Still Struggling

Definitely continuing to improve but I'm not sure it's fast enough. On the up side, with a lack of proper training, I'm managing to keep the weight stable at 10st 10lb so when I do get going again I'll be starting from a good place.

Missed the first of the LCL races tonight but jogging round wasn't an option. Fingers crossed I'll be fully operational for the next one...

Back To Baking

My back is feeling better. There is a glimmer of hope I might yet make the start line for next week's 33 mile Marlborough Downs Challenge. It is a barely visible glimmer though. Most important is that I get myself fully operational for the LAMM - and that ain't far away.

Apart from today's baking I've been taking it easy. Tomorrow I'm planning to take a run in the forest. I only hope the weather holds.

Grass Cut, Chores Done, Time For Master Baking

What a corker of a day. Too good to waste - even with a bad back. I made it to the Bixslade Orienteering midday. I didn't run fast but mostly navigated okay using my newly acquired skill of holding the map and compass in the same hand - revolutionary for a OS mapper. It works well though - not that ever doubted the wise words of wisdom I'd been given.

I had to make a few non-direct route choices on account of the ground being too rough to traverse with my dodgy back but I got round in one piece, if a somewhat slow piece at that. Still, it was good practice although I did struggle with those god damn platforms. My heart is beginning to sink a little when I see them listed amongst the controls.

I cocked 'em both up today, 8 and 12. Twelve was fair enough, I didn't have a decent attack point but I was able to correct myself from determining that the platform I'd got myself to was the lower of a couple marked close on the map and a quick compass adjustment got me there. It was eight that was the more annoying. I new exactly where I was on the map, exactly where I wanted to be and still took ages to spot the bloody thing. Ho hum, I think I might be getting a complex...

Anyway, with that complete I headed home for half an hour on the static bike to wind down. Then it was grass cutting time followed by a session on the vertical negative air pressure particle extractor - aka, the vacuum cleaner before finally prepping for a session in the kitchen. Let the master baking commence... and after that I've two days of absolutely nothing. I might think of something to do but then again, I might not.

Not Quite

Well that was a bit of an epic fail.....

I wound my way over to the edge of the Berwyns. The drive was unremarkable except for getting caught behind a large motorised caravan. At every turn I was crossing my fingers, hoping it would turn away from my route - but it didn't for a long, long time, perhaps thirty miles! The queue behind was huge. Why the drivers of such slow moving vehicles can't just do the decent thing and pull over for two minutes to let us faster moving bad boys crack on is beyond me. Selfish, pure and simple. When Vera is holding things up she does the proper thing and puls over to let those behind go past. I lose a minute, they gain twenty. That's the way to do it.

Anyway, back to the fail. I arrived, by midday - you can infer from that, that I didn't leave stupid early, I didn't need to. Based on conditions I went with the bumbag and a selection of fine foods - read, nasty tasting energy gels and bars - and some water. It was a murky day so the views were a bit rubbish but at least it wasn't raining and then I was off to ascend Cadair Bronwen.

I very quickly realised two things. Firstly, although my back has been improving it certainly ain't fixed and secondly, I wasn't going to finish with dry feet. Solid ground it was not. I went steadily. Neither fast nor too slow and I was managing the back but after half an hour I knew I wasn't going to make the full distance so I changed plan and converted to an out and back. Keeping to the inland side on the way out and ridge edge on the way back.

Despite my lack of proper running this last month I felt surprisingly full of it - sssh, stop it. I had a few twinges in the legs but I think that was due to a touch of bad back runners leg - a condition one gets when one modifies ones style - or lack of it - to absorb more 'shock' in the legs. I got to the turn around point, took a look at the limited view and headed back.

I never really got to the point of feeling tired but it was never the less a frustrating run. I'm feeling concerned as to the LAMM in a months time. I'm really not sure my back will be up to it. In all I covered just shy of 19km and had a lot more running in me. At that point my back didn't feel any worse than when I started but it was definitely a hindrance. Then came the fail.... Literally 50m from the van, possibly less, I slipped on a patch of sphagnum moss. With my normal cat-like reflexes hampered, I went down. Not badly, falling to my hands, but the damage was done. The sudden motion was not good for my back. I got up and back to the van but I new it was game over for the weekend.

Having struggled to change out of my running kit I decided further running in the mountains this weekend wouldn't be sensible. Even if it settled down overnight would I start the next run with the back feeling slightly worse and then the next run even more so? I decided it wasn't sensible to continue with the plan so packed up and came home.

I'm happy to report the back isn't feeling too bad today but it's probably a little worse than this time yesterday, not by much but enough to feel the difference. It is disappointing and very frustrating....

Ready For Take Off

Vera is kitted up and fueled, Stacey fed and returned to the frigid wasteland that is the back of the fridge, I've tweaked the routes a little and I'm wearing sunglasses - hit it.....

I was going to head up tonight but as I'm only heading as far Bala - after my great discovery that it's a bank holiday weekend - I should be fine with an early morning drive. I'll probably head off 7am tomorrow, be there by ten and then I'll have the rest of the day to explore the Berwyns. From the map it looks like a cracking ridge run..

I've a few night stop over points picked out. Hopefully one will workout.. Then the plan is to drive to Llanuwchllyn Saturday morning and run the Ras Aran race route before heading back south east for the final night stop over and Sunday's slightly off piste loop back towards Ras Aran starting and finishing at one of Wales' highest road passes, Bwlch y Groes. The thirty seven pence question, is Vera up to that? Fingers crossed.....

Y Bala

Yep, I'm thinking of basing myself around Y Bala this coming weekend. Day one, I'm initially thinking, will be a trot along the Ras Y Aran race route. It's an out and back and I've run it before but maybe this time I'll get some good views. Day two I'm going to go for a longer run on the Berwyns, maybe hitting the main summits this time... Day three could be based around Arenig Fawr.

As you can see, I'm keeping clear of the main Snowdon area. When I booked the holiday I didn't realise it was a bank holiday weekend. Being a BH the 'main' mountain area will likely be nobber busy. I don't do 'nobber busy' so it'll be a good opportunity to run some of the lesser Snowdonic areas - ooh, that's another new one for the OED.

I will firm up the routes tomorrow. My ribs are still not the best so I will be planning a few extra, lower mileage routes just in case... The forecast is good so whatever and wherever  I manage to run it's going to be a good rest, well clear of the rat race...

Long Ol' Day

Up early, lots to do, bad traffic on the way home. Finally got home. Knackered. On the up side, Snowdonia from Thursday night...


But I've got to remember to feed stacey before I go....

After The Party

Back to normality after a party weekend. The works ball Saturday was a good crack as was the visit to the casino afterwards but the 5:30am finish left me hanging pretty much all yesterday - seriously, I'm getting too old for this shit...

Settled for an easy after work run this evening but it was a bit of a plod. I really need to focus - luckily, on that front, I've another mini Snowdonia trip planned starting this Friday...

Malvern On The 'Morrow

Not sure how well I'm going to run. How hard I'll be able to push but I need a longish run to gauge things. Haven't run the Malverns for ages so should be good. Once that's out the way it'll be time for the jaguar, grrrh...

Ciabatta So Wet It Was More Pancake Batter

The sourdough starter needed a feed today. It's been in the fridge but the dreaded watery layer was forming. Cue an impromptu ciabatta with the discard. Using 'The Force' as my guide I added the flour, making a very sticky dough. Instead of adding a bit more I decided to try a hands off, no knead approach. It really was too sticky to handle. So with the flour and starter well mixed, I left it for eight or so hours to 'brew'.

To say the natural yeast was active was an understatement. Pouring the sprawling mass onto the baking sheet I kind of scooped it into shape and left it another half hour to rise slightly. Now baked it actually looks proper! I've not cut into it yet, so it might just be one big hole but surprisingly it does look the part...


Oh, and I started a run but knocked it on the head early because I still can't run fast enough to be worthwhile. Instead I resorted to ninety on the bike. On a positive note, I don't think I'm far away now. I certainly felt more comfortable than Monday. Hoping to squeeze in a steady longish run early Saturday before going to the Ball.

Swings And Roundabouts

On the upside, my back feels okay. It was bad last night but it's feeling pretty free today. On the downside my ribs feel a bit worse. A short term downside I'm hoping.

So it's been a rest day today. Hopefully, with continued rest, I'll be up to a run tomorrow.

I Battled The Back But There'll Be A Price To Pay Tomorrow

I'm glad I ran the Gilwern Grunt today but almost every step sent pangs of pain to my lower back. The ribs, on the other hand - or torso - were fine. Mainly on account of the fact I was never able to run quick enough to require deeper breathing. They maybe gave a little discomfort on the ascent of Gilwern Hill where I was able to do some overtaking, requiring more air in the lungs. I was able to ascend almost as quickly as I was able to run the flat.

The 10 mile route was interesting and pretty much as described, ticking all the boxes of all terrain types. There were tussocks, a little bog - but not too much, thankfully. There were a few technical sections - up and down. A steep descent. A steepish ascent. Some steps up. Some steps down. Some woodland paths. A little bit of Monica in my life. A little bit of Erica by my side. A little bit of Rita is all I need.. I mean some road, some track and perhaps just a little trail. Pretty much everything. The only thing it didn't have was a lap of the running track but there was one at the school so perhaps next year....

The organisation, as ever, was spot on. What you can never take into account for is that the local yobs taking down some of the route markers. Why they do it, one can only surmise. Perhaps they believe it to be the crime of the century, earning the respect of their dim-witted peers. Or perhaps they are truly are just witless numb-nuts with zero imagination, charging head long into a life on the dole and petty criminality before an early grave from obesity - we can hope on that bit at least.

I, along with most of the field, did not follow the route over or around Gilwern Hill on account of lack of said markers but we picked up the path on the other side - of the hill, not the afterlife - and carried on to the finish without further issue. I reckon it probably shortened things by half a kilometer or so. And if I'm honest, being completely uncompetitive, plodding towards the back of the field as I was, I was happy to reduce the pain - I mean distance.

I'm guessing I will be paying the price tomorrow though. I suspect, just getting out of bed is going to be a challenge...

Is Going To Grunt Tomorrow

Fact. My ribs are still sore. I can't lift my legs by themselves but I'm going to run - although I think I should get half price entry on account of only going through the motions. And if tomorrow's Gilwern Grunt race (rogueruns.com) isn't the greatest multi terrain race in the world - EVER - then I shall be having words with Mr C. I'm practically standing up, picking up my mat and running for this one...

Tonight's homemade pasta and homemade pesto with chilli (first of the new season - yippee) and chorizo - not homemade - should be good carb loading.

Hoping the rain stops though, it's piddling down!

Still Not Quite Fully Operational

I'm saving myself for Monday's race so I decided to miss today's Sugarloaf race. Not sure whether that's sensible but when did that ever worry me. Still, I've not wasted the holiday weekend. I got my potatoes out - ooh, matron. My onions sown - shhh, stop it - and I've also sown a couple of rows of beetroot. The digging wasn't easy and despite being in raised beds and only lightly compacted, it was still a bit back aching. And I'm not going to mention cats. Bloody cats... Raised beds are not litter trays from the land of the giants, grrrh.

I've also sown another batch of basil and coriander as the first batch doesn't seem to be doing much. Maybe I started them off too early. Hopefully this batch will be substantially better. I can't wait to get cracking on some more home grown pesto. On the chilli front, they are starting to kick into life. Hopefully I'll have my own supply again before long. My stock from the freezer ran out a month ago so I'm currently having to buy them in! And lastly but not least, I've sown the tumbling tom tomatoes.

Well, that's the fruit and veg report over for the time being. Hopefully I'll have some actually running to report soon. The Marlborough Downs Challenge in three weeks is looking a little dodgy.