sleety and snowy drive North we make it to Penicuik to register and take over a section of the school hall. Plenty of time to eat, get changed and decide on fell shoes......I should have only brought one pair it would be so much easier, but instead I have three pairs: X Talons, Orocs and Baregrips, all Inov-8 of course.  

Given how wet the ground is decide on the Baregrips, a very sensible choice.  The forecast was for the weather to clear in the afternoon and it certainly does, some blue sky, sunshine but still windy and cool. So we catch the bus to the start and setup our base camp, there is no way I'm taking my big jacket off until just before the start. 

A quick warmup, a cup of coffee and  numerous pees and the to the start line. I don't have a race strategy but am keen to feel better than I did this time last year, it went horribly wrong then and has never really recovered. I start steady, the first field is very wet and muddy and then into the climb. It's heathery and snowy but I am going ok and work hard to the first summit, Scald Law. 

Then fast running and very little climb to South Black Hill. Although it's breezy and cool I am too hot with my waterproof on so on the climb to East Kip off it comes. This is a short steep climb and then soon on to West Kip, all is going well, not overly fast but enjoying it and not feeling rubbish. 

The descent from here is treacherous, wet grass, slushy snow and some mud too but the Baregrips, grip. I catch and pass Shaun and then dig in for the fast flat running before the last big climb, Carnethy. This goes ok, the weather is kind and the views to the Firth and Edinburgh are fantastic. From the last summit I descend well, running down the scree and really enjoying this. Even the run across the field at the end goes well. 

So not my quickest time, perhaps even my slowest but I feel good and have enjoyed the race; this must surely be the first step to my racing becoming competitive again. The Club runs well and we are 4th Team.  Back to the school (eventually) and showers followed by school dinner in the canteen, all good fun.

Having been patient on the drive North I decide not to stick with the bus on the way home, we have a good journey....a long day out but good fun. 

Report and results:

http://www.carnethy.com/#February

Rest day - Friday 14th February 2014

So Carnethy race tomorrow and a busy day at work, so it becomes a rest day.

Canal / Scar Run - Thursday 13th February 2014

I head out mid evening, a bit later than expected. It's going to be muddy, and probably windy and probably wet too....it is !

Head out from Natland, down to Hawes Bridge along the canal path to Sedgwick, then upto the Strickland Arms and then to Sizergh Castle. Actually it's not too wet and it's been windier, but the mud is....muddy !

Then to Helsington, towards Scar and then to Brigsteer Road and Whetstone Lane. More muddy paths to Prizet and then road back to Natland. A very good run out. 

Training - Wednesday 12th February 2014

So another big storm blows in, this one worse than the ones before; 100mph winds forecast and more torrential rain.....so I head out to training. 

For the first time ever I actually wear waterproof leggings for the run to QKS. Running up my drive is a bit like being on a treadmill, a lot of effort but very little progress !

We head to the golf course, 5 reps on the track; not fully into the wind, more side on but both on the ups and the downs. The rain is horizontal and it actually gets windier on every rep. It's a relief to finish and head home; soaked, cold and battered.....another good session and, for a second week in a row, I do ok.