Update!

I have to report zero training. I have managed three races though and struggled with each of them. My intention in the last of them was to get in a half marathon under 2 hours and at least give me a PB... I didn't pull it off but got in in 2:15 or so. Not too impressive but to be expected! Running with no road training to speak of, running in trail shoes too, I was to try for an easy first lap and then see what happened with a flying second lap. Didn't work: first lap went to plan then the second jumped up and bit me. To show what a mess I'd made of it I still struggle up and down the stairs 3 days later. Ouch.

I have plans for 2010 which include a latter-day PB at 10k as well as getting through a super test of 100 miles of South Downs in 32 hours. I can't promise to get the right training in to make this happen but I'm hopeful of a return to some weekly mileage.

The mighty Pentland Skyline fell race

Despite not running a hill since the summer I convinced myself that I'd put in a decent time for The Pentland Skyline fell race in Edinburgh...truth is I had my bottom smacked and handed to me on a plate for being so dumb...




The day was cool and very breezy. Not the best conditions but very runable. I set off well and felt in control and secretly thought I'd get in under 4 hours...no bother. Well...pretty soon it was clear that I was in trouble: my slow but sure pace quickly had me in the last 20 or so out of 180...and I was being dropped more as the race progressed.

About a third into the race, having been dropped, I took a wrong turn which dropped me a load of height - when I realised my error I turned back and made my way back up the bloody hill again. I think I added about half a mile but under the circumstances I could have done without it!

When I reached the next checkpoint I found that there was only one behind me and she was going to be pulled as she was over the cut-off; as it stood the sweeper was 500m ahead of me. If I didn't catch him before the next check-point I'd be for an early bath. I desparately didn't want that so I dug in and got on his shoulder, I got some food and fluid inside me and waited for a miracle. Quite quickly, I recovered after my efforts and convinced the crew that I'd be fine - there was still some 8 miles to go but I was determined to see it out.



I could see two pairs of runners ahead of me by about 500m and thought about targeting them. It proved much harder that I imagined; they had no desire to surrender their position to me. I soon resigned myself to the idea of being last. It didn't take long to get over myself and I decided to use it as an exercise in seeing out a difficult job. I never intended not finishing but it was important for me to continue 'in the right frame of mind'. We all have our challenges. For some it's about getting once around the park without stopping, for others it's about keeping it going for 6, 12 or 24 hours. For me, today, my challenge was to keep moving with purpose, never to let up and hold my head high as I passed the finish line.

A word here for the marshals: I owe them all no small debt of gratitude for having waited in the blustery hills for me to selfishly continue. I thank them for their encouragement, good will and commitment to the sport.

After a decent descent I managed to pull in the last pair of runners...I got on their shoulder, passed the time of day and then was overcome by nausea. Again, I lost them as they pushed up hill after hill. I estimated their 'lead' to have been 3 minutes and growing as we approached the last two climbs. After being with them it made it hard to swallow but I'd given my all (mostly) and looked forward once more to picking up the wooden spoon - if there was one! Clearing the last hill I was surprised to see the two guys less than 30 seconds ahead - something must have happened to derail one or both of them; hey ho, this IS a race after all...once I checked they were ok I pushed on with something of a bluffed energy in the hope they wouldn't come back for more; I needn't have worried. I was to find later that one had pulled a muscle in his groin.






So, after keeping the sweepers company for much of the race, feeling like a tide was coming in behind and about to swamp me, I dropped down the last slope back into Edinburgh dry ski slope and on through to the finishing funnel. Not elegant, not too pleasing but it's done and you can't take that away from me :)

My final time was a bit over 5:10... too long to be out on them there hills.

A Bit of Bob Graham

My running has been somewhat sporadic but ever present and at times magnificent.

Yesterday was just such a run. Challenging physically. The weather gave sunshine and showers so I kitted up with a warm layer as well as a shower top. Given I'd had problems staying hydrated on runs over 3 hours I'd glugged a litre of water before setting off. Further, Ebay had delivered a new toy that morning - a water bottle with built in filter; I'd be free to drink from any source I found on the fells.

Aquapure Traveller

My intention was to recce the 2nd clockwise section of the Bob Graham Round. Starting at Threlkeld taking in the Dodds, Hellvellyn, Fairfield before dropping down to Dunmail Raise.

I drove to a lay-by at Dunmail, dumped the car and hitched a lift to Threlkeld. I had little trouble navigating apart from climbing the flank of Clough Head instead of hitting the shoulder...I won't do that again. The only other ommission being Watson Dodd which I'd mistaken for Little Dodd. That won't happen again either.

On Clough Head, looking back to Skiddaw

So, not much to report really. This was a fairly routine stretch. I'd maintained about 3 miles an hour for the most part despite taking more breaks than usual for a BG run. Mechanically, my body seems to be in great shape - no tightnness in calves, no discomfort in the achilles and no ITB issues. The only thing to say is that I do struggle to go through 6 hours, mentally and physically. This is clearly a number of things; the obvious lack of training up to and beyond this distance is staring me in the face but there's the aspect of hydration and nutrition to work on.

Head in the Clouds

The lasting memory is having to drop from 800m to 535m , to then climb Fairfield (873m) only to have to return on the same track to get over Seat Sandal ... Jeeze - a soul destroying out and back with 1000ft of ascent - I thank you Bob Graham for that inclusion!

The descent from Seat Sandal needs another look. I dropped quickly to 450m on steep grassy slopes where I encountered chest-high bracken; not ideal. I decided not to continue with blind footing on such steep rocky ground and headed for a beck which cut through the foliage and seemed to offer an easier way of the fell. It may have been an error, I probably lost half an hour while slip-sliding down the racing stream.

Finally, just before the road I stopped the watch and stripped off to sit in the cool refreshing water. There's nothing that better aids leg recovery than sitting in cold water.

I write this the morning after and am happy to report all to be well after getting plenty of nutrients in as well as redressing the dehydration. I recall thinking at the end how I could envisage running another step but now, with the rose-tinted specs on, I'm contemplating a 'double' in the near future.

Striding Edge, leading up to Helvellyn

Ticking over nicely

Not much to report other than having popped out the other side of injured - I fell off my bike!

I headed out to recce a section of The Bob Graham round earlier this week; I took it VERY steady, talked to anyone who'd listen and munched my snacks. The weather was sultry and sapping. I'd headed off fully hydrated, I necked a further 500mls of water and carried 1.25 lt. It wasn't nearly enough to be out there for 7:45. I drank from streams and seem to have had no after effects.

I feel really positive after this outing. I had strenght for the hills and stamina enough to convince me that, one day, a BG could be on the cards.

Other news seees the arrival of my race number for this year's Beachy Head run in October. I don't think I'll be involved in any other races but you never know...there's a slim chance I'll be in Sussex at the time of The Jack and Jill Downland Challenge...it would be nice to attack last year's time of 6:18 for the 30 mile out and back course.

North West rite of passage.

A lot of things are different to my last posting position back in November last year. Among these are a house move and a job change - assuming I had a job to change from.

Well, briefly, I have taken a job as assistant warden on a busy campsite in England's Lake District. After a couple of weeks finding my feet I headed off to justify my trail running status and very soon found my fitness had kept the faith. I found some easy and moderate routes straight out of the door but on travelling to a sister campsite I discovered where my destiny lies - the fells. Or at least it will when I learn to navigate!

I've just returned from a second camping trip to Wasdale, a couple of kms from the summit of Scafell Pike. The area is alive with drama, with possibility, with challenge and with a running history, much of which is celebrated only by a small passionate number of Britain's greatest athletes.

This was my first fell and to date my only one but I expect to have explored somewhat further by the end of my summer season. My first ascent laid bare my navigation problems when I misjudged distances and direction. I hope to become a better reader of maps and terrain: surely I will learn from my errors. 

My second trip to Scafell Pike rewarded me in a number of ways: I arrived at the summit without getting too lost. I found views this time instead of cloud. It was hazy but with visibility out to about 10km I saw much more in terms of the spacial placement of the Scafell Massif and of the proximity of other peaks. I also put a line in the sand of 1:17 for the ascent. I'll be looking to get that under the hour before I'm done. It's good to be back.

Future projects include linking the 3 National Trust campsites of Low Wray, Gt Langdale and Wasdale in an out and back over 2 days, camping at Wasdale. Further in time, I'll look to run Beachy Head again this year where I'll hope to knock half an hour off my time.