Dodgy Elbow

Whether it was the extreme ceilidhing, furniture moving as we’re going to decorate, or more climbing that has been the norm recently, but my right elbow is decidedly painful! It doesn’t feel like a tendon problem, although I had serious tennis elbow in this joint a few years back. This does feel more like a strain or trapped nerve. Ice, anti-inflammatories and rest are now prescribed. Got to decide whether a trip to George the Physio is a good idea…

Back to normal?

Well, that’s that excitement over and done with! Now its back to earth with a bump: normal house chores, DIY, oh… and getting out on the fells again! Although the weather is doing its best to discourage us. Two days back to back on the bike to work have blown a few cobwebs out, and awoken memories of last winter with icy roads on Wednesday morning. A few tense moments crossing icy patches from the day before’s rain.

Thornthwaite Crag & Hartsop Dodd

Over in the south eastern Lakes for our Ceilidh, P, his Dad and I snatched a shortish walk up on the hills before festivities began. After a large wonderful brekkie at the Eagle n Child, and one aborted attempt at driving to Kirkstone Pass (warning light on in the car!) we set off from Kirkstone Pass, up onto Thornthwaite Crag, down to Hartsop Dodd and then back around and down to Kirkstone again. A clear day with some cloud building in the south and west, which obviously was putting rain down in places. We managed to miss all but a few drops.

View towards Helvellyn from Thornthwaite Crag

High Street

Ceilidh

Prolonging the wedding a wee bit further we had a big party this weekend in Staveley, at the Hawkshead brewery. Wilf’s did the food and Striding Edge provided the dancing. Fantastic night and only one injury reported from one of the extreme ceilidhing gang – a torn knee ligament. Rather a severe injury for a party! Sunday disappeared in a haze of tea, cake and chat. It’s now all over bar honeymoon number two – in the spring/summer. 

Round Derwentwater Run

Timing is sometimes poor. I’d booked the Thursday off work to do a few organising type things with the aim of at least a medium length run in the afternoon. I just happened to pick a biblical rainfall day! Despite the hint of a promise of a drier afternoon, it never materialised, and it just hooned it down all day! I eventually got to Keswick and after aborting my original plan of running up high, and of parking at Stormwater Bridge (the river was looking decidedly close to its banks) I changed to plan B, parked nearer the centre of the town, out of reach of the river and went for a zig-zaggy trail run around Derwentwater. Covered 12 miles in the end, at a slower pace than I intended. I couldn’t cross the top of the lake near the Lodore as the lake and river had made a break for it, so had to run down to Grange on the road. Many of the paths were deep with running water, and the air was thick with rain. It felt good to get out though and loosen the legs.

Bouldering – Wimberry

A slightly curtailed day out at Wimberry Boulders due to steadily increasing amounts of drizzle. Ali came out to boulder with us, and pushed me to do things which is what I needed, thanks lass!! Followed by tea and cake at Jo’s before the drive home!

Tanky's Recce

Saturday morning, Wardy and I caught the train into Manchester and then back out again to Marsden to run the whole of Tanky’s for a recce. Various things have always got in the way for him so he has still not been initiated into the annual bog fest that is Tanky’s. We had good clear weather only slightly spoilt by a southerly headwind for the entire route. We trotted steadily up Wessenden to the Isle of Skye road. It seemed strange to be heading up there at a steady pace, as I have only ever run that section actually in the race. We bumped into two fellow recce’ers Steve and Paul at the road crossing, but as they were still faffing and only heading to the Snake we left them too it!

It was a pleasant trot up to Black Hill and Soldiers Lump. The streams were so low compared with normal December levels it felt decidedly weird! After Soldiers lump, I showed Wardy the direct line down into Little Crowden Brook, along which we found this little monster! 

Wardy was so close behind me he followed me straight in. I managed to haul myself out but he needed a helping hand to extricate himself!! The brook at the bottom of the descent didn’t provide much of a cleaning service to us either!

After crossing the road at Crowden we checked out the Lawrence Edge line. Not sure we got it spot on, but it has to be faster than the Wild Boar Clough route! Up and over Bleaklow and down to the Snake to check the new wooded section out off road. Have to say I’ve never had a problem regarding running down the road, but I’ll go with the decision. The only issue I see is that the path down through the woods is already incredibly eroded due to all the recces. I’m not sure it’ll take the hammering year on year! Got a great line up Seal Stones – its amazing how little tweaks to known routes can still provide gains, and then up and over Kinder. We politely ignored the notices about shooting across the centre of the moor, and came away unscathed, to drop down to Grindsbrook and into Edale. We timed it so perfectly that a 10 minute wait at the Station was all we had to catch the train back home.

I did feel the pace a bit at times, but realised that 3 runs in 41 days was going to mean that I felt the pace! A bit of work to do before the race itself but as my priorities have been elsewhere, I’m pretty happy about that, and it was a great day, peat bogs n all.