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Perfect 9

2012-01-31T04:03:00.000-08:00

Perfect 9
Quick end of month catch up:-) . Sore knee tendon has restricted running a bit and Jan has been ok training wise but could have been better. How many of us say that tho ?

Highlights1#- I booked on the Conison -buttermere UTLD recce but when i got to the top of newlands pass one of the lads had stopped us all going down as someone had abandoned their car on the steep bit of the pass and one of our recce runners had slid into it while trying ot turn around. Yes it was a tad icy ! However a four of us managed a lovely run down newlands to buttermere and along to scarth gap pass and back.If i had forgotten how tough lakeland is i was soon reminded. I asked a question a while back if UTLD was a tough as UTMB and someoen said it's a difficult one as UTMB has all the climb plus the massive differential in temperatures you can get (from 30 plus ot minus 10) but lakeland is a relentless foot wrecker. The route makes you go thru bog that over endless rocky passes. In a lot of ways its would be much easier to go over the tops in my opinion. scath gap pas is by no means the worst of them (or best of them as i love the rocks ) but it makes the Lundava road on the whw look like tarmac !. Still lovely all the same .

scarth gap pass

Highlights2# was the whw weekend get together at the Oak tree in Balmaha and the race that follows. (Thanks Ian and sandy for thinking the whw weekend up ) . The weekend was a 30 mile run from Balmaha to Inversanid hotel and back. I enjoyed the route and was surprised I had forgotten so much and how lovely it is.

Loch lomand ( i didn't mean t get he bird and rainbow in - i just fired my mobile camera in that direction while running

TBh I was never feeling that grand in the run but ran it all the same and enjoyed the scenery and chat. I should have guess something was up when later on I struggled to eat the lovely burgers they do but never thought much about it and thought it had something to do with not drinking for three weeks then having several pints the night before a 30 miler. Well that’s what we do isn’t it! Mind , the weather was more than kind with being just a tad nippy and some light rain but compared to this 2009 pic of my first ever (and most glorious ) whw training run with George and karen it's was quite a differnece.

whw above beinglass somewhere.

Walk run up conic hill and the foothills of Ben Lomond the next day was also a lovely easy day before the planned Bein glass –Inversanid rock section the next day but unfortunately became nauseous on the evening in and then really bad during the night. By the morning I was feeling absolute shite , throwing up and worse so the run was knocked on the head . The 200 mile drive back wasn’t fun. Positive tho are I ran 30 miles of trails not feeling grand without too much of a problem so that’s good in my book.

Oh and i've lost 10 pounds. (not thru illness !) Doing about 2 pounds a week but i expect that to slow down a bit and the next 10 wil take longer than the 5-6 weeks of the first. Fact is you are very unlikely to lose more 1.5 -2 pound of Fat a week unless you are over 20 stone and any more just isn't fat.so i'm happy with that. Mind i'm still 10 pound more than pre-first foot break weight (Nov 2009)but its better than 20 more :-) Whether i get to my ideal 'fighting weight' by the time my first target come along on June Ist is debatable but i'll try my best.

so the Perfect 9 then,highlight #3 :-

I do love the 10 mile distance and a like and I may even give up Ultra’s for a year to concentrate on them and shorter distances one year So to top the 400 Mile round trip the previous weekend I thought I would go for a 700 mile trip to see my bro, niece and family for not a 10 miler but the Slaughterford 9 .

And so to the 3rd highlight of the month and to be honest this was just magic. The race is a mixture of boggy muddy trail, bit of country road and track but not too much, starting near Corsham and is organised by Chippingham Harriers. And what a fantastic job they did !

Very cold and misty we parked up at leafy lane playing fields and into the changing /rooms where Tea and coffee were on offer and after a quick talk everyone runs the half K to the start near Rudloe .The start is downhill on a country road. My bro decided to go for a Pee at the start so we started right at the back. We had chip times so I expected to go over a matt at the start but we didn’t but hell I was out for a nice run with my bro so I wasn’t bothered about time at all and didn’t look at my watch or put a stopwatch on.

The track road turned to track then a narrow woodland path of mud and bog thru Rudloe wood then Collets bottom wood almost continuous ups and downs slipping and sliding. You would think with all the aggressive soled fell shoes I have you would have had some decent footwear on but my choice of shoe had been based on what was in the car boot as I hadn’t thought to much about the race but this was one where I definitely needed grip and the NB trail didn’t have any ! Woods gave way to fields and muddy slippy grass. Tbh we could not see much in the thick cold mist but I kinda like that-gives the race an errie ghostly feel.

Erkwell wood, hussy hill wood, weaver wood followed and up to Slaughterford . Every turn was brilliantly marshalled, all smiling and encouraging. I really loving this race!

Endless misty country fields all with their little muddy hills followed on our way round to Colerne and then we turned back towards the start. Befoe I knew it there was muttering around me about the river crossing and a very step mudfest of steps down to the crossing appeared. Down the stream and the first little kick in the races tail ,instead of crossing you have to travel up the stream about 50 metres and about thigh deep freezing cold water ! magic !

the muddy 'slide ' down to the stream

I had been holding my mobile phone to take a few pics for the club report (which I’ll probably never get round to doing lol ) when a marshal shouted do you want one of you and took a quick pic. Again very well marshalled and all very friendly. Then the real kick, the finish is about a mile of very steep very grassy very muddy hill –just wonderful .

the last hill (you can't see the top )

Goody bag at the end with a T shirt (saying did you run the hill on the back – sorry to say I didn’t as I could hardly stand up ) and then back to the leafy lane playing fields for a cuppa and then the quarryman for a pint of lethal Black Rat-proper cider i'm told .

Proper cider !

So to round up , a truly almost perfect course , tougher than many a short fell I have run , chip timed , brilliantly marshalled in beautiful countryside with a decent T shirt in the goody bag all for ..wait for it £8-00 ! No doubt about it , if my bro isn’t out of area next year and maybe if he is I’ll be back to race this one properly .
Perfect 9 .

2012 Musings

2012-01-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

So 2012 and all that.

Quick catch up , races . Hexhamshire hobble fell race 10.5M, Saltwell Park 10K, Simonside cairns fell race 11M (got lost and did 13.5). There may have been others ! Nice run outs but still way unfit and getting slaughtered by club mates I used to beat. Oh and i did captain cooks fell race a little worse for wear on New years day instead of the Hardmooors 30 (http://hardmoors110.org.uk/cms/?q=node/141) where i broke my foot for the fourth time last year. I wasn't going to tempt fate! I did go over to see Anna and help out after and again ended up presenting the prizes as the RD, Jon steel was taking longer than he thought(wasn't well poor chap). A rough night , fell race and unshaven - the vid won't look good !

Some of you will know Hardmoors is close ot my heart. Low cost Ultra's over fantastic tough terrain-What more could you want! So it was good to see over 80 entries. The course was very tough due to the lashing rain and a finihing through 10 mile of bog! Henry Morris has a good blog of it here : http://www.ultra-fit.me/2012/01/03/hardmoors-30-112012/#comment-2687

I wrote a blog on fetch on the 2nd of Jan that just said ‘so far so good ‘ . Well compared to the previous year when my foot broke for the fourth time on New years day it kinda is. I do have a slightly inflamed tendon on my knee that has annoyed me but you know we all like to train but I don’t think missing a bit of running over the Christmas period is that bad. When a mate told me he was training hard over Christmas I said yes but it’s easy for you as you’re not popular, have no friends , your wife hates you and have no social life. (Yes those who know me well know I missed my calling in the diplomatic core). I know it’s not a popular thought and we feel guilty when we do a little less but you know family and friends ARE important so I’ll take a bit of time for them.

Mind this is easy for me to say as I’m not really in full on training yet. After all the foot breaks I said I would not really start till the New Year but instead work on a routine and just enjoy being able to run again. I’ve more or less done that now. It’s not set in stone as races and life/work /races will change it but my x train to victory plan (where my victory is getting to the start line fit and well and doing well in the races) is something like this at the mo.
Oh the start lines, with the exception of only my second tri (first one was a sprint tri with the foot stil dodgy) are probably familiar. Hardmoors 110, Lakeland 100 , Outlaw Ironman distance tri and UTMB if I’m lucky in the ballot. Yep the ones I ran some of on virtually no running last year as either a recce of training or because I just wanted to despite zero training.

Yes 3 DNF’s if that’s what you want to call them. I think of them differently. I know some folk have a problem with that but I don’t. As I said before what you’re really worried about is what people might think of you. I’m not. I’m even quite chuffed I went out and ran 100miles with 20,000ft ascent of the Hardmoors course (to my mind one of the most difficult courses in the UK ) on just 3 weeks back walk/ running. Think about that. 3 weeks walk /running. Of course I want to run them well and do myself justice. I want to be as fit as I can be and fully fixed. Hence the Cross training has taken over for now.

So :
Mon gym & swim.
The Monday eve swim being 100 lengths at the mo. The tri I’m doing is equivalent to 152 lengths so my thinking is I’ll do two thirds of that and pick the rest up in open water later . I have no idea if this is good or not but it fits in with life. Mind it seems I have a real problem with pools. I come out sneezing and like I’m full of cold. Sometimes it’s really bad. Last week after tri sess on the Friday eve it was like I was completely hung over .Seriously, 20 pints job. It took nearly all day to clear. I’m going to try a nose clip and see if that helps. The session takes about an hour. I don’t try and do it fast but try and think about form and not football and pretty girls. Pool swimming is more mentally tough than physically. I’m not a bad swimmer but I would like to get quicker.

Tues:
Gym (usually a 10k row or 45 minute cycle with sprints every minute on the minute) followed by an hour of 5-a side. What footy! yes I know I said I wouldn’t play but footy is just like an interval session and anyway I miss the craic with my mates .
Wednesday
is a light run with the club or nowt.

Thursday
Round my 10M trail if I’m in in time or two sess in the gym. *

Friday is gym and tri swim sess. I quite like these because they just say do these do that and it’s a cracking workout without thinking about things.
Saturday is long run /race
Sunday is long cycle At the Mo that about 50 -60 –miles with my new cycle club. I’m enjoying these.

*I should point out that when I hit the gym my sessions are tough. Cycle , row, or elliptical (my gym has one with the foot going up at 45 degree angle , very much like climbing hills . It’s a killer. So it’s not a soft option and it’s low impact of course. I should mention i do some weights as well but for some bizzare reason i have never recorded them.

Add to this some morning gym sess when I can drag myself there (I’m just not that good on a morning) and that’s it for the next few months. Come the spring more running/cycle sportive’s etc will take over but I’m conscious of doing too much on the foot. Mind from the spring I have a couple of 50 miler training races and other races that will up the ante but for now I’m happy with this for now.

Mind I haven’t mentioned my weight .There is no getting away from it; weight is such a big factor. It’s fairly bloomed in the last couple of years. I tried to get it down last year when injured but when I can’t run (or do much at that time) I get down and I eat and drink. It’s something I need to control now if I want to meet my goals. I was up to 210lbs. That’s the biggest I’ve been in 5 years since I started running in fact. I’ve dropped a few pounds and have a target of about 170lbs. That’s not going to be easy at all but it’s a target and something to aim for.

So 2012 . I predict it will be warm and sunny with a slight cooling breeze :-)

Long road back.

2011-10-10T14:27:00.000-07:00

Long road back. (when will I learn !)

Well , chest infection seems to have cleared and the long road back to fitness can start. So, I went out to watch the match on Friday instead of swimming. Had a few beers and was just about to leave when Al and J came in. The rest is a blur and I came in at 3am . I was picked up for the first cross country of the season at 12. I could not have felt worse. I must be getting old!

Needless to say I hardly ran well. I’m terribly slow at the moment but this was a near death experience! After I sat down on the grass to watch the ladies start and then wandered over to a coffee wagon (never seen one at XC before!) . I needed coffee. It’s here I bumped into a Blackhill bounder mate Ian and we watched the ladies fly past. He asks what’s next for me and I say nothing big till June. In fact I say I’m just going to try and get fit again and apart from fells I won’t be racing much. He says he’s doing Kielder marathon tomorrow and I wish him luck saying I must do it sometime. At this point some random runner turns round and says do you want a number for it ?

When will I learn?

So a club mate gave me a lift and we set off to the wonderful Northumberland Kielder reservoir. A new path was laid recently and it just happens by some freak of nature to be 27 miles round! Perfect for a marathon! Our North east marathon club already do a low key event there but I marshalled that and supplied the water down the inaccessible North Shore by humping it round on my Mountain Bike.

This is a deceptive race. The only bit of flat is at the Dam Head. All the rest is constant up and down with nearly 2000ft of ascent. However it is all very runnable.
I started at the back and just after the start my Mp3 player came off. I don’t often run with one but I knew I wasn’t in good fettle so I thought some tunes might help. Two runners stood on it but I retrieved it and it worked. I was now plum last. No matter, as I stared to run and came across a friend Susan plodding along. I decided to chat and run with Susan for a while as we often meet at races but rarely have time to chat. I think I ran with her for 4-5 mile and then moved on when she had to have a loo stop (with it being a walking path some loo’s are on the way ) .

From here I had to make a lot of ground up and I probably knackered myself out a bit doing it because after 20 miles I was shagged. I’ll probably do it again next year to put that one right and after what I heard was chaos last year this year was very well organised.

So a real struggle for me but 32 miles done for the weekend and a good kick-start to the training even if they were piss poor miles.

Next big race is June 3rd so plenty of time to get it together and hey , I’m not broken-everything is possible. :-)

Lochnagar , Lakeland100 &UTMB

2011-09-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

Lochnagar , Lakeland100 &UTMB

Lochnagar was just lush. I’m so lucky to have such great friends to show me these places. We did the 18 mile loop with mike R doing a bit more as he flitted to various other hills. Some mountain bikers were hauling their bikes up for some extreme fun.

I fancy some of that. I'll no doubt be back.

and no i didn't run up all the way but i intend having a go...

Near the top we stopped to pay our respects to Dario near the place he passed away. I didn’t get to know Dario well. We only met a couple of times but he was one of those people who could inspire. I didn’t say much here as my thoughts were with those close friends who were on the top when it happened and how the memories must have been overwhelming for them. We had a tot of whisky in his memory. Now I hate whisky, I’m not really keen any spirits tbh but twice it’s tasted good. Once after I finished the whw (you haven’t finished unless your tot is drank) and here today raising a glass to Dario. Enough said.

Later that eve, I had a lovely time in Aberdeen with Mike, Redwinerunner and badger . heck they do some cracking beers. I’ll be back soon :-)

And on the way home I go them Arbroath smokies. And yes they tasted amazing.... helped of course by the brewdog beer :-)

LAKELAND 100 (UTLD)

So a few days later and it didn’t matter that my legs were still a bit stiff form the duathlon, the 10 miles of hills running with loon and lintie and Lochnagar as I had decided not to run any of the Lakeland100. To close to UTMB and I’m now captain sensible. Come Thursday evening I was a right grump and even more so Friday morning . at about 9am on Friday I changed my mind and decided to run some of it at least. See I knew the2nd half ,the 50M race was tough but I was intrigued by flanker and others telling me the first half was far tougher . I figured I should find out for next year and promised myself I would not let myself get knackered of hurt finding out.

Of course this meant a bit of a rush. Throw our gear in the car plus the tent and stuff and off we went . I say we, as Anna decided she MAY run the 50 or at least some of it if I was going to run . She was undecided. Yeh right. I knew she would run despite her sore limbs. The car journey over should have been about 2 hours but a broken down lorry, tractor and then following a boat being towed meant we were late. A quick call to Firemanotsam and he had registration sorted for us. Cheers mate. Into Coniston and I was still putting the tent up with 20 minutes to the start.

At 5pm we are off into the hills and sure enough the first half is so much tougher. I’m not going into details but it was amazing. So much bog. So many climbs. How many sharp rocky passes!! .. Don’t get me wrong, these are the things I love the most. Twas Wonderful.

I met up with Anna at the start of the 50 (the 104M starts at 5pm Friday and the 50 at Dalemain at midday Saturday.) promising she would only run some but for me by then my feet were in a bad way. Firemanotsam help me bandage them but I wasn’t that hopeful of them staying in one piece. Also, like many other the heat was getting to me. I managed to get over to Howtown , running all the way from the dirt track into the cp but by then my feet were shredded and I decided to pull out to save them . See I am captain sensible !!

So another 67 miles under my belt and the first half recce’d for next year. I have no right to be running at the mo so that will do me . Anna also ran about 30 miles of the 50 and wasn’t to hurt. :-)

This race is truly amazing . A wonderfully tough race and to be honest it has inspired me. I loved it .It shall be my main target for next year when hopefully given no breaks I will be fit again.

UTMB ,

And so to the big one. I flew out on the Monday to acclimatise. Had a lovely time with friends and one or two lovely runs in the mountains. One from the top of the cable car at Les Houches with the others and one on my own after visiting the Aiguille de midi. I’d gone up for the altitude and stayed up a while watching he climbers and stunning scenery. I’d gone up after seeing lorna off in the TDS so it was still pretty quiet and stayed up a good couple of hours before it got busy. The weather as it had been all week was glorious but that high up it was pretty nippy even with my early birthday pressie my insulated North face jacket on.

Cable car over to Italy

I took the cable car down to the 2nd station and from there decided to walk down. After about 5 mins this became a trot then a good easy pace run. And what a fantastic run it was. 3000ft plus of descent hairpinning through pine forest. Just magic.

As the race neared the town is a buzz of runners. It’s a bit like the tour de France but for running centred on this one picturesque little town in the mountains. The weather had been boiling hot all week but now the clouds gathered. Not sure what time it was but we got a message that the start was delayed 5 hours for a storm overhead and the last climb was going to be missed. I was a bit peeved by that but I think with the UTMB now you have take it that the race will change and UTMB years will all be different unless of course they have very good weather.

At 11:30 pm we set off into the rain. The first 10k is along mostly flat trails which gives time for the field to string out. after that and we were through les Houches and my first taste of support. I say first but to be honest the whole route has been lined with people shouting Allez Allez Allez and ringing cowbells but each town was just something else . They must compete with each other to provide the most stuff and have the loudest support. It was magic.

Up the first climb to Delevret. Not a bad climb and I was enjoying myself. The paths were a bit of a mudfest and I noticed a fair few having trouble with what I call cross shoes. You know the type, road shoes with a bit more grip. These are fine for most trail races but today my mudroc’s were the business in this and I climbed fast and descended faster. I was having a ball. Well I say that but I was just starting to have a few problems with my breathing and was coughing a few time. Nothing I was worried about but it was there.

Saint-Gervais was awesome. Every food under the sun, all the drinks you could want and a carnival atmosphere right through the town. Just awesome. That said I had decided I would not hang around any of the cp’s too long –far too nice.

Then it was the start of a 8000ft climb to Croix du Bonhomme with 3 cp’s along the way .i think it was here I really started not to feel that good and although I flew down into Les Chapieux I really knew something was up . I was starting to cough a fair bit and just wasn’t feeling good. I thought it might be the Altitude. I hadn’t felt anything on my runs but I was thinking that’s all it can be. After all in Ultra terms I had hardly stated the race.

The next climb was a long one up to the Col de la Seigne and in Italy for the first time. I’m afraid this is where it got really bad. I was not in a good way and could not stop coughing. I’m not a bad climber but I had to stand aside for loads of people and had slowed right down. The climb seemed to last forever. I took my phone out and switched it on and snapped a few shots before sending a text saying I wasn’t doing so well.

I was getting really pissed off and just how poorly I was feeling but there was not much I could do. At the top I was pulled over and asked if I was alright. Of course I said yes but I knew I wasn’t. I ran the long run down into lac Combal only stopping when a photographer with a huge camera was taking pictures . I looked over my shoulder to the left and saw this . I just had to stop and take a snap.

and the first question I asked was about the cut off’s .bit to near for my liking seeing as I was going so slow. I had a quick drink and sat for a few minutes behind a tent out of the wind coming off the glaciers and could not stop coughing. I popped a pill and moved on. I had about 2.5 hours to get to Courmayeur at about halfway. I knew you can actually walk in from here if you wished because the cut offs stop being so tight but I had no fancy for that. The climb from here to Courmayeur was only about 2000ft climb anf then a long run down. I was about halfway up and couching my guts up when I decided this was daft. I just wasn’t well. I turned around and walked back to retire. I had barely been going 14 hours . Nothing in terms of Ultra races .

I lay behind the tent out of the wind looking at the magnificent sights feeling little sorry for myself and coughing my guts up. Still I knew I could not have continued.

Back at the chalet I find Helen (super-fast winner of many races) in her bed dying of flu. She had not made it to the first checkpoint:-0. I lay on the sofa and coughed like a barking dog , ate pizza and drank wine before falling asleep. Later loon came in with much the same symptoms. It seems likely we had all picked up the same bug. More gutting was Lintie who was fine but had been timed out. This was so unfair at she had timed her runs to perfection to get inside the cut off only for the organisers to reduce them for no reason just before the race. Grrr.

Later we all watched the finishers come in in an atmosphere I can’t really describe. Again I can only liken it to the tour de France. Amazing support. The average finishing time btw was 42 hours and only 47% finished.

Our disappointments, tempered by watching our friends(random scottish punters (not all scottish either) come in. Along with John ,mark & bob, john Graeme coming in brought a tear to our eyes. My club mate Tom also finished in a good time.

And this too

Oh well disappointing but from my point of view not the end of the world. Shit happens as they say. I had a great time in Chamonix with great friends. Such an amazing place and amazing race. I’ve said this before, it’s the people who make races. Like the West Highland way, the course is great but it’s the people who make this race. The organises and the runners. I know a few people out there who flit from race to race who never grasp or see this. They have run everything and experienced nothing. This is one of those races. It’s more than just a race.

Next year (all being well - Should I get in and I’ll do the TDS if I don’t ), I know what I will do different in the lead up to the race and what gear to take.

The 1st of this month was eight months since the fourth foot break and her I am still ok. Instead of binning the few big races I had booked in I’ve done what I could of them without risking too much or breaking anything. Ultra cautious I’ve been saying :-)

Even though I’ve been woefully unfit, barely done any consistent running (more than 2 months) for the last 20 months among other things I’ve recce’s both the first half of the Lakeland 100 and the UTMB and both have inspired me. I know some folk just can’t get there head round not finishing a race but would I have really recce’d both these races had not. Better not to run ? I find that sort of thinking laughable. What are you sacred of - what people might think? Like I said, I find that laughable. I’ve had a blast along the way as well.

So now I have 3 seasons of training (fingers crossed) with nothing big or important till I have 3 big summer races . I’m looking forward just to running again. All the local races and fells. Getting fit again and losing so of the lard.
So even though I was still coughing yesterday I did the 9.4 miles of the Derwentwater Trail race, one of the Lakeland trails I love so much. A grand time was had in the rain and bogs and my 46th birthday as well. I’ve missed these races .

More Please :-)

No blindfold needed. :-0

2011-07-15T06:36:00.000-07:00

I felt good after the Cateran. 32 mile on just about zero training was great and although no one seems to believe it, it would be nice to finish the 56 but really I didn’t mind. I’d had a choice of scrap everything till utmb and just try and get fit or as they are all bought and paid for, do what I fancied , see my mates, party a bit and have fun. After all, they have all been paid for. My only concern was wasting my support team’s time. However everyone i spoke to were more than happy form me to take my chance knowing that there is a good chance I would not finish.

A quick word on this. Some out there seem to take the view a DNF is the worst thing in the world. That’s fine, as it’s their view. My view under the circumstances is different. I’m not looking for adulation. I run for myself. I don’t need a pat on the back. My running is my own.

June 4th

So 6 months and 3 days after breaking my foot for the fourth time , I was on the start line of the Hardmoors 110 , one of toughest UK courses and my favourite race (so far). First 20 miles I was a bit hot and bothered but after than I had just a beautiful pure run. I loved every minute. I flew down the rocky steep descents for the first time in a long long time ran strong and turned my head torch off to look at the stars. Sun Rise from Roseberry Topping was lush

and soon the coast.

At about 70 odd mile i started to wane. I wondered when it would happen. Had a poor 10 miles then picked up again? Got to 101 and decided that was enough for today. What with just 12 miles to go ? As I said, I’m doing this for me. Very Happywith a 100 and it just goes to show one poor run (at the cat) just two weeks before doesn’t mean anything. Many thanks to spicey , Lisrun and Bomb who were fantastic support.

Twas the 9th June ..Blaydon Races.

Following week was the lovely 5.8 Mile Blaydon races. Legs a little sore so I ran round with Melar as she had a bugger of a cold . I’m just wanted to get round she says. 4 miles in she’s dying of cold but and her friend T comes past. Can’t have that she says and picks up. My legs aren’t really working tbh and I feel my hamstring - A sign i shoudl have heeded. T comes back at her but Melars pulls away only a few minutes down on last year which is magic considering her injuries and the fact she could hardly breathe. Fish n chips back at Melar manor . Magic eve.

June 18th .

Two weeks later I was up for the whw. I do love this race. Milled around at the start chatting to loads of friends then had a short kip before the off. Five miles in and I’m struggling. Opps ! that’s not good. Santa goes past and we have short chat. I say I’m ok and I really thought it’s just my usual slow start. However at 13 miles I’m 35 minutes down on last year and last year I only trained for 9 weeks, So even that wasn’t a great time then. I tell my support (thanks David K ) my legs don’t feel right.

By conic hill, where I think the race get interesting they were shot. My crew waited knowing something was wrong and instead of my usual lash down I stepped down gingerly. I knew the game was up. At 20 I pulled out and after I could barely walk. Well just goes to show you can’t miss all that running and leap from one 100 miler to another. Unfortunately it was so early we could not get in the hotels for another 9 hours so we took the decision to head home. Gutted I didn’t see Santa pick up her goblet but maybe just as well as proud as I am of her I really didn’t want t see that leg :-/

June 26th
Following week I did the wonderful 10 mile Cronkley fell race and my legs were still knackered.Struggled big time .

1st July

Then it was over to Sedbergh for the Friday eve schools fundraiser sports day and fell race with Kev Scone. Proper old fashioned sports day but with beer :-). Missed the 60 yard dash and got there in time to see Kev finish. Then it was straight into the potato race with bean bags not potatoes.:-/ We cross the line together , Level pegging for me and kev then 1-1 . Then it was the fell race. Only 3 miles and any thought on this occasion it may be easy was soon blown away as the small field shot of along a country lane to the foot o the hill. Then it was straight up. What a bugger. Once at the top asked what hill it was and was told ‘that’s not a hill lad …- that’s the hill!! ’ and sure enough this was ‘the knot’THATt was the sickle. More climbing with my legs screaming at me and you guessed it straight down. Magic. I beat Kev but not by much. 2-1 . Missed the egg throwing completion but was soon tying a girl up for the 3 legged race.Tight enough but not to tight. No blindfold required apparently.. Disputed finish. I thought we were in line and seeing as the lass I was tied to had the most enormous chest I reckon we won but kev’s having none of it and declared himself the winner. Ah well 2-2 and off to the pub for hydration-till 3 am … kev now has no limit!

3rd July
The new Lakeland trail Coniston marathon . Great race and wonderful scenery. I think it’s my new favourite marathon. My legs weren’t great still but getting better. Great fetch meet up as well.

Next morning I swam across Coniston and back.(without a wetsuit-it's summer FFS ) I think I may do all the lakes . I do love it when the sun is shining (as it always is of course) and you have the whole lake to yourself . Magic.

Then we did the last 11 of the Lakeland 100/50.

Beautiful course but I have yet to decide whether I’ll run. I keep changing my mind on this one. Do it cause I love the bit of course I’ve done and it’s paid for .Leave it and be fresher (possibly) for UTMB. I really don’t know. There also the point’s factor. If UTMB goes tits up for me then I have no points to enter next year when I will (hopefully) be fighting fit .There also a bit of a debate as to which is the toughest , Utmb or Lakeland 100. I don’t care to much for comparing Ultra’s but I would like know for myself. I’ve often thought of grading some races on a flipscale as the UTMB points system is Kak. Probably decide the day before.

Up to Melrose last week to see in the double 25th birthday of Rentys good lady C . Great time had by all and a fantastic run in the Eildon hills the following day. What brilliant hills. 3 large lumps covered in rocks and heather with a myriad of single track paths . Just wonderful. Thanks Renty. :-)

I was at a meeting with various volunteers and Rd’s from our regions Parkrun , hosted by th founder Paul Sinton Hewitt and Tom Williams (of marathon talk) . Great event and we also learned more of the new Durham Park run plans. I will of course give my full support , volunteer and help out as much as I can as I do with all the other s but and this isn’t easy as it’s friends who are setting up , I hate the course , foresee loads of problems and think it will weaken Sunderland Parkrun . Of course I’ve not held back from my view to my mates. Yes man I’m not. I hope I’m wrong of course and it’s a fantastic success.

But that’s not what I was thinking of during the meeting. I was thinking of the Olympic Flame lighting. Is there a campaign I can sign up to have Paul light the flame? I can’t really think of anyone better.

So still taking it fairly easy here, still woefully unfit but I’m running and enjoying running
Next up the Northumberland coastal run . The most beautiful run in England . . Last year I gave it a miss and went to Scotland to break my foot again for the 3rd time. One year ago this weekend. My brothers home so hopefully will get a run with him and let him know the birthday present Ultra I have planned for his 50th next year :-)

Take care :-)

TITS, BUTTER & CAT.

2011-07-06T14:06:00.000-07:00

TITS, BUTTER & CAT.

After my tri and mini trashing of my legs Anna and I went over the lakes to do the first 28 of the Lakeland 50 . It was the same day as the fling where I should have been but felt it was not worth the risk to my foot and of course with only a few weeks running I could not really do it justice. It was a red hot day for the flingers and us and the heat did take its toll. That said I enjoyed the course and my first major run -28 miles . Happy with that. Not too much to soon and all that and of course e my foot felt ok. We didn’t do the next 16 the following day as Anna blistered all her feet. I’m still thinking I may drop to the UTLD50 instead of the 100. I know a few are waiting for my photo blog of it (I took photos of nearly all the turns but I haven’t had time yet.) .

TITS (ten in ten marathoners and Fred Whittons er)

In line with my cross train cross training and trying not to run too much just yet the following weekend was to be no running but to be a small part of some very special stuff namely supporting the TITs. That’s the brilliant Ten marathon in Ten days marathoners and El bee’s amazing attempt at 10 Fred Whittons in Ten days. Heck I know some amazing people!. The marantoners do the Windermere marathon 9 time before joing the masses on the proper marathon day. The oldest is 73 !!

The Fred Whitton if you don’t know is a 112 mile cycle sportive around the lakes taking in all the hardest passes in the lakes and as El bee said in his blog, that’s just the ones that take the headlines and in between them are just loads of other hills that in other parts of the country would have a name like ‘mountain hill ‘or suchlike but in the lakes they merely get a nod at being a decent bump. The day before I looked at the profile and stuck it on facebook with the title ‘FUCK’ . Norna commented ‘we did wonder if you had read the manual’ I hadn’t of course. In fact I’ve only had my road bike a couple of months and done one 60 mile, one 40 Mile ride, and a handful of 10 mile TT’s . Less than 200 mile of cycling ….ever…well since I was a kid on my chopper.
Spent some of Thursday getting a drinks in for marathon TiTs

and wishing them well, then off to the pub where I met up with a group doing the Fred starting an hour and a half behind us. . I joined them for dinner and told them all about El bee. Now they all wished him well but to a man didn’t think it possible. That’s a bit of a theme. Every cyclist I spoke to said not a chance. The last being the owner of a cycle shop I went into on Thursday morning to get some new gloves. ‘ I’ll ’ give him two at most and you’ll be lucky to finish one’. I shall enjoy popping back in.

Met up with El Bee at 6am in Coniston to a slightly panicked Mr bee. Several Months of meticulous training and planning and on day one he forgot his shoes! . You have to laugh and we did .Of we went and Hawkshead hill was first, followed by Kirkstone pass and then Materdale head which is higher than Winlatter. I enjoyed them both and was pleased to cycle up them. Of course El bee barely broke sweat. Round to Keswick where the amazing SarahL met us with El Bee bike shoes.

Now for the loop that I did with El bee because I could not run my favourite Road race The Keswick Buttermere round. I managed most of Honister but was starting to zig zag to get up the steep bit only to have to move a side for a car. Had to get off and push but was soon on again and made it to the top. El bee waited wondering what all the fuss was about lol. Down t’other side. Now aren’t bike brakes shit? You are just better off letting go and hoping you don’t meet up with the stagecoach bus or a dozen huge Chelsea tractors that take up the whole road. Newlands pass, (made most of it) and Winlatter pass and we were half way at cycle wise stop and a nice coffee. (if you are in , thank them for looking after el bee) . At this point I was ok except for a bit of throbbing in my thigh muscle. I suppose I’m just not used to cycling. I was more worried about holding Mr Bee up but then again I thought it might just be a good thing and he was adamant he wanted my company.

Then over to the west. Along the way we got to chat a bit and I have to say I loved this way of seeing the lakes. I love running but you can’t half do some mileage on a bike and of course you are higher up so you can see over the hedgerows. Tuning back east and over the exposed cold fell hills with the wind in our faces and heading towards Hardknot. Along the way I was starting to become weary but also my thigh muscle wanted to leave my leg and get the bus home every time we climbed! So all the little climbs were worrying me as I really really do not need an injury right now. We agreed El bee would go on at Hardknot and after a little photo shoot ant the red telephone box of doom Mr Bee shot off into the distance taking on of the hardest passes in England with ease. A wonder to behold. He had told me that the first and last part was the steepest but I should be able to manage the rest. He was right and that what I did. At the top I had a bit of a rest and chatted to some fell walkers and a couple of cyclists (spreading the word) Down Hardknot & on towards Wrynose.

Now I think the bit of walking I had had calmed my thigh and I was determined to give this one good shot. Fuck it hurt but I managed to cycle it all. As el bee had said , he is 40llbs lighter than me so I think I did ok to do what i did especially when i'm not even running fit never mind cycling fit. This cycling is all about power to weight ratios. (ok my bikes not geared for hills either ) I’ve just got mine the wrong way round :-) .that was the bloody easy bit though! The descent is a zig zag of 20 and 30 % falls and as I said bike brakes are shit ! Problem was I had a stream of cars coming up. I thought the brakes would burn out. Interesting to say the least.

At the bottom I was not 100% sure of the way and one choice was another big hill I didn’t fancy if it was the wrong way, so it was map out and find my way home. lovely run back to Coniston to find a happy Mr Bee waiting having completed his first (and slowest because of me anchoring him) Fred. He looked great. In fact I think I said this is exactly how I would want you to look with the 9 days ahead. I hope I helped a bit and I had a great time . I got to do a Fred Whitton and see the lakes in a very different way. I’m inspired to do the race next year and climb every pass. Off course we now all know he did it and did it in style and most of it in some terrible hail, wind and rain..

but Mr El bee set fire to the rain ......because he can.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXdoZaXk4Oc&feature=player_embedded

Next day was more cycling and providing sports drinks for the marathon Tits. Met up with Lisrun to see them off them drove down the lake and Lisrun ran 4 mile down the course while I cycled cheering on all the Tits. We turned back when we came upon liz . Heck she looks in good shape. Gave her some American sports drink to keep her going and left her when we got to the cars. I later had one ready for Foxy. I should be a nutritionist :-)

Sunday I was meeting up with some like-minded folk for a swim in Buttermere. But I thought I might give El bee a laugh first so I put my wet suit on in the YH (when questioned I just looked them in the eye and said ‘you haven’t seen the weather forecast have you ‘ ) got on my bike and bike the wrong way up Honister. Fuck I was hot. Walked into Honister YH at the top and asked for a large pot of tea. El bee and Stepford wife arrived and laugh and smile were achieved. Nice pot of teas for them and rode back down Honister with them to see them on their way.

BUTTERMERE

Bit late for the swim and most of the other were in except my friend Emma. Mark was down the lake swimming the whole thing without a wetsuit. He’s swimming the channel in the summer and his swimming is fantastic. Emma and I swam down the lake and then across and back. It was cold. I had left my goggles and hat in the car . The goggles I didn’t need but the really cold water can really freeze your head. Actually the worst thing is my teeth . When its really cold the hurt ! Buttermere was beautiful . A sort of blue green and clear as a bell. Swimming a few time across and back I just tread water for a while in the middle of the lake on my own watching the mountain waterfalls. Wonderful.

CAT ERAN

So a weekend of no running. I didn’t do much during the week either as I had the cateran 56M on Saturday. I did do the wonderful sort of cross county 6 miler on the Wednesday called snods edge although i took it very easy. Another great race. It’s invitation only and last year I remember writing this is one of the reasons to join a club . I haven’t changed my mind.
Friday and it was off to the cat. It’s been a year since I last ran an ultra and I was so excited. I love this race and love the people there. Hadn’t seen so many for ages ass I had been able to train .It was particularly great to see sandy who had just run a zillion miles on the whw and was marshalling. Unfortunately the race didn’t go well. I thought I would struggle a bit .

Weeks 5 weeks back running and not even running every week at that I can’t expect anything else.

However that wasn’t it really. From the off I didn’t feel very well. Bit queasy and wanting to visit the woods. I plodded on thinking I would run it off. I’ve had this sort of thing before and you usually do. However at the Blairgowrie CP ,32 mile in sat down ,something a rarely do in a race and when I got up I had a sharp pain in my knee. It wasn’t there before . I tried to run it off but it was a sharp pain and would not go away. Gave it about 10 minutes and it wasn’t going. So reluctantly I pulled out. I just can’t risk an injury right now. To much I want to do and I want a full summer of running and winter on the fells.

Mind although I didn’t like it wasn’t gutted. 32 mile is the furthest I’ve done for a year and the foot was ok. I’ll slowly get there. Anna did brilliant. I knew the course would suit but the weather was foul in the end and she came in smiling :-) Congrats to all the lovely finishers and to Lintie for putting the whole thing together.

So I’ll run at the weekend and test the knee. Taking each day with care, the super cautious me. Hopefully all will be well.

Today I uploaded my Medical certificate for UTMB. I need to be as ready as I can be for then.

So Now 6 weeks back on the foot and its holding up well . I know the races coming up wil be a struggle. My lack of fitness is very telling thats ok cause everythings alright and i feel fine :-)

http://www.youtube.com/v/AW5alabHgYo

Tri Running & TT Fun

2011-05-02T07:26:00.000-07:00

So the Cartmel sticky toffee pudding

18k trail walk turned into a jog and I had a blast. Of course the main thing was the foot held. I was fairly careful with it all the way round but you know I’m kinda nervous about it. Poor Anna had the chest infection I had and could hardly breathe so she did her anchoring job –just not how she would have wanted! Heck it was good to have a run out however slow.

Following week I waited to see if there was any reaction but thankfully none to speak of. Cross trained an had my first open water swim with and without a wetsuit. I also did a circuits class among other but this one turned out to be run by a physio I’ve been liaising with. Now a bit unexpectedly he was against my self imposed running ban and said if it didn’t hurt I would be better of doing some running along with other stuff. This is good because I’ve been looking at he wall chart and Hardmoors is only 6 weeks away. So only 5 weeks try and get to the start line - Zero miles to 114 miles and 22000ft of ascent. Now I know you can’t replicate a winters training but I think I will see what I can do whilst still being cautious.
So- thought I see how my legs feel after a mini trashing.

TUESDAY 19th
My first run around my 10 mile loop in 5 months. Loved it.

WEDNESDAY 20th :
Relay Race ! Ok only 1.65 Mile relay but heck they hurt. Put on for free by a local running club,. Wonderful night.

THURSDAY
Rest.

FRIDAY: 22nd
Maske 10K . Talked into a 10k at Maske. I did it last year. It hurt. My time of 50.25 hurt more! Bugger so so unfit and slow.

SATURDAY 23rd
Anniversary waltz fell race (Keswick) : 11.5 miles 3,600ft of ascent.

What a wonderful race ! Despite struggling with my fitness I loved it . the climbs were just fantastic and trying to hang on to a ‘ghost ‘ in front when the clags was down was excellent fun. Had to be real careful on the downs where I normally make up time but twasn’t to bad :-) . I ended up just being just behind oven gloves who pulled away on the lovely descent over catbells and the finish. Mind I was fucked. I was ready for the end of this one but I will be back next year much fitter i hope . This is the must do and must do well list.

halfway up the first climb.

trying to hang on to the ghost in front

and a lovely easy classic finish

more pic's here

Link (roll over me to see where I go)

SUNDAY 24th

North Tyneside 10K .

Well I was just going to wait a the bottom of the hill and run it for a bit of fun with Melar.I refused a couple of numbers because I didn’t want to take a number from someone who may want to race but on the Sunday found two friends had spare numbers and with no takers so I thought why not. I have to say my quads were trashed and I just enjoyed the beautiful coast and run nice n easy. As I got near the finish I came across a couple from my runig club. I cruised up to have a chat with Mike and said is that your Greta in front. Yes came the reply. I ‘’l go and say hello then . As I speeded up to say hello Mikes shouts, don’t tell her I’m here. Of course I pull alongside Greta and tel her exactly where he is and she shouts get me home flip and shoots off. With 200 metres to go I look over my shoulder to see Mike sprinting and shout Greta to sprint. She beats him by 5 metres or so . He wasn’t happy, the cantankerous old git. Brilliant and of course great to see all the usual great friendly north east fetchies giving it loud. :-)

MONDAY 25th

Ashington tri .

So my first tri. Probably not a good start when I could hardly walk down the stairs but there you go. Even worse when I got my bike out he car and had a puncture ! I had been over zealous in pumping the tyres up an split the tube ! Met up with Durham Dawdler, scribbler and riever with bomb, Mrs DD and Mr Scribbler on photo and support duties. We watched DD do his swim first-amazing to think this time last year he could barely swim. Excellent.

Amazingly scibs me and riever were all in the same pool start and me and scibs in the same lane. I had meant to change my time for the swim but had forgotten till it was to late. I had to ease myself in as now my quads were really not happy.
Number one went off followed by scibs who missed the off a bit and had the third on her feet and crashing by straight away. To her credit she kept her cool and swam a lovely even pace. I knew more or less I would have to pass all four and did so . In fact I was a bit surprised when the buoy went in indicating I two lengths left . I felt I swam nice paced and far from all out. Next time I will make sure a correct estimate of time goes in.

Out of the pool and you have a 70 metre dash (guessing this distance) along a path barefoot. I wasn’t keen on this and took it very easy. I didn’t realise till after this comes on your swim time. Again me scibs and riever were all in the transition long enough to say hello. Out we went and I was on Reivers tail . we cat and mouse’d a bit and came across DD on his 2nd lap . I passed him on the downhill and he passed me up the hill he’s been kind enough to show us the week earlier. (thanks DD & or all the other cycling/tri help ). We exchanged good lucks and went of to finish while riever and I kept the cat an mouse going. Now her I did give it my all . My quads were screaming at me but I could not catch riever in the home straight and he was to good & pulled away.

The 5k was uneventful with me plodding round fairly slowly. Riever beat me by a minute or so an DD by 4. (a full 26 minute improvement on last year . – magic stuff ) Scibs did brilliant on a hybrid bike and we all had huge smile on our faces after. Wonderful event, brilliantly organised and super friendly. I’ll be back next year 10 minutes faster. No pressure lol.

TUESDAY 26th
Carlton bank fell race. 4.8 Mile 850ft ascent. Now my quads were hurting along with everything else. Funny enough I felt strong, climber ok and even let myself spped up (not to much mind ) on the falls. had a decent race. Still well behind some I used to beat but collared oven gloves on the line and well aprt from aches and pains everywhere twas very good.

WEDNESDAY 27th .
Cycling TT . 12 miles .

Well that’s the running done for a few days . Tonight was my first time trail on the bike. 12 miles mainly flat with a couple of rises. Have to say my legs were not up for this now but I want to lay down a time and get a feel for it . Wasn’t sure of the course before the start and had hoped to keep someone in sight. Not a fucking chance. The guy on a spaceship blasted out he traps and I hardly saw him again. I tried to keep things even around 20mph and managed to do so for most of it - bit faster and a bit slower here and there.

My quads really know about this but towards the end of the first lap (of 2) I was getting the hang of it.
I concentrated on keeping a steady rhythm and started to enjoy and new feeling of hurt.. Another spaceship passed my by which pissed me of but I couldn’t catch him (he won) . Thankfully no one else did . I slowed twice , first when I didn’t know the course and 2nd when I mistook the finish . I didn’t lose that much. 34.09 , mid pack. my bike computer says i averaged just over 20mph which is a ok i think -well for now. Really enjoyed it- great workout and good fun. I want sub 30 though. I think I need to adjust my seat position and height and I think my foot can handle cleats. Might get some tri bars as well.

so they held up well enough and so did the foot.

Couple of days rest now and 50 mile soft walk /jogging in the lakes a the weekend. See I’m am still being sensible.

THURSDAY :

Right i'm off to the pub Now. I suggest you do the same . :-)

A slightly happier

fliperty :-)

UTMB ...It's all about it really.

2011-03-10T13:58:00.000-08:00

la la la love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uco-2V4ytYQ

Seems a lot of peeps having a hard or stressful time at the mo so i hope my catchup doesn't seem like a whinge .I’m very lucky . I have good health, a job and enough money to pay my bills. . Lots of folk out there having a hard time at the moment including a fair few friends of mine so a couple of bones that don't seem to want to stay put is nowt really.

So this is just where I’m at for those interested, two months have gone by since I did the foot again so no running here. It’s been a funny old time trying to train. I’ve mixed it up good and proper with spinning, gym bike swimming etc. It's all been fairly light stuff and in a way it’s not been too bad. I’ve had to stop now and again if I felt any hurt in the foot and the training has been far from all out because of it.

Probably the best thing has been the twice weekly tri club swimming session. I really can’t be doing endless lengths but in this one hour sess I’m directed to do whatever , usually before I’ve got my breath back from the last set ! . I was moved to the fast lot after on a couple of sessions but any pretensions of being fast as soon knocked on the head. If six of us are in the fast lane then I hold my own in third or fourth. If it’s only g, J and me in then I’m hanging onto their coat tails! Still I know I’ve done a sess and I like that. Mind i still have to be careful . I've pushed of a couple of times to hard and felt pain in my foot. Even swimming has its risks.

I’ve virtually zero roads biking so I accepted an invite to go up to Stirling and ride with Jules & co. I took up my cyclo cross bike after hardly being on it since I got it fully expecting to have to work a bit harder to keep up with the road bikes but how wrong was I . I joined the Stirling bike club social and development group as Jules said they teach how to ride in groups really well. Of we went and I was soon struggling to keep up!.Think i was asked if i had just removed the stablizers !

Heck I was knackered! Still Jules was right and I’m really pleased I went because I learnt so much. Riding close up in groups takes a bit of getting used to. Your wheels are only inches apart! Yet it seemed to work. Over dinner and wine Jules said in his inimitable way he would lend me a training bike and if I still could not keep up I may as well give up !! lol.

The next day I ditched the bike for one of Jules training bikes and it was a different world. A smaller but faster group of TRI club peeps was out and I more or less kept up. I was dropped on a couple of hills be not by much. I had two fantastic days not least for the company and ended up each day in probably the best Italian cafes around after each ride. Great craic .

After i headed north with the idea of walking the finish of the Cateran trail race at the spital of glenshee. I phoned ahead and they said there was very little snow and the hills were fine to climb. In the morning it was a different story and thick snow abounded. I didn't have the right gear for that but i can think if worse places to be stuck . The bar never closed either. Another time .

Keswick -Buttermere missed again . I do love that race. I doubt there can be many tougher or more beautiful road 20 milers (34k). Bomb went off while El bee reminded me how crap my bike was on road. (I kid you. Like the Stirling lot he was full of patience & encouragement.)

We went up Honister pass (had to get of an push the step bits) . My brakes were rubbish down the other side and man is that steep. Heck , i been out out the kona tourer bike a few times and it was 100 times better than this bike. Newlands was better but again had to push a bit then onto Winlatter which I made up, down and round and back up Newlands. Man I was truly rubber ducked. Great day out El bee . Great day and my foot didn’t hurt. 42 Miles of hills i think . Thanks Leon, i'll be poppeing back to do the same route again soon.

I got back and got the whip from the bedroom and thrashed the bike good and proper. It went on eBay and sold the cyclo cross bike and I have a shiny new road bike.

Naomi’s 100th came up fast. Of course I had hoped to run it but it was not to be. I’ll be there for the 200th though ;-) . In fact it was going to be a quick attempt by me,something I rarely do in road marathons but that will have to wait. maybe Loch ness in Otober or malaga Met up with Jim from the North east marathon club and George and chewed the fat in the airport. When we got there we found it had rained for two days and the course was flooded in parts. On the morning I took bomb to the coaches and it was freezing with a howling gale. Everyone was wrapped up in big winter jackets! I went back to bed. :-)

When I woke up it was warm and sunny with a slight cooling breeze.I was so pleased. Loco won the ladies race, collecting a trophy bigger than her .My first thoughts were ‘and your hand luggage allowance is …… ‘ Naomi came in with bomb both in great times considering the flooding , chiefy went sub 3:15 , stander took a huge chunk of his pb , B- lass got up from feeling well not well and ground out a decent half and everyone had a great race . With the sun out we were all able to celebrate at the finish line. I popped over to the bars across the road a few times to get cold beers. Twas Magic & the party was excellent as well.

So time went by. Two months now and I’m just feeling my foot will take some proper training at last.. This is good as my favourite race is only 11 weeks away. . …But… i find crazy sensible thoughts are going through my head. This is not usual or me at all. I thinking ‘can I run a 114 miles trail race with 20,000 ft ascent from zero running or if I’m lucky virtually no running and only cross training and zero winter training or long runs’ Is it wise to? And then there is the whw two weeks later. Another race I love. Do I want to risk the foot or give it another month or two? Never mind the Highland Fling and the Cateran beforehand. After all, I still have UTLD and SDWR. And, do I want to just get round. Why not give them up , do all the short local stuff I love and get proper fit.? Hmmm. Mind i will be gutted if i don't see my whw mates and most of all sandy pick up her goblet.

I know why these thoughts are there. A few weeks ago I was accepted into UTMB. (100 miles , 28,383 three counties , France, Italy, Switzerland. ) . Amazingly with all the trouble last year I still managed to qualify and then I was invited to share a chalet with some great Ultra running buddies.

It’s a big deal to me. If you know me, you know I don’t rally give a flying fuck about distance. I run races I like the look off -usually in lovely places. Ones that take me to great places in the company of lovely people. Could this be much better? A great race, in a great location with great buddies! And, the list of runners is like a who’s who of Ultra running. I’d love to watch this lot never mind be in the same race. In fact, I think it’s sort of becoming an unofficial European 100 mile Ultra running championship. I need my foot to be ok and be fighting fit to do it justice and of course savior it all.

I’m already resigned to missing the Hardmoors 55, in fact I’m now Race day race Director for the race. Big and daunting task being legally responsible for over 100 folks through the North Yorks moors.Especially at such short notice. Mind I’m honoured to be asked. It will be a very busy weekend as I’m supplying water and maybe some flapjacks down the North shore at the North East Marathon Club Kielder Marathon the next day.

This is lovely I hear you say, but I’ve been thinking about all the support I do. When I’ve been injured (which is the best part of a year) I do support where I can. Lately it’s been at various park runs and races.

However, if I’m going to have a chance, presuming the foot lets me and I decide on a just get round policy I need to train harder now. Unfortunately I have to work although as I’m my own boss I can play with the hours but still, this means just like running I need my weekends to do the equivalent of my long runs and races. Something to replace the long hill races doubles and such like I would normally do. The stuff that allows you to run fuck off miles and still walk ok after. I can’t imagine what my legs will be like if I do Hardmoors114 on nowt. . It will be a year since I ran an ultra and only a handful of other runs really and without all the hill races and runs I would expect my legs to pack in after. Should be interesting to say the least!

Anyway the shiny Bike has done about two miles since it was bought a few weeks ago. So this weekends ‘long run ‘is a probable 260K ride (Not all at once- I’m not El bee! -el bee (leon is doing 10 fred whitons in 10 days.. This is really really fuck off tough. Honestly , i watched the DVD the other day. Getting round once is the pinnacle of most good cyclists dreams . This is madness. Read about it and sponsor him at http://10fw-in-10.blogspot.com/ )

... No, it's over to the Cumbria, Yorkshire dales border taking in some beautiful dales and a couple of decent hill climbs, one of at least 1500ft, round yet another brilliant and beautiful race (dent dale)i should be running and back again for a night out with a great mate and to pick up a lost treasure on the way. Weekend one of ten training weekends . Mind i've just seen the weather forecast and If we get the heavy snow i'll be trying ot get the train back.

Anyway , no decisions about anything to make for a while so i'll just enjoy my training and see where i end up. I may be alot more upbeat next month . Soon the lighter nights will be here and some bike TT's start and the open water swims make the training more interestin. i might even run sometime.

oh and if you have some good tough x training sessions i'm all ears. I think i'd like to row a marathon but you need buns of steel to stay on a rower that long.

Still....

stay warm and sunny friends

:-)

Hurt again !

2011-01-23T12:49:00.000-08:00

I wrote a short couple of blogs on fetcheveryone. Well shortish for me . Usually I blog races and stuff but my broken foot to paid to most of that but at the end of the year I wrote :-

I'll start the year with the song i ended last year on : It didn't exactly go to plan

so a new years carol from Durham and Northumberland and the beautiful amazing unthanks.

Link (roll over me to see where I go)

Only 818 Miles ran this year.

Deduct 429 ran since mid october (not quite true as I've included the September SDW race 20 miles and the 30 of the Hardmoors i started knowing i would only do a bit of them but hey that's what i fancied under the circumstances

this leaves 389 Miles

Of that 389 miles,( amazingly considering the foot breaking 3 times) , 336 miles of them were in races meaning i did virtually no training at all (except swimming).

I've enjoyed the last couple of months running albeit very slow and careful. Most have been on my own thru woodlands and lately of course in deep snow. A fair few local races from road to fell and a few parkruns when I've not volunteering like i did today at sunderland (whilst skateboarding-yes i found a skate board whilst clearing the ice with a shoval lol ) and Christmas day at Newcastle. I'm fairly sure my foot has finally healed but I'm not complacent and I'm always still looking for any signs of trouble ahead.

Unhappy? Not at all .Whilst i could not run ive had some great times, i'm healthy and have no broken bones and seen some friends and old friends run great races and been very pround and happy for them. Nobody died this year.

Tomorrow i can start again with a pleasant 30 miler i won't be to quick at and then build to the 3 important races (to me ) i have planned with lots of fun ones in between. Later in the year i'll try at some shorter faster Pb's and have fun planning a nice solo run in 2012.

Almost as importantly I look forward to seeing the smiles on the faces of my dear friends achieving their goals and having blinding fun along the way.

THEN I WROTE:

I spoke to soon.

NYD and i had just doubled back to spend 15 minutes trying to get the Hardmoors 30's RD's car out of the meadow he was stuck in (it took 6 of us ) and then got to the CP to find Bomb was only 15 ahead . I knew she would fly the flats and was just thinking that even in my unfit state if could keep the gap reasonable till the turn back along the Cleveland way (which was a complete mudfest ), i would catch her.

2 miles later and 10 miles in when something went in my foot again. It's nowhere near as bad as before but still gutted. Really thought it was fixed. I had taken my time with the comeback, eased into running with little 2-3 mile runs . been real careful looking out for any signs of hurtiness and only when i was sure started my 10 mile loop and just recently a couple of slow 20's and a fell race, all in deep snow.

I had taken a knock at 5 a side which may have contributed to it but still the reason i played was because i felt sure it was ok. Think the 5 a side will have to go for a canny while. After all I’m fairly sure it was a tackle that did the damage in the first place. Kak. love my footy but running is my life.

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So my foot is hurt again. What to do? I rested up pretty good last time and it’s happened again. Bugger. Do I take a full 6 months out- a year? Fuck I don’t really know what to do for the best anymore. I really thought I had fixed it this time. I should point out it’s not as bad as last time so it should heal faster.

It’s clear tho that even when its fixed my foot isn’t standing much running. I do love to race. I train to race and race to train. Some I let fly and some I do because their in beautiful places. Tbh I rarely do anything that's not in a beautiful place. When you live in in or near such beautiful places why would you.

SO,

a lose plan is to x train and just stay/get as fit as I can and also lose some flab. Tbh, I’ve always been far heavier than I should be as a runner. Before the first of the four breaks a year ago I was just starting to see that come down and was getting quicker. In fact after 3 years of running I felt I was just starting to get somewhere. I’ve put a stone and a half back on since then. I get well fucked uoff when not running and easily lapse into eating and drinking too much I have a target now to be a certain weight before June 3rd. Its relies on a couple pound a week loss. If you don’t know I hate to tell you this but anything else (unless you are mega big), is not fat, Its water and muscle.

AND THE RUNNING PLAN

is of course no running until the end of feb and only then if I feel I can. I have the Malta marathon then. It was going to be a good Pb attempt but that’s out the window. After that, whether I run Malta or not, I won’t run again until Hardmoors 55 in mid march. Then another month till the fling 53 and another month till the CATERAN 56.

I’m under no allusions how tough it wil be running these on zero running. I can only hope to finish ok and not broken. Nothing more.

WHEN

I get to my first races in June that I wanted to do well in I will only have run 3-4 times. Can this be done ? Fucked if I know. It can’t be as good as all the time on feet and hill running but what choice do I have? Zero…. If my foot goes again I’m looking at a metal plate in it. I really don’t want that unless they do both feet and insert springs.

I’m not knocking x training btw . I was at tri club swim training on Friday night and it was as tough as hell ! I like biking if its out in the county and swimming hard in races in open water appeals as well. There are all tough …But I love running. I’m really going to miss those hills and my woodland runs but the long term has to take precedence.

EVEN,
more so now as I’ve been accepted into the Ultra Tour du Mont-Blanc. I can’t tell you how excited I am by this , even more so that i have lots of my great buddies going. I may not be able to do Hardmoors and whw justice but by god I want to be as fit and healthy as I can, come this most excellent race day.
So its swim bike and any other x training I can think of. I will mix it up and try not to go crazy or dream of grassy hills.

Any tips or idea’s on x training or relieving the boredom of it are most welcome by the way.

Ta ta for now .x

Triads and trifles

2010-10-08T08:29:00.000-07:00

make a cuppa and relax.

once upon a time

Link (roll over me to see where I go) (for Mrs. Shanks and another)

So , the whw goes well. A comfortable race if not to fast but considering only 9 weeks of training and I’m well happy. I’ve said it before. Picking up that class crystal goblet was one of the things that will stay with me for life. I can’t really explain why the whw is so special. It’s not just the course, it’s the people around it, friends i have only known a few years but i know they will be there forever. Memories of deep snow training runs and drunken nights .....so many things made picking that goblet up so special . I will be back next year to slash that time.

If my foot was going to break again you’d have thought it would go during the whw but it held. I followed the whw with some good local races and looked forward to getting some form of fitness. The last time i was starting to feel fit was November 09 . I had knocked 4.5 mins off my PB at the thirsk 10M Road raced 10 mile pb and my weight was steadily coming down. After the race i was limping and finally admitted something was wrong. Heck that’s not far off a year ago now!
After whw I did our club race, the court inn clamber, the angel view run , the run for bob and cronkley fell race i ran ( i won’t say raced as i was so unfit) all with no foot problems

I’m meant to be doing the Northumberland coastal run. This is the most beautiful run in the England but I’ve done it a few times and it clashed with one of our fetch Scottish hill running weekends that includes a run from the bridge of ochy I’ve had in mind for a while .

Link (roll over me to see where I go)

So tough decision but i go to Scotland. As usual i pick sandy up in Edinburgh but i drop her in Glasgow for the Clyde stride. Something else i was going to do but the lure off the hills was too much. Meet up with the usual suspects and a few new to me and jog /walk up to Nevis forest laughing and joking. When we hit the top i start my usual lash down i love so much. 5 minutes in i stand on a small rock and boom!!! , the foot has broken again. bugger!
All thoughts of getting really running fit for the Hardmoors gone in a second. The ochills 2000 , the ridgeway, Lakeland 100, Burnsal classic fell and 10 mile road races , the new coastal marathon and the Esk summer fell series among other stuff gone. Bugger indeed.

Supporting Roles yet again .
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You help out when you can. Park runs , Lead bike a few time and just marshal. Still it’s nice to see some local running faces. Various marshalling duties at fells and loads of other races.
I go swimming. Swimming is ok but pools are just boring but I persevere. Its two months before i can kick my legs as it hurts my foot. Then i have a run in with a triad. He’s called Jules. You have to be careful with these tattooed people. They race with numbers tattooed on them and deal in tri like an inner city crack dealer. He sends me a link to the Edinburgh swim festival. A 400 metre and 2K swim in the sea. I like the look of that but i justify the cost of a wetsuit just now.

Lakeland 100/50 support.
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First big race i miss is the Lakeland 100. Bomb does the 50. Her first big trail race. What an excellently organised race. I love the Hardmoors but that’s done on a shoestring and all volunteers. This seems to have everything including of course a great route. The 100’ers start of 5 pm on the Friday eve and the 50 ers join them on the last 50 at midday on the Saturday. No support is allowed but family and friends can go to certain out of the way places but are told not to cause any traffic problem or the race could be in trouble. I see flinky, andy cole, firemannotsam and anna fin among other off in the 100 jealous as hell . I wave them by and shout go on enjoy it you gits. Then the next day bomb , Nx , giggles , clairster, lizogical , 2ff onto the busses for the 50.

Another fetchie was doing the BGR so i was off to show support but first i go the ferry across Ulswater to cheer the runners. . Found a nice little track and sat back with feet in the clouds.(again ). It was warm and sunny with a slight cooling breeze... Watched them all go past and was just leaving when two guys came along, one looking a bit sorry for himself. It was a father and son team and the son had done his back and were pulling out. Looking at long wait to get back to the car and looking utterly dejected , they jump on the ferry with me and i took them back to their car at the start. I’ve never seem people so grateful in my life having to decline beer and pub food with them as now i’ve missed the BGR fetchie i want to get off to Ambleside to see the runners again. . After i saw bomb through (with 2FF) i headed to the finish . Got a text from activeight saying they were in the pub with fllnky and FNS (who both plagued with injuries had to pull out.) and it was almost last orders. I made it :-)
Watched everyone come in at various stages. got a text saying bomb was past the last checkpoint with a big group including 2ff

Bomb duly finished but well after the big group. The last 3.5 miles took 2.22 hours as she and a couple of other got split from the big group & a bit lost. It happens. Very proud of her. She ran staying with others most of the way at a much slower pace that she is capable off the majority of the time. Understandable on her first big Ultra on a difficult course with most of the running at night. She’s much much faster than that and will blow the times to bits next year. Great runs from all clairster, 2ff, Lizogical, Nx, giggles (how fast is he ! ) and Anna fin among other

Devil support.
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I love this race and i would have had the triple crown of fling , whw and devil if i could have run . Grrrr. Still it’s nice to be there for my friends . I’m officially supporting one runner on this but a late reserve list re-opening and I’m suddenly looking after another Four! All went very well with everyone fed and watered on (as is per usual in Scotland a blazing hot day) . A few times i luckily found myself in right place at he right time to help some other including happyG (support ,IanS took a fall on the devil and loon who was fairly happy i had cold beer in my car when he had to pull out with severe cramp.

After seeing all mine though at Kinlochleven i headed to the finish. Now it was really boiling hot. Ian Beatie asked me to hand out Perth ultra forms to the finishers which i was happy to do. Of course they all got a Hardmoors one as well :-)

Then the Triad Jules comes along with a wetsuit for me. In fact he has three!.This is how they get you theses triad dealer. Lure you in with freebies and watch as you cry out for more. Being the shy retiring type, I strip off and try one on. It fits quite well. Runners come in are bemused by me standing in the boiling hot heat with a full wetsuit on. I just say ‘i know but do i have any midge bites, i think not’. Those covered in them are nodding their heads thinking this is a good idea. Everyone finished and got a Hardmoors and Perth flyer form me (and sandy who said she would do the boys ...) Bomb ran really well and we can all look forward to it next year. Great night after as always. I chatted to Sharon law (ladies winner)..sigh.
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A week or so later i head to the beach at Tynemouth to try the wetsuit on again. Melar who had done parkrun Marshalling with me that morning joins me with my finbob. I put the suit on and just as I’m pulling it up i think , hang on the zip is meant to be on the back !. Doh ! Melar dies laughing. We take Finbob for his first walk on the beach and have an amazing time (it’s warm and sunny with a slight cooling breeze) before coffee on the beach and i finally head off into the water. It’s fantastic. Sea swimming is so much better than the boring old pool.

Durham Marathon Recce. (A grand day out –it’s been a while)
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I won’t pretend i didn’t miss Lirsun when he went mad but so glad he is better now and we can have more of our famous Grand days out. We have been working on a Durham marathon route for the 100 club so we headed to the lovely little village of Rockhope to recce what looked on paper like a decent route. Obviously i can’t run so we mountain biked. The first mile is a rocky path up hill. It took us 25 minutes. Oh dear. The full route takes us 4.5 hours on the bikes. We are both knackered and my foot is sore. dam . !We agree that the route is a tad tough for the Marathon and its back to the drawing board lol but hey it’s another grand day out and i’m itching to see how long it would take me to run it.........soon , very soon

Rentboy’s Melrose hill race (handicap)
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I can’t say enough about how fantastic on all fronts this race was. Renty and his good lady C put this together from near there house in the beautiful countryside around the beautiful border town of Melrose. I rode round on my mountain bike to support wishing i could run but still enjoying the stunning location and the company of some of my favourite people. .Food and cold beer after in their garden . A perfect day. Thank you so much C & Rentboy .

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100 marathon club , Northumberland Coastal marathon.
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And we see them again a few weeks later. The Northumberland coastal run is the most beautiful run in the England. So the 100 Marathon club put on an out and back on the same course but starting at the Alnmouth instead of Beadnel. Another red hot day so I’m on the bike with drinks for the runners. Madbag and kevhoop, Renty, Lisrun and bomb are some of our fetchies running and I’m jealous as hell! Still a nice ride 11 mile ride out for me and a good workout having to throw the bike over every kissing gate. I got collared by some heritage trust guy who demands this is a foot path and not for cycles. I Immediately reprimamd him for his abrupt manner andthiss prestigious charity event had full permission for a bike support . He apologises and i ‘m off. I didn’t say it was mum who gave the permission ...After a while i decide its to hot and the location on the beach under the ruins of Dunstable castle to nice, so i stop , strip and head out to sea . Lovely forty minute swim up and down the beach and out to the rocks. Magic ! Renty and Lisrun are a bit alarmed to have some one shouting out at them from way out in the water and Renty waves back but later says he is not sure if I’m drowning or not . Mind he doesn’t stop. A time is a time after all. ;-). On the way back my water and sports drinks are appreciated and so is the cold bitburger beer in the pub after. Who’d have thought one of the best German beers on draught in little old Alnmouth .

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Turning leaves series.
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Lovely little series of races put together by out very own fetchie Mic. I go down to the moors to marshal and watch as everyone takes a different route! still bomb wins the ladies and my Club mate Will wins the men’s and everyone has a smile on there face and nobody seems to mind about the course. It will be better marked next time . Great races . thank you Mic.
Birthday weekend , perth Ultra and Swim race.
Excellent night out @ Durham beer festival for my birthday so I’m late heading up to Perth the next day to see Rentboy ,Ultracat and of course sandy compete in the 24hr, 50 and 100K . Loads of other folk i know are there as well and its a great Scottish Ultra scene fest . Vicky , Lintie , loon Richie and other in support . I get a call from loon saying sandy says if your passing a shop .....i’ll let you guess lol. I turn up and she got medals and trophies galore! 2nd lady vet. So proud of her. And since I’m carrying not one but two bottle of chilled bubbly I’m an instant hit! Hang around while sandy has well deserved drink and bats her eye lashes (not as good as mine pet ;-) at the timing guy we generally support the runners and have fun. Everyone does very well. These events are such a test of mental as well as physical ability. I’m in awe. Everyone gets a Hardmoors flyer and i sneakily put them up in the three portoloo’s as well so there is no escape 

Stop over at Sandy’s and have to watch the drink as I’m racing in the morning. Sandy’s not a hint of bother at me getting her up and out dead early on her day off . I want a good parking place and also I’m not sure what happens a these events. Also I’m excited. I miss racing. Miss giving my all. I miss running. This as close as I’m going to get for a while . When we get there is hardly anything happening. The buoys are still being blown up and well nothing. It’s obviously the right place but they look a tad behind schedule. Sandy takes this well and does not go on and on and on and on and on about us having hours extra in bed or being able to turn back for her camera she forgot and does not have a face like a dog chewing a wasp !

As I’m racing in Scotland it’s bloody boiling hot of course. Zu and her very very nice friend turn up and soon the place is buzzing. I look at the start list. Swim club, swim club, swim club, tri club tri club, swim club ....and so on . Feck, going to be slaughtered here. Still the real reason I’m doing this apart from my masochistic tendencies is to get experience for some stuff i fancy next year. A couple of days before i had gone to my local tri club open water swim and told them what was doing at the weekend . After a fair few questions it’s apparent i have no experience, hardly trained and not done any open water, the coach (2nd in the world championships in her age group) soon lashed into my swimming and had me doing stuff that really knocked me out. She then called half a dozen big guys over, told us all to swim around some buoys and rough me up like in a race. Game on. First lap i took what they had to give. Interesting , swimming over me ,pulling me back my the legs (and foot – he won’t do that again) elbows in my face etc etc . Asked how it went i say good but can we have another go. Second lap’s my turn. I drown and try break bones of the fuckers, pull them back and swim right over them. There not that fast over short distance. They said i did good and will be OK .
After was a another new experience after was a 10 mile bike TT . Loved it. Used my mountain bike but still mid pack. Be doing that again.

So the buoys are in place. Well all over the place to be honest. They have the wrong anchors so seem to have made the 400m course up as the bigger buoys are just drifting. Decide to just go for it and run in with the rest not holding back. Lovely argie bagie elbows all over the place but I’m happy and holding my own. Mind it s hard. I round the buoy and head for the next and I’m fucked. I’ve been swimming 3 fucking minutes! I drag myself out in 6 mins dead . Dead being the operative word.. Heck that was fucking tough. Only 6 fucking minutes and I’m totally knackered. Mid pack tho , so did ok .

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Soon on the bussed to the 2K start. Sandy runs it .When we get there she says that was 1.5 miles in a more or less straight line. We have to swim out to sea around 3 buoys and back in so its now got to be further than 2K !. I start well but by half way I’m flagging. I get cramp bad. Something i never get running. The i get a stitch. WTF ? I grind the stokes out but i know I’m not doing well. I look over to my left and no-ones there. Oh dear. Look to the right and its clear I’m off course. Not a lot but enough to lose a lot of places. I swim to the next buoy . I’m fucked, really fucked. 2 k is so easy in the pool. The waters choppy and my throat is starting to get raw for some reason. I’ll pull out at the next marshal point........er not an option lol, its finish or die in this stuff.
Second wind and as i turn for shore is easier now and i manage a bit of a surge. Drag myself out and die. Wow. That’s fucking good. I want more. 45 mins dead. Again dead is the word . I’m absolutely fucked . After, my neck looks like some one has tried to strangle me! And im sure thare was not an ex girlfriend it the water! Doh ! I should have re-applied the body glide after the first swim. Lesson learned. Also my throat is red raw i assume from the salt. . Not sure what can be done about that. Maybe just get use to it.

Shower and change at sandy’s and lovely meal to see me off and head up north with my mountain bike for some R&R. Great weekend.

Rendezvous run.
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The demise of the Rendezvous cafe we run form occasionally was thankfully a mistake and this wee gem of a cafe is still the same as it was in the 1930’s. Tea and trifle are served and all for a ha’penny. I pick my mountain bike on a whim i sling it. I’m going to run .
I run 5 miles. Foot a bit sore and i’m knackered but I’m so chuffed . A few days later i run 4 very slow miles with the slow ladies group our XC training. So that’s 9 miles in nearly three months. Surely enough training for the south down way race. lol.
Banana split for ha’penny :-)

SDW RACE.
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I was going to let this race go. I was worried i would take someones place when i knew i probably would not finish . I had mailed Jen but she said she had closed the entries and to take my time and i can decide up to the day. Thank’s Jen. So i knew my foot was not right and i’m woefully unfit but after the TT on my mountain bike I told my bro I’m looking for a bike to winter train on as part of my take it easy and cross train approach to getting fit again. He has just bought a Bianchi. Its lovely but i mention i would like something i can still use on the old railway as well. I had a go on Hann’s cross bike at Christmas and that was fabulous. As it happens his boss is selling his training bike which is a cross bike. He wants £500-00 for it. He’s another Triad and builds his own very expensive bikes. When hears i want it (he’s been following my running and we are both going to raise money for RAFFA next year) like a true Triad dealer he says i can have it for £225-00! However it’s down in Wiltshire. In my book that’s right next door to the start of the SDW in Eastbourne.:-) So that and Jen generosity makes my mind up & I decide to run and see how it goes.

Just in case the worst happens i have my bro on standby to come and pick me up. I don't want to put the organisers out when i know i'm not right . The idea is to take a B& B across from the start ( i found a nice one for £30-00 ) and wonder over. Run the race. If i don’t finish (very likely ) i get back or get bro to pick me up or if i do finish Bro meets me in Winchester for beers with the bike and the next day ride back to Eastbourne along the country roads. In reality, work get in the way and i end up driving down on the morning. I leave at 3am . A bit of rain and accidents all over the shop and I’m late. Ogee thinks i can make it with a clear road but then i get really slow traffic. He tells Tpod I’m not far and Tpod says its ok and i can start late. I need to be there by 10:30am. I get parked at 10:27 and sprint with my bags to the start. I start at 10:31. (thanks for hanging on guys)

What a lovely start it is. I enjoy the beautiful rolling hills along the coast and it’s a very runnable course. In fact I’m just happy to be running again . I have a smile a mile wide but alas after 12 or so mile i start to feel my foot. I see Hendo at a road junction, have a quick chat and head up the hill. He says I’ve made up 15 minutes on the last place and the ones in front of him aren’t far in front. I don’t want the Marshals out longer than they have to so keep up a steady pace. I meet up with CB and early bird on there mountain bikes. Great to see them again. They are looking at a long night. Cb says he can see me compensating for my right foot and he is right. The camber of the hills haven’t done it any favours. I’m now 8minutes behind the last runner. A marshal tweets she wishes i would hurry up as she is cold. Friends bite their tongues and shake their heads, particularly at the ones at Glasgow –Edinburgh and its so not this spirit of this great race.. I laugh, never mind.

I get into CP1, 8 minutes behind the last person but my foot is sore and i decide to pull out. How amazingly sensible of me. I’m not unhappy. 20 miles after no training is fine in my book and I’m ecstatic to have a bit of a blow out on such a beautiful course. I make my way by train with the other two marshals who weren’t cold and head off for a lovely weekend with my brother and get the bike. Since mum passed away i see less and less of my bro so we are trying to put that . We plan some races down that way. I hope his knee is ok for November race as he is looking forward to it.

So glad everything went so smoothly and Jen’s race was such a blinding success. Putting on a race for no other reason than the love of running and wanting to show off and share an area of outstanding natural beauty to other can only be applauded . Well done Jen. Christ she’s so dam gorgeous as well. He’s to next year.

Hardmoors decision.
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I love this race. It means many things to me. It’s not just a race :-/

So the next weekend we head for the Hardmoors course. I had wanted to photo the entire course before now but the foot had stopped me. However the bit between Osmotherly and Guisborough has a few turns you can go wrong if you are not careful and i wanted get some photos out there on tintenet. Also of course a week down the line after SDW it’s another foot test. I haven’t run that week and it’s tough going for me. I can’t lash down the hills although I’m still much quicker than bomb on them but any flat stuff and uphill’s and she’s away. She’s fit and I’m clearly far far from it. We had planned to make the cafe at kildale but we just missed it. We managed to beg some water but not enough. We climbed up to captain cooks monument and back down again but decided to call it a day. We jogged into Great Ayton for some food. 26 miles and i was fucked. Hmmm not good for England’s toughest race.

So clearly i should not do Hardmoors but was in two minds. I’m clearly woefully unfit and the bones in my foot not quite fixed. I could not start and marshal. Or start and see how far I get. Start and just hope to get to the coast and then help out. My team are great and say do as i want. Well that’s not true. Bomb does not really want me to start. Then a race entry appears in the post. Jon’s giving me free entry after all my work on the race. Very Kind. Then Northern runner shop rings and says Sportiva have agreed to replace my ripped sportiva’s if i want to come in and get a pair. The a friend rings and say he is going up to Northern runner if i fancy popping through! Talk about fate. So I have decided to start really knowing i won’t get that far yet again. If the foot hurts i will pull out. .I won’t lash down any hills and try and be steady away. Any tweaks and I’m out . If i only get to the coast i won’t be upset but happy i got nearly 60 miles of the moors in, go help out in the race i love and start working on winning it next year. I meet up with ogee and miss sunshine along with some crew and head for a bite to eat. Then it’s to the start to see loads of old Ultra friends. A mate gives me something that may be morphine..Just in case. I kid you not.
I enjoy my run even if I’m slow and having to be careful. It’s just great to be running again. At about 25 miles i step on a root and the foot tweaks. Shortly before 30 I’m chatting away with my old friend John venon and catch a rock on the side of my foot . Another big tweak. John agrees i should pull out. Not worth another 3 months out. I’ve only run for 14 week of the year as it is. Still from Zero to 30 miles in two weeks isn’t to bad and i head home to ice the foot. So glad Ogee and Miss sunshine have great runs and enjoy may favourite race. With more promo and great reports this will be a classic. I’ll win it next year. :-)

After i rest it and now the slow slog back to fitness can start. . A few slow 5 mile runs and stuff , swimming and cycling . apart from a few booked things that may or may not run (not sure i should run Abingdon and is more likely going to be fetch-pointed now )

Harewood house 10 Mile Race. (back to basics)

This sort of great local race I’ve missed. Loads of fetchies there and a big turnout of famous Yorkshire clubs all looking they mean business, I have a feeling its on a few club championship lists .Truly appalling weather . Weather that makes a race. :-) Thecourse is all bogs,puddles and trails that turn into rivers. I push my woefully unfit body as hard as i can through the rain It’s great to be trying again. I love every minute of it. Tough little course with some good sting in the tail hills . Its now my favourite 10 mile race.

Soon after I finish , Anthony from Quakers comes in. I’m a bit surprised to beat him and he tell me its a PB for him. Well maybe I’m not to unfit then. However by far the best thing is Melar finishing her first 10 mile trail race. Brilliant!. After a lovely pub Sunday dinner with melar and swittle .

Perfect day.

It’s good to be back .

Wake up !

Fuck.

2010-07-09T12:55:00.000-07:00

Angel View 5 mile trail.

Up hill , down, twist turn, turn twist,up down , through the bushes , heather grassy field, ANGEL , wow , whip phone out for a pic.

Fuck I'm losing the pack here . This is a fucking fast one or am i super slow today ? . Am i last ? quick glance and nobody there -fuck !! More twist and turns . An underpass i didn't know was there. more turns What is this a fucking maze!!! .I'm getting fucking dizzy !! Finally a straight . Straight up and up and up and up . All fucking gravel that's not kind to my foot -yer a little sore again:-/ Up the gravel hill , possible railway track? . Up some more and some more . Where the hell does this go . Fuck , fast lads coming back at me. Fuck there are fast . Am i last ? I can still see Vicky the graceless whippet .She's quick so i can't be going that slow . Really i can't be can i ? I know i gave my all on Tuesdays fell but I can't be that fucking slow for god sake. Where's the fucking turn then ? Vicky coming back at me . The turn at last. S'ok lots of peeps still coming up so no-where near last . Head down to home. Power it on and finally over take some of the injured and infirmed. See the finish , more power . 20 yards to go, flying now and passing folk .... what another fucking turn!!! . They take you within metres of the finish and another hill and loop !!!!! twats-fucking twats . This isn't 5 fucking miles!!! Over another hill and round some bushes and trees . long straight , tree's, bend, finish . Fuck Fuck Fuck that was a tough 5 miles. That fucking Hurt. 40:42 .
Fuck!

Pint .

Ahhh .

do better next fucking year.

Winner the fell superstar from Tuesday nights fell in 26 minutes and didn't look all out. (obviously not a proper athlete as he shuffles along trails and fells hahahahhahhahahaha- ) Vicky 1st lady F35 :-) . Fucking excellent.

Saltwell Harriers Fell Race. 5.5 miles.

2010-07-07T09:18:00.000-07:00

This is a gem of a race. Often billed as a introduction to fell racing but this has a bit of everything. Contrary to some totally laughable blogs lately, this like most trails and fells is hotly contested up front by supreme athletes and by club folk fighting against each other and other clubs. The guys up front are truly awesome sometimes. It’s like the tricky ground, hills, bogs, steep falls and rocks aren’t there. Although this is only a short blast of a fell I see these guys do it on 20 and 30 milers and its just fantastic especially when you consider proper fell mile is worth two on boring old road. They move almost without effort at speed most of us can only dream of.

Unfortunately this night was tinged with more than a bit of sadness. I was meant to be racing a good fetchie ( and of course real Life) friend. A guy who is the epitome of the words nice and kind. A real gentlemen. His running has been superb lately and where as i use to be somewhere near or we would take it in turns to beat each other, for a while i haven’t a chance of beating him. He has trained hard to recapture his old form and he’s just flying.

Off course Fell more of my territory than his. Somewhere where although i will never be fast (at anything) i do have the skill to keep the little speed I’ve been given and keep it over tricky ground like bogs and fell and storm down hills. I don’t speed up of course because, well I’m just not fast, rather i can just keep it going.

So we were meant to race our friend and i but the most appalling tragedy happened. His partner, only 35 years old passed away unexpectedly. No words can describe the shock. How do you deal with something like that i really don’t know? I hurt just thinking of it so the pain he must be going through -is just imaginable. We are here for you mate-all your friends, and you have many. Not just now but tomorrow, the months and years to come and always.

So not there in body i decided i would race him in spirit. I know a futile gesture to some but I’m not some. We both were mid pack to start and set off up the long grind of a hill. The fast lads (and lasses -scrappy ) are off like whippets with their arses on fire. Northern Runner and scrappy are well up there . I read later NR isn’t happy. He can do a 34 road 10K and this is shorter and does 48. That’s a marvellous time but he is disappointed. There course record held by a young rising fell running superstar(and England runner) is 40 minutes and a couple of seconds so don’t be so hard on yourself mate.

I’m not that good at climbing and the extra lard I’m carrying doesn’t help but we both got a good position as the first bit of single track thru the heather that can slow you down. I overtook where i could and watched some super fast ones crash thru the heather for a place. Round the Mast and along the fence we were neck and neck. Bogs , heather and more single track follow .In the spaces between the keen and knowledgeable take there chances as over taking takes effort of the line. You have to get close enough and have the reserve to not only overtake but do it quickly as sway from the racing line and it will slows you down. Nigel from my club overtakes. I was just behind him last year and i had hoped to start getting him soon but with a full winter non running it’s going to take a while yet.

Soon a bit of downhill and the moorland opens up. We both overtake on the down to the only fell road to cross. I wonder how many cars see this road. Over the road past the little mining ‘tub’ a reminder off t he toil on these hills in years past.. A single track flat bit now. We slow down and get over taken by about 5 and a lass with the most wonderful arse and figure. I decide we will just take a breather... . A sharp turn and we have the 5 over-takers in sight. One by one we get them all and them on the almost vertical downhill to the stream i get another four. Spalsh straight into the stream . Not as high as last year but cold. A string is strung over the stream with self clippers on so you have no option and that’s really why its there.

Lisrun in the stream.

We fling ourselves out and along the single track parallel to the stream. The path is barely a foot width wide,slanted s downwards with a verticle drop. We pick up those ahead without the skill to run this at speed and overtake when the option arises. Then onto bracken track to the fence and a sharp turn to start the step half mile uphill to the finish. Onto a rocky path and we get passed by a Saltwell harrier and a Northumberland fell running lass without a picking on her. The both pull away but with 200 to go we can see the finish and sprint the last up hill bit something the two haven’t got in them to challenge back.

We have given it all. We both finish in 58:30 . One minute 30 faster than last year and half way up the field. Great crac in the pub with friends, club mates, fetcies muddy idiot lisaT , Northern runner and scrappy among others .. A bottle of hobgoblin prize for me as well.

Here’s to tomorrows battles mate. Some we can enjoy together. I can't imagine the unbearable battles you have ahead but we will be there to fight them as best we can right by your side when you need us most. Take care friend.

West Highland Way Race. (95Miles)

2010-07-02T11:29:00.000-07:00

taken from my Fetch blog til i suss this one out- so names are usernames.
Link to some photo's if you can't see them .

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/owenpreservation/WestHighlandWayRace95Miles#

Sometimes people seem to think I’m not serious about running but they are wrong. I’m deadly serious. I have ideas of what i want to do, how fast and how far but very few people, if really anyone knows the plans in my head. In a way i can see why my supports were panicking a bit. I haven’t planned anything. Haven’t got a spreadsheet, no idea where i will be and when but i did have a plan - i just don’t like it down on paper to early because the plan becomes a must do and then you get yourself all tied up in must do times that give no account for external factors and get yourself down about it - worse still not enjoy the race. And of course i just don't know for sure. I'm not fit and carrying way to much weight.

I had said a few time to sandy when she was getting all hung up and fretting that i will be fine. To be fair she and the other supporting had a torrid time the year before. Jen by her own admission knew within 20 miles she was not going to have a good day. It happens to us all-look at me the other week @the heart of scotland100- by mile 40 i was at a hourse party in Edinburgh after ditching the race!. Her support were marvellous and went beyond the call of duty and with Jens bloody minded determination, Jon’s coolness under pressure, sandy’s magical running & with souxsie’s cool words got her home.But it took its toll on them.

Where as i had the total opposite experience supporting Karen Doughnut. Some lovely running watching her as she cruised through the race without a care in the world, they (Jen Team) looked as if they had been through a war zone. I think this was uppermost in sandy’s mind and possibly why later on sandy and i almost fell out and for the first time ever had serious words. .

Fetch Mob @ the start

Anyway, I made my mind up how i would run this the day before. That’s not to say i had not thought about it it’s just I’m getting all the info and making the decision then. See only a couple of weeks before my foot was sore again near the break.

( I broke my foot twice over the winter -first a stress fracture and 2nd time coming back from it i was running the Devil when i hit a rock right on the old break and this time I smashed up my foot good and proper- i have been back running 8 weeks before this race.)

Only bomb knew this. The two 23 mile hill races a couple of weeks before and even the fast 3 mile hill race i did two days before this race were testing it looking for weakness. Four months off isn’t fun and seeing as i broke the dam foot again at the top of the devil I’m not going to risk the rest of the year and Hardmoors .

So, with the foot fine after the last race but with only 8 weeks back running i know I’m not going to be that fast (for me) but i will be next year –see i do think about things. This race is part of a plan which I’m afraid i will keep to myself. After this race i know i will slash the time next year (given reasonable conditions, good health and the weight loss etc ). I have a time in mind and i know how i will do this. Serious enough?

Anyway why decide the day before or even on the evening of the race?. Simple, we all do it for other races and one a bit longer than the normal isn’t really any exception. I see how I’m feeling and i look at the weather. Loon &and Keith (George Reid, Keith H ) had got fried the day before running from the finish to the start – yes that’s right . They were doing Fort William –Milngavie – Fort William (as part to the race). They called it a day at approx 70 mile on the southbound journey because the heat had got to them. Unfortunately they had hit the hottest day of the year and they were afraid they would miss registration for the actual race. The ended up doing 165 miles. A lot of it in baking heat. Respect.

So the weather says it’s going to be pretty hot without a cloud in the sky. While we mill around at the start catching up with whw and fetchies friends. Looking out for the fast one’s who might win (with no Jezz brag this is going to be a hard fought race). I decide i will run a fair bit faster in the cool of the night , slow up a bit when it get really hot because (and i know as Scotland’s only bonifide sun god this is ironic) i really don’t like the heat. Actually that’s not entirely true. What i really don’t like is blazing sunshine. So with a short speech and a minute applause for Dario we start the race

Milngavie to Drymen-Balmaha (20 Miles)
*************************************
In the fling (the Highland fling is a race from Milngavie to Tynndrum) I’m not keen on this bit. Bit long and drawn out . However i love racing at night. Its cool and the head torches bob up and down through the park. Ghostly images chat to you as a trail of lights head off into the night. People say Hi flip, how that foot but i don’t know who they are. I ended up in a nice pace group of about six . Mumbled chatting as we ran. First one? 10 times, UTMB, Hardmoors, mutual friends. The class crystal goblet at the end . You know the stuff.

Before you get to the first support point at 13 miles you cross a small meadow with a decent little hill in it. It here i always think the fling (a race of the first 53 mile of the whw race) starts. Up to the road and some of the support cars are there but also across the road and another short climb there is another road with supporters on. I’ve made it in about 2 hours which was my goal. I quickly look to see if my support on the lower road but no sign. I go up to the top and again no sign of them. This is a good start-not!. I go back down and beg some water for a refill wondering what’s happened to them. I go back up and I’m just about to go when Jane spots me and asks where my support is. I say i don’t know and off course they offer me drinks. I’m just heading off when Jane shouts there’s mike (who we were giving a lift to) and bomb and sandy slowly followed. They didn’t seem in much of a hurry and i had words. I wasn’t best pleased.. I change my shoes to my ino8 mudclaws 285’s that i will run the rest of the race in and went. The group have long gone an i run on my own for a while. Balmaha checkpoint is only 6 miles away

Dawn is breaking. Only a couple of hours of dark . So different from Hardmoors in September. After a short bit of tarmac , some forest, we start the rocky road to Conic Hill and the long 1200ft climb with the view of Loch Lomond at dawn from the top . Beautiful! I’m feeling really great and loving the run in the cooler night air. I climb the Conic and flash down the other side picking off a fair few runners loving it. Short run to Balmaha and I check in grab half a cuppa coffee and a roll and more or less head straight off.

Dawn from conic hill over Loch Lomond

Balmaha –Rowardenan (26 mile point)
****************************************
Bit of Road again then forest track. I’ve been trying to get Dave up for the fling next year but this section when he did the relay seems to have put him off a bit. I always forget it’s quite hilly because well, its woodland and i a just love running in woodlands. Incidentally anyone (like Dave) who can do the Hardmoors 55 can do the fling easily. It takes me 3 hours more to do the same distance on the Hardmoors55. Up and down and i get a bit of shade here and there because as i thought it’s already getting hot and its still early morning. Hit Rowardenan forest car park in about 5:30 hours again spot on. My plan is to slow up a bit and not get to Tynndrum before 13 hours. Fast enough but not too fast on my unfit overweight body to knack me out in the heat. The thing i like about this place apart from its halfway on the fling therefore a quarter way (well sort off in my head)of the whw is that its not long to the rocks . I eat and drink and head for the loo there. Off up the road and I’m heading for my favourite section.

Rowardenan – Invasnaid- Bein Glass (41 Miles)
***************************************
The Shoreline rocks start just before the shoreline Invasnaid hotel but before that more ups and downs through the forest and a bit of beach. Love it. Soon I’m on the rocks i love so much. Swing round the trees and flying through the rocks and tree roots. This is just the start. It gets even better after the hotel. You can hear the gushing of the huge waterfall before you see the Hotel and it comes all too quickly. I have a drop bag here. Sports drink , sarnie and soreen cake (buttered)- Yum. I refill my Bottle and the girls from mountain rescue offer to spay me down with insect repellent. I hadn’t really noticed until now because the midges did not seem as bad as last year (because it’s always worse for the support team) but they were out in force here. A lady sprayed me and then the other sprayed my legs again and rubbed it in to my claves. This took a while but i think it’s important to rest and eat. lol .

Off down the track to Beinglass and the real rocks. I just love this and wish the whole 95 miles was like this. I over take a fair few as i always do in here. To soon i'm out the other side. Over Dubh Lochan with more fabulous views of the loch and into Bien glass campsite and the wigwams. Onto the track, checkpoint and my crew are waiting. I have a beaming smile. Coffee and a bacon roll waiting (thanks santa - Wonderful). Kiss from bomb and Sandy wants me off but I’m ahead of time and out in the open i can really feel the heat of the day. I intend slowing down a bit now. Sandy says something like you will be at Auchentyre farm at x time and it tell her again no give over with that. I will be there when i get there. I control the timetable.

Beinglass - Auchentyre farm.(50 ish)
*************************************************

The long and winding track up and down till you hit the tunnel and then the climb past the cows that for the first time weren’t there ! and then the slow climb up to the picnic table and more wonderful view s. Hat on now and a buff on my head and draped over my neck . Suncream on. I’ve been burnt bad twice lately while out running races and this sunshine could last till 10 o’clock tonight. Through the woods and Auchentyre farm is soon upon me. The is half way but i always like to think of Tynndrum as that seeing as its the fling end. I weigh in. Bang on my starting weight. If you’re to much over or under you are out the race. My nutrition and hydration is spot on. There is a baked potatoes on offer and i eat. Jane (UC) offers me some ice cold sparkling water . I think i drink the lot-very nice that. I don’t think i was meant to but that hit the spot. Clair (amac) gives me some more and i drink most of thatto! . sorry ladies! Everyone asking how I’m feeling and saying I’m doing well and tbh i feel fine. :-)

Sandy is itching to run as i can have a support runner now . We are just about to set off when the checkpoint people say i can’t have support. I say i thought you could from here. That’s right they say but not if you’re within 4 hours of the leader. I’m astonished. None of us and considered thatat all . Sandy wants to run anyway but i point out Tynndrum is just down the road and I’m not risking getting thrown out the race for a pesky 3-4 miles. Again sandy says you have 20 minutes to get there. This is starting to annoy me now. I say again I’ll be there when I’m there. Its a nice run to Tynndrum and i make good time. HapppGav Is there now after getting the train down . So good of him to support, especially as it was his birthday the previous day. It’s funny only a few years before i was indoctrinating him into the cult of fetch in a pub in Buchlyvie lol- You still think i don’t plan ahead <

Tynndrum To bridge of Orchy to Glencoe (60ish)
****************************************
Bomb and sandy join me to run. Sandy runs for 1 second and fall over and cuts her knew. I know we should not laugh. Sorry babe :-/. Bump into DaveK who has come down to support but again I’m a bit early . Last time we were here i had the pleasure of crossing the finish line with him at he fling . A grand day out. Quick chat and he’s up for this next year. He will storm it . I’d forgot about this long road to Bridge of Orchy . I should make more use of it . Rob K goes past.We say hi again . we have been passing each other all day .

The Hills are Magnificent. Meall Buidhe, Beinn Odhar and Ben Dorain. I hope i get to run some in our Scottish hill running fetch weekend coming up soon. I should have made more of that track . I will next year. At bridge of Orchy, sandy gets patched up by Doctor Soph and John comes in) and we set of up the hill over Mam Carraigh and along to Invororan Hotel. From there to Victoria bridge and the long slog up to Rannoch Moor. Rannoch moor is 1100ft high up . You forget how long the long slow slog up is. It’s desolate and beautiful. I was cursing the blazing sun but in bad weather this will be wild it so high up and exposed

I know i have a problem with Rannoch (another long track) and also my best friend and support was starting to bug me. This isn’t easy because i love her dearly.

Anyway, she was running ahead and then back full of beans but this bugs me. I feel like she is trying to push the pace again. I’ve run all night and all day before (and all night again) and know about pace. Plus i know I’m not fit and i want to conserve energy. I remember Loon telling me about pushing it to hard one year and the last 13 miles he was on for sub 24 and he blew up big time coming in in 27:35 I don’t want that to happen. The year before he had done 22 hours btw . I ask sandy not to do it, to run near me and with me or behind or something but not that. It’s annoying me and putting me off. She doesn’t get it and more or less carries on. We have words a few times. She finally runs how i want and i pick up the pace a bit. She sulks (yes you did babe) and we carry on. For some reason i develop a cough on the Rannoch. Now after the hill race two days ago i cough and coughed after and prayed i had not got a cold. Now i was coughing again and my chest was tight. Bugger.! Also when i run downhill my stomach muscles hurt. Well that a new one on me . We decide i have been running with my bottle belt to tight. I don’t normally wear one but had decided to for this . It meant i could not lash down the hills losing me a fair amount of time and my one thing I’m good at . We get to Glencoe sandy’s & pissed off with me and I’m pissed of with her. She sulks in the car and i have a go at her. This has never happened before and i think we are both shocked. I have coffee and some pasta. Sandy does not get out the car and bomb continues on with me (keeping well out of it btw) . Part of my planning if it’s hot (and its scorching now) is a cold pint at Kingshouse. It’s ready for me –thank s Gav.

More arguments with sandy at Kingshouse . I really want her to come over the devil with me and see the mythical town (you see it but it does not get any nearer) Kinglochleven again. Just her and me before Gav takes over. I love sandy - she’s upset and just not coming and I’m getting angry with her. I really don't have time for this .

Kings House (beer) – The devils staircase-Kinglochleven. (82 miles ish )
*******************************************************************************

The race starts here. Believe me. The race is often said to be a race of two halves. To Kinglochleven the first 80 and the last 15. I think it 5 miles before, here at the devil (where i broke my foot at the end of January trying a winter North to South whw with George, Karen and friends.) I get to the top of the devil and turn back to look. I love that view. I can’t lash down becuase of my stomach mucles but it’s a steady jog. My chest clears up again. Most strange. By the time we are at the bottom again I’m coughing a load again . Soph gives me drugs and a squirt on an inhaler which i fail to inhale. Bugger again I hope it clears again. I weight in. Spot on. HappyGav joins me now.

Kinlochleven to Fort William.-Finish (95miles)
************************************************

Two Guy have joined us- one's wife was meant to run but he now has concerns about it and the others runner has gone over on his ankle.I tell them they are welcome to join us . The are both strong but also are a littel unsure of the route - or at least just don't want to go astray at this late stage . I know the route well of course even if this is my first time doing the whw. The beauty of suporting that is.

We climbthe big climb out of Kinlochleven. I wonder how high this is as it seems to go on as long as the devil takes to climb. My chest tight and i have to stop a few times. Headtorched on now and at last its a bit cooler . We have had blazing sunshine. The thing i hate most from 6am in the morning to 10pm at night ! dam it saps at your energy big time. That said apart from my chest I’m feeling absolutely fine-really enjoying myself. I know i have another problem track ahead. I hate long tracks. The lundavra track is all loose rocks and boulders. It’s not impossible to run but it tough and an ankle break waiting to happen. We run where we can and fast walk . I looked up my devil time from Kinglochleven to the finish (the Devil race is the last 42 Miles of the whw and it was 3.5 hours. Tha's t in daylight feeling very strong. 3.5 hours for 13 miles! It suddenly get very cold . I put my jacket on and Gav gives his gloves to one of the other runners . The other one just has a T-shirt and vest -daft lad- he's freezing. The long slog time is passed by me and Gav catching up. He’s glad to see my love life settling down since for our last long chat in the whwlast year (we both supported Karen). He hasn’t made the mistake of rummaging through my bags either this time. No wooden hearts this year.Gav has just got engaged and i offer my tips. See i have th experience here . I was once engaged for 14 years. I know . I'm surprised the ring lasted that long.lol .My chest clears up again (go figure) and we run a bit more.(Later Helen -winner of the cateran tells me this also happened to her chest-wierd) Lundavra comes and it’s only a small bonfire this year. Pity. Im told its 6.6 miles or something but i tell the other two that its 3 and you are on the land rover track going down the side of Glen Nevis . This is true but first we wind our way through the forests climbing and descending for an age .Its pitch black . I love it.

Then the forest opens and the track is there. Its all steady wide track ,all downhill. We jog down . A text says anna and sandy are waiting. The goblet is almost mine . Gav hops his way down, his injury hurting. Finally we come to brave heart Car park and the girls . I give my bomb a big hug and my sandy a big hug. I’d have killed her if she wasn’t there. Steve and Vicky (Georges support) appear and we run in. I pick up the pace. I see the whw sign and start to sprint. I have fire in me now . The all shout that’s not the finish. I’ve run 95 miles, I’m allowed some confusion. Now the leisure centre is in sight and i take off and sprint full out again. My team are left behind. Dam i feel good. I run through the doors in 26:47. I'm ok with that after only 8 weeks back running and a complete lard arse. Mark (Drama queen) greets me with a big smile, and shake of my hand He looks a bit bemused i think . I'm beaming ! He asks how it was. Bloody brilliant i say but I’ll smash the time when fit next year. I’m planning already.

Ps...Sleep and to the ceremony . I never had a bigger smile on my face picking that whw goblet up. Some races are important to me. This is one of them. We watch every get presented with there goblet while sandy drinks champers and hollers. We ok now. I know she’s proud of me like i will be of her next year. George , Karen , Vicky john and lots of other friends pick up thiers. After party was excellent with runners’ supporters and those organizing the race. I can’t wait till next year. See - I have a plan.