Training and run home

Training this week is a run-walk-run-walk session. I manage the eight reps at a consistent pace. But as usual these days the first few are always harder than the last.

On Saturday I need a run but am at work. I therefore plan to run home. I look over the map and pick a suitable route. As with the training sessions I start poorly but improve in the second half. I go via Alice Howe, School Knott and the Dales Way. 

At home I search the map again for more possibilities. A longer route is planned for next time.

Russell

Grisdale Horseshoe

Monday 25th August.

At CB's suggestion he, DW and myself set out to recce the Grisdale Horseshoe race route. A race neither of us had done before and therefore offered potential for disaster. All starts well as we head up Birkhouse Moor to Hole-in-the-Wall. Then on to checkpoint 1 on Catstycam. Up Swirral Edge to checkpoint 2 at Helvellyn. All straight forward so far. We think checkpoint 3 is at the outflow of Grisdale Tarn. This would make sense as there would be no point in one on Dollywagon as well. Checkpoint 4 on St Sunday Crag is straight forward but then we are heading for new ground.

Neither of us had bothered to make a note of the checkpoint references of plot them on a map so there was much discussion. However we find the good descent line down to the valley and checkpoint 5 which we agree is at a barn on the main track. We know checkpoint 6 is on a stile in the wall leading up to Hole-in-the-Wall but we wrongly think it is high up so struggle to find a good line. Head high bracken is a clue that tells us we do not get it right. We join the main path and continue all the way up to HITW. At least the extra climbing will do me good.

Checking later we see the correct location of checkpoint 6 is much lower and no doubt has a reasonable bracken free line leading to it. We live and learn. One day when I decide not the enter the Ben Nevis race I will do this instead. Although it appears to be the tougher option.

Russell

School Knott

A run I have been thinking about for quite a while but have struggled to link up the paths and bridal ways satisfactorily. So it ends with two miles of road. 

The route follows the Dales Way from Staveley until just before Windermere then goes over School Knott. Returning on paths to Ings and then the road back to the village.

Early morning run

Tuesday 18/08/14

I have finally managed to do something that I have been thinking about for years. Go for a run first thing in the morning. Only half an hour around Craggy Wood but very enjoyable. I might even repeat the process one day. Every step counts with the Ben looming.

Russell

What's been happening?

Not posted for a long while so time for a catch up and then hopefully more regular posts will follow.

The Coniston race went better than expected. A steady start meant I ran well after Wetherlam. Got a good descent and was pleased at the end.

Did not do much after that because of work commitments and before I knew it the Saunders was looming. There were a couple of course changes this year so we made the wise decision to drop a class from the usual Bowfell to Kirkfell. It was still a tough weekend for me, particularly day one. Day two was much better. We made some good route choices. Thanks to DW for his patience.

After getting back into training and doing a few local runs I decided a race might be a good idea. Turner Landscape coincided with my day off and as I had not done it before despite trying to fit it in for the last two years it seemed a good choice. And so it proved.

It is a pretty long grind up Grey Friar so I set off super steady. Misty and breezy on the tops. A nice surprise to see Joss Naylor taking the numbers on Swirl How. Then I pick up the pace a little and catch a few runners. Pushing on I pass a couple more but the final descent is slow as my legs are not used to it, everything hurts and I am careful as the ground becomes quite rough.

Overall pleased with my time but know I can go much quicker with a more positive approach. If I manage to make it to the start next year then I have a target.

Trying to get as much time and climb in as I can now. Ben Nevis next.

Came across this great quote the other day.

"A boat is safe in the harbour, but that is not the purpose of a boat"

Russell