Nowt New

In a vain attempt to try and keep this blog vaguely interesting and on-going, I am posting a post basically about nowt!
Still not running, tho I did attempt a couple of easy fell runs a couple of weeks ago which has resulted in much pain in my lower abdominal and groin region.
I had a ultrasound scan which proved there was no Hernia and been to see a specialist in Hexham (NHS) who is sending me for a MRI scan at the end of April.
Gilmore's Groin was mentioned and I was surprised to hear that the NHS do operate for it - they cut the nerve to stop the pain!!- but before they entertain that idea they want me to stop running and cycling for a full year, to give things a chance to heal naturally.
Im hopeful the MRI scan will show something so at least I know what is causing the pains and will help my head too - its annoying not knowing what it is and how to go about fixing it.

I have been packing my case this week for a 2 week family holiday in Mexico and it will be strange not getting up early and going out running exploring the local area first thing in the morning before the family stirs.

The cycling is not going that well neither- I don't really enjoy it that much and have averaged 100 mile per week since Xmas and with The Fred Whiiton 2 weeks after I get back from holiday Im in no way fit enough for a very long day in the saddle. Not looking forward to it at all and if Im lucky enough to get round it without mishap the bikes going into storage....forever!

So that pretty sums up the last few weeks. I have cycled out to a few fell races and took photos and have enjoyed that - I will continue doing that until the day comes I can run pain free again.
I hope you all have a good running year and I will only post again if something exciting happens or Stevie B decides on having a go at the BGR.

Now for the photo bit

The king of mountains

Skiddaw from Derwentwater

Castlerigg stone circle

one man and his dog in priest hole cave below Dove Crag

Rob Jebb leads the field at Causey Pike

with Nick Ray hot on his heels!!

from lowther church

Causey Pike

Ullswater from Pooley Bridge

scamp on Blencathra

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!!!!!