Training or failing?

I had entered the LDWA Red Rose 100 mile event as part of my training for the UTLD 100. Saturday morning saw me parked up at Rivington school and being taken by minibus to the start of the event. After being checked in and having my halfway bag deposited, I had some tea and toast and waited for the start.

Leg one I knew well, from the Anderton centre via Go Ape and then up to Pigeon Tower. Then across the cobble road that Andrew and I know well to skirt into Belmont and onto the bit of the Rivvy 26 route I hate. This dropped me at CP1.  Jaffa cakes, custard donuts and crackers and cheese were very welcome.

Leg two took us over Darwen Tower and then back down to Feniscliffe, where sandwiches did the trick. Sixteen miles in and going well. My game plan was to keep under 15 minutes per km, as this is 40 hour pace for 100 miles.

The next bit was quite hilly and took us over a few grassy hills, busy roads and boring stomps over golf courses. I arrived at Whalley with sore feet, 8:20 after 28 miles.  I popped a few blisters and applied Compeed. The next leg was a fun one, with a lot of up and down and bog.

Getting to Barley involved a lot of dancing over bog but I managed to keep my feet dry. Here was on offer minestrone, vegetable soup, or pizza crumpet. I had one of the latter, which was tomato purée on crumpet, toasted with cheese on top. Really nice at this point.

Next was Pendle Hill. In the dark. Anyway, off I went. Up and up it seemed. Near the top I met a witch and her cat, who clipped my card and gave me sweets. On the way off the top I did wonder if we were going the right way. The route card said head at 330 but the path everyone was taking didn't match this. After a while I stopped to check my position, which agreed with the planned route.

Downham. Midnight. 14 hours in, sore hamstring, various blisters.  40 miles in, and mind games came along. Not near my previous 66 Mile best but there's plenty to concern me.

Anyway, I got to Downhan. 40 miles in, a week after a hill marathon.  I was gutted not to finish but I
wanted to get back to my lovely wife and our bed.  Would you rather cuddle up to your fantastic wife, or continue stomping through the paths of Lancashire?????

The lack of Andrew being there was a major downer which had a huge effect on my mental approach.  So, I dropped out here. Various reasons, but the hamstring was an issue which I didn't want to aggravate and blisters won't help my recce this weekend- Andrew and I are going to scope out the second quarter of the hundred.  26 miles last weekend, 40 this weekend and 33 next weekend. Not bad training for distance. Best keep the distance up, rather than killing myself with 100 miles on a bad bum!

Anyway,  lessons learned
Roll on the 100.......




This was all walked, and the GPS ain't right.

Progress?

It has been six weeks since my hamstring injury, and my butt still isn't right. Having said that, I thought I'd give an update as to where I am with it.

I had a few sessions of physio with Summit Physio at Wrightington country club, each of which was very very painful. I've been doing stretches and strengthening exercises religiously. Up until today, I've run 51.3km in total, albeit very slowly. On top of this, LAA and I have done a 10k walk each Monday when we are off together, going for a nice lunch each time. It's been really nice to enjoy some good walks and some good food together, since we are so busy the rest of the week. We also did a bit of cycling, including the Guild Wheel, as well as a mad dash home when Ben broke his wrist.

I've avoided any Board session, as well as the fingerboard. Climbing will have to wait until after the UTLD 100.

We have also had a clear out of girls' clothes- loads of nice, new, expensive, and often unworn clothes. Some of it has been thrown out, but most has been donated to people with young girls who will actually get some use out of it all. We must have cleared out thousands of pounds worth. Amazing.

Today was the Howgills Trail 26. Andrew and I drove up this morning, a little nervous since neither of us have trained anywhere near what we did last year, and my broken buttock made me nervous.  I remembered a lot of this course from last year, certainly not my favourite 26.  Toad-al Ben Stool. 

This time the 7.5k slog to the summit of the Calf felt Ok. The descent from here was a bit dull, but being technical underfoot didn't allow any respite. We went slightly wrong where a marker had clearly fallen over, but having done it before kept us on the right track. We hit the first checkpoint at 3:30 in. This left 20k, and my lack of training in the last six weeks showed. In the end, I sent Andrew off with 9k to go to chase a time, whilst I plodded at 8 minute/km pace. From the watch I finished over 6hrs 30, which was my target. However, any disappointment at not hitting the mark is alleviated by the fact I should be OK for next weekend. No details yet, I don't want to jinx proceedings.

Anyway, good day out- thanks Andrew.

What a pain in the arse

Firstly, here's the Higher Chelburn video as promised.  Lots of easy stuff, but a good few hours out.


Higher Chelburn - Eclipse Day - 20/3/2015 from GCW on Vimeo.




I had a day off on Friday and was keen to head somewhere different.  I was going to head to Roundbarn first, then Knowle Heights later but Pasty Lord was potentially available later.  I opted to hit Knowle Heights first.

When I got there it looked dry, but there was a big group of teens hanging about drinking (10:30am). This felt pretty intimidating as I'd be bouldering right next to them, so I opted to change the plan (I ran away).

I headed to Roundbarn keen for a look at Catsfoot and Whisker.  They both had water running down them, so I look at the left end first.  Second go on Leave Your Hat On using R-man's high right heel and something went pop in my right hip.  This was really sore, and I couldn't use the heel again.  I linked it soon after.  I did a few other bits here, including the 6c+ dyne which I found pretty OK (due to lank and liking dynes I guess).  Quiver Upriver was also damp, but I could get to the break fine before being slimed off the next bit.  Should be fine when dry.  I had one try at Whisker, but the top holds were streaming.

I went to look at Stanworth on my way home, only to find a new 6' green fence that seemed to go all the way round.  I didn't want to start trying to hop it, so left and went home.

Today I woke with more pain in my right hip - certainly looks like I've done something to a hamstring.  I was supposed to be doing the Buttermere to Dalemain recce for the UTLD 100 tomorrow.  I tried a short run this morning, but barely managed a mile as the pain and stiffness got worse with each step.  No way can I do 33 hill miles this weekend, so I've had to pull out of the recce.  We'll have to arrange our own at a later date.

Out on the rock

Stronstrey Bank  18/03/2015

It's been a long time since I was last climbing at Stronstrey, probably around the time I put up David Vetter etc etc.  It was very sunny and hot on Monday, and I was off for the day.  Recent videos of hard problems on the Lone Boulder whetted my appetite.  I went straight to this odd-ball boulder.  It's been a long time since I was here, my last visit was with my late father and he's been dead a good few years now.

I did Jim Reaper pretty easily via a sneaky heel-toe cam.  My own Day-Glo Man went down second go, after brushing off a load of crud - I don't think this gets much attention.  Noisy Cricket was impossible, I blame the head but me being very out of condition may not have helped.....

I did Grim Leaper, again via a naughty foot lock.  After this I had a play on the Fun Boulder, then headed home.  Need to get (a lot) stronger and then come back for a rematch.


Stronstrey 18/3/2015 from GCW on Vimeo.



Higher Chelburn  20/03/2015

I had a day off on Friday to use up annual leave.  Whilst driving over to Summit I got a decent view of the Solar Eclipse.  Good, but I think the 1999 one was better.  Once I parked up as per Robin's guide, I realised this is where Nik and I came to on our last trip together.  It took exactly 12 minutes to walk to the first area (as predicted).  I did a load of easy stuff, and Small Star which was excellent. I moved over to the next area and did a couple of problems on the big boulder - these were a bit damp, rather scrittly and felt a bit unnerving due to the pit beneath them.  I had a look at Expletive but the break was popping, so I did the easier version using the sidepull.  After this was the trio of excellent problems including Clarion Call - I flashed all three, and they are very good.

I had a look at the Chilli Burn boulder, but it was seeping (and too hard).  I picked up some finger tape and banana skins that someone had left there, rather disappointing this is happening already.  After this my skin had had enough so I left.

On my way home I dropped in at Roundbarn, which was wet, and had a wander around. Catfoot looks great so I think I'll head back this week if the weather remains dry.

Yesterday I did a new 10k route from home in my new Mudclaw 300s - got some heel rub and a blister on my right second toe.  I'll not be wearing these next weekend for the Buttermere to Dalemain rec.!!  A gentle 5k this morning was OK though.

So the plan is to get out on the rock this week - maybe Roundbarn +/- Jumbles.  I'll also get the Higher Chelburn video online once my Vimeo allowance resets.

Grizedale Ultra Trail 26. 8th February 2015

On Sunday it was the Grizedale Trail event.  Last year I did this with the Iron Man, but this year he had stuff on that clashed and precluded his involvement.  As with the Coniston - Buttermere recce, I was to miss the company.

It was a bright morning but with lots of freezing fog, the car suggesting minus four for most of the journey up.  I hoped that the sun would burn this off and the day would be clear with good views, but it wasn't to be.  After the briefing we set off on the first loop.  This is all on forest trails and isn't as interesting as the second loop.  The first "half" marathon seemed to be nearly 24k.  The mist never really cleared, there was ice underfoot and it was cold out of the sun.

Loop 2 goes over the tops to Windermere, then along the lakeside for a couple of km before a steep up to head back to Grizedale.  I finished in 6hrs 16, a lot slower than last year but the course was longer this time.  Felt fine though, even on the last steep ascents.  Next up is the Buttermere to Dalemain recce.  Gulp.

The ascent out of Near Sawrey:

UTLD Recce Number 2: Ambleside to Coniston

Andrew and I did this event tonight (technically last night due to the lateness of the hour). We were driven from Coniston to Ambleside in a scorchingly hot coach. We were both glad to get off and get running.

We made good progress on the ascent from Ambleside and along the rivers to get to the Chapel Stile checkpoint with (some) daylight left. I had some cheese and onion crisps and off we went. The next leg to Tilberthwaite was quite boggy, but my shoes did their job and my feet were ok. After the brutal ascent out of Langdale we cruised through to the Tilberthwaite checkpoint. I had my own banana supplemented with jelly babies and a cookie, and a well needed bladder decompression.

I hate the last leg. Tonight it felt better, not having done 47 miles to get to it, but it still worries me for the 100.  We pushed on this leg, nailing it in around an hour.

We both felt good on this run, and we finished in 3 hours 48 minutes. Considering we took 6 hours 11 minutes when we did the 50, that ain't bad!

Grizedale 26 next I think. Then it's the nasty recce from Buttermere to Dalemain......

Tidying up

I've been feeling a bit under the weather for the last week.  Running the Guild Wheel on Monday 12th January in blasting winds and rain probably didn't help.  35.4km according to the GPS, which is a little further than the official 21 miles.  It took 4 hours and 12 minutes, which is slower than expected but OK considering the condition.  Looking forward to the UTLD rec. next weekend, the night run from Ambleside to Coniston.





I bought Final Cut Pro recently, and had a little play around this morning.  Edited some footage I captured back in October, but I'm not used to using it yet.  I'm sure I'll get used to it fairly soon.

Had a little play on the board yesterday, feeling dreadfully weak but that's motivation to get on it more I suppose.......


Short Wilton 3 visit from GCW on Vimeo.