Kirkfell - frosty and cold

Today, P and I headed over to Wasdale Head to run up and over Kirkfell via Black Sail and Beck Head. I was reliably told this was going to be a plod! Yeah... right! After a gentle start to warm up the achilles, it was fairly hard work keeping up with him as we headed up to Black Sail. Nice steady ascent up Joss's gully to the top. A fair bit of rotten snow in these northern gullies and the turf was very well frozen. Then on to the top.

We then dropped down to Beck Head, Gavel Neese and the Green, keeping the tempo high on the leg-wrecking descent and cobbly track. So much for a plod. Good running though on tired legs.

Snowy Flanks on Great Gable

Blakes Heaven

First race of the year and it went pretty well! It was a lovely day - clear skies and not too cold for January! Although it was cold enough to make it solid and frosty underfoot. I managed to focus more than I used to on races, had a good proper warm up, and settled into the race well. I pushed quite hard from the beginning, and was holding my own against runners who are definitely faster than me for quite a while. got a good line up through the trees to the top of Sharp Knott - managing to pull a few places back and flushing a deer from the woods! It moved to quickly for me to catch it though!

I caught a lass on the ascent of Blake Fell, and managed to pull away well on the descent over to Burnbank. This is usually a bit of a bog-fest but this time it was frozen solid and a bit of an ankle turner! Still I tried to keep the effort high and was doing really well until the ascent off Owsen when my legs just went - I'm hoping this was mostly due to them being fairly tired from the week's efforts! It was on the descent that Julie caught me, arriving at exactly the same time at the style. Sorry for trying to crush your fingers!! On the final run in she just pulled out enough to pip me into third. Pippa was obviously well ahead of us!

So, I was pleased with my time, but it could have been better and I definitely need to work on my 'fight' at the end of races!! I didn't try hard enough to keep second place!

Bike, Bike n Run, Climb, Bike n Yoga, Rest

That's been my week! Fitted around work of course.
Blake's Heaven tomorrow.

Buttermere Sailbeck

Friday was an icy morning so road to work on my mountain bike with studded tyres on - its a full suss and makes the commute feel a lot harder than the road bikes!

We had a lazy start to Saturday, it felt well earned. But a short fast run of 3.5 miles on the local trails and a boulder at the Fisherground filled the rest of the day. I felt a bit off kilter climbing which I think was just tiredness of body!

Today, was up early and headed over to Buttermere to run around the Buttermere Sailbeck race route and maybe add a bit more on for good measure. It was a slippy drive around. I have never done this race, and won't again this year as we're busy, but its a great route - tough. It takes in Knott Rigg, Ard Crags, Causey Pike, Sail, Crag Hill, Wandhope, Whiteless Pike. I then added a wee bit on by heading over to Rannerdale Knotts as well. Total mileage 10.94, with about 5000' climbing. Very enjoyable, despite it being a grey day with the odd spot of rain.

Showers in the Eden Valley, Blencathra on the left, the Dodds on the right

Buttermere Lake with Fleetwith Pike & Haystacks immediately behind

Why oh Why!!

Was working at home on Thursday as we were having a new carpet fitted, and planned my day so I could escape in the afternoon while it was still daylight. The morning was stunningly clear, with a gorgeous blue sky. However, work and carpet fitters meant that I wasn't going to get out until the afternoon, by which time a bank of low cloud had rolled in off the Irish Sea! I still went out and decided to run up to the trig on Muncaster and back. As this is a low level run I didn't bother taking anything with me, I even glanced at the camera and decided not. That was the mistake. As I got higher up the fell, it was obvious I was going to pop out the cloud and was met with a stunning sight! Such an impressive cloud inversion. Despite being set on a hard run to the trig, I had to stop just briefly to take it all in! Then I got my head down again to the high point - 1 minute 26 seconds faster than ever before! WOW!

I then stayed for a few minutes to take in the view. The cloud stretched right out to sea, obscuring the coast and the Isle of Man. The high fells were clear as bells. It really was stunning. I then loped back down into the mist. Next time I'll remember to take the camera with me!

Blakes Heaven Run

Out last night with Chris and Rich to run around the race route - having got permission from the land owner first. A strange concept to recce a route in the dark and the mist, but it kinda worked! I did the race a few years back, but couldn't remember much, and the route has changed a wee bit too. Had fun and got a good run out as they're both much faster than me. It was a shame the mist was down on the tops as the moon was beautiful.

Skiddaw RUN!

Combining a trip to Keswick to spend money on shiny things, P and I ran up Skiddaw. Now I've always not just gone up Skiddaw, but carried on over the top either on a BG recce or some other long and hair-brained route.

So the concept of just going up to the summit and back was a novel one, and meant that I had to run all the way, which is what I did! Not sure I was actually any faster than racing it by fast walking, but as a confidence boost it was second to none - especially as it was incredibly windy on the summit ridge. Descended down over Latrigg just to add a little bit extra. Great views of the flooded lakes after Saturday's rain too, just a shame I forgot the camera.

on yer bike

Loving being back on my bike again! 3 full commutes and one half-ish commute, meant a total of 75 miles on the bike in the last week, plus one extended run to work and back totaling 8 miles was the sum of commuting exercise for the week.

not the commuting workhorse but it did one ride this week

Add to that a couple of sessions on the woody in the garage, some yoga and some more running mileage! mmmm... what was it about easing gently back into it after illness....

time to forget...

the first week of 2011! I don't think I've ever spent the first week of a new year in bed, but then there's a first time for everything. Feeling much better now, and raring to go. Have scoured the race listings for the year, got a wall planner out, and filled in lots of weekends with races and stuff - just wish there was a race near here soon. I'll have to wait until Blake's Heaven at the end of the month. Still gives me time to get some serious training in.

A quick blast on the single speed to and from work from the car park today to get my lungs used to cold air again. Did the trick... ready now....

2010 Stats

Although for the moment its recorded on the left, I thought I'd post up my outdoor adventure stats for 2010.


1 Bob Graham Round
49 climbing days (up to Trad: VS, Sport: 6b, Bouldering V3/F5)
762 miles fell running and racing
110 miles road running and racing
172 miles walking of the hilly variety!
877 miles commuting on the bike
268 miles mountain biking
190 miles road riding


18 races (including 1 road)

     This totals 1044 miles on foot, and 1335 miles on two wheels. So more running and less biking in the last year. But that figures with my BG training. Climbing grades have not changed significantly, but the   amount of climbing has been steadily in decline over the last few years.

     Looking forward, I think 2011 will mean more bike milage again, lower running mileage, and hopefully   more climbing! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Christmas is traditionally a time I really let myself put my feet up at our families homes. However, with the snow on the ground and the sky mostly blue, we kept some momentum up by going out most days for a short fartlek run. Never more than 30 minutes, but always leaving me feeling well exercised. One thing is for sure, I'm not great at repeated unstructured pace work!

A busy christmas seeing friends and family was followed by an equally busy run up to New Year, including a good session at the Climbing Works in Sheffield when the grit boulders were too damp and a NYE walk in the Peak. 2011 was seen in with friends and champagne.

Just a pity that 2011 started properly on the 1st with my first illness of the year (also my last?!?!). This nasty cold has had me in bed for 3 days already.