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!