The Crosby Commoner

Saturday 21st January 2012

A new race for the calendar and also one for our club championship. It turned to be excellent if a little challenging in the strong wind. It never seemed to be behind us.

HH had some good results with DW 4th and KA first lady.

One to look out for next year.

Russell

Weekly update

After the Crosby Commoner Sunday was a day of rest. Only a gentle walk with the wife. Followed by tea and cake of course.

Monday training was a tough one, a few more reps than usual but felt good at the end.

Tuesday was a quick, ha ha, 10k whilst MC was at training and Wednesday 8 reps on Captain French Lane.

That's enough until Saturday.

Russell

More training.

Monday training was as usual hard but good (in the end). The ground was frozen and because of the recent wet weather very uneven. We all survived in tact.

Wednesday produced the largest group so far. 50+. Too big really for many reasons. Will need to split up if that many turn up again.

Russell

Coniston Fells

Saturday 14th January

5 of us set of from near the Sun Inn Coniston on a round of the local fells. The weather was excellent. Clear and cold. The climbs warmed us up and the breeze on the tops cooled us down. We made good progress with a couple of short stops for snacks and were back down in a little over 3 and a half hours. Soup, chips and beer were had. Then head home to paint the ceiling.

Fine views and company. Top day!

Russell

Back to training.

Monday 9th January

First Monday back and it is tough going. Especially after yesterday. Really clarty underfoot. I struggle and think of packing it after 2 reps. But then I always feel like that. I manage to keep going and finish. Glad I did.

Tuesday 10th January

Steady run from Dallam whilst MC is in the gym. My legs feel like lead to start but improve a bit after half an hour. No speed though.

Wednesday 11th January

Reps on Peat Lane. I am taking the session otherwise I might not have come. Again fell better as the session goes on. Big group again but it went well. Looking forward to the Helm. Enthusiasm for the street is low.

Russell

Buttermere Sailbeck

Sunday 8th January

We start from the old purple house (not there any more) and head straight up Causey Pike. A good climb to get things going. No problem finding the trod in the heather, there is now a trod leading straight to it. Not how it used to be. Into the mist by the time we reach the top and the wind picks up. Hat and gloves time.

Steady progress over Sail and onto Eel Crag. A quick bearing almost brings us onto the trod towards Whiteless Pike but we soon recover and are heading down this brilliant descent to Buttermere. One of the best race descents there is. Honest.

It is much warmer down here, hat and gloves come off. A short climb on the road and we are on the muddy trod heading to the steeper climb to Knott Rigg. Not a checkpoint so we contour past the summit. Colder now with the wind back and rain. Hat and gloves back on. Quickly on to Ard Crags and the final descent. It is super slippy but I keep my feet until 10 yards form the bottom when I trip over myself. Nice somersault.

Change to warm clothes and then a coffee. Back to Hawkshead Brewery, Staveley and a pint of Stout.

Nice.
Russell

Kentmere Horseshoe

Friday 30th December

Today looked like it would be the best forecast for a while and the wind would have dropped so I arrange to do Kentmere Horseshoe with DW. We leave the church at 9.25am and are soon running (yes actual running) up Garburn Pass. Leaving the path we head to Buck Crag. This bit is boggy and my feet are soon wet and very cold.

By Yoke it is starting to snow and there are icy patches. We keep moving and pass a walker on Froswick. There were quite a few out today. At Thornthwaite there is a slight breeze, we do not hang around. The main path gets icier so we run on the grass. I find this hard going so switch back and pick my way along as best I can. I don't fall over! The Summit trig on High Street has a good coating of ice. We turn and find ourselves heading into the south wind.

Gloves on and head down on the climb to Harter Fell. Run back over Kentmere Pike and descend into the rain. Before we know it w are in the Eagle & Child enjoying lunch and a pint. A good day.

Russell

Fairfield and stuff

Back into it now with training on Wednesday, an easy hour from home on Christmas Eve. Fairfield on Boxing Day and a speed session tonight.

Kath, David and Craig accompanied my around Fairfield politely waiting for me to catch up from time to time. It was very windy on the tops but we kept moving and got around in a reasonable time. I just need to
speed up a bit.

Previously approaching Dove Crag.

If the weather is getting you down a bit here is a random picture of Skye.

Russell

No Running

Caught a bit of a cold so not much running in the last 2 weeks. Feeling better now so once the Christmas excesses have passed it will be down to proper training for the year ahead.

That's it.

Russell

Easy run

Sunday 11th December

After training on Monday I caught a cold so have not run all week. I decide to go out today and just have a quiet easy run to see how I feel. DW is doing the Langdale 10K so decide to drive to Elterwater and run over Silver Howe and drop into Langdale to see the end of the race. I time it well and the leader soon arrives. Looking at my watch I guess DW will not be too long. Sure enough he comes in to view in a clear 3rd place. A fantastic result. KA is not far behind and first lady. I understand we (HH) also win the team prize. Not bad for a bunch of fell runners.

I make my way back to the car down the other side of the valley. Just enjoying the time out and thinking of the training ahead for next year. Plans still in the air but I know I nee d to get a lot fitter!

Russell

Birthday run (excuse for beer and tapas).

Sunday 27th November

Birthday run, or excuse for beer and tapas at the Hawkshead Brewery. A small but lovely group of us set off down the Dales Way to Cowan Head and then on to Potter Fell. The weather turns cold, wet and windy for a while but we are soon down, changed and into the main event. I hope everyone enjoyed the day. I stick to my 4 pint limit then go home and fall asleep in front of the Grand Prix.

Russell

Kirbymoor fell race

Kirbymoor
Saturday 26th November

It is probably fair to say this race is not every ones cup of tea. But I like it. Well after the first 5 minutes up a steep road that is. The course is pretty much all runnable. A mixture of trods, paths, tracks, heather and bogs. A real challenge on poor weather if you do not know the route.

I set off steady, probably too steady as this puts me a couple of minutes back from where I could be at the first checkpoint. After that I run well. Have a good battle with Tom from HH but he out sprints me. This is because I can't sprint. Must work harder on Monday nights!

Time: 1 hour 7 mins. Pleased with this.

Russell

More training

2 Mondays and 2 Wednesdays

Monday training was a tough one after BG leg 4 on the Saturday. Quads were sore. I was still having trouble walking downstairs. However I manage to hold my own and keep my usual place in the group. MC came with me for the first time and did very well completing the whole session.

Wednesday was a lolipop at Abbott Hall followed by some lamp posts. A smaller group of 30 or so seem to enjoy the session but they do not always do what I ask. It's up to them!

Monday around again and another hard one. We do more reps and it feels like more long ones. I concentrate on keeping my form and pace through each rep. It seems to work. What a way to spend your Birthday!!
Reward, liver and onions for tea with a nice chardonnay. Top!

Wednesday it's short and fast reps on Green Hill. An even smaller group. 20. Am I puitting people off?
We do 5 sets of 5 to keep the group together. Finish in good time so when we do them again it will be 5 sets of 6.

Russell

Bob Graham Round Leg 4

Saturday 19th November 2011

DW has a plan to do leg 4 of the BG. But starting from Honister and running over to Wasdale first.
We have done this before as a recce for pacing duties and therefore whilst actually supporting. Today though will be different as I have not done anything of this distance and time since the summer. I expect a tough day.

It is cold and breezy as we leave Honister at 8.36am when DW, KA and I set off. This is a great route to Wasdale, not much climb and with great views, though perhaps not today.

Here is an evening view of Ennerdale on a better day.

Crossing Beck Head under Great Gable it occurs to me that in another four and a half hours or so we will pass this way again but won't be taking the easy way back. The path down to Gavel Neese is rocky at first then grassy down the ridge. I go steady to preserve my quads. In Wasdale we see the hunt starting out onto the slopes of Yewbarrow then all too soon we leave the road and start the steep ascent ourselves. Steady again, there is a long way to go. The summit comes in good time so onto Red Pike and into the mist.

The views do not improve over Steeple, Scoat Fell and Pillar but the pace is good and we drop out of it as we approach Black Sail. Here we cross paths with the hunt. Beginning to feel it now on Kirk Fell but know Gable is next and that is the last big one. Again I set my pace and just keep going. It works well as I feel quite good.

Great Gable from Kirk Fell

We decide to take my racing line from the summit to Windy Gap, this is much quicker but does require a bit of commitment! Green Gable is soon behind us. Just before Brandtreth a disorientated group ask me just where they are. I am tempted to say Helvellyn but resist and point them in the right direction. On over Grey Knotts and down to the car where DW provides welcome tea and biscuits, excellent!

A great day but my quads feel it. Thanks DW.
Stairs are a problem on Sunday and Monday training is a test but I make it through.

Russell

Remembrance and training etc

Remembrance Sunday I have short run from home. Craggy Wood and Reston Scar finishing at the war memorial for 11am. I feel a distinct lack of enthusiasm.

Monday training again, what am I doing, it goes well. Hard but that is what it is meant to be. No doubt the rewards will be reaped in the future.

40 mins run around Milnthorpe and Heversham on Tuesday whilst MC does his circuit training. Surprisingly OK.

Wednesday training is on Low Fellside. Various reps on the cobbles and lanes. The group is still big and quite difficult to keep together in this area. Not getting back down fast enough for the next rep. Will discuss.
Some positive feedback from a couple of new people.

Must now recover for big day on Saturday.

Russell

Wednesday 9th Nov Training

Peat Lane.

I plan to do 8 reps but time will only allow for 7.
A large group again but not as many as last week.

It seemed to go OK. Hope we did not upset too many drivers.

My third day running in a row and I could feel it.

Russell

Monday Training.

My first time to Shaun's Monday training. I need to get some speed back. We do about 14 (I lost count) reps of various distance. Not knowing what was coming next. With short recovery. I think I managed to hold my own.

Not easy to motivate myself for this sort of thing but feel good about doing it afterwards.

I must keep it up.

Russell

Really Wild Boar Fell Race

Saturday 5th November

I have been meaning to do this for the last couple of years but not been able to fit it in. So this year I had planned to just sneak off on my own and, have a good run and win a prize. None of which actually happened.

I picked up DW on the way and met RS, John? And an assortment of Addisons there. My run was poor from the start. Struggling to get any pace on the track and the short climb was hard. Although my descent (into the unknown) was OK picking up a few places.

So no prizes for me. Not even a spot (raffle) prize. I think just about everyone else who turned up went away with something. DW winning the holiday.

Maybe next year. Or probably maybe not!

Russell

Training 2nd November

Wednesday training again. With the schedule set this week is Captain French Lane. An amazing 45 people turn up. Is the group too big? Well it seemed to work OK this week. Will monitor.

8 x 2 min reps. Felt good.

Russell

Five of the best part 4

Jura May 2007

I wrote 75% of this blog and then went and deleted it by mistake so whilst I recover my composure and try to remember what I had written.

Jura, best fell race in the world, discuss!

Russell