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

Training Night

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

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

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

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

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

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