Sunday 4 October. Summer has gone, time to get serious.

The last two months have been a good re-introduction to running regularly again. Since the start of August and my return from holiday, when this madness of training for a mid-winter BGR started, I've averaged 11,500 feet per week of ascent, only twice dipping below the magic, fabled 10,000 per week mark that conventional wisdom dictates is a minimum training requirement for a big round. I'm not sure that it is but it shows i;ve been doing enough, so far...

That's the question that bugs everyone training for something: Am i doing enough? YOu know when you've done too much when you're injured or overtired. But confidence can leach away when you fear that job is hand is getting further away from you and not closer with each week. Last week's disaster at the Colwyn Bay XC was awful and made me feel, and look to others, like i was nowhere near BGR fit. But then i ran the Hellvellyn range on Tuesday from Threlkeld on the BGR leg 2 route in heavy rain and no visibility and a strong wind before turning back and coming back over the range to my car - all inside 5 hours, which is good going! THat's about 6700' and 14 miles.

The next day i did a shorter run in the same weather over the southern end of that range to re-tread some confusing ground and ran equally well, 3600' and 7 miles in 2:15 and in awful weather. I guess it proves that i'm good at what i'm training for and i should remember that...

11 weeks remain, and 2 of those will be tapering so i have to get in some 12 hour+ days sooner rather than later. Some real prospects on the job front have been good news and have taken much of my time, but still the need is there to push hard for a long time in the dark and in poor weather.

Time to get serious...

Week summary:

MOnday - rest
Tuesday - Helvellyn range from Threlkeld and back again! 15M, 6700'
Weds - Dollywaggon, Fairfield and Seat Sandal from Dunmail - 7M, 3600'
Thurs - 4M road, brisk 27:56, heavy legs but enjoyable
Fri - 7 Tattenhall railways, 2300' - felt good, ran them all from top to bottom
Sat - quick bike ride before Cath and NIck's wedding
Sun - recovery from wedding, real tired

Total - 12,600' ascent, <40miles + Bike ride

Tune in head - Uprising, Muse