Hoping to UTUP tomorrow, and to be out a bit longer than yesterday.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Auld Lang Syne 31st Dec 2010
Well I braved the elements in my fancy dress 'costume' - here I am
http://www.photos-dsb.co.uk/ALS%202010/content/ALS_2010_391_large.html
Didn't manage to break 70 mins (which I'd hoped for) but I had to take it gently to prevent any 'wardrobe' malfunctions. There is a fairly indecent shot of me taken near the trig point (turning back point) which I'm not providing a link for, should have remembered it's windy near the top. If you want to see it, I'm sure the resourceful among you will be able to seek it out (not for those of a sensitive nature). Most photographers advertize their wares via the fellrunner forum, I unfortunately have appreared to do the same!!
TF
Well I braved the elements in my fancy dress 'costume' - here I am
http://www.photos-dsb.co.uk/ALS%202010/content/ALS_2010_391_large.html
Didn't manage to break 70 mins (which I'd hoped for) but I had to take it gently to prevent any 'wardrobe' malfunctions. There is a fairly indecent shot of me taken near the trig point (turning back point) which I'm not providing a link for, should have remembered it's windy near the top. If you want to see it, I'm sure the resourceful among you will be able to seek it out (not for those of a sensitive nature). Most photographers advertize their wares via the fellrunner forum, I unfortunately have appreared to do the same!!
TF
More of the same...
I shall be UTUPing tomorrow (Saturday) hoping for a bit further than the 8 miles we did yesterday. While I think we were all a bit short of energy for one reason or another it was a bonus day on the fells at this time of the year and the good company made up for the lack of distance.
EtU and TF made it as far as the Pike, for different reasons, and the rest carried on via Two Lads, the Quarries where we had to brave a herd of cattle grazing on and around the path and then, the route to the RoW stone being deemed too icy, we shortcutted to the trig point, down the diagonal and the Sheep's Back to the Lower barn in a time of 2 hrs 16 mins.
A happy New Year to all who don't turn out tomorrow - and good running to those who do.
I shall be UTUPing tomorrow (Saturday) hoping for a bit further than the 8 miles we did yesterday. While I think we were all a bit short of energy for one reason or another it was a bonus day on the fells at this time of the year and the good company made up for the lack of distance.
EtU and TF made it as far as the Pike, for different reasons, and the rest carried on via Two Lads, the Quarries where we had to brave a herd of cattle grazing on and around the path and then, the route to the RoW stone being deemed too icy, we shortcutted to the trig point, down the diagonal and the Sheep's Back to the Lower barn in a time of 2 hrs 16 mins.
A happy New Year to all who don't turn out tomorrow - and good running to those who do.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Peak 'O' Trial, Tues 28th Dec
Always prepared for a bit of an adventure at one of Des's races, I turned up thinking I'd get away with the short 4m (as advertised) option. It was first day out in the car for 11 days and I needed to get to the shops before I missed out on all the bargains.
Des had other ideas. It's hour and a half course he says, I've not planned a short one, you can always miss a couple out. He waved the map briefly in front of me just so I had a general idea of distance involved. Miss a couple out, that was like a 'red rag to a bull', no never!
Well after an hour and a half had elapsed I'd got to the point of 'where there's no sense, there's no feeling' or in my case no feeling, no sense. How numb can your feet get? Very, if you tramp around the Peak District looking for little orange and white flags while there's snow on the ground. Should have called it quits, but soldiered on and was back at the pub in 3hrs17. Even Des's 'an hour and a half' was a bit optimistic, winner (Julien Minshull, local runner) managed 1hr:47 I believe, and he knows the area as well as Des. Not sure if I was the slowest, but at least I was back in less than 2x winner's time.
I'll be out for a brief run tomorrow, so will see a few of you at 8.30am
TF
Always prepared for a bit of an adventure at one of Des's races, I turned up thinking I'd get away with the short 4m (as advertised) option. It was first day out in the car for 11 days and I needed to get to the shops before I missed out on all the bargains.
Des had other ideas. It's hour and a half course he says, I've not planned a short one, you can always miss a couple out. He waved the map briefly in front of me just so I had a general idea of distance involved. Miss a couple out, that was like a 'red rag to a bull', no never!
Well after an hour and a half had elapsed I'd got to the point of 'where there's no sense, there's no feeling' or in my case no feeling, no sense. How numb can your feet get? Very, if you tramp around the Peak District looking for little orange and white flags while there's snow on the ground. Should have called it quits, but soldiered on and was back at the pub in 3hrs17. Even Des's 'an hour and a half' was a bit optimistic, winner (Julien Minshull, local runner) managed 1hr:47 I believe, and he knows the area as well as Des. Not sure if I was the slowest, but at least I was back in less than 2x winner's time.
I'll be out for a brief run tomorrow, so will see a few of you at 8.30am
TF
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday 30th Dec
There is some interest in a run over Winter Hill on Thursday. Start at 8:30 a.m at the Bottom Barn.
Be good to have a substantial turn-out.
Be good to have a substantial turn-out.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Clitheroe 10K
SN has just alerted me to the fact that it's CANCELLED!
Must have heard that their star athlete was laid up with man flu. Although I do think organizing (from his sick bed) for a Milk Lorry to get stuck on the route was a deliberate attempt to slow everyone up! All entries valid for a new date (TBC), Fellrunner forum is suggesting sometime in March for a re-staging, so hoping it's not the 27th as that clashes with Edale. Mindful of any other delaying tactics that EtU might have in mind!!
I'd looked at the possibility of doing Trafford 10k on the 13th, so I don't think the organizers will go for that date due to the elite wanting to be at both.
Anyway that's enough talk of road running. Hoping to get out to the Peak District tomorrow to do a bit of navigating. Three days stuck inside with a paintbrush and a roller is enough for anyone to take to the hills. 4 rooms done, 1 to go.
TF
SN has just alerted me to the fact that it's CANCELLED!
Must have heard that their star athlete was laid up with man flu. Although I do think organizing (from his sick bed) for a Milk Lorry to get stuck on the route was a deliberate attempt to slow everyone up! All entries valid for a new date (TBC), Fellrunner forum is suggesting sometime in March for a re-staging, so hoping it's not the 27th as that clashes with Edale. Mindful of any other delaying tactics that EtU might have in mind!!
I'd looked at the possibility of doing Trafford 10k on the 13th, so I don't think the organizers will go for that date due to the elite wanting to be at both.
Anyway that's enough talk of road running. Hoping to get out to the Peak District tomorrow to do a bit of navigating. Three days stuck inside with a paintbrush and a roller is enough for anyone to take to the hills. 4 rooms done, 1 to go.
TF
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Ribble Valley 10k
A full week of flu (man/lady/swine?) has left me feeling a bit grim, and even now it's on the wane, it's left me with debilitating cough, that means I'm having to give tomorrow's race a miss.
Hope anyone that does toe the line has a good run, possible with two under the 50 minutes?
Hope anyone that does toe the line has a good run, possible with two under the 50 minutes?
Friday, December 24, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Southern Section
Seasons greetings to you all in the frozen North. Its not that warm down here come to that but we haven't had much snow since the weekend. Sadly my running has had another setback with firstly a recurrence of my back trouble followed by a bad cold so I haven't been out since October. But never mind, I am used to it by now so a new start will be made in the new year. Keep up the great posts as it is well interesting to read and the photos are especially welcome as there are no hills round here.
See you in 2011
TLoB
See you in 2011
TLoB
Hospital Run Postponed
For anyone thinking of doing the Harriers' annual pre-Christmas "Hospital Run" (tonight), it has been postponed on safety grounds due to the weather.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Only a short run - the start of a wonderful day
I couldn't be with you on Saturday, even if plan A or plan B had come to fruition (see YJ post). I did however manage to achieve a short run on the fells. After breakfast I escaped from the Devonshire Fell hotel in Burnsall, clod in yaktrax, ran up the road a bit before turning off into Harden Woods with a demanding little climb up through the virgin snow before carefully making my way back down. I was only allowed 20 minutes or so, as I was required to greet guests from about 11.30 a.m. who would be turning up for my daughter's wedding.
All apart from four made it - they gave up trying to get out of Horwich after 90 minutes on Saturday morning. We even managed to persuade everyone to leave the confines of the hotel for a few outside photographs.
There's a small collage of photographs on the photographer's blog for those who would like to see what Diane and Neal got up to on their only rest weekend in their Ironman training schedule.
All apart from four made it - they gave up trying to get out of Horwich after 90 minutes on Saturday morning. We even managed to persuade everyone to leave the confines of the hotel for a few outside photographs.
There's a small collage of photographs on the photographer's blog for those who would like to see what Diane and Neal got up to on their only rest weekend in their Ironman training schedule.
Not Quite So Young EYJ
Not just sure of the exact date, but I think that EYJ has just turned 70, it might have been 17th Dec.
So, sorry, John for missing this landmark birthday. Hope the day went well (if it has already went), and here's to the next decade.
We now boast four septuagenarians; good grief, there's more of them than there is of us!
Who's next? Could it be me?
So, sorry, John for missing this landmark birthday. Hope the day went well (if it has already went), and here's to the next decade.
We now boast four septuagenarians; good grief, there's more of them than there is of us!
Who's next? Could it be me?
Saturday, December 18, 2010
It's no joke
"It never snows in Longton" is a phrase I often trot out when surrounding areas are being blizzard swept. This smug attitude came home to roost with a vengeance on Friday night when an eight-hour snowfall started as I finished my second run of the day.
A couple of hours later it was deep enough to warrant a call to EtU to formulate plan B if conditions worsened further overnight. And worsen they did. Plan B involved a check with EtU just after 6 30 and the word was that the Grimeford area was nearly as bad as Longton and a decision was taken that to travel would be foolhardy.
That was where Plan C came in which involved setting off for a run from home and soon, when running in the virgin snow was impossible (the depth was eight to nine inches with some even deeper patches) .Plan D took me home to an early breakfast.
Since then conditions have not improved much, restricting this morning's run to an energy sapping four miles in a time which being kept a closely guarded secret.
"It never snows in Longton" is a phrase I often trot out when surrounding areas are being blizzard swept. This smug attitude came home to roost with a vengeance on Friday night when an eight-hour snowfall started as I finished my second run of the day.
A couple of hours later it was deep enough to warrant a call to EtU to formulate plan B if conditions worsened further overnight. And worsen they did. Plan B involved a check with EtU just after 6 30 and the word was that the Grimeford area was nearly as bad as Longton and a decision was taken that to travel would be foolhardy.
That was where Plan C came in which involved setting off for a run from home and soon, when running in the virgin snow was impossible (the depth was eight to nine inches with some even deeper patches) .Plan D took me home to an early breakfast.
Since then conditions have not improved much, restricting this morning's run to an energy sapping four miles in a time which being kept a closely guarded secret.
Apologies..
...to anyone who managed the UTUP this morning. Due to the snow I managed the UP, but significantly later than even my tardy UT.
Running from home, I found that studs gave good grip on compacted snow, and decided that progress was good enough to make the trig point an appropriate target. But it was not to be. Having passed through the UP, (no cars at all) I passed the Top Barn, found myself on virgin snow, vergin' (ow!) on a foot deep, and progress was reduced to a slow walk. Change of plan; the absence of footprints indicated that I could be the first up the Pike, something I'd never achieved before (racing or training), so that would be my notable achievement for the day.
But that was also not to be. Coming in from the right, part way through the gardens was a set of footprints, which I followed to the top of the Pike, although at times they were obliterated by the blown snow (spindrift seemed a suitable word for this, but my dictionary only relates it to blown sea spray).
On top, conditions were quite horrid, and taking off my gloves for a brief photographic break left my hands painfully cold.
You can just see the Pigeon Tower, slightly left of centre, near the top.
You can also see how strong the wind was, I thought I was standing upright!
My return route was virtually the same as my outgoing, except for a detour over Anderton footbridge (GR 614 135) where I took this, looking northwards up the M61.
As you can see, two and a bit northbound lanes clear, nearly two southbound.
Pb for this run 1:11, par 1:20, previous PW 1:40, this morning 2:40, oh well.
Running from home, I found that studs gave good grip on compacted snow, and decided that progress was good enough to make the trig point an appropriate target. But it was not to be. Having passed through the UP, (no cars at all) I passed the Top Barn, found myself on virgin snow, vergin' (ow!) on a foot deep, and progress was reduced to a slow walk. Change of plan; the absence of footprints indicated that I could be the first up the Pike, something I'd never achieved before (racing or training), so that would be my notable achievement for the day.
But that was also not to be. Coming in from the right, part way through the gardens was a set of footprints, which I followed to the top of the Pike, although at times they were obliterated by the blown snow (spindrift seemed a suitable word for this, but my dictionary only relates it to blown sea spray).
On top, conditions were quite horrid, and taking off my gloves for a brief photographic break left my hands painfully cold.
You can just see the Pigeon Tower, slightly left of centre, near the top.
You can also see how strong the wind was, I thought I was standing upright!
My return route was virtually the same as my outgoing, except for a detour over Anderton footbridge (GR 614 135) where I took this, looking northwards up the M61.
As you can see, two and a bit northbound lanes clear, nearly two southbound.
Pb for this run 1:11, par 1:20, previous PW 1:40, this morning 2:40, oh well.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Ribble Valley 10k
After initially baulking at the £12 entry fee, I grasped both the nettle and my credit card and entered this race, which is run on Monday 27th Dec, not far from last Sunday's 7.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Do squirrels hibernate?
At the first sign of ice my feet refused to leave the comfort of my slippers and I've been in hibernation ever since!
Need to make an effort soon as I signed up for the Clitheroe 10k in a moment of madness.
Sorry to miss everyone last Saturday night, we were at a wedding in Nottingham. Unfortunately in another moment of madness I decided to walk the 2 miles between venues in high heels and now have several large blisters. Still it gives me another reason to stay in hibernation.
SN
Need to make an effort soon as I signed up for the Clitheroe 10k in a moment of madness.
Sorry to miss everyone last Saturday night, we were at a wedding in Nottingham. Unfortunately in another moment of madness I decided to walk the 2 miles between venues in high heels and now have several large blisters. Still it gives me another reason to stay in hibernation.
SN
Saturday Night, Sunday Morning
Whilst we were enjoying the festive fayre at the Cherry Tree FSS was up in the Lakes to help Mark Smith on his Winter BG attempt. Mark has done a regular round and last year completed a Winter Round albeit in 24hrs and 20 minutes. This was his final attempt to get round in a sub 24 hour time before life changes forever on the arrival of his first child. You can read FSS's account and Mark's write up respectively. EtU asked what constitutes a winter round and apparently it is 14 days either side of the shortest day of the year.
Having been up most of the night FSS was still keen to accompany me on the South Lancs Christmas event, which he did. Mark Sammon also had a run round having been orienteering the day before. A great route from Wigan amateur rugby union club, along the canal to Arley Golf Club. From there a good route crossing the river Douglas and around Worthington Lakes before heading across the fields to Blackrod. Footpaths eventually lead back to Haigh Hall and back to the rugby club. All the better for the semi-frozen conditions underfoot. Total miles 12.05 with 1275ft climbed in 2hrs 11mins.
Hoping to do the Fairfield Horseshoe Saturday, provided roads clear enough to get to Ambleside.
NLN
3 brothers swift and a tooth fairy
http://www.runningpix.co.uk/Roadpics/Longridge7-1059D/pages/Longridge7-1059D305_jpg.htm
http://www.runningpix.co.uk/Roadpics/Longridge7-1059D/pages/Longridge7-1059D280_jpg.htm
http://www.runningpix.co.uk/Roadpics/Longridge7-1059D/pages/Longridge7-1059D248_jpg.htm
http://www.runningpix.co.uk/Roadpics/Longridge7-1059D/pages/Longridge7-1059D241_jpg.htm
TF
ps my thurs utup could be very brief depending on when we get the snow
http://www.runningpix.co.uk/Roadpics/Longridge7-1059D/pages/Longridge7-1059D305_jpg.htm
http://www.runningpix.co.uk/Roadpics/Longridge7-1059D/pages/Longridge7-1059D280_jpg.htm
http://www.runningpix.co.uk/Roadpics/Longridge7-1059D/pages/Longridge7-1059D248_jpg.htm
http://www.runningpix.co.uk/Roadpics/Longridge7-1059D/pages/Longridge7-1059D241_jpg.htm
TF
ps my thurs utup could be very brief depending on when we get the snow
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