Duddon outing

Sunday morning, P and I made the short drive over Birker Fell to Seathwaite in the Duddon for a longer run. We parked up by the church and headed up past High Moss to Seathwaite Tarn, Grey Friar, Great Carrs, Swirl How, Old Man of Coniston, Dow Crag, and back down Walna Scar. 11.3 miles in total in sometimes warm sunshine, although the wind was a cold north-westerly, and there was fresh slushy snow on the fell tops. A lovely run and great to be out on the higher fells after a bit of an absence!

Bike ban

I have had a bit of a revelation recently in that despite being a runner who likes to ride a bike, and a runner who races running races, I tend to try and fit my running around biking to work. My commute is an undulating 23 mile round trip, which is a great distance to maintain fitness and get you fitter, but can also leave you feeling tired occasionally. I then try and fit running around these commutes. I do prefer to ride to work than to drive - I'm more awake in the morning when I get to work, and by the time I'm home I've done my exercise and can relax, as well as the eco element of just driving less! BUT....

So I've tried a week without the bike, but with more running. Great but I miss my bike! I'll just have to start introducing it again after a week or two. Still it has made me more focussed on what running I'm doing. Tuesday was a series of five 1 mile efforts, in the dark. The mile is not 'flat' either, but I managed 6:10, 6:54, 6:20, 6:52 and then 6:53 (can you tell which were up the valley and which were down?). Including warm up and down this totalled 7.5 miles.

Wednesday was two laps of a local loop one with P and one without. My legs felt tired after the previous few days but I managed a negative split for the two laps! Total 5.5 miles.

Thursday morning was a gentle run of 2 miles to work, and back then a brutal session of 5 x (6 x 10 sec on, 20 secs off) up a steep hill. I really thought my lunch was going to see the light of day again! Total 4.5 miles.

Long weekend at home

Our annual trip away at this time of year didn't really happen. Its always climbing focussed and the forecast just didn't inspire us to head anywhere for real rock, so why not stay at home and enjoy all that the Lakes have to offer! We do live in an amazing place after all! Saturday was mountain biking at Whinlatter, the Red route then the Blue route, followed by tea and cake in Siskin's Cafe. We caught the middle and end of a demo against the governments forest plans which had turned into a party due to their U-turn.

Sunday morning was a short 3 mile fast run on our local trails followed by a trip to the new climbing wall in Ambleside. Small but intriguing and enough to go at for a few hours!

Monday morning was a longer 6 mile but still steady jaunt over Low Pen, High Pen, Blake Fell, Sharp Knott and Knock Murton in rain, sleet and snow. We followed this with a good session on our very own woody in the garage!

Can I have a rest now?

Down South

I've been down south for a couple of nights for work, having ridden to work and back on Monday. Managed to get out both mornings at first light for a short run, 3 laps of the local woodland on Wednesday morning (3 miles) and four and a bit laps (4.8 miles) at a good lick on the Thursday. Both runs were improved immensely by some local wildlife - 5 deer, 2 grey squirrels, numerous rabbits and chirping birds. Also thanks to the lady who occupied the hotel gym treadmill at 7 am on Wednesday morning and saved me from treadmill drudgery by making me go outside!

Also saw my first daffodils, but they don't count as it was in Oxfordshire!

Carlisle XC

Had a week of not much before the Carlisle XC - the last in the Cumbrian league, not that I'd raced any of the other fixtures in the league! 70 miles on the road bike, a speed session on Tuesday evening and a couple of yoga sessions. That was topped off by a long session at Kendal wall on Saturday leaving me with sore shoulders and back muscles on the morning of the XC.

It was a very low turn out for the race, and we were delayed starting. However the heavy overnight rain had cleared and apart from one short sharp shower towards the end of the race it remained dry. The course was a long 1.5 mile lap of the football fields at the Sheepmount....so flat then. Not my favorite type of course at all, but good training. I set off fairly fast as I have no pace management skills for flat racing, and managed to keep ahead of Sam until the final 4th lap, when she overhauled me and then pulled ahead, finishing 17 seconds ahead of me. Despite this I felt it was a good race for me, great to use my spikes again which felt fantastic and a good run out - so different from fell racing.

Signs of spring

Something I started recording a few years back. This year so far:

1st Snowdrops - 27th January
1st Lambs - 6th February
1st Crocus - 7th February

Family

Had a weekend away visiting family and the weather just made it even less likely I'd get out for anything significant. I had so many days out in poor weather over the last winter training for my BG, I'm a little nesh now! However, I did manage a fast n hilly 4 miles on Sunday morning with P and a reasonable bouldering session at Kendal wall in the afternoon. Flashed a good few problems up to Font 6a/6a+, but ran out of strength pretty quickly. No stamina whatsoever!

harder and faster

Been working to keep the pace faster than I used to. Rested the legs on Monday evening but not the arms! A really good session on the woody.

Tuesday was a double session again, riding to work and back and a speed session in the evening, and then last night ran a tempo 9.5 miles on the valley tracks and trails. Although it was death by a thousand gates! I counted 2 styles and 29 gates in that 9.5 miles!! My legs tied up badly towards the end too.

Today was a hard ride to work and back with the wind - especially coming home into the full force of it. But unwound and stretched with a lovely Yoga session. Thanks Joan!!

Maybe a rest day tomorrow..... I think I've earned it?!?!