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

Dont Come Near Me Mark Renshaw

The Sunday after Borrowdale I took myself up Arthur's Pike, parking at Pooley Bridge, running a steady 7 mile.

On Monday I biked out (and up) to Matindale church, Howtown. To most folk this would be no big feat at all, but this was my biggest bike ride to date, yep 22 miles in 1 and 1/2 hours and I thought I was going to pass out cycling up the small pass......... My plan is to try and bike up kirkstone pass before winter, but one bike ride a week is enough for me just now, it takes up too much time and its too hard!!!
Plus I tend to wobble all over the road when it gets too steep!!!!

Tuesday I met up with Steve B and again ran up to Arthur's Pike, at a pace that I could just about keep up, felt harder then normal.

Wednesday was Reeds Fell runners debut on the bigger stuff. Along with Haz and Rod, we ran the Blencathra fell race route in a little over 2 hours, a good effort in what was awful conditions (hailstones, clag and finally sunshine). Haz has got the fell running bug and I think he might even do Blencathra next year..... hopefully.

Race to the top

Are we there yet

Interesting descent ahead with them shoes Rod

Too easy for these fell monkeys

Thursday I was changed to go up the fell again but changed my mind the last minute. I'm meant to be doing Langdale Marathon in 6 weeks and I haven't done much road running at all, let alone speed work, so I did 9 miles around the streets of Penrith which included a few steep road hills. It actually felt quite good, but im a long way off trying to blag my way round 26 miles of torture.

Today (Saturday)I ran 13 hard road miles in a little over 84 mins, quite pleasing really, and it was also very undulating, whether I could of carried on for another 13 miles tho is questionable. 

Tomorrow we fly out to Turkey for a 2 week beach holiday, so I will throw in my road shoes and try and do a few miles the odd morning. Looking forward to lazing about the beach....... Its been a tough year... so far.

Borrowdale Fell Race

Two cars, 8 runners left Penrith on Saturday morning for the Borrowdale fell race, the second time I have done it, the first I got hopelessly lost on.........Ill Crag.....don't ask.
This year I was more nervous, probably due to not racing much since my BG and not recceing the course at all since last year.
Due to this nervousness I started further back then I normally do and as a result ended up in the bottleneck at the start and having to walk, run, walk for a while until the course thinned out a bit.

The climb up Bessyboot went well and I was soon running with a couple of runners into the clag, which would stay with us all day until the descent of Dalehead. Luckily for me Gavin Blend joined us so I quickly got onto his heels and followed him up to Esk Hause, which in hindsight proved to be one of my better decisions after hearing how many got lost on this section.Following Gavin over this section showed me how important it is to know the course as he seemed to know every stone. I did tell him tho that I had no shame and his reply was "don't worry, no one as". So I thought the least I could do was share my water with him and the other runner!!!

On reaching Esk Hause I was met by Dave Owen, who had kindly offered to meet us with water, and then the climb up Scafel Pike beckoned.

I would guess at this point I was well up in the field, but the wet rocks over to Scafell slowed me down dramaticly and I soon found myself alone, at the very place I got lost last year. I was very relieved to find the col up to Scafel Pike to know I was still on track.

On reaching the summit I had to find the scree run down to the corridor route and at first I went far to far left and after a couple of minutes of scrabbling about I heard some voices above me, so I quickly climbed back up where I met 3 other runners also looking for it. Eventually we found it and we were soon sliding down the scree. I ended up staying within eyesight off the corridor path (didnt dare lose sight of it)  up until Styhead where again David had met me again with water, but this time I declined, I hadn't touched my other bottle yet.
The climb up Gable felt awful for me, and I knew from here on in I was in survival mode. I managed to keep going and I took an age to descend down to Windy Gap, but at least I was back in with a group of other runners, who all went too far left from Green Gable before I realised we were wrong and had to climbed back up.
The run down to Honister felt good but as soon as I hit the climb of Dalehead my legs had gone again and I had no water left.
I managed to hold my postilion tho and crossed the line 3 hours and 55 minutes after starting.

Just about everyone I spoke to at the end had some tale to tell about getting lost or taking the wrong line so my mishaps maybe weren't that bad after all.

                                          What a Rabble!

Next year im going to recce the course a bit more so im sure of the route and try and get under 3.45. (dream on!)

Legs Returning........At Last

Had a very enjoyable day last Sunday, where me and Steve Bennett joined up with Steve Angus and some of his mates for a run round leg 1 of the Bob Graham. We ran it anti clockwise, the first time I had done it this way, and hopefully the last. After saying that tho, we ran it in just over 3 hours and that was with a few stops.
I was concerned, that with the company I was in that I would struggle to keep pace, but in hindsight this run is exactly what I needed, pushing hard on the ups and fast descending gave me back some of my pre Bob Graham confidence and better still the groin wasn't to troublesome but the hip is still tender.
After the run we had a pint where I was amazed at some of the tales that were been told regarding training and other peoples exploits. Here are some of the following;

"I trained every day for a full year without a day off"

"I use to do 7000 miles on the bike every year"

"so and so used to bike 40 miles every night......... and eat only a bread roll...... without butter on"

and my favourite..

"so and so fathered a child...... at 50 years old"

I did think about telling them about the time I completed Tomb Raider 1 without any cheats, but thought better of it.

                                     Steve running up Halls Fell

The following night I parked my car at the foot of Scales fell and ran up Blencathra again. The day before one of Steve's mates had dropped a gillet somewhere on the top so I thought I would go and have a look for it but the clag was even worse the the day before and had little chance of seeing my feet let alone a lost top. Still it was good effort.

                                          Wannabe David Bailey

AMBLESIDE SPORTS DAY

On Thursday I went to Ambleside Sports to do the Rydal Round Fell Race, the course follows the Fairfield Horseshoe race route apart from the start is slightly different (more brutal in my opinion).
This was to be my first fell race since the 3 Peaks back in April and I thought it would be quite low key, but a good few people I knew well were amassed on the start line, so it was going to be a race rather then a stroll on the fells for me.
The Start was fast and Steve Angus led the field out off the show field and along the track up to Nab Scar. This was to be the last I saw of Steve until the finish line.
I quickly settled and got into my stride but found myself running alone until Craig Smith caught me up along with 1st lady Jane Reddy and club mate Sam Ware. This proved to very good for me as it gave me encouragement to keep moving well. We kept swapping places up to the summit of Fairfield where Sam had pulled out a slight gap on us but by the time we contoured around Hart Crag we were all together again.
I had decided to keep on Craigs shoulder as he seemed to know the route quite well. Eventually Craig and myself pulled away from the others and began to put a  gap between us.
With less then Half a mile to go I pulled away from Craig and another runner who had caught us up. If the course was any steeper tho it would off suited craig more then me and he would off  romped home to the finish line ahead off me.
My time was 1hr 35mins and any other year that would of been good enough for a top ten but this year it meant 18th. A very enjoyable race and it reminded me what I have been missing.

                                 Club mate Sam Ware at the finish.

                                            A fantastic setting

                                           A proper sports day

I have entered Borrowdale on Saturday but not 100% sure im doing it yet, as its a different monster altogether and it might be a tad too steep for my still sore hips.

AND FINALLY.....

Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Angus who tied the knot on Saturday.......after 18years!!!

Loadpot Fell Run

Since the Newlands road race on Wednesday night I have done nowt.
So today (Saturday) I had a run up to Loadpot, parking at Pooley Bridge, this makes the run about 10 miles and 2000ft.
Pre Bob Graham I would do this run from Roe Head car park and do it comfortably/easy in 1 hr 12 mins. Today I did it in 1hr 15mins, but instead of it feeling easy, it felt hard and I found myself having to work really hard, especially on the ups. The downs I took at a much slower pace then I normally would due to my groin still feeling tight.

When running this route I sometimes see the odd walker, but  the further on you go, the less chance you have of seeing anybody, so imagine my suprise when I was running back to the cockpit and seeing hoards of other runners coming towards me.
It turned out they were runners competing  in the Lakeland 50 mile race and ahead of them were other runners who had set off 12 hours earlier and were competing in the Lakeland 100 mile event.
This is an event that I might give a go some time, what better way of seeing Lakeland!

Tomorrow morning I am joining Steve Angus and some of his mates to do leg 1 of the Bob Graham, who have been in Keswick camping for 2 nights enjoying Steve's Stag doo ( I believe you had to sport a 1970s ponytail and sing ABBA songs to be part of the stag doo)

Newlands Valley Road Race

If I have got any serious intentions of doing the Langdale Marathon in September it might be an idea to start doing some road running, so with this in mind I drove out to Keswick on Wednesday night to tackle a tough 6.4 mile road race.

What a wake up call it turned out to be!!
The race set off and I was soon reminded just how hard road racing is. I clicked onto the second group of runners ( the first group were the elite) and ran with them for a couple of miles, but I soon found myself struggling to hold on to them and decided to back of a bit. I knew this was a mistake as I always find it harder to run alone in a race, but on this occasion I had no choice, I was done in..... at mile 3!!!
To make matters worse for me, my right shoe lace had come undone, but I knew that if I stopped to tie it back up I would end up jogging back, so I carried on, and to be honest it did not slow me down at all.
 Sure enough, other runners started picking me off and at one stage I was in with another group of 3 for a while, but I think they got sick of my shoe lace whipping their ankles and sped off.
With a mile to go I was more then happy to hold position and get to the finish line without trying to over take any one or let anyone else over take me. The runner in front of me was a good 50 yards ahead and he had glanced back to me, just to confirm that I was spent, I was.
With about 200 yards to go I was suddenly aware off someone galloping up on my right hand side. There was nothing else for it... not seen since Appleby school sports day in 1983..... the Stoddy kick.... and with that I was off, holding off the challenger (for 21st position) and charging past the poor guy in front who, by the time he realised what was going on  it was too late to react.
I crossed the finish line and said to myself  NEVER AGAIN.
Within a few minutes though the pain is forgotten and im catching up with some folk I aint seen in a while. They is also a strong presence of Eden runners, amongst them is Alan Marshall, who organises a lot of the  winter training for the club, I make a mental note that I must attend more this winter!

I said before the race to Steve Angus that I would be happy with 6min 18 sec miles and that is what I achieved with my time been 40mins 50 secs. This I am becoming to realise  is my opptimum speed limt, as when I look back at some of my PBs they are;

Half Marathon (keswick) 83mins
10 miles (Derwentwater) 63 mins

Both are 6min 18sec miles. (roughly)
So, for me to run faster times means I have to start doing things like intervals, fartleks, and more road running and I dont think I can be bothered with all that malakee , so I will contiue doing my long runs on the fells at the weekends and try and do a couple of road runs during the week.

Getting back to the Langdale Marathon, its going to be tough, less then 8 wks away and I have a 2 wk beach holiday to fit in. Last night showed me how far behind I am.
I am going to try and do Rydel round fell race next Thursday and if I get round without the groin playing up its Borrowdale the week after.

First Man On Mars

Today Mark Nicholson was the first man on Mars. Mark reached Mars in less then 3 days in his home made spaceship that he built in his garage out of spare bicycle parts (and a broken garmin).

The above paragraph would not surprise me if I read it in a newspaper in the future.

Last week I got a text of a mate telling me of Marks latest feat........cycling from John o Groats to Lands end. "No big deal" I thought as I knew he had done this several times before, but as I read on I was amazed to discover he had done it in less then 3 days!!!!! All up hill too (or is that the way it looks on a map).

This was just one of the many fantastic achievements Mark has done over the years, others include;

5 marathons in different continents in 12 months
Coast to Coasts (the wall and the Wainwright)
Iron man Triathlons
All The Wainwright s  (214 fell tops)
The Bob Graham Round ( the toughest!!!!)
Hill reps up Graham Street
and many many more....

As far as I know Mark does all these for charity, what a top top bloke.

                          Mark being chased on Mars by aliens!

Gutted

Feeling buoyed (is that spelt right) with the last weeks mileage, even though the niggles were still there, I thought it would be a good test for me to visit a regular 13 mile fell run that I do quite a bit.
Its a route that takes you over 4 tops and is all runnable, but testing (its quite tempting to walk at least 2 of the ups), but it would give me a good indication of where I was in terms of fitness

So on Saturday morning I set off and within a mile I could feel my right hip feeling tender, but after the first climb it had settled down. For the next 45 minutes things felt great, I was moving well, felt like I had a spring in my step and enjoying the environment that I was in (seen 3 other people on my run).

Then on the last steep descent I felt the top of my inner thigh tighten and made every footfall sore, so what do I do? stop? walk? no, carry on hoping it will ease off when I hit the flat.
Well it did ease of slightly so I pushed on with 4 miles still to go.
This route I normally complete in 2hours, so again I was pleased to see the clock back at the car record my time of 2 hrs 6 mins. Only 6 mins slower, but quite a hot day and the groin slowing me down. I drove home with the feeling  the speed was coming back.........This feeling did not last.
By the time I pulled up in my drive and tried to swing my legs out off the car the feeling had long gone.
During that afternoon I shuffled about the house and started googling "groin strains"on the PC. The readings were not very encouraging and im hoping that if I stay off the hills for a week or two, things will improve, fingers crossed.

Sunday was Skiddaw fell race so I took my camera to take some pics.
For 8 weeks before this race the weather has been glorious. 3 hours after the fell race the weather was glorious. During the fell race tho the weather was PANTS! and I was bloody soaked!!
But like the pro I am not, I stood my ground and waited for the runners to make their way up, with rain lashing me and hands numb I started clicking. I must off took a photo of every one on the way up and when the last one passed I had a quick look at camera only to realise the setting was wrong and most pictures were out of focus CRAP!!!
But like the pro I am I waited for the runners to return and started snapping again. On reviewing the pics when I got home they were CRAPPER still but managed to salvage a few.........only for one UNGRATEFUL ROAD RUNNER text me saying  how embarrassed he would of been taking such shabby photos. Thats what you get for sitting on a soaking wet fell (with a very sore groin) on a Sunday taking pictures of appreciative fell runners and STEVE ANGUS!

Apart from his complaints it has got to said that Mr Angus had a very good run today and I was very surprised to see him beat Mr Bennett.
Well done all.

The top photo was taken last year and shows  2 fell runners battling it out, a battle that lasted the last 2 miles.

The photo on the bottom shows a road runner from the 70s. (click on it to enlarge)

A Dash Up Dash Falls

Duped again!!
It was promised it would be a slow steady run up to Dash Falls by Mr Bennett last night.
I know I have lost a bit of fitness these last few weeks, but this is getting beyond the joke.
I thought I was running at a good steady pace , but it wasn't enough as Steve pressed on ahead as I struggled to keep within 20 metres of him and when I did catch up to him, he would pick up the pace again.
I couldn't see his face but I imagine it had a big smirk on it.
We finally reached Dash Falls where I made the most of the water that I was carrying and we were off back again, this time it felt faster though, so I adopted the "conservation trick" hoping it would slow him down, but no good, he was on a mission.
With a mile to go and the ground a bit rougher I dared to get within a metre of him but this made him more determined, in the end getting back to the car a good 20 seconds before me.
Pleased really because last week I had no life at all in the old pistols, but at least tonight I could at least try and pretend to race him. Things are getting easier, but I was alarmed to weigh myself and see that I have put 1/2 a stone on in the last 4 weeks.
Things will get better, I hope!

An Old Friend

Tonight because I was short of time I decided to do an old road run that I used to do when I first started running. Its about 6 - 7 miles long and I use to be able to run it in around 40mins.
Looking back in my running log, tonight was the first road run I've done since March, and it told.
What made it more difficult was the fact that is was a glorious night with the fell tops all in good sight, but I convinced myself that this run would be more beneficial to me with it been smooth and relatively flat (compared to the fells) and would be kinder to my groin/hip.
For me running on the roads is so much harder then running on the fells, as on the fells you can take a recovery without losing too much time, but on the road there is no hiding place, its all about 'times' and its an hard effort from start to finish.
So, getting back to tonight's run. It was horrible. The old route has fallen out with me and gave me real turning over. Where as once it encouraged to run faster, tonight it made life very hard for me, made me look a chump. I suppose that's what you get if you neglect an old friend.
I ran this hard too, with the idea it would be my benchmark for the summer, but 44minutes dead shouldn't take much beating.
Tomorrow im back on the fells but next week I plan to visit my old friend once a week until we are mates again.....it might take some time!!

Langdale Legends

Things are getting back to normal, the back of the knee as improved but the hip/groin is still causing me discomfort especially on down hills.

Last week I had my biggest mileage for 4 weeks, hitting the big 25.
17 of these were done on leg 1 of the bg route where I joined up with Steve Bennett, who was wanting a long slow plod on the fells and was very keen to show me a fast line of Gt Calva.

We agreed that if I was struggling that I would skirt around Skiddaw and meet him at the bottom of Gt Calva.
On reaching the turn off point for me to skirt away (and miss the big climb) Steve convinced me to carry on and he would go steady.
5 minutes later and Steve is a good few yards ahead with me hanging on just to keep a glimpse of him. We reached the top in 63 minutes and again he assured me he would slow it down a bit. We crossed the fence and hes flying off towards Hare Crag, so I stretch out my legs and overtake but soon have to ease up. Steve's
loving it but I will get my revenge.
We are finally on Calva and Steve is dragging me through the high heather on his short cut. We reach the Caldew some 20 minutes later where it should of took us 10 at the most. He is still convinced tho that its easier then the fence line........how he works this out is beyond me.
We descend Blencathra via Doddick and this is where I really feel my groin but still get back to the cricket club car park in 22 mins whilst Steve ( who is flying, it has to said, does it easily in 19)
A big test for me and glad I decided to tag along.

The next few weeks im going to do some easy miles on the fells, not worry about racing and try and get my little bit of speed back, which I've definitely lost.

I'm thinking of entering the langdale road marathon in September but rather then train on the road for it, do most of my running on the high street range where it is all runnable. Perhaps I will do one session a week on the road, this might be the new streets race route or I might go to the grass track and do a few 800m???

I haven't really got a plan or a time for it but it would be nice to get close to my one and only marathon time of 3.16 ( loch ness ) in 2008.

]

Steve Bennett and Steve Angus

These two lads (has been's!!) above are well experienced road runners, both sub 3 marathon runners and both done fantastic times at Langdale, if I could get within 15 mins of their time I'll be well pleased.

On Sunday I rode out to Ullswater to watch a triathlon where crazy people swim a bit, bike a lot and then run up and down a valley............mad, but very entertaining.

                                
  Only a 56 mile bike ride and a 13 mile fell run left.

Here We Go Again

Managed a 9 mile fell run today, first one in eight days. Groin still sore, knee still stiff, got attacked by a Buzzard (well swooped down on 5 times, but enough to scare the living daylights out of me) but you know what..... I loved it!!  (the run, not the Buzzard)

Hopefully the knee and groin will sort themselves out and I can get back to tramping about on the fells once more. 

Tonight my son, Max attended the school prom. How proud am I of him. Where's the years gone?






Bobby Dazzler!!!!!!!

21hr 07mins. And Relax!!!

May 29th will forever be etched into my memory, not as much for my success of the Bob Graham Round, but more of the true friendship, camaraderie  and kindness shown to me by some amazing folk. Im not going to thank them by name as they know who they are

I started writing  this blog in August last year to record all my days out on the fells and to also to keep as a record of all things related to the Bob Graham.

I'm afraid im not going to write a report of my Bob Graham Round, as its something that does not need writing down for me to read again, it will stay in my memory long after I cant run any more.

For me now, im going to rest up a few weeks and then start doing what  I love doing more then anything else, running in the hills.(oh, and Susan wants two bedrooms decorated)

Round Done!
Job Done!
Blog Done!

Thank you all for all your kind comments and advice over the past few months.

Some photos of the day can be found at http://www.pbase.com/davidharrison/root.
(Good one of Stevie B on his arse)

THE END
Stu.

A Tough Week. Doing Nowt.

This last 6 days have been very tough. I have been wanting to run but resisted, hence I think has made me feel very tired, or is it the nerves??
I was going to go for a light run on Wednesday evening , but had forgotten I had a long overdue MRI scan at Carlisle for my ongoing knee problem at 5.50pm.
At time of posting this (8.45am) I still have a load of things to arrange but at least im of work today.
The weather looks like its going to be breezy and showers, but I cant do anything about that, its not as if i will melt or anything.
One tiny issue that is bothering me is not having anybody to rope Broad Stand for us, which means we will have to carry a rope with us, but again its not the end of the world.
So, that's it, at 1am on Saturday morning I will leave the Moot Hall and hopefully have a very memorable 24 hours on the tops.

Can I Have The Same Weather, Just A Bit Cooler Please!!!

Last year whilst recceing leg 1, I met a fella Called Seb Pflanz at the Sheepfold by the Caldew, We recced the rest of leg 1 together and arranged to meet up again during the winter months. Due to either work commitments or the snowy winter we never did recce any other legs together, but we did keep in touch from time to time to see how the other was getting on with their training.

On Wednesday  night we met each other again to recce leg 5 (hill section only) as it was the only leg that he had not gone over before his attempt on Saturday, which I was navigating on leg 2.
I was a bit dubious about this as Im meant to be tapering mode, but it was good to meet up with Seb again and have another look at the descent of Robinson.

Seb had told me he was on a 23 hour schedule but I thought I had best turn up to Threlkeld early as he is a very experienced ultra runner and I new he would be ahead on his estimated time.

Seb on Stybarrow

Seb with Dark Peak Simon just behind

                                                  

Sure enough he rolled into Threlkeld early and after a shoe change we were off towards Clough Head with his other pacers Craig and Sandy, both Scottish. We weren't even on Gt Dodd before the banter started about the English and the Scottish, but I was quick to remind them who was going to the World cup, Seb is German born by the way!!!

The pace felt good and easy and I kept asking Seb if he was relaxed enough and he said he was fine at the pace we were setting.

Seb had set off from Moot Hall at 2am along with another group who was on 20hr schedule and we had caught them up by Watson Dodd, which did concern me a bit because they were bang on there own schedule and Seb was well ahead of his, but again Seb assured me he was ok with the pace.

Its worth noting here that both groups were about 50 yards apart at Dollywagon, whilst Seb went down the right of the tarn, the other team(simon, dark peak) went to the left. Seb stopped at the bottom to take his sock off as he thought he had a stone in his shoe, turned out to be a blister but we still reached the top of Fairfield just ahead of them.

From Seat Sandal I ran ahead to pre warn his valley crew he was on his way and to have things ready.

Seb had fantastic support

Seb arrived at Dunmail slightly ahead of 20 hour pace and im very pleased to report that he finished his round last night in 21hrs 47mins.

From my own point of view Seb did his round pretty much how I would want to attempt mine this coming Saturday, with getting to Dunmail ahead of schedule and then hanging on the best I can.

So, last week only 2 legs covered, but its taper all week for me now, apart from Wednesday when I might go for a light jog.
The rest of the week I will be glued to the weather forecast!!

Not A Lot To Say

Last week was a much easier week for me, but still got over 10,000 feet, but only 35 miles covered.
Out of the seven days I was only out 3 and this week it looks like the same.
Tomorrow  evening im thinking of looking over leg 5 , but only from Dalehead to Robinson.
On Saturday im pacing on leg 2 for Seb Pflanz's attempt and on Sunday I might have a slow run up to Skiddaw House and along the path to the Caldew and take another bearing for Mungrisdale Common. ( measure twice, cut once )
Still working on my schedule/plan/food.

Heading South

A tough week, ready for a rest now.
Yesterday  seen me and Iain Kelly parking at Seathwaite and climbing up to Esk Hause and doing the rest of leg 3. I have struck gold in having Iain on this leg, his knowledge of it is very reassuring. 
I imagine leg 3 could be where the wheels come off for me, so with having Iain and Steve Angus im hoping they will pull me through it. Mind you Steve can talk some bloody crap at times!!!!
Yesterday also saw me banish one of my main worries by climbing Broad stand without a rope al tho I very nearly ducked out. I was stood on the second ledge whilst Iain was trying to explain to me what to do when all of a sudden a couple of other BGers came sailing by me and sailed up it, making it look very easy and me look very stupid (not hard). So with Iains encouragement I got up it, which in truth was not that bad at all, but it would be a different story if it was wet.Also went down the line of Scafell which again didn't seem that bad , but with 16 hours in my legs I think it might be a different story.
Got back to the cars via Styhead Tarn.It was on this route where I seen some runner trying to get use to running with walking poles, he was having  quite a fight!

Today I was going to do leg 2 with Steve Angus but at the last minute decided I would throw leg 1 in as well, so I arranged I would meet Steve at 10.30 to do leg 2 with him.
I set off from Keswick at 7.07 and got back to Threlkeld CC at 10.07, surprised myself at how quick I had done it, al tho it was far to fast.

 I had 13mins to wait before Steve arrived so I had some food and refilled my bottles. At 10.25 we were off again and the climb up Clough Head felt very hard, but we reached the top in 44mins, too quick, but Steve was on fresh legs and moving very well.
We finished the leg in a time of 3.20.
So 2 legs done in 6.38 that included a 18Min wait at Threlkeld. I hope on the day of my attempt my pacers do a good job or I fear its curtains at Wasdale!
On Wednesday me and Steve Bennett had a good run along the coach road from Dockray to Clough Head and up over the Dodds and back down Hartside where we watched the Dockray-Hartside fell race. As always Steve supplied the entrainment by trying to convince me were running south when in fact we were running north east.WARNING : DO NOT FOLLOW THIS MAN IN A FELL RACE!
(it is my good fortune that he is completely computer illiterate and he cannot work out how to reply on this blog)

And as said in my last post on Monday I did leg 1 running from Threlkeld.

So my total feet climb for the last week was 22500 and 66 miles, im going to start backing off now and try and work out my schedule and road stops and fuel intakes, all of which I am really struggling with, its the part of the BG that Im totally no good at and wish some else would do it for me!