I'm still a bit raw, physically and emotionally from failing to knock off a winter round again. I'll write it up properly with some photos some time but felt the need to post something.
This time, the weather was ok, the snow was not brilliant but not bad, I was as ready as I could be and all was going well. Then all of a sudden, it wasn't.
Basically, i was fit enough, but not strong enough, if that makes sense. My calf tore towards the top of Dollywaggon Pike on leg four. I;d been going for about 17 hours and i felt ok. I was finding the snow a bit energy sapping and having to work hard to stay near my 23 hour schedule, but i was going ok and was starting to feel like this was in the bag.
Legs one and two were brilliant, with Simon Ellis putting in a brilliant effort to support me on both legs alone after Dave's calf had also gone on him. Wayne Percival was there on Scoat Fell, waiting with his cafe which was wonderful. Dave and Heli gave us a cheery wave on Red Pike and we were 10 mins up heading into Wasdale. All was well in the world.
Leg three was tough, more so for being anticlockwise with that extra climbing in there. Two non running friends were waiting on Scafell with Jaffa Cakes and yet more friends waiting to tell me their attempts to rig Broad Stand safely were not on so we went around via Foxes Tarn. Peter Taylor, Andy Kitchin, Ian Lancaster and Simon Martland (from Bowfell) brilliantly guided me through a gorgeous sunset and into the darkness from the Langdales onwards. I lost about 15 mins on the leg, all in that last darkness section. I was slowing a little as we were in slushier snow that wasn't taking our weight and was harder for me to run through. I was also starting to tire, but was still moving quite well and running the downhills reasonably well.
Arrival at Dunmail was great, just 10 mins down on a 23 hour schedule. I was hoping to be up here but the snow, cold and darkness were conspiring to ramp up the challenge. I did feel strong though as we descended Steel Fell (having aquired Rhys on the way who was out to check our progress). Spirits were high.
I had a good feed at Dunmail because leg three would have taken a lot out of me. I ate well, saw my heavily pregnant wife for the first time since before starting at 0500 and started on that tricky climb up Seat Sandal. I struggled up there - a bad patch. Nick, Ian, Carl and Dave were grouped in front and behind me and moving was an effort.
I dropped 6 mins on the 23 hour schedule just on that one climb. I felt better on Fairfield and dropped just 2 mins. Descending to Grisedale Tarn, we met Jen Taylor, Jen Chambers and Alex Duncan-Price who supplied hot drinks and laughs before we headed up Dollywaggon, the last of the big climbs on this leg - 'plain sailing after that until Threlkeld' I thought. I decided to eat on the way up here and not worry about the pace. Then i could work harder on the rest of the leg. I had a plan, I was doing ok.
The iron post was in sight where the main climb from Dollywaggon meets the path. A milestone for leg four. And then it happened. A sharp pain shot from my right calf to my groin and buttocks. I stopped and cried out. I took another step and the same thing happened. I found that walking uphill, wihch lifts your toes towards your shins, was impossible without pain. I tried again, walking about 10 paces. It was really uncomfortable, and my calf went VERY tight.
It was game over. The disappointment was, is, crushing. The first thought was for my supporters, those on the hill and the road crew who had all invested in a bigger, better day than this. What about those who travelled all this way to run leg five? What about all those hours of training the Alison supported me in doing? What about all those people that were here now who were faced with getting me off the hill...
Shit...getting off the hill!! Ian Charters was dead right, this was no place to muck about. Nick Holmes had spotted that the girls were still down at Grisedale Tarn and he headed for them to let them know as they had a car at Dunmail, our new destination (it turns out they saw us stop and waited to see what was going on). Dave Hindley was straight on the phone to the road crew and the lads who were waiting at Sticks Pass with more coffee to advise them to get off the hill. The support was snapping into action and being brilliant. I just had to move down the hill.
That first step downwards brought heartache and relief in equal measure. Heartache from the fact that this was the first step away from a return to the Moot Hall i'd taken in 17 hours and that it was all over. Relief from the fact that I could walk downhill so long as my foot stayed level and so this was a self rescue and not a stretcher job.
Depending heavily upon walking poles, I was able to hobble off the hill. The calf went very tight, and then disconcertingly numb. Then pain would return. My body was fighting it in waves, with the pain between those waves making descending a trial.
For the second time in two years, Ian Charters was patiently nursing me down a big hill. I felt terrible. I wanted to cry like a baby, but decided keeping ones shit together was a good idea on a freezing lakeland mountain in the dark. Plod, limp, hobble and the odd yelp when my foot wasn't level...on it went for what seemed hours. Dunmail appeared and the tears almost surfaced. Great people there to look after me, console me, tell me they'd gladly help "next time" and that I'd done well. Until the calf went, I had done well despite the fact i had started to slow down a little. I;d done well because of the help i had and right there, i didn't feel like i deserved it. It was a horrible moment, made bearable by the compassion and care of friends. I'll never forget it.
Arrival back at Abernethy (BGR HQ in Keswick) and there was my brother and fiance on a surprise visit. They had intended to come and see me finish. I felt sick with disappointment for them. It was brilliant to see them though. I wanted to show my appreciation for everyone's help, but also wanted to lock myself in a room and have a big sulk.
And that was it. An unexpectedly early sleep after a long, contemplative shower and a big breakfast next morning before heading home. It's Monday now and my calf is bruised, tight and sore. The rest of me is also a bit sore but nothing much more than after a normal long day in the hills.
I;ve been asked by a few people when i'm going for another winter round. The answer is that I am not. Last year's overtime completion in that blizzard is going to have to do. The baby is due in 6 weeks and everything is going to change, including my relationship with the Bob Graham Round.
It's been a blast and I've got a huge amount from it, but it's time to move on.
Monday, 13 December 2010
Wednesday, 8 December 2010
Far from Ideal, but Good Enough...
When prepared for my summer BGR, which was a wonderful and successful experience, I knew I was going to make it. I was fitter than I’d ever been and convinced it was going to be my day. So when the pleasant start turned into a 12 hour rainstorm, I didn’t worry. When we went astray on Pillar (I’m still not sure how we managed that!) and dawdled a bit on Kirk Fell for some reason, it never entered my head that failure was on the cards. Sure enough, despite my legs pretty much giving way on the road section, I ambled into Keswick with plenty of time to spare, just as the sun finally came out and rainbow smiled its congratulations. My head was right, more than my legs were actually, and nothing else mattered.
That’s the main difference between summer and winter rounds. In summer, bad weather is probably still not going to ever stop you, except perhaps hurricane force winds. In summer, you hang on and keep positive and you should be fine. In winter it’s hard to apply that logic. You can be physically stopped in your tracks, or slowed in your tracks by ice and snow that no amount of positive mental attitude can melt. It’s fair to say that this is playing on my mind.
This December has been more like a Scottish Highland February. Snow and ice abound, and it’s powdery, drifty (!?) stuff that makes for slow going. Reports are coming back from the lakes of deep, tiring snow on the ridges and in the cols. I would normally be positive enough to say that the abundant clear skies will at least provide no navigational issues, but it now appears that the cloud will roll in this weekend, providing the worst of both worlds. I can’t help feel hard done by after last year’s winter epic and the summer deluge I had. But that’s pointless and pathetic. Winter rounds demand courage, and that is part of the motivation. It is impossible to be courageous when there is nothing to fear and so it’s time to stop worry and just get on with it.
The forecast at least promises warmer weather - 3 degrees C at 750 metres, which is balmy compared to last year. The sheer cold took a lot out of me last year so hopefully I'd be able to hang on for longer. So the plan is to start, work hard, and see how things pan out. I can’t expect any more. If conditions leave me an hour down in daylight then I’ll call it off, otherwise I’ll keep pushing.
But I must think of my supporters. I had no qualms about accepting the wonderful offers of help in summer when I ‘knew’ I was going to make it, because it was going to be a cracking weekend. I’m feeling guilty about lining up all this support when it’s looking a trifle marginal. I am worried about failing and putting my supporters out, esp those doing later legs. I just hope I can give them all a day/night out on the fells.
The use of poles, axes, microspikes, GPS and substantial reserves of merino wool is a real feature as I prepare my kit lists and get my gear sorted. It already feels like an epic.
That’s the main difference between summer and winter rounds. In summer, bad weather is probably still not going to ever stop you, except perhaps hurricane force winds. In summer, you hang on and keep positive and you should be fine. In winter it’s hard to apply that logic. You can be physically stopped in your tracks, or slowed in your tracks by ice and snow that no amount of positive mental attitude can melt. It’s fair to say that this is playing on my mind.
This December has been more like a Scottish Highland February. Snow and ice abound, and it’s powdery, drifty (!?) stuff that makes for slow going. Reports are coming back from the lakes of deep, tiring snow on the ridges and in the cols. I would normally be positive enough to say that the abundant clear skies will at least provide no navigational issues, but it now appears that the cloud will roll in this weekend, providing the worst of both worlds. I can’t help feel hard done by after last year’s winter epic and the summer deluge I had. But that’s pointless and pathetic. Winter rounds demand courage, and that is part of the motivation. It is impossible to be courageous when there is nothing to fear and so it’s time to stop worry and just get on with it.
The forecast at least promises warmer weather - 3 degrees C at 750 metres, which is balmy compared to last year. The sheer cold took a lot out of me last year so hopefully I'd be able to hang on for longer. So the plan is to start, work hard, and see how things pan out. I can’t expect any more. If conditions leave me an hour down in daylight then I’ll call it off, otherwise I’ll keep pushing.
But I must think of my supporters. I had no qualms about accepting the wonderful offers of help in summer when I ‘knew’ I was going to make it, because it was going to be a cracking weekend. I’m feeling guilty about lining up all this support when it’s looking a trifle marginal. I am worried about failing and putting my supporters out, esp those doing later legs. I just hope I can give them all a day/night out on the fells.
The use of poles, axes, microspikes, GPS and substantial reserves of merino wool is a real feature as I prepare my kit lists and get my gear sorted. It already feels like an epic.
Monday, 6 December 2010
From realism to pessimism
It's a fine line between understanding and adapting to the conditions you are presented with and becoming unduly worried and uneccesarily talking yourself out of something.
This cold snap presents exactly this situation. Right now, it does not look good. The snow is deep, drifted, powdery, has no weight bearing crust and obscures the route even where it's obvious. In fact, let me express the situation more emphatically - if it stays like this then a sub 24 hour round is impossible this weekend.
However, i'm not giving it up just yet. If all that snow became compacted, developed a strong crust and froze hard after a thaw, it could be perfect., even better than no snow. Deep, compacted snow can offer a smooth plaster over the rough boulders and broken ground and actually aid progress, esp if the visibility is clear. So this could work out nicely.
The forecast suggests a slight thaw on friday. It doesn;t sound enough. But it could be. We will just have to wait and see.
The plan is to start, unless the forcasts presents blizzards which really would be too much. But that seems unlikely and so we will start at 0500 on Saturday. I've got two strong lads in Dave and Simon with me until Wasdale on the first two legs. We'll start and assess things as we go. There will be no records this weekend, but if i can keep inside the 23 hour schedule to Honister and Wasdale, we'll crack onto Dunmail and try and make some time.
Jim Mann, a stronger runner than me who i helped on his round this summer, is going a week after me. He has a chance for a thaw to create the ideal winter conditions. He's been out with Dave H this weekend on Skiddaw and the conditions look horrendous,. Skiddaw will be my last peak and he's already imploring me to have plenty of time in the bank before we get there. He and Dave reported waist and chest deep snow on skiddaw. That eastern slope sounds like it's loaded and hard to negotiate. That actually suggests the birth of avalanche conditions!! It really does sound hideous.
This news more than anything has made the distinction between realism and pessimism harder to determine. The idea of getting all the way to Skiddaw to be thwarted is almost too much to bear. Tackling that slope in the dark with windslab on it doesn;t sound too appealing. I'm trying to hope for great conditions and that;s what will get me to the starting line, but the focus has now changed from worrying about being fit enough to worrying abot the conditions, which i can't control.
Perhaps this is a good thing. It feels like a release of pressure. I'll set off and see. I'll push hard but what will be, will be and all that. I have a million little white excuses for not making it. So let's go and see what fate delivers...
The problem is that i'm really worried about the wonderful band of helpers, esp those turning up to help later on. Also the road crew are there to help with a winter BGR, not some half arsed attempt. I'm really determined to do what is possible and safe. For their sake as well as my own. It;s hard to be as postive as everyone is for me when i read the forecasts and hear the reports.
All i can do now is eat, rest, prepare and hope.
This cold snap presents exactly this situation. Right now, it does not look good. The snow is deep, drifted, powdery, has no weight bearing crust and obscures the route even where it's obvious. In fact, let me express the situation more emphatically - if it stays like this then a sub 24 hour round is impossible this weekend.
However, i'm not giving it up just yet. If all that snow became compacted, developed a strong crust and froze hard after a thaw, it could be perfect., even better than no snow. Deep, compacted snow can offer a smooth plaster over the rough boulders and broken ground and actually aid progress, esp if the visibility is clear. So this could work out nicely.
The forecast suggests a slight thaw on friday. It doesn;t sound enough. But it could be. We will just have to wait and see.
The plan is to start, unless the forcasts presents blizzards which really would be too much. But that seems unlikely and so we will start at 0500 on Saturday. I've got two strong lads in Dave and Simon with me until Wasdale on the first two legs. We'll start and assess things as we go. There will be no records this weekend, but if i can keep inside the 23 hour schedule to Honister and Wasdale, we'll crack onto Dunmail and try and make some time.
Jim Mann, a stronger runner than me who i helped on his round this summer, is going a week after me. He has a chance for a thaw to create the ideal winter conditions. He's been out with Dave H this weekend on Skiddaw and the conditions look horrendous,. Skiddaw will be my last peak and he's already imploring me to have plenty of time in the bank before we get there. He and Dave reported waist and chest deep snow on skiddaw. That eastern slope sounds like it's loaded and hard to negotiate. That actually suggests the birth of avalanche conditions!! It really does sound hideous.
This news more than anything has made the distinction between realism and pessimism harder to determine. The idea of getting all the way to Skiddaw to be thwarted is almost too much to bear. Tackling that slope in the dark with windslab on it doesn;t sound too appealing. I'm trying to hope for great conditions and that;s what will get me to the starting line, but the focus has now changed from worrying about being fit enough to worrying abot the conditions, which i can't control.
Perhaps this is a good thing. It feels like a release of pressure. I'll set off and see. I'll push hard but what will be, will be and all that. I have a million little white excuses for not making it. So let's go and see what fate delivers...
The problem is that i'm really worried about the wonderful band of helpers, esp those turning up to help later on. Also the road crew are there to help with a winter BGR, not some half arsed attempt. I'm really determined to do what is possible and safe. For their sake as well as my own. It;s hard to be as postive as everyone is for me when i read the forecasts and hear the reports.
All i can do now is eat, rest, prepare and hope.
Monday, 29 November 2010
Wanted: Some slack from the weather Gods please?!
Not again…!
It’s worth reminding readers that last winter I did the full BGR in 24:22, all of which was in sub-zero temperatures and about a quarter of which was in an increasingly menacing blizzard. This provides the context for my nervousness around this cold snap which is gripping the UK. With less than two weeks to go, and with forecasters talking about a two-week cold snap, it’s entirely possible that the conditions will repeat themselves.
Oh dear…
I’m going a week earlier than last year – still technically a mid-winter round but slightly further away from the solstice. Last year, the week before my round was chilly but not arctic and I would have made it round in sub 24. I hoped that I’d enjoy slightly less hard conditions this year. Now, it appears that they could be worse.
Last year was a completion rather than an abandonment because the ground conditions were generally OK, with some VERY notable exceptions (the gully up to Foxes was very icy and not a little scary). This was because the extreme cold (minus 16 for much of the night and at least minus 5 at best all the way round) and blizzards later on, were the start of a cold snap where the cumulative affects of huge water-ice sheets and widespread verglas that can render darkness descents so dangerous were only patchy and mostly avoidable. That wouldn’t have been the case two weeks later and I fear it won’t be this time.
In truth, it doesn’t matter because I can’t control it. If conditions are unsafe for a winter BGR but the weather is good, we’ll just have a winter walking and running weekend instead. Don’t get me wrong, I’d be very disappointed because I’ve trained as much as life as allowed and I feel strong, but what will be, will be. Either way, it’ll be a great hill day with some good friends and some new friends. Also, with a baby on the way, watching Alison bloom and the bump grow (and feeling it move), I’m finding perspective easier to come by thesedays.
Training-wise, it’s been a week of tapering and running for fun. The climbing and descending totals are right down, but the quality sessions and mileage less so, which means I still have the post exertion endorphins to keep me sane. The final, completely inactive period will drive me insane.
On Monday I ran with the Redhill Road runners in Nottingham and did a brisk, hilly 8 miles. I enjoyed it, was pushed hard and was humbled by a couple of very very strong road runners who seemed to float along – you know the type. I thought negative thoughts because if I’m fit enough for a BGR I shouldn’t be passed so easily whilst I’m working hard. Turns out that these guys were sub 2:40 marathoners, and that there were a few sub 3:00 marathoners well behind me in the session – a useful barometer I suppose.
Tuesday was gym work. Specifially, quad power work. Last year, the descents on hard ground thrashed my quads on scafell. I decided to work on them to create more muscle mass and resilience to add to the endurance from the running. I worked very hard indeed, moving between the cross trainer (full gradient, max resistance, no help from arms – a very good method for working your legs hard) and the leg weights (the one where you sit and straighten your legs). I could barely walk back to the car after an hour of that.
Wednesday saw another Redhill session, this time a combination of short, sharp hill efforts and one mile tempo runs. This was knackering and there were some fine runners there to try and keep in sight! Another 8 and bit miles were knocked off and I felt great.
Thursday was very cold and very enjoyable. I managed to leave Nottingham a little early and get back towards home at a civilised time. This meant that for the first time in many months, I was able to run with my club at the main club session. We did a cold 9 miles nice and easy, just chatting all the way round. It was without any doubt the easiest 9 miles I’ve ever done and amongst the most enjoyable. It was good to be back. Much of my training has been done alone, so it was lovely to be back and running with friends.
Friday would normally be the big hill day. I decided to run up a big hill, but not run all day. The most northerly 3000’ summit in Wales, Foel Fras, makes for a very good training run from Aber as the gradient is steady but the distance is long, making for a grinding but runnable climb. I thought an out and back up there would be a useful run to get in a sustained climb and descent. I did indeed run every step on the way up, but the deep snow and whiteout conditions meant retreat from the summit of Drum, which is still a respectable 2600’. I was just pleased to be able to run all the way up the mountain in these challenging conditions with relative ease. I was by no means tired when I got back to the car, covered in icicles. I think it was about minus 5 or 6 up there.
The weekend saw no running, just a brilliant NCT ante-natal class and a terrific reunion with some old uni friends. Perspective by the bucketloads this weekend, after a good week’s work.
2 weeks to go and the pendulum is hanging on the right side of neutral. Let’s see how it is after next weekend’s Cardington Cracker, which will be my last run before the big day.
It’s worth reminding readers that last winter I did the full BGR in 24:22, all of which was in sub-zero temperatures and about a quarter of which was in an increasingly menacing blizzard. This provides the context for my nervousness around this cold snap which is gripping the UK. With less than two weeks to go, and with forecasters talking about a two-week cold snap, it’s entirely possible that the conditions will repeat themselves.
Oh dear…
I’m going a week earlier than last year – still technically a mid-winter round but slightly further away from the solstice. Last year, the week before my round was chilly but not arctic and I would have made it round in sub 24. I hoped that I’d enjoy slightly less hard conditions this year. Now, it appears that they could be worse.
Last year was a completion rather than an abandonment because the ground conditions were generally OK, with some VERY notable exceptions (the gully up to Foxes was very icy and not a little scary). This was because the extreme cold (minus 16 for much of the night and at least minus 5 at best all the way round) and blizzards later on, were the start of a cold snap where the cumulative affects of huge water-ice sheets and widespread verglas that can render darkness descents so dangerous were only patchy and mostly avoidable. That wouldn’t have been the case two weeks later and I fear it won’t be this time.
In truth, it doesn’t matter because I can’t control it. If conditions are unsafe for a winter BGR but the weather is good, we’ll just have a winter walking and running weekend instead. Don’t get me wrong, I’d be very disappointed because I’ve trained as much as life as allowed and I feel strong, but what will be, will be. Either way, it’ll be a great hill day with some good friends and some new friends. Also, with a baby on the way, watching Alison bloom and the bump grow (and feeling it move), I’m finding perspective easier to come by thesedays.
Training-wise, it’s been a week of tapering and running for fun. The climbing and descending totals are right down, but the quality sessions and mileage less so, which means I still have the post exertion endorphins to keep me sane. The final, completely inactive period will drive me insane.
On Monday I ran with the Redhill Road runners in Nottingham and did a brisk, hilly 8 miles. I enjoyed it, was pushed hard and was humbled by a couple of very very strong road runners who seemed to float along – you know the type. I thought negative thoughts because if I’m fit enough for a BGR I shouldn’t be passed so easily whilst I’m working hard. Turns out that these guys were sub 2:40 marathoners, and that there were a few sub 3:00 marathoners well behind me in the session – a useful barometer I suppose.
Tuesday was gym work. Specifially, quad power work. Last year, the descents on hard ground thrashed my quads on scafell. I decided to work on them to create more muscle mass and resilience to add to the endurance from the running. I worked very hard indeed, moving between the cross trainer (full gradient, max resistance, no help from arms – a very good method for working your legs hard) and the leg weights (the one where you sit and straighten your legs). I could barely walk back to the car after an hour of that.
Wednesday saw another Redhill session, this time a combination of short, sharp hill efforts and one mile tempo runs. This was knackering and there were some fine runners there to try and keep in sight! Another 8 and bit miles were knocked off and I felt great.
Thursday was very cold and very enjoyable. I managed to leave Nottingham a little early and get back towards home at a civilised time. This meant that for the first time in many months, I was able to run with my club at the main club session. We did a cold 9 miles nice and easy, just chatting all the way round. It was without any doubt the easiest 9 miles I’ve ever done and amongst the most enjoyable. It was good to be back. Much of my training has been done alone, so it was lovely to be back and running with friends.
Friday would normally be the big hill day. I decided to run up a big hill, but not run all day. The most northerly 3000’ summit in Wales, Foel Fras, makes for a very good training run from Aber as the gradient is steady but the distance is long, making for a grinding but runnable climb. I thought an out and back up there would be a useful run to get in a sustained climb and descent. I did indeed run every step on the way up, but the deep snow and whiteout conditions meant retreat from the summit of Drum, which is still a respectable 2600’. I was just pleased to be able to run all the way up the mountain in these challenging conditions with relative ease. I was by no means tired when I got back to the car, covered in icicles. I think it was about minus 5 or 6 up there.
The weekend saw no running, just a brilliant NCT ante-natal class and a terrific reunion with some old uni friends. Perspective by the bucketloads this weekend, after a good week’s work.
2 weeks to go and the pendulum is hanging on the right side of neutral. Let’s see how it is after next weekend’s Cardington Cracker, which will be my last run before the big day.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
The Confidence Pendulum
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| A snowy Catstycam and Ullswater from Helvellyn |
Last week was another good week's training, but yet again without a massive day. 10,000 feet were duly knocked off and I managed to do so whilst feeling like i was well within myself. 12 Tattenhall railways on Thursday (4000' of steep up and down with no respite - a headbanging session for sure) and then a snowy out and back on leg four with Nick on Friday which picked up almost 6000' of ascent. Some gym work and local running (thank you Redhill Road Runners) made up a decent week.
Incidentally, if you set a cross trainer to the maximum resistance and gradient, and don't use the hands/arms bit, it simulates a steep fell-type gradient very well indeed, but without the rain and wind! It's a useful thing to know and a dark and wet night in Nottingham when you need to get some training in.
Anyhoo, so i didn;t manage a huge day as the house has been a building site (have has 18 windows ripped out and replaced) and i didn;t want to leave Alison to cope with all that for too long, esp as i work away for much of the week. That has been the story of the prep for this round: opportunistic training rather than total committment. I think that's why i feel undercooked, but the truth is that life is about keeping all the balls in the air and so the winter BGR training campaign has had to find its place amongst working away, looking after my pregnant wife and getting the house ready for Jan 25 (ish) when Smith Jnr joins the world!
So, i'm left feeling that I've done a good job of getting in plenty of training and keeping life and work moving too. Some of the sessions i;ve squeezed in have been madness. 12 railways is 4000' near the house, a session which isn;t ideal because you're not out on the fells but has meant maintaining a balance. So i can pat myself on the back for that, but the problem is that the BGR doesn't allow for circumstances. You're either fit enough or you're not. I want it enough, that much is certain. I just hope that i get better luck with the weather than on my successful summer BGR (13 hours of torrential rain and high winds from the Langdales onwards going c/w) and and last year's freezer/blizzard/black ice affair that resulted in that agonising 24:22.
Three weeks to go and the taper starts now. I'm going to have a couple more runs in the fells for 4 or 5 hours, and some 2 hour runs around Moel Famau and then a week of absolutely nothing before i go.
Wish me luck because i;ve done my best, but i really need better luck that i;ve had before. Six degrees. overcast, light winds....perfect. Who am i kidding...
Tuesday, 16 November 2010
Wobble over, now let’s knock the b*stard off….
It’s on, again
I really don’t know what came over me last Friday. Driving home from the Lakes with my tail between my legs having been blown halfway back down Robinson again was a dispiriting experience and I just lost all confidence. I think there are some demons in there from last year and they need exorcising. The only way that is going to happen is to do it, and a good friend did remind me that we most regret the things we didn’t do rather than those we did. To not try would have been tragic.
Several friends and family members badgering me to do it helped hugely. My wife, who I thought might be relieved (she’ll be 8 months pregnant when the BGR comes along) was very keen for me to reconsider. She knows how much I’d have regretted calling it off. Some nudging on the FRA Forum also put things into perspective.
But the real boost was the weekend’s training. I decided to go and do a hard and fast timed run over Moel Y Gamelin and ran a course pb (8 miles, 3200’ ascent). The next day I did the Roaches fell race (15.5 miles, 3800’ ascent) on tired legs and was 10 mins faster than last year. Fears of not being fit were eased. Yes, I need some long days, but confidence was restored and I decided whilst running through calf-deep slurry during the Roaches that it was on. I am fitter than last year, and as Clive King pointed out to me, last year’s lessons weren’t about fitness, they were about tactics, food and drink and weather. Similar fitness and a better winter plan would be enough.
Now there are less than four weeks to go. This week I’ve got Thursday and Friday off and have a great chance to do two consecutive big days out. I’m going to try and do 10 hours on Thursday and 6 or 7 on Friday. One more big day the following week and I’ll be on the taper, and that will feel very scary.
I really don’t know what came over me last Friday. Driving home from the Lakes with my tail between my legs having been blown halfway back down Robinson again was a dispiriting experience and I just lost all confidence. I think there are some demons in there from last year and they need exorcising. The only way that is going to happen is to do it, and a good friend did remind me that we most regret the things we didn’t do rather than those we did. To not try would have been tragic.
Several friends and family members badgering me to do it helped hugely. My wife, who I thought might be relieved (she’ll be 8 months pregnant when the BGR comes along) was very keen for me to reconsider. She knows how much I’d have regretted calling it off. Some nudging on the FRA Forum also put things into perspective.
But the real boost was the weekend’s training. I decided to go and do a hard and fast timed run over Moel Y Gamelin and ran a course pb (8 miles, 3200’ ascent). The next day I did the Roaches fell race (15.5 miles, 3800’ ascent) on tired legs and was 10 mins faster than last year. Fears of not being fit were eased. Yes, I need some long days, but confidence was restored and I decided whilst running through calf-deep slurry during the Roaches that it was on. I am fitter than last year, and as Clive King pointed out to me, last year’s lessons weren’t about fitness, they were about tactics, food and drink and weather. Similar fitness and a better winter plan would be enough.
Now there are less than four weeks to go. This week I’ve got Thursday and Friday off and have a great chance to do two consecutive big days out. I’m going to try and do 10 hours on Thursday and 6 or 7 on Friday. One more big day the following week and I’ll be on the taper, and that will feel very scary.
Friday, 12 November 2010
Crisis
There's a world of difference between feeling fit after 7 or 8 hours on the fells and being ready for a 24 hour round, especially a mid-winter round. Bad weather has meant that i'm probably four or five big (8 hrs plus) runs short of where i need to be. Up till now, the strength i've felt at the end of the moderate 7-8 hour runs has been an nice endorphin fuelling experience and i;ve been writing the blog happy in the knowledge that i've been training and feeling good. But it's not enough, and i'm seriously thinking about pulling out.
I've promised i'll sleep on it, so i will. I do feel undercooked. I'll go for a run tomorrow and see.
I've promised i'll sleep on it, so i will. I do feel undercooked. I'll go for a run tomorrow and see.
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Week 15 - OMMG - 6 weeks to go!!
Dartmoor was my 8th KIMM/OMM and my 5th Long Score and my 4th with my erstwhile partner Paul 'Metronome' Miller. We had a great time, coming in 49th after a bit of a late arrival on day 1 (oops!). Best of all was that I felt brilliant throughout and felt like I could have gone on and on and on after the end of both days. Paul, who is 18 years my senior, ran his butt off and was as strong and metronomic as ever, making for a really good workout and a good test of discipline and pacing. The OMM usually wipes you out, whereas I felt warmed up. No pain on Monday and ready to run straight after - brilliant.
The OMM is a very complete workout, mental and physical. It tests your ability to withstand discomfort (esp at the overnight camp), sleep deprivation, bad weather and also running for many hours over bad ground with a heavy pack., Dartmoor didn't hold the climbs for me that I would gravitate towards, but it provided enough tussocks and bog to keep me honest.
A brilliant bonus was a little relapse after the OMM. Paul and I stayed down in Devon with Dave, Jon, Martin and Graham - four fellow OMMers and all good men and true. They have a tradition of a post OMM beer or 6, and so i decided it would be rude not too join in. 6 pints of real ale in a brilliant pub, CAMRA recommended and everything. I might be getting fitter, but my drinking ability is poor. The hangover was awful.
Now it's November and 6 weeks to go. I feel fit and well, strong even. I really want to work hard this month, with a 2 week taper in early December. More than that is too much in my opinion.
It's time now for 12 hour days, about four or five of them. I think that is all that seperates me from the round. That and getting the logistics in place...
The OMM is a very complete workout, mental and physical. It tests your ability to withstand discomfort (esp at the overnight camp), sleep deprivation, bad weather and also running for many hours over bad ground with a heavy pack., Dartmoor didn't hold the climbs for me that I would gravitate towards, but it provided enough tussocks and bog to keep me honest.
A brilliant bonus was a little relapse after the OMM. Paul and I stayed down in Devon with Dave, Jon, Martin and Graham - four fellow OMMers and all good men and true. They have a tradition of a post OMM beer or 6, and so i decided it would be rude not too join in. 6 pints of real ale in a brilliant pub, CAMRA recommended and everything. I might be getting fitter, but my drinking ability is poor. The hangover was awful.
Now it's November and 6 weeks to go. I feel fit and well, strong even. I really want to work hard this month, with a 2 week taper in early December. More than that is too much in my opinion.
It's time now for 12 hour days, about four or five of them. I think that is all that seperates me from the round. That and getting the logistics in place...
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Weeks 13 and 14 - Easy, hard, brilliant
Week 13 was almost totally free of training. My calves were sore and tight and my back was stiff. I decided an easy week now would pay dividends later. I meant it too, it wasn't an excuse because I wanted to run. I simply decided not to. Well, not much. A couple of 11 mile runs on the roads and a brisk run on Moel Famau (of course!) and fields but that was it.
I found I was slower on my Moel Famau, 1:16 where 1:14 was breached for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't decide whether that was a great time when tired or a poor run. I decided to blame my shoes - a new pair of OROC 350s with metal dabs and everything. They aren't the fastest and lightest shoe and were a sledgehammer to crack a nut on Moel Famau, but if conditions for my winter round are like last year, they will be robust, grippy (superb grip actually) and cushioned enough for the hard ground. They'll do a good job on that the tough 3rd leg.
But it was an easy, steady week, ready for a harder week to follow.
Week 14 was brilliant. A 5 hour day in the Carneddau, two brisk 10+ mile road runs and legs four and five (anticlockwise) in 7 hours 25 mins - miles faster than the 23 hour schedule. Runners hate rest. Runners training for a round really hate rest. But my easy week has worked a treat, because the following week was a corker. Here's some photos....
I found I was slower on my Moel Famau, 1:16 where 1:14 was breached for the first time a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't decide whether that was a great time when tired or a poor run. I decided to blame my shoes - a new pair of OROC 350s with metal dabs and everything. They aren't the fastest and lightest shoe and were a sledgehammer to crack a nut on Moel Famau, but if conditions for my winter round are like last year, they will be robust, grippy (superb grip actually) and cushioned enough for the hard ground. They'll do a good job on that the tough 3rd leg.
But it was an easy, steady week, ready for a harder week to follow.
Week 14 was brilliant. A 5 hour day in the Carneddau, two brisk 10+ mile road runs and legs four and five (anticlockwise) in 7 hours 25 mins - miles faster than the 23 hour schedule. Runners hate rest. Runners training for a round really hate rest. But my easy week has worked a treat, because the following week was a corker. Here's some photos....
North from Carnedd Daffyd to Bethesda
East from Helvellyn towards Ullswater
Helvellyn summit escarpment and distant Skiddaw, where i was 5 hours later
Inversion over Windermere from Seat Sandal
Tryfan, below eye level from Pen Yr Ole Wen
West from Helvellyn - so many peaks!
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Week twelve - This is it, for a bit...
What a place the Lake District is...
This week things have gone mightily well. After a successful Sandstone Trail last week, with a good run on tired legs in wet conditions, I took a few days off before hitting the hills. Good plan!
I parked up at Honister on Thursday morning and had to wait for the parking ticket office to open at the mine. I bought two days worth of parking and set off on my way towards Langdale, where I'd booked a night's lodgings in the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. The plan was to do as much of the BGR anticlockwise as possible before dropping to the valley and heading to the hotel. I wanted to get off the hills before or not long after dark if possible. I looked at Bob Wightman's schedules and decided to aim to move at 23 hour pace, made a little more difficult for having a pack with two days' food and clothes with me.
Off i went up Grey Knotts, immediately finding a better line going this way than the dozens of times I've come down the other way. I moved quite quickly over Brandreth and the Gables and before I knew it, I was heading down that steep slope of Yewbarrow towards Wasdale. I made it there in 3:50, which is 40 mins up on the 23 hoour schedule. Given that i was still a little heavy legged, and i was carrying quite a bit of gear, I was pleased with that.
Scafell next, a gruelling 3000 foot climb straight up. I found a decent trod next to the brilliant scree run i usually run down and picked my up that long climb. Onwards to Scafell Pike via Foxes Tarn and the rocky twins of Broad and Ill Crag. These two present rocky direct scrambles going clockwise but Broad Crag actually has easy ground running northeast which would make a great line up for clockwise aspirants. I can't beleive I'd never noticed it. It's a lesson that a great way of recceing in a route is to go the other way.
I found i was still making up time. Great End came and went, and still i felt good, despite passing the 10,000 foot mark for the day and Esk Pike and Bowfell seemed to be easier than usual. I had a tricky time locating the ramp on the side of Bowfell from above, losing it 100 yards down and picking my way across the fell until i found it right at the bottom. I need to check this out more.
Rossett PIke next and this was a potential break off point to the valley. However, darkness was some way off and this meant i was going well. So i pushed onto Martcrag Moor and Pike o Stickle. I never really appreciated what kind of a climb that was this way round, a 1000' pull to the summit across boggy and slow ground. I didn't enjoy this bit and lost a couple of minutes on the schedule there. Pike o Stickle's summit was a reward for the slog, with the sunset lighting up a stupendous western horizon.
I decided that Harrison Stickle would be my last peak of the day before dropping straight down to the hotel at its foot. This meant the day's total was @ 12,500' of climb and about 30 miles, all done in 9 hours 42 mins. I worked out that I was 50 mins up on the 23 hours schedule at Harrison Stickle, and over an hour over the 24 hour schedule. A good sign.
The more i thought about that, the more i realised that this was a very good run out. The Sandstone Trail, and the railway fest before that meant i was tired already. Also, my pack was heavy. On the day, i'll have hardly anything to carry, i'll be fresh and rested and have top notch support to help me. If i'm an hour up on a 23 schedule on the day at that point, i'll be very pleased. So it was with joy and contentment that I dropped down to the hotel via Stickle Tarn in increasing darkness for a bath, a meal and a lovely lovely bed.
I spoke to my pregnant wife on the phone from the hotel and she was full of a horrible cold. I felt bad, like i should have been at home. It made me very appreciative of the passes out i frequently get. She's 6 months pregnant and it's getting exciting (for us both) and tiring (for her). I'll have done this thing before the baby comes in late Jan and it made me realise that this 24-hour round phase in my life is coming to a close, for now. Pass or Fail, this is it for a bit. I really have to make it this time.
Friday dawned cloudy but the forecast promised well. I had to work out how to get back to my car at Honister. I decided to not have another huge day, but a moderate day out was still a good follow up. I went back over Rossett Pass, Esk Hause and Sty Head before heading up Green Gable via Aaron Slack before picking up a clokwise BGR line back to Honister. This was a steady four hours at a slower pace, but i felt good on the climbs, which totalled just over 4000' for that day. The truth is I wanted to get home and see Alison. She sounded very bunged up. So i was in the car by 2pm and a quick stop for the obligatory gear shopping in Keswick (a smart GORE softshell windproof top) and I was home after a very satisfactory two days.
Weirdly, i decided to race on Saturday. My legs were heavy, but not sore and so I rolled up to do the Colwyn Bay XC race. This was quite an ask for a tired runner - XC can be evil! Those four laps are usually brutal and It's fair to say that the first lap was a mild form of hell, with feet dragged along by heavy legs. As the 6 mile race went on its rollecoaster circuit of Erias Park, I felt better and better. I never hit race pace, unsurprisingly, but i felt strong throughout and felt like i could have gone on at the end. I decided this race was a mental test, a bit like that fifth leg of a BGR. Tired legs, not in the mood: perfect. I probably averaged no more than 7 minute miling on that course, but given the recent efforts, i think this was a subtly excellent run out. It proved strength and enduramce were in my legs.
So, a satisfying week :-)
Totals: 15,000' ascent/descent, 53 miles.
What a place the Lake District is...
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| Sunset looking north from Pike o Stickle |
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| North towards Gable from Scafell Pike |
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| Pike o Stickle from Stake Gill as the sunset turns the hills red |
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| Scafells from Red Pike |
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| Gable from Pike o Stickle at sunset |
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| West from Scafell Pike |
This week things have gone mightily well. After a successful Sandstone Trail last week, with a good run on tired legs in wet conditions, I took a few days off before hitting the hills. Good plan!
I parked up at Honister on Thursday morning and had to wait for the parking ticket office to open at the mine. I bought two days worth of parking and set off on my way towards Langdale, where I'd booked a night's lodgings in the New Dungeon Ghyll Hotel. The plan was to do as much of the BGR anticlockwise as possible before dropping to the valley and heading to the hotel. I wanted to get off the hills before or not long after dark if possible. I looked at Bob Wightman's schedules and decided to aim to move at 23 hour pace, made a little more difficult for having a pack with two days' food and clothes with me.
Off i went up Grey Knotts, immediately finding a better line going this way than the dozens of times I've come down the other way. I moved quite quickly over Brandreth and the Gables and before I knew it, I was heading down that steep slope of Yewbarrow towards Wasdale. I made it there in 3:50, which is 40 mins up on the 23 hoour schedule. Given that i was still a little heavy legged, and i was carrying quite a bit of gear, I was pleased with that.
Scafell next, a gruelling 3000 foot climb straight up. I found a decent trod next to the brilliant scree run i usually run down and picked my up that long climb. Onwards to Scafell Pike via Foxes Tarn and the rocky twins of Broad and Ill Crag. These two present rocky direct scrambles going clockwise but Broad Crag actually has easy ground running northeast which would make a great line up for clockwise aspirants. I can't beleive I'd never noticed it. It's a lesson that a great way of recceing in a route is to go the other way.
I found i was still making up time. Great End came and went, and still i felt good, despite passing the 10,000 foot mark for the day and Esk Pike and Bowfell seemed to be easier than usual. I had a tricky time locating the ramp on the side of Bowfell from above, losing it 100 yards down and picking my way across the fell until i found it right at the bottom. I need to check this out more.
Rossett PIke next and this was a potential break off point to the valley. However, darkness was some way off and this meant i was going well. So i pushed onto Martcrag Moor and Pike o Stickle. I never really appreciated what kind of a climb that was this way round, a 1000' pull to the summit across boggy and slow ground. I didn't enjoy this bit and lost a couple of minutes on the schedule there. Pike o Stickle's summit was a reward for the slog, with the sunset lighting up a stupendous western horizon.
I decided that Harrison Stickle would be my last peak of the day before dropping straight down to the hotel at its foot. This meant the day's total was @ 12,500' of climb and about 30 miles, all done in 9 hours 42 mins. I worked out that I was 50 mins up on the 23 hours schedule at Harrison Stickle, and over an hour over the 24 hour schedule. A good sign.
The more i thought about that, the more i realised that this was a very good run out. The Sandstone Trail, and the railway fest before that meant i was tired already. Also, my pack was heavy. On the day, i'll have hardly anything to carry, i'll be fresh and rested and have top notch support to help me. If i'm an hour up on a 23 schedule on the day at that point, i'll be very pleased. So it was with joy and contentment that I dropped down to the hotel via Stickle Tarn in increasing darkness for a bath, a meal and a lovely lovely bed.
I spoke to my pregnant wife on the phone from the hotel and she was full of a horrible cold. I felt bad, like i should have been at home. It made me very appreciative of the passes out i frequently get. She's 6 months pregnant and it's getting exciting (for us both) and tiring (for her). I'll have done this thing before the baby comes in late Jan and it made me realise that this 24-hour round phase in my life is coming to a close, for now. Pass or Fail, this is it for a bit. I really have to make it this time.
Friday dawned cloudy but the forecast promised well. I had to work out how to get back to my car at Honister. I decided to not have another huge day, but a moderate day out was still a good follow up. I went back over Rossett Pass, Esk Hause and Sty Head before heading up Green Gable via Aaron Slack before picking up a clokwise BGR line back to Honister. This was a steady four hours at a slower pace, but i felt good on the climbs, which totalled just over 4000' for that day. The truth is I wanted to get home and see Alison. She sounded very bunged up. So i was in the car by 2pm and a quick stop for the obligatory gear shopping in Keswick (a smart GORE softshell windproof top) and I was home after a very satisfactory two days.
Weirdly, i decided to race on Saturday. My legs were heavy, but not sore and so I rolled up to do the Colwyn Bay XC race. This was quite an ask for a tired runner - XC can be evil! Those four laps are usually brutal and It's fair to say that the first lap was a mild form of hell, with feet dragged along by heavy legs. As the 6 mile race went on its rollecoaster circuit of Erias Park, I felt better and better. I never hit race pace, unsurprisingly, but i felt strong throughout and felt like i could have gone on at the end. I decided this race was a mental test, a bit like that fifth leg of a BGR. Tired legs, not in the mood: perfect. I probably averaged no more than 7 minute miling on that course, but given the recent efforts, i think this was a subtly excellent run out. It proved strength and enduramce were in my legs.
So, a satisfying week :-)
Totals: 15,000' ascent/descent, 53 miles.
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Week Eleven - Lots of training, zero fellrunning
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| 2 miles to go in the Sandstone Trail A race. VERY wet! |
The weather this week was awful, certainly towards the end of the week when I had a cat in hell's chance of getting any time on the fells. If last year's autumn floods and general crap weather taught me anything, it taught me to adapt in order to get the right amount of traning in. It would have been easy to get out in those winds and that rain again, had a fight with the hills and got about half of the work in that i wanted. But, i wanted to work hard on my climbing. So, after intervals and a fast 11 mile road run during the week during my exile in Nottingham away from the hills due to work, it was time to stay local and work hard on some smaller hills that are less at the mercy of the weather.
Enter the Tattenhall railway. It's a 330' climb, a 1:1 gradient, wooded and sheltered from the rain, conveniently near home and, if you feel like a headbanging session, great for knocking out 4000 feet of climbing and descending in just over an hour and a half.
On Thursday i did a quick 3 railways in the dark with a strong headtorch and a determination to not listen to the scary noises. It was an opportune bit of training on the way home from Nottingham.
Friday was foul. So back i went and knocked out 12 of the buggers, one after the other, straight up and down. God it was mind numbing. All sorts of thoughts were in my head. Inane drivel mainly. Some awful tunes. Work stuff. Also some good stuff: impending baby stuff (thinking of going for green in the nursery). BGR stuff - logistics, pacers, food etc. That's 4000' at a 1:1 gradient. A good workout, esp as many of the BGR climbs are actually of that sort of ilk. Felt great afterwards too, a good sign.
Out of nowhere, a place came up for the Sandstone Trail A race on Sunday, a 17.1 mile, 2000' ascent fast paced race across Cheshire's sandstone ridge. Loads of Tattenhaller's were doing it. I was heavy legged but thought i'd give it a go. I was going to go to Arenig Fawr and race there but as it turns out i'm very glad i didn't. Running with no pressure and in good company is a nice experience, one i wouldn't have got at Arenig (good race i imagine, but not for me today). I felt tired for a mile of two, but rallied and felt brilliant towards the end. I didn;t look at the watch much and was amazed at a 2:20 time, 9 mins faster than i've ever done that race before - all the better for the factthat it rained torrentially throughout and the mud was pretty deep in places.
So no fellrunning this week, but 8000 feet and about 50 miles of fast, hard running. Not bad...
Sunday, 26 September 2010
Week Ten - A timely reminder
If I ever needed reminding just how gruelling a Bob Graham Round can be, both on mind and body, I got it this weekend. I ran with friend and winter supporting stalwart Clive King on his BGR attempt on Friday night/Saturday morning as far as Wasdale, when Clive decided enough was enough. He was probably about 1:20 down but moving ok and I thought it was salvagable. But I wasn't in Clive's head and so what I thought was irrelevant. He was big enough to know that the game was up for him, and to say so.
I'm not going to enter into a post-mortem into what happened, that's for Clive to do in the fullness of time, and if he wants my advice he'll ask for it. But I will say that every BGR you support teaches, and re-teaches you things. The need to be comfortable mentally as well as phyisically with what's you're doing and how you're doing it is something I will take a close look at. Up till now, the emphasis has been on getting the training in. Also, although it isn't winter yet, Clive's September attempt brought home the difficulties of a long night and the cold (it was below freezing on the tops, and with a strong wind).
What's good to report is that I felt good right from Threlkeld to Wasdale, which is about 32 miles and involves 11,500 feet of ascent and descent. I was comfortable thorughout and felt well at the end. If Clive had have asked me to do leg four with him, I'd have been able and willing to carry on. That's a good sign.
I made a decision last weekend to do no training during the week and to eat plenty on Friday so I could be ready for Clive. Rocking up and doing one leg is ok but supporting for two legs is much harder than simply just running two legs on your own. You're feeding and watering the contender and so you're eating and drinking less yourself. And the stakes are higher too - i was not going to let tiredness let Clive down like it did on another round I supported in May when I was supposed to navigate a second leg after doing a good job on the first but was sore from an ankle twist and also scared that I would slow the round down fatally because i was too tired. That was not a good moment and i didn't wish to repeat it, and so respected the request to do two legs much more this time.
I felt very strong and capable. Apart from a small 400 metre diversion on confusing ground in the dark between Calf Crag and Sergeant Man, i was with-it enough to navigate both legs well and also to keep Clive fed and watered. It was a good test and I passed.
This weekend saw a 30 mile plus trip out after one last weekend too. If i can string these sort of days together each week between now and the end of November, I'll be a very happy man and more than ready for a winter round.
Clive, I look forward to seeing you there ;-)
I'm not going to enter into a post-mortem into what happened, that's for Clive to do in the fullness of time, and if he wants my advice he'll ask for it. But I will say that every BGR you support teaches, and re-teaches you things. The need to be comfortable mentally as well as phyisically with what's you're doing and how you're doing it is something I will take a close look at. Up till now, the emphasis has been on getting the training in. Also, although it isn't winter yet, Clive's September attempt brought home the difficulties of a long night and the cold (it was below freezing on the tops, and with a strong wind).
What's good to report is that I felt good right from Threlkeld to Wasdale, which is about 32 miles and involves 11,500 feet of ascent and descent. I was comfortable thorughout and felt well at the end. If Clive had have asked me to do leg four with him, I'd have been able and willing to carry on. That's a good sign.
I made a decision last weekend to do no training during the week and to eat plenty on Friday so I could be ready for Clive. Rocking up and doing one leg is ok but supporting for two legs is much harder than simply just running two legs on your own. You're feeding and watering the contender and so you're eating and drinking less yourself. And the stakes are higher too - i was not going to let tiredness let Clive down like it did on another round I supported in May when I was supposed to navigate a second leg after doing a good job on the first but was sore from an ankle twist and also scared that I would slow the round down fatally because i was too tired. That was not a good moment and i didn't wish to repeat it, and so respected the request to do two legs much more this time.
I felt very strong and capable. Apart from a small 400 metre diversion on confusing ground in the dark between Calf Crag and Sergeant Man, i was with-it enough to navigate both legs well and also to keep Clive fed and watered. It was a good test and I passed.
This weekend saw a 30 mile plus trip out after one last weekend too. If i can string these sort of days together each week between now and the end of November, I'll be a very happy man and more than ready for a winter round.
Clive, I look forward to seeing you there ;-)
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Week Nine - Open to Offa's
Another 10,000' week, including a good big (ish) day, and so you'd think I'd be happy. And I sort of am, but I still feel some way short of the fitness i'm looking for.
The Open to Offa's was great. Paul and I rattled off the 30 miles and 6500' at a leisurely pace, with a few stops for food with no pressure at all. I felt a bit rough at the start because I just got up and went and did it, rather than have some fluid when i got up. I had also done plenty of running and no rest in the days leading up to it. So to knock that off feeling ok throughout is a decent sign.
The day before the OTO I'd managed to knock out 3 cheeky railways on the way back from Nottingham, calling in at Tattenhall en route. I'm getting into a good habit of always having fellrunning kit with me so i can do the 'suit to scruffs' change in the car whenever i get a chance. Trvalling with work is a pain, but i can get round it.
The day before that was a 11 mile trail run in Nottingham. The nights are drawing in now and so i guess it's roads during the week now :-(((
And the day before that was a wet and windy outing in the peak district, where I managed 13 miles and 3500' climbing by virtue of the first half of the Edale Skyline route. I hoped to do the whole route, but the rain and wind was horrendous. I was pleased to get as far as Mam Nick, especially as I couldn't stand up on Mam Tor. Literally couldn't stand up. I had to crawl over the top few feet before being able to stand again.
The week's total was 11,000' and 59 miles. I should be happy with that. I'll know if I am or not when I do legs 2 and 3 of the BGR with Clive King next week. I want that to feel easy, well, easyish. If it does and I'm not hangning on like I was earlier in the year when helping sone other folks, I'll be happy.
The Open to Offa's was great. Paul and I rattled off the 30 miles and 6500' at a leisurely pace, with a few stops for food with no pressure at all. I felt a bit rough at the start because I just got up and went and did it, rather than have some fluid when i got up. I had also done plenty of running and no rest in the days leading up to it. So to knock that off feeling ok throughout is a decent sign.
The day before the OTO I'd managed to knock out 3 cheeky railways on the way back from Nottingham, calling in at Tattenhall en route. I'm getting into a good habit of always having fellrunning kit with me so i can do the 'suit to scruffs' change in the car whenever i get a chance. Trvalling with work is a pain, but i can get round it.
The day before that was a 11 mile trail run in Nottingham. The nights are drawing in now and so i guess it's roads during the week now :-(((
And the day before that was a wet and windy outing in the peak district, where I managed 13 miles and 3500' climbing by virtue of the first half of the Edale Skyline route. I hoped to do the whole route, but the rain and wind was horrendous. I was pleased to get as far as Mam Nick, especially as I couldn't stand up on Mam Tor. Literally couldn't stand up. I had to crawl over the top few feet before being able to stand again.
The week's total was 11,000' and 59 miles. I should be happy with that. I'll know if I am or not when I do legs 2 and 3 of the BGR with Clive King next week. I want that to feel easy, well, easyish. If it does and I'm not hangning on like I was earlier in the year when helping sone other folks, I'll be happy.
Monday, 13 September 2010
Week Eight - Andrew Preview
Fans of Morecambe and Wise, in fact anyone over the age of 35 will remember Grieg's piano concerto a la Eric Morcambe and Andre Previn. You know, 'all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order' and all that... Well that's how my Bob Graham Round training seems to have gone this week.
The mantra for many is that contenders must ascend (and descend) 10,000 feet per week for 3-6 months in the build up to the round. I think that's as useful a rule of thumb as anything can be when you're talking about the different physiologies and motivations amongst those that tackle challenges like this. Well this week I knocked off the 10,000 feet, but it still wasn't right. The reason is simple - no big day. The ingredients were there, but not arranged as they should be.
In the same way a marathon runner will not get fit for a marathon by running 100 metres at a time (even if they do it many many times), I worry that the absence of an 8 hour plus day on the hills this week is not going to cut it. I tried, but life and the weather got in my way, and I ran my ass off to make up for it.
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| Pen Yr Ole Wen - my reps route goes right up the front |
Having raced twice (Tues and Thurs) and done an 11 mile trail run in Nottingham on Weds, Friday saw me fit and firing at the foot of Pen yr Ole Wen in Snowdonia in the Ogwen valley. It seemed to be blowing a bit and raining hard but i decided that four reps of that formidable 2,200' slope in and out of Ogwen would be a cracking session of hard fell climbing. This would qualify as a big day - nearly 9,000 feet and no respite. Just steep up or steep down.
20 mins in and I binned it. I could barely stand in that wind and the cloud base was at about 1,000 feet. Horrendous. I got back to the car and decided to sit it out. The wind started rocking the car and so I went home, tail between legs feeling like I wasted my day off. Not a happy bunny.
As I approached my home near Chester, I noticed that my more local hills were clear and so decided to head off for face saving run on Moel y Gamelin. When training for my previous, almost successful winter round, I had a regular timed run there of 9 miles and 3,200 feet of ascent. My pb was 1:23:55. I decided to go for that, bearing in mind I'd raced twice that week and was very fit when I ran my pb. With heavy legs, I roared around and clocked 1:23:35. No big day, but there is some good fitness in there and some good climbing strength.
I followed this up with 6 railway reps at Tattenhall on Sat (2,200 feet) and a long steady run on Moel Famau on Sunday, knocking 4,000 feet off in 2:35 at an brisk, so-so kind of pace.
All in all, the week saw 6 runs: two races (Wirral multi-terrain and a Club time trial), one longish trail run and three brisk/fast fell runs. A good week's work, amassing 11,000 feet and about 50 miles. OK, so the BGR is 66 miles and has 27,000 feet and I've 24 hours in the depths of winter, but we'll come onto that. For now, I'm doing OK.
Next week, circumstances will see a change in tack. My non-working day will be Wednesday rather than Friday and so I'll be doing a long day on Wednesday and Saturday. Weds will be a solo run in Derbyshire, probably the Edale Skyline route (I might even go for a time?) whereas Sat is a Long Distance Walking Assoc event which allows runners to take part. It's 30 miles, has about 6,000 feet ascent, and is near home on my beloved Moel Famau. The 'Open to Offas' is a lovely event (they feed you on the way round :-)) and I'll be with good friend and the deviser of the route Paul Miller as he recovers from his Ultra Trail de Mont Blanc experience. I'm really looking forward to that! :-)
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Week Seven - Ca va?
Most people look forward to their holidays. Runners, especially those training for a goal, start worrying about what it'll do for their training. Shocking isn't it?
We arranged some months ago to spend a week in Brittany with friends from running club before i decided to give winter matters another go. No hills to run up, a pregnant wife who will want to actually see me (i work away four days a week) and friends to socialise with is all very nice, but what about my training?
We left the day after my lovely 2-BGR leg run in the lakes and i was already thinking about how i was going to train. I realised that i should stop being such an arse and just enjoy it, get up early and do some road running so as to tick over for a week. As it turned out, Andy, Liz and Alison were up for some running and i managed to squeeze out 30 odd miles, including two 10 mile runs.
I felt good, and decided that i'd do a fell day at the weekend, but i had already promised Alison that Fridays (my non working day) would be my long day and so being out for hours wasn't going to wash. So i decided to head for Moel Famau and try my time trial run so test my fitness. I have a route which i did last year with the aim of breaking 1:15. It's 7.5 miles and has 2300' climbing on Moel Famau. I have managed to break 1:15 about 3 times on the 20+ times i've run it, so decided to give it a go. I ran 1:13:55, a new pb. Superb!
So, a week of tickover and a good fast fell run, but i missed the big day and that is the key ingredient to success. I made the best of a situation that meant keeping a number of balls in the air and i'm happy with that. As Billy Bland reputedly said, "If you're nowt at home, you're nowt anywhere". Wise words.
We arranged some months ago to spend a week in Brittany with friends from running club before i decided to give winter matters another go. No hills to run up, a pregnant wife who will want to actually see me (i work away four days a week) and friends to socialise with is all very nice, but what about my training?
We left the day after my lovely 2-BGR leg run in the lakes and i was already thinking about how i was going to train. I realised that i should stop being such an arse and just enjoy it, get up early and do some road running so as to tick over for a week. As it turned out, Andy, Liz and Alison were up for some running and i managed to squeeze out 30 odd miles, including two 10 mile runs.
I felt good, and decided that i'd do a fell day at the weekend, but i had already promised Alison that Fridays (my non working day) would be my long day and so being out for hours wasn't going to wash. So i decided to head for Moel Famau and try my time trial run so test my fitness. I have a route which i did last year with the aim of breaking 1:15. It's 7.5 miles and has 2300' climbing on Moel Famau. I have managed to break 1:15 about 3 times on the 20+ times i've run it, so decided to give it a go. I ran 1:13:55, a new pb. Superb!
So, a week of tickover and a good fast fell run, but i missed the big day and that is the key ingredient to success. I made the best of a situation that meant keeping a number of balls in the air and i'm happy with that. As Billy Bland reputedly said, "If you're nowt at home, you're nowt anywhere". Wise words.
Week Six - Antimatters
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| The Calva Trod, complete with digger |
That's better!!! After no less than three BGR supports this summer where I was supposed to support everything between Keswick and Dunmail and ended up falling short for one reason or another (bad ankle, the squits, not being fit enough etc) I rolled up at Dunmail and romped to Keswick in a shade under 8 hours. That's almost 11,000 feet of climbing and 27 miles done with a joyful flourish - I even ran up the last bit of Skiddaw.
Confidence restored? Not sure, but a useful step towards proper 'round' fitness.
Going the 'other way' was weirdly novel, learning the ground all over again, despite it being all too familiar when coming the other way. I tried a few things out to varying success. The Cofa Pike variant between Fairfield and Dollywaggon was new to me and whilst i wouldn't fancy it clockwise, that scree run coming down is brilliant and it really is a fast descent. Add to that a good water source en route and i'm sold, provded i can find it in the dark. Actually, a certain Mr Charters will hopefully take care of that :-) (unless it's icy as hell, in which case we'll go the out and back way from the hause between FF and Seat Sandal).
I stayed on the 'motorway' between Dollywaggon and Nethermost for far longer that i normally do, missing out the slight rise on the direct line over High Crag. This was far quicker and provided you can locate the cairn (GPS wil help here!) it is the way to go. I found myself ticking off the peaks without wanting to push remotely hard. I wanted to know what easy paced was for me and it translates to a 22 hour pace over those peaks, which of course allows for a tired contender which i was not. Still, good news!
Threlkeld was a welcome seat for stashed food and a 15 minute break. It was here that the familiarity of clockwise lulled me into a silly error and reminded me that i need to relearn the route as i'm going the other way. I have run off Hall's Fell into the village over 20 times, possibly more, and yet just strode past the end of the track and up the road. The only time i went wrong all day was on bloody tarmac...
Leg 5, as it now is, is a real mental and physical challenge on an anticlockwise round. It's 5,200' of ascent, tough heathery ground and on battered legs and a jaded brain. The biggest climb on the leg, and the second biggest climb on the whole round, is Blencathra. Add in the darkness and the possibility of ice on the ridge and you have a formidable start to this tough leg. I will ask a couple of experienced lads to go and check it out on the day so we can make a quick decision about whether to do the longer but safer Doddick Fell route.
I picked my way up that enjoyable ridge in no hurry and was 10 mins inside the 23 hour schedule time of 64 mins. The run off Blencthara in the grassland of what's oddly referred to as Skiddaw Forest (there are no trees!!) was pleasant which made a change from the usual plod up the opposite way. I headed over Mungrisedale Common and to the meandering Caldew. I decided i could see a new trod leading directly up Great Calva opposite and decided to try following it up through that heather slope rather than take the path up the east fence (longer but easier ground). Error!!! It was a decent enough trod, but the 'lie' of the heather meant that it would have been ok for clockwise descenders and purgatory for those going up. Every step was a fight against the fellside and i grew fed up rather quickly. It was a case of step, trip, step, stumble, step, fall, swear etc. Imagine that after 21 hours!!! I think i'll be going the other way.
Calva eventually gave up as i reached the top and off I headed to Skiddaw, a big mountain but only a 1,500 climb from this side. I reminded myself that from here it's just like popping up Moel Famau, my local fell. As I left Calva and popped onto the top of the BGR trod leading down to the 4*4 track, i got a shock. I thought maybe a student night out had gone VERY wayward as a stumbled upon a road works sign at the top of the path.
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| Roadworks sign near the top of Calva on the BGR trod |
My surprise was heightened 200 feet down the hill when i ran into a a digger merryly excavating channel created by the BGR trod and laying heather 'mats' over it. I was gobsmacked. There is debate amongst fellrunners about the environmental impact of the BGR, with views varying on whether little cairns and markers to show the way are cricket or not. I've always been relaxed about the use of cairns, provided they are small and destroyed after you pass (much like Yiannis did on Emma's BGR when descending Blencathra via his parachute route - he got that spot on). Others are less relaxed and see it as an affront. For me, i felt BGR'ers were far less a cause of erosion that walkers and that our tracks were often rubbed out by nature in the BGR off season. This however was the first time that I saw a fellside being repaired as a clear result of the BGR (walkers don't come this way really). This has got me thinking about what we're doing to our playground. I wonder which BGR trod will be next for such treatment? The one up the front of Clough Head is looking very worn now...
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| More plant at the bottom of the trod |
Onto Skiddaw and the now easily located trod up Hare Crag. This is harder navigationally when going clockwise as you have to ensure you take the right fork over Hare Crag and not the old quad bike track going left. THis way round is a doddle. I plodded easily up the slope, which starts off muddy and ends up on fast short grass and then some loose rock at the summit. As i nearer skiddaw's summit, a decided to run from the fence and felt great!!
That final descent is going to be VERY tough though. As i ran down into Keswick, elated after a strong and gorgeous day out, i remembered how sore my quads were coming off Scafell last year. I resolved that I would train my quads to deal with long descents because i could end up having to push here at the end of the round to get under 24 hours and a 3000' descent is going to be a swine with battered quads.
The training is working!
Monday, 23 August 2010
Week Five - Rotten cold 1:0 Mark
Ten thousand feet a week is proving rather difficult and it's very frustrating. Last week's cold, which started before the Kinder Dozen, knocked me sideways and i didn't train for a week, and when I did I was truly awful.
After a good strong run out on the KD, i went downhill fast and almost passed out the next day. The cold was stinking. I persisted with the long work days (hard to take time off when you're self employed) and got worse and so didn't run at all until Thursday evening, when 15 mins and one railway was enough to floor me. I tried again on Friday, my supposed big day, when all i could manage was a 3 hour run on moel famau which clocked up about 14 miles and 3500' of climbing when i was supposed to do double that. I just had to turn back after bagging Fennli and Moel Famau twice via a bracken fest of a route as i ran out of energy and felt sick. Being able to knock off a mid-winter BGR seemed like a world away and far beyond me.
The next day i was booked in to do Race the Train at Tywyn (middle of bloody nowhere), a 14 mile muddy trail race which has about 1200' climbing in it. 21 runners from Tattenhall were organised, along with new, customised club gazebo (!) for what i knew was going to a good laugh. I felt a bit better and decided to go and do it as a training run, just get round... I should have respected it a bit more, esp as it was pouring down. We all got soaked and i ran harder than i thought i would. I felt 'fuzzy' all the way round and clocked 1:48 which given the terrain and distance and horrible head was quite a decent run. I couldn't just run, i raced and pushed hard. Kill or cure just about landed on the 'cure' side but it was a gamble.
Next day i felt very stiff, the race was persisting. I decided to go and do six railways with sore legs, good practice for those later legs on the round. I imagined each climb was the last 300' of Fairfield and just kept moving. In truth i know Fairfield on leg 4 will feel much tougher going a/c!
In all I managed about 7,400' ascent and descent that week, which was reasonable given how i felt, but the simple fact is that it is not enough.
After a good strong run out on the KD, i went downhill fast and almost passed out the next day. The cold was stinking. I persisted with the long work days (hard to take time off when you're self employed) and got worse and so didn't run at all until Thursday evening, when 15 mins and one railway was enough to floor me. I tried again on Friday, my supposed big day, when all i could manage was a 3 hour run on moel famau which clocked up about 14 miles and 3500' of climbing when i was supposed to do double that. I just had to turn back after bagging Fennli and Moel Famau twice via a bracken fest of a route as i ran out of energy and felt sick. Being able to knock off a mid-winter BGR seemed like a world away and far beyond me.
The next day i was booked in to do Race the Train at Tywyn (middle of bloody nowhere), a 14 mile muddy trail race which has about 1200' climbing in it. 21 runners from Tattenhall were organised, along with new, customised club gazebo (!) for what i knew was going to a good laugh. I felt a bit better and decided to go and do it as a training run, just get round... I should have respected it a bit more, esp as it was pouring down. We all got soaked and i ran harder than i thought i would. I felt 'fuzzy' all the way round and clocked 1:48 which given the terrain and distance and horrible head was quite a decent run. I couldn't just run, i raced and pushed hard. Kill or cure just about landed on the 'cure' side but it was a gamble.
Next day i felt very stiff, the race was persisting. I decided to go and do six railways with sore legs, good practice for those later legs on the round. I imagined each climb was the last 300' of Fairfield and just kept moving. In truth i know Fairfield on leg 4 will feel much tougher going a/c!
In all I managed about 7,400' ascent and descent that week, which was reasonable given how i felt, but the simple fact is that it is not enough.
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| Wet Tattenhallers after a soggy Race the Train |
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
The same, yet different.
I'm going anti-clockwise.
I'm going at sometime between 5 and 6am from Keswick and I won't be running through any ginnels and into any car parks for many hours after that!
Why? Loads of little reasons really that have kind of added up.
- I'm a bit fed up of the route, beleive it or not. Loads of enjoyable supports have taken away the exciting newness well and truly, but supporting my first a/c round this year was really good fun and lent the fells and the BGR a surprising new feel. I'm looking forward to re-learning split times and schedules and seeing it all a different way!
- Sleep. I've never suffered from feeling sleepy tired on rounds but i do think that being awake all day and evening before you set off is a disadvantage and i've discovered that you need all the help you can get in winter!
- Festitvities at Tattenhall! It's the christmas meal the Friday before and if I am going to get help from my friends and BGR support experts, I don't want to deprive them of their night out! I'll be putting those guys on the last three legs and so they will be able to have a decent sleep and come up and help if they can/want to (I'm not assuming anything!).
- The road section is out of the way! the black ice may be there again, but the agony of tackling it at the end of a winter round is too much to consider doing again. It was verging on the traumatic last time - never again!
I'll be going on a 23 hour schedule. Can't wait!!!!!
I'm going at sometime between 5 and 6am from Keswick and I won't be running through any ginnels and into any car parks for many hours after that!
Why? Loads of little reasons really that have kind of added up.
- I'm a bit fed up of the route, beleive it or not. Loads of enjoyable supports have taken away the exciting newness well and truly, but supporting my first a/c round this year was really good fun and lent the fells and the BGR a surprising new feel. I'm looking forward to re-learning split times and schedules and seeing it all a different way!
- Sleep. I've never suffered from feeling sleepy tired on rounds but i do think that being awake all day and evening before you set off is a disadvantage and i've discovered that you need all the help you can get in winter!
- Festitvities at Tattenhall! It's the christmas meal the Friday before and if I am going to get help from my friends and BGR support experts, I don't want to deprive them of their night out! I'll be putting those guys on the last three legs and so they will be able to have a decent sleep and come up and help if they can/want to (I'm not assuming anything!).
- The road section is out of the way! the black ice may be there again, but the agony of tackling it at the end of a winter round is too much to consider doing again. It was verging on the traumatic last time - never again!
I'll be going on a 23 hour schedule. Can't wait!!!!!
Monday, 16 August 2010
Week Four - Kinder Dozen and whole lotta snot
Snifff
Feeling a bit rough, got a full on man cold and am being typically rubbish. I blame Kinder Scout, Derbyshire's highest mountain, and its widest and boggiest.
I decided this week that after a good outing at Borrowdale, I would keep running hard and not take much rest. I have to get used to running tired all over again. It's tempting to run when you've fully recovered, but my head needs to know my body can perform when it's a bit sore and tight.
Monday was a trial, a 5 mile trail trial to be precise. I ran hard on an off-road hilly course, but it wasn't so fast. I ended up hanging on in there despite a slow speed. It wasn't satisfying like a good hard fast run - one to log under 'head training'.
I ran my 9.5 mile hilly trail run in 1:13 on Tuesday, a decent effort with still weary legs and some stiff hills, as well as some curious and scary cows edging me towards the edge of a field. Weds was another fast run, 7.4 miles and 54 mins on another very hilly and off road course. I felt good, with a spring in my step. It proved that you can recover from long runs whilst still running ones. Not sure how that works, but it does.
I had a break on Thursday before the Kinder experience. The kinder dozen is apparently a route for the mentally deranged according to the LDWA, a somewhat horrible description in every sense for what is actually a fantastic day out. Why do people use such phrases with such abandon?
It was wet. Very wet indeed. My map became sodden but it was fantastic nav practice! I plunged through waist deep bracken, flicked off the ticks, fought the heather and pounded the peat for six and a half entertaining hours. It worked out at about 20 miles and 9,300' ascent, not as much as advertised but given the ground and the weather, a meaty day out by anyone's standards. I loved it and it was a joy to train somewhere new. Exploring the northern aspects of Kinder was great and I hardly saw a soul. The photos say it all.
Feeling a bit rough, got a full on man cold and am being typically rubbish. I blame Kinder Scout, Derbyshire's highest mountain, and its widest and boggiest.
I decided this week that after a good outing at Borrowdale, I would keep running hard and not take much rest. I have to get used to running tired all over again. It's tempting to run when you've fully recovered, but my head needs to know my body can perform when it's a bit sore and tight.
Monday was a trial, a 5 mile trail trial to be precise. I ran hard on an off-road hilly course, but it wasn't so fast. I ended up hanging on in there despite a slow speed. It wasn't satisfying like a good hard fast run - one to log under 'head training'.
I ran my 9.5 mile hilly trail run in 1:13 on Tuesday, a decent effort with still weary legs and some stiff hills, as well as some curious and scary cows edging me towards the edge of a field. Weds was another fast run, 7.4 miles and 54 mins on another very hilly and off road course. I felt good, with a spring in my step. It proved that you can recover from long runs whilst still running ones. Not sure how that works, but it does.
I had a break on Thursday before the Kinder experience. The kinder dozen is apparently a route for the mentally deranged according to the LDWA, a somewhat horrible description in every sense for what is actually a fantastic day out. Why do people use such phrases with such abandon?
It was wet. Very wet indeed. My map became sodden but it was fantastic nav practice! I plunged through waist deep bracken, flicked off the ticks, fought the heather and pounded the peat for six and a half entertaining hours. It worked out at about 20 miles and 9,300' ascent, not as much as advertised but given the ground and the weather, a meaty day out by anyone's standards. I loved it and it was a joy to train somewhere new. Exploring the northern aspects of Kinder was great and I hardly saw a soul. The photos say it all.
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| Sandy Hayes trig |
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| Crowden Tower |
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| Fairbrook Naize |
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| Jacobs Ladder |
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| Ringing Roger |
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| Sandy Hayes trigs old and new |
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Week Three - Borrowdale Bites Back
Now and again, the fells you feel you know so well teach you a lesson and bring you down a peg or two. My 7th Borrowdale race arrived yesterday, and the difference between my first Borrowdale race and this one was fully in my mind. Borrowdale 2004 was my second long A-class fell race and I was respectfully scared of it. This year, with two BGRs, dozens of A races including such beasts as Jura, the fabled Skyline of 2007, Long Mynds, Sedberghs, Duddons and OMMs a plenty, as well as all the in-between Borrowdales on my CV, i felt confident. Not quite cocky, but not far off.
The mist and rain that shrouded the fells that morning barely got a thought. I know the way.
Now, the lesson here is that unless you know every boulder, micro-line to take for the whole 17 miles, you do not know the way. I got lost after the first control, going down towards Langstrath! I had to climb 300' to get back on line - not happy after getting up Bessyboot in record time. I then did a weird and improbable circuit of Broad Crag on some of England's roughest, and therefore slowest ground, missing one of the Lake District's most obvious paths to Scafell Pike. I later decided to have a look at the Ennerdale flank of Green Gable for some reason instead of hotfooting towards Brandreth. I kept passing, and re-passing the same group all day. One girl accused me jokingly of stalking her as i passed her for the umpteenth time between Gable and Honister.
In short, I was too busy running hard to race well, and so, I raced poorly. I might have raced poorly, but I bloody ran well. I felt brilliant all the way round until finally bonking on the outskirts of Rosthwaite, minutes from the line. I set a new Borrowdale pb of 4:16 despite adding about a mile and 400' of extra climbing at least. Running down the Corridor was just great, and climbing Gable was a scorching climb, my best ever.
I know i'm capable of a sub-four Borrowdale, but that's for another day. Right now, I know i'm fitter than last year, when I ran just under 4:30 in faster, clearer conditions. That's good to know going into the training for the winter BGR.
I tried some new things for this race. For a start, I didn't taper and just trained every day. I ran up Moel Famau on Friday, banged out some sharp railways on Thursday, did 12 short, flat out hill reps on Wednesday, did 10 fast trail miles on Tuesday and did a 4 mile trail run on Monday after last Sunday's Cheviot outing. I would have normally rested a couple of days and fretted. This worked. I also decided to wear my Skins compression tights under my jeans all day Friday after my Moel Famau run, just to help recovery. Someone recently mentioned that this was a good way to use these things so i tried it. It seems to work, as i felt great on Saturday.
This time last year, Borrowdale marked the start of a return to fitness and training. It's good to know that this year, i'm already seeing the results of stepping it up a bit. I'm ahead of where I was and I take comfort from that. If only the race time reflected the fitness I felt... That'll teach me for being lazy on the navigation.
Week summary:
Monday - Easy trail, 4M, 200' ascent
Tuesday - Quicker trail, 10M, 550' ascent
Weds - Short hill reps * 12, 6M, 500' ascent
Thurs - 4 Railway reps + Raw Head, 5M, 1,500 ascent
Fri - Steady short Moel Famau (car parks loop) - 4M, 1,000' ascent
Sat - Borrowdale fell race, 17M, 7000' ascent, 4:16
Sun - Rest
Totals, 46M, 10,750' ascent and descent, inc one race
The mist and rain that shrouded the fells that morning barely got a thought. I know the way.
Now, the lesson here is that unless you know every boulder, micro-line to take for the whole 17 miles, you do not know the way. I got lost after the first control, going down towards Langstrath! I had to climb 300' to get back on line - not happy after getting up Bessyboot in record time. I then did a weird and improbable circuit of Broad Crag on some of England's roughest, and therefore slowest ground, missing one of the Lake District's most obvious paths to Scafell Pike. I later decided to have a look at the Ennerdale flank of Green Gable for some reason instead of hotfooting towards Brandreth. I kept passing, and re-passing the same group all day. One girl accused me jokingly of stalking her as i passed her for the umpteenth time between Gable and Honister.
In short, I was too busy running hard to race well, and so, I raced poorly. I might have raced poorly, but I bloody ran well. I felt brilliant all the way round until finally bonking on the outskirts of Rosthwaite, minutes from the line. I set a new Borrowdale pb of 4:16 despite adding about a mile and 400' of extra climbing at least. Running down the Corridor was just great, and climbing Gable was a scorching climb, my best ever.
I know i'm capable of a sub-four Borrowdale, but that's for another day. Right now, I know i'm fitter than last year, when I ran just under 4:30 in faster, clearer conditions. That's good to know going into the training for the winter BGR.
I tried some new things for this race. For a start, I didn't taper and just trained every day. I ran up Moel Famau on Friday, banged out some sharp railways on Thursday, did 12 short, flat out hill reps on Wednesday, did 10 fast trail miles on Tuesday and did a 4 mile trail run on Monday after last Sunday's Cheviot outing. I would have normally rested a couple of days and fretted. This worked. I also decided to wear my Skins compression tights under my jeans all day Friday after my Moel Famau run, just to help recovery. Someone recently mentioned that this was a good way to use these things so i tried it. It seems to work, as i felt great on Saturday.
This time last year, Borrowdale marked the start of a return to fitness and training. It's good to know that this year, i'm already seeing the results of stepping it up a bit. I'm ahead of where I was and I take comfort from that. If only the race time reflected the fitness I felt... That'll teach me for being lazy on the navigation.
Week summary:
Monday - Easy trail, 4M, 200' ascent
Tuesday - Quicker trail, 10M, 550' ascent
Weds - Short hill reps * 12, 6M, 500' ascent
Thurs - 4 Railway reps + Raw Head, 5M, 1,500 ascent
Fri - Steady short Moel Famau (car parks loop) - 4M, 1,000' ascent
Sat - Borrowdale fell race, 17M, 7000' ascent, 4:16
Sun - Rest
Totals, 46M, 10,750' ascent and descent, inc one race
Friday, 6 August 2010
Week Two - Everything but the big day...
Bloody hell i'm two weeks in and i'm not sticking to the plan already.
The idea is that i do between 10,000 and 15,000 feet of ascent each week, including one big day out. Life is getting in the way and this week i managed just 7,000 feet. The good thing is that all 7,000 feet of that was run. There were two tough little races in there, one fantastically random and the other amazingly opportune, so there's been some good effort - but i'm craving the the big outing...
After the big day out on Richard's BGR, i rested on Monday. On tuesday I ran 10 miles and about 600' ascent on a trail route in Nottingham around Arnold, Woodborough and Lambley - really pretty and good ground. Ran at a reasonable pace too.
Wednesday was hilarious. I decided to drive home and do the green green grass of home fell race on the clywdian hills. It's a local race which i love and working away means i would miss it for the first time since it was staged 6 years ago. So i headed back and felt a bit tired on the start line, surrounded by friends.
Well, i started ok (photo thanks to Ali Tye) and began to feel stronger after about half an hour. Just as i decided to pick up the pace, i found that noone was around me, and the trusty tapes guiding us around had gone. I had obviously strayed off course. I picked my way up the hill and saw a marshall waving at me from below. I raced down to him and he said i was leading the race. Well, that aint right!!! Turns out the leaders had gone even wronger and took a huge short cut. I sort of did an inbetween route and the runners behind me did the proper route, benefitting from the fact that the race organiser was having a run out and was telling people where to go! So a trip back from Nottingham to Wales and a DQ!! Still, it was such a laugh and i won a prize for winning my own personal race - well a win is a win (well, not really). Hats off to all competitors for enjoying the chaos and creating a really fun prizegiving rather than kicking off...
The next day was even more random. I was driving home from Nottingham for the weekend and decided to go via peak district because i'm sick of the A50 and Stoke. The sun was out and the sky was blue (no, really) and as i passed from one village to the next i realised how long it had been since i'd enjoyed a drive. Out of nowhere in a villiage i couldn't name, a sign appeared by the side of the road pointing to a field full of cars. It read "fell race". I couldn't beleive it. I pulled in without thinking and saw loads of runners limbering up. I checked the boot and sure enough, my 'keep emergency kit in the boot policy' finally paid out, well sort of. I dug out some old fell shoes and a pair of shorts that were almost threadbare but that was it. So i entered the race, donned a cotton T-shirt which would have looked more at home in a trendy bar and the black xmas gift pringle socks that i wore for work thay day along with the worn out shoes and shorts. I looked like an arse, but was good to go. I approached the start line and had no idea where i was, how far the race was and how much climbing there was in it. Then I Daz H from Pennine who i've seen a few times this summer at the various BGRs we've both supported. I tapped him on the shoulder and asked him a) where i was and b) how far the race was. He looked surprised, probably at my stupid t-shirt with a tiger on it. Stoney Middleton apparently! Well the race was great! 5.5 miles and about 700' feet of climbing, and all runnable. Just loved the randomness and unexpected nature of it and enjoyed every knackered step.
On Friday I was planning a big day in Snowdonia and was hoping to have a day out with Pete, good mate and fellow Tattenhaller. I got home to find an email which said there was a chance of extending my contract at Nottingham until December and I needed to get my CV sent to the Director in charge asap. I knew that my CV needed a lot of work and so I had to sacrifice my day out. Was most peeved, as I'm sure Pete was too esp as all this happened on Thursday evening. The good news is that I got the gig and have good, well paying work leading up to the time at which the baby is due. This means i can probably take a month or so off, maybe two, early next year and do the dad stuff.
So i sacrifced the big day out but still managed to sneak an hour of so in on Moel Famau. I ran in the pouring rain and felt tired from 2 races in 2 days. I realised that part of the training has to include running when tired. The last three legs of the BGR are done whilst tired and so you have to get used to running on jaded legs.
Most generally, it's important to train harder for this thing. I am realising that the usual caution that that prevented me from being injured for four years (bar the odd niggle) has also led to my plateauing performance. So I have to train hard, run everyday and run hard for much of that. It's no good just knocking out the 10,000 feet per week. I need to do long days, hard runs, even harder efforts and some tough mental workouts.
Saturday was lost to the in-laws in Newcastle but i did manage to haul myself out of bed and get to the nearby Cheviots on the Sunday. I couldn't run all day but managed a lovely three hour circuit from Alwinton (Dalewinton as i called it), taking in Yardspaeth Law, Bloodybush Edge, Cushat Law and Wether Cairn. It was 16 miles and 3,400 feet ascent and I ran it all, feeling quite strong. Not a big day, but a good run out and there were signs there that i'm getting stronger.
Time to up the ante nect week. Borrowdale looms and I'm not going to taper for it. Let's see how strong I am mentally by racing the mighty Borrowdale with tired, non-rested legs??
Week summary:
Mon - Rest
Tues - 10 miles on the trials in Nottm, 600 feet ascent
Weds - 5 miles, 1600' ascent - Green Green Grass of Home, sort of
Thurs - 5 miles, 700' ascent - Stoney Middleton, apprently
Fri - 7 miles, 1300' ascent - easy run on Moel Famau
Sat - Rest
Sun - 16 miles, 3300' ascent - Dalewinton circular
43 miles, 7,500' ascent - must do better...
The idea is that i do between 10,000 and 15,000 feet of ascent each week, including one big day out. Life is getting in the way and this week i managed just 7,000 feet. The good thing is that all 7,000 feet of that was run. There were two tough little races in there, one fantastically random and the other amazingly opportune, so there's been some good effort - but i'm craving the the big outing...
After the big day out on Richard's BGR, i rested on Monday. On tuesday I ran 10 miles and about 600' ascent on a trail route in Nottingham around Arnold, Woodborough and Lambley - really pretty and good ground. Ran at a reasonable pace too.
Wednesday was hilarious. I decided to drive home and do the green green grass of home fell race on the clywdian hills. It's a local race which i love and working away means i would miss it for the first time since it was staged 6 years ago. So i headed back and felt a bit tired on the start line, surrounded by friends.
Well, i started ok (photo thanks to Ali Tye) and began to feel stronger after about half an hour. Just as i decided to pick up the pace, i found that noone was around me, and the trusty tapes guiding us around had gone. I had obviously strayed off course. I picked my way up the hill and saw a marshall waving at me from below. I raced down to him and he said i was leading the race. Well, that aint right!!! Turns out the leaders had gone even wronger and took a huge short cut. I sort of did an inbetween route and the runners behind me did the proper route, benefitting from the fact that the race organiser was having a run out and was telling people where to go! So a trip back from Nottingham to Wales and a DQ!! Still, it was such a laugh and i won a prize for winning my own personal race - well a win is a win (well, not really). Hats off to all competitors for enjoying the chaos and creating a really fun prizegiving rather than kicking off...
The next day was even more random. I was driving home from Nottingham for the weekend and decided to go via peak district because i'm sick of the A50 and Stoke. The sun was out and the sky was blue (no, really) and as i passed from one village to the next i realised how long it had been since i'd enjoyed a drive. Out of nowhere in a villiage i couldn't name, a sign appeared by the side of the road pointing to a field full of cars. It read "fell race". I couldn't beleive it. I pulled in without thinking and saw loads of runners limbering up. I checked the boot and sure enough, my 'keep emergency kit in the boot policy' finally paid out, well sort of. I dug out some old fell shoes and a pair of shorts that were almost threadbare but that was it. So i entered the race, donned a cotton T-shirt which would have looked more at home in a trendy bar and the black xmas gift pringle socks that i wore for work thay day along with the worn out shoes and shorts. I looked like an arse, but was good to go. I approached the start line and had no idea where i was, how far the race was and how much climbing there was in it. Then I Daz H from Pennine who i've seen a few times this summer at the various BGRs we've both supported. I tapped him on the shoulder and asked him a) where i was and b) how far the race was. He looked surprised, probably at my stupid t-shirt with a tiger on it. Stoney Middleton apparently! Well the race was great! 5.5 miles and about 700' feet of climbing, and all runnable. Just loved the randomness and unexpected nature of it and enjoyed every knackered step.
On Friday I was planning a big day in Snowdonia and was hoping to have a day out with Pete, good mate and fellow Tattenhaller. I got home to find an email which said there was a chance of extending my contract at Nottingham until December and I needed to get my CV sent to the Director in charge asap. I knew that my CV needed a lot of work and so I had to sacrifice my day out. Was most peeved, as I'm sure Pete was too esp as all this happened on Thursday evening. The good news is that I got the gig and have good, well paying work leading up to the time at which the baby is due. This means i can probably take a month or so off, maybe two, early next year and do the dad stuff.
So i sacrifced the big day out but still managed to sneak an hour of so in on Moel Famau. I ran in the pouring rain and felt tired from 2 races in 2 days. I realised that part of the training has to include running when tired. The last three legs of the BGR are done whilst tired and so you have to get used to running on jaded legs.
Most generally, it's important to train harder for this thing. I am realising that the usual caution that that prevented me from being injured for four years (bar the odd niggle) has also led to my plateauing performance. So I have to train hard, run everyday and run hard for much of that. It's no good just knocking out the 10,000 feet per week. I need to do long days, hard runs, even harder efforts and some tough mental workouts.
Saturday was lost to the in-laws in Newcastle but i did manage to haul myself out of bed and get to the nearby Cheviots on the Sunday. I couldn't run all day but managed a lovely three hour circuit from Alwinton (Dalewinton as i called it), taking in Yardspaeth Law, Bloodybush Edge, Cushat Law and Wether Cairn. It was 16 miles and 3,400 feet ascent and I ran it all, feeling quite strong. Not a big day, but a good run out and there were signs there that i'm getting stronger.
Time to up the ante nect week. Borrowdale looms and I'm not going to taper for it. Let's see how strong I am mentally by racing the mighty Borrowdale with tired, non-rested legs??
Week summary:
Mon - Rest
Tues - 10 miles on the trials in Nottm, 600 feet ascent
Weds - 5 miles, 1600' ascent - Green Green Grass of Home, sort of
Thurs - 5 miles, 700' ascent - Stoney Middleton, apprently
Fri - 7 miles, 1300' ascent - easy run on Moel Famau
Sat - Rest
Sun - 16 miles, 3300' ascent - Dalewinton circular
43 miles, 7,500' ascent - must do better...
Monday, 26 July 2010
Week One - Sick of the BGR? Already?
On the face of it, a 12,000 foot week at the start of a BGR training campaign is not bad going, but the truth is it's not been a wholly great experience. So much so I almost thought about binning it.
After tight calves plagued me all week after a fantastic fast run on Moel Famau last Friday, I though I'd limit the training sessions but make the ones I did really count. So I did 7 all-run Tattenhall railways in the soaking wet on Tueaday with calves still smarting a bit and that seemed to go well. This gave me some confidence to support Richard Gilbert's BGR on Saturday, starting at midnight. I was down to navigate leg one and decided I would do leg 2 and even a bit of three and maybe make my way back to Keswick and the car.
First off I should say well done Richard, he made it in 23:20 - superb stuff :-))
Richard wanted to take the east ridge off Calva and the Doddick Fell route off Blencathra, so armed with these instructions, Richard, a couple of Daves and I set off. I felt fine, although I did have three litres of fluid for Richard and myself so felt weighed down, but happy enough. I had to hold RIchard back a little on Skiddaw but we still made it 8 mins up on schedule. I was blowing a bit but felt OK. Calva arrived 41 mins later, a leg I do in 39 when i'm going well. I felt like i was going no better than ok.
Blencathra arrived bang on schedule 70 mins later and i picked a very efficient line up there in the dark (no rain thankfully). I felt OK. Dropping down to Threlkeld I felt very hungry. I was glad to run in to some noodles which were waiting for me (thanks Emma!). We were about 14 mins up. No sooner had i changed my top, had some tea and started a nibble, Richard set off, about 6 mins after arriving. I decided to eat quickly and catch up. Big mistake. I shoveled the food in, didn;t really eat that much though, and sprinted off. I was bombing along the road and caught them just before the farm at Newsham. As soon as we started that horrid climb on Clough Head, I felt ill. I started to get dropped a little after the stile. Before I knew it, I was diving into a little hollow where I had a bit of an emergency pit stop. I felt terrible. I carried on and ran over Clough Head summit, with Rich and two fresh pacers ahead by about 100 yards. I plugged up Great Dodd and cut across before the summit to intercept them on the way to Watson's Dodd. I still felt rough and cited my intestinal issues as an excuse. My stupid pride wanted them to know I was fit enough!
Onwards to Stybarrow and i felt ill again. I was determined not to be dropped and stayed towards the front of our little posse. I felt like the legs were ok, but the rest of me wasn't. I moved well but then my pride gave way to the required selflessness that comes with supporting a round. I'd ceased to be of use to Richard and with 9,500 feet of climbing in the bank on the top of Helvellyn, I bid them a temporary farewell and headed down to Dunmail.
As soon as I left them, I had to retreat behind a rock this time for another little break. My guts were convulsing and then suddenly OK. As I took a beeline to Raise Beck, I felt stronger than I had done for hours and arrived at Kirsten, Emma, Morgan, Yiannis et al feeling like a wimp. It was nice to report that we'd been nibbling away at the schedule on leg two having taken a fair amount off leg one, but I felt like if i had any mental strength in me, i should have still been up there.
I realised as I stood with fellow BGR veterans that as much as i'd enjoyed helping Richard, I was a bit BGR'd out. I've done leg one and two half a dozen times this year, and about 20 odd times in all and was just a bit sick of it. I was also gutted that I wasn't strong enough to do two legs.
I resolved to reconsider my plans because doubts are the last thing you need to achieve this. I was seriously thinking about jacking it in now and stopping wasting peoples time.
Chastened, I went home via a shower and full English at Tebay and two hours kip in the car. That night I went out with the neighbours for a curry and was seriously naffed off.
Sunday came and i was still moody. I went out on my bike for an hour to a friends BBQ. Some of Tattenhall Runners were there, and they talked about my impending winter round and how the club's Christmas Meal was going to be arranged to miss my appointed date. I didn't voice my doubts and thought about it some more. It lit a little flame and I got excited again. Some home truths landed...
- I'm at the start of this training programme not the end, I have got a lot of big days to come where i'll get stronger.
- It's OK to have to work hard to keep up with a motivated, trained, unladen and fresh BGR contender for two legs. Esp if you're ill.
- Doing the first legs of someone's BGR is a lot harder than the later ones. Worth remembering.
- I live between 60 and 90 mins from various parts of Snowdonia. It might be an idea to starve myself of the Lakes and train in Wales for a few months. I don't need any more recceing of the route and it would be good to do the round whilst chomping at the bit to get back to the Lakes and the BGR.
So it's been an interesting and difficult start, but the legs are feeling OK after such a long day out. Can't be bad as starting point.
So, Snowdonia beckons!
Mark
Week summary:
Tuesday - 7 all-run railways - @2,500' ascent and descent
Saturday - BGR leg one and leg two to Helvellyn and then to Dunmail - 25 miles? 9,500' ascent/descent.
Sunday - 45 mins on the bike, 14 miles. Worked quite hard.
Total ascent/descent - 12,000'
After tight calves plagued me all week after a fantastic fast run on Moel Famau last Friday, I though I'd limit the training sessions but make the ones I did really count. So I did 7 all-run Tattenhall railways in the soaking wet on Tueaday with calves still smarting a bit and that seemed to go well. This gave me some confidence to support Richard Gilbert's BGR on Saturday, starting at midnight. I was down to navigate leg one and decided I would do leg 2 and even a bit of three and maybe make my way back to Keswick and the car.
First off I should say well done Richard, he made it in 23:20 - superb stuff :-))
Richard wanted to take the east ridge off Calva and the Doddick Fell route off Blencathra, so armed with these instructions, Richard, a couple of Daves and I set off. I felt fine, although I did have three litres of fluid for Richard and myself so felt weighed down, but happy enough. I had to hold RIchard back a little on Skiddaw but we still made it 8 mins up on schedule. I was blowing a bit but felt OK. Calva arrived 41 mins later, a leg I do in 39 when i'm going well. I felt like i was going no better than ok.
Blencathra arrived bang on schedule 70 mins later and i picked a very efficient line up there in the dark (no rain thankfully). I felt OK. Dropping down to Threlkeld I felt very hungry. I was glad to run in to some noodles which were waiting for me (thanks Emma!). We were about 14 mins up. No sooner had i changed my top, had some tea and started a nibble, Richard set off, about 6 mins after arriving. I decided to eat quickly and catch up. Big mistake. I shoveled the food in, didn;t really eat that much though, and sprinted off. I was bombing along the road and caught them just before the farm at Newsham. As soon as we started that horrid climb on Clough Head, I felt ill. I started to get dropped a little after the stile. Before I knew it, I was diving into a little hollow where I had a bit of an emergency pit stop. I felt terrible. I carried on and ran over Clough Head summit, with Rich and two fresh pacers ahead by about 100 yards. I plugged up Great Dodd and cut across before the summit to intercept them on the way to Watson's Dodd. I still felt rough and cited my intestinal issues as an excuse. My stupid pride wanted them to know I was fit enough!
Onwards to Stybarrow and i felt ill again. I was determined not to be dropped and stayed towards the front of our little posse. I felt like the legs were ok, but the rest of me wasn't. I moved well but then my pride gave way to the required selflessness that comes with supporting a round. I'd ceased to be of use to Richard and with 9,500 feet of climbing in the bank on the top of Helvellyn, I bid them a temporary farewell and headed down to Dunmail.
As soon as I left them, I had to retreat behind a rock this time for another little break. My guts were convulsing and then suddenly OK. As I took a beeline to Raise Beck, I felt stronger than I had done for hours and arrived at Kirsten, Emma, Morgan, Yiannis et al feeling like a wimp. It was nice to report that we'd been nibbling away at the schedule on leg two having taken a fair amount off leg one, but I felt like if i had any mental strength in me, i should have still been up there.
I realised as I stood with fellow BGR veterans that as much as i'd enjoyed helping Richard, I was a bit BGR'd out. I've done leg one and two half a dozen times this year, and about 20 odd times in all and was just a bit sick of it. I was also gutted that I wasn't strong enough to do two legs.
I resolved to reconsider my plans because doubts are the last thing you need to achieve this. I was seriously thinking about jacking it in now and stopping wasting peoples time.
Chastened, I went home via a shower and full English at Tebay and two hours kip in the car. That night I went out with the neighbours for a curry and was seriously naffed off.
Sunday came and i was still moody. I went out on my bike for an hour to a friends BBQ. Some of Tattenhall Runners were there, and they talked about my impending winter round and how the club's Christmas Meal was going to be arranged to miss my appointed date. I didn't voice my doubts and thought about it some more. It lit a little flame and I got excited again. Some home truths landed...
- I'm at the start of this training programme not the end, I have got a lot of big days to come where i'll get stronger.
- It's OK to have to work hard to keep up with a motivated, trained, unladen and fresh BGR contender for two legs. Esp if you're ill.
- Doing the first legs of someone's BGR is a lot harder than the later ones. Worth remembering.
- I live between 60 and 90 mins from various parts of Snowdonia. It might be an idea to starve myself of the Lakes and train in Wales for a few months. I don't need any more recceing of the route and it would be good to do the round whilst chomping at the bit to get back to the Lakes and the BGR.
So it's been an interesting and difficult start, but the legs are feeling OK after such a long day out. Can't be bad as starting point.
So, Snowdonia beckons!
Mark
Week summary:
Tuesday - 7 all-run railways - @2,500' ascent and descent
Saturday - BGR leg one and leg two to Helvellyn and then to Dunmail - 25 miles? 9,500' ascent/descent.
Sunday - 45 mins on the bike, 14 miles. Worked quite hard.
Total ascent/descent - 12,000'
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