Too hot to run, but run I did

Dry days- 48
Days of rain- 37

I'm sitting in the garden, in the sun, and typing this. It has been a beautiful day, but very warm. Today was my 18 mile training run, and since I've been a bit lackadaisical recently I HAD to do it. It was pretty hot, and the route was pretty hilly. I managed to run all of it except for three points where I walked in order to have a snack and drink. I drank two litres of fluid on these stops.

The whole thing felt very hard work due to the heat, so the time of 3:21 wasn't great. Although, if I maintain that speed that would be under the five hour target for the marathon. We shall see.

Warm

Dry days- 47
Days of rain- 37

On Thursday I did my training run- six miles run, with the last mile a sprint. Other than being harassed by teenagers this went ok and I felt ok.

Today I nipped back to Duxon Hill Quarry. I did the Groove and the crack, as well as a left hand finish to the Groove. Shed Seven still has one move I cannot do, and I don't get many tries as the holds shred you skin. I added a new (eliminate) problem on lovely slopes. Worthwhile at 6a ish.

Tomorrow I'm supposed to do 18 miles. The clocks go back tonight so hopefully the longer evenings will afford some climbing pleasure.

Rubbish

Dry days- 44
Days of rain- 37

Yesterday I continued the Marathon training with a sprint/ jog session: 45 seconds fast run, the three minutes jogging. I was supposed to do six cycles of this, but I lost count and ended up doing seven. I felt rough during the sprints but managed to recover fully during the jogging sections. I thought I'd done ok until I stomped around the hillside today.

I'd arranged to meet the BeardyBeast at Caley at 10:00. I was a quarter of an hour late, but luckily so was BB. We wandered up to the crag, BB wanting to look at Strangeness. It looked in need of a clean and brush. We tried the two problems on the small wall opposite Rick's Rock, on the Pinch boulder. These were greasy and we hated them. BeardyBeast fell from the last move of Rick's Rock a few times due to the greasiness. Then we moved on to the boulders. I have to say, we weren't psyched. BeardyBeast had a look at Scary Canary, which looks nasty We did a couple of the easiest things, BB did the Flapjack traverse despite it being a bit wet. I struggled on the first move, which was was a little irksome. BB did Mr Smooth fifty times just to annoy me, then I failed on it. Again. I hate that problem. By now it was nearly home time, but I had a brief play on the Horn left hand which was super greasy. And after that we headed home.

Mothering Sunday

Dry days- 42
Days of rain- 36

It has been a beautiful day today, clear skies. It had been wet overnight but the ground dried up nicely early doors. Knowing I need to get back on the running program, I managed to drag my lazy ass out this morning. We were going round to the Doc's brother's for Sunday roast, so I headed out at a decent time for a run. It felt quite tough as I haven't been for some time, but I managed 13.5 miles before having to head back to get ready to go out. It took me a disappointing 2:25 for what is effectively a half marathon.

If this weather stays settled I may try to head out on Wednesday for a bit. No idea where as yet, we shall see.

Shit skin for grit

Dry days- 40
Days of rain- 35

Yesterday I was taking the Doc's Big Car for its service. This meantime had a few hours, and a courtesy Volvo C30 diesel, to play with. After a check on UKB I was put off Yorkshire, so I opted for a Peak raid.

The sun was out as I left Lancashire, but the cloud set in over the Snake and passing Stanage I couldn't even see the chalk on Hamper's Hang! Burbage was cold and in cloud, but I headed to the Famous Grouse area to warm up on Breakfast. This puzzled me. I tried various things including an illegal lank to that high right hand crimp with the foot lock still in place. After an aeon on failing, three guys appeared and joined me in the quest. James, Ryan and another dude whose name I didn't catch had a go. They suggested better beta, a clamping foot thingy, and I should have done it except for being tired. After a while I admitted defeat and moved rightwards.

I was so close to Jason's Mono it sent me mental. What a frustrating little shit! I then wandered along Burbage and need up at The Terrace. I had a brief go, he starting few moves feeling ok apart from the incredible skin pain. one to look at again once I'm stronger.

Just made the mistake of googling masterchef to watch the final Oh, well. At least I know who wins.

Back to the roads

Dry days- 34
Days of rain- 33

I still feel pretty rubbish, sore throat and generally washed out. I was keen to get to Almscliff today, but it was pissing down here and a BeardyBeast report from further East was the same. Both MWIS and the MetOffice said similar, so I had no option but to try to get back into the running program, since I've missed two weeks.

Tomorrow was supposed to be an easy eight mile run, but since I'm working all tomorrow I decided to do it today. two mistakes- not eating this morning before going out, and then picking a hilly nine mile route. Oops. The head winds didn't help much either.

By seven miles I was getting my usual popliteal discomfort in the left leg, this only ever happens when I try to push faster and I suspect is due to my crap running style. Despite this I made the eight miles in one hour twenty minutes and the 8.8 miles in just under an hour and a half. Tired now though, I still don't think I'm 100% over the lurgy.

Bastards

Dry days- 34
Days of rain- 29

Yesterday, the Doc and I went to a school quiz night. Our team won, incredible as it may seem. There was then an impromptu rope climbing contest, which I was pleased to win too. And after not drinking!

Today it has alternated between sun and showers. I was still feeIng a bit viral, so I didn't bother with running. I decided on a Wet Poo visit. "bouldering please". "six pounds love". In I went to find the bouldering walls closed off for a comp. Brilliant. Oh well, caveat emptor. There is argument that I should have looked online etc before going, so it's my own fault. No refunds, fair enough but it may have been polite to let me know before taking my money. Well, Wet Poo you can keep my six pounds and shove it up your arse. The sooner I build my own board the better.

I went to Longridge after this, which was mostly wet. I had half an hour doing circuits aroun the Bomb Squad area, then went home. Grumpy.

Still Man Flu

Dry days- 33
Days of rain- 28

Right, I'm thoroughly fed up of this now! Cough cough cough, and every time I bend over gunk pours out of my sinuses. And I feel rotten and very tired.

I also hate being couped up. The Doc and I went to see Doc Snr on Saturday, up Silverdale way. Not being up to bouldering I went along for a walk with them from Milnthorpe, around the coast and back through Dallam Park. We had a pub lunch at the Cross Keys which was decent pub grub.

Yesterday was another day off for me and another not wanting to be couped up. The Doc was off with vomiting, so she and I went for a walk round Anglezarke reservoir, which got me quite breathless at times. We has a small pub snack after this. The Doc went for a hot chilli with baked potato- kill or cure if there ever was one! Then last night I made some lovely French Onion soup. Lovely.

I hope this lurgy buggers off soon, there's bouldering and marathon training to be done. I'm trying to pursuade Ginnster that he want to do the Ribble Way Challenge in June, 100km in 30 hours......