I'm Back....!?

Not sure how long this will last but lets give it another go eh!?

Again I've done a fair bit between posts!? West Highland Way Race...great success! Excelling expectation with about 24hr 40minutes. A near perfect run out, spent with a great group of supporters including Muzza, Dave Troman and Jack...of course not forgetting Karen who supported the whole endeavour! Hardmoors 110 (2015), another great day out, completed in just sub 30 hrs! Well pleased with that! Lakeland 100 (2016)...not so good. Suffered with sleep depravation and finished running with Karen who was on her Lakeland 50 completion. I finished in 36+ hrs and Karen in sub 20 hrs. Still a massively enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Been an odd few years moving house too often and never totally feeling settled, getting settled then moving on....Hopefully that's stopped for now having bought and 'settled' in Bentham, North Yorkshire.

Next on the list is another go at the Lakeland 100 and an attempt to do sub 32 hours, a long shot with my present level of training. Also a proper go at the Fellsman in April, having covered 20 odd miles as a training effort and recce with Karen last year. Then there's the small matter of a 7th Bullock Smithy and another crack at sub 11....another long shot.

So here's to my third attempt at the Man With No Shed blog.....still no shed but now with a permanent garage!!

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WHW Training Continues: February-March

Things have picked up! Had a good couple of months now, with two weeks of March remaining. I've managed to get a few good long runs done. Karen working in Keswick has really helped!


Started with a run over from Keswick to Ambleside of about 23 miles. Unfortunately I had a few issues coming over Greenup Gap. First the cloud was down which cause nav problems, it was raining so I got wet and cold. I ended up getting slightly mis-placed descending and wasn't sure where I was dropping off to Grasmere. Then I slipped on wet grass and think I cracked a rib. It wasn't a major problem as it happens and hasn't been subsequently.
Next I ran a 'Tour de Skiddaw' which I hoped was about 26-28 mile. As I got into it it became clear that it was shorter than hoped. When I got back into Keswick I decided to pop into a café and get a cuppa and a cake, then continue over to Braithwaite and round Swineside to extend to 26 miles!
Third long run was again 'Tour de Skiddaw'. This time I went over the top and dropped down Birkett Edge to the Dash, then onto to Mungrisedale via Skiddaw House.
Finally, the Big One! Inspired by a run I read about on Fleetwoods Long Mountain Challenges blog, which followed the Roman road from Penrith to Kendal, I got dropped off at Ings near Staveley. The idea was to go over Ill Bell, Thornthwaite Beacon and High Street, then down to Pooley Bridge. Finally I would follow the Lakeland 100 route back to Keswick. The day was gorgeous , sunny, not to warm and blue skies (...wish I'd taken the camera!). It was 20 miles to Pooley and I felt pretty good, keeping to a good, if not spectacular, pace. Had milk, chocolate and Hola-hoops, then off again. I basically followed the reverse Lakeland 100 route via Dalemain and Dacre, as best as I could. It started to become clear it was going to be further than I'd guessed! I tired as I headed towards Dockray, and struggled around the back of Little Man. I picked up after I managed to get fresh water from a caravan site though, and my pace was still fair. Once I got on the Old Coach Road I  realised I wasn't going to get as far as Keswick due to time and the excess distance. I wasn't ready to push to 44 plus miles just yet!! I decided sense over valour and the joys of a pint at 'the Sally' in Threlkeld while Karen finished her hair appointment and came to pick me up!! Another great day out! I love this training for a big event...a goal's a wonderful thing!!


Next up is a fair bit of training for work, and a trip to France and Belgium for Paris-Roubaix Race and a look around WWI war graves and stuff! Not sure how much long stuff I'll be getting in so I need to spot every opportunity in the rest of March and on to April! Still a lot of work to do!

January 2014: The Road to the West Highland Way Race.

So...I've entered the west Highland Way Race in June!! There's work to do!! With that in mind I've begun. I have had an issue since my last post....a slipped disc!! I think I'm pretty much recovered, mild muscular niggles, but otherwise fine. So I've began training in a steady way, walking mainly. I've managed three 20 milers, including a couple over the course with Karen. Not quick pace but steady walking. I've now covered the whole route between running as a supporter in 2012 with my mate Muzza and doing a couple of recce walks early in January and a shortened trip this week. We'd intended completing the course for Karen, but the weather defeated us and also spoiled our Wedding Anniversary trip to the Clachaig Inn down Glencoe in the process. We'd devised a slightly complicated route through because we had completed the middle section, Crainlarich to Glencoe previously, and because of the time of year accommodation was limited. Basically we walked 20, 23 and 7 miles to get to Crainlarich. Then caught the train back to Milngavie to pick the car up with the intention of travelling to the Clachaig, staying overnight, then heading to Fort William to get the bus back to Kingshouse. Unfortunately due to heavy snow we couldn't get beyond the Black Mount turn up to Rannoch Moor! We retreated to Tyndrum to find somewhere to stay. Not great!!! Next day we set off to try again. This time the car played up, losing power going up out of Tyndrum. Trip over! I didn't want to push it trying to get up to Kingshouse with more bad weather predicted and a defective car too! Still I pretty much achieved what I wanted, even if Karen, unfortunately didn't.


In addition to the West Highland Way recces, we've done a bit around Ingleton. Walked all three of the Yorkshire Three Peaks (...in separate walks!), had a 16 miler up Gragareth and 14 mile over Ingleborough and Whernside. I've also done a good 20 run/walk out from Keswick.


I'm not as far on as I'd like, so its time to pick it up!! Hopefully work and life isn't going to get in the way too much. Its going to be a balancing act but the goal's there.....

A Review!!!

Its been a while. Due partially to lost passwords and lost e-mail address, and life/work changes going on. But mainly due to my tardiness. My last post was just before I did the Jura Race! I had a lot to tell after that! Beautiful weather, great whiskies, glorious islands and the mainland as we travelled north. Oh! and a great race too! There are photo's which, when I do overcome my tardiness, I while post.

 

Since then? Not sure!! Lakeland 50 twice, both of which I really enjoyed. Bullock Smithy twice!!! (Blimey! It really has been a long time!) I also did Buttermere Horseshoe - Darren Holloway Race which was also a great event, well organised. Plus a myriad of training runs, walks and cycle rides! We spent time in Copenhagen, Greece and have just returned from France.

 

The intention now is to return to more regular 'blogging'!! I might even expand on the above...who knows!! :)

Odd couple of Weeks

It has indeed, been an odd couple of weeks! Have'nt actually ran for two weeks. Done a bit at work, in the gym and thats been it! I had a couple of days to get over the Ennerdale recce, then went to Killin, up in Scotland to celebrate my 50th!! The intention being to do a longish run up Ben Lawers, but the weather wasn't great and we had to drive up and drive back. Missed a couple of opportunities while on my four days on (...at work). Now I've been sorting stuff for our trip to Jura and the north!!!

Really excited about the Jura Race and our trip generally!! So much so, that for once, I/we are organised. Everythings packed and I'm sat at 6 o'clock, eating my porridge and hoping to be out, on the road, for half past!!! With that in mind, I'd best get on.......

Ennerdale Horseshoe - Race Route (almost!)

Had a decent day yesterday! Bumped into 'Daz the Slug', off the FRA forum before Moses' Trod. I ascended Herdus/Gt Bourne wrong as I turned left instead of right at Beckfoot Farm, ended up on the road and couldnt work path out visually. I climbed up onto the gap between Bowmans' Knot and Bourne instead. Then it was pretty much ok to Red Pike, descended through the scree. I went over High Pike instead of contouring round. When I got to Scarth Gap dropped down right/south and picked up the fence line, if you follow it along then back up steeply it brings you onto a path, which I then followed to the tarn. Again I confused myself slightly by leaving the tourist path to early. I left it at Innominate instead of Blackbeck Tarn. It was then I spotted a person (Daz) recceing so I followed him to contour round, and over towards Moses Trod and below Brandreth. Again this was an error. The ground out of Blackbeck, where CP3 on Ennerdale fell race, is is much better. After that it was ok. We missed Green Gable as we both had time issues. The decent of Kirk Fell ..where I left my flap-jack and nuts/raisins and 'tupperware' box!, was very, very loose down Red Gill(?) but its fairly short and I'd say quicker than the tourist route I'd say, and probably no harder in descent. Though I've not been down that way. After here its a long drag back when you're getting tired. Over Red Pike then take the obvious trod around Scoat Fell (to the left/south), then pich up another slightly higher trod as you contour round. Basically follow the wall all the way back!! Its pretty much a good run back over grass from there! The last bit through the woods is just a matter of keeping going up. Follow the muddy path, at a t-junction go left and tack a trod to the right across some tussocky grass. Over a style and up over grassy line to the top. Finally the long drop back down!! It was a good, tiring day. really good to meet Daz. Karen was a bit dis-chuffed at waiting at work for 40 minutes for me!! But fish and chips and Dandielion and Burdock finished the day off nicely! Bit knackered with slightly bruised/blistered heels, this morning!

Solway surprise!!

Its not really my intention to 'post' every day! But Karen had a very nice little surprise planned when I got in from work. In my head I was planning a little three mile stretcher round the back roads. When I arrived home she'd planned a nice picnic to take down the Solway!! :)

It was a very nice evening up here, fairly warm, the sun was out. We had a little walk to see if there was any wildlife about! Otter tracks!? (...no! as it happens!). Then a little sit with our pasta salad and a Cockerhoop, got a bit cold then came back home to a nice cuppa and the log-burner!! Very nice it all was too!

Cheers Kaz!! :)

BG Leg#2 'Recce'

Great day out today!! Ran out along the BG Leg#2 - Threlkeld-Clough Head-Helvellyn-Fairfield-Dunmail Raise. Too be clear, I do often feel somewhat fraudulent when I say 'BG Recce', as my atempt this year has been officially abandoned. I actually underestimated the time I would need to get the route clear in my head etc, plus my training was disorganised and interspersed with weddings etc. So the plan is to go next year. preferably before my next birthday, but failing that June or July 2013. I feel that it'll be a one-off, bust-or-break effort, because I'm not really sure I can keep(..get!?) focused for long enough to go for it again in 2014 as well!
Anyway!! Today went quite well, up until I thought I was on Watson's Dodd only to see Sticks Pass below!! ERROR!! It all felt so good until then...navigating in low cloud, I though I was bob on!! From there all went well. Kazzie was heading out too, but she'd driven out to Dunmail to, in theory, go up Dollywagon. I eventually dropped onto Grisedale Tarn, decided against the direct route and headed up the tourist path. Suddenly I hear her dulcete tones from above!! She's 2/3 up Fairfield, not where I thought I'd see her. I chased in vain, only to catch her sat in one of the shelters at the top. Then its back down...over Seat Sandal, pretty much found the ascent but requires further recce, and down off to Dunmail. Round in 4hr 28min. Well pleased.
Kaz caused me a little worry as she trailed in 20 or so minutes behind having come down the beck.
Finally a pint of Cockerhoop ( Sneck for Kazzie!) at the Travellers Rest. Good day!!

14.5mile/5,700'  4hr 28min

Kazzie's Snecklifter at Travellers Rest

In Search of Eagles!

Went to Haweswater, mainly as a Wainright bagging exercise for Kaz, but also to see if the Eagle(s) were still about. Set off late, as per usual, and climbed up to Raise via the wrong ridge!! But we got where we wanted and saw a large herd of deer too. Saw a nice pair of Ring Ouzel, briefly, on Kidsty Pike. Picked up the other target Wainrights and off up to High Street. Lucky spot of three Dotterels right by the trig. Very smart birds they were too. Then quick drop off via Mardale Ill Bell and the Nan Beild Pass. Never been down this way and its a lovely drop off to the tarn. There's three wee, individual 'bothy's' or sheep huts.It'd make a nice spot for a wild camp. Lovely sunny finish to a really nice little walk round. Finished off with a pint and tea, including Mega Trifle to share, in Carlisle while watching Man City beat Man U 1-0 :)

9 mile/2,700'

...an opening!

Now I'm here I've nowt to say!!!

It's a simple thing, a 'blog'!! I guess my intention, as I'm on the cusp of fifty, is to chart and attempt to focus and, maybe, enhance my life!! Who knows where it'll go!!