Too Early

Well, I confess I'm feeling knackered. I was on the road by 5:25 to collect some data from one of our works and then down to Bristol. Any later and I would have been caught in traffic hell. I then didn't get away for the journey home till five thirty - no, not five minutes later. Finally home by seven, that was me done for the day. Might be another iffy one tomorrow as well though. Feeling sleepy and it's only eight!

Not Too Shabby

If I do say so myself. It was really only training - but then I would say that. Seriously though, I'm keeping my races low key at the moment and putting no expectation on the results. If they're good then that's a bonus. At the moment I'm just happy to be coming back.

With travel arrangement made, the Terrific Three became the Fabulous Four at Monmouth as I joined the party. We, the merry band of outlaws, thence departed to Sherwood. No hang on, that was Robin Hood. We travelled to Little Stretton for the Mercia Hill Trial. An eight plus mile navigational fell style race. As we neared our destination the sun came out to play - usurping my navigational advantage - but to be fair I didn't mind because it was a lovely day to be pootling around the Long Mynd.

Vanessa and Judith set off a minute before me with the Crebernator bringing up the rear - ssh, stop it. Being a navigation event there's always a staggered start. Patrick was also on patrol but he'd headed out earlier.

Out onto the course it was all fairly straight forward. Apart from my inability to run fast I had a good run. I pushed where I could push and plodded where I couldn't. Overall I was pleased with my routing bar one minor aberration from 7 to 8. Using the mightiest of all the super powers, hindsight, I really took a shocker. The when in doubt straight line gambit was an extremely poor choice as the heather infested, steep climb to Cow Ridge was a nightmare and much time was lost. Ho hum.

The rest was fairly standard but most important, very enjoyable. I finished in a time of 2:04:48 and seventh place. I was really happy with that. Slightly unexpected but happy. It can only get better as the come back ensues. The rest of the Phantasmagorical Four faired better, winning prizes. So with the race run we made our exit, stage left and headed home.

The results sheet at the time of departure. The Blue Fingernail and the lady with the mysterious furry arms point out the 4th (3rd solo), 7th (also ran) and 15th (1st female pair) on the Long Course.

Down Into The Pit Of Despair

Also known as the sewage sump. Yes, it went wrong again. Not in a disastrous way but definitely not a good way. The pump is fine but it came free of the connection to the sewer pipe. Cue waiting in all day for the tanker to come empty it. And yes, I did miss the orienteering and yes, I was really looking forward to it.

So having descended into pit - and yes, got covered in s.. - stopping there. It's reconnected but I'm not sure it's going to stay connected. I had to replace the jubilee clip and tightened it to the point where anymore and it'll break but I'm not sure... I think it might need some re-engineering.

I only hope I make it to tomorrow's Mercia Hill Trial because I'm going to be very very upset if I don't...

Come In Number Four, Your Time Is Up...

That's four pounds down, six to go...

My neck is just about back to normal today but as that was on the mend I was suddenly stricken by a sore throat out of the blue. That's also feeling better today. All being well I shall be fit and ready for action tomorrow in the orienteering.

All of which hints at the fact that I didn't make it to the night run yesterday. I had my new head torch charged, ready and everything but in the end, I decided darting around the forest in the dark, my neck still not one hundred percent, wasn't the right thing to do. Hopefully they didn't miss me and lots turned up for a curious incident in the night time forest... The next one, on Saturday 22nd February, is already fixed in the diary and all being well I shall not fail in my attempt to make it to the start line...

Seventy five on the bike, watching  the news and  reading after a long old day at work.

Not Happy

As stated yesterday, I am indeed, not happy today as my neck is still 'cricked'. It's better but not right. Going to make darting through the forest tomorrow night interesting. Reckon I might end up with whiplash by the time I finish the race.

Managed 75 minutes on the bike tonight for its non-jarring properties. Fingers crossed I'm ready for tomorrow. On the diet front, things are verging on being ahead of schedule, pound number four is not far off...

I Seem To Have Cricked My Neck

No reason for it but it makes one feel old. Turning ones whole body to view left or right is not a good look. As there was no reason for it I am expecting everything to be back to normal tomorrow - I shall not be happy if it's not... I've the night race on Thursday - I say night, but at 8pm it's more dark than night - to think about and I can't being doing that with a cricked neck. For those not in the know head to rogueruns.co.uk. The words 'bloody good fun' should spring to mind - especially if you're not all there - like me.

The Diet Continued, The Training Didn't

No bad thing. I was feeling tired. I'll be renewed tomorrow. Might even manage a lunch run - stranger things have happened...

Aching Legs But The Toe Feels Better

I've put in quite a few hours cardio this week. I think it's been eleven hours worth. My legs did not feel strong as I pedalled to 120 minutes on the bike. Although my toe felt better I didn't want to aggravate it with a run. It's been quite a lazy day really but I think I needed it and I think I'll skip the cardio tomorrow to let the batteries recharge. The diet is still going strong though - which is nice.

First Journey Of Many...

As planned I arose at 7am, got ready and headed out to Llanthony Priory. Things were looking good. The skies were clear, the sun shining, I expect the birds where chirping but it's hard to hear over the engine noise in the van and, as expected, it was chilly but that wasn't a problem.

By the time I had completed my pre-flight checks I got underway on the journey of a thousand journeys just after 9am. I chugged along, up the windy, muddy path towards Bal Mawr. Halfway up the sun was just cresting the valley top, the brilliance of its rays, dazzling. From there it got chilly despite the sun. The winds were strong and coming from an unfavourable direction. I had to stop while crossing the Bal Mawr to Chwrlie watsit to put on my windproof layer.

I enjoyed the drop down into the Grwyne Valley, electing for the out and back footbridge river crossing at the bottom rather than the normal wade across as the waters were running deep and fast. I didn't enjoy quite so much the slog up the other side to Pen y Gadir Fawr. Time has dulled the memory as to the unending false summits. By the time I hit the summit - and it was all taking far longer than I had hoped - dark clouds were forming to the north. I wanted to really get a move on but the gear box only has ahead, dead slow at the moment..

The run across to Pen Twyn Mawr was good running and not as wet as I was expecting. The wetness didn't really matter by then though because my feet where already soaked. Next up was the forest descent and I have to say the secret routes are almost too secret - even for me. The vegetation has really grown up. The top section is almost closed completely. At one point I thought I'd lost my touch, the forest before me was, well, forest, where once the path should have been. I pushed through the trees hopeful I still had it. I did and continued down to the forest track. The next section was equally overgrown and quite treacherous in places where the vegetation has grown over the narrow, deep path. I kept slipping as, fooled by the plants, the ground was often a foot lower than it appeared.

Eventually I got to the three sections of proper forest descent and I picked up my old routes without problem. Four pieces of tape from when I marked the way down three years ago were still there to be found by the wise... Anyway, once at the valley bottom it was just a case of back up to the Bal Mawr ridge, along and then back down to the finish in Llanthony some 22km registered on the distance registering device - sometimes called a gps - with 3,500ft of ascent. I'm happy to have notched up the first of hopefully many outings as the comeback begins...

I finished off with half an hour on the exercise bike when I got back home. I wanted to do an hour but to be honest I was knackered and had to park it at half time....

The actual route of today's run (not a lot different from that planned)

Route Profile

Destination Set

Tomorrow is to be my first mountain run of the year and the first of my comeback. The forecast is looking just about as peachy as it can do this time of year. Might take an extra layer though, because it's no doubt going to be chillier than of late but all in all it shouldn't be too bad.

Tonight I managed 75 minutes on the bike before hitting the sofa - and I don't think I'm going to be getting up any time soon. My legs are actually feeling quite tired from a full week of training. I'm not sure how much running I shall be doing tomorrow but I'll be happy just to get out there, heading along the ridge.

I'm going to start gentle. Tomorrow's route - setting out from the Priory, Llanthony Priory not the other one - should be around 13 miles with 4,000ft of ascent. That's probably a little more ascent than I should tackle this early in the game but I can always revert to walking...

Llanthony to the Mynydd Du Forest, looping anti-clockwise direction

Not A Bad Day Twelve

I managed a lunch run - at lunch time, as opposed to a lunch run at tea. Martin skinned me again. Not unexpected. It wasn't my fastest but equal to my recent efforts and the wind was a bit in your face - that's as in my face - on the way out. 33:20 for the record so I can keep one and monitor my progress.

Then I had a decent drive home. Managed to side step the accident on the A40, ducking down the 48 and then cross country. That could have been a twenty minute queue avoided.

I followed up with 45 minutes catching up on the days news before possibly the quickest dinner ever - beating even Jamie. And was tasty. Tomato tuna pasta with grated parmesan in under ten minutes, cooked, dishes washed and on the table ready to eat. Now that's cooking. Oh, did I mention the 45 minutes was also a bike session.

All in all I'm happy with that. Pound three will be shedding at a training session near you soon...

What The Hell Was I Thinking?

It was weekly shop night tonight. Normally Thursday's delight but I thought I'd get it out the way early. By the way, I have a feeling there's not going to be much talk of running tonight but heck, life's unfair sometimes.

Anyway, as I cruised the veg isle - as you do, attempting to look like a new man with all sorts of healthy stuff in the singleton mini trolley, just in case - I had, what can only be described as a total brain spasm. There can be no other explanation for what occurred.

I like to mix things up with a bit of random veg - ooh, living life on the edge, that's me. It gets me cooking different things - nothing wrong with that, you say and you'd be right - normally - but tonight, inexplicably, as I departed the veg isle for better pastures, there, staring up at me were leeks - okay, not too bad - and sprouts! Seriously! Leeks and sprouts! What the f*(k am I going to cook with leeks and frickin' sprouts. I'm hoping it was a one off.

Right, I'm off to research recipes....

Pound Number Two

I am sticking to the task like a fly on a steaming horse turd. I can't say there hasn't been any snacking but I've kept it down to a minimum during the last ten days. So far so good.

I managed a run of sorts early this evening and finished off with sixty minutes on the bike.

It's about time to begin the serious stuff. I think a decent run in the Black Mountains is called for. It's going in the diary for Saturday and I'm thinking the East side. Maybe out of Llantony or the Grwyne Valley. Fingers crossed the weather won't be too horrendous - 'cause it's got to be done...

There's Been A Disaster!!!

Forget the storms - although that is very terrible - I've found flour weevils in my flour - not sure I really needed to quantify the location. Total disaster! A bakers worst nightmare - except, perhaps, a soggy bottom.

Have had to chuck the entire contents of my flour shelf. Fortunately my jar stored strong and plain flour were clear so I was able to bake today's recipe, stem ginger shortbread. Going to source more kilner jars and restock - self-raising, wholemeal strong, type 0 for pasta, gluten-free, the list goes on, okay, actually it doesn't.

Have now emptied the shelves of everything else and bleached those pesky little bastards. You mess with my flour, you mess with me.....