January

Speak to anybody outside of the fell running fraternity about winter training and they would consider you to be an utter mentalist.  So, I made a short recording to illustrate the point that this sport is the crack cocaine of athletics.    

Grisedale Tarn from Seat Sandal

Right then, January.  In a nutshell, I'm on track.  It is all too easy to throw yourself into winter training with the kind of gusto that leads inevitably down the path of injury.  Of all the mistakes that I've made in my running career I can confidently say that this is the one that I am most vigilant to avoid repeating.  The most useful advice I can proffer is don't train when in pain, and pay close attention to your recovery.

Only recently I found myself in the familiar January posture - face down on an osteopath's table.  Quiet bizarrely she has recommended acupuncture to release the tension building up around my pressure points, and I'm quite persuaded by the sales pitch that it will "make the tightness melt away".  What runner wouldn't wish that for his pins?  

On the topic of recovery, I've just returned from three days in the Lakes in which I've trotted over 40 miles and more than 10,000 feet of ascent.  The remarkable thing is that I feel fresher than after a lesser exertion earlier in the month.  That's conditioning.

Congestion on the summit of Helvellyn

However much I may take comfort from the fact that the training is going fine, it's important to reflect on the need to cater for distracting contingencies.  In my case April will inevitably throw a spanner in the works when I visit my mother for  10 days, in Florida.  Ever wondered why they have so many swamps and gators?  No hills.  Then two weeks after the Paris Marathon, which I'm going to thrash (under 3 hours), I have the 3 Peaks, which I'm going to thrash (under 3:45 hours).  The only notion I have of how my body is going to react is my experience from last year when I was burned out just in time for the summer season.  It can only be hoped that I have a solid enough endurance platform to recover and be back in BGR training proper come May, when hopefully I'll be able to support the odd attempt.  In a roundabout way what I'm saying is that I've decided to trade an hour's daylight for a month more training and switch my attempt to Saturday 21st July 2012, 3 days before my 40th birthday.

The Coach, pretending not to be thrilled by being out in the snow.

This month's new kit was an Aquapak smartphone cover that I found online.  It keeps my phone dry and enables me to bring you these treasured images.  Nuff said.  The most amazing discovery has been an application that turns my iPhone into a GPS device replete with 1:25000 OS maps for £14.99.  Check out Viewranger.  The truth is that I only relied on it once during the whole weekend in order to take the correct line off Dove Crag when out bagging tops with Mrs A, but it was pretty damn handy in a total white out.  Not that I ever would have done you understand, but imagine how much of a saving I made by not buying a hand held GPS.      

What then for February?  On the diet front things are about to get a touch radical as I cut out the junk calories and focus more on nutritional foods, although lord only knows how that's going to go when I visit the land that gave us such precious culinary treasures as the burger.  The only races on the horizon are a local LDWA event, the Rombald's Stride, and the Pennine Bridleway Relay (leg 1) if it's not called off because of ice.       

January's statistics are 287 miles (44 cycling) and 34,013 ft of climbing.  Yes you read correctly, THIRTY FOUR THOUSAND AND THIRTEEN FEET.  Let's not get too carried away though, as next month I'm aiming higher, although I have to be careful not to overload and so will be throwing plenty more cross training into the mix, including gym, swim and cycling sessions.  Did anybody say that it was going to be easy?  

Onwards and upwards!

December

In a single word, frustrating.  That's my summary of December.  Caught between the pincers of work and wind it was a struggle to fit in the quality and volume of training that I had set out to shoe horn into the month.

It started well enough with a run up Skiddaw that was revised while being violently pelted with hail on the summit.  The Coach was displeased, never having been one to run where sheep fear to tread.  For his sake, and for fear of becoming lost on my first ever run over leg 1, I ran back to the car.  Not to be deterred I parked up near the Threlkeld quarry and ran up to Great Dodd on my todd.  My route choice up Clough Head from the A66 was poor.  A mistake that will not be repeated.  With good local knowledge the line must be obvious, but on my own in virgin territory on the first biting day of winter I fluffed it.  Lesson learned.  Go to the west of the quarry, not the east.  The clue is in the name - go straight up the clough.  At least I managed to extract something useful from the debacle.  

Other notable runs included a 18:29 5k in the Hyde Park Parkrun time trial.  Considering the strength of the wind that morning I came away contented, only 7 seconds off my best on that course.  On Boxing Day I raced the Chevin Chase, won by Jonathan Brownlee, whose remarkable form must be causing his brother some consternation.  I managed 46:30 coming 38th out of 800 or so, which sounds creditable, although my heart really wasn't in the event.  Of all the races in the calendar this really should be the one that I pull all the stops out for.  It's on my doorstep and is a brilliant route.  Between Christmas Day excess, insufficient sleep, low iron levels and poor motivation I was disappointed with my effort.  But to put this in some context, there were quite a few others complaining afterwards, and Racheal Bamford (seen behind me in the photograph) suffered badly in winning the women's race then ran a 16:44 5K on NYE and set a new age/gender club record!     

The statistic don't lie though.  Ascent 18,101 feet.  Mileage 187.  As was a regular refrain among my school teachers 'Simon could do better'.  Well I already am - but more of that next month.  

In the meantime there's the small matter of a date, time and direction to resolve. You heard it here first folks - I set off at 00.00 on Saturday 23rd June 2012 running clockwise.   


The plan is to run with two supporters for each leg, a 'recorder' and a 'sherpa'. All offers of support will be very gratefully received.   

My choice of charity has been heavily influenced by the fact that Mrs A volunteers for the organisation in question.  It may be a cliche, but it is also a truism that  the BGR is as much a mental as physical challenge.  For some of us our lives are so comfortably devoid of real suffering that we decadently impose it on ourselves to feel challenged and derive a sense of self-worth and accomplishment.  Hence it feels apposite that I should invite people to show their support for a charity that helps those who involuntarily suffer incomprehensible anguish from which they can see no hope of escape.  That is why I have settled on The Samaritans.   

Onwards and upwards!

November

Undoubtedly the highlights of this month were a long run over the Langdales plus a 10K PB at the Abbey Dash, the latter of which confounded my expectations.  Surely to achieve 36:21 I should have been doing some serious speed work, not intermittently going out for a tempo run in between long weekends on the fells?  


Face facts Simon - you're on the best form of your life, and improving.  The time has come to capitalise on the gains that you're making and dig deep during winter training because there's still abundant capacity for improvement for sure.

The run over the Langdales and later walk over Rossett Pike and Bowfell with Mrs A was a memorably splendid day out.  On Pike O'Stickle I bumped into Derby Tup out accompanying a friend who is looking to attempt her round next year.  He completed his round last year and also supported a successful attempt by a K&C club mate in May.  While the three of us were gossiping on the summit we became suddenly aware of a rainbow in the form of a halo penetrating the mist that shrouded our shadows.  DT got his camera phone out to record the phenomena, (which he was also able to name) - I'd love to see the image.  All of us fell lovers have witnessed rare and splendid moments such as these when on our jaunts and what is often so wonderful about them is their unexpected occurrence, like a secretive gift.  This day was to yield another. 

   ATOP BOWFELL

After my training run I met with Mrs A at the Old Dungeon Ghyll Hotel car park, changed into something less offensively fragrant and set off walking up Mickleden, heading for Angle Tarn.  For almost the entire day Bow Fell had been enveloped in the clag, so imagine our delight when seeing the sun penetrate and lift the cloud on our precise arrival at the summit, as if arranged by a divine choreographer.  


On the topic of training, it was a worthy exercise to have come down to the valley floor, changed, then set off up the fifth highest peak in the Lakes.  

CYCLING PORN

The new kit item of the month was a road bicycle acquired on Ebay from a clown who bought it new and then used it three times.  It was quite entertaining to see the dynamic in the household that I collected it from - "I told him when he bought it that he'd never use it, but would he listen?".  It was purchased new on 8th July 2011 and has now found a new home where it is lovingly appreciated, (after 40% depreciation), and has been fitted with mudguards ready for winter.  The only downside I've found to it thus far is that the brakes are not what I would like them to be on steep descents and the ride is alarmingly spirited in a cross-wind.  Other that than I'm enjoying the refreshing added dimension that it brings to my training, plus it's a fab way to get out and see something of the Dales when working from home.     


Another notable purchase was a pair of Montane 'Mountain Fury' tights.  I'll find out this weekend whether they live up to their brilliant marketing.  

November's relevant statistics are 239 miles covered and 18,108ft of ascent climbed.  My aim for December is to get three quality Lakeland runs under my belt, perfect my navigation of the Skiddaw to Blencathra route (in both directions) and climb in excess of 30,000 feet.  I'm effervescing with excitement about getting out in the fells this holiday season.  Maybe I'll catch an inversion from a snow capped mountain?

December is also going to involve some meticulous planning.  By 1st January I need a solid schedule to take me to June 2012 - and finishing at the Moot Hall.  "So when, and in what direction?" I hear you enquire.  The answers to these and other thorny but vital questions (such as whether I'm willing to do it for charity) will be provided next time I write...


In the meantime I would just like to note how touched I have been by the very generous and kind offers of support that I have received from both club mates and strangers alike.  Not only does it validate my faith in human nature, but I'm genuinely thrilled by the prospect of sharing the experience with decent folk who share my passion for running in higher places.  In my mind I have a romanticised image of meeting all my support crew at the Newlands Church and running in a pack along the meandering roads back to Keswisk, as if on a club run.  That'll be clockwise then.  

Onwards and upwards!    

October

Apologies first of all for reverting to monthly entries.  Ever the optimist, I started out with the very best of intentions but weekly blog entries really are a dull and onerous undertaking.

Grisedale Tarn from Seat Sandal

The month got underway in earnest with an epic day out covering the whole of the Helvellyn range, starting at Dunmail Raise and returning to Ambleside down the eastern flank of the Fairfield Horseshoe.  The 25 miles and 7,817 feet of ascent almost says it all really.  Mrs A and I are in the business of Wainwright bagging and so started out together up Seat Sandal, hence the slow first hour.  After that we parted company and I headed north, turning round at the trig point of Clough Head.  

The Coach

Much to the mirth of the hoards of ramblers The Coach was laden down with saddlebags full of food and drink, but as has since been pointed out to me, it's better that I get used to training carrying this weight, which will make me truly appreciate the absence of it when the pacers take on the load.  That morning we were passed by someone out training for a solo winter round.  Mentalist.  I mention it because he was carrying an intermediate sized pack that left me pondering - what other than waterproofs, liquid, food, map, compass, head torch etc do I need to carry?  Also, what on earth shall I carry it all in?  I've had a look at this Salomon XA10 today and was wondering if any of you have any particular advice or thoughts?  

One lesson learned on this expedition was that when it comes to nutrition I need to be thinking in terms of baby food, not smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels - the less said about that the better.  Soft easily digestibly stuffs like non-citrus fruit, porridge, soup, rice pudding and king of all post long-run recovery breakfasts - Weetabix with hot milk.  This is going to require some testing, but speaking with and listening to others I would say that I'm thinking along the correct lines.   

Helvellyn in the afternoon

On 23rd October I gave the Wistow 10 a blast as nothing more than a test event.  In truth I had no idea how fit I was as I haven't been racing with any enthusiasm.  The results are here.  We won the team prize and I managed 16th place in 1:02.26. Had it not been for the rough winds I feel that I could have stretched to between a minute and ninety seconds faster, i.e. pb territory.  The only explanation I can think of for my present unexpected good form is the cross-training that I'm slipping into the mix by commuting on bike and my Wednesday evening tempo sessions with a tight pack from Otley AC.

At the end of the month I tried another training run from Dunmail Raise, this time bagging Steel Fell with Mrs A in a mild gale and thick fog that made my outing an ordeal.  Within fifteen minutes of our parting company, and well before the summit of Calf Crag, I was wondering aimlessly in fog and biting my fingers to try resurrecting some sensation and thereby enable me to turn the bevel of my compass.  I exaggerate not.  Being candid, I didn't find the summit of either Calf Crag or Sergeant Man although it transpired that I was within shouting distance of both, which was of no use given that I was utterly isolated - something that is simultaneously pleasant and eerie.    


This was a vital learning experience.  What I concluded from it was that I am not going to attempt a round on a truly foul weather day.  No real fell runner minds a bit of the wet stuff or even the old pea soup, but there are degrees of visibility and precipitation and in my own mind I now know what constitutes adverse conditions that I'm unwilling to tackle.  Being utterly realistic, I'm not anxious about navigation although I have to admit that if the conditions are atrocious then it could slow me down and potentially cause me to exceed the twenty four hour cut off.


In terms of kit I discovered that the Inov-8 Mistlite 130 pants are the business.  Windproof, as good as waterproof and light.  I score them 9/10, the only design improvement I would suggest is to make them more fitted as they balloon in a gale.  The limitations of my kit choices were the compass and gloves.  The needle on the compass was vague in its orientation and the bevel was stiff.  That has been replaced by something far superior and that I can no longer flaunt as an excuse for navigational errors when the visibility drops to below ten metres.  Gloves have to be wind and water proof, no question.  Hence the next day I spent thirty pounds on a pair of Sealskinz.  Finally, I need a jacket for winter training.  The Montane Minimus jacket is out front in my selection for the moment.


This month I climbed 25,669 feet over 226 miles.  

The Coach and I on Clough Head

Onwards and upwards!    

Weeks 8-10 The Ian Hodgson Relay 2011

Ian Hodgson Relay 2011

I made a little video on my pocket camera

Fell off the face of the planet for the past three weeks, almost entirely due to work.  

This weekend I managed to escape to the Lakes to run the Ian Hodgson Relay over leg 4 with Otley's resident fell goat.  His relentless climbing put me to shame, but a hamstring problem meant that he was unable to enjoy the descents perhaps quite as much as I did.  A tough course, but at 92 minutes it was manageable.  

Well done Otley.  49th overall.  The results are here.  Personally I was pleased that we managed to put out a team and would encourage all of my club mates to think about giving this event a stab.  It's like a Dunkirk running jamboree cum festival Sunday atmosphere kinda thingy.  Quite emotional.  Very unique.    

Aside from a good rest, weeks 8 and 9 were virtual write offs training wise, but I managed to knock out 7219 feet of climb over 9:12 hours in the week just gone.  

Itching to return and get some serious winter training under my belt.      

Onwards and upwards.     

PS in a moment of madness this week I entered the Paris Marathon - next 15th April.  Bit of unfinished business to resolve.