Escape!

We've finally managed to drive out the valley! The roads have been pretty bad since the snow fell on Sunday morning.

Yesterday P and I left just after 11am to see how far we would get on mountain bikes to work. P was a fair bit quicker than I on the slippy, slushy, icy roads, but we both got in. It took me nearly twice as long as normal! There was a bit of traffic getting in and out but most of it was delivery vans, the coal man, the gas man and the post van! The ride home (early) was better, and much more tarmac was visible. I had a much better ride home, having thrown the toys out of the pram on the way in. It was bitterly cold, but beautiful, even in the snow showers.

This morning things were better again, and as long as you didn't venture too far off the vehicle tracks it was an easy drive to the main road. Who knows what its like to the south though! We will find out later.

Snow!

Been having some fun times in the snow that's fallen since sunday morning! Had to spend Saturday Christmas shopping as I've left things late as usual. Sunday morning we woke up to heavy snow, which just kept on falling. It was obvious that going anywhere in the car was a bad idea, so we headed out mid-morning up towards Whin Rigg to see what the tops were like.

Walking up through the Japanese Gardens was beautiful, all the bamboo and rhododendrons covered in a good inch or two of snow. Snow showers kept coming cross, and as we reached the top of the forest on Irton fell, we also found the wind. Seeing we we've been up Whin Rigg many times in much better conditions, and in some as bad, we decided not to bother. Spin drift and strong winds didn't appeal, so we descended down into Latterbarrow forest and the road near Nether Wasdale, making a snow troll in the woods at the bridge.

We then walked back via paths and the road (only passable with 4x4's). The sun came out towards the end of the walk, for a brief respite before more snow showers. Its the most snow we've had since we moved here, and certainly makes it all feel much more christmasy!

We were both supposed to be at work today, and left a little late on our bikes to see if we could get in. There was certainly no way we would get out with the car, so tried with the ice spike tyres. P got further than me along the road, before realising that it was pretty pointless. The tyres were great where it was icy, but a lot of the road was also slightly slushy frozen deep snow, which they didn't cope with. It made riding very difficult, and with just over 4 miles to the main road, it was too far to go. So a day off - again due to the weather.

We headed out for a walk up the valley by the river to Boot, and then back over the tops past Blea Tarn. A very black and white landscape.

christmas begins...

Have been trying very hard to avoid all chocolates, mince pies and cakes at work with only limited effect. This culminated in a works christmas party with more drink than I'm used too and lots of food!

P, I and a few friends went out on tuesday night for a night ride. It was a beautiful night. It started with a light shower of sleet but cleared to a starry night. We covered 18 miles on the local roads, tracks and trails. I even surprised a tiny mouse as it scuttled across the trail in front of me. It must have been very cold!

Thursday was again very cold and clear, with more icy roads. Again my ice spikes were brilliant. It snowed on the way home, that hard pellet type of snow not the soft fluffy stuff, and made to roads a wee bit interesting! Unfortunately it was short lived, and didn't put much down.

Not been running for over a week now, and I'm chaffing at the bit. Tomorrow is christmas shopping, but I may get out afterwards. Sunday looks like it may snow, so we shall see.

ice spikes

After last years long cold snaps, we both got very frustrated not being able to ride to work and back due to icy ungritted roads, so in anticipation P and I bought some ice spike tyres, him for his commuting road bike, and me for my old hardtail (neither of my road bikes have the clearance!). And yesterday was the first icy work morning since we got them. Absolutely brill. The roads were very slippy out to the main drag and I wouldn't have stayed on if riding my road bike. Definitely worth it, even with the added drag of the tyres on tarmac and the unique sound!

It was also timely, as its been in the back of my mind that my commuting bike needed a bit of TLC, and in starting to strip it down, my worst fears where confirmed. The rear rim disintigrated as I took the tyre off - so it was dished then! and the rear hub free wheel is going, very little rear brake pads, rear deraillieur stiff to the point of immovable, twisted pannier rack, and its filthy! Time for some nice shiny new bits!

sunshine & frost

P and I had been paying close attention to the weather forecast, and booked Friday off work. We headed over to Shepherds Crag in Borrowdale, and had the crag to ourselves for the whole day. It was a glorious day, and actually not that cold, despite the sharp frost on the ground, frozen puddles, frosted white grass and the long shadows of mid winter. We were both feeling a little rusty on trad climbing - me inparticular, as I reckon its May since I did any trad climbing. The crag was also quite damp, north butress was dripping. We did Kransick Crack, one of the Brown Slab easy routes and the VS at the right hand side of Brown Slabs up the corner. A beautiful day and one to remind me that I do enjoy climbing in the winter!

Saturday, the roads around us were very slippy, and we slithered the car up to Wasdale Head, for a walk. I wanted to check out the direct line between Styhead and Great End, so we walked up the main path to Styhead, and took the easiest line up to the summit of Great End. The ground was frozen solid and was fairly icy in places. The sky wasn't quite as clear as we had hoped, with cloud boiling up to the east and spilling up over the higher western hills. We mooched onto the Pike, and dropped down towards Mickledore, stopping for lunch above Pike's Crag out of the wind. We then returned to the car down Hollowstones. Despite the cloud it was still a beautiful day, with good views around the Lakes and beyond.

Sunday, we had originally thought about going up to Heron Crag for a look see, with the back up plan of Bell Stand if the wind was too much or the crag was too cold. Overnight there was a very sharp frost and it was bitter. This put us off heading up that way as it was soo cold (three nights of accumulated frost!) So we decided to go bouldering on the local stones at Fisherground. Again a lovely day, although a fair amount of high cloud was around which took the edge off the temperature. We stayed until dark, watching the sunset behind a thin bank of cloud out to sea.

Late on we walked up onto Fell End to watch for meteors. Fortunately we seemed to be in a hole in the clouds, with high cloud to the north, east, south and west, but our sky was clear enough to watch a fair number of shooting stars. It was a breath-taking sight. Wanted to stay for muh longer, but eventually bed called at the end of a busy weekend.

Tankys Trog 2009

Well that's another Tankys over with for this year. I wasn't sure what to expect this year in terms of time as my fitness was not where I would have liked it to be. Although locally and in short races I've been doing well, or at least better than this time last year, there has been a definite lack of long runs in my schedule, and I hadn't run over 18 miles since June sometime. So I was really quite pleased to finally break the 4 hour mark! I came in 3rd lady, in 3:56. A pb by 12 minutes.

I found the peat bogs really hard going this year, I think due to the lack of training on this kind of ground. Since we moved up to the Lakes from the Peak, I've become much better on steep rocky ground and lost ability on boggy tussocky ground. The weather was not too bad, despite what seems to be the general opinion. 2007 was much worse, as were the streams, but still it wasn't all blue sky and still air!

It had rained heavily overnight and was still raining 30 minutes before the start in Marsden, but the forecasters predicted it would dry up soon after dawn, and with dawn being after 8am they weren't far off. They were wrong in predicting it would then stay dry though! It wasn't raining as we set off, but on the first climb up Wessenden the rain came in again rather heavy and cold, so my cag came out again having been hastily put away before the start. I took the climb up Wessenden steadily and was surprised to reach the style across the road in 2nd place. I knew Nicky wasn't far behind, and so kept the pace up but steady on the flags across to Black Hill. They were very slippy in places, but it looked like my choice on Montrail Highlanders hadn't been a bad choice as I was sticking to the flags a lot better than others (mostly in Innov-8's). Nicky passed me on the last part of this climb, but we kept on passing each other across the top into a sharp strong south-westerly, this was probably one of the most unpleasant parts of the day. I managed to pull ahead coming off Black Hill down to Crowden, and we went our separate ways on the south side of Torside Reservoir.

I headed up Wild Boar Clough, while I think Nicky went Lawrence Edge way, which proved decisive as by the time I popped out by the rain guage near the Snake she had over hauled me by about 2 minutes. The route up Wild Boar Clough went really well, and seemed to much more relaxing in terms of navigation than the 'old' routes via Torside. I had popped out on Saturday to walk up Wild Boar Clough to check it out, going up the left hand side and coming down the right. It had seemed a great line then and so it had proved. The worst part of the Bleaklow traverse was a nasty hail shower as we passed over the top of Bleaklow down to Alport Low. The run down the Snake really hit me hard, as I was dehydrated and running low on energy! Luckily an old club mate was with me here and his wife had some spare energy drink for me which really pepped me up and meant I could push on to the finish!

The climb up Seal Stones was painful as always, and so was the 7 minute crossing. My calf muscles started to cramp in the bogs on the crossing which slowed me down slightly. I couldn't run through them with abandon as you would normally and had to pick my way around them in order to avoid cramping. At last the end of the crossing came into view, with P and his Dad stationed there waiting for me. P shouted encouragement and said I had 15 minutes to the 4 hour mark, so I plunged off the side of Kinder and gave it everything I had to the finish. This was where the Montrails weren't so great but I slithered and slid my way down and ran as hard as I could to the finish tent.

As always a great race and a great atmosphere in the village hall afterwards. There was a pair of smartwool socks and a limited edition Tanky's mug for a prize. My big toenail is now very black and bruised and its only a matter of time before it comes off. I just hope it doesn't stop me running too much in the next few weeks.

I have been resting for the last two days to let the toe swelling go down, but was back on the bike today. Strangely I felt strong and it was a lovely morning if a bit damp on the roads itself. Looking forward to the forecasted good weather coming up!

awaiting tanky's

just been relaxing before tanky's on Sunday. Felt a little bit frustrated last night as it was a beautiful evening, the moon was nearly full and shinning brightly, but I was busy packing for the weekend and also didn't want to go out as I have been feeling a little tired. If I felt fitter I would have gone out regardless, but I haven't run over 20 miles since June, before I injured my shoulder. While I have no doubt I'll be OK on the day I want to give myself the best chance I can, and doing to much this week didn't seem sensible.

But I have dug out a couple of photos taken from 2007 Tanky's, just to remind myself that even in appalling weather it is still FUN!

double ? speed session

Didn't fancy a long or high session last night, but felt the need to get out and do something, partly to see how the toenail felt! Popped over the hill to Miterdale and did a sort of double speed session, so after warm up did a 200 m flat sprint followed after recovery by a 500 m uphill sprint, jogg back downhill to the beginning for recovery and repeat twice. Total mileage 5 miles, Total Ascent ~800', with 3 x 215m, 3 x 500m.

I felt a bit cheated by the weather as when it was dusk it had been clear, and I was excited by being out with the full moon, but by the time I headed out it was cloudy. Mustn't omplain though as it was dry and relatively warm AND not windy! Toe was a bit sore by the end of the run, and will probably casue me so pain on Sunday.

not much

Had a quiet couple of days after the weekend. I don't want to do too much this week before Tanky's but at the same time need to do something! Unfortunately the race on Sunday bruised my big toenail and it was quite sore on Monday so I gave myself the day off (and my legs felt heavy!), then yesterday was icy on the roads around ours so I didn't head to work on the bike, then the evening became taken up with a few chores that had been put off for longer than reasonable! Hoping to get out for a gentle run tonight though, it may stay dry?!

a week's round-up

Had a few problems posting in the last week, not sure why but I'm trying a different place from my normal posting location! So posting from last Friday first:

two deer, a fox and a water vole
This was the sum total of wildlife spotting from Tuesday nights run and Thursday nights ride. Tuesday was another very windy and wet day and I made myself head out in the evening for a flat-ish 5 miler run. I stayed in the valley among the trees as much as I could so get out of the worst of the wind and rain. I saw the two deer on the track, as they didn’t run off as I don’t think they could work out what I was until I was very close. I heard the bark of the fox first before catching its two twinkling eyes in my torch beam. It barked another two times before loping off into the undergrowth.

Wednesday was very windy again but not a lot of rain fell. It was quite strange to not be soaking wet although the roads where absolutely filthy due to the amount of traffic using them at the moment. One section felt like riding on a farm track, as there was not sign of the tarmac underneath a thick layer of mud, and gravel. The increased traffic is slowly widening the road and spreading a lot of the verges onto the road! My road bike looked like I’d been mountain biking with it! It needed a clean anyway.

Thursday evening P and I headed out for a local short mountain bike ride, down to the coast and back. The old farm tracks were very flooded still, significantly over hub-deep water, and this was where we saw the water vole, swimming across on of these deep pools. Not a mammal I’d expect to see just there! It was by recent standards a lovely night, with large breaks on the cloud and the half-moon shining down on us. We even saw a few stars! The wind was still quite strong, but no rain fell.  We covered about 12 miles, leaving enough time to pack for the weekend. Off down to the peak partly to recce Tanky’s Trog across Bleaklow and partly for family gatherings! Should be fun!


And now for the weekend re-cap. P and I went down to the Peak on friday evening. Saturday I headed out for a recce of Bleaklow as planned. Snow had fallen overnight and the mist was down on the tops. P dropped me off at Crowden, and I headed across the east side of Torside reservoir and up onto Bleaklow via Fair Vase Clough, with a couple of Dark Peak runners who I bumped into. I then left them near Hern stones and tried to reverse the Dog Rock route to the top of Torside. I got this slightly wrong in the mist but still ended up at Torside top and found the route across to Dog Rock. By this time my feet had got very cold as the snow had started to melt leaving a lot of very cold water (always colder than snow!). I was also running out of time to meet P in Glossop, so headed down Lightside to Doctors gate and the van.


On Sunday I had more time in the morning before the family lunch so managed to squeeze in the Famous Grouse Race from Birch Vale. I had never run this race before, even living in the area for 8 years! The weather wasn't great with sleet and rain falling before the race started, but it held off the worst during the race. To my surprise I finished as first lady, despite having slightly heavy legs after the day before's excursions and the fact that this is a very runnable race - not my thing at all! A litre bottle of Famous Grouse now sits in the sideboard!

Wasn't sure about this photo, but what the hell, if you can't laugh at yourself then!!!

soggy

My plea is still the same... when will it stop raining!? P and I went out on mountain bikes on Sunday for about 3 hours, about 23 miles. That was all we could bear as we got soaked to the skin and the temperature dropped while we were out so we were both frozen by the time we got home. We cut the ride short too. I think I had a bit of a sense of humour failure towards the end. It wasn't just my feet that had gone numb with cold it was my lower legs below my knees, my arms as well as my hands and fingers. In fact I struggled to get the key in the lock at home to get in!! Took me several cups of tea, cheesy beans on toast and a hot bath to restore minimum temperature (and sense of humour!).

Went for a run last night but stayed in the shelter of the forest, doing two ascents of the fell, a shade over 5 miles. First time I've run with my new night light. It was awesome! Tackled the complete darkness, rain and wind with no problems. I had been worried about its weight as a headlamp, but no complaints from my neck so far.

I've been saoked for the last 5 days out of 6, and probably will be again this evening. I don't think my kits dried out in days either. I am finding this weather is really testing my motivation. Its just a bit to bad to be comfortable out on the high fells, especially repeatedly at night often on my own. I've been studying the maps more closely for lower level runs to keep out of the worst of it all. Good side is that I'm discovering more places, places I didn't know and seeing the valley from different angles (well in daylight anyway!).

Biblical ?

When will it stop raining? I've had a bit of a topsy-turvey week and the weekend isn't proving to be much better. My mum and dad have been up for the week, and so I didn't get out in the evenings for anything. After a couple of days off on Monday and Tuesday, partly as I was too busy, I rode to work and back on Wednesday, thinking a short run or two on Thursday would set me up nicely for the Tour of Pendle. But again the best laid plans.

The weather forecasters were predicting doom and gloom on Thursday and some attentiveness to the rainfall radar showed that it did look frightening. so on Thursday we decided it was worth riding in despite the gales and rain as at least we could definitely get home. No car stuck in floods etc.  And boy did it rain. To think we had a fair bit less than Borrowdale is quite something! We left work early when it became obvious that this was a fairly unusual rainfall and got home in the light. Funnily it was actually quite a fair ride home, it didn't rain that heavily and the roads really weren't that bad, but I was glad to get back and relax. It made it even more hard watching the events unfold in Cockermouth and Workington, knowing that although we would probably get cut off in the valley, we were far above any flood waters.

Friday dawned fair, but we couldn't get out of the valley by car in any direction. A day off for us and more to the point another day with my Mum and Dad as they couldn't get home either. We all went for a walk to check out the river and roads. The waters had receded a fair bit since the evening before, but the roads were still barely passable by anything but 4x4s.

With more rain forecast for today, I just couldn't physce myself up to drive to Barley in Lancashire for the Tour of Pendle. I knew I'd be able to get there ( and M&D got out and home), but I'd spend the whole race worrying about getting home again, as more rain could cut the valley off. So head ruled heart and I stayed at home, getting out for a 12 miler over the fells early in order to avoid the worst of the rain in the afternoon. If I had felt like I felt during the run today I'm glad I didn't bother doing Pendle. I felt awful! Very sluggish, weak and tired. It took me a lot longer than I expected for the route, and it can't be all due to a strong headwind on the fells and the water underfoot.

I've been suffering from a lack of motivation recently, partly due to the poor weather, and todays run hasn't helped to be honest. Although it should as I'm unfit! Time to reassess what I'm doing week in week out, to try and find and maintain the motivation. Maybe more shorter runs, and less focus on long ones may help as its far more daunting to get going for a 5 plus hour run on the fells in poor weather than a 7 miler. Time to think....

Dunnerdale and Innerliethen

Rode to work and back on Friday for some reason despite knowing I was going to race on Saturday. I think it was punishment for being nesh on Thursday!

Saturday morning was very wet, ... very very wet.... and I really wandered what I was doing heading out the door to drive over Broughton Mills for the Dunnerdale race. But I put my faith in the forecast and dodged the large puddles on the roads over Birker Fell and over the gated road into Broughton. Some relief that it looked brighter to the south, as the puddles were becoming floods on the roads, and any bigger would have made it slightly dodgy trying to get back home.

The race was as great as ever, but I was disappointed with my time. My lungs felt full of cak from my cold the other week and so the uphills were unpleasent and it was so wet underfoot that I have to say I was nesh on the downhills. Still I managed the same position as last year - 6th Lady, but I was slower than last year. This has given me a bit of a wake up call so its going to be a renewed effort - well after this week as my mum and dad are up.

I didn't hang on after the race for the pie and peas and headed home as P and I were heading up to Innerliethen in Scotland to meet up with mates for a ride on Sunday. It was a pretty wet and windy drive up, but with the van parked alongside the other vans and us all congregated in the large white one, it was snug and warm. A pint and a half in the pub went down well too.

We were slow getting omving on Sunday despite a dry start, but eventually 11 of us headed out on the trail. It was good to know the first climb was there and I attacked it trying to test my legs out after the race the day before and was surprised by their liveliness! The rain didn't hold off but it didn't throw it down either. A great ride and great craic. Followed by tea and cake in the van!

Had a quiet couple of days after as I've been busy, but rode in to work this morning in the pouring rain. Forecast looks even worse for tomorrow and friday. I could do with a couple of days off the bike before Pendle on Saturday, but I really think the roads could well be imapssable in and out of the valley tomorrow as they're forecasting a huge amount of rain on already sodden and flooded ground. If I want to get to work, it could well be by two wheels not 4 tomorrow!

weak minded

I said yesterday that I was going to go up Gable after work, but I was weak minded/nesh/wimped out etc. I ran back from work to the car, and in the process got soaked as it was still raining heavily. I'd decided I didn't feel like it by that point but then beat myself up about it. As I reached the car it stopped raining so I changed my mind and headed towards Wasdale, then changed my mind again and found myself driving home. I'm still angry with myself. Yes is had been very wet and was still very windy with some pretty big gusts, and yes I was a bit shivery in the car even with the heating on full, but I think I was just making excuses!

Got home and said I'll go out later, knowing full well that I wouldn't, and I didn't.

Must apply myself more.

I rode hard into work this morning as punishment. Of sorts.

first nightride of the season

Ok, so its taken us a little while to get out on the mountain bikes in the evening. I blame: old dodgy lights, DIY and colds. Last night thou' we headed to Whinlatter after work for a ride (via DIY shops!). My new Hope Vision 4 strapped to the bike. Instead of doing the same as always (i.e. the red route), we headed out on the blue route followed by the south loop of the red. P's lights were fading quicker than normal so we had no time to do the whole of the red. Was a clear(ish) cold evening with a strengthening wind, and very quiet on the trails.

I quite enjoyed the blue route, and it'd be even better if I actually knew it, there seemed to be a lot of rock gardens, cut corners and jumps off to the side, which you don't see until its too late when riding it in the dark for the first time! Was very impressed with the light, and only had it on a low setting most of the time.

Going up Gable tonight, although looking at the rainfall radar, I think I might regret not going up last night!

back in business ... just!

After a week off due to this cold, I'm back on the bike today. Although I was nearly off it again almost as quickly. I rode to work this morning. It was damp, dull and pretty cold. On the way in, as I went down a small descent, my back wheel locked up completely, and I only just managed to stay on the bike. I pulled up and got off to find my pannier had somehow come off my carrier and wedged between the inside of the carrier and my rear wheel. It was pretty well jammed in! took a fair bit of tugging to get it out and a fair bit of bending to realign the carrier and mud guard. P was riding behind me at the time, and he has no idea what happened! Still I didn't crash and nothing seems to have broken. I was just worried about my lunch - curry in a box, yoghurt and banana all being squashable items that you don't want spilling over your clothes! Luckily the banana got it and not the curry or yoghurt, so I didn't have any explaining to do at work!

Have been off any exercise for the whole week. We had a weekend in Patterdale, but the weather wasn't great, and after a dry start on Saturday which saw P and I optimistically looking for dry rock, it started raining and we accepted defeat and headed to Keswick Wall. Despite being a small wall catering for groups, it provided enough entertainment for a few hours, especially as both of us were under the weather. Sunday was damp and miserable again in the morning, so we headed home to find clear blue skies in the west! P headed out on his new singlespeed for its maiden voyage to try it out, while I pottered at home, feeling sorry for myself. It was frustrating as the weather even when poor wasn't bad, and if we'd both been feeling OK, would have happily got out on bikes or running, but when you're not 100% the last thing you want is a wet cold soaking. Still, hopefully normal service has resumed, I'm feeling fine after this mornings ride.

Might head up Great Gable tomorrow night to see the poppies at the FRCC memorial.

sick

I nearly said sick again but I actually haven't been ill with a cold for quite a while. Its not even a particularly bad cold, but I can't go running or ride my bike, and feel pretty weak and tired. I'll stop whinging soon I guess, as long as I'm better by the weekend.

sore throat

After yesterday's fun in the rain and wind, something possessed me to ride to work this morning into a block headwind. It wasn't fun, but at least I'd enjoy the ride home with a tail wind. I didn't factor in a sore throat coming on during the day and also feeling cold and shivery. So it wasn't a nice ride home, more a battle of mind over matter. Curled up on the sofa when I got home, with lots of tea, lemsip and a good book! I don't do that often enough sometimes, so its not all bad.

welcome to the british autumn!

Phew what a wet and windy day! Definitely the first real autumn low of the year up here I think. Still did managed to get out on the fells, although it was plan B, not plan A.

More of that in a bit, but first just to recap yesterday, as P and I headed over early to Keswick to do a bit of shopping. Mindful that the forecast wasn't the best and it was the end of half term up here we headed there fairly early, and ticked off a fair number of things on our lists and also parted with money for things that weren't on our lists too! Nothing like a bit of retail therapy, we don't do it very often. We then met up with friends and friends of friends for a shortish mountain bike ride, from Keswick, to Threlkeld, up and back down the Glendaterra valley, round Latrigg and back to Keswick. The weather held off for the most part although it was very wet under tyre. For the first time since June I actually felt really good on the bike (its only the 6th outing on it since I got the cruz, and the 3rd since I crashed!) It was a great feeling to feel 'at one' with the bike and I loved the ride. We followed it up with tea and cake in our mates van before heading home via DIY shops! Another necessary evil.

This morning my plan A had been a long run from Wasdale Head visiting all the central lakeland valleys. I knew the forecast was poor and when I woke up it was lashing rain against the window. Some days you have a 'bring it on' attitude and other days you just don't feel up for it, and today I wasn't up for it, it just seemed to nasty out there. But with Pendle and Tanky's looming I needed to get out for a long one on the fells, so after a bit of map perusing, I decided to do 3 laps of Muncaster Fell, which would take me over 15 miles. So after a bit of procrastination, I headed out. It was wet, it was windy, but it was kinda ok! I had a plan to warm up on the first ascent, run the descent at a steady pace, and then use the track along the base of the fell as an effort at about 10k pace or quicker. Then repeat... twice.

Plan executed almost to perfection. Each ascent of the fell was taken with different lines, although after venturing off the path a couple of times, and nearly having to swim, I stuck to good trods and paths! Boy was it it wet up there and getting wetter with every minute! The descent down the bridleway was always done steady and then the effort along the base. My second of the three was the quickest at about 7.2 min/mile, but the other two were not much slower. Quite pleased with these as I have seriously neglected     my 'flat' running and although this is not that hilly it is not a flat section as you are climbing subtly up the valley and it was a very soggy track today!

Trogged back after the third lap via Forge Bridge to see how far over its banks the river was. Had a quick chat to two paddlers just getting out having come down the swollen river - a good ride apparently! Total mileage - 17.94 miles
Total ascent - 5350 feet
Time - 3 hours 20 minutes

The Screes Race and Grizedale mtb

Last weekend wasn't the nicest of weather (again!) but we still filled the weekend with outdoorsy stuff. On Saturday I trotted over to Nether Wasdale via Irton Fell for the Screes fell race. I wasn't sure that this was on until a few days before hand, after the death of Danny Hughes earlier in the year, but the family have decided to carry on holding the race (and the Middlefell Race too in April). It had been a wild wet and windy morning, but when I left the house just after lunch the cloud showed signs of breaking up, and the sun almost came out. It was quite warm too for the time of year. I had a nice trot over the fell, using the race descent route down to the valley and along to the Screes pub.

After a quick change, registration and a stowing of my bag, I kept the decent warm up in my legs by trotting up and down, and before long it was time for the off. Joss (Naylor) was again on the start line setting us off. It is, I have to say, a horrible start and finish for this race unless you like tarmac running! But all too soon the route heads off up the track to the base of the Screes, and the steep path up the side of Whin Rigg. The break in the weather disappeared about half way up the climb, and I felt quite happy that I'd stayed with a long sleeve top on and wasn't just in a vest. By the time I got to the summit, it was thick mist, and horizontal rain.

As I turned for the descent I realised I was in 1st lady position, and also that my shoelace was totally undone, but I didn't want to loose any time, so just plunged on down the ridge hoping that the wet bogs to come wouldn't suck my shoe off! I think I probably was slower than normal on the descent because of my shoe, but it stayed on and got me through to the finish line, and I held on to the first place. I was about a minute quicker than last year so was very pleased.

The tatiepot and craic in the pub after were as good as always and I won a signed copy of Joss's book! I actually already have one signed copy, so need to decide what to do with one of them! I'm sure I could find plenty of willing buyers. After the tatiepot had digested a wee bit, I set off home with the book firmly wrapped in a black bin liner in my rucksac to keep the rain off. I'd like to think it was the food in my belly that made trying to run back over the fell hard work but I think it was more likely that my legs felt pretty bashed!

In fact they were bashed, as on Sunday P and I went to the Grizedale area for a mountain bike ride. We parked up off the East of Lake road by Coniston Water, and rode up through the forest til we intersected the North Face trail, following that until its end at the visitors centre, where we ate jam butties and green and blacks ginger chocolate, before following the rest of the trail until the Parkamoor descent. This was were my wheels fell off (mine and not my bikes), I just had nothing left in my legs, so it was a slow ascent to the top of parkamoor. The descent down here was awesome though, despite the very strong winds which threatened to blow us off the track near the top where its exposed! Just a quick blast back up the road to the van and a cuppa! It wasn't a long ride by any stretch so I was a bit surprised at how bashed I was but at least it gives me more incentive to get out!

I did have the opportunity for proper recovery as I was away with work for three days, apart from managing 20 minutes on a  treadmill in the hotel gym on Tuesday morning.... god they're boring...

Last night as the clocks have now gone back and I still haven't charged up my lights, I headed up to Hardknott for a hill rep session. I only need a small head torch for this. It always feels hard but the first time in over 6 months, a headwind on the ascents all made it feel really hard. 4 x 30 sec efforts x 3! Ouch!

South Easterly Gales

Rode to work and back yesterday. Going in was great fun, a stong tail wind, beautiful red, pink and purple sunrise over the fells. Coming home was painful: gale force gusts in the face, large droplets of rain and a soft tyre. Not to mention the fact that my pannier rack was not positioned correctly, and was too far forward causing me to touch it with my hamstrings with each peddle revolution. I now have a sore hamstring, but a pannier rack in the correct position :-), a tyre at its proper pressure and a better aligned front light. Alls good with the world again.

FRA Relays

This weekend was the FRA Relays being hosted by my club CFR this year. I had been well out of the organisation as I'd been penciled in to run in the Ladies A team way back when. Last Saturday after the Wasdale BOFRA race, I'd been asked to move from the nav leg to leg 2 (the longest leg) and despite warning my fitness wasn't up to much, my result at Kirkfell didn't help my position.

Last Monday I dashed out after work to recce leg 2, on a lovely evening, and really enjoyed the leg. It was tough and has some interesting route choices on it, and was obviously going to be interesting if the clag was down.

I was on the bike to work and back on Tuesday and on Wednesday evening went up to Brackenclose in Wasdale to go up the Pike. Set off with the clag down at ~200m, and pushed reasonably hard to the summit. I wanted to get under an hour to the top from the road, via Hollowstones and Lingmell Col, and made it in 56 minutes. I even sped up at the top, when I realised that the summit, and those of Scafell, Broad Crag, Ill Crag and Great End were all poking out of the cloud!

The light wasn't great but I took some photos anyway. I then took it steady on the downhill, weary of slipping over, with the relays in a few days time.

Thursday evening had a session at Cockermouth Wall, I'd forgotten how much that stone wall hurts my forearms - good training though!!

Saturday P and I headed over to Carrock Fell in the gorgeous sunshine to go bouldering. We had a great day, and I had very little skin left on my fingers afterwards. I worked quite hard on Canada Dry a hard V3 on the Canada Boulder and made quite a bit of progress. When we first got there I couldn't get on at all, but by the end was getting to the higher crimps. That's where all my skin is!

Sunday was the FRA relays at Kirkland and all hopes of the good weather continuing went out the window when I opened the curtains in the morning. It was a great day out, I think the clag made every leg much more interesting and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. Our leg didn't go without incident, as we went too high towards the first checkpoint, but from then on we were spot on and over hauled at least 10 teams out on the course and made over 50 places on the leg. I did have the legs run off me by my parnter, but I enjoyed every minute!

Our team finished in 7th position in the ladies category which I think we were all really happy with.

My legs weren't given the rest they wanted as I then manned the finishing funnel for a few hours. It was great to see the runners finish, not a sight you get to see very often when you race yourself!

The Haute Provence and Haute Alpes, and back to training

Haven't been on here for a long while as P and I had a fabulous 3 weeks in southern France in the van. A great time, lots of climbing, lots of sun, a fair tan and the van was brilliant! I'll write a more detailed report soon on our trip. Meanwhile it has been back to the fabulous british autumn, work and a pile of washing.

After the shell shock of two days back at work, it was time to get back into the training mode for the winter, and to be honest I've been quite physced for this. It took me an inordinate amount of time to get my commuting road bike back into winter mode - putting the mountain bikle carryier back on with a bodged attachment system including pea clips and random brackets, then moving my front tyre onto the dynamo hub wheel, finding the right bike lights, and more improtantly the right brackets, and crossing every finger and toe that once connected it would all work first time. Luckily this year, as the dynamo hub and lights are decent Schmidt ones, it all worked perfectly, just a shame the bodging that has gone on to get everyhting to fit wasn't soo reliable! Anyways the bike was back into working order for a ride to work on Wednesday, which was cold and there was frost on the cars in the valley.

Thursday, I ran to work and back along the seafront (6 miles ish), and then drove up to Wasdale Head to remind myself how painful the nose of Kirkfell was, as I had decided not to race at Langdale this weekend (no runs for 4 weeks, no racing since June and no run over 8 miles since June all meant that although I'd get round I wouldn't be racing and it would be just a long time suffering!), I'd decided to do the BOFRA race at the Wasdale Head Show, and defend my title from two years back!

It was a beautiful evening and I had to work hard not to let the good views distract me from the task in hand. To be honest, it hurt a lot, and I was slow even after I'd factored in my assumption that I'd be slow. But Saturday came round and we headed to the show, and I realised I had nothing to loose except my pride in doing the race, so did it anyway.

To my surprise I was over 2 minutes quicker that the previous time in 2007, and took 1st lady again! Maybe the pain on thursday was just a lack of sharpness.

packing

Been busy the last couple of days getting ready for 3 weeks of french hot rock, sunshine and food! The stuffs all out, tonight it goes in the van, and tomorrow (early) we set off for Dover, Calais, Fontainbleau and Orpierre. From then who knows: Ceuse, Buis le Barronais, Vent Avon, Boux? I hope to ride up Mont Ventoux as well.  See you in 3 weeks!

3 runs in one day

OK so two of them were only 2.5 miles each but I was impressed with my motivation. After the ride on Sunday I wanted to get out running on Monday, but had physio after work (last session!) so decided to run in along the coast (2.5 miles) from where I park the car. I then obviously had to get back to the car after work, so ran back, then after physio, went up to Kirkland and checked out Leg 4 of the British Fell Running Relays that are happening in October.

I've run on these fells before, but not that much, and don't know them that well. I'm down to do the nav. leg so I know I need to get out in the area to get my bearings. Its not easy terrain to navigate on in the mist!! I eventually left the car at 6:30 and trotted over the course. By now my legs were feeling a little heavy, and I wanted to make sure that I didn't just blast over the course without looking around!! There was a lovely light on the fells as a front was moving in from the west, although it got 'darker' inland first. The leg is fast running with a sting in the tail, which I have to admit hurt a bit!

Total mileage: 10.7 miles, Ascent: not worked out yet probably ~ 1600'

Hardknott & Wrynose

On Sunday, P and I headed out after an inordinate amount of faff (something about me wanting to take my carrier and mud guards of my decent road bike at the last minute!) and rode from home over Hardknott and Wrynose, down to Consiton, Torver, Duddon Bridge, Ulpha, Birker Fell and then home. It was the longest road ride I've done for a while (45 miles) although it wasn't that long! and I'd never ridden Wrynose before. We set off knowing it was going to rain, and as we stepped out the hosue the first few spots fell, but it actually held off for a long time.

I love the ride up to Hardknott, depsite knowing what's coming. I was a little daunted as I'm very unsure of my fitness at the moment, but actually the pass felt fine, OK I didn't set any speed records for the ascent but I was comfortable and enjoyed it. The descent was OK too, although the road was fairly busy (for Hardknott!) and the road was wet in places. We then speed through Cockely Beck and before I knew it we were heading up Wrynose.

From the west Wrynose is not that hard as you start quite high from Cockley Beck, and the climb is fairly steady, so through the top and on down towards Little Langdale. The undulations along this part must be a big killer on the Fred Whitton, with all those miles in your legs. We reached the main road and headed towards Coniston and a food stop. Just as we got back on our bikes after a late lunch, the rain caught us up.

It was just a light rain for a while, as we rode down the main road towards Broughton Mills, and then we turned back up into the Duddon Valley to Ulpha. The climb up out of Ulpha had been looming in my mind again (as it always does) but as always I took it steady, and found it OK. In fact the worst part is not the bottom zig-zags but the straight pull above them. As we got out of the trees on the ascent it started raining harder and it was a wet ride over the tops into the valley.

I really enjoyed the ride, and was surprised how easy it felt, given the summer I've had, and the fact that it was the hardest road ride I've done for a while. I'd also started with stiff shoulders, arms and stomach muscles from a long climbing session at Kendal wall on Saturday, and a reasonably fast run up Muncaster Fell and back on Saturday evening. Kendal wall was the first 'whole' days climbing I'd done since June and my shoulder certainly let me know about it after - in a good way!! I felt pitifully weak on the steep stuff, struggling to do a 6a+, but at the same time I was encouraged that I could do what I could do. The fitness will come back in the next few weeks... hot, dry French rock here we come....

Valley 7

trotted out last night in the gales and heavy showers for a 7 miler in the valley. I just couldn't face going up on the tops in that wind, I know .... nesh.

Anyway I had a lovely run along the river and back. It was very high but no overs its banks, no one else out and lots of mud to play in! Pace was steady, and felt good. Think I might need to do some more of these 'flat' runs, to work on running style.

a little bit of everything on a BH weekend

This weekend did feel like a little bit of everything. Run, walk, party, cake, dancing, cooked brekkie, village fete, more cake, mountain bike ride, house sorting. One thing there was no variation in was the weather - just a lot of rain!!

Friday night was a nice quiet one in. Saturday was the big day for the Fells Angels and Friends BG relay attempt to break Billy Bland's record of 13 hours, 53 minutes set in 1982. P and I were running back to back legs in the afternoon over Kirkfell, so we had a leisurely morning and trundled over to Honsiter Pass and had a cuppa in the van. WHile we were supping away another couple of fellow runners pulled up as well as the King himself - Billy. A very entetaining, funny and humble man!

We planned to walk into our positions, so set off fairly early to get to Black Sail pass at about 1:30pm. We dawdled in fairly slowly, in reasonable weather. It was cloudy and windy but the rain held off. We got to BS pass on time, and I hung around with P for a while, and then with about 50 minutes left before the baton was scheduled I decided to plod up to the summit and assume my position. No sooner had I left P and got to the bottom of Joss's gully, did I hear a feint shout from him, and turned round to see him pointing! Oh No!!! The last thing I wanted was a eyeballs out ascent of Kirkfell but it seemed like the baton was up on schedule so I got stuck in and pushed hard to the top expecting P to come tearing up behind me at any moment!!

I arrived on top just as the cloud and rain arrived, and hunkered down on the summit expecting a short wait. When 10 minutes had gone by I realsied P must have called a false alarm and the people he had seen running down Pillar were not 'our people'!! I then had confirmation that the baton was on schedule leaving Pillar Summit. So I relaxed a little having felt pretty worse for wear after my effort up. Then began 30 odd more minutes of waiting in the rain and wind for P to appear over the near horizon. I had very little time between when he would appear and when I actually had to set off, so couldn't put loads of layers on. Instead I sat there with what amounted to a few granny blankets covering my legs, to keep warm.

Then about 10 minutes up on schedule, P appeared flying up hill looking more than just a bit nauseas from the effort, handed me the 'baton' a small camelback rucksac with the gps and radio in and I was off!! I gave it everything I had down the descent to Beckhead, and managed to stay on my feet which was very pleasing after the last few weeks! As I came over the brow of the hillside I could see 2 small figures move into position by the tarns and was relieved to know I didn't have to do the next leg up Gable. So soon I was down at Beckhead, passing over the baton, and off it went with Chris and Andy, disappearing into the mist on Gable. I don't think I've ever felt physically sick from effort on a downhill before!

and that was that! P and I met up again behind Kirkfell and trundled off to the van. We then drove into Keswick to see if we could get there and meet the incoming hopefully triumphant runners! We made it to Moot Hall just as the baton had got to Portinscale, so pottled out towards Stormwater Bridge to meet them, and enjoyed the run in to a very busy market day Keswick. The baton reaching Moot Hall after 13 hours 17 minutes and 45 seconds!!

It was a great atmosphere as everyone milled around at the finish. So many people involved both runners and supporters, it was a great sight to see. The party in the evening was a good do, with a hog roast and large amounts of food!!! We kipped in the van overnight and headed to Keswick for a fry up in the morning! It was another wet day in Cumbria, so headed via a shop or two back home, to then go to Eskdale Fete in the afternoon.

We nearly bought Jonty out of plants at the plant stall and filled up on plums, apples and cakes from the other stalls. The numbers seemed down on last year again, but the weather was pretty abysmal so I guess it wasn't surprising!

Monday morning we headed out on a local mountain bike ride, my first since the crash back in June. I didn't want anything technical, but that meant a fairly flat and muddy ride. Still it was great to be out on the 'new' bike, which I enjoyed a lot, and the shoulder held out well. I think it would have struggled on steep technical stuff, seeing as it complained a bit when I bunny hopped some puddles near the end of the ride! We managed by shear luck to be out in the driest two hours of the day, and spent the afternoon doing housey stuff, while it got very dark outside and rained an awful lot more!!

Lost - one British summer...

I've ridden into work and back yesterday and today in the rain - all my kit seems to be permanently soaked at the moment.

Sore Legs

now this is something I'm not used to. I have sore thighs! After two 5-6 mile fell runs - what has happened? Well I know the answer to that don't I - not much. all the more incentive to get out there.

In the meantime, road to work and back yesterday, and I've been working on my focus (a bit), and also trying very hard with my diet. It's not that it was particularly bad to start with, but the odd cake or biscuit made it in there on a regular basis. Now I have no problem with that generally, but what I did have a problem with was my will power when it came to resisting, I don't have any. So this week (since Monday) I've not let anything pass my lips that could be construed as junk/processed: sweets, cake, biscuits, crisps, etc. I am a firm believer of anything in moderation, but wasn't convinced I could go without. Well its Friday pm and I'm still going well.

Tomorrow might be a different matter: Its time for the Fells Angels and Friends attempt on Billy's record for the Bob Graham Round. Can we beat 13 hours and 53 minutes. I certainly hope so, either way a huge amount has been raised (>£15,000 is what I've heard), and the fundraising is still going on....

I'll report back after the weekend!

the wrong route grommit!

Decided to head for another run last night after the previous few days efforts, but picked the wrong route for the conditions. In the end I quite enjoyed myself but if I had wanted a run to work on technique or speed last night was not it! Its been so wet here and was wet again last night. It is also late summer when the bracken is at its most monstrous heights, so a run up from the village over Fell End towards Blea Tarn, up to the stone circles, across White Moss, and back down into Miterdale was really a silly idea, it was also properly in the mist and I didn't bother to take anything with me, so no map, no compass. It was very braken infested to start with, and very wet, then very boggy, soggy and slippy, and it was raining too. Good fun!

Tuesday evening was a different matter, with a sunny evening. P and I went to check out our 'legs' for this weekends Fells Angels and Friends BG Relay attempt to beat Billy Blands record with 70 odd people each running a mile each! P was roped in at the last minute, and is running from the bottom of Joss's Gully above Black Sail Pass to the summit of Kirkfell, where he passes the GPS tracked 'baton' to me and I run the next leg from the summit to Beckhead Pass, and had over to a friend and colleague for his leg to the summit of Great Gable, as so on to the end! We had a good evening outing leaving Wasdale head at 5pm trogging up to Black Sail, an effort in up Joss's Gully (which was very wet!) to the summit, then another effort along and Down to Beckhead, before dropping back to the car down Gavel Neese. A lovely evening.

I managed to recover from the branch incident reasonably quickly, resting on Wednesday to let the cut seal up. Thursday I checked a bike helmet would be OK, and the road to work and back. Friday a quick short 3 miler at lunchtime along the coast and back.

At the weekend P and I were down in the Peak staying with his parents. On Saturday I got up early before breakfast and headed out for a 5 mile run on the tracks around their house, managing accident number three of the summer, by tripping over a stone on a track and going flying, no really bad damage done, except a very bruised hip, grazed knee, grazed palms and fingers. It was actually a bit of a mess, and needed a fair bit of cleaning up when I got back, and didn't go well with the days plans of sport climbing in Cheedale. More than anything I was just very angry with myself for being so careless! Again!

We still headed to Cheedale, to Two Tier Buttress. I just wanted to stay on the non-sharp end of the rope still as this was the hardest climbing I had attempted yet since the crash, so top roped the 6b+ there a couple of times, to see how it would cope. It wasn't always comfortable pulling but the second ascent felt much better. I felt very rusty generally, inflexible too, and wasn't concentrating very hard. I'm glad that the shoulder seemed to get better with use.

I have realised since the weekend that a theme has appeared to me regarding my running and climbing and it will be there for mountain biking too when I finally get back on that bike. I have lost my ability to focus. This is especially obvious when climbing as I let all sorts of distractions, thoughts and worries creep into my head all the time, instead of just concentrating on the climb. And it also explains the unusual clumbsiness when running too. So I have started to practice focussing more on things instead of trying to multitask/multithink all the time! This includes basic meditation and breathing. I think it might be a long term project for me but I see now that it is a crutial one if I'm to retreive my lost fitness and improve.

An unsuspecting branch

Yesterdays plans kept changing with Plan C eventually coming into action due to this 'nice weather for ducks' rain we keep getting! Originally (Plan A) we were planning a night away in the van either in Borrowdale or Honister, where P could go bouldering and I would probably go for a run, but the forecast changed and looked less good so we planned for Plan B which was bouldering at St Bees after work, and I'd get a short run in at lunch.

Well I got that short run in in the rain (3.0 miles, virtually flat) but the rain continued in the afternoon, so St Bees was pointless. We headed straight home and Plan C came into action as I decided on another short run with a hill this time, while P got a session in on the garage wall.

Just went for a run up to the edge of Miterdale forest on Irton Fell, and back, a nice up and down of 3.25 miles, took it steady on the climb, and wasn't too slow looking at previous runs, and then concentrated on the descent as it was very wet and slippy. Unfortunetly I was concentrating so hard on the ground that I failed to see a broken tree branch until I was unceremoniously dumped on my backside in the mud! I had no idea what had happened at first and just got up laughing and then realsied that my head hurt and that I could feel a trickle of warm fluid running down the side of my face!

Luckily, as I know head wounds can bleed badly, I didn't panic too much and I also had a red t-shirt on which turned out to be a bonus!! A brand new shirt now covered in dark brown mud and blood!! I managed to stem the flow with my shirt and trotted back to the house, giving the local kids in the street a bit of a fright! I have a lovely bump and ragged cut about an inch and a half long on my head! Luckily it seemed to close up fairly well over night so I haven't had to come to work with a bandage on my head, but dug out an old bandana to wear a la 1970's!

I think I'm going to have a rest day and break a match stick!

fell, trail and rock

Had a good day out yesterday, fitting in a run and some bouldering into the damp and windy day.

It dawned wet and windy (again!), but with the promise of better weather later on, I pootled out for a 7 mile run over Muncaster and back, and then P and I went over to Consiton to go bouldering up in Coppermines Valley and lovely it was despite the cloud and wind. Just good to be out. Managed a few easy problems and shoulder was OK, but not brilliant. Basically I can climb straight on to the rock, but any thrutching or palming down or mantling type of movements make me squawk with pain!!

I rode into work and back three times last week, and have done today aswell, although the hip felxors can feel yesterdays run. Its a long, long time since I 'felt' any side affects from a 7 mile run!

Hoping to get out a couple more times this week running and maybe bouldering if the weather plays ball. And if all goes well, I'm going to start putting together a weekly training programme to try and keep me focussed on getting back my fitness.
Just need to decide what are the essentials to this training programme but one thing that really made the difference over the last year was the big days out. BG2010 here we come!!!

On the road again

Whoops! Hadn't realised that it was so long since I'd last posted. Nevermind, to be honest not a lot has happened in the last few weeks except lots of physio exercises and a lack of sleeping due to shoulder pain. BUT..... I am now back on the road again. On the 2nd August I risked a couple of hours on the road bike out on the road... and not attached to a turbo! P and I headed out on the local lanes for a gentle sunday morning ride to see how my shoulder would cope. We minimised hills out the valley and covered about 25 miles. By this time I was a bit sore and P bullied me into not going any further. After a rest the soreness eased and I took that as a good sign!!

On thursday I saw the physio again and after an acupuncture treatment (!) I was allowed out for a month with the instruction to get back into it. I promptly drove up to Wasdale and headed up Scafell Pike in the evening, walking and not running, managing to get my self involved in the tail end of a rescue (2 guys falling off Broad Stand in 2 hours!).

P and I headed to a small limestone outcrop on Saturday afternoon to see if the shoulder would cope with climbing. There are two 3+, a 4+ and a 5 here as well as other short routes in the 6 and 7's so enough for me to have a go and P to tick! I managed the 3+'s and the 4 without too much discomfort but that was definitely enough for me in that session!

This week I've managed to ride to work on Monday and today and last night under the cover of almost darkness I headed out for a 2.75 mile trot on the lanes and tracks to see how that would go. Apart from feeling terribly unfit, heavy footed and stiff, it wasn't as bad as I was telling myself it would be. My shoulder was stiff and didn't want to swing freely but it didn't give me too much pain and I seemed to be running smoothly - not hunchback impressions! I had the added bonus of seeing the barn owl in the barn owl hole in the barn by the Ratty station - beautiful sight!

losing fitness...

I've not been posting as much as I have done in the past, and its not all due to the lighter evenings and supposedly better weather (where is that nice summer the forecasters hinted at?!). Life has slowed down for me due to this shoulder injury and I can feel a bit of a whinge coming on!

I keep telling myself it could have been worse - I could have broken my arm/dislocated my shoulder/severly torn muscles or ligaments or tendons or a mixture of the above. Instead it seems I've developed Capsulitis in my shoulder joint, which I now know means in my case I'm in for the long haul, so much its looking like the planned bolt clipping holiday in southern France in September is under threat!

I'm trying to keep the motivation going and hold onto some fitness, using the trubo trainer (desperate times = desperate measures!) and getting out on the fells for walks, but its tough mentally when you can't do what you want and the wet weather isn't helping! I've been investigating and trying out different sessions on the turbo, in the hope that I might be able to maintain or improve my strength and power. Its a very different ball game to what I'm used to, and I am definitely a runner not a cyclist! I struggle to get my HR anywhere near maximum on the bike (and always have) as my legs give out first due to pain. It a sick kinda way this has at least given me something to focus on, as well as my pedalling style which has never been pretty!

Meanwhile the fell shoes, mountain bike and harness all sit gathering dust...

Eastern Highlands and the Moray Coast

We've been away for the last week touring the Eastern Scottish Highlands and the Moray Coast in our new campervan! It was not the original first camper holiday that was planned. My shoulder injury had put paid to that escapade (a climbing trip to Wales). So we rethought the week and decided that we'd check out so new places in Scotland - almost all new to P, some new to me!

Firstly we did stay around for the Wasdale Fell race. I was supposed to be racing this, and despite knowing better I still wanted to put myself through the torture of watching a race I couldn't compete in. We also had a friend up to stay who was racing. We didn't hang around for the start but headed up from Brackenclose towards Wasdale Head and Styhead, but cut up via Piers Gill and Lingmell Col to the summit of Scafell Pike. We then walked back down the route towards Broad crag, and esk Hause. On the way we spotted the then happy and smiling face of a fellow club mate halfway round his BG round. He later succeeded in coming in in 23:52!!

We met the leading man - Rob jebb as he went through Esk Hause checkpoitn, apparently not needing any jelly babies as its to late for him by that stage! Simon Bailey and Pete Vale were a few minutes back and then runners came past us at a steady rate all the way to Styhead, including the first lady Pippa Jackson, being fed well by hubbie and our mate Dave. After watching a fair number come through Styhead, we headed down to Wasdale.

On Sunday, P and Dave went climbing on Buckbarrow while I pottered around getting the van ready and also having a go on this years torture birthday pressie: a turbo trainer. I've used these before but not in any seriousness or consistent way, and again this time I hopped on and just had a play with what I could and couldn't do! My god they make your legs hurt!! It made me realised just how little I actually try when riding!!

Sunday night we headed north, kipping near the start of the mtb trails in Pittmedden Forest near Perth. Monday, we trundled up the Fife coast, pikcing up scoff for the week, maps for areas we didn't have and then we headed to the coast at Newtonmill, to the bouldering there. P 'ticked the crag', while i sunbathed and read. Most unlike me!!
Tuesday was a big day, as we stayed up near the Spittle of Glen Muick, and set off up Lochnagar. The weatehr was forecast to be showery, and we got the full brunt of one heading up the ladder towards the summit area, but by the time we reached the top it had passed on as we stayed dry for the rest of the day. We had the summit to ourselves and pretty good views from the top. We decided to head on to Carn a' Choire Bhoidheach, and from there we headed onto Carn an Sagairt Mor, feeling distinctly like Monroe baggers!! It was them obvious that the thing we had to do was head back via the summits of Cairn Bannoch and Broad Cairn, getting fantastic views of the crags of Creag an Dubh Loch, that famous climbing area. we then followed the estate track back to the car park. A total of 17.5 miles for the day, and only one soaking!

Wednesday, we headed north to the coast near Elgin so P could check out the bouldering near Cummingston. dEspite the conditions being humid and with showers floating around, we had a good day avoiding any really wetting and P got a fair bit ticked. It was a lovely spot, and I felt quite content (well i had to be didn't I!) to pootle around on the boulder beach, spot P when needed and take photos.

Thursday was my birthday, as we planned a reasonable day in the Cairngorms. P had never been to the north side, so we stopped in the Aviemore area and headed up Cairngorm from the Corrie Cas car park, beating the first train of the day to the resturant. We had the summit of Cairn Gorm to ourselves, which was a novel experience. Our route took up down into Loch Avon, past the Shelter Stone (we were ticking off classic scottish rock climbing venues without actually climbing!), back out of the valley to the summit of Beinn Mheadhoin for butties, and across past Loch Etchachan to Ben Macdui (again both summits entirely to ourselves, across to Cairn Lochan, before descending the ridge between Coire an Lochan and Coire an t-Sneachda. This psed one or two issues, when I had to down climb a short chimney which tested my arm/shoulder and also when I slipped and landed on my bad arm. It hurt at the time, but no more damamge done! It certainly bought home that I was in not fir state to think about running on the fells again yet! We had managed to stay dry until then, but about 10 minutes walk for the van, the rain started and we uppe the pace back to the van and a brew without getting too wet!

Friday dawned wet and stayed pretty wet, we had a second brekkie and some retail ni therapy in Aviemore before travelling westwards towards Ballachulish. We stopped on the way and dashed up Beinn a' Chaorainn in pouring rain and strong winds, but after getting to the summit decided that this wasn't the most fun in the world, and headed down for another brew in the van! Fantastic!!
Saturday dawned just as wet so we departed south. Neither of us feel the need to walk mountains in the rain just because!! Especially as we've done many in the Glencoe area already!

Since then I've managed to put a good effort in on the turbo, with a proper structured session and a few short walks. Last night I got the go ahead from my physio to start running on the roads, maybe road riding and also swimming, but no ruff stuff and no climbing. Shame the nearest pool is over 30 mins drive away, but it did occur to me that Wastwater is nearer! mmmm....

Recovery time....

I've run out of it... Its Wasdale tomorrow and I still can't run, well not more than a few shuffling steps. Although my shoulder has improved and I have a lot more range of movement, the 'bouncing' involved in running is painful, and I am still waiting for a uninterupted nights sleep. The prognosis as it stands is that I've damaged the cartilage in my shoulder and possibly torn a muscle too. While I feel that I'm making a reasonable recovery and therefore it can't be too serious, I have been warned that the worst case scenario is surgery!

So I'm being a good girl and doing my exercises much to the amusment of my work colleagues, trying to use my arm properly and trying to not 'hold' my shoulder. And as I can't run, climb or ride I have to make do with walking. I had a short evening walk near Loweswater on Wednesday evening with work colleagues, and last night went up Whin Rigg at a fast pace. I've walked into work today and will obviously have to walk back to the car, so I make that 25 miles walked in the last 6 days. Not great.

making the best of it

Still not able to do anything 'active' but have been managing to keep the frustration at bay....just! Wednesday evening P and I went down to St Bees Head, where he bouldered and I chilled out. I was a bit worried I'd not actually make it down the path, as my balance is a bit off and then not being able to fully use both arms on the ropes could potentially make it a bit dodgy. But by taking it easy, I got down OK, and so had to get back up OK!! Was a rather hot but beautiful evening, lots of fishing boats out from Whitehaven, and what looked like lots of fish too!

Last night I went up Whin Rigg from the house, via my usual run route. It was another very hot and humid evening and part of the climb was sheltered from any breeze which meant the midges and cleggs were out! I made it a fast walk and tried to jog a couple of times but it was too painful. I think I'd be OK on flat tarmac but not on rough hilly ground. So despite feeling so much better for a sweaty bit of exercise, I'm still really worried that Wasdale is not going to be on for me. Still 8days to go....

We're off in the new van this weekend mainly just for the hell of it, now we have it. We need to buy quite a bit of stuff for it, and as I'm not in much shape for climbing or riding, we'll combine it with a couple of walks on the hills, regardless of the weather. Looking forward to another night in the van!!

On the mend...slowly

Another day of inactivity. The arm is definitely on the mend though. I managed to eat with my right arm this morning and clean my teeth! I still haven't had a good nights sleep yet though, as it hurts much more when i'm lying down and I've woken up between 4 and 5am every day and haven't been able to get back to sleep.

Starting to get very frustrated by lack of activity. Its all the little knock on effects too... My back starts hurting after a few days of no running or cycling, my guts miss the joggling around too!! And my necks been sore - partly due to the crash itself and partly from holding my arm funnily and the sling I've been wearing.

soon....

NOT broken!

Spent 2 hours in A&E last night after getting mithered at by too many people at work! Anyway after waiting that length of time was very pleased and vindicated that no fracture showed up on the x-rays!!! So some rest, some use and a lot of crossing of fingers and I will be OK. Wasdale .... bring it on...!

On the other hand I'm getting frustrated already. 3 days with no exercise and also no really ability to do all the other things that are normally ignored due to running, climbing and riding like the chores!! My arm is moving better though today.

Good and Bad

This weekend has been much awaited due to the completion of our campervan! It was time to pick it up. It just happened to coincide with a mountain biking weekend in Dumfries and Galloway organised by some friends so we took Friday off work and headed off early to get to North Berwick in the late morning to pick up our VAN! it is beautiful! Having been briefed on its inner workings we set off in convoy for D&G.

All this driving left us a little goggle-eyed so we stopped off at the top of the Kirroughtree black route, at the bottom of heartbreak hill for a short ride. We did the top loop of the black back to the vans - me on my new bike (feeling a little usurped in attention due to the arrival of the van!). We kipped in a beautiful spot near Loch Clatteringshaws and managed to keep in the wind to keep the midges at bay. It was a fantastic first night in the van and was everything we knew it would be!!

So that was the good bit - now for the bad...
Saturday we meet up with mates at Kirroughtree to ride - 13 of us. All was going so well for me enjoying my new steed until we got to McMoab! There I expanded my bubble a little too much and came crashing to the hard ground. At first I thought I must have broken something such was the thud with which I hit the solid granite bedrock but I got up and managed to push/ride my bike to the bridge. On close inspection I'd missed damaging the fork stantions by an inch and have a lovely scratch by the rear derailleur. As for me, a very large bruise on my hip, grazes on the elbow and an increasingly sore upper arm. I bailed back to the vans and cleaned myself up. As I could move my arm I was sure I hadn't broken it and managed to drive to Newton Stewart for a curry - it would happen when we had two vehicles with us!!

But that night I was very sore and woke very early convinced I'd broken my arm, but in the cold light of day somehow P and I persuaded ourselves that I hadn't. So off to Dalbeattie for the others riding and me sitting drinking tea and reading yesterday's paper! I then drove home in what turned out to be a matter of pain management from having to hold myself stiller than normal to drive.

This morning it is better again but still very painful, and I've got it in a sling for resting. Still umming and arhhhing about whether I have actually broken it, if I have its a hairline fracture as I can hold things in my hand and do some stuff. But it's really frustrated me, as Wasdale is only 12 days away and the BG attempt 4 weeks after that - I can't afford a broken arm!!

Langstrath Fell Race

Last night I headed over to Stonethwaite in Borrowdale for the Langstrath fell race. I'd not done this one before and had spotted it in the calander and the fact that I had a free night so why not. Friends had warned me that it was a little fast and furious and at 4.5 miles its likely to be! But I wanted to see how I was fairing over short distances after all the endurance runs I've been doing.

It was a hot evening with a little breeze, and I had a bit of a fraught time getting there due to having to do other errands first, but ditch one major errand until after the race so I arrived in good time. Not the best way of preparing for a race, and I didn't eat well before hand either. So with all the excuses on board I wasn't expecting much, but went off fast at the start, so much so that I felt sick at the top of the first climb, over Lingy End to Dock tarn. Gathered my self together again and kept pushing til the finish. Previously I've always settled into a hard but liveable rythym on these races, but I've found out that when you're going well and in chance of a placing then you really do put the effort in.

I was worried that I might get caught heading into the finish so pushed hard back along the valley, completely out of sight of any other runners except for the briefest of glimpses for time to time, and came in second woman in about 51 minutes. My gps said it was 4.9 miles! It felt like a long 4.5... Was really happy with the result especially as my legs felt awful. I'm sure I have to run at least 6 miles now before I warm up. Great race and a beautiful night. Only downer was still having that one outstanding errand left to do... so another late night!

double trouble

Now I know I have no pretentions of being a triathlete (one triathlon does not a triathlete make) but I do not know how you switch between cycling and running and vice versa! I guess lots of practice!

I rode to work and back yesterday (the usual 23 miles round trip), grabbed a bit of food at home, and my running kit, then rode over to Gosforth for the local Blengdale Harriers annual hash. Its a very low key family friendly affair, with a 'hare' having set long loops for the runners and a shorter trail for the kids and 'non-runners'. The weather was wonderful, warm and sunny, although the wind kept threatening to die leaving us very exposed to the midges and horseflies! My legs really struggled to get going having already done 30 miles on the bike! Ouch... I covered about 6 miles with all the loops and false trails. After a drink in the pub, I rode back very hungry, and again the legs complained mightly once back on the bike!

Blengdale Forest:



Blengdale in the autumn:

Summer Solstice Kinder Dozen

After a bit of a quiet week and a ride to work and back on Friday, P and I went down to the Peak for the weekend. Main reason was to pick up my new mountain bike! But also to visit friends. It was a pretty showery day on Saturday so P and I headed to Rubicon to the all weather climbing venue. It was reasonably busy. I wasn't in the mood to flailing on routes so acted as belay bunny for P on an 8a, and in between got some bouldering in. I didn't think I'd actually done much but by the end of the day I couldn't pull on the biggest of jugs and was pretty stiff the next morning!

Sunday a mate and I set out to do the Kinder Dozen (listed as 24 miles, 10,000+ feet ascent). Despite mutterings by him in the pub the night before about possible bail points, we trotted around in 7 hours 12 minutes. We made it to be 22.52 miles and about 9860 feet ascent. It was fairly good conditions, although on the south side of the plateau we were out the wind and it was very muggy and hot there. We set off just after 10am from the Nags Head in Edale and went clockwise round. The hardest parts were in the bracken. I would suggest to others that a better time to do this would be earlier or later in the year when the bracken is lower, as it makes a couple of the legs much tougher.

I didn't carry enough water with me and by the time I'd thought about it I was already a bit too dehydrated. Luckily we found a good supply near Upper Ashop and refilled both bodies and bottles. Without this I'd have seriously struggled. It is a good tough outing and I really enjoyed it, despite not being used to the terrain any more - where are the rocks! and doing it on sight was a good challenge. I'd like to go back and do it again in cooler conditions and I'm pretty sure I could take up to 1/2 hour off. One of the reasons it's a tough outing is that you do very little flat running - it is either up or down and almost all the ups and downs are steep! and rough too.

A great way to spend the summer solstice.

a quiet couple of days

Although I haven't done that much in the way of runs or rides in the last few days I've felt happy to have a couple of quiet days. Sometimes this is just how it is - sometimes I push myself though these days and make myself go out and often don't feel better for it and other times, I'm happy with a rest and don't beat myself up about it. So the latter is for now. I have been doing more core exercises in the last couple of days though and went out for a short trot yesterday with P, doing about 2 3/4 miles although it turned out to be at a reasonable pace. Work has been keeping me busy this week which might also explain the chill.

We've got a few busy weekends coming up so calm before the storm?

midgy mountain biking

Once again our plans to ride in the Duddon were thwarted and one of our mates was delayed at work and so it meant we set out later than planned from Eskdale. It was a glorious evening, with only thin high wisps of cloud and warm sunshine. No need to lots of layers in the camelback. We did a new combination of routes by heading up Irton Fell, down through the forest of Miterdale, up that valley and over White Moss past the stone circles, and the great descent into Boot, and back along the valley bridleway. Only downside to the ride were the midges - lots of them! Somehow we didn't seem to be moving fast enough except on the downhills to escape the little buggers!

Ride completed and was followed by a swift pint in the local. Spot on!

11 miles, 2400' ascent

infrequent blogging!

The last couple of weekends I have at the last minute stepped in to support BG attempts. The weekend of the 5th I was asked on the thursday evening to do Leg 2, starting at 4am from Thelkeld. For some reason this sounded like a fine idea! So I said yes, and then realised That I had to leave home at about 2:15am to get round to Thelkeld! Nevermind. I then realised that the forecast had changed and that what I thought would be a pleasant night had turned into forecasts of snow up high!

So the alarm woke me up at 1:50 am and I was out the door for 2:15 and on my way to Thelkeld. There was light in the sky to the east as it was already approaching dawn, and it was slightly strange to realise that most of the traffic on the road were people heading home from a Friday nights partying, not heading out as I was! As I approached Keswick, the sky has started to look ominously darker in the east, and as I parked up in Thelkeld the rain arrived.

The BG contender Nick arrived 2 minutes up on schedule and after 5 minutes rest we headed out towards Clough Head. I was relieved that by this time we did not need torches. The rain got heavier as we gained height, and soon lost the two teams in front of us in the cloud. As we reached the summit of Clough Head the rain turned to sleet then snow as forecasted with a stiff easterly wind. We were doing fine schedule wise and trogged on through to the Dodds.

But the weather was against us and the snow started falling much more heavily and it became almost a whiteout with gale force easterlies battering our left sides. By the time we were approaching Stybarrow Dodd, the conditions were making it hard even to follow the footprints in front and Nick had slowed considerably. I'm not sure I'd have been mentally prepared to endure essentially winter conditions in June!



So as we approached Sticks Pass, Nick decided that enough was enough. We all live locally and the hills would be here another more summer-like day! So we bailed off down to Stannah to await pick up by Nick's wife. I can't really reccommend 3 wet and cold adults sheltering in a telephone box for over an hour as a great way to spend a saturday morning but the craic was good - we were down and safe!

This effort took a reasonable amount out of me as it took me a long time to warm up coupled with the very early start and loss of sleep. I managed to drive home safely, and spent the rest of the day pottering at home doing odd jobs. Sunday I had to fight off major lethargy to get out for a run but only managed a very slow 3.5 miles. My legs felt dead! But a good nights sleep on the Sunday got me back on track!

I rode to work and back on Monday and then made the best (?!) of a trip to Surrey for a training course to get 3 runs in of 6.5 miles (1700'), 9.5 miles (1700') and 3.5 miles (1100') on the roads and tracks around where I was based. I also ploughed up and down the hotel pool for a while managing a 600m swim.

The phone rang again on the Thursday asking if I would provide navigation support for leg 4 on a BG for a friend of a friend. I got home at 10:30pm on Friday night and Ryan wanted me at Wasdale for 8:30am! So I got up fairly early and found enough dry and sweet(ish) smelling running kit to use! I met up with the other support guy at the NT car park amoung what seemed like thousands of 3 peakers, and sat down to wait. Ryan arrived ahead of schedule and we were off soon after 10am up Yewbarrow.

I set off at a bit too fast a pace, but Ryan kept it up, until we realised that the pace was too good, and slowed up to avoid over cooking it. We still reached Yewbarrow summit 9 minutes up and set off in thick mist towards Red Pike.

I was nervous before hand as although I know this leg well, I have never done it when it really counts i.e. supported someone on it and felt under some pressure to get it right. To be honest I needn't have worried as I got all the summits spot on and picked the best lines pretty much all the time. I did play it safe a couple of times opting for easy to navigate lines as opposed the really good lines which could go wrong in bad weather. After the intial climb up Yewbarrow we didn't have any rain, but the mist was as thick as I have ever known it to be with visibility down to 5 meters in someplaces.

The run took us from Red Pike, to Steeple, Pillar, Kirkfell (via Joss's Gully), Great Gable, Green Gable, Brandreth and Grey Knotts before dropping down to the top of Honister Pass. We didn't see a thing until we dropped off the summit of Pillar and the bottom of Mosedale popped out the cloud for a few glorious seconds!! I'm not sure if Ryan felt the uplift in spirits but it had an impact on me, even though I knew exactly where we were it always has a good effect suddenly seeing the surroundings!

As we approached Beckhead, we passed Ian Charters on his 55@55 attempt being support by a couple of mates. He looked to be going well at that point! Ryan was really doing well here, he was eating and drinking plenty and was strong up hills still, but was starting to suffer from painful shins which were slowing him down on the descents, but we were keeping to schedule . As we dropped off Green Gable we popped out of the cloud for the last time and had a lovely sunny run along the more grassy paths to Brandreth and Grey Knotts and a good descent to Honister, where the Leg 5 supporters were waiting and took Ryan on to finish in 22:33!!

I had originally planned to run back to the car at Wasdale, but had been offered a lift, which I decided to take given how tired I had felt that morning when I got up. With hindsight I should've run back but nevermind!! It was a good day out on the hill and gave me a lot of confidence on that leg that I know it as well I thought!!

Sunday, P and I walked up to the Samson Stones in Upper Eskdale to go bouldering. We both felt tired but it was a lovely dry day and so took advantage of the breeze and sunshine to boulder up there. It's about an hours walk in and in such lovely settings! I managed finally to do a proper V3!! and then found out another problem I did which our guide says is V1 is a V3 too!! Bonus!

Yesterday I rode to work and back in more sunshine. Tonight then plan is for a mountain bike ride in the Duddon. I'm watching the weather closely as it'd be nice if it didn't rain!!