24th July 2011
Not been out for a week so needed a steady run. Chatting to DW at the Hawkshead Brewery Beer Festival we decide to head for Fairfield the next day. But change our minds as there could be a lot of traffic. Kentmere is the new venue. Amazingly on this perfect almost cloudless warm summers day we find a parking place and are and off up the Garburn track surprisingly quickly. I feel terrible. My achilles are incredibly tight and legs feel heavy. I am glad that DW wants to walk the uphills and jog the rest.
We take our time, take in the views and discus the route options of last years Mountain Trial which was based in Kentmere in 2010. The race route is very familiar and I am glad we can take the time to enjoy it. So often it is a bad weather option. On Kentmere Pike the Red Arrows give us our personal aerobatic display. I assume it was for us and not the thousands at the Windermere Air Show. Finally on the descent I get to stretch my legs but the run in brings back a hint of an old injury and a reminder to keep up the stretching exercises I have neglected over the past few weeks.
Just over 2 and a half hours. Take out the stops to admire the view etc and that would not be a bad race time.
But still a feeling I need to train more.
Russell
Monday, 25 July 2011
Monday, 18 July 2011
Robin's BGR
16th July 2011
Robins BG
8 O’clock Saturday night and I am driving through Keswick, cosy and warm with the heater blowing and ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ keeping me mellow. Intermittent showers have been the order of the day but now the cloud is lifting and the views are very fine indeed. I feel good. This was not the case at 8 O’clock this morning.
I awoke to the sound of heavy rain and a quick peek through the curtains revealed low cloud, by low I mean down to the roof tops. Checking the phone a text from DW lets me know Robin had left Dunmail at 7.36am well up on schedule and going strong. Decision time. I have little enthusiasm. A call to DW and he tells me the weather in Keswick is much better so I throw some gear together. Then I remember that it is the anniversary of my BG. Only 11 years ago. So at 10am I am on my way to Honister. After all what else would I be doing today? Drinking tea, eating biscuits and watching the golf! And I like golf.
Stuck behind 4 coaches and idiots doing 20mph down Borrowdale I arrive OK. I need to be at Wasdale for 1pm. The run over via Beck Head is enjoyable and I chat aloud to myself. Something I only do when I am on my own by the way. Descending Gavel Neese I emerge from the cloud to a fantastic view. The flanks of Lingmell were bright emerald green and the streams swollen by the rain are bubbling pure white threads dancing between the bracken.
I arrive in good time and am offered tea and cakes as we await Robin. He is later than expected but finally we spot him and his pacers descending. They are slow and even stop for a while, something clearly wrong. Knee trouble. After treatment, food and a change of shoes he decides to carry on. At 2.33pm we are off up Yewbarrow.
The pace is strong. 42 minutes. I can barley keep up. But leaving the summit the problems return. Descent to Dore Head is slow to start but then as we contour more the pace picks up. I am once again dropped as DW and Robin climb into the mist on Red Pike. Nothing to do but push on as best I can. Thinking I might have to miss Steeple and meet them in the way to Pillar I am surprised to catch up just after the summit. Descending now a real problem but the overall pace is still good.
However coming off Scoat Fell things get much worse. Several stops and attempts to support the knee joint using a Buff don’t work and now the climbing is slow going. After Pillar and clearly in pain Robin decides it is best to call it a day and make our way by the easiest route to Honister. I run on ahead to let everyone know. The fells begin to clear and the view first down Ennerdale and then to Buttermere are excellent; I arrive just after 7pm. A party of five head up to meat Robin and DW to give moral support. I am cold and wet so need to change clothes and get warm. No need for me to hang around so I set off home.
A day I was not looking forward to, and in the end not a successful one, but I enjoyed it all the same and felt happy with myself. It is strange that sometimes days of bad weather and problems can end up feeling like the best days when things improve and you are back down warm and fed.
Russell
Sunday, 10 July 2011
Reston Scar Scamper
6th July 2011
My local race and also in the club championship. My legs are still suffering from the Saunders but I'll just have to see how it goes. A big club turnout is good, but not necessarily for those wanting points.
After a steady start I find a bit of pace and gain a few places. The first descent is very slippy and I gain on a small group. But then it is the narrow section and no passing. I tuck in for the last climb to the summit and pass a couple more just before the top. I know I will be slow on the final road section so I give a big effort and pass about eight on the grassy descent. Sure enough I lose three places on the run in. No results yet but I think only a minute slower than last year. Reasonably pleased given the weekend before.
Russell
My local race and also in the club championship. My legs are still suffering from the Saunders but I'll just have to see how it goes. A big club turnout is good, but not necessarily for those wanting points.
After a steady start I find a bit of pace and gain a few places. The first descent is very slippy and I gain on a small group. But then it is the narrow section and no passing. I tuck in for the last climb to the summit and pass a couple more just before the top. I know I will be slow on the final road section so I give a big effort and pass about eight on the grassy descent. Sure enough I lose three places on the run in. No results yet but I think only a minute slower than last year. Reasonably pleased given the weekend before.
Russell
Saunders Lakeland Mountain Marathon
2nd and 3rd July 2011
Unlike the LAMM I am going into some detail on this one. it deserves it!!
Chapel Stile Langdale was the start venue. We had a late start time of 9.54am. This suited us fine.
I am not going to go into too much criticism of the event but there are one or two points later that I will comment on.
Day 1
The start was a little congested and perhaps some would say held up teams. Everyone started up the same trod where it was hard to pass. Not too long but enough to niggle. It didn't bother me as I just wanted to concentrate on getting the first control right. We perhaps overshot a little but were quickly on course and happy.
There were plenty of route choices as we worked our way around Easdale, The Langdales and Langstrath. Taking in some familiar ground from the Old County Tops and Borrowdale race routes. We were on our own for a big part of this section which made me question our judgement for a while but suddenly there were several teams ahead and our choice proved a good one. A steep climb and contour past Ullscarf lead us to the run in to mid camp at Steel End Farm. The last proper control at a sheepfold was in a great place but left a route choice to the finish. We opted for the more direct less climbing option and ended up inadvertently crossing a boundary. Many teams did the same. 6 hours and 14 seconds. A good day. We were second and in the chasing start. All be it 34 minutes behind the leaders.
Day 2
With the first checkpoint on Steel Fell it was straight into a climb. Never a good thing on a Sunday morning after a bad nights sleep in a small tent. Then it was decision time again. Down and up or around to the next control on Gibson Knott. Looking at the the climb it didn't seem too steep or long so it was straight for it. After some scree it was into the bracken and then a across Green Burn bog. Up to my knees twice, but managed to extricate myself without losing a shoe.
We found the kite on the second knoll. The heat of the day was starting to make itself felt and we had more choices to make. Spotting an intermittent path marked on the map we chose down and up again to control 3 but this would at least be good underfoot conditions, after the steep bracken descent of course. Finding the location OK we then went straight line via Bright Beck to control 4 just down from stake Pass. Choices again but this time I persuade DW to take the high line and not the up and down. I think it worked well but even the short climb to the control was tough for me.
With the finish in sight it was getting serious. We still had a couple of climbs to do and it was proper hot now. I had been drinking enough but had struggled to eat all day. I force down a gel and hope it will help. Too little too late perhaps. DW forges ahead but gets a good (very steep) line to the next control. I try just to keep going. The last few controls are on Limgmoor after the final short climb. We find them OK but the location of one reentrant is not obvious. After the last control we are into the final run in. I tell myself to keep going as minutes lost here can be vital. Setting off OK I am soon reduced to a walk and even stop once almost involuntarily. After a little dizzy spell I force down some jelly babies and fingers tingling somehow keep going to the finish.
Amazingly we are still in second place so have to go through a kit check. I produce bits of gear in between bouts of cramp. OK. We eat and rink and awarded 2nd prize. However a late starter demotes us to 3rd after we have gone. I can only be pleased considering my pace in the second half of the day.
Not sure how much the effects of the heat, the LAMM, Dockray Great Dodd race, hay fever and lack of sleep had on my performance. But I'm not making excuses. Honest!
Once again, a great weekend, great weather and great company. What more?
Russell
Unlike the LAMM I am going into some detail on this one. it deserves it!!
Chapel Stile Langdale was the start venue. We had a late start time of 9.54am. This suited us fine.
I am not going to go into too much criticism of the event but there are one or two points later that I will comment on.
Day 1
The start was a little congested and perhaps some would say held up teams. Everyone started up the same trod where it was hard to pass. Not too long but enough to niggle. It didn't bother me as I just wanted to concentrate on getting the first control right. We perhaps overshot a little but were quickly on course and happy.
There were plenty of route choices as we worked our way around Easdale, The Langdales and Langstrath. Taking in some familiar ground from the Old County Tops and Borrowdale race routes. We were on our own for a big part of this section which made me question our judgement for a while but suddenly there were several teams ahead and our choice proved a good one. A steep climb and contour past Ullscarf lead us to the run in to mid camp at Steel End Farm. The last proper control at a sheepfold was in a great place but left a route choice to the finish. We opted for the more direct less climbing option and ended up inadvertently crossing a boundary. Many teams did the same. 6 hours and 14 seconds. A good day. We were second and in the chasing start. All be it 34 minutes behind the leaders.
Day 2
With the first checkpoint on Steel Fell it was straight into a climb. Never a good thing on a Sunday morning after a bad nights sleep in a small tent. Then it was decision time again. Down and up or around to the next control on Gibson Knott. Looking at the the climb it didn't seem too steep or long so it was straight for it. After some scree it was into the bracken and then a across Green Burn bog. Up to my knees twice, but managed to extricate myself without losing a shoe.
We found the kite on the second knoll. The heat of the day was starting to make itself felt and we had more choices to make. Spotting an intermittent path marked on the map we chose down and up again to control 3 but this would at least be good underfoot conditions, after the steep bracken descent of course. Finding the location OK we then went straight line via Bright Beck to control 4 just down from stake Pass. Choices again but this time I persuade DW to take the high line and not the up and down. I think it worked well but even the short climb to the control was tough for me.
With the finish in sight it was getting serious. We still had a couple of climbs to do and it was proper hot now. I had been drinking enough but had struggled to eat all day. I force down a gel and hope it will help. Too little too late perhaps. DW forges ahead but gets a good (very steep) line to the next control. I try just to keep going. The last few controls are on Limgmoor after the final short climb. We find them OK but the location of one reentrant is not obvious. After the last control we are into the final run in. I tell myself to keep going as minutes lost here can be vital. Setting off OK I am soon reduced to a walk and even stop once almost involuntarily. After a little dizzy spell I force down some jelly babies and fingers tingling somehow keep going to the finish.
Amazingly we are still in second place so have to go through a kit check. I produce bits of gear in between bouts of cramp. OK. We eat and rink and awarded 2nd prize. However a late starter demotes us to 3rd after we have gone. I can only be pleased considering my pace in the second half of the day.
Not sure how much the effects of the heat, the LAMM, Dockray Great Dodd race, hay fever and lack of sleep had on my performance. But I'm not making excuses. Honest!
Once again, a great weekend, great weather and great company. What more?
Russell
Monday, 4 July 2011
Dockray Geat Dodd
Wednesday 29th June
Just want to say what a great mid week race this is. Last run approx 12 years ago. That day was thick mist and a bit of a learning experience. This year was pure pleasure. Perfect conditions, no need to get the map out. Worst part was the road at the start. I can only recommend it but hope it stays low key. It must be the only race where most of the field go the wrong way!! But I'm not going to let you in on the secret.
Russell
Just want to say what a great mid week race this is. Last run approx 12 years ago. That day was thick mist and a bit of a learning experience. This year was pure pleasure. Perfect conditions, no need to get the map out. Worst part was the road at the start. I can only recommend it but hope it stays low key. It must be the only race where most of the field go the wrong way!! But I'm not going to let you in on the secret.
Russell
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