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....
Wednesday, 1 July 2009
Tuesday, 30 June 2009
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.
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.
Monday, 29 June 2009
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!!
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!!
Thursday, 25 June 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, 24 June 2009
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:
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:
Monday, 22 June 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, 18 June 2009
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?
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