"Carry On Up The Kinder" or The Edale MMM

Early start and pick up Dave Motley to get down to Edale for around 8:00 am. Some bad omens as we get lost driving down or were we just half asleep? All's well as we get registered and start for about 9:00, Dave probably going 10 minutes before me.

Dib, get my map and set off planning as I jogged up the lane towards Edale village. I've only been here once before so it's a little understandable when I run into the car park of some sort of outdoor centre; looked a bit of an idiot but never mind. Run back out on to the lane. I had looked at the map carefully before hand so I had an idea of the way I'd do this checkpoints. One bunch to the west seem to be better to bag at the end if time allows as they're slightly isolated. I'd go anti clockwise right round towards the back of Kinder near the A66 and then come back and decide which to pick up towards the end.

All went well with just a few problems and slower legs. I did find it difficult to maintain map to ground contact at times when I was crossing very rough ground and the absence of any local knowledge beyond one Skyline rec was both difficult and more exciting. My biggest mistake was after over 3 hours by choosing to go west steadily traversing up toward the edge to the north of Grindsbook Clough instead of climbing up on to the edge and just running along it. Although it lost me little time it was so difficult under foot and so tiring I didn't plan my next leg properly and that cost me a few minutes. It also meant that my finish had to be absolutely flat out, descending 1100" and running like a lunatic through the village to not go over 4 hours and 5 minutes and start incurring double penalties. I made it by 5 seconds.

Dave appeared and asked if I'd moved the keys hidden on the car tyre, not very secretively. No I hadn't but they'll turn up, I thought!

Once I'd downloaded I realised I was in the lead, at the time! This didn't cheer Dave up, he's a bit selfish sometimes! Anyway after he got a lift up to Lancashire got my keys and came back and I'd stood around for 4 hours trying to keep warm we did get into the car. The wife was very unimpressed with having to drive the keys part way down!

Lessons learnt:

• Look after your car keys
• Look closely at the terrain on the map
• Break bad news to the wife gently

Final result was that I came 4th and 1st vet 40. I presume I've taken the series V40 title with 2 class wins. I think that gets me into the Rab MM 2 day event for free next year. Might have to take this seriously!

Dark and White MMM Edale Preparation

Didn't want to go overboard preparing for this but I know I'd kick myself if I messed up for want of a bit of simple fore thought. So I've had a few evenings of night nav practice trying to find premarked points then seeing if I hit them. I have to say I got many spectacularly wrong, even running to the wrong checkpoint ( even though I'd marked them) and then trying to convince myself that I was right. I got back into pacing, running the needle which is pretty difficult in the dark! Madge seemed to enjoy it all, although she was a bit puzzled by the erratic routes. I was all good fun and the more I got wrong, the more I learnt.

I think given the time that the checkpoints might go right around the back the Kinder Plateau. I can't see us going south but I'm prepared to be surprised.

Physically I should be okay for Edale. I think given 4 hours I'll hope to get round 17 or 18 miles with 5000" of climb, maybe more.

The main thing on Sunday is to enjoy it and see how it goes!

November 160 miles 40000 ft

November has turned out to be a pretty good month. Only one race and few irregular commitments have seemed to mean that I have actually managed to do what I had vaguely planned out for the month. Lots of running, loads of climb at a reasonable intensity.

We moved house in September and this obviously meant a few missed runs. October was partly about the relays.

November though has been about getting out and really enjoying my running. Ironically we've not been away in the motorhome since the end of August whereas we're normally away a couple of times a month. All this seems to have combined to enable me to run and recover almost endlessly. Although Im not sure about my short race fitness and haven't yet done a cross country this season, I think my longer race fitness is better than it's ever been.

Moving back to Trawden has been a massive coup. Having moved away 10 years ago it feels great to get out on those tops again. I'm running further than I was those days and I'm stretching out into the Pennines. Exploring new routes, I'm getting a couple of runs over 2 hours each week and running twice a day most days.

Madge (above) is continuing to be a fantastic training partner, always willing (unless its tipping it down), always fun and pretty much inexhaustible.

December is going to be a bit more varied. I've the next Dark and White MMM down at Edale and I'm going to taper properly for this one. We're away for much of the last week up in the Lakes with walking  and mountain biking as well as Wansfell Race.

January should be a big month with again plenty of miles and climb but some higher intensity stuff starting to appear.

D&W Mini Mountain Marathon Coniston 11.11.12

I liked the look of this a while ago and entered with a real sense of anticipation. It didn't disappoint. I've not done any orienteering for over twenty years and even then it was just divisional sport in the Navy but I am a Mountain Leader and have taught navigation over the years so I was hoping it would all stick together.

I'll get some pictures on if i can find some and flesh it out properly when I've a minute. However, the bottom line is that I ended up being gutted that I didn't win! Not try often that I can say that. I topped the leader board for some time and didn't find out I'd been pipped until the day after. So second overall and first vet.

I made a few howlers with my navigation and think there's still a lot more in the tank so I have something to work with.

Next one is down in the Peaks in the middle of December. I took a very casual approach up at Coniston, should I do the same with the next one or try and get it spot on? I think I'll enjoy trying my best!

I'm hoping that I can progress enough to do well in the Mountain Trials Classic next but I know there's a step up in terms of the athletic performance.

Edale Skyline Reccie

Link to run data

This is the sort of run that would have destroyed me a year or two since. Essentially I don't think I used do long training runs hard enough. Last year I was concentrating on track sessions and not enough on sustained running. The gap in between much of my training and my races was enormous, I seemed to get away with that for many short or medium races but struggled very badly on longer stuff.
Yesterday I found I was still strong towards the end of this 20 miler.

It was a beautiful day but pretty cold; this led to much stopping and starting as jacket came on as an icy blast caught us then stripping off when sheltered but bathed in sun. The area is lovely but not quite the mountainous beauty of the Lakes and the like. Navigation was pretty straight forward on the large scale but getting the right trod was tricky. I may very well go down to Hayfield and take another look at the western section.

No pictures I'm afraid as we were on a pretty tight schedule: I had a party to go to and Dave had an appointment at the velodrome. I didn't go to the party, Tracy had been working all day and just wanted to put het feet up, I didn't argue!

Lake District Mountain Trials (Medium) 9th Sept 2012

I decided to have a go at the trial some time ago, I suppose in a way doing the medium was a bit of a cop out and I'll certainly have a go at the classic in the future.

I set off with no expectations at all. Doodling along focusing on the nav and ignoring all around me; in a sociable way!

To cut a long story short I realised by around two thirds of the way in that I was actually going pretty well and should maybe push hard. I missed the last checkpoint with a bit of stable door-itis, loosing a few minutes in the process. I came in fourth and second vet.

Absolutely loved it!

Ochil 2000s 25th Aug 12

My original intention had been to try and cleverly weave our 2 weeks in Scotland around some great walking, biking and running, concluding with the Ben race. This didn't work out as we needed to be back before that weekend. So i looked for a race and found the Ochil 2000s. An AL race of 20 miles and 5000". That seemed to fit the bill.

Have had a nightmare at Borrowdale a few weeks earlier I needed a fresh approach. I set off very slowly, probably at the sort of speed I'd start a long training run. Absolutely no push at all on a day of sunshine and nice views. Having never stepped onto these hills before in my life and this being a navigation race I wanted to keep a certain focus, I certainly didn't want to follow anyone else, unless........ unless my earlier planned route needed quickly amending, as they sometimes do.

I won't detail all the hills we crossed but I did pick up places steadily and for the most part got the navigation spot on, on two occasions making up quite a few places with she contouring. In the last 4 or 5 miles, with rain now falling, its fair to see I was going pretty much flat out to make up and defend places.  I came in an hour behind Murray Stain and over half an hour behind Yasmin Paris. I was 27th out of 76, to be fair as a counter in a Scottish GP it had a class field at the top.

Did I enjoy it? Certainly. I was happy with my performance, boosting my badly dented confidence. However, I probably wouldn't make the long journey for a very pennine like race.

Catching Up

After moving house and having no Internet for several weeks I'm catching up on things very slowly. I do want write up both the Ian Hodgson Relay and the FRA relays as soon as I can. In the pipeline is a rec of The Edale Skyline and next month one of the Dark and White Mini Mountain Marathons, this one starting from Coniston.

I seem to have managed to become my own second follower?! No idea how I did it or how to change it!

Borrowdale Balls Up

This was meant to be my big race! Somewhere this year the plan came off the rails, in fact it crashed and overturned. I won't go into the whole catalogue of excuses but it boils down to insufficient time on my feet at the wrong intensity.

Anyway, the race. Quite a few of us travelled up together and discussed the route and approach in detail. I'd descided to start pretty quick to avoid the crush then slow down to a pace that matched my fitness. The weather seemed promising although there were some warnings of thunder storms. As planned I moved quickly after the start until the start of the climb up Bessyboot. I slowed down and happily let folk past, trying to stick to my plan. At the start of the climb I was about sixtieth. I was determined to climb to Esk Hause steadily and enjoyed a bit of banter as we went. I did notice my heart rate was high for the pace I was going. I wondered if the speedy start was to blame.
I think climbing Scarfell Pike I started to feel slightly under the weather. Was it the heat? There are plenty of other excuses available! Down the scree okay and onto the Corridor Route. I seemed to be maintaining my position along here but thought I'd follow Jackie Winn on a few little trods, I think he's a bit nimbler than me, I'd have been better off on the path at times.
Gable. First half of the climb was fine, I chatted to a Peninne runner picked up a bit more water. Some mates were on the bottom and they gave me encouragement as well as some jelly babies. Second half of the climb I slowed considerably. I started to bleed places but wasnt overly bothered as I was still moving and my expectations weren't too high. On the flat towards Grey Knots I kept moving reasonably well although I was starting to get hints of cramp. Desending down to Honister my legs were suffering and just before the car park Pete Booth; 62 and Cieran Carr; 68! Came past me. Onlookers may have been puzzled by my gerning expression and hobbling or I dare say they'll have seen a few others who also had a crippling attack of cramp.
I should have called it a day there and then, why I didn't I'll never know. I won't go through all the miserable details but I walked and sat more than I ran up Dale Head and through the mines. It took me over an hour and a half to get back from Honister. Friends who I normally beat by quite a margin trotted past me, some concerned, most amused!

I eventually finished in 4:45, can't remember the position and don't want to look. The post mortem; better planning, probably with more mileage and be a bit less greedy with races. I'll be back next year!

Rydal Round

Still not seen the results for this but did come in third V40. Ran it about 8 minutes slower than the last time I did it 2 years ago, taking 5 minutes more to climb to the top.
It's a great race with all the atmosphere that a gala race has and a cracking route. I wasn't concerned with running too hard as I know I'm just off the pace a bit with patchy last few months of training and more than half an eye on Borrowdale. Most of the climb was in the flag and I found it probably more difficult than I should. From the top I turned with a runner just behind me and although I've been up there more than a few times I had my map and compass out to make absolutely sure I went right. I must admit I got a bit tetchy when the guy behind started quizzing me about the line. He didn't have his map out! I decided not to go over Hart Crag as I remembered following two Ambleside runners on a decent line contouring around it. Maybe the fell gods wanted revenge for my tetchiness but it didn't go well, it got very scambley and I almost got crag bound! I don't think my shadow followed me so maybe he had the last laugh. I emerged back on the path way behind a runner I'd past half an hour ago.
I decided I was trying to be too clever I maybe I should just enjoy the race. Needless to say my new found easy doing attitude back fired. I followed a couple of guys down the wrong line after wrong line. Now up until this point I'd not been really pushing the pace but as I emerged from behind the wrong side of Low Pike and x club mate who I'd left behind at the start of the main climb appears in front of me! We get on but there's history and banter; I was not happy to be behind him. So pushed on  very very hard now. Although not really part of any plan I enjoyed a final section of the race that saw my heart rate climb to an impressive 195!
The £10 prize was spent on a sausage sandwich for me and some fudge for the wife. A great afternoon was spent debriefing mates and watching bike races and wrestling.

Comptons Cross 30 June 9 miles 500"

The last time I did this race I seriously bonked, within minutes of setting off! I'd had a tooth out in quite a traumatic fashion and mustn't have been eating properly. I was determined to be relaxed with this one and just get in a good tough run to help my Wasdale preparation but not over reach. With a very small field of 34 I found myself in second after the main climb and the winner looking very determined and disappearing. I had no desire to try and chase him down and really was trying to relax. The guy behind me had a different approach and about 3 miles in he edged past me and tried to pull away. I had a fair bit in reserve so I just stuck to him. He surged again pulling away a bit but I reeled him in. This continued until he tried slowing! I had no intensional of going past him though at this stage and was really quite enjoying myself. I do sympathise with him I could see he was getting pretty hacked off with me but I was not after too tough a day out. This is not to say I didn't want to beat him, in fact I was pretty confident I could. It was becoming reminiscent of the last few miles of a bike race and I was the selfish git who wouldn't do any work. Eventually with around 3 miles to go he went wrong, I wondered whether on purpose? I told him the right direction and took off. I figured I could put the hammer down a bit now. Came in second about a minute in front of a quite unhappy third. He wanted to know why I didn't share the work and why I took off? I probably said the wrong thing by explaining I wanted an easy run! Anyway we had a good chat about the Great Lakes Run and made up. A good speedy Pennine fell race,with not too much climb and a friendly atmosphere?

Dockray and Dodds

A real bonus race, a mid week AM in the Lakes. A nice, almost horseshoe sort of route on an evening that really required some navigation. A 7pm start with cloud hanging over the Dodds so I ran with a map and thumb compass in hand. A good job too. I wasn't at all worried about pressing on and was, for once, ignoring my position. Despite going confidently alone to the top I hadn't quite marked up my map properly and so had a slight detour in the clag. I won't detail all the route but will say that the only time I followed someone, an Eden runner who seemed very certain, we went quickly wrong. I abandoned that group and made my own way. I took my own lines with no local knowledge, nearly missed the last checkpoint and had to double back a bit. Something I'm pretty sure a large number of the field didn't do but never mind! Did lead a small group from the last CP to the finish, one of who paid me back by sprinting in before me! Never mind! Came in mid field and thoroughly enjoyed it. I will have a lasting memory of a lovely sweeping descent out of the clag and several runners going in different directions and others zig zagging! I'll also remember the sight of Paul, who drove there and back, arriving in last having got seriously lost for over an hour! Great race but the after midnight return home might put me off.

Great Lakes Run

A very wet day, post race warnings and a tough course. It doesn't sound encouraging but I can't remember enjoying a race more. I say 'race' but I never really pushed on in a competitive way. It became more of a challenge and one that saw me focus hard on the route, on helping others round and crossing the swollen becks. This was my first AL for a while and my first in the Lakes so I was happy to be conservative in pacing and feel my way along. I was very happy with the navigation, running with a map and thumb compass in hand from the top of Bow Fell to Pike o Blisco. I was quite happy to keep a set map without taking bearings. Physically I felt pretty good but gradually faded as I climbed out of the great moss. Came in 99th, not thrilled with the position but happy with the performance in a broader sense.

Borrowdale Recce

Set off from Rosthwaite already feeling tired; not a great sign. I figured I'd start to feel a bit better as the day progressed. Trogded pretty slowly up Bessy Boot searching for the best line but not quite getting it. I don't think I've ever set foot on this ridge but I've taken groups down Langstrath and over towards Easedale many times. Seemed to get the lines pretty much okay all the way up to Allen Crags although I was still going very slowly. The weather was absolutely spot on; sunny but reasonably fresh. Once passed Esk Hause there was a lot more people about and the silly runners pride kicked in as I started to push on. Was I feeling better or kidding myself? Plenty of rock hopping to Scarfell Pike and unbelievably the first time I've been down the corridor route since 1984! Walked up Great Gable with no great gusto and started to think I'd run far too hard on Tuesday night! Legs were very weary. Had a long chat with some walkers at the top and Madge was made a fuss of by all, she'd been drinking in streams and bathing in every little tarn but she was looking a bit hot now. It was great to talk to pele and made my performance so far set nicely in context when I explain the route I was doing. The walkers said I looked fresh, I assured them I was not. The route to Honister is one I've done quite a few times and it is pretty quick but by now I was knackered, even getting in under 4:30 was looking doubtful, to be honest I wasn't bothered about the time.... Well. As I started up Dale Head I could see a guy walking up about 200 yards ahead. He was still 200 yards ahead at the top, any running I did was offset by the stretching and leg rubbing I did! The last descent was hard work and I came in just over 5 hours.

Calderdale Really 2012 Leg 2

Mixed feelings about our run. After a night out on the Friday I've come to the conclusion that I really can't hack booze any longer! What I would have downed 20 years ago most nights in the Navy now brings me pathetically to my knees; Saturday was written off. An early start on Sunday morning still saw me tired but after a warm up we got the baton in sixth place and I seemed to be moving okay. Andy seemed to be on the verge of hyperventilating and not quite getting going but as we got onto the tops heading towards Studley Pike he really got going and I had a very hard time keeping up. Fortunately I was descending better and I got a bit of a breather dropping down to London Road. We had passed two pairs so far and we were just in touch with Todmorden, well maybe a minute behind. If they went wrong we could maybe catch them? Instead we went wrong, Instead of dropping down to the church at Salford we managed to contrive to add an extra few hundred yards and a few of those stop start, double back and head scratching episodes. Preston caught us up and unfortunately followed us in our little misadventure. Anyway Andy shot up the next climb and now I was hyperventilating, my had was throbbing and my legs were jelly! We dropped the Preston pair okay and the final descent I stretched away from Andy and with encouragement from club mates handed over to the next pair.

They promptly got lost!

I've given up drinking again!

Possible Races 2012

Calderdale Relay Leg 2 Weets? Great Lakes Run Wasdale? Borrowdale Ochil 2000 3 Shires or Keilder Blast Ian Hodgson UKA Relay Great Whernside Half Trog or Full Tour of Pendle

Coledale Reflections

Nearly 4 weeks on from Coledale and it's still colouring my training with the stark need to get in long steep climbs and descents and improve my agility over rocky ground. With that in mind I've booked a few days in the National Trust campsite at half term. Should be able to get in good walk and mountain bike outing with the family and either a turn around the northern part of the Wasdale route or a bit more of the Great Lakes run, although that's less likely. I've also got the preceding Friday free so I'll try and get up to Borrowdale.

Great Lakes Run Recce

A very tough day over a tough route. Thoroughly enjoyed having to navigate in low visibility on the tops, having to keep moving fast to keep warm but struggled with the very rocky terrain. I haven't been on Scarfell for some years and I don't think I've been across to Scarfell Pike at all. The weather cleared descending to Slightside and I got great views down to Wasdale and out to sea. The climb out of Mosesale was hard but not as hard as the last descent off Pike o Bliscoe. I might have to rethink that last section, maybe even another recce.