3 Races In A Week - All Cancelled

On this blog this time last year I wrote  - 3 Races In A Week - in which I did the Cumbria XC , New Streets road race and the Hexham Hobble. I was hoping to write the same title again this year, but the snow and frost caused all 3 to be cancelled.

Still managed to get some good miles in though which included 3 town runs during the week,and one really enjoyable fell run of 17 miles on Sunday.

The first town run was about 7 miles in the snow, which made me a good moving target for some kids (2 near misses and 1 direct hit) throwing snowballs. It felt like running on the fells to be honest with the snow making the pavements all bumpy and uneven.

The 2nd town run involved about 5 of us who turned at the club but didn't fancy the speed reps that Alan had planned, so we had a run around town which included a run up to the BEACON.
Quite magical in the dark with the snow on the ground giving us enough light to find our way without torches. The sky was full of stars and Steve B tried his best to show us all his knowledge of the galaxy, which amounted to " I think that's the plough"!

The following night I again ran up to the beacon but added a couple of extra road miles in too making it 9 miles at a good steady pace.

Saturday I spent the afternoon fighting my way around Carlisle Xmas shopping, with the deal being I was free to go for a run on Sunday.

Parked my car at Pooley and ran up to Roehead and continued on the path that runs slightly above Ullswater to Howtown.

I continued up to the church and made my way along to Boardale Hause which was still all runnable until the last 5 minutes where the snow was too deep. I have never had reason to run up here before, always preferring the Hight Street range or the BG route, but this was about to get quite breath taking with clear blue sky's and snow clad hills.

Once on Boardale Hause my plan was to retrace my steps put with being well up on time and the views too good I carried on to Place Fell, a top that I have never visited.

2 walkers making their way up Place Fell

Looking towards Helvellyn and Fairfield

Brothers Water and Red Screes

The summit with fantastic views

Looking back to Penrith under the fog.

Blencathra

On my down I disturbed a herd of Deer where at first I thought there was about 10, but it turned out there was over 20.

Click on image to make bigger.

I got back to my car in 3 and a half hours, not bad going with the snow and views that I took in, but today my "bg groin" has flared up again. Hope a couple of days rest will ease it.
More photos can be found on MY FLICKR

Woodys Round Up

Possibly my favourite photo of the year

The day after Brampton - Carlisle 10 mile road race I met up with Scamp to run leg 1 of the Bob Graham Round, unfortunately he brought Steve A along too so it was a case of me and Scamps having a good run out and Steve A yapping all the way round. We missed the climb of Blencathra though and opted to run along to Skiddaw House and then back to Threlkeld. A good  3hrs out and it was good to catch up with Scamps!
Good to have Steve A back running too. 

Scamp

Monday night I did nowt and on Tuesday I set of to do a good 8 miles but cut it short to about 4. I was starving and felt horrible.

Working late on Wednesday and parents evening on Thursday but managed a good 8 mile run after it.

Friday is traditionally shopping night in the stoddys household so not much chance of fitting a run in, fish and chips the more likely option.

Saturday I had 3 choices. Kirkbymoor fell race, Ravonstonedale 10k or Cumbria cross country at Maryport.
The big dumping of snow made my choice for me though, with kirkbymoor to far on the back roads and Ravonstonedale cancelled it was the shortest and most boring option, the cross country at Maryport. After having the drive from hell to get there (window washers frozen up) I got there to be told some knob had put a stonking big poster of me up in the register area........Steve f*****g  Angus advertising his race photos!

As for the race, well I never know how to run a race under half marathon distance - go off quick and hang on or set off steady and try and make places up - I decided to set of quick, so quick that I was still with eventual race winner Steve Hepplethwaite of Keswick AC after 1 lap. Needless to say that I crashed and burned and finished 4th out of the fast group, but for 3/4 of a lap I like to think I had Steve  h worried...........in case I had a heart attack!!!!
He said to me at the end that he looked over his shoulder and thought ...
"bloody hell, its Stu?"
Good fun and 4 other Eden runners made the long trip too.

Me chasing Steve H down!!!!

Thanks to athlets in action photos for above image

Today, Sunday I was going to park at Askham and then run to Boredale Hause  and back, a good 4 hours I was hoping for, but again there was another fresh dumping of snow and after getting the Sunday papers in the car, decided that it was too risky to drive out of town. This is when I came up with my brilliant idea. Bike out, do the run , bike back.
I got a mile and after nearly coming off for the 3rd time and unable to feel my fingers gave up on this hair brain plan and returned home, again nearly falling off.
After defrosting my fingers I gave up on fell run plan and opted to run out of town and through Lowther Park to Askham and back, about 10 miles.
With the snow it really was a picturesque run.

Some photos below and more at  my Flickr

Sorry for all the photos today, but it really was a great run/photo day.
No sign of Steve B this week but reports have reached me that he is having an assault on the new streets race on Wednesday night. Report to follow.

59.46........And Relax.

Over the last few months, I have used this blog to poke fun at some good running pals, notably Steve Bennett and Steve Angus, both have been, and still are (well maybe not Stevie B any more )  very, very good road runners.
Both of them have, countless times ran well under the hour for ten miles and well under three hours for the marathon, both of them I have uppermost respect for ( well maybe not Stevie A), and have recorded times that I will never get close to, but neither of them have done the Bob Graham Round in 21 hours.
In fact they haven't even attempted the BGR.......yet.
So for that reason alone they will carry on been the blunt of my crap jokes. Losers.

My point is for the last 2-3 months I have been road running, a lot, mainly to try and get under the hour for ten miles which I consider the Holy Grail for me!

After some decent half marathon times I thought I would push myself a little bit harder and try for it at Brampton - Carlisle, today.

The race sets of from Brampton, after getting a bus from Carlisle and you run back, the course is historically quick mainly because the changing rooms/showers are small at the sands centre. First back, first changed!

Walking nervously to the start

I set off with the plan of keeping up someone one who I thought I could keep up with. I couldn't.

After the first mile I glanced down at my watch only to realise that I had not set it off. I pushed the start button again and decided I would keep check on my time from now.

I tried to keep with this guy. He ran it in 56 mins

At mile two the fella I was trying hard to keep up with was obviously too quick for me and I let him go. I glanced down at my watch to see what time I had ran the second mile in.It was blank, I had failed to press the button correctly. I gave up on the stop watch idea and reverted back to GMT.

At five miles I was really struggling with the pace and felt rubbish. I calculated that if the race had set off on time I had ran the 1st 5 miles in 29 minutes. This spurned me on, but more importantly I stopped trying to race people around me and started to relax more. My running improved and it felt easier. 6,7 and 8 miles felt much better. I have ran this race a few times before and never have liked mile 8 to 9 but I pushed on and even caught another runner up. The last mile was a case of just hanging on but I felt like I was catching people up.

Club mate Alan M storming around

I crossed the finish line and asked the guy who was right behind me what his time was, he said "59.48". But I still couldn't be sure if I had managed it.

After collecting my bag from the holding room and had a quick shower (they are actually quite big) and then went outside to wait anxiously for the results to come through.

Again a good turn out from Eden Runners, who this week have fielded three teams for the Pennine relays in January. For a smallish club, quite a achievement.

Bumped into Steve Angus, who had also ran the race. He has only started running  2 weeks ago after a stress fracture had stopped him running for 10 weeks.
He was 11 minutes behind his PB for this course.
He still managed 64 minutes tho!!

Steve Angus. Gobbing off no doubt.

Finally the results came out and my time was 59.46

Wonder when the two Stevens are going to step up to the Bob Graham Round?

Big thanks to Micheal Pluckrose for the photos. ( with the use of Stevie A's camera)

Dunnerdale Fell Race

A few weeks ago, Craig Smith of Keswick AC described to me Dunnerdale  as a smaller version of the Langdale Horseshoe, and a fell race that I would enjoy...........well I beg to dither, I would describe it as Four little Ben Nevis's!!

As soon as my feet left the road and onto the fell I was in trouble, maybe I had set off too quick, but what ever it was I knew for the next 50 minutes it was going to be a struggle. I was relieved to reach the first checkpoint thinking that most of the climbing was done. No such luck. It was only the first of four little steep climbs.
I was feeling absolutely done in, and other runners were streaming passed me all the time. This continued till the last half mile where a bit of power retuned to my legs and lungs and I managed to over take 3 of them before the finish.Never have been so glad to see the finish line, you would think that I had ran a marathon, not 5 mile and 1800ft of climb.
I finished in 41st position in a time of 49.05.
Four other Eden runners had made the trip into Lancashire (only joking ) for the race, one of them been Sam Ware, who sometimes runs with me and Steve Bennett on a Wednesday night. After telling Steve of Sam's good run, it was agreed that we need to find someone slower to run with now!

I always find these short races hard and even so I found this one tough, it was a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Great pie at the end is enough for me to give it another go next year.

Verdict. More fell miles and hills needed.

I'm not sure if Craig Smith reads this blog, but if he does, you should do the Great Lakes Run, its a bit like Latrigg!!

The photos below were taken by Luke Appleyard. Thanks.

Kim Colinson

Sam Ware

Still cursing Craig Smith

Gary Johnson

Andy Ramsay

Derwentwater 10

Runners start in the shade.

Along with 585 other runners I lined up on the main street in Keswick for the Derwentwter 10 road race.

The race set off at a fair old pace, well for me it did anyway, I never can tell how to pace a race and as a result ended up doing the first mile in 5.30, which is OK if your capable of running sub 60, im not.

At the five mile mark I was bang on 30 minutes and I was feeling it.

The next mile was up hill and I should of been a lot stronger on it, but I felt like I was really having to work hard.

On the top I started getting caught by the odd runner and over the last 3 miles I got passed about 7 times,
I crossed the finish line in 61 minutes 40 seconds and in 38th position.

During the race I never felt relaxed at all, maybe I was trying too hard, but I never felt like I was running comfortably and the runners who passed me all looked relaxed and easy.

As you can tell I wore my watch.

There's another local 10 mile road race coming up in a couple of week s and I will carry on trying to get my speed up over the winter months, but also get out on the fells for a few long days.

James Douglas won in 51.56 followed by the Borrowdale pair of Morgan Donnelly and Chris Steele a minute behind.

As always a good turn out by Eden runners.

On Saturday I did a few miles on my bike and I think I'm beginning to enjoy it.

You can just make out my house between the trees. Not.

Having A Moan

The day after doing military service for the RAF I punished my self more with a tough and hilly 9 mile run, it was the least I deserved. 

Following a family weekend away where the most tiring thing I did was splash about in the hotel pool, I again did the same tough and hilly 9mile run which was followed the next day by some 1 mile reps.....
I hate reps of any sort.

Surely I had punished myself enough, well it appeared not as the next night I found my self doing hill reps with Eden runners.

It was after doing them and I was running back home that a thought came into my head "WHY ?".

For the past 2 years I have slowly improved by...... running.
Nothing more than that, running, uphill down hill,sometimes pushing myself, sometimes not, but nothing compared to what I have been doing these last few weeks.

I never used to wear a watch but now its the first thing I look for before a run.
Now I find myself timing a recovery run!!!
I think im in danger of taking something I really enjoy  too serious.
Yes I want to get faster but do I want to do it to a watch?

In the Cumbrian run this year I was looking at my watch every mile.

Last year I used to run on feel, if I got tired, slow down.

For the last 2 years my speed session has been to try and do as many races as possible

I'm doing the Derwent water 10 this weekend where 2 years ago I ran 64mins 24 secs.
It will be interesting to see if any improvements have been made.

I think im just a lazy trainer but on a more positive note Stevie A is back jogging and Stevie B is wanting to jog more then run at the moment.

Derek, me and anth all set for the off

Getting congratulated by George.

 No recent photo action so threw these ones in . Before and after.

Slight Nav Issues

All smiles at the start

Along with Lieutenant Commander Watson or Charlie from the post office as we prefer know him, we made our way to RAF Spadeadam for the Border Riever Half Marathon, a undulating course that is ran on road and forest track.

About 100 folk had turned up and a good few RAF personal.

The race sets of out of the base and follows the road for 2 or 3 miles and than mostly good forest tracks. I quickly found myself in 2nd position with the first guy about 30 secs ahead and the 3rd place a good bit back.
It stayed like this for about 9 miles until I missed a turn and carried on for about 2 miles on my own until the Military Police pulled up and said that I had gone off Course.

After a bit of cursing at myself I ran on to the finish and disqualified myself.

The 3rd placed guy was well made up when he crossed the line and got told he was 2nd tho!!!!

In my defence for going off course tho, they was a lot off missiles and rocket launchers to be looking at!

Charlie had no such nav issues and ran well.

I fear Steve B is going to have laughing fit when he hears about this....

... I think I will go into hiding for a week or two.

Charlie finishing

 Thanks to Paul Dobson  (Dobo) for the photos......See you next year.... with my compass!!!!

Where's Steve?

Quick run down on the week...

Tuesday...............A steady 8 mile on the roads around Penrith

Wednesday..........Back to the club. Mile reps. Agony. Stevie B wasn't there.....Unless he was at the back???

Thursday..............Night run up to Arthur's Pike. Bumped into Sam on the way back down. Told him about my bike ride the week before. He told me about his. The Fred Witton. Ran back to the car feeling stupid.

Saturday...............Cross country. Agony. Made the mistake of racing someone who is obviously faster then me. Died on the last lap.Wished I did the Screes fell race instead. Photos can be found at Sportsunday. Link can be found on the right.

Sunday...................Intended to go out early onto the fells but made the mistake turning the TV on. Watched the Grand Prix instead. Late afternoon I ran hard up loadpot from Pooley Bridge and then pottered about easily taken photos.

Next weekend we are going away, so for the first time in 8 weekends they will be no race, but im hoping to do the Spadeadam half marathon on Wednesday, which is on trail.

St.Sundays in the spotlight

Cloud on fire.

A distant Blencathra

Getting Dark

What A Week

After the Cumbrian Run last Sunday I had Monday and Tuesday as rest days, I was also covering a night shift, which takes a couple of days to get used to.

On  Wednesday afternoon I did a steady 7 mile road run.

On Thursday I parked my car in Pooley Bridge and ran up to Loadpot, it was a misty sort of day, but a very enjoyable run.

Friday saw me on the bike and my longest bike ride, in terms of time and distance yet.......26 miles in 2 and a half hours...... maybe not super fast but in my defence there were some hills in the route, one of them up to Dockray form the lakeside, which felt like never ending.
Once out of Dockray there is a small downhill section where I felt like "Armstrong", but in reality looked like a sweating, red faced, white knuckled joker with an air filled jacket .
I'm resisting the urge to buy proper cycle clobber in case people start to think " hey, that guy on the old bike looks a bit useful"
Got to admit though once I was off the lake road it was a lot more enjoyable with less traffic. I hope I can find time to do one ride like this a week.

Saturday was a day I was dreading but also looking forward to. Cross Country.
Dreading because its bloody hard and fast(ish) work and looking forward to because I know it will do me good in the long term.
Cockermouth was the venue for the first Cumbria Cross Country meet and after getting my start time mixed up (1 hour early, 1st there, looking really keen) I had a walk down into the town centre where its hard to believe that about this time last year it was all underwater.
After buying the "Press Guy" a tuna roll I made my way back up the the field where we were going to run.
I thought most of the quick guys would not of bothered  with it been fra relays the day after, but 1 by 1 they drifted in, Ricky Lightfoot, Phil Winskill,, Russell Maddams and even Carl Bell!!!!
It is run in an handicap system and last year I was in the fast group, but luckily for me, this year I've been put in the middle group, which also sets off with the 17 yr olds, and the faster group stetting of 3 mins later.
For the 1st 2 laps I was 17 again but by the last 2 laps I was a sorry 42 year old, hanging on for grim death.
On the last lap first Ricky passed me( who even tried to talk to me, but I was incapable of speech), then Phil who was having a battle with Russell, but still had time to push me up the hill, git!!!
I waited for Carl to pass but I held on for 4th ( don't forget, its handicapped).  Carl must of got lost in another field!!!!
A good turn out as always by Eden Runners and as it turns out a very enjoyable day.

Today, Sunday, I took myself up to Kidsty Pike from Pooley Bridge, a run that will get longer as the weeks pass by.

Look very hard for the deer on Low Raise

Cloud gathering over the Knott from High Raise

Readers of this Blog (both of you) might of noticed Blipfoto which is just below my followers.
Its takes you to another website which allows you to post photos each day and other people can leave comments on. Every week the Big Chiefs at Blipfoto gather around a table and choose a "photo of the week".
This award is very prestige and some wanna be Blippers would give their right arm to win it, well, guess who won this week....................
The winning photo can be found on the 10th October and the winning announcement can be found at BlipBlog
All very exciting........... even if it was for a very bad photo!!!!!!!

“This will be a day long remembered. It has seen the end of Kenobi, and will soon see the end of the rebellion.”

Planning Winter

Struggling to get the miles in I did before the BG, from Xmas to May I tried to do 50-70 miles per week with most of them done on the fell. Since May I have been doing about 35 - 40, but its harder when you haven't got a particular event to aim for.

With the dark nights coming in it will be back to the club on a Wednesday night and for some of Alan's tortuous speed/endurance runs....... I wonder if I could persuade Steve to do more night running on the fells?
 
The cross country season starts this weekend so I will try and do as many as possible over the winter.
Not many fell races left for me this year, maybe 2 or 3, so I will try and improve my speed and hill climbing over the next few months. The speed thing I will find hardest to improve as I hate doing reps of any sort ( too lazy and its hard work) but it would be nice to improve my 10 mile time, currently 63 mins set 2 years ago, but I wont hold my breath.

Last week on Monday I ran a steady 7 miles on the roads around Penrith in 49 minutes and it felt comfortable, which was nice considering it was the day after the Ian Hodgson.
On Wednesday, along with Steve and Sam we ran up Blencathra and over Bannerdale crags, well I tried to run it all but I was finding it tough with the pace Sam was setting and walked up some parts. It was on this run that Steve and Sam were talking about the amount of bike miles they are doing and it seems to be helping them on the hills....... I hate biking but will try and do a few more miles this winter.
On Friday I parked my car at Pooley Bridge and ran up to Arthur's pike and back. Took it easy and enjoyed it, running at an easy pace over the fells, you cant beat it.
Saturday morning I put the bike to the test and did 15 miles (its a long way for me!) in just under the hour but didn't enjoy it all, too bloody dangerous. I texted a mate and asked him if spinning classes would have the same effect - his response was that it was more for lasses..... spinning it is then!
Sunday I did the Great Cumbrian Run, a half marathon around the edges of Carlisle. This is all part of my plan to try and improve my speed by doing races instead of reps and things.

Very pleased with my time of 1 hr 21 mins 59secs. and to be honest I don't think I could get any quicker without putting in all training sessions that road runners do.
Roll on Spring.

Cumbrian Run - Photo taken by David Harrison

Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay

Second year I have done this now and I've got to admit, I love doing it.
In a fell race, your on your own and the only person you let down is yourself, but with a team event such as this you really don't want to let anybody down and as a result, if you paired with someone of equal ability, you really do push that bit harder.
Along with Steve Bennett I was down to run leg 2, a leg we have recced 3 times over the last few weeks, so we were more then happy to see the clag well down and rain lashing down.
Waiting for the leg 1 runners to come in, we were very surprised to see the Keswick open team come in first, with Borrowdale a good 7 minutes behind them, obviously the weather was playing a part.

Our own team had put 2 quick runners on leg 1, but something had not gone well and they arrived in 29th place.With a quick change over we were off, with me slightly ahead of Steve (Steve normally needs a mile and then he seems to have a turbo button). By the first checkpoint we had closed one team down and by the second we had passed another 2 teams.
The clag was down on the tops, but we never put a foot wrong and we were joined by the Todmorden pairing, who would be by our side the rest of the leg.
On the line down Threshthwaite mouth we kept left and picked a good line all on grass down to the bottom where we passed another team.
The climb up towards the beacon was tough, but I was relieved to be heading up because route finding was all straight forward now.
High Street came with another team passed and then it was all down hill, which Steve lead and I followed, through the beck and then down the fast track to the finish.
We passed over to Sam and Bernie with a feeling of job well done.

We had passed 7 teams and were 14th fastest overall on leg 2.

Sam and Bernie continued the good work and passed another 3 teams before handing over to the leg 4 runners who passed 5 more teams to bring us in a very credible 14th position. Last year we were 33rd.
Eden Runners is a small club, so we were delighted with the result.

More photos can be found at  my flickr account

Andy,Sam,Bernie,Steve,me,Kim and Dave. Anth missing

Oh and Borrowdale won........again.

Next Time Clive

Its been a odd week.

After Dalehead last weekend the bad cough and cold really kicked in which meant no running at all until Thursday, where rather foolishly I agreed to reccy leg 2 of Ian Hodgson Relay with Steve Bennett and Carl Bell.
I got a little past the first checkpoint and had to call a stop.
I could hardly breath and had absolutely no chance of carrying on so like a "reet sorry arse" walked of the mountain and got into Steve's car and drove it to hartsop to wait for them to complete the leg.
Rather then wait in the car I had a very very slow jog up to Hayswater to wait for them. It was getting quite dark and with it being an awful night I was getting a little nervous for them, they should of been back ages ago. I started to think that they maybe came off another way when I noticed 2 sodden wet runners coming out off the clag, I should of known........ Steve had got slightly lost!

On Friday night I had planned to go and wait for Clive King  on Gt Calva, who was attempting his BGR but decided against it (he wasn't expecting me but I thought it would be funny to jump out on him) as I was still feeling unwell.

On Saturday I was always going to watch a workmate do the Langdale half, and due to another workmate pulling out I had his number and a free place, the only question was could I last the distance without having a coughing fit.I decided I would try but would also walk if things felt bad.
Very pleased to say that things went OK and I finished in 14th in a time of 1.28.

Better still Haz did a brilliant PB and looked really fresh at the end, I think he could easily knock 15 mins off his time too if it was a flat course and he quit smoking!!!!

Haz looking for a cigarette

Happy Haz with me.

On Sunday I got a Phone call off Clive saying that he dropped out at Wasdale, a real shame but, I have no doubt at all that come October next year that he will be at Shap Wells collecting his certificate for the Bob Graham club.

Clive on leg 1 in February

Again Cumbria's premier photographer was at Langdale taking snaps, which can also be found on my links on the right. One problem tho, is that he seems to be enjoying it too much...... will he have the stomach to train and compete again when he is over his mental illness???

One Shire Too Many

Made the most out off the weekend just gone and managed a fell race on both days.

Saturday I did the 3 shires fell race, 12miles and 4000ft of climb. It starts in Little Langdale and visits the tops of Wetherlam, Swirl How, Pike o Blisco and Lingmoor. Three of the 4 tops I had not been on before so Friday night was spent taking bearings with my map of places where I was most likely to get lost.
I normally go quite fast at the start of a race but on this occasion I hung back a bit and settled into the middle of the pack.
The first big climb was Wetherlam and runners started going up the hill side in all directions. 80% of them went up at the first chance they got but I noticed a Keswick runner ignore them all and carried on up along the track a bit, so did I, but at one point I asked myself why in case I lost sight of him ,I would of been lost 20 minutes into the race. Luckily I kept him in my sight and we soon caught another 6 or 7 runners up and eventually got to the path again where the rest of the runners were, I think I made the right choice because we were ahead of other runners who were previously ahead of us.
The climb went on a long time and I was really feeling it, its been a while since I have climbed anything steep and by the time we got to the top I was relieved.

From the summit the running is good and I should of pushed on harder, but with not knowing what lay ahead of me I opted to run at a pace that felt OK, but even at this pace I took a fall on a grass bank, I blamed the fell shoes that I had just purchased from Pete Blends van before the race with the studs sticking in too well.

Before I knew it we were at the 3 shire stone and on to the easier climb of Blisco, which went well but I was aware of a big group coming up from behind so I really did push on up to the summit where I topped out with Gavin Thomas of Kendal who showed me the line down to Blea tarn. (showed me maybe is the wrong words, I followed him)
Once at Blea tarn its only Lingmoor left and whilst Gavin had got ahead of me by about 50 yards I was joined by a Dark Peak runner and a Rossendale runner for the climb, but at this point I was struggling so I faffed about in my bum bag for a drink and by the time I had sorted myself out the 2 other runners were well ahead of me, leaving me to navigate myself of the top.

With my map out I ran along past an old sheepfold or something and then started to descend, but it didnt feel right so I climbed back and ran a bit further until a Settle runner caught me up. He assured me was on the right line and we ran down the zig zagz ( not sure tho if that is the best line tho ) and to the finish together where I cheekily out sprinted him.
Rick Lightfoot won the race.

Good race and with a decent recce maybe I could knock a few minutes off my time, which I think was about 2.20 and 45th position.

5 other Eden runners pitched up for this with Kim Colinson  finishing a fantastic 9th.

Eden after the race

Along the route Steve Angus was out taking photographs, and even so he was shouting insults at me it it must be tough on him to be sidelined with his on going bowel problems, after getting himself so fit again, but after saying that his photographs are very good.

athletes in action

On Sunday I did the Dalehead fell race, 4.5 mile and 2210ft of climbing.
Third year I have ran this and this was the wettest yet. Set of with good intentions but soon became apparent that I was going to struggle and when I finally reached the summit decided to hold position and not loose any more places...... Until Pippa Maddams(who was watching at the bottom of the fell) gave me a right bollocking and told me to start running and I would catch the 2 runners in front, I caught one but the other beat me by a second..... the same dark peak guy who was in front of me at the 3 shires the day before.
I think I finished 15th with a 123 for Borrowdale and Jim Davis.

Monday I biked 13 miles.
Wednesday we recced leg 2 of the Ian Hodgson again.Thursday I ran 6 hilly road miles.

Below is a link for my Flickr where some photos of the Dale head fell race can be found

running pics

Catching Up

At this stage last year I had done 29 races.
Up to last weekend I had done 10 this year, 11 if you include my Bob Graham Round.
So no more excuses, I am going to make up for lost time, and this was started last weekend when I went up to Hesket Newmarket for the High Pike fell race. At 7 miles and 1700ft it was all runnable and navigation was straight forward, flagged up and down, my sort of course.

PHOTO TAKEN BY PAUL DOBSON

Not a big turn out due to it been a busy weekend on the fell running scene, but the 20-30? who did turn up all had nothing but good words for the course at the end. I managed 4th position, due to the small turnout!

Sunday I ran 13 mile on the roads
Monday I feebly did a 13 mile bike ride
Tuesday I set off to run 8 hilly miles but cut it short to 5.
Wednesday recced leg 2 of the Ian Hodgson relay

On Saturday I ran in the Great Westmorland Trail Race. 7.5 mile and 1200ft  it was again all runnable.
144 folk turned out for this very well organised race and it was won by Morgan Donnelly, setting a new course record along the way. No dizzy heights for me this week though and I settled for 9th place, but more important for me it was a good speed workout (like last week too) which is something im lacking in my training at the moment. Also good to see a few Eden Runners too.

Today I ran 13miles on the road again.  Hopefully next weekend I wont be working so I can have good outing on the fells.

Chocs Away

anyone got a bazooka

Back from Turkey, where 2 weeks seemed to have flown by. Had a good relaxing time and managed to run about 4 miles every morning -  even at 7am it was too hot to put much effort in.
Only bad part was the local mosque playing loud wailing music about 4am on the odd morning. Had a good view of the Taurus mountains but never went near them - Susan would of left me!!!

from dalehead-great view

As always my diet improves 100% when im on holiday - the sunnier climate makes me eat bucket loads of fruit and less junk. At home im always pigging out on on snacks like crisps and chocolate but that urge goes when im on holiday. Well almost goes, on the tenth day I took myself to the shop next door for M and Ms, but couldn't find any, so got a big bar of chocolate instead, realised it was too warm to eat so put it in the mini bar fridge too eat the next day. I come off the beach the next day to find my 2 offspring's wiping chocolate of their chops! I have never been so disappointed in Max since the time he was 7 and thought he was Dearth Vader and took all our fine china ornaments of our fire place in one fell swoop with his light sabre!!

On the running front I ran up loadpot from Pooley Bridge on Monday in a quick time and felt good.
Tuesday I ran on the roads for about six miles steady but felt crap.
Wednesday along with Steve B we ran up from Pooley Bridge to Arthur's Pike and it was a result of this run that has made me realise to not do the Grisedale Horseshoe this Saturday. Too much climbing for me and I would off preferred to of recced it, having not done it for 2 years now.

I'm a bit lost on my running plans at the moment, I want to get quicker and that means running faster and harder on the roads/flat, but at the same time I want to run on the fells. As a result I haven't entered Langdale Marathon - 3 weeks away and I don't think I could drag my arse around for 26 miles.

took this when I was reccying my BG earlier this yeart

So, I need something to aim for, thinking cap on.....

Its the same with my Blog, if I aint got any plans with regards to runs so I find it hard to motivate myself to write, so expect some long silences.

finishing loch ness 2 years ago