tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65474188486046244252024-03-21T11:01:48.688+00:00In the bleak midwinterAt 8pm on Friday 18 December 2009 I'll be setting off from Keswick's Moot Hall on a winter Bob Graham Round. I did the round in summer 2007 and absolutely bloody loved it. Recent redundancy means time on my hands and a chance to get fitter than I've ever been. What better way to make the most of that than a coveted mid-winter BGR?!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-17734312872456957362009-12-27T10:20:00.009+00:002010-01-01T23:48:29.714+00:00Post script: Recovery and reflectionI wanted to write the midwinter round up in such a way as to celebrate what we did. and rightly so. I think the write up of the round (the post beneath this one) reflects the difficulties and the spirit of that amazing day.<br /><br />But I don't want to hide from the fact that I didn't get under 24 hours, nor do I want to miss out on the small-ish window of time where the memory is fresh enough to capture what could have been done differently on that day to perhaps enable me to dip underneath 24 hours.<br /><br />I also want to finish this blog by reflecting on what I might do next...<br /><br /><strong>So, what did I learn?</strong><br /><br /><strong>Lesson one - Choosing the right shoe when the ground is hard</strong><br /><br />I did the round in 2 pairs of Innov8 x-talons. One old pair for leg one which I knew were going to be soaked during the Caldew river crossing, and a new pair (worn for one long run only beforehand) for the rest. I chose them for their grip mainly - their sticky rubber being perfect I thought for the likely challenges of ice and snow covered grass and rocks. <br /><br />What I have learned is that winter conditions like those I had means the ground is hard all the way round. X-talons, even a new pair, offer next to no cushioning and support (that's not what they are designed for) and all the hard ground on the typically downhill runnable sections means that your quads are having to deal with quite a lot more impact on each step than in the summer, when much of the impact is dissipated through the softer ground. All of that extra impact adds up.<br /><br />I should have worn my Roclites, which are slightly more cushioned and whose grip would have actually been fine. They are a great shoe for longer stuff. In fact I did much of my training in Roclites and should have kept faith with them.<br /><br />I think this went some way towards my bad patch on the descent from Scafell, something I'm not sure I fully recovered from afterwards.<br /><br /><strong>Lesson Two - The cold just slows you down</strong><br /><br />I rarely felt cold on the round, despite the minus plenty temperatures. But I was breathing in cold air continuously. The temperature never went above freezing throughout and the cold air you inhale means your body has to work harder to keep you warm. A buff or face mask may have helped but there was never going to be much I could do about this.<br /><br /><strong>Lesson Three - Take warm drinks on the hills, not just at the road crossings</strong><br /><br />I knew that I'd need more calories on a winter round than a summer round. I like to try and get calories from the drinks as well as the food, and the 4:1 sports drink is something I tend to get on well with. So, I took plenty of it with me on the hills. <br /><br />On every leg, the bottles started to freeze. This meant that shards of ice were forming inside the bottles and I was drinking them. Not only did this chill me from the inside, it unsettled my stomach, esp on leg 2 and 3 when temperatures were really low. This meant I was reluctant to ingest anything, food or drink, and this is not good news when on a 24 round. I did not eat or drink enough and I felt ill for long periods - and that took its toll.<br /><br />What I would have loved was a warm cup of tea or soup. I should have ensured we had a half litre flask or two on each leg. It would have been easy to get a pacer to run ahead, pour it out and wait for me to catch up and swig it. It would have been better for mind and body. Seems obvious now but I decided to drink hot drinks at the road crossings only and this was not enough. <br /><br /><strong>Lesson Four - Play to the strengths of your supporters on the hill</strong><br /><br />Putting your less quick runners (albeit runners with terrific mountain experience) on leg one when you are fresh to ensure you don't go out too fast doesn't work and isn't fair on them. It's leg 5 where you need a steady hand and someone who wouldn't be afraid of telling you straight that you're falling back on schedule but can also encourage you with humour and a bit of compassion. You shouldn't 'waste' them on leg one. Leg one is best for people who are pretty quick and are willing to act as packhorses. Richard and Clive were perfect for leg five and I should not have put them on leg one (as it was, Clive did leg five too and proved my point, he was terrific!). <br /><br />I also should not have asked clive to run leg one and do broad stand. As it was, he wasn;t feeling great after leg one and i'm so glad he didn;t go and set up BS. But that was too much to ask. I was staggered, in a good way, when Clive arrived at Honister to do leg five. Looking forward to supporting him on his round this summer.<br /><br /><strong>Lesson Five - Plan your rest stops as much as your time on the fells</strong><br /><br />Alison and Rob were brilliant as road support - they were where i needed them to be, when i needed them to be there and with food and drink to hand. But i hadn't given them a list of exactly what i needed to do. I relied upon myself to remember and sort it myself - silly. I wanted to take pruffen at each one and forgot at all of them which i'm sure would have helped. I wanted to change socks and base layer. I should have had a selection of food that i;d tried, but i didn't. Rob and Alison were great, but i didn;t think enough about what i needed from them to get the most out of their efforts. So they put everything out that i gave to them and I winged it. I should have given them a checklist - take pruffen, change socks/top, replace batteries in torch/GPS, replace gloves/hat if used on previous leg, provide food/drink etc etc. I didn't and the rest stops were more more stressful for me that they should have been.<br /><br />So, plan your rest stops meticulously.<br /><br /><strong>What next?</strong><br /><br />I'm still not sure how i feel about those extra 22 minutes. Perhaps I could go again before the end of February to get a winter round in under 24 hours? OK it's not midwinter, but I'm content that I've done a tough mid-winter round. But it's an itch I might have to scratch one day....<br /><br />Problem is, I don;t want to drag loads of supporters up there again. It could take the pi55 a bit with people. I'm also really taken with the idea of a solo round. I love the idea of having a big, solo day out on the hills.<br /><br />I like big days out alone, looking after myself. I loved the support i had for both my BGRs but solo seems to be the next step. <br /><br />On balance, the appeal of doing a solo round is much stronger than re-doing a winter round and finding those 22 mins. I think doing another winter round would potentially detract from the achivement of the mid-winter epic that is still leaving me feeling pleasantly tired of an evening. I loved that day out and wouldn't want to just try and repeat it. <br /><br />Problem is, if i'm fit, and there's a mild period of benign weather towards the end of February, could I resist the lure of sneaking in a solo sub 24 hour winter round?<br /><br />Hmmm, not sure...<br /><br />But why the BGR, again?<br /><br />I could do the Paddy Buckley, the Ramsey, the Ultra Trail Mont Blanc? There's a big wide world out there. <br /><br />I may well end up doing those things, but i;m a sucker for the lakes. It's always been and will always be my favourite place. <br /><br />There's Steve Parr's 2500' summits round, a 36 hour epic i like the look of. Maybe i could do that as a build up to something even bigger. For me, the ultimate goal would be to do the Wainwrights in one continuous trip, a la Joss Naylor. I couldn't hold a candle to him of course, but I've always liked the idea of that trip as a multi-day epic. <br /><br />I'm not sure that's one for 2010 though, i think a number of 24 hour rounds need to be bagged before I can contemplate that.<br /><br />I do like the idea of the Paddy Buckley, esp as it's closer to home (the Carneddau are an hour from my house). Perhaps I could do a solo BGR in the late winter/spring as part of the build up to a summer PBR. Then maybe the Steve Parr round in 2011 and the Wainwrights in 2012? <br /><br />That could work....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-43145312851391607702009-12-22T09:34:00.039+00:002009-12-28T20:15:44.299+00:00In the Bleak Midwinter - the Story of the Round, 18/19 December 2009<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOcqiD1pTtO8PrvOFiDzhWGpE6Mk5RBu39kz9FL8xF4fBEqSDsTsO9ikM6FLZXoiOn0bpsrmMLjK0pM63bKX_5ISwbmSgGeyEPR0i8ABhG_xzrvuUSgjefSqGcJgeyOH17tXTtUsj_M0/s1600-h/BW+leg+3+scafell+pike+summit%23.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEOcqiD1pTtO8PrvOFiDzhWGpE6Mk5RBu39kz9FL8xF4fBEqSDsTsO9ikM6FLZXoiOn0bpsrmMLjK0pM63bKX_5ISwbmSgGeyEPR0i8ABhG_xzrvuUSgjefSqGcJgeyOH17tXTtUsj_M0/s400/BW+leg+3+scafell+pike+summit%23.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418192810077297154" /></a><br /><strong>The final strides towards the summit of Scafell Pike. Temperature: -14 Celsius, approx. From here on, things changed...</strong> Photo - Bob Wightman<br /><br /><strong>Failure?</strong><br /><br />I suppose the purist in me should be reporting a failure - a completed mid-winter round, but in a slovenly, non BGR-club compliant 24 hours and 22 minutes. I guess what this account should place emphasis upon is why I didn't make the time and to provide some kind of lessons learned report.<br /><br />But this isn't a project. It's an intense physical and emotional experience. It also contained the achievements and successes of many people. Now is not the time for some kind of post-mortem. It was one hell of a day and it's worth recording and celebrating. That's what this account is going to do - to celebrate a brilliant day, shared with many brilliant people - old friends and new.<br /><br /><strong>Leg One - Keswick to Threlkeld. @8pm - midnight. 13 miles, 5200' ascent</strong><br /><br />Summits - 3 - Skiddaw, Great Calva, Blencathra<br /><br />Support - Clive King, Simon Martland, Richard Kenworthy<br /><br />You know you're in for something of a day when two complete strangers wander up to you and ask with incredulity whether you're about to do the Bob Graham. Yes, now. Today. In a minute in fact. Yes really. I'd been trying to hide the enormity of the prospect from my brain and just focus on Skiddaw, the first ascent. That was blown out of the water when the two guys wandered off towards the pub shaking their heads in disbelief. It was here at last.<br /><br />It was also cold. Minus 2 in the car in Keswick and dropping by the second. I knew that standing around was the last thing I should be doing and so with my support team of Richard, Clive and Simon all present and correct, we set off at 7:53. No point hanging around until 8pm. Adjust your schedules accordingly....<br /><br />We moved through the streets of Keswick, towards the Fitz Park footbridge (thankfully open after the floods) and away to Latrigg. I was taking it pretty easy, walking the ups and jogging the rest. It was getting colder as we climbed, but I was working up quite a sweat. I noticed that my pacers were also getting a little hot and bothered.<br /><br />25 minutes and we were at the car park below Skiddaw - an easy pace. As we moved towards the first, formidable climb up Jenkin Hill on Skiddaw, we split quite quickly. It grew colder and Clive was hanging onto me and feeding me drinks. Simon caught up at the fence but Richard seemed to be struggling a little. Was the pace too hot? I'd asked these guys to keep me on a four hour pace for leg one, a slow, steady start. I was worried I was doing too much at the start.<br /><br />We reached the top of Skiddaw after 82 minutes and it felt very easy to me. We regrouped and jogged off the summit in search of that trod on Hare Crag. Navigationally, this is the key to leg 1. I was worried about Richard, who I feared we would drop, and I didn't want anyone on their own in this cold on these hills. So, we agreed he would miss out calva and meet us at the river crossing point at Calva's base, a point that I knew he had stored in his GPS. This also had the advantage of giving us a light to aim at when coming off Calva through the heather.<br /><br />Off we went up Calva and made that summit just 40 minutes after leaving skiddaw. It was very cold. Wasting no time, we moved down the heather towards the big bend in the Caldew where it's easiest to cross. I hoped that Richard would be there waiting for us. As we approached, it was clear that there was no light to guide us in. My GPS got us bang on to the bend in the river and the shouting started in trying to locate Rich. Thankfully, we saw his light approaching. He looked a little way off and so I asked of Simon and Clive, "Who's got the food?". Clive had it and so we two pushed on towards Blencathra. I was worried about Richard and was glad that Simon agreed to wait for him. I was looking back every few steps, craving to see their two lights moving together towards us - a sign that all was ok. Duly, this happened and I knew we didn't have to stop and help, something that would always take priority over a 24 hour round. If Simon had have indicated a problem I'd have gone to Richard's aid in no time - no round is so important that to put your friends at risk. It turns out that Richard's chest was playing up and he was just having a bad day (night!). We'd done the leg together before and I knew he was up to it but it was one of those occasions. I'm grateful for Rich for being prepared to come out and help when he was struggling (runners are the worst people to admit things are up in advance) and I'm very grateful to Simon Martland, who was terrific in helping Richard complete the leg half an hour behind us.<br /><br />Clive and I pushed on up Blencathra at a good pace. Clive was working hard but I kept telling him that this was the last climb and he was moving well. He fed and watered me well, even though he seemed on his limit. <br /><br />As we moved past the top of Mungrisedale Common, the starscape just blew us away. The ground flattens a little for a time and a track helps progress, so we turned off our headtorches and just gorped at the stars as we walked. I have never seen a night sky so festooned with stars and galaxies. It was bitterly cold, but I felt priveleged to be out in this.<br /><br />Blencathra drew nearer and the steep climb towards the top provided a scary moment. Clive paused to lose a layer as his Buffalo was baking his torso, despite the cold. He was working hard. I pushed on and as I reached the summit, I looked up to see no clive and no light. A little wisp of clag parted us and I worried that I'd conspired to lose all three pacers! I saw his light - and he has a really posh expensive headtorch (version 4 of something most gear freaks seemed to have version 2 of, more than that I could not tell you!). I shone my light towards him and shouted but he could not see me. I jogged back down a few yards and there he was, plodding upwards looking resolute. As soon as he saw me, he offered me food and water. He was looking tired but still was pre-occupied with my welfare.<br /><br />Blencthra's top was even colder, and there was plenty of ice underfoot. I decided that Hallsfell Ridge, the direct route down, would be unsafe in the dark, and so we jogged along to Doddick Fell, a parallel ridge down which is a little longer but much safer. I enjoyed this descent and found it effortless. Clive was still feeling a little hot but got down ok. I was still worried about Simon and Richard and suspected they were finding an easier way off the mountain (in fact they took the same route as us, just a way behind us). <br /><br />Arrival in Threlkeld was odd. I was baking hot and yet everyone was wrapped up well. It was good to see my terrific supporters for sure. As they emerged from their cars, they reported a temperature of minus 6 in Threlkeld. Heaven knows what that meant for the tops. Clive pulled alongside me and his leg one was done. He looked tired but had done a good job keeping me company.<br /><br />I changed shoes and socks, had tea and rice pudding and was soon on my way. I felt good. I wanted an easy paced leg 1 - something around 4 hours. We did it, detour and all, in 3:55. Part of me wished it was faster, but with the fast trio of Peter Taylor, Simon Ellis and Ian Lancaster ready to take me on a starlit tour of the Dodds, I realised that a leisurely leg one was no bad thing as speed would not be lacking over the next four hours.<br /><br /><strong>Leg 2 Threlkeld to Dunmail Raise. Midnight - @0430. 16 miles, 6200' ascent</strong><br /><br />Summits - 12 - Clough Head, Great Dodd, Watson's Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise, White Side, Helvellyn Lower Man, Helvellyn, Nethermost Pike, Dollywaggon Pike, Fairfield, Seat Sandal<br /><br />Support - Ian Lancaster, Simon Ellis, Peter Taylor<br /><br />Once we moved onto the marshy ground below Clough Head, moving at a good rate and with food and drink easy to hand, it felt like the round was starting in earnest. Leg one was about getting through intact and roughly on time. Leg two was about getting to Dunmail in good shape with at least a little time in the bank.<br /><br />So as we moved along, I felt good, like I was getting used to the cold. That north face of Clough Head is always pretty cold but it seemed ok. Simon and I chatted as we climbed, Peter and Ian chatting behind us. It felt easy, but not that easy, like I'd moved up a gear from leg 1 but there were several gears left.<br /><br />As we gained more and more height and reached the upper reaches of Clough Head, I was feeling really confident. Just as I felt like i was adjusting to the increasingly cold weather, I suddenly felt really hot in my chest. Just as I was about to panic, I heard my phone ring in my chest pocket! At just before 1am. I dutifully answered it. It was Wayne Percival, a friend of Simon's who I had never met but was willing to walk from Honister to Black Sail later on and provide some food. He was ringing to check I was actually going ahead with this so he could set off from Warrington with certainty! I said yes, even though Black Sail on leg four seemed a long long way off, too far off to comfortably think about.<br /><br />Clough Head summit came after a tough climb, not flat out but not easy either. We topped out there 50 mins after leaving Threlkeld which I thought was good going. I ate plenty of food at the road stop and on the way up and as we ran from the top of Clough Head, I started feeling sick in my stomach. I asked Ian, Simon and Pete if we could walk some of the down to Calfhow Pike as I was getting bad stitch. I figured we could borrow a minute or two of the time we gained on Clough Head. So, walking a down that would normally be run and then climbing Great Dodd at a steady pace, I expected to be well outside the 29 min split. I was amazed to find that we were inside it, just by one minute, but it was an encourgaing sign that I was going well.<br /><br />The Dodds and other summits on that lofty ridge came and went with no difficulties. It was the most serene section of the whole round. The three guys were feeding and watering me and we made up time on the schedule. The water was feeling colder and colder. Ice appeared in two of the bottles and it started playing havoc with my stomach again. As we climbed Fairfield, I had a mini bad-patch. I felt ill rather than tired, and wanted to just throw up. I drank some of Ian's bottle, which he had stored inside his sack and not on the outside. It was warmer and I felt a bit better after that. We pushed up that climb and despite the dodgy stomach, I was up there in schedule time, despite a slowish, slippery descent from Dollywaggon and an iffy stomach. This meant I was still going well.<br /><br />Descending Fairfield was fun, the usually loose scree all frozen together and making for harder ground but faster running. I started thinking of Dunmail and more rice pudding. I couldn't face the idea. Food was what I needed, but the last thing I wanted, something which can be really dangerous. I felt sick again. I'd also gone a bit quiet, which Ian had noticed and we all upped the conversation somewhat over Seat Sandal. That climb seemed to go well and we picked up a decent line off towards Dunmail. Despite not finding the trod on the west ridge until some way down, we made good progress and I was sad in many ways that leg 2 was coming to an end. The lights on Dunmail were unmistakably for us and despite having a very cold, efficient, successful leg, it was good to sit in that chair.<br /><br />Arrival at Dunmail was presented with a surprise. My big brother Graham, and fiance Rachel were there as surprise supporters! Graham has no idea about the whole fellrunning thing really, never mind a 24 hour, mid-winter round. I'd never even met Rachel. And yet there they were! It was a real boost, more so for I was feeling fit, albeit a bit sick. They'd driven up from Derby, slept in their car and waited in the middle of nowhere for my arrival. It was brilliant. This was to be a day full of people going the extra mile, Graham and Rachel included. They got in there, got cold, got to know everyone, helped me and helped the helpers....thanks Bruv...<br /><br />A bit of food was forced down. I was not feeling good. It was time for the toughest leg, Dunmail to Wasdale. After over eight hours out and with 28 miles and 11,000 feet climbed, there were still three hours of darkness to go before sunrise somewhere near Rossett Pike. I had no choice to push the bad feelings to one side and to move. I was getting cold, everyone else looked freezing, and there was one hell of a job to be done.<br /><br /><strong>Leg 3 Dunmail Raise to Wasdale. @0430 - 1100. 18 miles, 7000' ascent (when done via Foxes Tarn)</strong><br /><br />Summits - 15 - Steel Fell, Calf Crag, Sergeant Man, High Raise, Thunacar Knott, Harrison Stickle, Pike o'Stickle, Rossett Pike, Bowfell, Esk Pike, Great End, Ill Crag, Broad Crag, Scafell Pike, Scafell<br /><br />Support - Dave Hindley, Alan Lucker, Will (sorry mate, never asked for your surname!), Bob Wightman, Ian Charters<br /><br />Leg 3 is a long way and can break many a BGR. It's important to have good support, especially when half of it is going to be done in the darkness.<br /><br />I had arranged support with a mixture of people I knew and people I didn't. All were keen to help. Because of the perils of injury, I was now facing a leg supported by people that I had either barely or never met. When my support fell through for leg 3, I turned to the FRA forum for help, and Ian Charters, Alan Lucker (who bought his mate Will) and Bob Wightman (he of the BGR website and general all round oracle) jumped to my aid. Dave Hindley was already down to help, but I didn't know Dave that well either. I was so chuffed and grateful to them all, but here now, at 0430 with a critical period ahead, was it too risky a move to entrust this leg people who I didn't know?<br /><br />Short answer was no, it was not risky - I was in excellent hands. Everyone on that leg was more than competant in the mountains, and they were all good souls to boot! Ian Charters and I had met in much warmer circumstances on the Lake District Mountain Trial when we both overheated somewhere around Seathwaite Tarn. We're also both serial bloggers (see link to Ian's blog on the right hand side of this one). Alan I'd never met, but we had a mutual aquaintance in Simon Ellis, who reassured me that Alan was top draw, being a veteran of the BGR, Ramsey Round and the Ultra Tour de Mont Blanc. It helped that he was a cracking lad too, as was his mate Will who joined the party. Bob Wightman had also volunteered to join us via the FRA Forum. He is the BGR oracle, some would say (not him though, far too modest!). His <a href="http://bobwightman.co.uk/run/bob_graham.php">website</a> is the source of advice, information and his famous schedules which capture the learning from umpteen previous rounds. I felt like I was in illustrious company, despite not knowing any of these lads too well. Dave Hindley is a mate of my good friend Dave Sykes from Tattenhall Runners. Dave's a top bloke who is aspiring to do a summer round in 2010 having failed to make it in 09. <br /><br />That steep and sharp climb up Steel Fell was a time for introductions. It was weird, but not unpleasant to be doing this on your own round. It certainly took the edge of that horrible pull up Steel Fell to the ridge - a 1000' grind up a steepening grassy slope.<br /><br />As we moved, I was worried that these guys would feel my pace was too slow. Sure enough, two of them ran off ahead and I feared frustration would set in for them. It turned out of course that I had no cause to worry. Alan and Will were simply pathfinding on that stretch between Steel Fell (which we ascended bang on schedule) and Calf Crag and beyond to Sergeant Man. They were brilliant in those darkness hours in showing the way, filling water bottles at opportune streams and being damn good to have on a round.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HinkiGMrmZ9sO2-sfjR-yPixSXkRpBqHx7RMH-D5OXc3vp3rlembKkCTFF6x578cuudHr6SHp5yVNnE5ZaS52FFFE_DV0p1vZYYo4go2mtoJOu8-Szn39pO6wKSrBD-DLoz7dBt4RHk/s1600-h/IC+stream+xing+leg+3.bmp"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-HinkiGMrmZ9sO2-sfjR-yPixSXkRpBqHx7RMH-D5OXc3vp3rlembKkCTFF6x578cuudHr6SHp5yVNnE5ZaS52FFFE_DV0p1vZYYo4go2mtoJOu8-Szn39pO6wKSrBD-DLoz7dBt4RHk/s320/IC+stream+xing+leg+3.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419183686765126258" /></a><br /><strong>Gathering some chilly streamwater early on leg 3.</strong> Photo - Ian Charters<br /><br />I was feeling fairly numb for the darkness section of leg 3, until Harrison Stickle at least - not good, not bad, just able to move well enough without too much strain. The group got a little ahead of me coming off Harrison (most missed it out and went to Pike o'Stickle) although Alan stayed with me. At least I think it was Alan. This was the problem. I didn't know who anyone was! Whoever it was was great and escorted me to Pike o'Stickle, still some way back from the group. I could see them waiting at the start of the section to Martcrag Moor and so Alan and I climbed Pike o'Stickle's last few rocky, scrambly and entertaining few metres. The ice was increasingly evident and we needed to take a little care getting off. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv0av091v9WkTnFUkIsW2VDfmAkIOUTDPxQmb2q1OOGwmwVSWrhAsq6S9pPsEZ8rAvvmbgACJoTv5ZjcJGhYqV9CToecWhRsL-BXR2UW0m2IZlpnECED5E1Klt2hOu2iTEDJijxAQdJM/s1600-h/AL+leg+3+ascending+Pike+o+Stickle.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv0av091v9WkTnFUkIsW2VDfmAkIOUTDPxQmb2q1OOGwmwVSWrhAsq6S9pPsEZ8rAvvmbgACJoTv5ZjcJGhYqV9CToecWhRsL-BXR2UW0m2IZlpnECED5E1Klt2hOu2iTEDJijxAQdJM/s320/AL+leg+3+ascending+Pike+o+Stickle.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419199211868936946" /></a><br /><strong>Climbing Pike o'Stickle, still in the dark.</strong> Photo - Alan Lucker<br /><br />We caught the waiting group and I felt slow. Not a bad patch exactly, just a lowreing in confidence perhaps. Bob soon announced that I was halfway (I always thought Rossett Pike was halfway, although we were on our way there so I'm splitting hairs). You'd think this would make me feel better, as though a milestone had been reached but I felt ill at ease. Why? I ran along Martcrag Moor, for once a joyful place to run for being frozen (it's usually an unpleasant, energy sapping section that's wet underfoot). I soon realised as we approached the beck below Rossett Pike that I really needed a crap, and I wasn't feeling great because I was carrying, ahem, some extra weight! I became convinced that doing what needed doing would make me feel much better. So, tissues in hand, I found a spot and did what I needed to do, making use of the ample snow around to, erm, cover my tracks.<br /><br />Rossett Pike came soon enough and I did start to feel much better. This might have been to do with the intestinal relief I was feeling, but I am sure it was mostly to do with the fact that the blackness that had been with me from mile 1 was looking distinctly cobalt - the sun was coming up.<br /><br />And boy did it come up. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyq2AfLVkcxiE8J6A8fgFUAV1DD7uRy59ilq7BqAa0mwbkVTGFEo77WiEzStBZdt7wW2pxZZ6nuCr_5H1OYbhN-8q5R3hBk7LnjY0hFagOW8Hc3weoijA9oTMuQUjHk2u3jwTRE-TUHE/s1600-h/IC+leg+3+bowfell+climb.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsyq2AfLVkcxiE8J6A8fgFUAV1DD7uRy59ilq7BqAa0mwbkVTGFEo77WiEzStBZdt7wW2pxZZ6nuCr_5H1OYbhN-8q5R3hBk7LnjY0hFagOW8Hc3weoijA9oTMuQUjHk2u3jwTRE-TUHE/s400/IC+leg+3+bowfell+climb.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419231496126249746" /></a><br /><strong>Sunrise on the flanks of Bowfell.</strong> Photo - Ian Charters<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsh2jg5vDKFS4qhF4U1UU9fcV5aLfJDv6UfQ1B_qkXoONZPFUwu3fDJhn1C8lmgKncM3JUuQoZJzWcgUl38UQRoFGMHZY0EFdPaRdwWDTw7C-SB_RB8Lj5nfDCy471f8breiXml4kTnw/s1600-h/IC+leg+3+sunrise.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsh2jg5vDKFS4qhF4U1UU9fcV5aLfJDv6UfQ1B_qkXoONZPFUwu3fDJhn1C8lmgKncM3JUuQoZJzWcgUl38UQRoFGMHZY0EFdPaRdwWDTw7C-SB_RB8Lj5nfDCy471f8breiXml4kTnw/s400/IC+leg+3+sunrise.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419232394586232514" /></a><br /><strong>Sunrise from Calf Cove, near Great End.</strong> Photo - Ian Charters<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4IJwFWwEYHhSWumLEzVVkCGXRCviAUC_cgMg1pnSP-jykY_US9Sa4gX4zVajFWf_qaODfQjYTbOoT_NTE88WoMm77Mnn8qHnm0PF1TG4fhYz6uHpznzbm9XAjdkgpG2jGJ1mbLQ5ON8/s1600-h/IC+leg+3+Esk+Pike+at+dawn+III.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4IJwFWwEYHhSWumLEzVVkCGXRCviAUC_cgMg1pnSP-jykY_US9Sa4gX4zVajFWf_qaODfQjYTbOoT_NTE88WoMm77Mnn8qHnm0PF1TG4fhYz6uHpznzbm9XAjdkgpG2jGJ1mbLQ5ON8/s400/IC+leg+3+Esk+Pike+at+dawn+III.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419232940123310658" /></a><br /><strong>Rosy pink rocks on a cold Esk Pike.</strong> Photo - Ian Charters<br /><br />I have never seen a sunrise like it which, combined with never having been so desperate for the sun to come up, made for a magnificent experience. Arguably the highlight of the round. The photos are great, but they don't capture the glory of it. Nothing could. I am so grateful that the sun rose whilst the skies were still clear.<br /><br />Needless to say, it provided a boost, and I found myself motoring well inside the schedule from Bowfell through to Scafell Pike, even running some of the ups. I was really enjoying this and it was a privelege to be out in such fantastic, if a little cold conditions.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkN2D6kV5XHYd6i3N6Z2XBa1EdnGU4fRWZsMdnPcVeCLXV6ouKq2W7ZZlMQm2nbWymH_k4LYftTjBPo6SdtRSeaKPXd5vURN-cvMPgkIglG_MQLL4r2jdlP5mSy9LYMFjZPIqQ0ZDj9D8/s1600-h/IC+leg+3+inversion+over+windermere.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkN2D6kV5XHYd6i3N6Z2XBa1EdnGU4fRWZsMdnPcVeCLXV6ouKq2W7ZZlMQm2nbWymH_k4LYftTjBPo6SdtRSeaKPXd5vURN-cvMPgkIglG_MQLL4r2jdlP5mSy9LYMFjZPIqQ0ZDj9D8/s400/IC+leg+3+inversion+over+windermere.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419241709835983202" /></a><br /><strong>Distant temperature inversion over Windermere.</strong> Photo - Ian Charters<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGfJ1H_J9AzGSne8p2qoHtfcnmDwNNnAZEx455qFkTx-B3AZWdFX6_ESReoscXZNoT3Pg6rG-vGsUVzy9G_XOwBzLjrYQKxh2lqnGRryW4HbZA25O1twJIa1c_Z3fk1TKmesyLFYzBik/s1600-h/AL+leg+3+sunrise+on+great+end.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGfJ1H_J9AzGSne8p2qoHtfcnmDwNNnAZEx455qFkTx-B3AZWdFX6_ESReoscXZNoT3Pg6rG-vGsUVzy9G_XOwBzLjrYQKxh2lqnGRryW4HbZA25O1twJIa1c_Z3fk1TKmesyLFYzBik/s400/AL+leg+3+sunrise+on+great+end.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419241704260980994" /></a><br /><strong>"Running the ups" on Great End.</strong> Photo - Alan Lucker<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKtF7TDEqL1QtAlijumYAoeCrU_I7xfRGlPb0ANuMkRQjM2j_R3uyU9tywpgHLWdYz0P0qAuQ35K42sSXld40gzEBNHe9BmPGCTg24Ry4XNox4yQdkHXMumK0Im3wx63AT8-HZTK2Hpg/s1600-h/IC+leg+3+Dave+and+Icicle.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKtF7TDEqL1QtAlijumYAoeCrU_I7xfRGlPb0ANuMkRQjM2j_R3uyU9tywpgHLWdYz0P0qAuQ35K42sSXld40gzEBNHe9BmPGCTg24Ry4XNox4yQdkHXMumK0Im3wx63AT8-HZTK2Hpg/s400/IC+leg+3+Dave+and+Icicle.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419276571459990418" /></a><br /><strong>Cold and clear - Dave Hindley's sweat icicle!</strong> Photo - Ian Charters<br /><br />As we approached the summit of Scafell Pike, we entered some clag which we'd seen coming in off the sea towards the fells of leg 4. It was clear from looking over to leg 4, towards Mosedale, down to Eskdale and even back the way we came that the weather was starting to change and the round was entering a new phase. Bob decided he was going to head down to Wasdale and miss out Scafell. Perhaps he too had noticed the subtle changes that were afoot. I reflected on having enjoyed Bob's company as we bid him a safe trip to the valley.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3oiqiCJgEfKGC176uJaYNCArP_IpRJa9mWeSZ4NnE80uBcqKOsY1fAS0J0CogXfvRPFu3nOH5IwqYTxI-UAl_s-8XjGnXwr9BJFdN4dCqs1yp8ci_w2G_T2KoPCqW6KA3z8D4SmO0nQ/s1600-h/IC+leg+3+clouds+in+Mosedale+II.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI3oiqiCJgEfKGC176uJaYNCArP_IpRJa9mWeSZ4NnE80uBcqKOsY1fAS0J0CogXfvRPFu3nOH5IwqYTxI-UAl_s-8XjGnXwr9BJFdN4dCqs1yp8ci_w2G_T2KoPCqW6KA3z8D4SmO0nQ/s400/IC+leg+3+clouds+in+Mosedale+II.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419279227250757090" /></a><br /><strong>Here comes the weather - clouds rolling into the Mosedale fells awaiting us on leg 4.</strong> Photo - Ian Charters<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoSQrmTmeOo9M5DO8u8_jD69L5MUQN4Zf_V2lTWwkoAiz6MZbhjQrXBN5X_nXfPFKgLH_8U1eC5Swjpd6srZWVwXelZhJVewhepf4pisAqISN6D57lKNFudci-QE5R3e7c2BG7_h8VaQ/s1600-h/IC+leg+3+Eskdale+sunrise.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitoSQrmTmeOo9M5DO8u8_jD69L5MUQN4Zf_V2lTWwkoAiz6MZbhjQrXBN5X_nXfPFKgLH_8U1eC5Swjpd6srZWVwXelZhJVewhepf4pisAqISN6D57lKNFudci-QE5R3e7c2BG7_h8VaQ/s400/IC+leg+3+Eskdale+sunrise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419279223191462018" /></a><br /><strong>A weak sun tries to penetrate the gathering clouds - near Scafell Pike.</strong> Photo - Ian Charters<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWWkOSj_GkTIWIyC2ps64f7JXS7P5x2IBuTZlnVXP6_atEnkrcC7w_UhDALe0cw7ZrRISZjmY-1C79NcsWRnoj1oS18-o1e1_fjfsZ4oiZhiuad4dJWXGkuL8HaHg9a3gesRQbIcYLsQ/s1600-h/BW+leg+3+scafell+pike.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWWkOSj_GkTIWIyC2ps64f7JXS7P5x2IBuTZlnVXP6_atEnkrcC7w_UhDALe0cw7ZrRISZjmY-1C79NcsWRnoj1oS18-o1e1_fjfsZ4oiZhiuad4dJWXGkuL8HaHg9a3gesRQbIcYLsQ/s400/BW+leg+3+scafell+pike.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419279218283175442" /></a><br /><strong>The final few meters of Scafell Pike from Broad Crag.</strong> Photo - Bob Wightman<br /><br />As we left Scafell Pike in a thin clag, sans Bob, we went astray by drifting too far right. A quick check of my GPS revealed we needed to traverse left. We did so to find ourselves some way below the stretcher box on Mickledore on the Eskdale side and Scafell Pike's rough flanks. We had received word earlier in the day that Broad Stand was not going to be set up as Clive was not feeling great after his leg one exploits - a lesson there perhaps in terms of over committing supporters? With Foxes Tarn our next target, we aimed across a rough traverse to find ourselves on the loose path from Mickledore to the Foxes Tarn outlet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Rd4WDkMlqZlvNPaLUnj_Bl4f9Yuro2AOda9MKU6qbXCAa93Obbd8Unu989EPUGndpN9WPhKsxl1XvmcJOp8DRCrbi9AmYeaPjln1JVMHp22PeY11BoAjzVx9ixvxBPgs-EBi9OVUSzQ/s1600-h/AL+leg+3+Descending+Sca+Fell+Pike.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Rd4WDkMlqZlvNPaLUnj_Bl4f9Yuro2AOda9MKU6qbXCAa93Obbd8Unu989EPUGndpN9WPhKsxl1XvmcJOp8DRCrbi9AmYeaPjln1JVMHp22PeY11BoAjzVx9ixvxBPgs-EBi9OVUSzQ/s400/AL+leg+3+Descending+Sca+Fell+Pike.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419280551672156562" /></a><br /><strong>Going astray (slightly!) coming off Scafell Pike.</strong> Photo - Alan Lucker<br /><br />We reached the foot of the obvious gully that guides the outflow from Foxes Tarn. The usual practice is to follow this up to the tarn before striking up the path to the summit of Scafell. I wasn't too worried about missing out the shortcut that is Broad Stand as we were slightly ahead of schedule and I felt ok. Just a simple climb and before I knew it I'd be descending towards Wasdale and some food, a sit down and a nice cup of tea.... <br /><br />The Foxes Tarn gully was full of ice. Lots of really iffy water ice which takes extra time and extra energy to negotiate. We ended up climbing out of the gully and into the grassy slope on the left. It took ages, or it seemed to. I actually quite enjoyed it, I like a bit of a scramble. But then I realised that I was dropping time and losing energy. I had somehow stopped eating and drinking since Broad Crag and when we finally topped out on Scafell, 47 minutes after leaving Scafell Pike (not bad considering!), I was starting to feel tired. I was climbing well, but the descents were starting to hurt. The descent from Scafell is the single biggest drop on the round and so this was the worst place for this to happen.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4kMjTQUaSMegBccLOrs7YCN9MNZR05hVy_fkiMSzjYFaiXvlSC-Jyuu79_WfPQcJ5GNuUtaXkHPRp5dZpfsZiC9STd97taGZ2zaF8BHgXnVsA1sxeWJ9muRdPrbG-VwguGBxU4WToks/s1600-h/AL+leg+3+decending+Sca+Fell.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM4kMjTQUaSMegBccLOrs7YCN9MNZR05hVy_fkiMSzjYFaiXvlSC-Jyuu79_WfPQcJ5GNuUtaXkHPRp5dZpfsZiC9STd97taGZ2zaF8BHgXnVsA1sxeWJ9muRdPrbG-VwguGBxU4WToks/s400/AL+leg+3+decending+Sca+Fell.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419308573658006114" /></a><br /><strong>Descending Scafell in increasing pain.</strong> Photo - Alan Lucker<br /><br />The further we dropped, the more the team just pulled away. Ian stayed with me but I coud see his increasing concern as I slowed and slowed, quads just pleading with me to stop. I entered into a very very bad patch. How can I get down? How on earth can I keep going? I usually use the scree run down Rakehead Crag but ice meant that was out of commission. So the one bit where the ground might ease the burden was out of bounds, and so down I went via the longer route. Slower and slower. <br /><br />It usually takes me less than half an hour to get down from Scafell's lofty summit. This time it took me 45 mins. I was behind my schedule now but roughly on Bob Wightman's 23.5 hour schedule. I just kept trying to keep moving, not eating or drinking. I was getting worse.<br /><br />We hit the valley and a short run to the waiting deckchair along the flat provided some small hope. It didn't feel that bad! But the bad patch was doing its damage and I sat down at Wasdale convinced that I was not going to make it. I was holding back a tear or two. An hour ago, and every hour before that, I felt great. Why were the wheels now coming off?<br /><br />Alison, Graham and Tanker Rob were all trying to make me feel better. I was close to tears. I focussed and drank water, 4:1, tea, nuun and shoved a little pasta down. I could see my Tattenhall friends waiting to take on on a tour of the Pillar and Gable ranges on leg 4. They were looking at me with some nervousness - how on earth can we pick him up? My leg 3 supporters had delvered me in good time to Wasdale and I wish I was in better shape. <br /><br />Leg four was going to be make or break as it often is on BGRs, but perhaps today in these bitter conditions more than ever...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rlqQ5pqKJv8KLkjw5afXqgZC0awxlrFt0n_0kU8x66cGXtpp1U4_Uw5E55PvQhC06pTwKRgNyUyrN6DlHWAZaURgw3upNUcsosdKiAXpDyuD-kmcp0njBVYPpTDq4Cs_msonPNkLL0M/s1600-h/AL+leg+3+at+wasdale.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rlqQ5pqKJv8KLkjw5afXqgZC0awxlrFt0n_0kU8x66cGXtpp1U4_Uw5E55PvQhC06pTwKRgNyUyrN6DlHWAZaURgw3upNUcsosdKiAXpDyuD-kmcp0njBVYPpTDq4Cs_msonPNkLL0M/s400/AL+leg+3+at+wasdale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419312222101193074" /></a><br /><strong>Worried faces at Wasdale.</strong> Photo - Alan Lucker.<br /><br /><strong>Leg Four - Wasdale to Honister. @11.30 - 17.00. 12 miles, 6400' ascent</strong><br /><br />Summits - 9 - Yewbarrow, Red Pike, Steeple, Pillar, Kirk Fell, Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth, Grey Knotts<br /><br />Support - Dave Sykes, Paul Miller, Andrew Gooda, Nick Holmes<br /><br />Yewbarrow. Never easy, but coming straight after a bad patch it seemed impossible. I had hoped to knock a cheeky 5 minutes off the standard schedule time when I was sat in my lounge supping tea in Rossett, but now I wanted to make the standard 50 minutes. It was cold and I was feeling really low on confidence. We set off and I decided not to think about how I felt. No point dwelling on it. Dave Hindley decided to join us having done leg three, but changed his mind pretty quickly on Yewbarrow. Oddly, I felt better for that, much as I like Dave's company. It just made me realise that I was going ok again. <br /><br />Andrew gave me a litre of nuun electrolite drinks on the way up. It worked. 50 mins dead and feeling better. Red Pike took 48, 2 mins up. Steeple 18 mins, 6 mins up and then Pillar, 30 mins, 4 mins up. Despite the mist and cold, the leg four boys were feeding me and gently urging me on, and I felt better and better.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdoOGrMDATpUpBSivKTJB4tg-8wONe4MkKNW05CqK68pJoBjZRwBLKKia2hStSUs5wh88SkHOUOQHn4YqPvxgnTGXsCRai6Ifdmn74ssLg-93fHt1Xwkaf25geB1fp-uLEo6tjLHLa54/s1600-h/DS+smiles+on+leg+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvdoOGrMDATpUpBSivKTJB4tg-8wONe4MkKNW05CqK68pJoBjZRwBLKKia2hStSUs5wh88SkHOUOQHn4YqPvxgnTGXsCRai6Ifdmn74ssLg-93fHt1Xwkaf25geB1fp-uLEo6tjLHLa54/s400/DS+smiles+on+leg+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419323597489407874" /></a><br /><strong>Smiles on leg 4. </strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuAis7ojDQllEyVwREWSRYIBwxqaVDO4jIePhl8AJoZFfrftAkE5nf4R6dhyRqFXt4KTM5Y1KpCdoNgrElMVnaapOFSO4A9x5GcmqP3HpSZ87ukhoE5CJOCWWKPQv1JG5vK6CttoBMa4/s1600-h/DS+moving+together+on+leg+4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuAis7ojDQllEyVwREWSRYIBwxqaVDO4jIePhl8AJoZFfrftAkE5nf4R6dhyRqFXt4KTM5Y1KpCdoNgrElMVnaapOFSO4A9x5GcmqP3HpSZ87ukhoE5CJOCWWKPQv1JG5vK6CttoBMa4/s400/DS+moving+together+on+leg+4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419326499656153538" /></a><br /><strong>Moving together well on leg 4.</strong> Photos - Dave Sykes<br /><br />As we ran off Pillar I rejoiced. I was actually <em>running </em>off Pillar, just like I wasn't doing when I descended Scafell. There, I felt like there was no way I could get round. Here, I felt like there was no stopping me. <br /><br />Things then got better still. Having seen very few people all day other than my supporters, a chap came flying past suddenly. "Are you Mark?". Memories of my early phone call on Clough Head came flooding back as Wayne, proprietor of the newly established Black Sail canteen reassured us that sustenance awaited us at Black Sail. He'd actually missed us on Pillar, somehow. We pushed on. I didn't know Wayne from Adam. But WHAT a star. We arrived to soup, food, more food and tea and coffee. They must have been so cold, Wayne and his son. I think Wayne's done a round and his lad is keen to do one soon. I'm not sure I made for a good advert. Still, as Nick rejoiced at the 'sports eccles cakes', I got two cups of soup down me and felt like the world was a cheery place!<br /><br />Thanking Wayne, whilst not quite believing he was ever there, we set off up Kirk Fell via the rocky rib (actually, a bit to the right...) and soon arrived on the top. The weather then turned, having already drifted into being a bit iffy. If was now getting wild and cold. We were still making some good splits but it couldn't last. Gable lay ahead and a turning point. From there, it's easier ground and the home straight. However, that turning point meant turning north, which is where the gale and snow were coming from. <br /><br />We reached Gable in good time (40 mins from Kirk Fell) and I was climbing well. But it was really cold up there. I was tiring again and felt like I needed a hot drink. I could also sense it was getting darker, everso slightly. My spirits dropped.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKljT8nInzJT2EMTiiSm6JWBrMmBgy-7OOyw9H3q3keSyUy9tXrLQ7FJNXxn2dwsP_m2RUktphkwMV4Sw9U1_H7feIugPjmt9ueAf6JSAAiY2pd7ALdEsZR0ar5uZK-9IEi0YCW7CyEU/s1600-h/DS+gable+summit.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKljT8nInzJT2EMTiiSm6JWBrMmBgy-7OOyw9H3q3keSyUy9tXrLQ7FJNXxn2dwsP_m2RUktphkwMV4Sw9U1_H7feIugPjmt9ueAf6JSAAiY2pd7ALdEsZR0ar5uZK-9IEi0YCW7CyEU/s400/DS+gable+summit.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419330355770157122" /></a><br /><strong>A freezing Gable summit. </strong> Photo - Dave Sykes<br /><br />I didn't seem to slow down as we bagged Green Gable and the last two peaks, but I felt like time was slipping away. I think I was just finding the strong headwind and falling snow more tiring than I thought I would. By the time I reached Honister, I was starting to feel scared. The darkness was very pronounced and the snow was becoming a blizzard. These were serious conditions and I was a tired bunny.<br /><br />Just above Honister, Pete Taylor appeared with my brother Graham. Just 200 feet above the slate mine. We skipped past as they shouted their encouragement. Graham has just had knee surgery and I wondered how he was going to get down. <br /><br />When I got down, it was clear that I couldn't stay long. I had just over three hours if I was to meet the 24 hour target. The conditions and my quads were not producing good odds. It was time to start reassessing goals.<br /><br />First thing's first - drinks. Graham and Rachel, brilliantly, got me a Costa Coffee (a latte in fact) from Keswick and delivered it warm, complete with take-out cup to my grateful hands at Honister. It was bloody lovely. We joked about this beforehand, but they sorted it out for me and it was one of those simple things that really moved me that day.<br /><br />Something else that moved me was the fact that several people were ready to go with me into a blizzard in the pitch black to knock off leg 5, including three from leg 4. I was frightened as these conditions were really getting silly, but friends showing such support helps you find courage. <br /><br /><strong>Leg Five - Honister to Keswick. 16.50 - 20.12. 13 miles, 2500' ascent</strong><br /><br />Summits - 3 - Dale Head, Hindscarth, Robinson<br /><br />Support - Dave Sykes, Paul Miller, Andrew Gooda from leg four plus Clive King (from leg one), Jen Taylor and Gaz Evans<br /><br />Leg five started with more nerves than leg one. A blizzard, darkness and the start of the realisation that 24 hours was going to be tight. I could barely eat at Honister and didn;t drink too much either. I was numb and it was wild.<br /><br />The climb up Dale Head is one I've done several times, but not like this. We started on the left of the fence, didn;t cross and actually bore the brunt of the wind for too long in a slightly more exposed section. We crossed the fence and the going got a little easier. Paul and Dave were ahead, showing the way whilst Jen and Clive fed me and tried to protect me from the wind - a noble and selfless act! I just plodded, drinking icy 4:1 and chewing sweets. <br /><br />I locked into autopilot and counted my steps, trying to create a noise in my head that would drown out the fierce wind. I noticed a new and odd noise. It sounded like cardboard rubbing against cardboard. The wind and sudden drop in termperature had frozen my clothes to such a degree that they were rigid. The noise they made was quite disconcerting, so I focussed harder on counting steps. <br /><br />Sure enough, Dale Head summit arrived, 36 mins after leaving Honister. I had dropped 1 minute on the 23.5 hour scehedule but I considered that not bad given teh weather. Hindscarth followed and the snow got worse. We made that summit a couple of minutes under the schedule and I felt amazed. I was still climbing well. <br /><br />The final climb up Robinson is 500', just enough to require a bit of mental effort. I counted steps again and followed the lights ahead. It felt harder than the other climbs but arrival on teh 42nd and final summit came soon and I was frantic, checking the watch and doing the maths.<br /><br />I had 98 minutes to get to Keswick. the 23.5 hour schedule allows 100. I had a chance, but it was a narrow chance. The darkness, snow, wind and ice were all conspiring against me. So were my quads. We dropped down that ridge, having to pause to check the route on occasion, and eventually made it to the rock step that I remember bounding down on my summer round. Not this time matey. It was icy as hell and slow going. I felt the time slipping away. By the time we descended off the main ridge and down to the track, I knew the 24 hour target was remote.<br /><br />We jogged slowly (but we didn't walk) to Newlands. The track seemed to go on forever. I asked Paul how long the track was. He must have sensed I was a bt desperate.<br /><br />We got to the road and the cars and before I knew it, my road shoes were on. I annouced that I was going to finish, no matter what the time. I had 42 mins to run 4.5 miles, and yet i knew it was too much.<br /><br />My legs were shot, my right knee was gone and there was black ice everywhere. Running was nigh on impossible. Despite Rob, Alison, Andrew and my brother Graham trying to get me to move faster, it became clear that completion on a tough day was going to be the achivement today, and not a 24 hour round.<br /><br />We crossed the pedestrian bridge that was in danger of collapse. A sign heart-heartedly said the bridge was closed, but there were no barriers and the sign looked like it had been moved asid. I just didn't care to take a detour and across I went! "Take me now" I thought, not caring if the bridge collapsed, tempting fate like only a weary man can. I was just so tired. The 24 hour deadline came up just short of the suspenstion footbridge and I was mentally spent.<br /><br />And so we walked. Keswick beckoned, less than a mile away. I stopped and had a pee. Time didn't matter now and I was really uncomfortable. My supporters were patiently waiting. We hit the streets of Keswick and I could see my fantastic supporters gathered by the Moot Hall. I ran, somehow, the last 5 yards and touched the railings, 24 hours and 22 minutes since setting off.<br /><br />People were cheering, but there was a palpable sense of disappointment. Everyone was at pains to point out that it was an achivement to be proud of. No-one said 'never mind'. Everyone was just brilliant to me.<br /><br />I was upset, inwardly. I was not going to bring this day down for everyone. I could only manage a meek wave and a few photos were taken. My brother was lively and so proud, as was Alison. Andrew Gooda, who is a dream BGR supporter amongst many here today and who had accompanied me from Wasdale, uncharacteristically stuck an arm round me and said he was proud of me. That almost set me off - a very human and kind gesture, perfectly pitched. Peter gave me his down jacket, 'pre-warmed' as he put it - the coat off his back. I saw Alison and Tanker Rob, the road crew, looking real tired. They had been very selfless and I couldn't help feeling i'd let them down. I was touched and decided that these people deserved this to be an achivement to celebrate, not a failure to analyse.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAilYJKP-vJMSpKNXVFHegc1XGnykMFjoaw2dm0b445boKcEEnTiR8u1Iu_9LbUN3FXMBMcJQ7wGPD_5bAeV0xAhRQae8bluKeS8zPmjl85qKclTz1c4OyW9L7skEOpJkUE-2o9byRbeg/s1600-h/030.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAilYJKP-vJMSpKNXVFHegc1XGnykMFjoaw2dm0b445boKcEEnTiR8u1Iu_9LbUN3FXMBMcJQ7wGPD_5bAeV0xAhRQae8bluKeS8zPmjl85qKclTz1c4OyW9L7skEOpJkUE-2o9byRbeg/s400/030.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420382881722287458" /></a><strong>All over now!!</strong><br /><br />So, we decanted to a pub. I felt more sore than tired, and my knee started to swell up. Someone got me a cup of tea and everyone settled in. A great atmosphere developed as everyone compared notes about their various 'bits' of the round. Wayne appeared with his young lad and was full of praise rather than any sense of pity or commiseration. I couldn't understand why he was impressed though, I was still thinking about the 22 minutes and not the 24 hours.<br /><br />I got changed and reappeared from the toilets to a cheer. Jen Taylor, who ran really well on leg 5, gave me a hug and said lots of very kind things. I began to feel much much better and resolved there and then to write this up as a wonderful, collective achievement, which is precisely what it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-61228822426513940132009-12-21T10:20:00.004+00:002009-12-21T10:30:07.932+00:0024:22 - I did itA fuller report will follow soon, but I wanted to report that I did a full on mid-winter Bob Graham Round.<br /><br />I had full winter conditions, with intense cold and clear weather (my guess is minus 15 on Helvellyn, given the minus 6/7 valley temp) giving way to blizzards and heavy snowfall. I may have missed the 24 hour target for BGRs, but given I've alrady done a sub 24 round in summer, for me this counts. Putting it another way, I am not going back to try again to recover those minutes.<br /><br />My supporters on road and fell were magnificent, and there is a real story to tell. Thank you to all that helped from the bottom of my heart. I will do that over the next day or so, but I just wanted to post something to say it was over and to illustrate the day with a fitting photograph or two.<br /><br />Mark<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5FUqCPGgrRCWx71uUUa_EwUuSEAWVv6KmFXkglJ5aSEwwC2qZsC-1C1G6d6f9T0qpPHDN0ck4JV6V5FCHRdc3nvSaAF3ADmlaCGmvDWe_vMA4HHerLh7SMEYCn9wFiLrQBOfvTFY2gA/s1600-h/IC+leg+3+Eskdale+sunrise.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS5FUqCPGgrRCWx71uUUa_EwUuSEAWVv6KmFXkglJ5aSEwwC2qZsC-1C1G6d6f9T0qpPHDN0ck4JV6V5FCHRdc3nvSaAF3ADmlaCGmvDWe_vMA4HHerLh7SMEYCn9wFiLrQBOfvTFY2gA/s400/IC+leg+3+Eskdale+sunrise.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417634120178248018" /></a><br /><strong>Peering down into Eskdale at sunrise. </strong>Photo - Ian Charters.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqWf_TrnJRShmbO2ekHfF_x6LUXQT29GhTPd3GibG9v32Ilq-czxK-mM-j_HXkPl-FHgEnSwt5b2mg2wjB-GkfHX2FSkl1IIrA7zUvMGjPsTLVjZtlN4oxeMDwQYqRbK2xS1fSPjZuWk/s1600-h/AL+leg+3+sunrise+on+great+end.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqWf_TrnJRShmbO2ekHfF_x6LUXQT29GhTPd3GibG9v32Ilq-czxK-mM-j_HXkPl-FHgEnSwt5b2mg2wjB-GkfHX2FSkl1IIrA7zUvMGjPsTLVjZtlN4oxeMDwQYqRbK2xS1fSPjZuWk/s400/AL+leg+3+sunrise+on+great+end.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5417634110922994626" /></a><br /><strong>Running on the Scafell range. </strong> Photo - Alan LuckerUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-74007495364645461352009-12-17T14:31:00.011+00:002009-12-17T15:34:00.354+00:00Thursday 17 December - Stop PressJust had a simple little text message from Clive King. Two little words that make me realise that the conditions could well be bang on. <br /><br />The text read: Broadstand OK<br /><br />Clive has typified what never seems to amaze me about fellrunners - their willingness to go to quite considerable lengths to help complete strangers. He's gone up to the lakes early whilst I'm sat here packing boxes and writing labels such as 'leg one food', 'Dunmail Box' etc. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHgnGMXlfzkVGXZItaktFzVl2W8ylofd4dwFIeDv3OUF2JVKWPwpWeeZDl4Ayic0Od4FT5gx-ZZMBvueEOFrwwL-PELz7UY7R6LhauFVQAKmN85xL0rVsACafH6oLlNS5mPpgjtOjzGk/s1600-h/Boxes+ready+to+go.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHgnGMXlfzkVGXZItaktFzVl2W8ylofd4dwFIeDv3OUF2JVKWPwpWeeZDl4Ayic0Od4FT5gx-ZZMBvueEOFrwwL-PELz7UY7R6LhauFVQAKmN85xL0rVsACafH6oLlNS5mPpgjtOjzGk/s400/Boxes+ready+to+go.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416225393625872338" /></a><br /><strong>Boxfest - the day before.....</strong><br /><br />I should add, I've only met Clive for about five minutes before a race. He's going to run leg one and rig up Broad Stand for me too. He followed up that text with one saying that he couldn't see any water-ice around. That's brilliant news. Makes me feel so much better. Clive, you're a star. <br /><br />I'm now pretty much packed, GPS is loaded, food and drinks prepared, support all secured (thank you all so much in advance, and apologies in advance for the moodiness!). Phew...<br /><br />It's weird in many ways because I don't think I'm quite as nervous as last time. When I did the BGR in summer 2007, the 24 hour thing was unknown. Now, I know I can handle that and that i'm probably a bit stronger too. I also know the fells even more intimately than before and my support is even more experienced. <br /><br />We're ready!<br /><br />So, if 'Broadstand ok' is the guide, we're set for a long dark brilliant day. I really cannot wait. See you on the other side...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-46321194505895004372009-12-16T23:28:00.002+00:002009-12-16T23:46:47.055+00:00Wednesday 16 December - Major doubtsIt's quite natural for dark thoughts to creep in about this sort of thing when the time approaches. And this is no exception. But it's not so much about whether i'm fit enough and or prepared enough. It's not even about the weather, well, not the atmospheric conditions anyway. <br /><br />What I'm really worried about is the state of the ground.<br /><br />It's been a cold week. The fells are going to be frozen over the weekend. So, with so much darkness, it's likely that the tops at least are going to be dodgy underfoot and hard to see just how dodgy. Descending at some speed into unseen patches of water ice which can be really dangerous at worst, and it can slow you down too much at best, rendering a round impossible. One thing's for sure - if it looks dodgy, I'm not risking the safety of those grand souls that are coming to help me for my own vanity and ambition. <br /><br />I'm going to get up to the lakes as early as I can on Friday. I'll have a good look at the fells, esp Blencathra's south ridges and the slopes around Dunmail Raise. <br /><br />If it comes to it, I'll call it off.<br /><br />I've been really worried about this today, even though it's something I can't control. What's good about that is it means i've not been worried about that things i can control - they are all ok. <br /><br />I;ve been spoilt by a successful summer round at the first attempt (albeit in awful weather) and supporting lots of other successful summer rounds. What does occur to me tonight with two days to go and a cold looking forecast is that there is every chance that this round will not succeed.<br /><br />Success in the mountains owes a lot to judgement, more so as the conditions deterioate and aims rise. Success could mean getting round, or it could mean decding not to start and staying safe. We'll see.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-37768616091140373482009-12-12T21:20:00.008+00:002009-12-13T15:15:34.679+00:00Saturday 12 December - Best bits.....One week to go and now im resting - no more runs...<br />When you're not training, you're reflecting on your training. Here are the best bits.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4FqzDnt3xjru3LxpQnYS7OSV4F1fHtZeOJX85SUWNi4GBj3nYkEgBIrYyAGS2nIBHBfg6klKnCfuMI1sGZ9vME9PnG_8LdiP9JXh3E9_4to2jtOlq145LbihbRNAutrVoj8fybNOvc0/s1600-h/daves+bgr+snow.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN4FqzDnt3xjru3LxpQnYS7OSV4F1fHtZeOJX85SUWNi4GBj3nYkEgBIrYyAGS2nIBHBfg6klKnCfuMI1sGZ9vME9PnG_8LdiP9JXh3E9_4to2jtOlq145LbihbRNAutrVoj8fybNOvc0/s400/daves+bgr+snow.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414466520947657762" /></a><br />The start of the summer training, yes summer - Dave's BGR in early June - me at the summit of Esk Pike in a freak dawn snowstorm. Dave (in the background)flew round in less than 22 hours and showed us all how much fitter he'd become. I was made redundant a month after this but the storm clouds were gathering and I and was already starting to think about time on my hands and a winter round <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WBNMUSdMXeDOPQGoEw4V8ItSlaJlH5VMF1v7eIJTi6Gk0oxFsmTX0NjCC_Ox8h5EzzJIKHVtXuSzPiG0oYh1YGonfOEfUpdVhaHcQVbRyfMBWj4Sv6ytwIkP60Qk-vT1f5IIxLP0R-s/s1600-h/snow+gully+on+pillar.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WBNMUSdMXeDOPQGoEw4V8ItSlaJlH5VMF1v7eIJTi6Gk0oxFsmTX0NjCC_Ox8h5EzzJIKHVtXuSzPiG0oYh1YGonfOEfUpdVhaHcQVbRyfMBWj4Sv6ytwIkP60Qk-vT1f5IIxLP0R-s/s400/snow+gully+on+pillar.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414466516353223106" /></a><br />Snow gully on Pillar - December 09. The last really long day out, with clear weather and whiteouts. A landmark training run - not least cos I felt brilliant for the whole 9 hours. This was the run that gave me the confidence that I could run well in winter for a long time.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gY4sjeGn0AxfyIBIKsxPWRU8v2leBjdGNyOGQvK_DxEIRrPWO9EOgZBR8OYFiR88EwRy48UR-4oBYL9kbaTiJ6v-V77q9Eld5rjxjKhtdnSSlyhBianBdu6hZAp-Vq7jxATEfMjtTsY/s1600-h/day+one+OMM+scenes.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gY4sjeGn0AxfyIBIKsxPWRU8v2leBjdGNyOGQvK_DxEIRrPWO9EOgZBR8OYFiR88EwRy48UR-4oBYL9kbaTiJ6v-V77q9Eld5rjxjKhtdnSSlyhBianBdu6hZAp-Vq7jxATEfMjtTsY/s400/day+one+OMM+scenes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414466515720653794" /></a><br />Oct 24/25: The Original Mountain Marathon, day one - Paul Miller and I competed in the Long Score event, finishing 42nd from 250 teams. I felt strong, despite the tussocks and marshy ground. I loved that weekend in the remote Elan Valley in mid-wales.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGCSJ3IwJv-jYFMWSpmztgMknp_IWJ0oF0cm0QeUIw7yd17GhkS99hf8UArrTWjegYvZRMGw5kSjUmp7Us5gG_CSc6IghF6zDvhyphenhyphenZWKxZrYPwkeYEywADZD-ewjJKt_X7gZv2Sx_qGn0/s1600-h/scfells+and+gable.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGCSJ3IwJv-jYFMWSpmztgMknp_IWJ0oF0cm0QeUIw7yd17GhkS99hf8UArrTWjegYvZRMGw5kSjUmp7Us5gG_CSc6IghF6zDvhyphenhyphenZWKxZrYPwkeYEywADZD-ewjJKt_X7gZv2Sx_qGn0/s400/scfells+and+gable.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414464700259589250" /></a><br />One of the best shots of the whole campaign - Great Gable and the Scafell Range from Kirk Fell in the snow. It was really really really cold that day! December 2009.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWvxs0BkaNfNGcJEigyvTsvHet_tr3JMCuYy-QhyUMGs22SMs05oUzuyBDoqRKNutLl1QD2dq6rB3fSvCGbjlZqBLYWDza-45Q5-rP1l3iMfRR8KEuPx314V7GcBGPWJmYwMuzptNhCk/s1600-h/paul+and+mardale.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWvxs0BkaNfNGcJEigyvTsvHet_tr3JMCuYy-QhyUMGs22SMs05oUzuyBDoqRKNutLl1QD2dq6rB3fSvCGbjlZqBLYWDza-45Q5-rP1l3iMfRR8KEuPx314V7GcBGPWJmYwMuzptNhCk/s400/paul+and+mardale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414464697319201922" /></a><br />Another great shot on a moody autumn day - Paul Miller running towards Haweswater from Nan Bield. We did a 9 hour day, about 25 miles and 10,000 feet around the far eastern fells. Great to run on some lakeland hills that aren't of the BGR.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIpcNLze8NGtoVUzf_92z9KA61QXluuwYwEABUopsqZ9LR1q6g8QZmRrM6Hp9WtUa24nJvd1iz1pAVfylXOI6TYAKz8OBk4K43GG53Klz-0cU27fRPPZQNiTeBjoBVdD_Y64sYJS2CY0/s1600-h/Nick+on+Arant+Haw+blog.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIpcNLze8NGtoVUzf_92z9KA61QXluuwYwEABUopsqZ9LR1q6g8QZmRrM6Hp9WtUa24nJvd1iz1pAVfylXOI6TYAKz8OBk4K43GG53Klz-0cU27fRPPZQNiTeBjoBVdD_Y64sYJS2CY0/s400/Nick+on+Arant+Haw+blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414464689031058274" /></a><br />Nick Holmes on a glorous freezing day on Arant Haw, Howgills. We had a superb run that day and I felt brilliant from start to finish.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjw3F4MUBPYNoQUvhWXHo6v4fZ5hWSpF_2vDlDsLWjXdRP-WS5CCI8UnApuhtsm12ofCJ15Fe9kGU6yepk5agZSbi53y-joj8GkyFWovhHuDPSd6ix_ikuh_TZsVZdET0A8BxWzvE0cE/s1600-h/Nanttle+ridge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPjw3F4MUBPYNoQUvhWXHo6v4fZ5hWSpF_2vDlDsLWjXdRP-WS5CCI8UnApuhtsm12ofCJ15Fe9kGU6yepk5agZSbi53y-joj8GkyFWovhHuDPSd6ix_ikuh_TZsVZdET0A8BxWzvE0cE/s400/Nanttle+ridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414464683689809266" /></a><br />The Nantlle ridge, snowdonia - a tough run on rough ground in a new area for me. I like the way this photo leads your eye frmo front to back.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4g8gwXLHhnaDrfadOP7f31qfs3KDsTjrO4eI03Jsza_bryAqgS__zfsQjr9ofiRZXcj6EbWkaxRfH1xYKw0xJQOqvh1OfxHEddBy0zEAioSZ3HM3iK9OEP_jSES7XKAfbvA60eszmMY/s1600-h/mickleden+JJ.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4g8gwXLHhnaDrfadOP7f31qfs3KDsTjrO4eI03Jsza_bryAqgS__zfsQjr9ofiRZXcj6EbWkaxRfH1xYKw0xJQOqvh1OfxHEddBy0zEAioSZ3HM3iK9OEP_jSES7XKAfbvA60eszmMY/s400/mickleden+JJ.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414464673980820850" /></a><br />A beautiful dawn on a generally foul day. I was out for 13.5 hours, starting in the dark and finishing in the dark. This dawn over Mickleden revealed itself so suddenly and vanished pretty quickly. It was a stunning moment on a long hard, lonely day.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvA1Mxj7Vf36-bRja7GpIIw4C7nl0umFzB6AU3q6mwB_UFomxRSeeZcB1G0TE4j_L6X8xStgnMZ18qGs2fj2D3FMY7jRIWIewrug7a8J3pSqV8ZWlxSdE08_WWr8PmObyG13P4HYc418/s1600-h/Landy+from+Bera+Bach.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibvA1Mxj7Vf36-bRja7GpIIw4C7nl0umFzB6AU3q6mwB_UFomxRSeeZcB1G0TE4j_L6X8xStgnMZ18qGs2fj2D3FMY7jRIWIewrug7a8J3pSqV8ZWlxSdE08_WWr8PmObyG13P4HYc418/s400/Landy+from+Bera+Bach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414463913408513842" /></a><br />I love the fells, and I have a soft spot for Landrovers so running past a landrover on the open fell was a sight that made me smile! There was no driver in sight near the summit of Bera Bach, Carneddau, Snowdonia. I really love this shot.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTg3yGhS51WCsjMRxiXDUPnSmctXVvQy0-5qJ7C0VXdepjaVwgTB6lOr6l5_it26z6uyyWihacTT01Liu9k0nySW-435j_BieezH8GzOFObb_kpfz4JH5ipoYk-fNUVaZ_xM907qc57Q/s1600-h/frozen+gt+gable+summit.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTg3yGhS51WCsjMRxiXDUPnSmctXVvQy0-5qJ7C0VXdepjaVwgTB6lOr6l5_it26z6uyyWihacTT01Liu9k0nySW-435j_BieezH8GzOFObb_kpfz4JH5ipoYk-fNUVaZ_xM907qc57Q/s400/frozen+gt+gable+summit.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414463896509943970" /></a><br />The war memorial on the lofty, frozen summit of Great Gable. This is the site of a remembrance day service each November. A month on, the poppies were still there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r2MIdywFcVr_5yWXLlA7PQZLZnlT3Iin24LMYyRRDBb9zGriNBPDqVKjpqdzA9ts18Nm5RRtSnslqrppYUR_v_xkcs-WsMZpfbN0CGu52Eo2E3nx8ivRL9ZeaVyb06ekfJG9s0ynDPA/s1600-h/elidir+from+penyolewen.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6r2MIdywFcVr_5yWXLlA7PQZLZnlT3Iin24LMYyRRDBb9zGriNBPDqVKjpqdzA9ts18Nm5RRtSnslqrppYUR_v_xkcs-WsMZpfbN0CGu52Eo2E3nx8ivRL9ZeaVyb06ekfJG9s0ynDPA/s400/elidir+from+penyolewen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414463890702975090" /></a><br />Running up and down Penyolewen three times from Ogwen is a headbanging session. It does offer a brilliant view of Elidir Fawr though.<br /><br />Just a few highlights from a really enjoyable period of fellrunning during autumn/winter 09.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-6260746673429697532009-12-11T07:53:00.002+00:002009-12-11T16:05:39.730+00:00Friday 11 December - And relax.....Well, maybe not relax but the time has come to stop training. <br /><br />It's at this time before any big race or event that you start to ask yourself whether it has been enough. Am I fit and strong enough physically to keep going for 66 miles, climbing 27,000 feet over 42 mountains? Am i mentally ready to keep going? Have I done enough to prepare for the darkness and the cold? Have I got enough support? Do I want this enough? Have I missed anything?<br /><br />Training wise, I think I'm there. It's been a pretty solid four and half months of training, with every week (bar two) seeing 10,000 feet of climbing, usually more. I've not had the mammonth days out such as the Fellsman which I had for my summer BGR in 2007, but I've had a few days of 10ish hours, and one 13.5 hour day so that'll be ok. I've spent many many hours on the fells this autumn, more than last time so the legs and lungs are strong enough - if i rest from now that is...<br /><br />On Wednesday this week I got my warning to rest and not run. I did my last pre-midwinter BGR run - an 18 mile outing in the Yorkshire Dales. I decided to run there as I had a job interview in Leeds on Thursday morning (went well, second interview promised in January) and wanted to be in that area on Wednesday night. I also wanted to go easy and pack less climbing in which made what Mike Harding refers to as 'the Striding Dales' a perfect choice with the peaks seperated by miles of rolling moorland. Of course, if you're not climbing up steep slopes, you're running and running is something i;ve done far less of than climbing - as i found out! <br /><br />I ran up Penyghent, running every step and made the top in 40 mins. That's race pace but i did feel like i had another gear. I kept running at that sort of effort level until Ribblehead, making that in just over an hour from Penyghent. That was way too fast. I realised, as i stopped for a bit of food that my training hadn't really included much running. The BGR requires lots of strong climbing, which is fast walking really - lots of it up huge slopes. This is what I've been doing and consequently, I was knackered at Ribblehead and was disappointed at my apparent inability to run. Still, I had just run for 1:45 at race pace on muddy ground with a full pack so what was i expecting? Fed up, I turned left to climb Ingleborough and found myself climbing really quickly up Park Fell, an outlier of Ingleborough. I was relieved - it's important to know I can climb well on tired legs. I reached the summit of Ingleborough and then ran down that long descent to Horton. In all, I was out for 4 hours and covered 18 miles and 4000 feet ascent/descent.<br /><br />I had planned to run again after this but realised at a stroke that I was really tired out. Not just from the run, not even simply from the 20,000 feet i ascended last week, but from the quarter of a million feet of ascent and descent that i've done since I started training for this in late July. For the first time since i started training, i felt like i'd had enough for now and needed a rest. So, as i sat drinking my chocolate protein shake in the boot of my car outside the Penyghent cafe, i decided that was it for the training. No more running, at all, until 20:00 - 18 December.<br /><br />That decision still feels right, 2 days later. It's Friday morning and I'm going to spend the rest of the time between now and then getting the prep right. <br /><br />The following is my to do list:<br /><br />- Food plan - what i will eat beforehand, on the hill during each of the 5 legs, at each of the road crossings etc. <br />- Sort out road crossing arrangements - Alison and Tanker Rob are going to need clear instructions - where, when, what to takem what to feed me and the pacers, what to give to my hill support, what to take from them, what gear to have ready for me (down jacket, towel, fresh socks, mug of warm tea etc!)<br />- Finalise hill support - a few injuries mean a change of plan and some juggling of runners from leg to leg if they are willing to change<br />- Kit list - the monster list of everything i'll need on the hill, in the hut, the day before, the night afterwards. Don't forget the sleeping bag and fluffy pillow!<br />- Hill support information - specific instructions for pacers (timings, bearings, route notes, when/what to feed me, what gear of mine to take etc)<br />- Mega itinerary - single list of who needs to be where and when - including cars, runners starting and finishing, other support (black sail tea stop!, broad stand) - this is the main bit of info<br />- Shopping list - food and other bits i need to get for everyone else<br /><br />Struth - good job i've stopped training!<br /><br />The whole thing is starting to feel real now. Nothing brings that home more than the long range weather forecast which sees rising pressure and a cold week. It's likely the fells are going to be frozen, which is good for the marshy bits (Martcrag Moor, north of Clough Head, Calf Crag, much of leg 1) but is far less good for the rocky bits (second half of leg 3, bits of leg 4) and even less good for exposed sections (Halls Fell - Doddick Fell looking likely now; Broad Stand - really having reservations about this, despite a bloody generous offer to go rig it up). My hope is that the ground conditions allow the tricky bits and the good bits to balance out and that we get gorgeous cold, clear weather. Would it be too much to ask for a temperature inversion with clear air above and warm (relatively) fell tops and cold (absolutely) valleys??? The idea of a stunning cloud filled valley with peaks sticking out the top is a real possibility at this time of year and I'm starting to hope for that now that i've seen the forcast...although it could be banked out with snow rendering a round impossible. We'll see....<br /><br />So, loads to do, no time to train. Lots of time to bring this event alive and get everything sorted. Hopefully that'll help me feel slightly less nervous and slightly more confident....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-31227900940223653802009-12-06T19:52:00.008+00:002009-12-06T21:06:27.485+00:00Sunday 6 December - fitter, happier, more comfortable....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgAG1UPzagpsX-l62ggqnyhrfqieMuelWQeppuKqa7Z0_3-nJBi2Q8i57WBeFkqWtJTCBfaB3gIJGpRpU_LYtU37bz-lE-Ot5quXjjyeinTvI9w8_qVdtU73xxwTVe1tgZFFjdAzpviU/s1600-h/blog0.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 156px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgAG1UPzagpsX-l62ggqnyhrfqieMuelWQeppuKqa7Z0_3-nJBi2Q8i57WBeFkqWtJTCBfaB3gIJGpRpU_LYtU37bz-lE-Ot5quXjjyeinTvI9w8_qVdtU73xxwTVe1tgZFFjdAzpviU/s400/blog0.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412215512794232978" /></a><br /><strong>Great Gable and the Scafells from Kirk Fell in winter - brilliant!</strong><br />This one really does look great if you click on it.<br /><br />That was the last week of full training, and so the taper begins....<br /><br />Fortuntely, it was a brilliant training week, made up of three outings which have filled me with much needed confidence. I feel now that i'm strong enough, will be prepared enough and have enough support to do a midwinter BGR. Only the weather, and as I've relearned this week, the ground conditions can stop me and I really can't do much about those. I'm as ready as I'll ever be. <br /><br />My first outing this week was on a cold and windy Monday afternoon. I ran one of my timed routes which i always do fast as a measure of my fitness and strength. This one was my Moel Y Gamelin ridge run, an out and back run over 8 miles and climbing a very runnable 3100' - all on good, often steep stony paths. As this training has gone on, the time for this run has decreased from 1:33 in August to 1:23 in November. That 1:23 run was on a still, perfect day and I considered that a tough time to beat - I'd have to run really well. The cold wind and hints of dusk towards the end of the run didn't put me off though and I ran with purpose and pressure. Imagine my shock when i got back to the car in 1:19:30!!! <br /><br />I felt great, the climbs were all ran strongly and I was really pleased. Finally something to celebrate!!<br /><br />Then Wednesday - a lovely day in the Howgills with Nick. We ran the Sedbergh Hills fell race route, 16 miles and 6000' on a cracking chilly winter's day. We had a great day out and my legs felt brilliant, especially on the climbs when I just wanted to run and run. Better still, i felt fresh as a daisy at the end. A good sign.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFXnNCDI8HxZkNtHost2iaWfJisFkmB3u0mGxyYZL0-X6AMP4bBo_UVJ2DhE3rS91VdCwSbQRYVEZ7vLItsJs0JWtkhW7LMCsnApZr1_iBwmjRVQHBZjg0rjPzhrKZwuNIwS0ySndh0I/s1600-h/East+from+near+the+calf.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFXnNCDI8HxZkNtHost2iaWfJisFkmB3u0mGxyYZL0-X6AMP4bBo_UVJ2DhE3rS91VdCwSbQRYVEZ7vLItsJs0JWtkhW7LMCsnApZr1_iBwmjRVQHBZjg0rjPzhrKZwuNIwS0ySndh0I/s400/East+from+near+the+calf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412220210182675810" /></a><br /><strong>Nick emerging on the summit plateau of the Calf</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwK48Z7MdupX4YB-63i16393DhKKrDeSbxL7H1CtC7wfrY19L-qi5varqQRqTJ7NIABN0Zj7BQ9ORFP2iAE6KX46VoJolJe7of1MTRrU7tLfavt8xgMxOpL3i1VY_2XEmbKz03LbRfXw/s1600-h/Nick+on+Arant+Haw+blog.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQwK48Z7MdupX4YB-63i16393DhKKrDeSbxL7H1CtC7wfrY19L-qi5varqQRqTJ7NIABN0Zj7BQ9ORFP2iAE6KX46VoJolJe7of1MTRrU7tLfavt8xgMxOpL3i1VY_2XEmbKz03LbRfXw/s400/Nick+on+Arant+Haw+blog.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412220203662631506" /></a><br /><strong>Nick on Arant Haw in the swirling mist</strong><br /><br />Then Friday, and a bigger day in the Lakes. I drove up the night before and got a bit excited as I could see the snow covering the last few hundred feet of the bigger fells. I decided on a route that included some non-BGR fells that I'd not set foot on for some time, starting and finishing in Buttermere. The start of the day was interesting, with mist on the High Stile range, where I started heading but other fells being clear, including the gorgeously reflected and shapely Fleetwith Pike.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ps-0Nrb19GK4Ys2YiJs0tBRtBeWLwqcne0R2KyHMQ6Xn-1xArvm_jftnGqDy9wsCZDMK5QXrswSIZ2bb4Qjjjf5Nu4t4uOJ1YYGTaPHhl29qJoyr1IlbtlqQmUHCitGh0EsT03DravY/s1600-h/blog1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ps-0Nrb19GK4Ys2YiJs0tBRtBeWLwqcne0R2KyHMQ6Xn-1xArvm_jftnGqDy9wsCZDMK5QXrswSIZ2bb4Qjjjf5Nu4t4uOJ1YYGTaPHhl29qJoyr1IlbtlqQmUHCitGh0EsT03DravY/s400/blog1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412215516682404034" /></a><br /><strong>Fleetwith Pike and Buttermere at Dawn</strong><br /><br />After a steady climb onto Red Pike, an early morning whiteout ensued on what can be a confusing top. Although armed with a GPS, I opted to use the map and compass to navigate to High Stile to keep my hand in. The whiteout continued through to High Crag before I dropped out of it at Scarth Gap.<br /><br />From there I decided to tackle Pillar via its famous rock on it's vast and impressive northern side. Wainwright's guide described a steep climb up a break in the forest plantation, but recent felling meant a desperately steep clamber over heather and tree stumps as far as Pillar Cove and the easier ground below Pillar Rock. It was tough ground and very testing but I felt strong and kept eating on this tricky climb. Eventually, having seen a few deer prancing around this otherwise desolate valley, I decided to tackle the Shamrock Traverse below which was loaded with snow. I also decided to back off if it got dodgy - it's a route i've not done for years and I know that straying off this route leads to troublesome crags which are the terrain of the climber, not the lone fellrunner.<br /><br />As i climbed higher, i lost the route. The view from Robinson's Cairn seemed to suggest an easy passage but closer inspection revealed verglas, rime and enough snow to make this very tricky area tricker still. The photos below show what i mean.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EAXuUwyIHy70yltrPR3SsdhaV4qvbe3yYN-c_GhQWPkB7Crh1JUtY8xadChX4j6PXHI2vzNRsLxi_iKbbeAkZiGudP-HitjibvSb4D83KaqYcNaeZdXiQ_wOzNR79w78t7xbT68Av4g/s1600-h/blog2.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EAXuUwyIHy70yltrPR3SsdhaV4qvbe3yYN-c_GhQWPkB7Crh1JUtY8xadChX4j6PXHI2vzNRsLxi_iKbbeAkZiGudP-HitjibvSb4D83KaqYcNaeZdXiQ_wOzNR79w78t7xbT68Av4g/s400/blog2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412215528995555458" /></a><br /><strong>The Shamrock Traverse from Pillar rock, looking easy</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_lGjKX56wfscdHZ3RzpmrT-lIWOi6G0hyphenhyphenaqzuA2gytwWS6Bu-I4zKvpaY2M5zzZPyAYqEsIALbEHJpg0N0WDLImSD3QN0R4uY3XbS3GVxJgOPG2Wan3m5QKgynR-SGu-V0I0MQQ9KpM/s1600-h/blog3.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_lGjKX56wfscdHZ3RzpmrT-lIWOi6G0hyphenhyphenaqzuA2gytwWS6Bu-I4zKvpaY2M5zzZPyAYqEsIALbEHJpg0N0WDLImSD3QN0R4uY3XbS3GVxJgOPG2Wan3m5QKgynR-SGu-V0I0MQQ9KpM/s400/blog3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412215525686770722" /></a><br /><strong>Mixed, icy ground with steep slopes all around - time to back off</strong><br /><br />I backed off, having climbed to 2650' and got back to Robinson's Cairn after some unsteady moments on very steep slopes. I was probably off the main route, which was not easy to see in the snow and I was pleased to exercise some judgement, having already navigated through the day's earlier whiteout.<br /><br />From Robinson's Cairn I pushed onto towards Black Sail, striking steeply up onto Pillar's long southeast ridge when the first chance came to maximise my climbing. From there, it was BGR all the way over Kirk Fell (went via the main path and not either of the gullies and it was much easier) and onto Gable. The snow was deeper but the route was safe and I was miles quicker than the BGR schedule. The view from Kirk Fell was impressive (see top photo) and Gable was a really cold place (see photo below).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX7WAZSti93HK6RmD-lB102Z3UUgunodpju8J51w9PP0mLsaUAPMim1cWh0fQcW6nhpG8SUcnmMGKykFJGhikxuv9ghPq_LUB7eDLddRKY00YXaVuXw56aVfEkmetC1BkA-ZbFGzdZTc/s1600-h/blog4.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuX7WAZSti93HK6RmD-lB102Z3UUgunodpju8J51w9PP0mLsaUAPMim1cWh0fQcW6nhpG8SUcnmMGKykFJGhikxuv9ghPq_LUB7eDLddRKY00YXaVuXw56aVfEkmetC1BkA-ZbFGzdZTc/s400/blog4.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412215532869481938" /></a><br /><strong>The frozen war memorial and poppies on the summit of Great Gable</strong><br /><br />From there to Honister in a rapid time, feeling strong and then into leg 5. By the time I got to Robinson, after 20 miles and 9000' climbing the darkness was approaching and I dropped down to Buttermere a little tired but by no means spent, not even close. As I sat in the Bridge Hotel scoffing soup and a sandwich, i felt contented and not too fazed about impending three hour drive home.<br /><br />I felt ready, and that felt great.<br /><br />Week summary - 19,000', 50+ milesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-31440384885732125112009-11-29T21:47:00.004+00:002009-11-29T23:48:13.894+00:00Sunday 29 November. 19 days to go and I don't feel ready...Another 10,000'+ week, another lack of a proper big day and another period being thwarted by atrocious weather. This week snowdonia battered me around for a bit, a week after the lakes gave me a kicking during the floods.<br /><br />All in all, I don't feel as ready as I'd like to be with less than three weeks to go. <br /><br />But that doesn't mean i'm not ready enough for a round. Nor does it mean that the elements won't render any amount of readiness useless in impossible conditions. Today's snow on little Moel Famau, and tales of really bad snow on the Glyderau today make me realise that the odds are much lower for Dec 18/19 2009 than they were for June 30/July 1 2007! <br /><br />It's a good sign though that 10,000' feels really easy now. This probably means I'm getting no fitter but maintaining a good fitness level and hopefully a degree of hardiness. I sure this continued awful weather that is knocking me about is toughening me up for what it is getting to be an increasingly scary day. <br /><br />The main thing is that I'm definately feeling strong when I run. I do feel undercooked, but perhaps I'm expecting too much.<br /><br />There is still time to finish things off though, and a couple of big hill days are planned for this week which i know will help my legs and my head. I need to be happy that I can be fresh(ish) after 8 or 9 hours when the unique demands of a round, as opposed to a normal big day out, start to make themselves felt. I've only done a handful of days that long and I'm worried it's not enough, despite the fact that I've probably done more climbing in total than I did in 2007 before my summer BGR.<br /><br />I was playing around with my schedule for the big day when I had a call from a friend who will be helping out on the round. He's a terrific runner, a very experienced and wise mountain man and general all round inspirational guy. He didn't realise his general "how's it going?" call did a lot to make me feel better, and boy did I need that. In a typically casual yet convincing few sentences, he made me realise that my preparation should not be measured solely in feet climbed and hours out on my feet. It's not just been four months of over 10,000' of climbing per week. Much of my preparation has been in foul weather, strong winds and poor visibility. Much of it has also been done alone. That toughens you up, physically and mentally. A winter round will be slightly harder physically than a summer one, but mentally it could be far tougher and I should feel like I HAVE prepared for that.<br /><br />He's right, I have.<br /><br />And this week was no exception. It was a busy week with a three day training course punching a hole in it (need to get the CV up and moving). The weather also conspired against me. I did get a couple of good off road darkness runs in with my brand new headtorch, a new Petzl Myo XP. There are bigger and brighter (and MUCH more expensive) ones out there but this was very bright and really comfortable to wear. I ran with Steve and Pete on a 7 mile, 2300' ascent route in the pitch black on Wednesday and really enjoyed it. THe paths and trods were easily picked up and i enjoyed the feeling of running in the dark. The darkness does seem to amplify slopes, small rises and distance so i must remember not to be too fazed by the fells at night - they are no bigger than during the day! I also did 6 Tattenhall railways in the dark, a new experience! Going up was ok, but coming straight down in the dark was a tough test of that torch with so many wet leaves and tree roots to potentially slip upon on that impossibly steep slope. Yeah the effort of 10,000' was covered off during the week, but they were particularly hard won.<br /><br />I also had a shortened outing in Snowdonia. I arrived in Llanberis last Monday all set to do a 10,000' day but the biting wind, wet snow falling hard and saturated ground made for a risky day out on your own so I cut it short and got off with just over 3000' in the bank. I felt like i made a good decision, but was itching to stay out for longer. Frustrating.<br /><br />A couple of local fellruns over familar ground and some roadruns too made for a decent week all told.<br /><br />And so next week is my final full week of training before the winter BGR is finally here. It needs to go well. For my head as much as anything. <br /><br />The plan is to have three days out on the hills this week, one next week and that's that, other than a few short road runs to tick over before a full week of complete rest with a massage before the day comes. Monday will see a 3000' fast run on Moel y Gamelin. Weds a day out on the bigger fells with Nick, probably about 6000'. Friday a 10 hour day in the lakes, starting in the dark, weather permitting. <br /><br />Then next Monday, 11 days before the off, it's one final day out. Nice and easy paced, a steady 11 hour day over much of the round and some other lakeland fells i;ve been neglecting in the Northwestern Lakes. THen that'll be it.<br /><br />Equally as important is getting the organising done and communicated. That's tomorrow's job - tables, schedules, emails, kit lists, instructions....I'm looking forward it!<br /><br />So, I have a plan to take me to the end. I'm nervous and want that to turn to excitement. Couple more long days and i reckon that'll do it. Now all i need is the weather to be kind.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-34054318440223419042009-11-22T16:42:00.006+00:002009-11-23T15:11:29.964+00:00Sunday 22 November. Time is running out.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhzr-GEpaNjaBkOE_ffolv3zArqRuBC_lDzqaZfFxbP13Me6yWbo4dqsqPKD2U4uJKj7O3pLv7g6WbT7NE1AOzD6ppYXcUVULq6sTzscDRQbY_b5uJtRR0FjJgpFh22rZENVc2E2dMww/s1600/018.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHhzr-GEpaNjaBkOE_ffolv3zArqRuBC_lDzqaZfFxbP13Me6yWbo4dqsqPKD2U4uJKj7O3pLv7g6WbT7NE1AOzD6ppYXcUVULq6sTzscDRQbY_b5uJtRR0FjJgpFh22rZENVc2E2dMww/s400/018.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406991465708927842" /></a><br /><strong>Blencathra in the late afternoon sun, once the flood-bearing storms had finally cleared.</strong><br /><br />For all sorts of reasons, this has been a week of very little training, just one outing. A good one, which proved that I'm both fit and hardy, and also proved that the mountain judgement is still there, but I've fallen well short of my aims this week and of my consistent 10,000 feet+ of ascent per week.<br /><br />It's not catastrophic, it's not an injury or an illness, but the window for getting another couple of 10 hour+ days in is closing fast.<br /><br />I blame global warming. Well I do, sort of, spuriously. I also blame the in-laws, for having the audacity to come down and decorate our hall and landing at great effort and generosity. I also blame job hunting - unemployment was to give me chances to train but an interview (which is VERY promising) meant i couldn't train that day.<br /><br />In-law duty meant that i couldn't spend all day every day buggering off to the lakes and leaving them wielding paintbrushes and sandpaper. So it meant negotiating an all-eggs-in-one-basket approach to training this week, i.e. getting up to the lakes on Thursday evening and getting a big day on Friday, starting in the small hours.<br /><br />This is where global warming comes in. I hoped to get to Keswick on Thursday evening, get into the YHA, get to sleep, wake at 4am and get moving by 4.30, embarking on a 12 hour trip. The emphasis on big days out is really important to help me finish my preparation and with less than a month to go and with only one 10 hour+ day in the bank, (but over nine days of over 7 hours) it's vital. <br /><br />The floods put paid to that. Arrival in Keswick on Thursday night was quite incredible. I pulled up on the bridge over the Greta on station road to find that access to the youth hostel was impossible (i had to resort to a BandB, the ignomany!). The river was flicking the underside of the bridge, which was an awe inspiring and terrifying sight. That river resembled an alpine post-glacial torrent, grey and violently fast and more malevolent for being in the dark. Everything was wet. The bowling green was a river bed, the roads were streams and the chances of a long day out were looking bleak.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXU5tI_T62orwh3OUBXdAmVriDBb4tc5JQK8s80AjWb5BcwX3QlFiyXMB5biLM3DoEY7-V-fC0eoBYAizM7mlNOJuabjFKL2nSijWX-lZxSJM_pt-5A72VtNvvL18CevcFOqvd9zZWg8/s1600/011.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmXU5tI_T62orwh3OUBXdAmVriDBb4tc5JQK8s80AjWb5BcwX3QlFiyXMB5biLM3DoEY7-V-fC0eoBYAizM7mlNOJuabjFKL2nSijWX-lZxSJM_pt-5A72VtNvvL18CevcFOqvd9zZWg8/s400/011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406991464229487426" /></a><br /><strong>Keswick and St Johns in the Vale under floodwater</strong><br /><br />Dutifully, i woke at four and looked out of the window. It was a horror. Lashing rain, gales and, worryingly, helicopters above helping those stricken in the floods. I decided to give the mountain rescue lads a night in (or, more likely, one less thing to do!) and wait till daylight. It was a little less wild but still raining hard when i set off up Clough Head, resolving to get a 6,000' day in by running to Dollywaggon Pike and back. The rain and hail were relentless at first and it didn't surprise me to find I had the Helvellyn range to myself. I pushed on, finding that despite the gale force wind and full pack, I was miles up on the 23 hour schedule. I felt really strong, really good. I ran some of the climbs and dealt with the weather pretty well. <br /><br />By the time i returned to the car, 5 hours after leaving it, i felt like i'd hardly been out, despite 18 miles and 6000' in my legs in that weather. That is exactly how i'm hoping to feel after one leg of the BGR so in that sense it was a reassuring dress rehearsal. But i'm troubled by the fact that i'm running out of time for the big days.<br /><br />Next week sees me doing a three day course and weekend away. Somehow I need to get some 10,000' days in, not just more 10,000' weeks. It's great that 10,000' a week seems easy now, but it really is not enough.<br /><br />So, Monday and Snowdonia beckon, and a 2 day BGR the week after that...planetary forces permitting...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-27723708088017630392009-11-16T09:45:00.003+00:002009-11-16T10:17:07.367+00:00Monday 16 November. Just about hanging on in there.It's Monday and I'm somehow left thinking that last week's training was below par. I managed 12,500' of climbing and am feeling strong but somehow I feel uneasy.<br /><br />I didn't manage a really big day. Life and and a weird lack of motivation have conspired to get in the way. It's been a tough old week.<br /><br />This culminated in a new and unpleasant experience for me on Sunday. I drove out to Moel Famau to run on a fine morning and just couldn't bring myself to get out of the car and run. I was lethargic and supremely unmotivated. So, I drove home and went to the shops before coming home and cookiung a roast. Call myself a fellrunner!<br /><br />There are a number of reasons for this. I am tiring a bit of the same old routes, I'm a bit tired full stop (not achey, just flat and needing my sleep), I'm troubled by my continued lack of success on the job market (interviews to come, so there is some hope) and I'm feeling generally like I need a rest. <br /><br />When I look back at my recent training, I can see why. No easier weeks, not many rest days, some long days and some hard running. I think backing off for a couple of days is not going to stop me getting round. So Sunday was indeed a day of rest.<br /><br />Despite beating myself up, as I seem to be wont to do, I had a reasonable week's training, after a very tough week last week. <br /><br />Monday was mentally difficult - the day after the Roaches and a big week. I could have rested up but decided to go for some railways - just 3, to test how my legs were doing. I assumed I would struggle up that 1000' of steep steep climbing and was actually ok. I was delighted to find my legs responding well despite feeling really heavy. A good sign.<br /><br />Tuesday was an enforced rest day because of lots of things to do <br /><br />Weds - 2:15 in the Clywdian Hills, about 3200' ascent and a steady pace in the wet. Ran well at the start. Looking back at my training log, climbing Moel Famau in under 18 mins from the bottom car park was previously a decent effort. On Weds, i reigned in the effort and yet popped out on the summit in 16:10 which was a genuine surprise. I think that you expect to find running easier when you get fit, whereas it never gets an easier, but the times come down....<br /><br />THurs - a steady 6 mile road run, all i had time for. Didn;t feel too good.<br /><br />Fri - Was planning to do a solo bash at Legs 1 and 2 of the BGR, my big day for the week, but Richard Kenworthy called me and asked if he could come up and do Leg 1 with me as he's going to be with me on the day and he wanted to check it out. I'm really glad i sacrificed half a big day out for Richard's company (not to mention Bramble, his brilliant Jack Russell!) because i really did need to lighten up. We pottered round just about on the 23.5 hour schedule without any major effort on my part and just enjoyed the day. Whilst it wasn't a long run, it was good to feel that 5200' of ascent pass by without any tiredness.<br /><br />Sat - very very heavy rain, and a shortage of motivation! I headed out for Moel y Gamelin and did 4 reps of it's short, steep and rough western slope (a 500 foot climb) having climbed there from teh valley so a 3000'+ day. I really didn;t want to go but felt OK once i got going and ran strongly up those steep, loose reps. <br /><br />Sunday - nowt. All good intentions, but something stopped me going out that day...<br /><br />Total - 12,500', about 40 miles.<br /><br />This coming week i'm going to get out and do another 12 hour day/night. Probably legs 2 a bit of 3 (to Esk Hause) and then a bit of 4 (Gable to Honister) and all of leg 5 to Keswick. Hopefully!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-52296509438238399642009-11-08T17:09:00.016+00:002009-11-10T22:01:54.786+00:00Sunday 8 November. Ups and downs, lots of them...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwc-5k5J4MS1lYNMkZ_mDAqlV5Ivoe7NnF3sO9t2cQwnbkfIOI3UlxQX_kraLD4xqxiT0b8_itNT2fD1s9lTM2UIGtmNUa0H2Pdu4-mIq-Jefl1PI9yDXLGtM33Hrj5GkxYZxlKXoUFY/s1600-h/mickleden+JJ.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwc-5k5J4MS1lYNMkZ_mDAqlV5Ivoe7NnF3sO9t2cQwnbkfIOI3UlxQX_kraLD4xqxiT0b8_itNT2fD1s9lTM2UIGtmNUa0H2Pdu4-mIq-Jefl1PI9yDXLGtM33Hrj5GkxYZxlKXoUFY/s400/mickleden+JJ.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401781944426642946" /></a><br /><strong>Mickleden from Rossett Pike at dawn during a 13 hour run over legs 3 and 4 of the BGR</strong> This picture looks much better if you click on it....<br /><br />Despite the fact that the last 8 days have contained some 24,000 feet of climbing, the most I've done thus far during the lead up to this increasingly real and terrifying prospect, this week has been a test for the head more than the body.<br /><br />And not before time.<br /><br />Knocking out over 10,000 feet each week and reducing my times on my well established training runs has been a route back into fitness and a bedrock for the winter round, but that's not enough on its own. Now it's getting closer, it's about getting out there and getting your head right. <br /><br />That means long days. It also means darkness, and bad weather. It also means keeping going when you're knackered and a bit fed up. Wednesday was all about that. <br /><br />I got to Keswick on Tuesday and had a bit of time that night and so managed to do quick run up High Seat, Bleaberry Fell and Walla Crag in the dark. A good chance to test my headtorch, and it's clear I need a better one. Any excuse to buy more gear....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIeas0CfB7lODgZM-9SWC_R7YfjaHibRu71OncSLupQDRmodHyZx9CI8fSBsODb-Z1Fy-ZtCqAs-h36YPDUMyjNeJ8xh64g4E6c7s8NqHdFUFK6CpQgZO2Nk9Dt75Y_WuCGNrBzc5K2A/s1600-h/016.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIeas0CfB7lODgZM-9SWC_R7YfjaHibRu71OncSLupQDRmodHyZx9CI8fSBsODb-Z1Fy-ZtCqAs-h36YPDUMyjNeJ8xh64g4E6c7s8NqHdFUFK6CpQgZO2Nk9Dt75Y_WuCGNrBzc5K2A/s400/016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401805471585353826" /></a><br /><strong>Keswick from Bleaberry Fell, in the dark, obviously, looking a bit like hot coles on a fire (if you squint)</strong><br /><br />As for Wednesday....I was going to do the Cumbrian Traverse, but stuff to do meant i had to get a circular route in instead as i didn't have time to faff around moving cars, getting buses etc. So, I decided to get up very early on Wednesday and start in the dark, do a circular route from Rosthwaite which took in legs 3 and 4 and then to come back to Rosthwaite on the roads. This adds up to about 13,500' of climbing and 35 miles. <br /><br />I have to say that starting at 4am in the dark during heavy rain was probably the start I needed from a training point of view, but it was not the one I wanted! It was tough going, with the recent heavy rain making for slow ground conditions which included greasy, trecherous boulder fields and streams in spate to negotiate. More difficult was my mood: i was in no mood for this. I went around, eating up the peaks one by one and roughly being on or ahead of the 23 hour scehule. But it felt harder than it should have, and i got real worried about my ability to do a winter round. Thoughts of postponement started to leak in.<br /><br />The wet boulders on scafell pike were a worry on my own at such an early hour. One slip and i'd vulnerable to exposure as there was noone around to help me. I had plenty of kit, but didn;t want to be alone and immobile on the mountain. I decided therefore to exercise some sound mountain judgement and omit the short detour to the summit of Broad Crag, the roughest summit in Lakeland according to Wainwright with potentially leg breaking boulders at every step. This was a wise move, and a trivial saving in effort, but i still decided to beat myself up for it - as though i was wussing out.<br /><br />It wasn't the weather, a heavy pack, my speed of progress or even the darkness that creating such a glass-half-empty attitude that day. It was being on my own. It really makes things much harder, and bad patches seem to be more persistent and more difficult to shake off. I had to stay positive and didn't always succeed. For those that have done solo rounds, I salute you.<br /><br />But i pushed on through a decent dawn before the rain returned with a vengence. Wasdale came and went and a brief window on Red Pike made me feel better. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQHvRYT0_MmQryA_HGevT408rMe8YgkX1AUJBBridICOOBZVX0mRZr9aScpy3hdD2KpRsPDLGCx-bP0ORwvzzv7CgjGUFo7-zFW9Vkmu74Hu4_cwbtE9VIoKbGujAeTisiUcqGRNNYQ8/s1600-h/023.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQHvRYT0_MmQryA_HGevT408rMe8YgkX1AUJBBridICOOBZVX0mRZr9aScpy3hdD2KpRsPDLGCx-bP0ORwvzzv7CgjGUFo7-zFW9Vkmu74Hu4_cwbtE9VIoKbGujAeTisiUcqGRNNYQ8/s400/023.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401846649388464914" /></a><br /><strong>Wasdale through the mist from Red Pike</strong><br /><br />Then i saw the only people i saw all day, walkers on Scoat Fell. Amazingly, I knew onw of them - Graham from Dave's BGR support team appearing out of the mist! I felt so much better after a brief chat. It's clear i'm going to need my pacers on the day to keep me going mentally as well as fed physically.<br /><br />Eventually, it got dark again, and i pushed through. The hardest part was the road back to the car - seemed to drag on forever. Whilst i did well to get that long day in, i was worried about my staying power. Can i do this? It is arguable that going well when it doesn't feel good is perfect preparation. I'd like it to have gone swimmingly, but everything happens for a reason.<br /><br />I'm glad to say that i wasn't even on the M6 by the time i was starting to think excitedly about my next big day out. I didn't prepare for this run enough. I was dehydrated, hungry and not that fresh after cramming over 6000' into the previous three days. I wrote my mood off to that, remembered the key fact that i actually did the run alone in that bad weather and that I didn't bail out. I also resolved to keep running hard on tired legs because that's the key to doing a round.<br /><br />It was for that reason that I decided to to the Roaches Fell Race on Sunday, a 4000' rollercoaster across 15 miles of Cheshire and Staffordshire. Racing on heavy legs was going to be another test for the head as well as the legs. I was just going to have to live with the fact i wouldn't race that well. I did hope though that somehow i;d pull a cracking race out the hat!<br /><br />Well, i knew within half a mile I was going to struggle. My legs were just leaden from the off. Not sore, just unresponsive. I thought that 15 miles was going to be too much and almost binned it. But, I decided to forget that it was a race and just complete the course and to bank the climbing and miles. Sure enough, it got easier as i went round. No major race performance but a good steady run, with some very handy descents. I was almost feeling like turning up the effort towards the end and then my legs went on me. The last 2 miles were a plod. I'd taken no gels or food for the race and i just got slower and slower....<br /><br />Still, the climbing was banked, the milage was banked and it was done. A real up and down week!<br /><br />Summary:<br /><br />Monday - 1000', up and down Moel Famau, 16:30 up, not bad after 12 railways the day before<br />Tues - 1750', High Seat - Bleaberry Fell - Walla Crag, night run, felt good<br />Weds - Big day - BGR legs 3 and 4 as a circular from rosthwaite - 13500' ascent, 33 miles<br />Thurs, Fri, Sat - Rest<br />Sun - Roaches - 4000', 15 miles. 2:45 - very slow, steady, tough at the end<br /><br />Totals - 20,000' ish. Not bad, not bad....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-21971977274122711112009-11-02T13:11:00.004+00:002009-11-02T13:55:14.256+00:00Sunday 1 November. Non-work/life balance...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYccvnp36UqVM6INF9GZf0a9sgIi0XPsTKyYkBz4ewlGIr7-7PpQcOLMsa5AWqkY9gDtJOzfpYESA6ymmLaFFznOtiaQzE1-tWBYDwIvdM0_kFsQR6Z4yQ05dOspulwrBylj_EUnU-GTc/s1600-h/Landy+from+Bera+Bach.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYccvnp36UqVM6INF9GZf0a9sgIi0XPsTKyYkBz4ewlGIr7-7PpQcOLMsa5AWqkY9gDtJOzfpYESA6ymmLaFFznOtiaQzE1-tWBYDwIvdM0_kFsQR6Z4yQ05dOspulwrBylj_EUnU-GTc/s400/Landy+from+Bera+Bach.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399496603845243218" /></a><br /><strong>A Land Rover parked near Bera Bach summit.</strong><br />When I do get a job, I'm treating myself to an old Landy, just like this one! A real treat to see one on the open fell - no 4*4 tracks up here!<br /><br />I felt quite fresh after last week's OMM and was ready for a big week of training. This was a really good sign, i.e. that 13 hours on the fells with a pack through tiring terrain under race conditions didn't appear to take too much out of me. But the big week I hoped for didn;t happen, mainly because i need to get a job.<br /><br />I've been officially redundant for a month now and whilst the settlement and savings mean that things aren't desperate or even tight yet, as they are for many people who would kill to be in my position, it's fair to say that not working is starting to affect my state of mind and confidence. It's absolutely not the only show in town by any means, but unemployment is making me feel like shit. <br /><br />During August and September, the "gardening-leave" salad days of late summer, getting out to train whilst on full pay was a joy! Sure I was coming to terms with a change which was unpleasant in many ways, but it was a real treat to be running and getting paid. I was job hunting too, but running was the real feature, and i got fit after months of losing fitness. Now, the urgency is increasing and the balance between the job that is jobhunting and running needs to be thought out more earnestly.<br /><br />Last week I was touting myself around various Interim Managenment agencies, and the noises from them were promising. THis meant I couldn't do a 2-dayer or a big night run as planned. That's to come next week. Instead, i made do with more orthodox outings, including a couple of club runs on the road. Thankfully, I managed to get 11,000+ feet of climbing in over two very contrasting days out so the magic quota of 10,000 feet is being hit. But It's 7 weeks to go and now is the time for the long days that test your head...<br /><br />I also need to start making arrangements, such as booking the hut etc. Think i'll go again with Achille Ratti hut on Dunmail again if it's free. Worked well last time...<br /><br />As it was, I had a cracking day out in Snowdonia on an old favourite route of mine, a circuit from Aber which takes in Moel Wnion, Drosgyl and the Beras before dropping down to the foot of Yr Elen and climbing steeply up there before climbing Llewellyn and then the 3000'ers north. I threw in the usual minor summits overlooking Aber (ran up them all) to give a 17 mile, 6200 foot day in about 5 hours. I felt great, even a few short days after the OMM, and the night after an interval session on the roads at the club (I did feel the OMM in that). <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTogBMpMIGuvSZq2UTJi9mTDLDfNZ5FoQkqxScp-0uY68kNNo8IlIYRTnQHyQbIOHaK2879VBLw1C-SSi-A-zA9GmnuCYY9cYIqK5rQDWNmb3dcDYUm0fdlSfpFTo1lwdoZ-skN0f1Oyo/s1600-h/Grach+shelter.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTogBMpMIGuvSZq2UTJi9mTDLDfNZ5FoQkqxScp-0uY68kNNo8IlIYRTnQHyQbIOHaK2879VBLw1C-SSi-A-zA9GmnuCYY9cYIqK5rQDWNmb3dcDYUm0fdlSfpFTo1lwdoZ-skN0f1Oyo/s400/Grach+shelter.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399496606853343314" /></a><br /><strong>Foel Grach summit shelter - a stone hut on a 3000' hilltop and a good place for a break and a Mars Bar</strong><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixId3_a21GnmCuJsAk7fSjRiK8avc0WzR6PF_erVWwcfBu8-_EdL-Wy-vO4qe4UIEBX_tgUaBIrZ1te7Ar6abaRI_SjNkdVK03c9H67GmhQweUPR5DxD5VRY2-yOyX778eYavIr8SSDlA/s1600-h/Aber+falls.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixId3_a21GnmCuJsAk7fSjRiK8avc0WzR6PF_erVWwcfBu8-_EdL-Wy-vO4qe4UIEBX_tgUaBIrZ1te7Ar6abaRI_SjNkdVK03c9H67GmhQweUPR5DxD5VRY2-yOyX778eYavIr8SSDlA/s400/Aber+falls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399496604784180562" /></a><br /><strong>The head of the Aber valley, with the famous falls visible</strong><br /><br />Another road run followed before other things to do meant i couldn't run until Sunday. In order to get to 10,000' for the week, I could have gone to the Clywdian Hills race. Instead, I prepared loads of job stuff before deciding on a bit of power workout - which means <a href="http://winterbobgraham.blogspot.com/2009/09/tattenhall-railway-profile.html">Tattenhall railways</a>. The most I'd ever done in one session was 10, and I ran to the top for 9 of those and half of the 10th one. That was just before my summer BGR in 2007. I needed 10 to get to my 10,000' weelkly target, but decided to go for 12, a new record and a very intense 4,000' of climb in very steep 330' bursts. Perhaps I could run them all?<br /><br />Well, autumn is a different beast to spring when I ran 9 and a half of them. Then it was dry, the ground was perfect and the temperature lovely and warm. This time the railway was full of leaves, recent rain meant the sleepers were slippery as hell and running was impossible without agonisingly slipping back down every other step. So I ran the first half of all of them and walked the second, steeper half. <br /><br />Well I was leg-weary after just one. The railway doesn't waste any time in exposing how tired you are. However, this was a head-training session. Long rounds are done on tired legs, so I had to keep going on tired legs here. Non elite types probably start to get heavy legs after about 8/9 hours of the BGR. I know I did. But rounds are all about dealing with that feeling, not preventing it. Iin truth, the discomfort I felt on Seargent Man during my summer round didn't get any worse until about Green Gable at which point I knew it was in the bag.<br /><br />So I kept plodding upwards and back downwards, taking about 10 mins per climb and descent - pretty slow going. I ended up getting into a familar rhythm, my BGR plod. It was a freakish kind of muscle memory, lapsing into a rhythmic climb that is powerful enough to get me up steep slopes yet efficient enough to preserve strength to last over long periods. The hardest climbs were numbers 2 to 5. After that, autopiliot took over as my body remembered. My mind remembered too, and rather than thinking about each railway climb or the watch, I starting thinking about old friends, what I was going to have for tea, how Forest were going to get on against Cardiff (they drew, I was right!) and numerous other things which meant I kept finding myself mildly shocked at being at the top each time.<br /><br />Finally, it feels like it's all coming back...<br /><br />Week summary <br /><br />Mon - rest after OMM<br />Tues - intervals, road 7.5M - 4*hilly lower loops at Burwardsley, @800' ascent<br />Weds - Carneddau, 17M, 6,200' - 5 hours, easy paced and felt great. Chilly, some cloud on top.<br />Thurs - 9.5M, included 2*2mile intervals at 7 min/mile - steady pace only<br />Fri and Sat - Rest, busy<br />Sun - 12 Tattenhall Railways, 4,000' ascent<br /><br />Totals - 11,000' ascent/descent, @40 milesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-32141191354208732192009-10-26T22:05:00.005+00:002009-10-27T08:01:06.496+00:00Sunday 25 October. OMM.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFheJkoWA-kTKpFelAvZmgG8P_9edmTQwf533hVklY0U4s8QaA0GgIXxclU1Uey5TaDbrtr1RhIlOHhU4L5SGMpKcsgHggKgE1YIJQGkmYSrgDVdklsN0QGfyHNbjxIQrpvrf5VOZs-c/s1600-h/day+one+scenes.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFheJkoWA-kTKpFelAvZmgG8P_9edmTQwf533hVklY0U4s8QaA0GgIXxclU1Uey5TaDbrtr1RhIlOHhU4L5SGMpKcsgHggKgE1YIJQGkmYSrgDVdklsN0QGfyHNbjxIQrpvrf5VOZs-c/s400/day+one+scenes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397034781362272290" /></a><br /><strong>Fellow runners amongst the tussocks and reservoirs during day one of the Original Mountain Marathon (OMM) in the Elan Valley, Wales.</strong> If you click on the photo, you can see the rain, which sums up the day....<br /><br />A heavy cold and a heavier heart, plus the prospect of my 7th KIMM/OMM meant a light week of training with a tough finish. I didn't want to be tired for the OMM so had a good excuse to lay off the training during the week (i managed one 12 mile road run on Thursday before the weekend's 2 day race). To be honest, the OMM was an excuse to not train as i really didn't feel like it anyway. <br /><br />I've recently been doped up and one of the side-effects is a supression of extremes of mood, both positive and negative. This has had the curious effect of also supressing motivation which has actually worsened my mood cos i didn't run. The idea was that I'd feel better! So, I have chucked all medication in the bin as it has backfired - it's clearly not designed for runners! It might be corny, and it might only temporarily address symptoms, but running is my best and indeed my only therapy right now. In a week when I needed it the most, i ran the least. That won't be happening again.<br /><br />Resting did mean that the OMM went well and i really enjoyed it, despite it being very tough. Paul and I were 42nd in the Long Score from 191 teams. We were 75th after day 1 but had a really good day 2 (the 25th best) and climbed quite a few places. There are alot of good teams in that Long Score event and so we were pleased. I felt strong throughout and really fresh at the end. I think it's shown that i'm in good shape physically and that the months of recent training have had an effect. <br /><br />It also demonstrated the value of having a really good feed on the Saturday night. Paul did a great job as food quartermaster. We had tea, more tea, soup, cous cous, pasta, cake with custard, but the highlight was the curry. Paul had bought two portions of vege rogan josh from the takeaway, spread them out on a baking tray and dried them in the oven on a low heat for hours. This resulted in a very light, dry and seemingly tiny mixture of curry and rice. A litre of water turned it into a feast, a gorgeous carb-fest which wafted across the overnight camp. Noone at that event ate as well as us! The Jack D was a terrific, sleep inducing finish to our meal!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNiICMGS96WKaqjs2ZRdOtUytFzlcP4j0hLmachaxmzGTjJPyt893fHLI8HEYARM-6MGNmw9K8JDaMn5BXQ2dZG2a7A1Dtca9Nh4-c1IBe8fi9hD81uzRXCLlViRRJZsrnfqeI13AuV0/s1600-h/pre+sleep+jack+d.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNiICMGS96WKaqjs2ZRdOtUytFzlcP4j0hLmachaxmzGTjJPyt893fHLI8HEYARM-6MGNmw9K8JDaMn5BXQ2dZG2a7A1Dtca9Nh4-c1IBe8fi9hD81uzRXCLlViRRJZsrnfqeI13AuV0/s400/pre+sleep+jack+d.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397034793112171714" /></a><br /><strong>Our final course - JD! Taken with a timer, which has the habit of making the subjects look startled!</strong><br /><br /><br />It was a wet day one and evening, with tents hurriedly pitched in pouring rain. The result was sleeping on very bumpy groud. My head was in a hole! The masses of food and little bit of booze might be an unorthodox mountain marathon strategy but it works! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8Ry9X_jZ5_j2WIeR0LyVEr6vG9knkX0ZTQ2Rqkd5HHztLopYx-lza7nuAhuhAdZjSIevZQRM6h9W3T9EP68rwOZq9fAHZt3z42OE1B-U-nN0LguC6oyRiMlcNTmwBwpXUmu-Hr3PaNM/s1600-h/wet+scenes+from+our+tent.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8Ry9X_jZ5_j2WIeR0LyVEr6vG9knkX0ZTQ2Rqkd5HHztLopYx-lza7nuAhuhAdZjSIevZQRM6h9W3T9EP68rwOZq9fAHZt3z42OE1B-U-nN0LguC6oyRiMlcNTmwBwpXUmu-Hr3PaNM/s400/wet+scenes+from+our+tent.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397034788938320098" /></a><br /><strong>A rainy campsite</strong><br /><br />The winter BGR training seems to be going well. It's making me stronger in every sense. Having a goal now is keeping me sane as not working and being somewhat directionless in life gets increasingly difficult.<br /><br />Hoping to get out in the Cumbrain Traverse this week. Can't wait.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-73753360431663080552009-10-19T14:32:00.008+01:002009-10-20T20:55:49.618+01:00Sunday 19 October. A good bad week.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hr8_uzW71HyuACTp2p8rRSKVLS-KG3cvQQY3KYEj-1ELHawogx4X_CfiWOretRHMJWZKCpzXGE7eExj9rxCQ99b3X1rdr7uhlV7YeLw6Jzacs1Jzg9Y_EWzTMKiY0pgSOB0zkF4EUxY/s1600-h/enhanced+shot,+paul+and+mardale.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hr8_uzW71HyuACTp2p8rRSKVLS-KG3cvQQY3KYEj-1ELHawogx4X_CfiWOretRHMJWZKCpzXGE7eExj9rxCQ99b3X1rdr7uhlV7YeLw6Jzacs1Jzg9Y_EWzTMKiY0pgSOB0zkF4EUxY/s400/enhanced+shot,+paul+and+mardale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394773251057213570" /></a><br /><br /><strong>Paul Miller descending to Mardale on a filthy wet day. I love this photo (taken with a phone!)</strong><br /><br />Despite feeling really crap, mentally and physically this week i did manage a very good training week; 14,500' and some tough road sessions in there too. Thing is tho, i'm gaining, not losing weight. Not working means not stressing all day and not being as active between bouts of exercise. I am eating with my usual appetite, but i think i'm going to have to lay off the crisps and hummus!<br /><br />I'm getting fitter though - i have proof! On Monday, i finally broke 1:15 for my 'Moel Famau times two' route. I ran really hard and loved it, apart from going out too fast and throwing up on the way up that first climb. Still got the pb tho! In early august, i did that run in 1:34, and the fastest i did it 2 years ago before my summer BGR was 1:15, so my new time of 1:14:34 was most welcome and proof that i'm getting somewhere.<br /><br /><a href='http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/-cilcian/155125561003278500'><img src='http://www.mapmyrun.com/images/btn_view_interactive_map.gif' border='0' alt='View Interactive Map on MapMyRun.com'></a><br /><strong>My Moel Famau times two route</strong><br /><br />It doesn't mean i'm getting that much closer to getting round the BGR on December 18/19 though. I'm conscious that I still need to find time for some night runs and lots of time on my feet. The night runs will come during November once the OMM is out of the way and the conditions start to become comparable. But i did get a very long and wet day in with Paul on Sunday, which was just what was needed. The good news is that i felt good all day, didn;t push too hard all despite feeling like I was coming down with a cold (which has now materialised - grr).<br /><br />Despite poor weather all day, Sunday was a real tonic and built well on my training to date. We started in beautiful and quiet Longsleddale at the hamlet (farm really) of Sadgill. Paul's ingenious route took us over Grey Crag, Tarn Crag, Branstree and Harter Fell before dropping to Mardale. Then it was up High Street up Long Stile and down to Hartsop before that desperately steep pull up Hartsop Dodd and Caudale Moor before over to Thornthwaite Crag/Beacon and then over Froswick, Ill Bell and Yoke before descending to Kentmere and then over the pass back to the car. Phew, tired just typing it.<br /><br /><a href='http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/-sadgill/605125595905132226'><img src='http://www.mapmyrun.com/images/btn_view_interactive_map.gif' border='0' alt='View Interactive Map on MapMyRun.com'></a><br /><strong>Sadgill Run - 19 Oct 09</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUNj_Vgv-qj2ZpoUen95gqdUMbhW5Fg-GBk4w3B_Ekz1gUQZg7mrQvhUPSHFfUrovDv1l_wCsn2VrXVqfhnHDCnyxrJ3bRrQ9ZuqSXPll8L1SIvrd9LUqm9UWl01VKHNKR1hxZDBUt6U/s1600-h/18102009330.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUNj_Vgv-qj2ZpoUen95gqdUMbhW5Fg-GBk4w3B_Ekz1gUQZg7mrQvhUPSHFfUrovDv1l_wCsn2VrXVqfhnHDCnyxrJ3bRrQ9ZuqSXPll8L1SIvrd9LUqm9UWl01VKHNKR1hxZDBUt6U/s400/18102009330.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394309255833415282" /></a><br /><strong>Sadgill, Longsleddale</strong><br /><br />In all, we climbed 10,000 feet and covered 25 miles, in just over 8 hours in the wet. Not bad, esp as we had a little break in Mardale and Hartsop for food and fruitless weather related prayers. <br /><br />Next weekend is the OMM which marks the end of the phase of my training which has been all about fitness. In November, fitness gives way to preparation - longer days, nights, schedules, organising help, equipment, accomodation and perhaps the purchase of an old land rover defender for the road crossing stops (been mulling over getting one for ages...). I think i'll do some night legs of the BGR as well as the <a href="http://www.gofar.eclipse.co.uk/cumbrian%20traverse.html">Cumbrian Traverse</a>, which i just plain like the look of.<br /><br />Week summary - 14,500' climbing, 50+ miles<br /><br />Monday - Moel Famau times 2 - 1:14:34, a record<br />Tuesday - 3 * 1 mile efforts on the road, found it very tough, first road speed session for ages<br />Weds - 5 railways, after a long drive to and from Leeds for job interview, here's hoping...<br />Thurs - 8.3 miles, hilly road run, running club session. Got round ok, but a little off the pace.<br />Fri - Swim, and massage from Sarah (very painful)<br />Sat - 30 mile bike ride, easy<br />Sun - Sadgill circuit, 25 miles, 10,000' very wet, 8+ hours, felt good, a bit snotty<br /><br />Tune in Head - Stan, Eminiem - god only knows why (maybe it was the Dido bit?)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-21583487051773380652009-10-11T21:23:00.005+01:002009-10-11T22:45:57.960+01:00Sunday 11 October. Bring on the nightIt's been a really good week this week for training, if nothing else. I stepped it up a little and felt pretty good. This week I started training twice a day. Not every day, but I've started to add a couple of short evening road runs after a early fellrun. I've really enjoyed them, running fast (well, ish) on heavy legs is quite exhilerating, provided the road run isn't too long.<br /><br />As well as the two hill days described in the previous entry, which were brilliant days out, I did some good faster running on the hills and feel like the fitness level is moving up a notch. My Moel y Gamelin route, an out and back along a lovely ridge which takes in 3000' climbing and about 8 miles went well this week - i ran it faster than ever before - 1 hour 23 mins, faster even than my pre-BGR 2007 days.<br /><br />Not that i'm fitter than then, not yet. I've been getting in well over 10,000'/wk (over 16,000' this week) but my longest day so far has been 7.5 hours and all during daylight. <br /><br />It's time for night runs. And for some super long outings... If I can squeeze them in. It's round about now that the training has start to becoming specific to <em>this</em> round, 16 hours of darkness and all that. <br /><br />I'm quite excited about it....<br /><br />Week summary:<br /><br />Mon - 8M 3000' Moel y Gamelin ridge in record time - 1:23:54<br />Tues - 2500', 6M - Gamelin reps<br />Weds - Seathwaite round - 6000' (see previous posting)<br />Thurs - BGR leg 1 - 5500'<br />Fri, Sat, Sun - wedding, away<br /><br />Totals - 17,000' 50 milesUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-9313678666520791872009-10-08T20:42:00.005+01:002009-10-08T21:20:44.100+01:00Thursday 7 October. Chin up.Just found out that I didn't get shortlisted for a job I really wanted. Really upset about it. Don't know why, will find out tomorrow. App was very strong I thought, and I worked long and hard at it, but wondered whether short stint in my last role before redundancy put them off? Perhaps I just fell short in the face of strong opposition? Not good, I thought that I was strong opposition!<br /><br />However, there are other opportunities. Got to keep going.<br /><br />Time to cheer myself up with some images from 2 cracking days in the hills this week. Weds was a beauty, Seathwaite to Green Gable via Mitchell Gill (nice quiet route), Great Gable, down to Sty Head, up Great End via The Band (not the Bowfell one, but the steep spur in the first photo, it rises left to right behind the cairn you can see in the shot to Great End's summit - a new route for me up a summit I've done dozens of times). Then onto Ill Crag, Broad Crag and Scafell Pike before whooping down the scree run (the same one as from the Borrowdale race) and then down the Corridor Route (saw Jenny Turnbull's dad - what are the odds!) and then down to Seathwaite from Sty Head.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliodyZBBHMZNsdSFoXZH6RgBPOpnAvrUyc4TmSEd5EpfFrPauUGjnQJo5jehZOK6_oaqizQdrfpBK7-T6A6l5AShQ_N623ks3kRRwpceeE21hdklye_qBPPWS5JfA5xdkYTWY6AfUtLo/s1600-h/Great+End+from+Gable.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliodyZBBHMZNsdSFoXZH6RgBPOpnAvrUyc4TmSEd5EpfFrPauUGjnQJo5jehZOK6_oaqizQdrfpBK7-T6A6l5AShQ_N623ks3kRRwpceeE21hdklye_qBPPWS5JfA5xdkYTWY6AfUtLo/s400/Great+End+from+Gable.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390322205134588530" /></a><br />Great End from Gable<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIO67qniaiNN0vDPYzy9gA_J7BcwvdQp72uHIkGmm_gB908mRD6P8doNuHzjHvRw1SbLJivvcvoJUdDbROXh6yLC1UrZDjcLQtktxvKbXSaqYtx1EXacfn1o8-0bIbCCY4t_22879wWY/s1600-h/Scafell+PIke+and+Broad+Crag+from+Ill+Crag.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuIO67qniaiNN0vDPYzy9gA_J7BcwvdQp72uHIkGmm_gB908mRD6P8doNuHzjHvRw1SbLJivvcvoJUdDbROXh6yLC1UrZDjcLQtktxvKbXSaqYtx1EXacfn1o8-0bIbCCY4t_22879wWY/s400/Scafell+PIke+and+Broad+Crag+from+Ill+Crag.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390322209397700946" /></a><br />Scafell Pike and Broad Crag from Ill Crag<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkP3bqkosgVNkwbpBLqXSBUKqhj87REIx_bN8eJwb1rO_O-eMXFjHmCluiKBdro4f0ncBP0VDXsltJWlE75RYCiWp04gv8RiUQsx0WsIrw16XdoDgaoSbhbwS6pXNGptuYjdP4wako1E/s1600-h/Gable+and+Sty+Head+from+Scafell+Pike.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAkP3bqkosgVNkwbpBLqXSBUKqhj87REIx_bN8eJwb1rO_O-eMXFjHmCluiKBdro4f0ncBP0VDXsltJWlE75RYCiWp04gv8RiUQsx0WsIrw16XdoDgaoSbhbwS6pXNGptuYjdP4wako1E/s400/Gable+and+Sty+Head+from+Scafell+Pike.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390322219023007474" /></a><br />North from Scafell Pike<br /><br />Overall it was about 6000' climbing and a stunning day. Felt quite strong but didn't hammer it too hard.<br /><br />Then today i revisted Leg 1 (clockwise) of the BGR, just a lovely day. More great weather. Pacewise i took it easy and was actually 2 mins down on schedule going up Skiddaw (i'm always way under) but was then 12 mins up onto Calva so I knew i was going well. Then the plod up Blencathra....always a pull and i just waded down through the heather andthen up the other side, just taking in the autumn sunshine. As I neared Blencathra, I looked at the watch and realised I was bang on schedule. I touched the cairn 70 mins and zero secs after leaving Calva at a stroll, exactly on schedule. The view was familiar of course, but something about autumn sunshine enhanced it. Then that exhilerating descent to Threlkeld on that rocky ridge, fantastic.<br /><br />5300' of climbing - 14 mins quicker than BGR schedule, just took it easy and enjoyed it.<br /><br />SW from Blencathra<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBZTu066MVXn7P2GJf87uXugAkicIareAPS0t3GATYp0arjZI7J5YlJV2ftWf7my2PAq-qIIGZAfDdILms_VVql5efeSdwJFd4pEzWC6n2b3cqAYXBF2L0seJr6v0msECOtGbJ8U1X0c/s1600-h/SW+from+Blen.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBZTu066MVXn7P2GJf87uXugAkicIareAPS0t3GATYp0arjZI7J5YlJV2ftWf7my2PAq-qIIGZAfDdILms_VVql5efeSdwJFd4pEzWC6n2b3cqAYXBF2L0seJr6v0msECOtGbJ8U1X0c/s400/SW+from+Blen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390322226273873298" /></a><br /><br />Days like that should make you thankful that you've got the health, skills and fitness to do things like the BGR, or even one leg of it. Perhaps I'll feel like that in a few days rather than knowing that's what I <em>should </em>feel like. Right now, i'm knackered and pissed off!<br /><br />Time for a beer....<em></em>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-35456613582156608052009-10-04T17:54:00.003+01:002009-10-04T18:21:02.718+01:00Sunday 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...<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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...<br /><br />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. <br /><br />Time to get serious...<br /><br />Week summary:<br /><br />MOnday - rest<br />Tuesday - Helvellyn range from Threlkeld and back again! 15M, 6700'<br />Weds - Dollywaggon, Fairfield and Seat Sandal from Dunmail - 7M, 3600'<br />Thurs - 4M road, brisk 27:56, heavy legs but enjoyable<br />Fri - 7 Tattenhall railways, 2300' - felt good, ran them all from top to bottom<br />Sat - quick bike ride before Cath and NIck's wedding<br />Sun - recovery from wedding, real tired<br /><br />Total - 12,600' ascent, <40miles + Bike ride<br /><br />Tune in head - Uprising, MuseUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-72927714195860124642009-09-26T17:12:00.005+01:002009-09-26T17:47:46.699+01:00Saturday 26 September. Must do betterThis has not been a good week for my training, although in hindsight it might prove to be just what the doctor ordered.<br /><br />I was going to put in another 10,000' + week and just keep it going. However, with two team races for the club this week, i decided to have a 'step-back' whereby i do about half the training and use the rest that provides as a pick-me-up for racing well.<br /><br />Well that just didn't work. I did a multi-terrain race on Tuesday whilst still tired from the triathlon (took more out of me than I realised), did a day out on the fells with 5500' of climbing on Weds and rested until a cross country (XC) race on Saturday. I thought the rest and reduced training load would help me for the XC. How wrong i was. I was awful, in fact I would say that it is probably on a par with my first ever <a href="http://marksbgr.blogspot.com/2007/06/wc-4th-june-back-to-earth-with-slow.html">Welsh Castles run</a> in being my worst ever race.<br /><br />I should take heart from the fact that I bounced back from that race to do the BGR shortly afterwards, but really, I feel terrible today. My right quad tightened up a bit during the race and I did back off a little, but the brutal truth is that I was tired, slow and lacking strength. Surely the training thus far has not been a waste of time? <br /><br />Thankfully, there are no more races for me until well into November (Bangor XC). No multi-terrains, no triathlon, just 5 or 6 clear weeks to train without hindrance. <br /><br />Now is the time to step things up. I need the confidence that comes with being able to run fast, and I need to get strong for all that climbing. So after some a massage and a visit to the osteopath for an MOT, I'll be training harder, eating better and building upon this base I've established.<br /><br />In short, it's time for some speedwork AND some long days.<br /><br />This coming week I'm going to do the BGR in 2 days. I can take it easy and enjoy it, but I think that's what I need. WHen I did that leading up to my summer round, I got noticably stronger. It's quite an exciting thought. I'll include some night running I think too. WHere is that headtorch??<br /><br />I'm also going to so a longish (@10 miles) roadrun each week too, just to keep the speed. I think that'll help. I'm also going to return to circuit training, I need some strength..<br /><br />I say it's been a bad week, but actually, how can it have ben a bad week when it included a cracking day out in the western reaches of Snowdonia?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOrE0Eudg0TLmZN5RddBX7t_bVHVFwCJCXbzXhtwM7h6qP3gAEf1RIkr1tAnwTKzwJECVgWg41_Zmi0KqoqRrH2rhh1iQr9LD3-BujHPqQvn7wdSphwqLNUZ0uVDrr2fBN8Q8jeSLSKM/s1600-h/23092009301.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKOrE0Eudg0TLmZN5RddBX7t_bVHVFwCJCXbzXhtwM7h6qP3gAEf1RIkr1tAnwTKzwJECVgWg41_Zmi0KqoqRrH2rhh1iQr9LD3-BujHPqQvn7wdSphwqLNUZ0uVDrr2fBN8Q8jeSLSKM/s400/23092009301.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385814557577318482" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytMzppAGs_0yneOf-gFWMdOjtT1NJoyYSeHqlA-lmGO_YKHiZmw7icmGBt5Hz32-g0VOTHVZyLwnLB9J6gTUYX-vJq88SZtsAPhEnjDcS3hlhP-frUJrrwsuSlOQoNEY2Bav7JQiIN3E/s1600-h/23092009299.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytMzppAGs_0yneOf-gFWMdOjtT1NJoyYSeHqlA-lmGO_YKHiZmw7icmGBt5Hz32-g0VOTHVZyLwnLB9J6gTUYX-vJq88SZtsAPhEnjDcS3hlhP-frUJrrwsuSlOQoNEY2Bav7JQiIN3E/s400/23092009299.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385814549398717282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6WTT2-R_Mtq3lbeB57FRZqNU2XsYUYp6tCVvbvwfIJl7PmQcJWIi_LCT70hqKHVl_X92MB-OuGtzl9KxqllYTSeIBNcpcsSgD4UeEOlNYXml5_LIVDgcES_vOwGBntWCd4VBwrVRS04/s1600-h/23092009297.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6WTT2-R_Mtq3lbeB57FRZqNU2XsYUYp6tCVvbvwfIJl7PmQcJWIi_LCT70hqKHVl_X92MB-OuGtzl9KxqllYTSeIBNcpcsSgD4UeEOlNYXml5_LIVDgcES_vOwGBntWCd4VBwrVRS04/s400/23092009297.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385814547889138482" /></a><br /><strong>Scenes from the Nantlle Ridge</strong><br /><br />Summary:<br /><br />Mon - rest<br />Tues 4.5M multiterrain race - ran ok, bit tired, 30:00 exactly<br />Weds - Beddgelert - PBR leg over Moel Hebog and Nanttle ridge and back to car - 14M, 5500'<br />Thurs and Fri - Rest, for XC (!)<br />Sat - 6M Colwyn Bay XC, crappest run ever<br /><br />Summary - probably 6000' climbing, lowest total since restarting my training so I could run well at XC, and for what!?!?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-3967734585405221782009-09-20T23:00:00.008+01:002009-09-21T12:32:07.907+01:00Sunday 20 September. Up, down, up, down, up, down, phew!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0-gbW1dVc1XcU8P6TSPMfbl9kujGaoZAxmmBVzuOISHkUc4B1Z730coyx5nDTtRaudGIzyLhtTbHWXPuCCIHxaq47QmSjU1GKPWyTm43bmBYakSvGplSAH8W6R7agk9PqzLzpLqfAv4/s1600-h/penyrolewen.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0-gbW1dVc1XcU8P6TSPMfbl9kujGaoZAxmmBVzuOISHkUc4B1Z730coyx5nDTtRaudGIzyLhtTbHWXPuCCIHxaq47QmSjU1GKPWyTm43bmBYakSvGplSAH8W6R7agk9PqzLzpLqfAv4/s400/penyrolewen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383674670169393810" /></a><br /><strong>Pen Yr Ole Wen from Tryfan - the slope in profile was my big session this week, 2200 feet straight up times three...</strong><br /><br />As well as aiming to get the fabled 10,000' of climbing in each week, I like to ensure that at least half of that climbing is done in one session. So because time was pressing (I've seen a job to go for and wanted to get home and start preparing - hope at last?!), i wanted to do as much climbing in as short a time as possible. This means finding a big hill with an unremitting slope and getting up and down it. And so, on a fine Thursday, I drove to Ogwen and parked right opposite the stile gaining access to the Carneddau determined to get at least 6000' in. The direct route up Penyolewen (Hill of the Witches i think?) from Ogwen is a 2250' slog straight up and was perfect. I decided to do three climbs, and therefore 6750' up and down. Mentally this is tough. You deprive yourself of the pleasure that a more natural route provides and there are no small climbs or level bits to provide respite. It's either steep up or steep down for four hours or so.<br /><br />I did it, and was delighted to note that all three splits were similar, 47 mins, 45 mins and 48 mins for each climb. Mentally, that third climb was tough. I'd done a short race and a 2300' brisk fellrun in the days leading up but found that steady climbing didn't seem to be inhibited by those recent efforts. It was a terrific day with some gorgeous views from a fine, high summit.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2AZlIwlM5Rl6O4_3u5IIpkmd7mzrQGKMNX9cSpA1JzxrxLLujWUDR16b0uQ5OYd8iTfti_DRZw2gQYenHWCNF_Kq8Egoi71HKvU3uI7ocTCMVpW4WTLY0vHukhs8tDblRM48RqAhyphenhyphenKU/s1600-h/penyrolewen2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2AZlIwlM5Rl6O4_3u5IIpkmd7mzrQGKMNX9cSpA1JzxrxLLujWUDR16b0uQ5OYd8iTfti_DRZw2gQYenHWCNF_Kq8Egoi71HKvU3uI7ocTCMVpW4WTLY0vHukhs8tDblRM48RqAhyphenhyphenKU/s400/penyrolewen2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383674674823533970" /></a><br /><strong>View to the northern Glyderau</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9pb4ya01o0WI559QySDtMThTjVIUAK49nK8FwU1e4kdzGlpUYE7wzz6LhKbIElktmVGCgWgTtCz2R8CDQQnZxV3NuPh6VgksQddDeMYx-ROCdf2Ry5Z5WCp0qwZV3RgC9tPhLkHiJpA/s1600-h/penyrolewen3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR9pb4ya01o0WI559QySDtMThTjVIUAK49nK8FwU1e4kdzGlpUYE7wzz6LhKbIElktmVGCgWgTtCz2R8CDQQnZxV3NuPh6VgksQddDeMYx-ROCdf2Ry5Z5WCp0qwZV3RgC9tPhLkHiJpA/s400/penyrolewen3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383674683586771618" /></a><br /><strong>The summit and Carnedd Daffyd beyond.</strong><br /><br />The rest of the week was very mixed. Tuesday saw a multi-terrain race of 5 miles on Thursaston beach. I ran poorly, no shock after the Trial on Sunday. I'm quite keen to make up for that in the last of the series next week. Weds saw me hit my best time of the year for my Moel Famau *2 run, 1:16, despite a poor run the evening before - odd.<br /><br />After the big day on thursday, i did a slow up MF on Friday and then rested before doing my first ever triathlon in Nantwich. It was a bit different and my swimming was predictably poor, but i was ok and loved bombing round on the bike. I did the 500m swim, 20k bike and 5km run in 1:19:25. It was a fun experience, even though i was a fish out of water. <br /><br />So with a race, a triathlon and three fellruns, it's been a mixed week. The good thing is that i'm not injured, didn't drown and i recovered well after a really hard day last sunday to put in a good, tough week. Surely i'm getting stronger?<br /><br />Week summary<br /><br />Mon - rest after Mountain Trial<br />Tues - 5 mile multi terrain race, good start, wheels came off midway and i jogged home heavy legged<br />Weds - MF run, 1:16 - best time since restarting my training, second fastest time ever (best was set just before BGR, 1:15). 7 miles, 2300'<br />Thurs - 3 ascents of Penyolewen - 6750'<br />Fri - 500m swim, MF run, 1200' - slow and steady<br />Sat - 45 min cycle<br />Sun - Sprint triathlon, 500m Swim, 20k bike, 5k run - 1:19:26 - such a rookie....<br /><br />Total - 11,000'ish, no more than 40 miles<br /><br />Tune in Head - a few this week, including Tiny Dancer (Elton John), She Bangs the Drums (Stone Roses) and, weirdly, the Overture to the Marriage of Figaro which is 100% my mum's fault.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-41615922289745209422009-09-14T14:19:00.007+01:002009-09-16T10:58:38.390+01:00Sunday 13 September. T'was a trial alright!This week comprised of just three runs, all of which were extremely memorable but different reasons - one was short, wet, windy and 'orrible, one was quite long, laid back, warm and just lovely whilst the other was hot, marathon-esque (indeed it was 26 miles!), tense, difficult and stunningly beautiful.<br /><br />After last week's Peris, I was a touch tired and took Monday off to allow a recovery for Tuesday's Wirral Multi-Terrain race at Wallasey. Despite being only four miles, it was a tough little nugget with a puddle-infused beach, plenty of rain and a strong wind. This was made tougher still by having clubmate Andy breathing down my neck and me enduring a strange sensation of wishng he would pass me so i could ease back whilst holding him off the best i could. I just about made it, showing that the speed has not totally deserted me!<br /><br />I was busy wednesday but Thursday was a lovely day, out running with Steve and Sarah on the Howgills. The weather was perfect and we had a great day taking in about 13 miles and about 4500' on a shortened version of the Sedbergh Hills race. I believe the Howgills to be amongst the best running ground in the UK as far as i know and they did not disappoint that day...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4V48w89_DGjjcGbdmN7NUCa_hJ8QtrOM7-cBoHiq-uo0z79jYActgp0KYkkia29YswhHnBnLzCEsmAWE1dZwQFs6ajn-mO-cUF3_nrCwJzafmkYKohMSFWSJCxnTvI-5MQ8JQjAlvxLQ/s1600-h/10092009271.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4V48w89_DGjjcGbdmN7NUCa_hJ8QtrOM7-cBoHiq-uo0z79jYActgp0KYkkia29YswhHnBnLzCEsmAWE1dZwQFs6ajn-mO-cUF3_nrCwJzafmkYKohMSFWSJCxnTvI-5MQ8JQjAlvxLQ/s400/10092009271.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381319813575683330" /></a><br /><strong>The lovely Howgills</strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YTgb2qfl7Gviejc4syr3KcPzBjDdTCU5TwrhZbhByEI-qEOmpgpTAajsTiYLlhoRZUW5l_MmpkxjfZDWRP1zMUCnwwfeHVicMLfvUuJvLJliAjZ0JO8R8m1un0zk4FpHHbD7HbiK8Do/s1600-h/10092009267.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2YTgb2qfl7Gviejc4syr3KcPzBjDdTCU5TwrhZbhByEI-qEOmpgpTAajsTiYLlhoRZUW5l_MmpkxjfZDWRP1zMUCnwwfeHVicMLfvUuJvLJliAjZ0JO8R8m1un0zk4FpHHbD7HbiK8Do/s400/10092009267.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381319801159397650" /></a><br /><strong>The lovely Howgills II</strong><br /><br /><br />Then i decided to rest completely for the Lake District Mountain Trial on Sunday. I wanted to do well, and at an advertised distance of 16 miles (approx) and 7,000' ascent, i thought this to be an optimum distance for me - Peris-esque and in my beloved Lakes. I prepared accordingly and took what I considered to be the right amount of food and drink.<br /><br />Well, they did say approximately! The route was a monster, brilliantly tough on a warm day. The route started and finished in Eskdale, but took in the catchments of Wasdale, Borrowdale, Langdale, Little Langdale and the Duddon Valley. It was 26 miles long and had between 8000 and 9000 feet of climbing in for most poeple (some took better routes with less climbing, but not numpty me, alas...).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPzUdRCpBVPMNU-fHZlkSs-ffB2fyca1DvITCSWzzuWfH6ym8lKKjixoQj8nZi-bKX6IfeaVNQCPVuO6AxlyOXFU96viFWxg3tqYz-WSwR1CrMe4Ej0BLXEQCfsTbBFCXuhBKFdla8mI/s1600-h/LDMTA+map+09.png"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPzUdRCpBVPMNU-fHZlkSs-ffB2fyca1DvITCSWzzuWfH6ym8lKKjixoQj8nZi-bKX6IfeaVNQCPVuO6AxlyOXFU96viFWxg3tqYz-WSwR1CrMe4Ej0BLXEQCfsTbBFCXuhBKFdla8mI/s400/LDMTA+map+09.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381323036398294450" /></a><br />Image of map - with controls taking in the slopes of the Scafells, Allen Crags/Glaramara, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Great Carrs, Harter Fell and Green Crag.<br /><br />I started ok and had a strong middle section but ran out of gels and water and faded fast on the streamless ascent of Great Carrs. I bonked, as fellrunners say, and fought hard to crawl home over the last 2 hours. A chap from Horwich was as done in as me and togther we limped home, wondering why we were so tired. I think the LDMTA need to think about their marketing of the distance for this event to help people prepare. If i;d have suspected a 7.5 hour run and not, say, a 5 hour run, i'd have taken more food and been mentally ready. It was a great course, but took some adjusting to!<br /><br />So i'm knackered again on a monday, which i like. I'm not so sore as all that, just heavy legged. Will get out on the bike in a bit and see how that goes. But with 13 weeks to go before the big day, I feel like i'm getting stronger by the week. With events like the Trial, it's hard not to.<br /><br />Week summary - 13,000' ascent, 45 miles, 3 runs<br /><br />Tune in Head - Tomorrow Never Knows, the Beatles (had a bit of a Revolver week actually)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-31554835719013483362009-09-06T11:44:00.015+01:002009-09-07T15:19:30.727+01:00Sunday 6 September. Peris the thought...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6ETqMpw8yxnf40nKUDmHBN3xzFGyKmE8uWN65aUeZRHvVBua1ykznQqVggQUMUFxvpKyt2hcF7QjXcF-R-0tMJZdoMUIt6FItPjSMry60ryijGeGH4AoxPN5xDjEERf22MrsrqfGGis/s1600-h/Peris+1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6ETqMpw8yxnf40nKUDmHBN3xzFGyKmE8uWN65aUeZRHvVBua1ykznQqVggQUMUFxvpKyt2hcF7QjXcF-R-0tMJZdoMUIt6FItPjSMry60ryijGeGH4AoxPN5xDjEERf22MrsrqfGGis/s320/Peris+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378304193060908706" /></a><strong>16 miles and 8500' of ascent down, 2 miles to go on the gruelling Peris Horseshoe.</strong><br /><em>Photo Alistair Tye, with thanks</em><br /><br />Just four runs this week but today (Sunday) Douglas Bader would kick my ass over 100 metres. It's been a superb week's training, including two very very different races, both of which went pretty darn well. Right now, my legs feel heavy and tired in that satisfying way that comes with having done a big race.<br /><br />And Peris is a big race. A quick flick through the FRA calendar reveals that only Wasdale and the OCT have more climbing in a single day than Peris's substantial 8500'. That's more than Jura, Borrowdale, Ennerdale, Duddon - tough classics. It's 18 miles long, and 3 of those miles are on runnable tracks (including 2 lovely quick miles at the end where the top photo was taken). So that's 8500' of ascent and descent in 15 miles.<br /><br />Its route includes 4 summits above 3000' (Elidir Fawr, Y Garn, Glyder Fach and Snowdon itself) and two other summits (Lliwedd and Moel Cyngorian (sp?)) which are no pushover. Much of the ground is rocky, there are some navigational issues, local knowledge is a real advantage (alas I had only a cursory knowledge of the critical parts of the course, cocking up the line to Penypass completely and losing many hard won places) and it's committing and tough - a proper hard race. In my view one's fellrunning education is not complete without having done it. <br /><br />I loved it. I was tired on the start line having done 8 railways on Thursday, a fast Moel Famau run on Weds and a short sharp and fast trail race on Tuesday - not great prep. I got a bad start, with rock solid calves reducing me to a painful walk up the first climb.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKxBF53a1ZqIZpoW9IX4IMdGZHgmcjkr2XqS1ap_VCLQz-dHq6rGMau62ZarBW-R7Z17rF1AwnT-YvX_HYDXDfELUPKa_StuA210466A17opPhz5IgTfq1shAocIusOJw4hDd1DsAoAw/s1600-h/peris+2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKxBF53a1ZqIZpoW9IX4IMdGZHgmcjkr2XqS1ap_VCLQz-dHq6rGMau62ZarBW-R7Z17rF1AwnT-YvX_HYDXDfELUPKa_StuA210466A17opPhz5IgTfq1shAocIusOJw4hDd1DsAoAw/s200/peris+2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378308915144193122" /></a><br /><strong>Looking pissed off on the first climb - calves screaming before they warmed up!</strong><br /><em>Photo c/o Gwynfor, with thanks</em><br /><br /><br />But the calves loosened up and i spent the rest of the race eating gels, scoffing sweets and moving through the field, making up places. My legs were a bit tired all the way but i still managed to run 4 hours 37 mins, which is a reasonable time. I was expecting more like 5 hours. I think with more course knowledge and fresh legs, i could get under 4:15, maybe 4 hours?<br /><br />That race meant a cumulative ascent for the week of almost 14,000'. What's encouraging is that the recovery time is getting quicker. I was tired after 8 railways on Thursday and didn;t run Friday, but ran well at Peris off one day's rest. This bodes well for the latter stages of the BGR when you have to pick yourself up and push on with tired legs. <br /><br />The other race this week was the 4.7 mile multi-terrain race on the Wirral at Royden Park. Having spent all year getting beaten by all my peer group at Tattenhall, this was the first time i'd finished ahead of them, with just the three really fast guys ahead of me. <br /><br />Fast running... quick recovery... this training lark seems to work!<br /><br />Week summary<br /><br />Mon - rest (Bank Holiday)<br />Tues - Multi terrain race - 300' ascent, some rough off road ground, 4.7 miles, 33 mins<br />Weds - Moel Famau run, 2300', 8 miles, 1:19. Did 1:18 two weeks ago but this run was the morning after a race so 1:19 is a good run considering.<br />Thursday - 8 railways and then the club run. @7 miles, 2700' ascent<br />Fri - rest<br />Sat - Peris 18M 8500', 4:37<br />Sun - Much needed rest<br /><br />Totals: 13,800' ascent, 38 miles<br /><br />Tune in Head - Love is the law, Seahorses (drifting into Mark and Lard's version occasionally!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-88585813172288360342009-09-04T11:19:00.011+01:002009-09-04T17:47:18.560+01:00The Tattenhall Railway - a profile<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0bRtHyCThz7HuepE2H68DbW4CO2vuQDbWFbZ9Gn-taJqL3QBbtQg5N69PWbjMS5NoYk44Ma4eb7BB6IoMJdNRwSLUmYE6_ZtllEWjyA8fxMSBlozW_mCNBW0-coDX_WqmWxR8AxvvQo/s1600-h/railway+2.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD0bRtHyCThz7HuepE2H68DbW4CO2vuQDbWFbZ9Gn-taJqL3QBbtQg5N69PWbjMS5NoYk44Ma4eb7BB6IoMJdNRwSLUmYE6_ZtllEWjyA8fxMSBlozW_mCNBW0-coDX_WqmWxR8AxvvQo/s200/railway+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377563956909667810" /></a><br /><strong>The top half of the railway from above</strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceQff9hBi0nV9u5pomNlcnRVu8g3KKgmx92Dii6sSDigJg6v4HrQVeD0iVIBfwMCC8mMgNMSvW2CbP7a7iu8vXZ9yGRtogs8mNoHPziWV7vdC4CRorIQVpj89x68RkT9yddBycbVuFUk/s1600-h/peckforton+hills.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgceQff9hBi0nV9u5pomNlcnRVu8g3KKgmx92Dii6sSDigJg6v4HrQVeD0iVIBfwMCC8mMgNMSvW2CbP7a7iu8vXZ9yGRtogs8mNoHPziWV7vdC4CRorIQVpj89x68RkT9yddBycbVuFUk/s200/peckforton+hills.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377563949001148226" /></a><br /><strong>The Peckforton Hills from near the top of the railway</strong><br /><br />I thought it useful to shed some light on the Tattenhall Railway, which keeps cropping up in the blog. What it is not is a typical railway track. It has never seen a passenger in the conventional sense, indeed there's precious little about this little gem that you can call conventional.<br /><br />It is actually a narrow gauge track (a "hauled tramway") rising 105 metres vertically up a wooded slope to the top of Bulkeley Hill in the Peckforton Hills south of Chester. It was built to enable the construction of a hilltop covered reservoir in the 30's and has since provided a terrific training resource for runners. It is a favourite amongst Tattenhall Runners' fellrunning contingent and is surely hated amongst most of its roadrunners...<br /><br />It is the feature of dread for most of the competitors in Tattenhall's annual Tough Team Race, a 9.5 mile multi terrain race held on the nearest Friday to midsummer which is done in teams of three and is a very popular race.<br /><br />For me though, it's my outdoor gym, the place for a 'power' workout. As well as doing lots of hillrunning, I think training for a round needs to include some strength work on your legs, similar to lifting weights. Something that's not about pacing or time on your feet but a session that is all about working so hard you can barely stay upright. The railway is perfect and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get stronger. Whatsmore, there's no costly monthly subscription.<br /><br />But what it is like?<br /><br />Well the photos do not do it justice. It's a narrow, rapidly steepening corridor amongst the trees. It looks terrifying from the bottom and the top! It has a series of mini-'sleepers' which provide the footing you need to get up and it is so steep that running is nigh-on impossible. The best I can manage in the steep uppoer stages is a run-shuffle where you have a lead leg and you bring the other to meet it. This is slower that walking though. At its steepest, it's about 45 to 50 degrees.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6S2cudlCZrKzudGadZDVO3Kwjuj55okfWQPFbf6KvHmEWxGeol0qp6u99pqU9FBG15eyj3dO0INSxOUyF377bJLG__knt9A4P_JI3ucWopnuzWx62heKk9g0O8Hff_PyGQJk2uIrI_Y/s1600-h/railway+profile.bmp"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA6S2cudlCZrKzudGadZDVO3Kwjuj55okfWQPFbf6KvHmEWxGeol0qp6u99pqU9FBG15eyj3dO0INSxOUyF377bJLG__knt9A4P_JI3ucWopnuzWx62heKk9g0O8Hff_PyGQJk2uIrI_Y/s200/railway+profile.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377563961300753506" /></a><br /><strong>Garmin profile - four railway ascents....</strong><br /><br />The profile shows four ascents (ignore the first peak) as captured by a GPS. The run between them is a wider loop which acts as recovery, although I usually just pick my way straight down. <br /><br />A steady plod up takes about 4.5 mins. My fastest ever just before my summer BGR was 3:06, running all the way. Two guys in my club who are faster than me have broken 3 mins by running the first section hard and then walking the top section - a tactic I will try out when i'm a bit fitter.<br /><br />So when you see reference to railways, this is what I mean. If you're ever around Chester, try it!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-32476821873741073002009-09-01T15:20:00.007+01:002009-09-06T12:26:15.359+01:00Sunday August 30. Stepping back.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhItzXsuAKu3TjTnJTfAkD0FxCc9OjdWR2qg59QQwCleflyj7FmQC9-TeGxqejYm_jkuEMrb2nM7YjVwbtdeXG5xJi1C2jfWsS_b89FumAuO5RQbDefCUqNGaMbis42E4e9vaKFdKVMEc/s1600-h/cheviot.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhItzXsuAKu3TjTnJTfAkD0FxCc9OjdWR2qg59QQwCleflyj7FmQC9-TeGxqejYm_jkuEMrb2nM7YjVwbtdeXG5xJi1C2jfWsS_b89FumAuO5RQbDefCUqNGaMbis42E4e9vaKFdKVMEc/s200/cheviot.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376506376968624434" /></a><br /><strong>The Cheviot and its many satellites - scene of this week's long day out</strong><br /><br />This week I realised that I was tired, moody and leg-weary. So i decided to have an easier week which resulted in just 9,100' ascent and more rest than usual. Hopefully that'll help me for two huge events that are looming - the Peris Horseshoe and the Lake District Mountain Trial. Both are big days out and under race conditions and so another tough week leading up to them would have surely pushed me towards injury and burn out?<br /><br />So what better than a Long Distance Walking event so get some time and distance in without pushing too hard? An opportune visit to the inlaws in the north east meant i could jog round the Cheviot Challenge - 22 miles and apparently 4200' climb (i'm not convinced of the amount of climb). It was nice to explore a new area, pratice some navigation and be one of the first back (it was not a race though, i kept telling myself!). <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGZPWt36fdKrgG7_oiuj6t_23zv_K_ExrdGsAdKFEYlNTsDHjoLs_9gnwiYYm3Lj5YzinggwLD55K-jibiaowkuW0jZ6t9_D6ZDDgFsEDSGQbKIfFG8OfR6wyD7wMr44TdqFe2W1EgFE/s1600-h/bloodybush.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGZPWt36fdKrgG7_oiuj6t_23zv_K_ExrdGsAdKFEYlNTsDHjoLs_9gnwiYYm3Lj5YzinggwLD55K-jibiaowkuW0jZ6t9_D6ZDDgFsEDSGQbKIfFG8OfR6wyD7wMr44TdqFe2W1EgFE/s200/bloodybush.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376506561490293330" /></a><br /><strong>Summit of boggy Bloodybush Edge</strong><br /><br /><br />I feel like my legs needed the break. During my weekday runs i felt strong but tired and my instincts were saying to listen to my body. Peris on Saturday will tell me whether that worked or not...<br /><br />Week summary:<br /><br />Mon - Straight up MF, 16:30 - not bad, not quite as quick as last week but still good going. 4M 900'<br />Tues - 9M, 1900' - MF run from Cilcain, towards Loggerheads ascent and back along ridge - lovely run, felt sluggish<br />Weds - rest<br />Thursday - 5 railways on my own and then an 8M run with the club which had about 700' in it (inc another railway) 2100', 10M<br />Fri - Rest<br />Sat - Cheviot Challenge - a very easy paced 22M and 4200', 5,5 hours in the bogs!<br />Suj - rest<br /><br />Total - 9100' ascent, 45Mish<br />Tune in Head - Superhuman Touch - AthleteUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6547418848604624425.post-52956087158380083362009-08-24T08:53:00.006+01:002009-08-24T10:10:39.474+01:00Sunday 23 August. The best fellrunner in Rossett?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPjHcOBcvT22HQl2ntHRxEeDcJFKD37BoTNLnvOz4W6YCkHuQPZBbUmgF-QrH050BaArZKH0vXmiSTaDRVRhiTo6FNt2HNjAER56iesbbvsICsLAa4-svTs4I-1d9Wjb2Vy3OdFL7vxU/s1600-h/gable+from+wasdale.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPjHcOBcvT22HQl2ntHRxEeDcJFKD37BoTNLnvOz4W6YCkHuQPZBbUmgF-QrH050BaArZKH0vXmiSTaDRVRhiTo6FNt2HNjAER56iesbbvsICsLAa4-svTs4I-1d9Wjb2Vy3OdFL7vxU/s200/gable+from+wasdale.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373438437285637874" /></a><br /><strong>Great Gable from Wasdale - will I make it here in the light on the big day?</strong><br /><br />It's a bit of a stretch to conceive of a winter round in August. Right now, i'm just trying to get fit. But sooner or later, I need to think hard about how I'm going to approach the logistics of getting round this magnificent round mostly in the dark. <br /><br />I'm no stranger to nights of the fells, in fact I'm getting rather typecast as a 'night leg' runner on Bob Grahams and Paddy Buckleys. I like the navigation and judgement elements for sure, but what i love most is watching the sun come up whilst moving along my beloved fells. <br /><br />But deep into my long run on Friday on Wasdale to Honister leg I started to question what I was doing. After all, i've done the BGR so why do it again? Why do a round that's mostly in the dark? Why ask people to help you at a time when they are building up to Christmas and could probably do without the weekend before being spent on the fells in the dark helping someone with their indulgences? I started to have doubts about this whole enterprise, which seems born out of the fact i've got time to train hard all of a sudden. I mean, why do a winter round? Sure I'll be the first person in my running club to have done a winter round, but so what? That's like puffing my chest at being the best fellrunner in Rossett (my village).<br /><br />Of course, the answer lies in your own head and not in how the achivement may or may not be perceived by others. The fact is that my recent experiences of working hard in a poisonous and intergrity-testing environment before taking redundancy has severely damaged my confidence and I need a boost. I need this year to contain an achivement that outweighs the failure that characterises 2009 to date. I got out of that place with my integrity intact, which I'm kind of proud of, but it hurts nonetheless, and did throughout all of my time there. This winter round is a salve for my shattered confidence, and whether I get round or not, it's a chance to get back to a level of fitness that brings confidence and pleasure gained from long hard days in the hills.<br /><br />I had such a day on Friday, with a jaunt around leg four (clockwise) of the BGR with some extra climbing thrown in for good measure. It was a superb run, starting at Honister, running easily to Wasdale over the beautuful Moses Trod and then back along those lofty leg four fells including the steep and testing Yewbarrow, the mighty Pillar and Great Gable and the pain in the ass Kirk Fell which always seems tougher than it looks. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lP77TLs2wCXF1J5yv0O6v8D4FaPB-8ha2CLTLUS3VQruKl11roHWwBQygpTmTjpbZOhAOi12_yRXzsEXlWuRTGdCL4wPy8RNfmjWdO7jHspmq2uOsXMGyR-7KOJ3q8FPGWqehxneges/s1600-h/broad+crag+and+lingmell+from+slopes+of+gable.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lP77TLs2wCXF1J5yv0O6v8D4FaPB-8ha2CLTLUS3VQruKl11roHWwBQygpTmTjpbZOhAOi12_yRXzsEXlWuRTGdCL4wPy8RNfmjWdO7jHspmq2uOsXMGyR-7KOJ3q8FPGWqehxneges/s200/broad+crag+and+lingmell+from+slopes+of+gable.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373451093755024818" /></a><br /><strong>Lingmell and Broad Crag from slopes of Great Gable</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKiYLJ2Svr5pOz1vcsErjC_XBR8Byz1gkA_Z36PRcM78a8sAvTioyA3KWUAf-f_lPx6gEaDUFwrrmF_C-euXHmy-yPCbYiAEWx5GwIyYJWYGUs3w92AIODHIvgPftD4mxgCyjMlgjWVM/s1600-h/gables+from+moses+trod.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlKiYLJ2Svr5pOz1vcsErjC_XBR8Byz1gkA_Z36PRcM78a8sAvTioyA3KWUAf-f_lPx6gEaDUFwrrmF_C-euXHmy-yPCbYiAEWx5GwIyYJWYGUs3w92AIODHIvgPftD4mxgCyjMlgjWVM/s200/gables+from+moses+trod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373451106893055698" /></a><br /><strong>Great and Green Gable from Moses Trod</strong><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm06_Iem8GNuf6nvNXb3eUpn6gEpdGNhKvSHfXsUQ7cGONEfF-XqQJ2Lui4TNkAJknXzpyZl1KH7B-8hlfOSLKZUP7Mb21sHx19wo1akQhPoGl3rZ7TT9FbCWa1ImChZTIBUYOSXJ14M/s1600-h/buttermere+from+moses+trod.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNm06_Iem8GNuf6nvNXb3eUpn6gEpdGNhKvSHfXsUQ7cGONEfF-XqQJ2Lui4TNkAJknXzpyZl1KH7B-8hlfOSLKZUP7Mb21sHx19wo1akQhPoGl3rZ7TT9FbCWa1ImChZTIBUYOSXJ14M/s200/buttermere+from+moses+trod.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373451096639853058" /></a><br /><strong>Buttermere from Moses Trod</strong><br /><br /><br />The weather was kind until Gable, when the clag dropped very quickly and i had to get the compass out. I was well inside the BGR 23 hour splits without busting a gut, apart from the trip from Yewbarrow where a fall and some sitting arond meant i did that split dead on the scheduled 50 mins. Still, the cut and bruise on my thigh justifies the whinge.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJKu6t8-dTrXDUkqtKIb462Iq8sK8v9Xqlvr5Ug-gdniEnjoT4QiXGSorYqH9ThLPgEKXQkrpqKAWVn9WNl9vRXC_jEIAjB-Ul36NGY9gN4hXfG2RcNrO3hIEs7fzRkp5WM-CTpf3uSU/s1600-h/24082009235.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJKu6t8-dTrXDUkqtKIb462Iq8sK8v9Xqlvr5Ug-gdniEnjoT4QiXGSorYqH9ThLPgEKXQkrpqKAWVn9WNl9vRXC_jEIAjB-Ul36NGY9gN4hXfG2RcNrO3hIEs7fzRkp5WM-CTpf3uSU/s200/24082009235.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373451115437337506" /></a><br /><strong>Ouch!</strong><br /><br /><br />The swelling has gone down but it's still real sore. The slip had me fully in mid air before my whole bodyweight landed on a sharp flake of rock through my poor thigh. Descending was painful after this, but it could have been worse. It did mean staying off it for a couple of days but i'd got enough climbing in the bank this week already - 14000' to be precise!<br /><br />Last week I was lamenting the lack of obvious improvements to my fitness after three weeks of hard training. Well i needn't have worried, this week has seen some much better, faster runs and much faster recovery from them - it's working!<br /><br />I've been doing two particular runs each week as a measure of progress, and i'll do at least one of them every week right up until the taper to see where i'm at. This week, my 'twice up Moel Famau' run, which is over 7 miles and climbs and descends 2300' took 1:18. The three previous weeks saw times of 1:23, 1:33 and 1:34. When i did the BG in summer 2007, i got this run down to 1:15. Hopefully next week will see me hit this landmark. The other litmus-paper run is the Moel y Gamelin ridge run, which is an out and back from Llangollen's horseshoe pass. It's 7.5 miles and climbs 3000' on some steep but entirely runnable paths. Last week i ran this in 1:36, this week I felt strong and ran 1:27! I was delighted with this as i was feeling a little leg weary and know there's more there. My pre-BGR form has me doing this in 1:24 so again, after four weeks of tough training, i'm getting there...<br /><br />I like monitoring the times of my training runs, something i don;t normally do. One lesson is to get into that habit in all my training. It makes you run harder and helps you to concentrate. It makes for really stimulating running.<br /><br />Things are going well then. Being the best fellrunner in Rossett might not be anything to write home about, but great runs on the fells are and i'm thankful that i'm getting plenty of them in. <br /><br /><br />Week summary:<br /><br />Mon - MF*2 run, 7M, 2300' - 1:18 - cracking run<br />Tues - MF from bottom car park, 1000' up in 15:28 - a record for me on that short run<br />Weds - Moel y Gamelin ridge, 7.5M, 3000' - 1:27<br />Thurs - speed session with Trev's group at club - sprinting hurts!<br />Fri - BGR leg four+ circular run from Honister - 19M, 8000'<br /><br />Total - 14,300' climbing, @45 miles<br /><br />Tune in head - A mixture this week, some AC/DC in there (Back in Black, resisted air guitar mid-climb!), some Pink Floyd too (plodding to the 7/8 of 'Money' works on big climbs i find!) and various 80's bilge filtering in and out, oddly....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0