Wednesday 26th October 2011
Not feeling too enthusiastic this week so not sure how tonight will go. I have put the training schedule up on the HHR forum and website so that has committed me up until Christmas.
Tonight is Parr Street. I plan to do several long reps and then some continuous short ones on the top sections getting progressively shorter for approx 5 mins.
In the end we do 5 long followed by 2 lots of 5min short and finish off with 1 long. A good session and I enjoyed it. Next week Captain French Lane.
Russell
Saturday, 29 October 2011
Friday, 28 October 2011
Kentmere variation
Kentmere run Sunday 23rd October
Limited time and a need to do something a bit different lead to DW and myself heading to Kentmere. With a need to get back to Hawkshead Brewery for a couple of pints and some tapas I choose one of my usually solo trainig runs. Along the valley bottom to Kentmere reservoir then straight up the North East Ridge of Ill Bell. I fine climb. From there a departure from the norm over Yoke and to the top of Garburn Pass and on to Sallows. I spot a route for a future outing (watch this space as they say, or the HHR forum) and we head down Scour Rigg to the track and back to the church. 2 hours and it was just about right.
I try the Cumbrian 5 hop. Recommended!
Russell
Limited time and a need to do something a bit different lead to DW and myself heading to Kentmere. With a need to get back to Hawkshead Brewery for a couple of pints and some tapas I choose one of my usually solo trainig runs. Along the valley bottom to Kentmere reservoir then straight up the North East Ridge of Ill Bell. I fine climb. From there a departure from the norm over Yoke and to the top of Garburn Pass and on to Sallows. I spot a route for a future outing (watch this space as they say, or the HHR forum) and we head down Scour Rigg to the track and back to the church. 2 hours and it was just about right.
I try the Cumbrian 5 hop. Recommended!
Russell
Saturday, 22 October 2011
FRA Relays
15th October 2011
So after much to-ing and fro-ing and me getting a bit annoyed at the possible poaching of a team member we arrive in Kettlewell with the original team in tact. I am very pleased with this. It was also great that we were all able to travel together courtesy of Tim and his 7 seat vehicle. We also brought the club tent which turned out to be a great thing. Providing a focal point for all our teams and not least somewhere to keep all the gear.
The weather was perfect, dry and clear but not too warm as Jo set off on leg 1 with the other 181 runners. Time for Chris and me to get ready. We warm up and watch as all the runners come into change over, trying to spot Jo. She arrives in 176th place and we are off on leg 2. The first part is a steep road and track. I am determined to run it all. Then a small detour onto the fields adjacent to the track. I see no point in this! After another (boggy) section off the main track we are descending into Starbotton.
We have already passed a few teams and can see a lot more just ahead so we press on. Alternate running and walking where appropriate. I am finding it hard and Chris is going well. Catching a group we put in the effort to pass them on the last climb and turn for home near Buckden Pike. This section along to Top Mere Top is very boggy and we both have to pull ourselves out of the thigh deep stuff a couple of times. It is energy sapping but I have the knowledge from the recce and keep a steady pace. Chris said he was struggling at this point but didn't look it. There is only one team in sight and we are catching up so I concentrate and dig in. At the end of this section we catch and pass them. Now it is just the run to the finish.
We are both running well now and keeping each other going. The track has many flat sections and gentle descents which means we have to run hard. The final part is down the steep track we ran up at the start, this hurts my feet. Then the sting in the tail. A short steep uphill to bring us around to the change over field. I think I will try and run it but soon change my my mind. I walk as hard as I can and at the top start to run. My legs turn to jelly as I negotiate the narrow rocky path and give it everything to the finish. Chris keeps up! Or maybe he was just taking it easy behind and humouring me.
We hand over to Tim and Dave for the navigation leg. Then off to the river for a wash down, change, eat, recover and discuss our experience with the other leg 2 runners. We had made up 28 places. I was pleased with my effort. Returning to the action Tim and Dave hand over to Victoria for leg 4, they had made up another 13 or so places. And we avoid the mass start. Top stuff! Victoria had a good run but leg 4 can be a bit lonely as runners are well spread out. We finish 142nd. I feel very proud of the team.
This is the sort of day that reignites my enthusiasm for the sport. Thanks to everyone for making it a great day. Fantastic team spirit and support.
Russell
So after much to-ing and fro-ing and me getting a bit annoyed at the possible poaching of a team member we arrive in Kettlewell with the original team in tact. I am very pleased with this. It was also great that we were all able to travel together courtesy of Tim and his 7 seat vehicle. We also brought the club tent which turned out to be a great thing. Providing a focal point for all our teams and not least somewhere to keep all the gear.
The weather was perfect, dry and clear but not too warm as Jo set off on leg 1 with the other 181 runners. Time for Chris and me to get ready. We warm up and watch as all the runners come into change over, trying to spot Jo. She arrives in 176th place and we are off on leg 2. The first part is a steep road and track. I am determined to run it all. Then a small detour onto the fields adjacent to the track. I see no point in this! After another (boggy) section off the main track we are descending into Starbotton.
We have already passed a few teams and can see a lot more just ahead so we press on. Alternate running and walking where appropriate. I am finding it hard and Chris is going well. Catching a group we put in the effort to pass them on the last climb and turn for home near Buckden Pike. This section along to Top Mere Top is very boggy and we both have to pull ourselves out of the thigh deep stuff a couple of times. It is energy sapping but I have the knowledge from the recce and keep a steady pace. Chris said he was struggling at this point but didn't look it. There is only one team in sight and we are catching up so I concentrate and dig in. At the end of this section we catch and pass them. Now it is just the run to the finish.
We are both running well now and keeping each other going. The track has many flat sections and gentle descents which means we have to run hard. The final part is down the steep track we ran up at the start, this hurts my feet. Then the sting in the tail. A short steep uphill to bring us around to the change over field. I think I will try and run it but soon change my my mind. I walk as hard as I can and at the top start to run. My legs turn to jelly as I negotiate the narrow rocky path and give it everything to the finish. Chris keeps up! Or maybe he was just taking it easy behind and humouring me.
We hand over to Tim and Dave for the navigation leg. Then off to the river for a wash down, change, eat, recover and discuss our experience with the other leg 2 runners. We had made up 28 places. I was pleased with my effort. Returning to the action Tim and Dave hand over to Victoria for leg 4, they had made up another 13 or so places. And we avoid the mass start. Top stuff! Victoria had a good run but leg 4 can be a bit lonely as runners are well spread out. We finish 142nd. I feel very proud of the team.
This is the sort of day that reignites my enthusiasm for the sport. Thanks to everyone for making it a great day. Fantastic team spirit and support.
Russell
Sunday, 16 October 2011
Training 12th October 2011
First night back on the roads and to be honest I am not totally looking forward to taking the group for this. Not because I don't want to but because I feel there might not be much variety in what we can do and the group has such a wide ability range it is hard to come up with something to suit everyone.
My fears come true when 40-50 people turn up. Lisa takes a brief warm up in the gym and then we are off on a tour of Kendal taking in some of the locations that we will use more intensely over the coming weeks. I think generally it went OK but did not receive much feedback. Sometimes it was hard to know if everyone has understood what we were doing. The group did get a little spread out from time to time. If this number turn up regularly them we may have to consider splitting it into two.
Russell
My fears come true when 40-50 people turn up. Lisa takes a brief warm up in the gym and then we are off on a tour of Kendal taking in some of the locations that we will use more intensely over the coming weeks. I think generally it went OK but did not receive much feedback. Sometimes it was hard to know if everyone has understood what we were doing. The group did get a little spread out from time to time. If this number turn up regularly them we may have to consider splitting it into two.
Russell
Training, Relays and the future.
Sunday 9th October 2011
Training
This week saw the last session of the summer on the Helm, and what a night it was. It had been a miserable day. I got wet cycling home from work and was going to get wet all over again. The turnout was surprisingly large. I had only expected a hand full of die hards but at 6.30 over 30 runners appeared from nowhere. After the usual announcements from Billy I got the group going for a short warm up. It would be dark within half an hour so we needed to get going quickly. I was not a night for hanging about with too much recovery so I set up an alternate long/short hill rep session in pairs relay format. It seamed to work well. I hope everyone else thought so.
Meetings
After the session we had arranged a meeting in the pub (where else) to finalise the FRA relay teams but first I had to get changed. As many runners will know this is not easy in the front seat of a car. And not helped by dropping my clean socks outside on the wet grass and then discovering I had forgotten one or two items. I don't think anyone noticed.
On to business. The meeting started a bit chaotically with only part or provisional team lists being put forward. Then after several other names had been thrown into the mix to confuse everyone and team captains being nominated we eventually arrived at a point where we had five teams. I am captain of the 5th team. Which started out as on O'50 team but due to lack on runners!? has now ended up as mixed and somehow I am even running myself. I just hope everyone picked will run and the day itself goes smoothly.
Leg 2 recce.
Today DW, KA and myself headed off to Kettlewell to recce leg 2 of the FRA relays. KA and myself will be doing the leg on the day and DW will be on the navigation leg. The weather has not improved since Wednesday! We manage the leg OK as the navigation is quite straightforward. There is a long boggy section across the summit which will be challenging on race day and the long track descent to finish punishes the feet. I feel the leg will not suit me personally but am happy to be running it. Cake and coffee back at the car and then a stop in Kirkby Lonsdale for soup. A good day out in good company.
The future
After next weeks relays and maybe a couple of races my plans for next year will start to take priority. Firstly I have entered the 50 Mile UTLD so plenty of training and reccying to be done. Then come November I will be 50 so plan to do the Joss Naylor Challenge. I think this will be really hard to complete in the 12 hour time limit. Anything else will just have to fit in around these two events.
Russell
Training
This week saw the last session of the summer on the Helm, and what a night it was. It had been a miserable day. I got wet cycling home from work and was going to get wet all over again. The turnout was surprisingly large. I had only expected a hand full of die hards but at 6.30 over 30 runners appeared from nowhere. After the usual announcements from Billy I got the group going for a short warm up. It would be dark within half an hour so we needed to get going quickly. I was not a night for hanging about with too much recovery so I set up an alternate long/short hill rep session in pairs relay format. It seamed to work well. I hope everyone else thought so.
Meetings
After the session we had arranged a meeting in the pub (where else) to finalise the FRA relay teams but first I had to get changed. As many runners will know this is not easy in the front seat of a car. And not helped by dropping my clean socks outside on the wet grass and then discovering I had forgotten one or two items. I don't think anyone noticed.
On to business. The meeting started a bit chaotically with only part or provisional team lists being put forward. Then after several other names had been thrown into the mix to confuse everyone and team captains being nominated we eventually arrived at a point where we had five teams. I am captain of the 5th team. Which started out as on O'50 team but due to lack on runners!? has now ended up as mixed and somehow I am even running myself. I just hope everyone picked will run and the day itself goes smoothly.
Leg 2 recce.
Today DW, KA and myself headed off to Kettlewell to recce leg 2 of the FRA relays. KA and myself will be doing the leg on the day and DW will be on the navigation leg. The weather has not improved since Wednesday! We manage the leg OK as the navigation is quite straightforward. There is a long boggy section across the summit which will be challenging on race day and the long track descent to finish punishes the feet. I feel the leg will not suit me personally but am happy to be running it. Cake and coffee back at the car and then a stop in Kirkby Lonsdale for soup. A good day out in good company.
The future
After next weeks relays and maybe a couple of races my plans for next year will start to take priority. Firstly I have entered the 50 Mile UTLD so plenty of training and reccying to be done. Then come November I will be 50 so plan to do the Joss Naylor Challenge. I think this will be really hard to complete in the 12 hour time limit. Anything else will just have to fit in around these two events.
Russell
5 of the best part 3
Number 3 in my best days out ever top 5.
New years day 2000
Coniston
We were staying in the Coppermines Valley to celebrate the new year. The family and several friends and aquantancies partied and played through the 31st December 1999 and into the small hours of 1st January 2000. I think I went to bed sometime around 4am. Slept well and awoke at 8am feeling really good (considering the amount of alcohol consumed over the previous 12 hours). I dress quietly and go downstairs. Another couple are up and going for a walk. Everyone else is asleep. I grab a banana and step over the sleeping bodies on the kitchen floor and out into the cold new years morning.
There isn't a cloud in the sky and the ground is hard with the frost. I cut through the quarry and head up to join the main tourist route to Coniston Old Man. It is cold but I can see the sunlight on the slopes above and am keen to get there. As I reach the path and head up I find a body lying motionless in the middle of the path. My first though is S**T this could spoil a good run. As I get nearer I am releived to hear the man breathing and after some shouting I manage to wake him and establish that he is OK. He declines my offer of help to get him back to Coniston (thankfully) so I press on.
At Small Water another couple are just getting a brew on after camping there, we exchange waves and I carry on up. Soon after that I am in the sunshine and on the summit taking the fantastic panaramic view. The running over Brim Fell and on to Swirl How is pure pleasure I am feeling really great. Down Prison Band and onto Whetherlam enjoying every step, concentrating and working hard but the energy seems to keep coming. I take the long descent steady finding it hard to keep my eyes off the view and on ground. As I approach our cottage I can see people are up now and they spot me coming down. No doubt in awe of my superb descending technique!
When there we all exchange 'happy new years' and I am given a bacon butty.
The perfect way to start the new year!
Russell
New years day 2000
Coniston
We were staying in the Coppermines Valley to celebrate the new year. The family and several friends and aquantancies partied and played through the 31st December 1999 and into the small hours of 1st January 2000. I think I went to bed sometime around 4am. Slept well and awoke at 8am feeling really good (considering the amount of alcohol consumed over the previous 12 hours). I dress quietly and go downstairs. Another couple are up and going for a walk. Everyone else is asleep. I grab a banana and step over the sleeping bodies on the kitchen floor and out into the cold new years morning.
There isn't a cloud in the sky and the ground is hard with the frost. I cut through the quarry and head up to join the main tourist route to Coniston Old Man. It is cold but I can see the sunlight on the slopes above and am keen to get there. As I reach the path and head up I find a body lying motionless in the middle of the path. My first though is S**T this could spoil a good run. As I get nearer I am releived to hear the man breathing and after some shouting I manage to wake him and establish that he is OK. He declines my offer of help to get him back to Coniston (thankfully) so I press on.
At Small Water another couple are just getting a brew on after camping there, we exchange waves and I carry on up. Soon after that I am in the sunshine and on the summit taking the fantastic panaramic view. The running over Brim Fell and on to Swirl How is pure pleasure I am feeling really great. Down Prison Band and onto Whetherlam enjoying every step, concentrating and working hard but the energy seems to keep coming. I take the long descent steady finding it hard to keep my eyes off the view and on ground. As I approach our cottage I can see people are up now and they spot me coming down. No doubt in awe of my superb descending technique!
When there we all exchange 'happy new years' and I am given a bacon butty.
The perfect way to start the new year!
Russell
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