Fit or Bust...

Well I'm either going to be a little fitter after these last two days or broken. My legs felt Okay and I'd had a good night's sleep. I say my legs felt Okay because they sure as heck don't feel like that now. I feel as though someone's set about them with a bat - and no, that wasn't my team mates.

I had a pretty good run but faded a little on the final climb. Despite only being 7miles, leg 2 of the Rack Raid Relay manages to pack in about 1000 feet of ascent. Hopefully my time wasn't too terrible so I won't get beaten up.

When I did finally make it to the finish I slightly regretted not making some arrangements to get back to the car. My plan of jogging back down the course to Skenfrith did not seem anything like what could be considered a good plan. I did manage it though, if somewhat more slowly...

Ssshh, Don't Tell On Me...

I found myself driving to Cwmdu with a few others this morning and wouldn't you know, there was this fell race taking place. I'd completely forgotten about it - honest ;-) I was just going to take a leisurely walk in the sunshine but as I was there and there was this fell race going...

I had an okay run. I ascended a bit rubbish, descended pretty sprightly and ran the plateaus like someone who can't run for toffee - and where does that phrase come from? I was on the edge of cramp - sounds like title for a follow up to the film Run Fatboy Run - on the flat section from Mynydd Troed summit and then again across Pen Tir. I was okay was onto the steeper stuff.

Need to do some carb loading tonight to refuel for tomorrow Rack Raid Relay leg 2. Need to be over to Skenfrith fighting fit for the 8:05am start. Quite looking forward to it. Should be a nice 6-7 mile pootle ;-)

Picked The First Chili Of The Season

And there were two of them. Then I went on to harvest the first four peppers too. Okay, 'harvest', when refering to just four items, might be slightly overstating it. Still, it's only May, so harvest it is.

Managed an after work pootle, so that, added to the harvest, is me done.

Naughty, Naughty, Very Naughty....

I shouldn't. I really shouldn't. No, really, I shouldn't. Run both the Cwmdu fell race on Saturday followed by leg 2 in the Rack Raid Relay on Sunday - I hope they won't be cross with me!

And Relax...

Flipping heck, I'm knackered even though I didn't exactly clock up significant mileage - except for the drive there and back in the van. It was a good mini break though. The weather wasn't brilliant but it's always considered a win if you get home dry. The tops were in the mist both days and the winds strong and cold. During the occasional lull it was actually quite pleasant. Hopefully I can get back up there later in the year and get some proper sunny views.

Yesterday I ran a loop of the carneddau. It almost got competitive when I espied a runner in the far distance while heading off Llewelyn towards Dafydd and eventually Pen yr Ole Wen. I closed much of the distance down. It was nice finishing down off Pen yr Ole Wen directly back to the van without a slog along the flat.

Today I attempted to traverse Tryfan by the Heather Terrace. I say attempted as I didn't locate it directly from the start. I took a good look at it from the ground yesterday afternoon but still getting onto it alluded me. After some faffing along a much higher track and it's many scrambles past gullies I eventually spotted the proper path. After a ten metre climb down the going became much easier but my legs were shot after yesterday's effort so I ended up doing a shorter loop than I had intended. Definitely need to get over to the Brecons between now and July at ever opportunity otherwise Neil is going to be own his own running the Pillar Class...

All Set...

Going to be on my way to Snowdonia shortly. Mostly importantly I have the bacon, sausages, egg, beans and hash browns ready for a pre Tryfan assault breakfast...

Snowdonia Confirmed...

Just need to pick where exactly...

Most probable is a visit to Ogwin with the Carneddau and Glyders on tap. That way I haven't really got to think too hard. So I've only had the idea for a day but already really looking forward to it. Best get looking at routes...

Thinking of Snowdonia...

Giving serious thought to a dash to the mountains this weekend. We're half way through May and I've not had a single weekend away. Thinking head up Friday night after work, get a couple of days in the mountains Saturday and Sunday - slow, probably not much faster than walking based on current fitness, and then home for tea. Forecast looks all right at the moment. Could work....

Back To Back...

Lunch time runs - no, not those runs. Martin and I got out for a second lunch run in a row. We'll not mention the weekend that fit snugly in between. Extrapolating our current rate of change in lunch runs we'll be needing one of them time-turner gizmos what  Hermione had in Harry Potter to fit them all in... We were bloody rubbish though. Hopefully we'll improve....

Getting Concerned...

My new chillies do not seem to be germinating and time is getting on. Last years crop did not over winter well and with the addition of an attack of red spider mite, I'm currently headed towards a chilli famine. Not good. Not good at all. I could really do with the Jalapeno, Basket of Fire, Super Chilli and Ring 'o' Fire starting to show signs of life...

On the upside the basil is well on its way, as are the Tumbling Toms...

Guess I Should Look At Ways To Commute To Cheltenham...

Could this be the new start I need? There are plenty options for travel by car, bike and foot. I might actually be able to get myself fit again. #EndOfAnEra

Today's Orienteering....

Made Saturday's effort look like a gold medal performance by comparison. And that is my last words on the matter.

I'm thinking of hanging up the studs and taking up darts instead....

Entered....

Another day, another race entered...

This time it's the brilliant RogueRuns Mini Mountain Marathon in September. This adds to my Saunders MM (July) and Mourne Skyline Mountain-Trail Race (October) entries. No, don't ask me what I'm doing because I don't know.

Up tomorrow, more orienteering. Hopefully this time I'll finish...

Old Staple-edge Wood Does For Me Again...

As in last years Caddihoe Chase from the Old Staple-edge Wood, I failed to finish again. I'm beginning to think those woods are cursed...

I was actually going quite well till control 24 at which point it all went south - looking at my gps I can see it should've gone east but I was in trees with the rough open to the west - exactly where the control should have been in relation tree to rough open. I reckon a map update is in order as the trees have grown up.

Anyway, having wasted loads of time and having still not found it, my sense of humour completely failed me and, after a few expleetives to release the anger, I headed back to the car park thoroughly pissed off - and it rained.

I hope Monday's orienteering will not see me swearing in the middle of a forest...