YJ at about the 15 mile point on the back straight; he finished in the top 50% of the field.
Yours truly at about the 26 mile point; I finished in the bottom 10% of the field.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Snowdonia Marathon 24th October 2015
A couple of pictures supplied by TM:-
YJ at about the 15 mile point on the back straight; he finished in the top 50% of the field.
Yours truly at about the 26 mile point; I finished in the bottom 10% of the field.
YJ at about the 15 mile point on the back straight; he finished in the top 50% of the field.
Yours truly at about the 26 mile point; I finished in the bottom 10% of the field.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Snowdonia marathon
The long summer of hilly endurance runs paid off with a10 minute improvement on my Langdale time, which put me second (out of two) in the over 75 category. The weather at the start was atrocious but the rain eased off, as predicted by the weathermen, after two and a half hours.
The final descent, a rocky and muddy track - not my idea of road racing - needed respect and would be reflected in a slow pace for the last couple of miles.
I finished in 4hrs 22mins, 9mins behind the over 75 winner but inside the top half of the field.
The long summer of hilly endurance runs paid off with a10 minute improvement on my Langdale time, which put me second (out of two) in the over 75 category. The weather at the start was atrocious but the rain eased off, as predicted by the weathermen, after two and a half hours.
The final descent, a rocky and muddy track - not my idea of road racing - needed respect and would be reflected in a slow pace for the last couple of miles.
I finished in 4hrs 22mins, 9mins behind the over 75 winner but inside the top half of the field.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Day Trip Anyone?
Ey up! After my failure at the Bremen Marathon and just getting back to being foot pain free, I fancy a day out on the fells in the next couple of weeks. Lakes or Pendle, maybe do a race recce. Anyone fancy accompanying me and have any suggestions? I can do a weekday as well as weekends.
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Sparrowhawk v Greenfinch
Nothing to write about so far as running is concerned so, to keep in touch, here is a “bird” picture.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Windgather Fell Race Sunday 11th Oct 2015
It's been a while since I did this, 2007 to be exact. I had a trawl back through the blog but alas no report from then.
I'd penciled this in for for half marathon training, and now realised I must have been thinking along the same lines in 2007, as I'm booked in to the same Half Marathon 8 years on, 1st Nov! Distance today was 13.5m and 2500ft of climbing
A lovely day for it. It's a very pretty route early on, running along the the banks of the two reservoirs in the Goyt Valley - Erwood & Fernilee. Bit of a slog up to Shinnig Tor but the views were worth it. I'm pleased to say I ran nearly all of the route, with a couple of 'walkie' bits due to underfoot terain.
Well in 2007 I managed 2:45 as a V35, in 2015 I managed (approx) 2:48 as a V45. So overall not too bad a drift for the extra 8 years. Interesting to see what I can do at Stevenage on 1st Nov. Now, there is a report for that so you can all have a read. I don't intend to do the XC relays the day before unless they are seriously desperate. I'm hoping to get a bit of speed work in before then so see if I can beat my time.
TF
It's been a while since I did this, 2007 to be exact. I had a trawl back through the blog but alas no report from then.
I'd penciled this in for for half marathon training, and now realised I must have been thinking along the same lines in 2007, as I'm booked in to the same Half Marathon 8 years on, 1st Nov! Distance today was 13.5m and 2500ft of climbing
A lovely day for it. It's a very pretty route early on, running along the the banks of the two reservoirs in the Goyt Valley - Erwood & Fernilee. Bit of a slog up to Shinnig Tor but the views were worth it. I'm pleased to say I ran nearly all of the route, with a couple of 'walkie' bits due to underfoot terain.
Well in 2007 I managed 2:45 as a V35, in 2015 I managed (approx) 2:48 as a V45. So overall not too bad a drift for the extra 8 years. Interesting to see what I can do at Stevenage on 1st Nov. Now, there is a report for that so you can all have a read. I don't intend to do the XC relays the day before unless they are seriously desperate. I'm hoping to get a bit of speed work in before then so see if I can beat my time.
TF
Thursday, October 08, 2015
This Week's UTUPs
Thursday 8th October - To catch a little more light, Steve and I are departing from the Stocks at the earlier time of 6:00 p.m, rather than the usual 6:30. Also, we will be having a couple of beers afterwards - all welcome.
Saturday 10th October - I will be at the Lower Barn at 8:30 a.m, looking for company. Must have GSOH.
Saturday 10th October - I will be at the Lower Barn at 8:30 a.m, looking for company. Must have GSOH.
Tuesday, October 06, 2015
Rucksack Club Navigational Challenge – Saturday 3rd October
A few pics here from a glorious weekend in the Duddon Valley, Wasdale bound next weekend : )
Dam Wall – Seathwaite Tarn
Monday, October 05, 2015
Sunday 4th October
Anything known about how EYJ's protege fared in her big event? I have info on our other two long distance ladies.
Saturday 3rd October 2015 - Outcome
I was over a minute outside my target time for the 5k, but a pleasing 3 minutes 51 seconds inside my target for my run to Winter Hill trig point.
Sunday, October 04, 2015
79 Miles!
No, not one of YJ's routine training runs, but the total distance that will be completed by three of 'our' ladies today, if their separate plans come to fruition - watch this space.
Well, almost - 78.6 actually - do the maths.
Well, almost - 78.6 actually - do the maths.
Friday, October 02, 2015
Saturday 3rd October
Just for info., I will not be UTUPing this Saturday; I'll be doing my monthly Park Run, followed by a run up to the trig point from Horrocks Fold car park. Target time for the 5k is sub 30 and for the return trip to the trig point is sub 90 minutes.
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Winter Hill - Tuesday 15th September
In the absence of SN, EtU and Nic’O JtE and I had an early doors run over Winter Hill this afternoon and very pleasant it was in the sunshine – not many pics taken but here if you wish : )
Here’s a couple from the Downhill Race last week for the record
Monday, September 14, 2015
Three Loiter in Langdale
Well, if you knew what time I did, you'd say I was loitering!
TF and the Bros travelled up to the New Dungeon Ghyll on Saturday, YJ to do the Marathon, me to do the Half and TF just to roam the fells until we reappeared.
The races were scheduled to start at 11:00 but both were delayed until 11:30. To some extent this was because folk were still queueing to collect numbers, but also, possibly to let the worst of the rain clouds blow over. This latter aspect worked quite well, but it was still raining when to gun went and many of us found ourselves over-dressed when the rain did clear about 30 minutes later.
The full distance involved two laps of the Half Marathon course and as I plodded my way round to an all time PW I began to worry that I would be lapped by the front end of the 'big' race. However, despite my concern I managed to finish a full 30 minutes ahead of the first marathoner, Shaun Livesey of Blackburn Harriers who clocked 3:09. First lady was the unattached Janet Dickson, 9th overall in a time of 3:36.
YJ beat the first M65 by two minutes. There was no M70 finisher and our man picked up the M75 prize, clocking a time of 4:33, placing 48th out of a field of 85, on what is reckoned to be the toughest road marathon in the UK.
An interesting feature of the Jon Schofield results is the inclusion of a comparison of each completer's time with the world record for their age. With the results sorted into that order YJ ranked 8th overall with a score of 65.61% - that's the world record, divided by the individual's time, expressed as a percentage. Seems like somewhere there's a 75 year old who's run a sub 3:00! You'll have to do more miles, John!
TF also seemed to have enjoyed her day, and despite snoring all the way home, insisted she was just resting her eyes.
TF and the Bros travelled up to the New Dungeon Ghyll on Saturday, YJ to do the Marathon, me to do the Half and TF just to roam the fells until we reappeared.
The races were scheduled to start at 11:00 but both were delayed until 11:30. To some extent this was because folk were still queueing to collect numbers, but also, possibly to let the worst of the rain clouds blow over. This latter aspect worked quite well, but it was still raining when to gun went and many of us found ourselves over-dressed when the rain did clear about 30 minutes later.
The full distance involved two laps of the Half Marathon course and as I plodded my way round to an all time PW I began to worry that I would be lapped by the front end of the 'big' race. However, despite my concern I managed to finish a full 30 minutes ahead of the first marathoner, Shaun Livesey of Blackburn Harriers who clocked 3:09. First lady was the unattached Janet Dickson, 9th overall in a time of 3:36.
YJ beat the first M65 by two minutes. There was no M70 finisher and our man picked up the M75 prize, clocking a time of 4:33, placing 48th out of a field of 85, on what is reckoned to be the toughest road marathon in the UK.
An interesting feature of the Jon Schofield results is the inclusion of a comparison of each completer's time with the world record for their age. With the results sorted into that order YJ ranked 8th overall with a score of 65.61% - that's the world record, divided by the individual's time, expressed as a percentage. Seems like somewhere there's a 75 year old who's run a sub 3:00! You'll have to do more miles, John!
TF also seemed to have enjoyed her day, and despite snoring all the way home, insisted she was just resting her eyes.
Holiday Pictures
Here are a few holiday pictures taken with my new toy as Pauline calls it. As you will see, I am still learning.
Gannets.
Little Owl
York Minster
Some people up there
This one’s showing off
Harvest time
Monday, September 07, 2015
Bolton Parkrun 5th September
Found this a fun experience, in fact the mood was so good that I think everyone should have a Parkrun on their bucket list.
However, despite this, Parkruns won't replace my Saturday UTUPs more than once a month.
However, despite this, Parkruns won't replace my Saturday UTUPs more than once a month.
Wyatt Earp is missing
It might not have actually been Wyatt Earp but one of the marshals at the Bradley fell race was missing at a critical moment and so my comeback race ended in pure farce. I hadn't raced since April for a variety of reasons and so yesterday's race just the other side of Skipton seemed ideal, 4 miles and 1000ft of climbing. All was going well until the last half mile when coming down a hill facing into the sun, I came to a junction. There was no-one in sight just in front of me and the marshal wasn't there, and so I missed the turning. After about 400m I realised I was wrong and after asking directions managed to find my way back to the finish.
There was no point in getting annoyed about it. Marshals are volunteers and without them there would be no races. it was just my bad luck that he/she chose that particular moment to answer a call of nature/ talk on a mobile phone/ pop out for a beer or whatever. SWINW is not too pleased either. The beard I promised I would shave off when I had completed a fell race is still there.
There was no point in getting annoyed about it. Marshals are volunteers and without them there would be no races. it was just my bad luck that he/she chose that particular moment to answer a call of nature/ talk on a mobile phone/ pop out for a beer or whatever. SWINW is not too pleased either. The beard I promised I would shave off when I had completed a fell race is still there.
Monday, August 31, 2015
SBU35 - Saturday 29th August
Although its title suggests this event is 35 miles, folk with fancy electronics all seem to agree that it's in excess of 36.
The route starts near the osprey viewing point above Bassenthwaite Lake and moves generally south, down Borrowdale to the first checkpoint at Rosthwaite. Then it's up the old drovers' road alongside the Honister motor road to the slate mine, then left to the Loft Beck crossing at an altitude of 1,900ft and down into Ennerdale, past the Black Sail hut to CP2 at Low Gillerthwaite. Then along to Ennerdale Bridge to pick up Nannycatch Beck, thence to, and over, Dent Fell and into Cleator for CP3. then another 4.5 miles to the finish at St Bees.
On the day the weather was generally fair, although we suffered two severe squalls before Ennerdale.
I escaped all the cut-offs and managed to finish 106th out of 109 finishers (with 8 dnfs) and appear to be the oldest finisher, but I was disappointed with my time of 11:45, which was almost half an hour slower than 2014. First man home was Howard Seal in 5:41, first ladies were Susan Clapham and Kirsty-Jane Birch (=22nd overall) in 7:03.
This was taken from the Loft Beck crossing, the peak, centre distance, is probably High Stile, with Buttermere and then Crummock Water in the far distance.
Just been prescribed an antibiotic for an infected and badly eroded blister on my right heel - on finishing I realised why several people during the event had asked me if I knew I was oozing blood over the top of my Inov8. I'll spare you the photo.
The route starts near the osprey viewing point above Bassenthwaite Lake and moves generally south, down Borrowdale to the first checkpoint at Rosthwaite. Then it's up the old drovers' road alongside the Honister motor road to the slate mine, then left to the Loft Beck crossing at an altitude of 1,900ft and down into Ennerdale, past the Black Sail hut to CP2 at Low Gillerthwaite. Then along to Ennerdale Bridge to pick up Nannycatch Beck, thence to, and over, Dent Fell and into Cleator for CP3. then another 4.5 miles to the finish at St Bees.
On the day the weather was generally fair, although we suffered two severe squalls before Ennerdale.
I escaped all the cut-offs and managed to finish 106th out of 109 finishers (with 8 dnfs) and appear to be the oldest finisher, but I was disappointed with my time of 11:45, which was almost half an hour slower than 2014. First man home was Howard Seal in 5:41, first ladies were Susan Clapham and Kirsty-Jane Birch (=22nd overall) in 7:03.
This was taken from the Loft Beck crossing, the peak, centre distance, is probably High Stile, with Buttermere and then Crummock Water in the far distance.
Just been prescribed an antibiotic for an infected and badly eroded blister on my right heel - on finishing I realised why several people during the event had asked me if I knew I was oozing blood over the top of my Inov8. I'll spare you the photo.
Saturday UTUPs
Saturday sessions have been a little 'lean' of late and will be short of the Bros for at least the next two weeks as follows:-
5th September - YJ will be on the road in preparation for two forthcoming marathons and I will be doing the Bolton Park Run - good preparation for the 12th?
12th September - YJ will be doing the Langdale Marathon and I will be doing the Half.
19th September - I'm planning to UTUP.
5th September - YJ will be on the road in preparation for two forthcoming marathons and I will be doing the Bolton Park Run - good preparation for the 12th?
12th September - YJ will be doing the Langdale Marathon and I will be doing the Half.
19th September - I'm planning to UTUP.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Borrowdale Weekend 14/16 August
Belated pics from an atmospheric Birkett-bagging, Borrowdale shindig – details here : )
Looking down to Watendlath
at the tea shop – Watendlath
Gateway to Borrowdale from Kings Howe
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