The Loughrigg and Silver How Chase

Sunday 22nd Februry 2015

A last minute decision to do this race. The forecast was bad and proved to be so. However it snowed rather than rained so in a way that made it better, the big issue was visibility. Down to less than 50m at times. 

The start was terrible and that is putting it mildly. I had nothing in my legs at all and for a while was in last place. It made me feel very low. Even contemplating dropping out at one point. Mainly thinking of the marshals and how long they would be out in the conditions. But as I kept going I was keeping in touch with runners ahead so pressed on.

It was very hard work all the way to Silver How but then things improved. I was dreading the climb back up Loughrigg but it went very well and I found a good rhythm. Then had a good run to Lily Tarn and final descent. And I wasn't last.

It is not often that I run a fell race in waterproof jacket, hat and gloves all the way, but today it was essential. Last time I did this race it was shorts and vest weather.

So whilst this is a bit of a low point in my running recently I can take some positives from it. I did enjoy it. So work to do.

Russell

Orrest Head Night 'O'

Wednesday 18th February

Where do I start with this one? Last night I could have ranted on about how bad it was and how rubbish my navigation was etc etc. But this morning after a restless night with my brain working overtime trying to put things into perspective I feel a little better. Yes I totally messed up a couple of legs and I do hate thrashing through the woods hunting for controls, even in daylight, but at night!! Aaaarrrggghhh.

So in hindsight I did make time consuming mistakes but also did really well sometimes. The main error was missing control 17. Control 16 was in the wrong place so after much searching eventually finding it I was keen to press on and headed straight for a crossing point. I didn't realise my mistake until the finish. 

Looking at the results I see the better orienteers realised the error (control on wrong place) and didn't bother wasting time looking for it. I am not that good. So lessons learned and hopefully remembered.

I'll leave it at that.

Russell

  

Night run

Saturday 7th February 2015

A short night run from home. Not great as legs have no go in them and my back seems to hurt a little.

I stop on top of Reston Scar, turn of the head torch and lay down so I can look straight up at the stars.

A little light pollution but still great.

Russell

Helm night 'O'

Wednesday 4th February 2015

Another night orienteering event but this time the venue is the Helm. So home advantage may be a factor. The course is basically two laps of the Helm in different directions and of course visiting different controls. I do OK and make no serious mistakes. Enjoyable and good fun. As usual I just need more speed.

Lap 1.

Lap 2.

Russell

Helvellyn

Tuesday 3rd February 2015

A beautiful day, and after two days away at a trade show it is great to be out, up high and in the snow. I park at Dunmail and head up towards Grisdale Tarn. Then a sharp left turn and climb steeply by the broken wall and fence posts to Dollywagon Pike. The snow soft and about a foot deep. But a few people have been this way recently so the going is not too arduous. The views however are fantastic. A good excuse for the frequent stops.

The breeze when it comes is very cold and I do not linger at the summit. On towards Helvellyn. The paths are a little icy in places and I have to pick my way but am soon on the last climb to the top. When I arrive the cloud comes in and the view disappears with it. A quick stop and put on my micro spikes. Then head down to Wythburn Church. I need them nearly all the way down. As I descend the views re appear. 

The track through the forest is no go due to forestry works. I follow the OCT route to the road and then take the track back up to the path and along to the car. Where I had left my phone, hence no photographs.

Russell

Yes it has been 40 years

Another mid week day off and another bad weather day. So it is a low level run from home (no car anyway). Then I realise I have the opportunity to go somewhere I have not been for nearly 40 years, despite being able to see it from my house. Lily Fell is a small and fairly insignificant bump just outside Staveley. Before the bypass was built we used to go sledging there as kids. 

Recent attempts to summit have been thwarted by the presence of cattle in the field but now they have gone indoors, so I finally get there. But no time to linger, it is cold and windy with snow showers. I press on down and onto Ashes Lane. Cross the main road and work my way back to Cowan Head exploring some footpaths I have not been along before. Then home along the river.

A nice hour out but not to hard as it was club training in the evening. Two runs in a day, long time since that has happened.

Russell

Windy Scar

Thursday 15th January

Day off so it must be out for a run. It is very windy so I rule out the high fells and head for Scout Scar. I opt for the usual route. Across the race course and over to the pile of stones. It is very windy, at times hard to run into and it takes your breath away. On to Helsington Church and down to cross back over the Brigsteer road. Through the woods to Barrowfield Farm. Climb back up to the scar on along to the summit mushroom. The wind is more behind now and the running cold but pleasant. Back down to Bradley Field and the car. Good to be out but at times a struggle.

Russell

Training reward

Wednesday 14th January 2015

Recovering from cold over New Year. First run on Saturday, good off road run with the Monday group and a good training session tonight. Think I have earned this.

Russell

Wansfell

Nice to have a walk with MC on Monday afternoon before his return to university. Great views from the summit.

Russell

Not Skiddaw

Saturday 3rd January 2015

The weather was poor in the morning but set to improve later in the day. So after a bit of work we head  over to Keswick. It is pretty miserable through Ambleside and Grasmere but over Dunmail things get better. Patches of blue sky appear and the summits start to emerge. 

We park up and set off on the days adventure. This basically einvolved a circuit of the main street going in and out of all the usual gear shops with a stop for soup and sandwiches in one of Keswicks fine cafes. 

Each time I step outside and look up Skiddaw becomes more and more splendid. Bathed in the afternoon light. The dying bracken glowing orange highlighted by the dark patches of heather. The summit sporting the lightest sprinkling of snow.

But I have had a stinking cold since Monday and not been out making this even more hard to take.

Being ill really sucks!!

Russell

Fairfield

28th December 2014

Finally on my day off the weather looks good. Clear, frosty and a  sprinkling of snow. My plan is to head for Fairfield. However because of my late start all the parking spaces at Rydal are taken. I carry on and park near Grasmere. This is good really as I don't like the climb up Nab Scar. I go to Great Rigg via Stone Arthur which I do like.

There are a lot of people about. Not surprising for a Sunday between Charistmas and New Year. Conditions are perfect although best not to linger on the summits as the breeze cools me quickly. After Great Rigg it is on to Fairfield and then Hart Crag and Dove Crag.

I descend the normal way to Ambleside and then take the Coffin route back to Grasmere. A great run out.

Russell

Boxing Day Orienteering

26th December 2014

Another go at this orienteering game. This time in daylight at Rusland Beeches. An odds and evens 1 hour score event. The area is wooded but not too dense so running is possible. There are several paths and walls criss crossing the area to give a little help to those of us (me) who have not quite got the hang of it yet. Especially in areas like this. Give me open fell any day.

The map is issued before the start and so a route can be planned. However it is not the control numbers on the map that separate odds and evens but the actual control (dib) box number. Second column on control descriptions. See map. This would catch me out later.

Before changing from odd to even or visa versa you have to visit control 11 or your score won't count. I highlighted the even controls by circling the control number on the map and planed to do these first. My aim was to do 1, 9, 2, 6, 5, 12 and check the time, I guessed that by then I would probably change over to odds because control 11 is close and the other evens are to far away.

This goes to plan until after 6 when I completely miss 5 and go straight to 12. I don't realise this until I get home and check the score. Then it is 11 and on to 8, 10, 20, 18. My second mistake is now that I go for 16 not checking if it is even. I waste at least 10 minutes finding it and then get 15 and 14 easily. Then head for the finish as time is running out. After download I realise my mistake. I will just have to put it down to experience. At least I did find it.

I am trying not to over analyse it but without the mistakes I would have another 20 points, possibly more with better route planning. Live and learn.

Russell

Night orienteering

10th December 2014

Cunswick Scar

As if orienteering wasn't hard enough in daylight I decide to give it a go at night. A slightly different format to the straightforward line course. It is an odds and evens score with a 1 hour time limit before penalties are incurred. 

Basically you have 1 hour to visit as many controls as possible. But because of the limited area you have to visit odd or even numbered controls first and then swap to the other, but only after visiting the change-over control. In this case number 21. See map.

I decide to visit odd numbered controls first and review my position after 25 minutes. I get as far north as control 11 and then head back to 21. Then frustratingly finding number 6 proves difficult. After that things go well and I reach the finish with 45 seconds to spare.

Knowing the area certainly helped and it was great fun. The weather also played its part. Wind gusting to 45mph, rain and sleet, -1 degrees. Will certainly do it again.

Russell

Tarn Hows 'O'

HSunday 2nd November 2014

After a break over the summer the local orienteering Galloppen events are starting again, time to dig out the compass and get lost. The first one I can get to is at Tarn Hows. Sounds like a good area. One thing I have learned from doing a few events is that I prefer the more open fell type courses to the woodland ones. This was a mixture of both, but a few more trees than I would like.

I go for the usual 'blue' course. 6km and approx 200m ascent. Straight from the off I am in a bit of trouble. I know I am near the first control and recognise features from the map but just can't find it. There are a lot of people running around. Quick re think. Pick up a feature, stream, and follow to the kite. It works but I have lost 5 minutes before really getting going. The next few controls follow in pretty much the same way after which I am more on my own. Now I concentrate on what I want to do and things start to go better.

To add to the difficulty the bracken, although dying, is still high and made small features, re entrants etc quite hard to locate. Where the map showed complicated ground between me and the control I sometimes took a longer but easier to follow route. The 'Take a bearing and straight line it' option not always working.

I am glad when the end gets near, tired and annoyed with myself for the obvious mistakes. I guess that is orienteering. I am out over and hour and a half. On similar open fell I would be near the hour. Lots to learn. Or maybe move to Norfolk and take up cycling.

Russell

Three Shires route

Saturday 25th October 2014

Whatever we chose to do today it was going to be a little bit wet and a little bit windy. I did not fancy a low level run, I needed to get up some hills. As much for my state of mind as my fitness. So DW and I opt for the Three Shires race route. After bacon sandwiches and the usual gear and shoe faffing we head out from near the Three Shires Inn and after a quick look at Cathedral quarry we are en-route.

The climb of Wetherlam does not get any easier with time but I feel like I am going better than of late. The best line through the bracken eludes us and we eventually pop out onto the grassy ramp line. Then we decide to get on the ridge instead of the usual race line. I don't think this is any better, too rocky and scrambley. If I do the race again I'll take the race line, head down and grind it out.

The summit is breezy to say the least so we do not linger and are quickly down to Swirl Hawse and into the climb of Prison Band, part of the route both DW and I enjoy. The summit of Swirl How is not breezy, it is definitely very windy, so again we are quickly on our way. A brief stop at the memorial on Great Carrs which has been re built. Then give DW a quick lesson on how to use a compass and we are off to Wet Side Edge.

Straight over the road at Three Shires Stone, Weynose Pass, and onward to Pike 'O' Blisco. It is a steady mostly grassy climb. There should be a bit more running than walking going on here but there is still the climb of Lingmoor to come and I am trying to maintain a steady pace. Another breezy summit and again we are quickly off on the descent. The racing line is a bit more obvious than it used to be.

We had been wearing our waterproof trousers since Wetherlam but the weather had improved slightly so we removed them just before the final descent to Blea Tarn. I don't understand why people dislike this part of the race. A nice technical, rough and rocky descent. Better than namby pamby grassy stuff. Straight into the climb up Limgmoor. This is where I will find out if I am getting fitter.

My pace is perhaps not great but I do maintain it all the way up, happy with that. And then another of my favourite descents to the bottom track and across fields to the finish. Coffee and mince pies await. A very enjoyable day out.

Russell

The FRA Relay 2014

So by some strange quirk or miracle I get selected for the clubs mixed team for the FRA relays. I have a few weeks to train more and get fitter etc but of course I don't manage to do as much as I wish. However I do manage a recce of the area. All this does is confirm how tough some of the legs will be and gives no clue as to where my, navigation, leg will go. So fingers crossed for the day.

I know I have done this leg a few times before, plus some other navigation events but it still made me feel very nervous in the few days before. I guess this is because it is a team event an others are depending on you to perform, not least your running partner, because it is a pairs leg.

My partner Caroline is considerably younger than me and although a little inexperienced I am certain she will be more than a match speed wise. I will have to work very hard and feel the pressure to navigate well. If she is nervous she does not show it. Because we on leg 3 we have quite a wait for our turn to run. But when it comes we have to react quickly. I find the start very tough but once we collect the map I get into my running. 

The navigation turns out to be quite straightforward but I am right about having to work hard. At several points our biggest challenge was battling against the strong wind. In the end it turns out we are well matched and do well. In fact the whole team do well as do all the clubs teams. A good day and a boost to my confidence. 

It is always a good feeling to represent your club in a team event.

Russell

FRA relay recce

Friday 3 Oct

Had a good look around the area today. Some great running to be had but plenty of challenging stuff too. As I am on the nav leg things could be interesting if the cloud is down. Perhaps that will suit me, perhaps not! Should be fun. 

Apparently there is a cut off after leg 2. I do hope this is generous enough to allow all teams to complete the course. It would be very unfair if all the time spent recceing, travelling and mentally preparing went to waste. Not to mention the monetary investment. After all this is the one big event for the FRA and should be inclusive and not elitist.

Russell

Four Lakeland Passes

Saturday 27th September 2014

A bit of a late decision to do this after DW reminded me it was on. Not sure how it would go as I have not done this distance for a while. And giving blood two days before might not have been the best preparation but I couldn't change that. 

I plan to go steady and that is exactly what I do. It is good to have DW for company and to keep me moving along. The climbs get increasing hard and I don't push it on the descents. The food stops are very welcome. Thanks to all the marshals and helpers. 

I begin to flag a little on the final climb and run in. It gets hot. I am glad to see the finish. 

Everything aches now. Tomorrow will be worse!

Russell

Potter Tarn

Saturday 20th September 2014

On Wednesday at club training I got the news that I was likely to get a place in the 6th team at the FRA  relays in four weeks time. It is interesting that this news seemed to give me renewed vigour and training went very well that night. 

So now I have a goal, something missing for quite a while, and I had better get out and train some more. So after work tonight I head out over familiar ground up to Potter Tarn and return along the river. I feel good and run better then expected. Amazing what the power of the mind can achieve over the weakness of the body.

But still more work to do.

Russell

Ben Nevis Race 2014

The Ben Nevis race has come around again. For me the 14th time. I am still to work out why I keep doing this to myself. So DW and I head up to Fort William on Friday afternoon and camp in Glen Nevis.

Race day dawns calm with some cloud and mist. The forecast for race time is not great but as often happens it turns out to be not as bad as predicted. After the usual start formalities we are off down the road, I feel good at first and settle into a steady pace. I basically maintain this all the way to the summit. Some better patches than others.

The descent starts well but half way down the lack of running and racing becomes apparent as my quads are very painful. However I keep going, concentrating on every footfall and survive down to the road without a fall, then surprise myself by running quite well on the road.

My time is slow but given the circumstances this year I have hope that with better preparation I can improve. Should I decide to enter next year.??

Russell