The return of Stevie B

Some of you who have read my blog from the time of my BG training will be familiar with Stevie B.
He was with me for much of my training and has a reward I would rip him to shreds on my blog.
I never forget the time when we set off to do the first 2 legs in under 7 hours. It was foul winter weather and he bailed out on Clough Head and went down to the car and drank my tin of coke.
I got to Dunmail and my car was there minus the coke!!
During a 4 hour fell run he would be on his arse at least 5 times and on the day of my BG there's a good photo of him sliding on his arse down Seat Sandal!
He could never get it into his prehistoric skull how important it was to take it easy on the climbs and would often run them which made me run them too - quite a good thing for getting hill fit for racing but not for a 24 hour challenge.
He was always great company and in fell races we would always try and beat each other which would often spill over in our training runs.

So why am I reminiscing about old times?
I got a text of him last night asking if I was up for a bike ride.
I know he is quite useful on a bike but with me doing well over a 100 miles a week since Xmas I figured that I should be OK.
WRONG!!
He friggin murdered me and had to wait for me on every climb!!
60 miles that included Kirkstone and Shap Fell.
I was glad when he got a puncture, for it gave me a small rest.
It was a horrible ride with the wind in our faces for most of the ride. We had a blizzard and hailstones too.
I have no doubt at all if he was doing the Fred Whitton he would get round in 7 hours....easy.
Me? I be glad just to get round.
One thing it has done is let me know just what I have let myself in for.
I'm having troubles with speed wobbles too. Had one today coming off Shap Fell, but I think this was caused by the side wind.
Thats 5 in the last 5 months though and they bloody terrify me.
Another problem I'm having is my weight.
When I was doing 50+ fell miles a week in training I could eat what I liked.
The problem I'm having is that I'm still eating as if I'm doing fell miles and has a result I'm well over 13 stone now!
Injury update- just the same and STILL waiting for a ultrasound scan. I'm fairly sure if I was a drug addict or  someone  obese I would of been seen to by now. Rant over.

Stevie B on his arse- again

I like to ride my bicycle.......

Last January I had ran 190 miles in training and raced in two fell races.
This January I have JOGGED 28 miles and WATCHED two fell races.

I'm in despair regarding my injury. I have spent over 200 quid at physio and not feeling that much improvement.
In desperation I visited the doctors again and asked if I could get referred to a Groin Specialist.... she is going to send me for an ultra sound scan. Suppose its better then the hip x-ray they sent me for last time!!!
The groin problem I have had since the BGR but I have been able to manage it myself. The bigger problem is in the lower stomach - almost like a muscle tear but becomes very painful if I over exert myself. Sometimes it hurts to get in and out of a car or lie down in bed. The physio thinks its all connected with the groin.
I have found a groin specialist in Bradford but at 190 quid for a consultation im holding back for a little longer.

To keep me sane and I have been cycling to the odd fell race to take photos. It allows me to keep in touch with my fell mates and also helps keeps me a little bit fit, but nothing is a substitute for running.
I have entered the Fred Whitton Challenge so at least I have got something to focus on. Not sure it was the right thing to do after seeing them hurtling down Kirkstone pass last year!!!
Im still enjoying reading other folk blogs and hopefully this blog will start being a RUNNING blog again soon, but in the mean time I'm afraid its still a photo blog.

Ullswater

Martindale Hause

cycle miles

Blakes winner Ricky Lightfoot

Carl Bell chasing Kim Colinson

congrats

Bassenthwaite

River Lowther - Askham

Kirkstone

Snowy Blencathra

Ullswater

Nine Standards Fell Race
 

Business as usual for Carl Bell after he demolished the field at this years Nine Standards fell race.
Eden club mate Kim Collison continued his good form with runners up spot- 5days after finishing runner up to  Rob Jebb at Wansfell.
Keswick new boy Steve Angus made a decent debut for his new club (after training ont fell all summer with Eden) finishing 7th, four places behind his club mate Russell Maddams who finished 3d.

Pippa Maddams and Lauren Jeska had a good battle up and down the fell and crossed the line together.

This is a great race and a great way to see the new year in.

More race photos on my flickr site

Winner Carl Bell

In Form Kim Collison- Runner up

Russell Maddams 3rd

Ladies Record smashed

Eden old boy Steve Angus

I'm still not running so I'm afraid this running blog is in danger of turning into a photo blog......

Ullswater

Priests hole cave

Scales Tarn

Mayburgh Henge

Happy new year!

Stopping and Listening

..is what I am doing at the moment.

For the past 18 months I have had  trouble with my left leg. At times it has stopped me running for a week or two but mostly I have been able to manage it and run through it, but 4 weeks ago after a hilly 15 mile fell run I was was hobbling back to the car and decided enough is enough.

I love running, especially on the fells this time of year, but if I listen to folk who know how to fix me then hopefully I be back sooner rather than later, though at the moment  it seem it will be yonks  before im running pain free again.

To try and keep my base fitness I have been doing a few bike miles, which even in the summer I find hard enough, so its double hard in this weather.

Im still enjoying reading other folks blogs, even if it is making me reet jealous!!
Sorry for the short post but without running I have not got nowt much to say, but hopefully in the new year....

Some photos I have taken in the last few weeks below.

some coos

coming down gatescarth pass

lone mountain biker

Haweswater

some trees

swindale - Shap

mr ugly

haweswater

honister pass

gt mell fell

honister crag

Aches and Pains

A quick update

The week after the FRA relays I did no running at all, serious flu. (Susan  says it was a minor cold at worst.)

I am not one of them fellrunners who refuse to run/race on the roads, quite the opposite really - so it was my intention to up my road mileage for the up coming  Brampton-Carlisle 10 mile road race.

2 weeks ago I left the house and ran a hard very hilly 9 mile circuit, and was pleased to see my time was 59 minutes. Not bad, I thought, for starters.
The next night I planned to do the same route, but as a slow recovery run..... I got carried away and did the same time as the night before.
The following night was club night and with my run up to the club, back from the club and the clubs "rocket run" my mileage totalled 8 miles.
3 days in and 27 miles covered, all good sessions.

This is why I'm useless ont roads.....
The next day my left calf is seized up and I could hardly walk let alone run.
2 days rest and I set off to do a 12 miler and I cut it short to 6. Calf gets worse the further on I run.
The next day I take desperate measures......the road bike comes out and I do 45 miles that include kirkstone pass.
Another 2 days pass before I try and run again and this time its hill reps at the club.
I feel fine for the first 7 but begin to feel the calf tighten again on the second 7. I jog home knowing im an idiot.

On Saturday  the bike comes out again and I do a 56 mile circuit that include kiirkstone again, but this time I carried on down to Ambleside and back along Thirlmere. Really enjoyed this apart from the frost bite on my fingers!!
Yesterday I parked at Seathwaite farm and jogged/walked up to Scafell Pike via the corridor route. I then made my way to Sca Fell via Fox's Tarn and returned to the Pike again before I made my way back to the car, again via the corridor route. Glorious blue sky's and never seen a soul til my descent.
Today my hips are aching.....I'm such a wuss!!!

I wont try and run again till Wednesday night now.
Some photos below from the last 2 weeks.

Ullswater

Thirlmere

footbridge on the way to Styhead

Borrowdale in fog

On Scafell Pike

Not today

Wastwater from Sca Fell

....and finally

this fella broke Kenny Stuarts Derwentwater 10 mile record on Sunday!!!!!

FRA Relays Kettlewell

First time ever for our club (Eden Runners) in these relays.
Six of us was picked by Andy Tompson and in two cars we made the trip to Kettlewell on a glorious morning, which would make the running even better.

On leg 1 we had Jonny French who who ran fast and handed over to me and Steve Bennett in 30th position.

flying scotsman jonny

So it was on leg 2 where myself and Steve had the task of trying to keep the team from falling too far back.
We ran hard, but on the descent into the village (2 mile in, 7 to go) Steve rolled his ankle, I was behind him and seen it buckle, so it was a fantastic effort for Steve to finish at all. Im sure this knocked the stuffing out him because he really struggled after it, even on the climbs where he is so much stronger then me normally.
We got passed a few times and were disappointed to finish our leg in 1.25 and 42nd for our 9 mile leg.

me and Stevie B finishing our leg

We passed over to Kim Colinson and Sam Ware. These fellas were our Nav men and what I can gather from Sam, Kim was unstoppable. Sam had all his work cut out just to keep up with kim,, let alone to get his map out. They both ran incredibly well and finished 13th fastest on there leg and really got the team back up.

Sam and Kim setting off (doesn't look that fast Sam)

Who would want to be anchor man. Step forward Andy Tompson.
Andy had his work cut on the final leg, where a lot of teams kept their fast men. We had hoped Jonny would do this leg for us but it was decided on the morning (quite rightly too) that Andy wouldn't get lost and and Jonny most definitely would of, good call Kim. Still, Andy well a fantastic leg running 49th fastest and ensuring the team came in 27th over all.

Andy brings the team home

We would of taken that at the start of the day so happy enough. We are only a small club but the fell side is getting stronger and and stronger and with a couple more additions (preferably under 30), the club could start and push on more on the fells.

12th at the Pennine relays
15th at the Ian Hodgson relays
and 27th here is not a bad year for us.

Team Eden

Next year we are hoping to field a V40 team at these events........phew.

Not done a jot since last Saturday.

Short Sharp Shocks

Cockermouth XC

Saturday saw the first fixture of the Cumbria Cross Country league and what a shock to the system !
Approx 8000m or 4 laps of a hilly muddy field  - I thought it was only 3 and really struggled to come to terms with the devastating news when I was told by Ian Davis on the second lap!!

Its run in a handicap system with the fastest group setting of  6 minutes after the so called "slowest" and 3 minutes after the "fair to middllng" group.

Standing on the start line with the faster group witch included a slight uphill start I felt perhaps I would of been better off parking at Dunmail and running over to Thunacar Knot to watch the Langdale Horseshoe fell race.

The faster lads ran off into the distance and I settled on trying to keep my pace even, which I did for the first 2 laps until I ran out of power and ended up having to work really hard to keep my position.
Think I maybe finished 6th of 7th. I will do the whole series over the winter as everyone keeps telling me its good training and to be honest, I really do enjoy them..... once I'm back home !!

getting ready to attack the orange Keswickian

Penrith 10K Trail Race

The following day I was going to do 12 mile on the roads easy, but after looking at Eden's website I was reminded there was a 10k trail race 5 mile up the road, so I hopped on my bike and had a blast round it.

Very wet and muddy under foot which sapped your legs and after about 2 mile I found myself in a clear 4th with 3rd about 50-70 yards ahead. At the 4 mile mark I was aware of some one on my shoulder but I never had anything left to fight him off and I gave up my V40 yellow jersy position easy.

In the last mile I had a good battle for 5th with Steve Murdoch, swapping places a couple of times, but he proved to strong for me and I settled for 6th and 2nd V40.

A great hilly course and I really enjoyed it. A strong turn out from Eden Runners and it was good to catch up with a few who I aint seen since last winter/spring training but will soon be forced back to Wednesday night training next week with the nights getting too dark to mess about on the fells.

Eden's Jonny French won. Not sure on first lady. About 200 ran.

In between the two events I attended Shap Wells Hotel on Saturday evening where I was presented with my Bob Graham Certificate.

with fellow Eden runners

Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay

Last year Eden Runners secured their highest ever finish in this event and this year the team were all keen to try and improve again.
With the team picked two months before, we all had time to recce the course, but none of us were expecting the organisers to reverse the route two weeks prior , cue some last minute recceing.

Another problem we had was that we had no one to drive us in between checkpoints. Somehow the day before we mastered a rough plan that would involve my car and Alex's. All sorted.

The weather leading up to it was warm and clear  but typically on the day it was wet and claggy on the tops- perfect for all the local clubs.

I met Alex at the start line half an hour before the race with the news his car was stuck half way up Kirkstone Pass with a flat tyre...... Panic stations.
A new plan was made that involved a lot of rushing about at checkpoints but by the time leg 3 was under way we had managed to get Alex's tyre changed and we were back on track.... phew. 


Our team consisted of six V40s and two senior men.Not the strongest team Eden could of put out but a strong one nevertheless.

On leg 1 we had a veteran of many a relay, Anth Labram, and Alex Davies, running his first but hopefully not his last fell relay.They got us the good solid start we wanted coming into the changeover in 19th position after running a fast leg.

Leg 2 was my leg along with Steve Bennett. The climb up to high street went on and on and we got passed a couple of times despite us running hard. Once up on the tops the wind was in our faces and the visibility was poor. A decision was made to go straight up to the Beacon rather then contour around it. On the path descending into Threshthwaite Cove we were joined by a few other teams who appeared and then disappeared again.
We climbed well and got to the tarn bang on a previously recced line. A lot of teams had lost a lot of time looking for the tarn and then checkpoint. It was all down hill now and apart from me leading Steve over a wall and then back over we descended well. I had to try really hard to keep up with Steve and at times I was hanging on!!!

Amazingly we handed over to Sam Ware and Andy Thompson ( the young 'uns)  having gained a place!!

These two fella's had an absolute storming run. It might be only 4.5 mile but route choice and nav are critical for a fast time. There never put a foot wrong and by the time they passed over to Derek Hurton and Dave Sargent we were in 11th position. Sam and Andy were 10th fastest on their leg. Brilliant.

Dave and Derek were the perfect 2 to bring the team home. Both fast and very experienced. Conditions had not improved on the tops and apart from a slight wander on Fairfield, all was going well......
... until Derek's sole came off his shoe!!!!
Dave described it best  " It sounded like someone was clapping me all the way down St Sundays, such as the noise it made". ha ha ha.
They came into the finish in a magnificent 15th position and apart from been annoyed for a minute or two, they were full of smiles and laughter again. A fantastic effort by all (especially Derek and his flip flops) 

A great day and great result for our small club . Roll on next year.

Borrowdale won.......again!

Anth and Alex

other teams were trying to intimidate  us

Derek with flip flop in hand. Enjoyment on their faces echoed all around.

 Sam Ware let slip bout this on curry night after the relays