Just got back from Keswick and I will get round to writing a full report this week, but just to report that I completed the round last night in 22:48, very very pleased. Big thanks must go to my wife Gemma and Rick for the roadside support, they kept me going and did a stirling job servicing my needs and those of the supporters. Even handling my feet which were not a pretty sight, and my stinky clothes. The three of us were showing signs of sleep depravation last night !
Big thanks to Albert, Colin, Geoff, Pete, Jess, Bill, Simon, Emma, Anthony, Gerry and Steve it was a pleasure to spend the day with you all and I couldn't have done it without you all.
Thanks to everyone else for their best wishes and for coming out to see me along the route, it was a great day. More details to follow.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Feeling Better
After last weeks sniffles etc. I have felt a lot better this week and have been out for a few 5 mile runs at work on my lunch. I am out on Ian Charters' 55@55 tommorow so looking forward to that, I am running the Honister to Wasdale leg. Will bump into Iain Kelly who is attempting his BG at 7pm from the Moot Hall on the 26th June on a 22hr schedule exactly the same as me !! I think I am now fully sorted for support apart from Leg 5 although I have someone in the pipeline. At the moment it looks like this.
Leg 1 - Keswick to Threlkeld - Geoff Lyons, Jesse Palmer, Albert Sunter & Colin Jones
Leg 2 - Threlkeld to Dunmail - Jesse Palmer, Pete Dennett & Dave Walker
Leg 3 - Dunmail to Wasdale - Pete Dennett, Dave Walker, Simon Cartledge (+1 other) & Duncan Richards (Broad Stand rope man)
Leg 4 - Wasdale to Honister - Bill Williamson, Anthony Fryer & maybe Simon Cartledge (+1 other)?
Leg 5 - Honister to Keswick -Emma Aindow-Gregory & Gerry Dewhurst
I am feeling a lot more confident now my team is together and it is only a matter of agreeing logistics and we should be all systems go. I met with my road support team last night and talked through my needs and concerns and that has put my mind at rest so looking forward it feels good. Another week of gentle runs I think this week with maybe a couple of short runs on the fells but nothing serious.
Just been out in the garden, transplanting vegetable that we had started the other week. I have made some big wooden tubs to plant them in so we are looking forward to home grown; cucumber, broccolli, rocket, lettuce, spinach, peas, beans, carrots, spring onions and some herbs.
Tuesday is a bit of a milestone for me as I turn 30 (AHHH!) so hopefully it will not affect my perfomance too badly being over 30 !
2 weeks and counting.............................
I am feeling a lot more confident now my team is together and it is only a matter of agreeing logistics and we should be all systems go. I met with my road support team last night and talked through my needs and concerns and that has put my mind at rest so looking forward it feels good. Another week of gentle runs I think this week with maybe a couple of short runs on the fells but nothing serious.
Just been out in the garden, transplanting vegetable that we had started the other week. I have made some big wooden tubs to plant them in so we are looking forward to home grown; cucumber, broccolli, rocket, lettuce, spinach, peas, beans, carrots, spring onions and some herbs.
Tuesday is a bit of a milestone for me as I turn 30 (AHHH!) so hopefully it will not affect my perfomance too badly being over 30 !
2 weeks and counting.............................
Saturday, June 06, 2009
Quiet Week and the start of the taper
Well its been a quiet week about 20 miles run and 60 miles on the bike with not much ascent, I've had a a couple of courses at work and have felt quite tired this week and had a bit of a sniffle, I know very soft, although I don't think it's the dreaded "man flu" ! I am out in the morning for twenty odd miles on the fells but I think I've done the hard work now really just need to look after myself for the next couple of weeks as I get ever closer to my BGR.
I have been panicking slightly recently and running through the route in my mind whilst I am struggling to get to sleep, I am not really a person to dwell on these things but there are definitely nerves creeping in. I have most of my support sorted, although I am still a bit light on a couple of legs, and I think this is part of the worry, although I am sure by the end of this week I should be sorted, although if anyone is free please don't be shy.
As the big day gets closer I have been getting my stuff together, got my gels from likeys the other day and purchased some clif bars from evans cycles today in Manchester. We went for a look round the Museum of Science and Industry as the weather was crappy and they had an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the first all British flight, although it was quite disappointing really.
Anyway I am going on, hope everyone has a good weekend, looking forward to helping Ian on his 55@55 next weekend.
I have been panicking slightly recently and running through the route in my mind whilst I am struggling to get to sleep, I am not really a person to dwell on these things but there are definitely nerves creeping in. I have most of my support sorted, although I am still a bit light on a couple of legs, and I think this is part of the worry, although I am sure by the end of this week I should be sorted, although if anyone is free please don't be shy.
As the big day gets closer I have been getting my stuff together, got my gels from likeys the other day and purchased some clif bars from evans cycles today in Manchester. We went for a look round the Museum of Science and Industry as the weather was crappy and they had an exhibition celebrating the centenary of the first all British flight, although it was quite disappointing really.
Anyway I am going on, hope everyone has a good weekend, looking forward to helping Ian on his 55@55 next weekend.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Successful Bank Holiday Weekend
I got back last night just after midnight after a long day out on the hill finishing as the last light of the day was disappearing. I had planned originally to camp over and have another day out today, but my bed was calling.
I had been asked if I was available to support a Joss Naylor Challenge being attempted by Ed Swift of HRMI on Saturday, starting at 4am from Pooley Bridge. It was therefore an early start as I left the house at 2am on Saturday morning, en route to meet Ian Charters and John Swift at Patterdale. It wasn't the best sign for conditions on the hill as I was slowed going over Kirkstone Pass in the car, by thick fog, I had to keep my eyes open for stray sheep !!
We were away about 7 mins late as Ed was just finishing getting his stuff together but we made pretty good time despite the conditions, that deteriorated as we progressed down the ridge towards High Street. Ed, as always, was in good spirits and the conversation was light hearted and the miles soon passed, we were up on time as we reached Julie at Kirkstone in the pouring rain. A quick cup of tea and a nice slice of flap jack stoked the fire and we were underway again on the ascent to Red Screes. I was only running as far as Fairfield, and plans were to drop down off St Sunday crag. I decided due to adverse weather that it would be better to get off the tops and down to Grizedale Tarn and run out to Patterdale down the valley. I was back in the car for 11am and drove home, I did have to stop for forty winks at Forton services !!!
Tuesday I met Duncan at Keswick leisure centre at 9am and we drove up to Honister Pass to pick up Rhiannon before driving back to Dunmail to start the run over leg 3 to Wasdale. The day was pretty varied weather wise and we saw sunshine, followed by zero visibility, hail, snow, rain and high winds, all adding up to make an entertaining day. I followed the route from Dunmail over Steell Fell, Calf Crag and on to Sergeant Man and it felt very familiar now, almost like it is programmed into my feet ! The going was soft in places under foot but otherwise not too bad as we crossed to High Raise and continued onto the Langdale Pikes, the group of walkers on top of Harrison Stickle were suprised to hear that my end point for the day was Honister Pass.
Duncan and Rhiannon tried out the route via Stake Pass to Rossett Pike whilst I dropped down and took the ramps up to the ridge, I was taking it fairly easy but still got there abot 10 mins quicker so I think it make sense to stick with the ramps. I picked up the route up Bowfell easily, although I took a dodgy line off Rossett Pike, and we were soon at the top and into some pretty grey skies. On the way over Esk Pike to Great End it started raining, then snowing briefly, and cloud came well down and made the visiblity pretty poor. As we were on the way off Great End on the way to Ill Crag the skys then cleared and it was sunny again, three seasons in about 15mins ! suppose that's the Lakes for you. The top of Scafell Pike was quite busy, as we passed and headed down to Mickeldore and Broad Stand, it felt very greasy and after a few looks at the move we decided to skip it and use the traverse route round to pick up the Foxes Tarn path instead. The cloud was down again and the rain started, as you can see there weren't any great views from the summit of Scafell.
We descended to Wasdale, where Summer had arrived and the valley was bathed in sushine ! From here D&R decided that they would take a more direct route to Honister via Sty Head and I would follow the BG route and meet Duncan when he came back in the car to pick me up, Rhiannon only has a 2 seater so we couldn't all get in this. It seemed strange on my own on this part of the route as I haven't spent that much time around these peaks, an by this time it was raining again and the cloud was well down making route finding interesting but okay. By the time I got to Pillar the skys had cleared, again, and it was a beautiful evening, the setting sun casting long shadows over Wasdale and lighting up Ennerdale like a beacon.
The wind was quite chilling now and I stopped for a moment at the summit shelter on Pillar to change my top and put my hat and gloves on. I decide that I would probably be better to drop down from Black Sail Pass rather than staying high on my own over Kirk Fell and Gable etc.
I followed the coast to coast route (as recommended by Julia Bradbury) to Honister and the last bits of daylight. I still felt to be going well which is a good sign, and left my totals so far this week at 50 miles and 18,127ft of ascent so not a bad start. I'm on nights this week at work but should get a few more miles in.
Duncan and Rhiannon tried out the route via Stake Pass to Rossett Pike whilst I dropped down and took the ramps up to the ridge, I was taking it fairly easy but still got there abot 10 mins quicker so I think it make sense to stick with the ramps. I picked up the route up Bowfell easily, although I took a dodgy line off Rossett Pike, and we were soon at the top and into some pretty grey skies. On the way over Esk Pike to Great End it started raining, then snowing briefly, and cloud came well down and made the visiblity pretty poor. As we were on the way off Great End on the way to Ill Crag the skys then cleared and it was sunny again, three seasons in about 15mins ! suppose that's the Lakes for you. The top of Scafell Pike was quite busy, as we passed and headed down to Mickeldore and Broad Stand, it felt very greasy and after a few looks at the move we decided to skip it and use the traverse route round to pick up the Foxes Tarn path instead. The cloud was down again and the rain started, as you can see there weren't any great views from the summit of Scafell.
We descended to Wasdale, where Summer had arrived and the valley was bathed in sushine ! From here D&R decided that they would take a more direct route to Honister via Sty Head and I would follow the BG route and meet Duncan when he came back in the car to pick me up, Rhiannon only has a 2 seater so we couldn't all get in this. It seemed strange on my own on this part of the route as I haven't spent that much time around these peaks, an by this time it was raining again and the cloud was well down making route finding interesting but okay. By the time I got to Pillar the skys had cleared, again, and it was a beautiful evening, the setting sun casting long shadows over Wasdale and lighting up Ennerdale like a beacon.
The wind was quite chilling now and I stopped for a moment at the summit shelter on Pillar to change my top and put my hat and gloves on. I decide that I would probably be better to drop down from Black Sail Pass rather than staying high on my own over Kirk Fell and Gable etc.
I followed the coast to coast route (as recommended by Julia Bradbury) to Honister and the last bits of daylight. I still felt to be going well which is a good sign, and left my totals so far this week at 50 miles and 18,127ft of ascent so not a bad start. I'm on nights this week at work but should get a few more miles in.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Fellsman Recovery
My mileage has been pretty modest for the last couple of weeks, for three days after the Fellsman my ankle was quite swolen and painful so I laid off the runing for a few days. I haven't suffered since and I suspect that it was just the mileage and pounding that caused the swelling and its nothing to worry about.
Running has felt quite sluggish but I have been moving okay, on the bike I am averaging a good speed and it feels a lot easier than running. This week my legs feel back to normal but not quite as light on my feet as I have felt lately. I have a big weekend planned for the next few days which should give me some good mileage, it will proabably be the last of my big weeks as it is getting to 4 weeks before my BG attempt now and the taper must begin.
I am out tommorow pacing for Ed Swift on a JNC as far as Fairfield, Tuesday I am out with Duncan Richards in the lakes running the BG route and part of his 50@50, from Dunmail to Keswick. Then Wednesday I am probably going to get another long run on the route, perhaps finishing the last two legs, or maybe something completely different.
Report to come after the weekend.
Running has felt quite sluggish but I have been moving okay, on the bike I am averaging a good speed and it feels a lot easier than running. This week my legs feel back to normal but not quite as light on my feet as I have felt lately. I have a big weekend planned for the next few days which should give me some good mileage, it will proabably be the last of my big weeks as it is getting to 4 weeks before my BG attempt now and the taper must begin.
I am out tommorow pacing for Ed Swift on a JNC as far as Fairfield, Tuesday I am out with Duncan Richards in the lakes running the BG route and part of his 50@50, from Dunmail to Keswick. Then Wednesday I am probably going to get another long run on the route, perhaps finishing the last two legs, or maybe something completely different.
Report to come after the weekend.
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