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