Finished Off Nicely

Yep, that is me well and truly f@(%ed. My legs no longer function. My lungs are destroyed and I'm still making much mucus. If there was a use for mucus I'd be a millionaire....

Really enjoyed the race despite finishing in, what I think heard called out was, 59th place - boo - in just over one hour and twenty minutes - boo boo. That's a long way down from the heady 17th place in 1:07 during my hay day. I know like to consider that I have moved into my silage days.

I set off miles back in the field. I wasn't too worried about the race really. My legs were feeling it from yesterday and my coughing and snotting was only marginally improved. No, today it was all about giving the legs another tough 10 miles. Had I been at home to go out for a recovery run I probably wouldn't have and even if I had actually shifted my butt from the sofa then it wouldn't have been anywhere near the pace of today's race. Happy to have got in a combined twenty five miles of pretty solid running with a total ascent of around 5,000 feet over the two days. Think I shall be resting tomorrow.

Well done to Niki for following up Lou's thrashing yesterday with an equally brutal battering today. She finished 2nd woman overall and almost certainly first in her age category - unless the winner has found the formula of eternal youth - in which case can she forward me the secret...

Finally, well done to Cirencester AC for a meticulously well organised race. There were marshals aplenty and signage on every twist and turn. Thanks.

Today's Chedworth Roman Trail 10 mile multi-terrain race.

Cracking Weather and Fantastic Views

...Just really rubbish racing - not unexpected though. I just couldn't ascend. The moment I hit any sort of climb I just couldn't metabolise the oxygen quickly enough to power my legs. I was okay on the flat and downhill and was able to get some decent speed so long as I didn't try and get too ambitious with it. It was just the climbs - and they near finished my off.

I reckon that was probably the best day of the year so far. Even have a few tan lines to show for my efforts. There was no wind and the temperatures on the summits of Crug Mawr, Sugar Loaf and Blorenge were unexpectedly mild. That's not to say they weren't caked in snow because they were. The underfoot conditions towards the summits and on the tops were tricky to say the least. Oh, and energy sapping. You really had to stamp in your feet to ascend to the tops to prevent slipping and that ate into the energy supplies - not that I ran out because I wasn't really using it up as quickly as normal. That said had I not been running at poorly 35% of available capacity I'd have still been miles slower than last year because it was just so hard going. I suspect the results will confirm that by the lead times being slower than normal. And despite almost snapping my leg on the final crossing of Blorenge were my foot landed on some soft snow and sunk in up to my knee and having a massive coughing fit at the finish - with accompanying mucous - nice - I thoroughly bloody enjoyed half killing myself. Great fun.

Well done to Lou whom gave Matthew and I a thorough thrashing - ooh matron. Suffice to say, Matthew gave me a mild slapping as we both slipped the wrong side of three hours - ouch, that hurt to say that...

Today's Llanbedr to Blaenafon race.

Probably Shouldn't...

but I am.... Yes, I'll be off to the Llanbedr to Blaenafon fell race shortly. It feels chilly but the sun is shinning gloriously. I've more phlegm than a sputum container from a bronchitis clinic but that ain't gonna stop me. What could possibly go wrong?....

Finally Fruition On Friday

After a week of inching closer to the bar we finally made it over. With everyone pulling in the same direction we got the site known, using theatrical, superstitious terminology, as 'The Scottish Site' back into supply. Everything is now crossed until Monday - and most probably beyond....

My cold is improving but I still think it'll be a bit of a struggle tomorrow. I'm still wheezing and coughing plenty phlegm but I don't think I'll die out there on the mountain. Sunday's Roman Trail might finish me off though.

It's been a hard, tiring week. The cold hasn't helped. Really hoping I manage to sleep like a log tonight - although I don't want to wake up in the fire place!

So Close To Success

Yet so far. We nearly got it right today but in the end, we resigned ourselves to defeat. Will tomorrow bring the break through? I guess only time will tell...

Feeling jaded this evening. Another long day. No training and before I was able to blink the week has all but gone. Throaty, chesty cough is a little better so maybe I won't kill myself during Saturday's Llanbedr to Blaenafon fell race....

Well That Were A Bit Shit

and there'll be worse in store tomorrow... Out the house by 6:30 and then home by 20:15 ain't exactly the most fun I've ever had. Who knows how much worse it'll be tomorrow? We had a laugh amidst the gloom though and set the world to rights along the way. I really hope we get things going tomorrow 'cause I can't face a bad one on Friday. I need to be home normal time to chill before the weekend's races. All of which means I didn't get out to run and I feel drained. It doesn't help that I've almost lost my voice, my new middle name is Bob Phlegming, and my throat is on fire. Happy days - yes, that's sarcasm.

Another Day, Another Frost - Grrrrh

So it didn't go quite to plan. After a week away it was a bit of a shock to the system to be hitting site at 7:30 after a frosty drive. And then my damn computer wouldn't boot - ahhhh! Finally managed to start chipping away at the fifty million emails after half an hour - boo. Caught up in the fun - yes, that's sarcasm - I missed lunch and with it the run but it wasn't a bad day. Not going to grumble. My kit has, at least, made it into the car so maybe tomorrow... Going to set my alarm for midday but as we will be attempting to go back into supply it could be real busy just around noon. Smoke me a kipper...

I'm Going To Hibernate

Let me know when it's Spring.... I'd like to think this cold is just an April Fools joke but it seems to have carried on past midday. I was concerned about sun burn last week. It looks like frost bite's going to be the main issue this week.

I managed a short run this morning but the cold drove me back in doors. I have a severe case of nasal congestion or as I call it, mucho mucho green stuff - or, Pure Green... It started with a sore throat Thursday/Friday and has moved to the end game. All being well I'll be back to normal in a couple of days. I finished off with two hours on the exercise bike watching old episodes of the Great British Bake Off Series One. I wasn't into baking back then so it was new to me.

So anyway, over the last couple of weeks I've had a break from the long runs but it's now time to get things under way again. I'm concious that work is going to be throwing spanners at my works - ooh matron - so I'm going to start taking my kit with me everyday and try and get a lunch run done. My aim is to make sure I always take at least a thirty minute break while I'm out on site and run a short sharp session as often as possible.

Then coming up next weekend it's the Llanbedr Blaenafon fell race on Saturday. It'll be a good gauge of my progress. Hopefully I've done enough early season to at least equal last year's lowly 2:38. Up Sunday is the Chedworth Roman Trial 10 mile multi-terrain race. There's nothing quite like a 15 mile & 10 mile double header race weekend to get the blood pumping - not to mention the legs aching....

We're All Going To The Zoo Today

Still don't know if I'm happy with zoos or not. Jury's out. Ate up five hours and it was interesting. Yesterday we visited Sagrada Familiar. Now I'm not one for religion but it was a fantastic place. A truly majestic place - although I did shit myself going up the tower. I might have a fear of heights but that don't stop me. My nephew and niece, despite the bravado, had it worse as I talked them back down to terra firma. Before the SF there was the walking tour of the old city - an interesting three hours.

Back to tonight we finished off tonight with a double round of cocktails in Cafeparis. Happy days.

Hot And Cold

One minute it's hot in the sun. The next, chilly. Most important it ain't snowing - happy days.

The holiday started with the drive to Gatwick. The upgrade to club class with it's access to the BA lounge was quality. No queuing. No hastle and free food and drink in the run up to boarding - gert mint. Oh, and of course, free drinks on flight. Beauty.

The apartment is nice and close to things and we've been out seeing a few of the city's sites (on the sea shore). The Casa Batllo, Parc Gueil, Camp Nou and Parc Espanya. Lots more planned for the next few days. Been doing lots of walking but not much running. Tiring though.

Tootle pip, got to pick tonight's eatery.

Soon To The Silence

Not sure how much blogging is going to happen over the next week but I wouldn't bet against not a lot...

I managed a bit of a run this morning but its damn soggy out there and I got bored with it. Coupled with the fact I've got loads of things to get done today I headed back early. Why do I leave everything to the last minute? Anyway, leaving on a jet plane tomorrow and if it's still bloody winter when I get back I am not going to be happy. Not happy at all. I still haven't been able to get my tatties planted. Going to be April now. What the hell is going on?

Good Training - Rubbish Orienteering

Flippin' eck I was rubbish today. I awoke to a couple centimetres of snow and thought about shying off but once I got outside and realised it didn't feel that cold I was happy to head off to Mallard Pike for another attempt at orienteering - and by god it was a rubbish attempt.

I was one of the first out the blocks. Pioneering the route that others were to follow - if they were that stupid. I was out there a whole long time and barely managed any speed. It was so damn slippy. I made a few mistakes but I was never far off course. I just seemed to take too long to pick out the features amidst the snow. All good fun though.

After I'd run my race I hopped in the van for a brew - in this case a piping hot cup of soup - and to warm up my hands which tend to get a little cold in this weather. I'd volunteered to help collect the controls and once all the runners and riders had returned I set off on another gallop around the route in kind of reverse. It's funny how when you take your time the navigation is all so easy. Okay I'd already been to most of the controls already but even so I was approaching from different directions this time but it all seemed so easy - maybe I'll just walk at the next race...

Anyway, with my race and warm down complete I reckon I covered around 19km with 700m of ascent and now I feel surprisingly tired. Not sure whether to run tomorrow's Wentwood orienteering or do a steady 10 miler. Decisions, decisions.

Yep, It's Being A Bad Week

Never thought I find myself looking forward to spending the day at the site that can't be named to get away from the other site that can't be named. Been a ripe turd of a couple of days. I hate coming away from a job having not been able to nail down where the fault lies. The one thing I'm certain of though is that it ain't my software. On the plus side there's only two more working days before Barcelona and a week off the grid... Happy days.

Managed a short run yesterday and after long day at work today, just an hour on the bike tonight. Now the sofa beckons. I hear it calling and I am unable to resist it's allure....

I'm Smelling A Bad Week...

I was in the office first thing but ended out on site - and stayed there later than I was hoping for. Alas, I'll be heading back there tomorrow - and preparing for another long day....

The silver lining is that come the end of the week I'm off to Barcelona for a week. Boy do I need me a holiday. Really looking forward to taking my mind off work, training and everything. Talking of training, my legs feel achy and being home late the words, 'feet' and ' up' come to mind - and as foretold in the prophecy, it didst come to pass. Ahhhh bliss.....