Monday, 27 April 2009

Icing on the cake?

I've been busy this last couple of weekends getting more miles on the clock, and also getting out climbing as a distraction from the BG obsession! 

Wednesday 15th April - commute ride
Friday 17th April - commute ride
Saturday 18th April - a beautiful day's climbing at Wallowbarrow in the Duddon. Nice and friendly cragging in warm april sunshine. 

Sunday 19th April - P dropped me off on the west side of Keswick, for a leg 1 recce, again in lovely warm sunshine. I ran through Keswick past Moothall, and out up round Latrigg, up Jenkin Hill, to the summit of Skiddaw, dropped off the side to the river and up Great Calva. Hear I wanted to try another line but it all went horribly wrong and I ended up in deep deep harsh heather (with shorts on)! Its a while since I've had scratched legs like that - many of the scratches bled which was a lovely sight! So not that way then... Up Mungrisdale common to Blencathra summit and the crowds. Dropped off Halls Fell to Threlkeld, passing lots of walkers sweating their way up. At Threlkeld I then climbed back around the flanks of Blencathra to Mungrisdale and along the road to the Carrock Fell Boulders where P was climbing. 

20.61 miles, 7900'

It felt easy, even in the warm sunshine.

Monday 20th April - Bouldering at the fisherground. I've now officially become nesh as I'm worried about damaging myself!!

Tuesday 21st April - back up the Keswick for a mountain bike ride from Keswick to Threlkeld, up past Blencathra centre towards Skiddaw house and then back down to Latrigg, and Keswick down that awesome descent! A short, quick blast in unexpected clear skies after a morning of rain.

10.6 miles, 1440'

Wednesday 22nd April - back up to Keswick again again!! Not doing my carbon footprint any good, to meet up with a mate to have a look at the Great Calva - Blencathra line again!! Ran up from the Blencathra centre to the river Caldew, up Blencathra over Mungrisdale Common to the the summit and down Halls Fell - all strangely quiet after the weekend! 

8.3 miles, 2800'

Thursday 23rd April - Commute ride

Friday 24th April - the weekend in the Duddon valley. Walked up to the bouldering areas near Seathwaite Tarn, never been there before - some cracking problems, and I like the grading as I managed a F6a+ with only a couple of goes. Its rough rock!!

Saturday 25th April - got out early to go climbing as the forecast had rain coming in. Managed three routes at Pen in the Wallowbarrow area before the rain arrived and arrive it did - a deluge in a thunderstorm!! We got soaked running from the crag to the Newfield, and dried out with a cup of tea in the pub. It cleared off in the afternoon so P headed out bouldering with some mates who'd got rained off Dow. I put my feet up and had more tea and gossip!!

Sunday 26th April - headed off to run the Duddon fell race route, plus a bit before and after. I did this race last year, not being fit enough, and suffering massively in the heat. What would I make of it today? Well I trotted around, not dawdling but not pushing it and was 20 minutes faster than the race last year!! Was very pleased with that and its given me a big boost. I'm wandering what time I'd manage if I actually raced it?!

18.95 miles, 7800'

I've had today as a rest day as I've been feeling a bit tired and not really with it at work. Not on at the moment considering the stuff I've got on. Although I did walk to work along the seafront which is 4 miles return - probably far more than the average daily exercise that people do! scary!!

Less than three weeks now.....


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