Red Screes

Saturday 31st August 2013

A quick trip to Kirkstone for some last minute Ben training. First up the path. OK. Descend via the scree. Not good. Back up old Ian Hodgson route. Oh dear. Descend tired. Enough. 

Outlook?

Russell

Orienteering.

Wednesday 27th August 2013

Training tonight has been taken over by Ben's orienteering event. A great turnout and very well organised. We have fun but work hard. Not the best route choices but end up with a prize and cut legs. Brambles!!

Could this be an annual event. Winner organises next year?

Russell

Helvellyn

Sunday 25th August 2013

Heading off I know it will be a busy day in the Lakes because it is Grasmere Sports. I am right, traffic is queued back to Ings. My plan to is to go to Patterdale. If only I could find somewhere to park. Some people don't seem to care much as cars are abandoned everywhere. I find a place just past Glenridding and start my run up Seldom Seen.

Not many people about here, this would change. At Nick Head I climb above the old quarries to White Stones then contour on a nice trade to Sticks Pass. It changes. People and mountain bikes. Along the main path to Helvellyn and then down Swirral Edge. Lots of people here so I bypass them safely. Can't understand why they all just follow each other. There is plenty of room. On to Catstye Cam, I strangely have never been to this summit before. 

Down now and across the outflow of Red Tarn and on to Hole-in-the-Wall and Birkhouse Moor. I gets hot now and I struggle of the descent to Glenridding. The stream is nice and cooling. But the jog back to the car is purgatory.

Russell

An ascent and descent of Sgurr Mhairi (Glamaig)

Thursday 15th August 2013.

On our holiday to Skye I am privileged at last to have the opportunity to climb Glamaig. Just the very top is in cloud as I quite nervously set out across the initial boggy section. The trod peters out at the start of the main climb and is intermittent at best. I basically head straight up. Evidence of people passing this way is clear but it does not make any difference. It is basically pick you way up steep ground, intermittent scree and rock. I am really enjoying it and feeling good. This is really what being out on the hill is all about. In some ways I am glad to reach the top but it comes too soon. I think of the Ben race in a few weeks. Only another 2000 feet more than this. I do not dwell on the summit as I cannot see more than 30-40 meters and it is now raining. As I turn to descend it is very unclear which way to go, it all looks the same. After a short run and then some scree I see a line of fence posts that I know from the map will take me too far south. I cut across right and follow trods and more scree. The mist has dropped lower now. I quickly check the map and take a bearing. Then head down.  Not the perfect line but am where I want to be. No where near Thornthwaite Crag!! I soon pick up the trod back to the road. Perhaps not the best racing line but hopefully I will find that out some day. After concentrating hard for the entire run I now feel a great sense of relief and achievement. I smile to myself for the rest of the day. Happy to eat, have a drink and just be.

Where to eat in Edinburgh

The Caley Sample Rooms.

Excellent food and service. Lots of beers. Midweek fixed price menu great value.

On bus route 34. 10 mins from Princes Street.

Go.

Kentmere

Sunday 11th August

Time to start to think about the up coming Ben Nevis race. A text from CB prompts me into action and we head up Kentmere for one of my favourite variations on the horseshoe. Along the road to Hartrigg and then the track to the reservoir. From the top of the reservoir it is straight up the ridge to Ill Bell. A great climb. After a passing shower the weather clears and we are pretty much cloud and rain free for the rest of the run.

Contouring Froswick we take in Thornthwaite Crag and High Street. Excellent views from here. On to Nan Bield and I am impressed by two mountain bikers descending into Kentmere. We continue to Kentmere Pike and Shipman Knotts (race next week). All finished off with a pint at Hawkshead Brewery.

I did take a picture from High Street but phone seems to be playing tricks. So here is a picture of CB on Garburn in the Lakeland 50.

Russell

Fairfield

Sunday 4th August 2013

Good to be out on one of the lakes classic horseshoes. A steady run in good company is just what I needed. Cool and breezy on the tops but we don't hang around so no need for anything but a short sleeve top. The weather just held for us. Tea and cakes after courtesy of DW. Thanks.

Russell

It's a hot one!

Is this the future?

SLMM

6th and 7th July 2013

Corney Fell

It had all been a bit of a rush getting ready for this event. A few things left until the last minute. However DW and I find ourselves on the start line of another SLMM Bowfell course. I ask myself have I taken on more than I can manage this time? 

Too late as we get our control sheet and start to mark up the map. Then into the first short steep climb to White Hall Knott. A small hill with more than its fair share of gorse bushes. From there we basically head north towards Devoke Water, then east to Green Crag. All is going well. A steady pace, I hope DW is happy with this. I am out to enjoy and not compete. Turning west we pass north of Devoke Water over Rough Crag and onto the day one finish at Stainton. I feel in good shape and have been much worse at mid camps before.

We have plenty of time to organise ourselves and enjoy a fine evening. I do not sleep much as it is very warm and close. Eventually the morning comes. Not being in the chasing start provides us with plenty of time to eat and pack up. We get the control descriptions early and plot our route. All looks good until the final control at the small tarn below the summit of Black Combe. The sting in the tail perhaps.

The distance to the first control on Yoadcastle summit is deceptive and also deciding which of the many  bumps is the right one provides a small challenge. We get it pretty much spot on. Some don't. After the next couple of controls we start a long section along the west side of the map. 9K or so in a straight line but plenty of dipping in and out of gills and becks. We stay high to avoid the worst but the long contouring begins to irritate my left ankle. I had given it a bit of a tweek earlier (not unusual for me). The up and down stuff was much kinder to it if not anything else. 

Then en route to the last two controls before the climb to Black Combe we encounter the heather. Trying at first it becomes increasingly energy and morale sapping. As we round each bump, ridge or spur I hope to see lovely short green grass but it never comes. Then when finally in site of the control we have to descend into Millergill beck and climb out the other side, still in the heather. My will to just put one foot In front of the other is tested to the limit. I contemplate sitting down and just crying for a bit. But DW has pressed on and I must follow. I take a short refreshing break in the stream and try to establish a rhythm.

The combination of the time out, heat, lack of breeze and lack of sleep all combine to make this a weary ascent. Other teams around are in equally bad shape and I see two where the stronger partner is carrying both packs. As nice as this seems I could not do that as I would feel I had failed in some way. But once we reach the main path to Black Combe and the last control the end is literally in sight. Just the small matter of descending 500 meters to the finish. In a straight line. The last part being through bracken getting taller and thicker all the time.

Joining the track for the last couple of hundred meters to the finish my legs wobble for a moment before DW encourages me on and we run to the finish. Soak in the river, change and eat. A relief to just finish but like runners do, once recovered, we have to look at the results. We had gained 6 places since the overnight camp to finish 17th. And we're 13th on day two. An indication a think of just how hard that finish was for everyone.

Would I do it again? Ask me in 6 months.

Russell

Training

Wednesday 26th June

Not good tonight as my hay fever has kicked in much worse today. It is bad this year. 

Very frustrating.

Russell

Potter Fell

Sunday 23rd June

My planned run for today came a little earlier than expected. I was happily sitting enjoying watching the bowling competition at Staveley when two familiar faces appeared over the wall. DW and KA. They persuade me to go out early. We follow the same route as a run a couple of weeks ago. Not blogged. Potter Tarn, Potter Fell and Brunt Knott. Enjoyable but hard work for me.

Russell

Gummers How race

Saturday 22nd June

I manage to get a late entry for this run-row-run-row race. Fun as always mostly coming from the rowing bits. HelmHill do well.

Lakeland 50 First Bit

Sunday 16/06/13

I was planning a run for today but maybe not quite as long as this. CB wanted to recce the first half of the Lakeland 50. Or Pooley Bridge to Kentmere. It was going to be a challenge as I had the extra pressure of having to be home by a certain time.

We were dropped off at 9.17am so were now committed. Everything went well and we had no route finding problems. I had done some of this with DW last year. By the time we reached Haweswater it was getting hot. The run along to Mardale Head could be pleasant but today it seemed never ending. With Gatescarth looming ahead.

The climb went slowly for me but CB was going well. The run down to Sadgill took its toll on my knees and the old niggles returned to slow me considerably. After the initial climb we cut the route and went via Skeggles Water and down to finish at my house in Staveley.

5 and a half hours or so. A good pace for the actual event.

And I was home in time.

Russell

Training surprise

Wednesday 12th June

Felt good at training tonight. First time for a while.

Have been feeling a but unenthusiastic recently so this is good.

Some bluebells at Rydal. Picture from a couple of weeks ago, just thought I would pop it on here before deleting it. They were better in reality.

Lily Tarn

3rd June 2013

A gentle jog in the very pleasant evening sun.

In my new shoes.

Helvellyn and the Dodds

Plenty of life left

The OCT claims another victim.

OCT

Saturday 18th May 2013

After approx 7 hours and 20 minutes we arrive at Cocklay Beck. We decide to retire. 

Well, in reality the decision was made much earlier in the day. 

Our start was steady and just as planned. We were right on the schedule. But the going got tough after Helvellyn. Wythburn was much boggier than normal and my running and climbing only got slower. 

At Angle Tarn I was still feeling confident that I could keep going at the same pace but it went rapidly downhill from there. 

Seeing familiar faces returning from Scafell Pike summit en route to Little Narrowcove gave me a boost and our line off went OK. Emerging from the mist to see we had caught up with four teams all looking at maps and knowing exactly where we were going was a nice moment. But when we start to run down Mosedale I have nothing. Wobbly, feeling ill and unable to run I knew it was time to call it a day.

There is always going to be a few moments of doubt after making the decision but it was certainly the right one. To put me, my partner and potentially the race organiser and Mountain Rescue in a difficult situation would be foolish.

What this does do is make me question my chances of doing the JNLC. Will be out of any distance training for a while. Re think needed. 

Biggest disappointment is letting CB down. Hope he goes on to make a successful completion. Maybe with me next year!! Optimism is good.

Russell