Day two

Well it felt a lot tougher tonight. I used to be able to eat back to back runs for breakfast but now I struggle even when they're the main course.

I elected for my extended Dundry loop. Weighing in at about nine miles, two more than yesterday's run, it felt like double. It was a plod but a good plod. I'm not sure how fit I'm going to be for tomorrow's track session - provided I actually make it there.

Not really up for much more chitter chatter at the moment so I'll take my leave.

Tonight's loop;

A new leaf

I haven't managed to get out for a run on a Monday evening for ages - and looking back over my records, I really mean ages. I had a long day at work, finishing gone five having started sub eight but was in determined mood. I gave myself a few an hour's rest before heading up over Dundry.

I started steady and after a few minutes ground out the first and longest, steepest climb. By the top either I hadn't pushed very hard or I'm lots fitter than the last time I headed up - I'm suspecting the former. I cruised along the top before starting to pick the pace up on the way back. I felt I was treading out pretty strongly in the last couple of k's. Although a bit down on my best - read several minutes - it felt pretty easy. There is more to come.

There is only five weeks to go till the LAMM so I can't afford to waste any time. If all goes well in the LAMM - ie, I survive - always an advantage - I'm going to set myself a long distance challenge. I've threatened this many times and for the last few years I've not been fit enough but I'm going to get myself fit and go for one.

Tonight's run;

Wildlife

Got myself out for a run this morning - after an extended sleep-in. I cast an eye over the map. Decided a route and set off.

After about four miles I changed plans and headed into Welshbury Wood. I was intending to run quite a lot of road but I've never been in Welshbury Wood and it looked steep so I thought I'd give it a go. It was nice to run somewhere new. From there I ran a loop of Chestnuts Inclosure - another knew one on me - before heading back to the road.

I churned out a few miles from there to Little Dean and the edge of Cinderford before heading into the Haywood Plantation - where I got a bit disorientated on account of the loggers churning up the path I was on to the extent that the path vanished. So after an impromptu loop I headed back to Flaxley Woods and home. As I ran through Flaxley I stumbled across a deer, a fox and a baby rabit.

In all I covered about sixteen and a half miles and 2,200 feet of ascent. I'm pleased with that - and it didn't take me all day.

Didn't think it was possible...

to run slower than I did in the first race of the handicap series. And the sad thing is that through the run I thought I was going quicker. It certainly felt like I was putting in more effort than last time. I actually can't believe I was slower - and by 30 seconds or more (I can't remember my actual time from the last race down to the exact second but I'm sure it was in the first part of the minute whereas this time it was towards the back end). Never has the phrase 'ARSE' been more apt. At least my longer, endurance based runs seem to be improving and I'm still buzzing from Saturday's race but I do miss a bit of the old speed...

Resting

It's been a tiring day at work and I felt like nothing more than feet up. And having finally managed to get hold of the Coniston race results I reckon I can pencil in an extra rest day. I was 175th out of a field of - get ready - 422. That puts me well inside the top half, 41% of the field no less - bonsai. I think it's my best result of all my English or British Fell races - not there's been that many. Lets have a look - time for the stats...

Y Garn 64% (46th/71)
Slieve Bearnagh 61% (144th/233)
Dentdale 60% (90th/150)
Dufton 56% (105th/185)
Half Tour of Pendle 46% (179th/384)

I'm sure there's been a few more and I know not all races are equal but I'm pretty sure 41% is going to come out top of them all - origami.

Anyway, I am intending to evade the border patrol and cross to the other side - of the Severn, for the 2nd of Chepstow's handicap races.

No Bluebells here

I didn't quite make it over to the Blaisdon Bluebell Blunder 10k. Another case of not feeling too topper. I guess the long weekend took more out of me than I thought. It's been very frustrating. I was really up for it but I just feel a bit achy and weakened.

I've got a busy day tomorrow workwise so it's unlikely I'll get any training done - pants. Still awaiting the Coniston results. I really hope I made the top half. It felt like such a good run that I'll be a little upset if I've not hit the top half.

What will tomorrow bring...

Back home

After a long weekend we're finally home. It was good fun though. Helen came fifth in the womens race where as I didn't come fifth in the mens. I was pleased with my run though. I took it steady on the longest of the climbs to Wetherlam and then gained some places as I headed to Swirl How and Coniston Old Man before heading back down off the mountain.

I especially enjoyed the descent from the the Old Man, as having recced a fast route down on Friday, I gained half to a dozen places without trying - topper. As everyone else veered left back to the safety of the tourist track I stuck to my guns, tucked in tight to Colt Crag a took a direct line back to the main track, saving myself a lot of time in the process.

My time of 1:33 was inside my 1:40 target so I'm well pleased.

Glad to be back home now though as it's been a tiring few days.

The Coniston Fell Race and all it's 3,200feet ascent in 8 miles;

Visiting the old man

It's up to the Lake District for the weekends Coniston race, the second of the English Fell Championships. I don't know the route. Never been over any part of the course. I'll take my chances and rely on the force. All discussion seems to surround the best way off the old man - ooh er. Me? I know nothing. Will do doubt pick the worst possible descent and end up getting over taken by any part of the field that is still behind me at that point. There was talk of veering right, seeing a post then another post and then left a bit, right a bit, oh I don't flippin' know. Let luck be my guide...

Not the greatest

The sunshine heralded in the start of the new Bridge Inn 5k Series - but sadly not the start of some fast running by me. I registered, got my number and went off for a little warm up. My legs weren't feeling sharp. Although not achy, I'm sure Sunday's long effort - which half killed me - had some lingering affect on my legs. Anyway, they didn't seem to want to go quickly.

I set off steady - 3:50 for the first k. Then slowed slightly with 3:56 for the next two k's. I was working hard picking off the people ahead. Kilometre four was my slowest of the race and frustratingly outside four minutes in 4:03, but even overtaking people as I was that was upsetting. I rallied for the final kilometre to record 3:57 and a finish time of 19:42. Disappointing, I'll agree, but at least it was inside twenty - and believe me I feared I couldn't even achieve that after the warm up.

Breaking Brecons

Pat W is running the South Wales Traverse in a few weeks and Helen and I tagged along on his recce for a long run. We ran the section of the route from the Storey Arms to somewhere past Talybont.

I have to put my hands up right at the outset and admit I had to cut things short and take a shortened route back to the car - I could nay take it captain, the dilithium crystals were overloading - read the legs were a little bit knackered. In all I covered 17 miles with 4,500 feet of ascent while Helen and Pat hit 20 miles and somewhere near 5,000+ feet.

It was a shitty day for a recce. The cloud was down, drizzling and wearing glasses meant visibility was rubbish. The sun did finally make an appearance in the last hour of the four and a half hour ordeal. Shouldn't grumble though. All in all it was an enjoyable day and certainly good training for the LAMM. I've run 26 miles and 6,000 feet of ascent this weekend. It's good to be free of cough, colds and over little niggles at last.

Today's route;

A really nice day for it

The sun shone as me and the dog that is brown in colour headed off for a run. I'd picked myself out a new route. After running through Flaxley woods we turned south and swept downhill to the village of Flaxley. Then it was west alongside a small babbling brook before turning north and winding through ancient woodland. Finally we reached Blaisdon wood and picked up one of the normal routes back home. It was a very pleasant nine miles and 1,400 feet of ascent. As is always the case when picking out a new route there were a goodly number of pauses to check the map so the time is a bit irrelevant. Still, it's another new route option to throw into the mix.

Tomorrow we're heading to the mountains...

The route of today's run;

Back to bike-sics

Didn't manage to make the planned lunch run - had to take a very important call from the the states. No, not Mr Obama - that was last week, when I gave him some useful advice on the collapse of the financial system and the implications for the global economy. No, this was boss man GC, who's currently stuck in America due to the Icelandic Ash of dooooom - damn that low cost supermarket.

So instead of a run I managed a rather sad forty five minutes on the bike. Still, I'm feeling almost fully well again and looking forward to a couple of good weekend runs. Tomorrow it'll be something flatish and then Sunday, providing there's no catastrophe, will be a long and much needed run in the Brecons.

I'm no ringer

It was the first of Chepstow Harriers Handicap races. I knew from the outset I was onto a hiding after seeing my handicap rank. My estimate time for the hilly route of just under five miles was way too optimistic. Even at my best I reckon I would have been pushed to get inside it. In my current state I had sod all chance of getting anywhere near it.

I gave it a go and set off as strongly as I dared. Within a few hundred metres it was into the first climb and although not too long a climb I knew I was in for an agonising five miles. I dropped a couple of places as the course wound around. Up and down the tracks and trails. I caught a couple of people on the final climb before picking off another four on the mile long descent to the finish. I'm happy with that - at least next time I'll be starting higher up the field.

Made it to the track

but the track was dry. Some sort of young athlete event taking place. Doh. We retreated to the grass. Avoiding the dogs, the dog walkers, the dog poo - I sense there's a theme here - and stray golf balls, we ran some laps of the main park area. Each one gps'ed to smack on 500m. I've not been feeling totally topper this week and managed just five. Sean and Rick managed eight (although Ricks were a short measure so that he could keep up with speedy Sean).

I'm actually happy with my efforts. Still nowhere near the times I used to be able to run but at 1:40/41 per lap I was pretty pleased. Recovery for me was just over the minute. For Sean and Rick it was a tad over 90 seconds - that's the way the cookie crumbles for us slow, old bastards. You run slow. You don't get so much rest. Now, there's an incentive to run quicker (if ever I need one).

Still not feeling totally right. Got to start picking up soon though, as time is starting to run out for the LAMM. I'm gonna do it but it might just...