Just a quick recap, I'm sorry I haven't been on top of this blog for awhile but I have just set up my new personal training business (Steele's Inspirational Fitness) also being finishing off relevant qualifications and Hardmoors 60 prep plus the aftermath of the Hardmoors 110.
ULTRA NO 22 - Baslow Bootbash 27 miles in about 5hrs 15 (started run late)
ULTRA NO 23 - West Highland Way 95 miles in 24hrs 26 (WET WET WET WET)
Ultra 23 was originally going to be a 2 section BGR but due to weather conditions over the Helvelyn range we had to cut the first day short, ran up Scafell Pike and surrounding areas on Sunday but didn't do the golden distance. I have entered a 24 hour track race (Tooting Bec) in September so will use this as one of my 100 finishes. I damaged my leg on the WHW so the plan of adding 5 miles to the race to make it 100 miles wasn't very practical with my leg .
I plan this week to write up reports for the WHW race and the BGR
This week I have a 10k race Tuesday night (will possibly scrap this) followed by running 8.5 miles from Barkston Ash to Boston Spa via Tadcaster for the 'Real Relay' at 23.15. A 5 mile Fell race over Carlton Bank on Wednesday night, this is all dependant on my bad leg. Saturday would possiblyly be a 32 mile recce of the Osmortherley Phoenix route with good mate Garry Scott and Sunday the Hamsterley Forest Marathon (North East Marathon Club)
Saturday 7th July will be the Osmotherley Phoenix
Sunday 14th July Marlborough Downs 33 (not an event)
Sat / Sun 21-22nd Weekends grace to rest before the Lakeland 100 (never happens though ;0) )
Fri - Sun 27-29th Lakeland 100 (A race of the year)
Sunday, 24 June 2012
Wednesday, 30 May 2012
Ultras 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
Sorry I havent blogged for awhile just been incredibly busy and the following is a very quick short catch-up. This weekend is the Hardmoors 110 and I am up to my neck in admin so will file proper race reports next week.
ULTRA no 17 The Ingleborough Marathon (27miles) 2nd place (12th May)
ULTRA no 18 The Bob Graham Round (65-72miles, 28000ft) Finished in 28 hours after a fantastic day shared with some great people.We hit bad mist on the Helvelyn range and lost a lot of time finding the route, leaving us to abort the 24hr time. (19 - 20th May) (re attempt August 18th 2012)
ULTRA no 19 3 days after the BGR I ran the 27mile Osmotherley Phoenix Route with Shirley (24th May)
ULTRA no 20 Dukeries Ultra 40 miles -Sherwood Forest (cracking event) (26th May)
ULTRA no 21 Leaden Boot 27 miles (6000ft) - Dovedale (Beautiful route) (27th May)
No Ultras next week (2-3rd June) Organising and Directing the Hardmoors 110.
9th June Baslow Bootbash
16th June 3 x Bob Graham Round legs (Wasdale to Keswick)
23 - 24th June West Highland Way Race
ULTRA no 17 The Ingleborough Marathon (27miles) 2nd place (12th May)
ULTRA no 18 The Bob Graham Round (65-72miles, 28000ft) Finished in 28 hours after a fantastic day shared with some great people.We hit bad mist on the Helvelyn range and lost a lot of time finding the route, leaving us to abort the 24hr time. (19 - 20th May) (re attempt August 18th 2012)
ULTRA no 19 3 days after the BGR I ran the 27mile Osmotherley Phoenix Route with Shirley (24th May)
ULTRA no 20 Dukeries Ultra 40 miles -Sherwood Forest (cracking event) (26th May)
ULTRA no 21 Leaden Boot 27 miles (6000ft) - Dovedale (Beautiful route) (27th May)
No Ultras next week (2-3rd June) Organising and Directing the Hardmoors 110.
9th June Baslow Bootbash
16th June 3 x Bob Graham Round legs (Wasdale to Keswick)
23 - 24th June West Highland Way Race
Wednesday, 2 May 2012
Bob Graham Round Recce Ultra 16
Bob Graham Round Recce Ultra 16 (Keswick to Dunmail)
Saturday 28th April saw four great races on one day, the ‘Fellsman’ the 3 Peaks, the Highland Fling and the lesser known East Yorkshire LDWA Woldsman 50.
After much deliberation I decided to enter the Woldsman, the Highland Fling I had run the year before plus Id also be on the same route while running the West Highland Way Race in June (the Highland Fling is the first half of the West Highland Way)
Then there was the Fellsman, I had never run the Fellsman before and was on my to do list. The deciding factor was that some of the top runners who usually take podium positions at the Woldsman would be running the Fellsman leaving me a good chance of getting a top 3 Woldsman placing, I knew I would be capable of pulling out 9 hours for the course (its always good to be optimistic ;0) ) Also at the Woldsman friends Steve Walker, David Cremmins, Mark Dalton and Danny Aldus would all be there too. Decision made!!
3 weeks before the Woldsman the ‘Bomb’ was dropped, I had to work :0( So 4 great races and I couldn’t run any of them! So Friday night I decided to hit the Cleveland Hills after work for 4 hours of Hill Reps
(14 to be precise and 14000+feet of climb,) Dead legs helped a little way to ease my disappointment and Ultra fix.
Monday 30th April was to be the next Ultra after missing an Ultra the previous weekend. This Ultra was to be a Bob Graham Round recce (27miles 11000 feet) Keswick to Dunmail Raise (sections 1 and 2 of a clockwise round)
I met up with Rorie Macintosh from ‘Runfree’http://runfree.co.uk/(specialist in minimalist footwear, ie vibram fivefingers/Inov 8 Bare grips etc) at Scotch Corner. He is also having a bash at the ‘Bob Graham Round’ Rorie had brought me some Inov 8 X Talons 190’s with a 3mm drop and sticky rubber studs, today was the time to test them out..Rorie drove to Keswick and we arrived in sunshine at 0850!
We had packed numerous layers of warm clothing plus waterproofs expecting a very wet day after the weekend that had seen the ‘Fellsman’ close in the early hours due to weather conditions and people becoming hypothermic. Plus 8-10 hrs of food had to be carried too. Water was going to be a problem, I carried 1 and a half litres of water and 1 litre of Hammer’s Perpeterum ( Protein/Carb drink) So all in all 4 hours worth of fluids ( Im too spoilt with checkpoints providing water at races :0) )
Fingers crossed I would find another source of water along the way.
Blencathra summit was cloud free with superb panoramic views over most of the Lake District. The continuation of our route ahead (The Dodd’s) was hidden in the clouds. We dropped down to Threkeld via the exhilarating Hall’s Fell Ridge.
Reaching the bottom of Hall’s Fell and hitting ground level we where taken aback by how warm it was. We stopped for 5 minutes then set off up the steep grassy slog that is Clough Head. The Roseberry Reps had trashed my calves (possibly the 2 hours of incline treadmill the day before the Roseberry Reps could also take some of the blame too) Within 10 minutes of the climb my calves had swollen up to the size of basketballs, so much so I had to pull down my calf compression sleeves to stop them from cutting off the circulation to my legs. Following Rorie’s technique I sidestepped up the slope for awhile to take the strain off my calves. We reached the summit and made our way over the Dodds which were now cloud free! I focused in the distance at Helvelyn. Once again the views where superb in every direction. The Dodds/Helvelyn range consists of the following mountains Clough Head, Great Dodd, Watson’s Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise, White Side, Helvelyn Low Man, Helvelyn, Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike. We made short work of the range and eventually dropped down a 1000 feet or so to Grisedale Tarn. I filled my water bottle up from a small stream, circumnavigated the Tarn and headed up the steepest climb of the 2 sections, up to the summit of Fairfield.
This climb to me was arguably the toughest climb of the day and half way up the steep slopes my calves went on strike and started to go into convulsions. I dropped my bag off onto the floor (the route up Fairfield, bgr style is also the return journey, so I would be back to my bag within 10 minutes) As soon as the weight was taken off my back I found I could negotiate with my Calves and get on track , 5 minutes later I picked up my pack on the descent back down to Grisedale Tarn. After dropping off Fairfield a climb up Seat Sandal was in store, this climb was much easier on my legs and on reaching the Summit the views which we had been so fortunate to enjoy where still there waiting. Directly ahead after the main road which passes by Dunmail Raise sits Steel Fell and the start of the notorious leg 3 of the Bob Graham Round (Dunmail to Wasdale via the Langdales and the Scafells) To the south views of Fairfield, Rydal Water, Coniston and Esthwaite waters plus Windermere, it was tempting to sit back and take in the views while relaxing on the summit of Seat Sandal but we had a date with the 555 (bus back to Keswick) So we descended down to Dunmail Raise and jogged down the road to the bus stop .
Back in Keswick to keep the tradition we visited the Moot Hall Chippie (purely like I said for tradition, and it would be rude not to order food, wouldn’t it?)
We had kept to a 23hr Bob Graham pace all the way comfortably (except for the calves) while taking pictures, chatting and carrying weight.
I found the shoes to be perfect, exceptionally light and responsive to the ground, A great fell shoe and just right for the decent of Hall’s Fell ridge off Blencathra http://runfree.co.uk/products/inov-8/x-talon-190
Saturday 28th April saw four great races on one day, the ‘Fellsman’ the 3 Peaks, the Highland Fling and the lesser known East Yorkshire LDWA Woldsman 50.
After much deliberation I decided to enter the Woldsman, the Highland Fling I had run the year before plus Id also be on the same route while running the West Highland Way Race in June (the Highland Fling is the first half of the West Highland Way)
Then there was the Fellsman, I had never run the Fellsman before and was on my to do list. The deciding factor was that some of the top runners who usually take podium positions at the Woldsman would be running the Fellsman leaving me a good chance of getting a top 3 Woldsman placing, I knew I would be capable of pulling out 9 hours for the course (its always good to be optimistic ;0) ) Also at the Woldsman friends Steve Walker, David Cremmins, Mark Dalton and Danny Aldus would all be there too. Decision made!!
3 weeks before the Woldsman the ‘Bomb’ was dropped, I had to work :0( So 4 great races and I couldn’t run any of them! So Friday night I decided to hit the Cleveland Hills after work for 4 hours of Hill Reps
(14 to be precise and 14000+feet of climb,) Dead legs helped a little way to ease my disappointment and Ultra fix.
Monday 30th April was to be the next Ultra after missing an Ultra the previous weekend. This Ultra was to be a Bob Graham Round recce (27miles 11000 feet) Keswick to Dunmail Raise (sections 1 and 2 of a clockwise round)
I met up with Rorie Macintosh from ‘Runfree’http://runfree.co.uk/(specialist in minimalist footwear, ie vibram fivefingers/Inov 8 Bare grips etc) at Scotch Corner. He is also having a bash at the ‘Bob Graham Round’ Rorie had brought me some Inov 8 X Talons 190’s with a 3mm drop and sticky rubber studs, today was the time to test them out..Rorie drove to Keswick and we arrived in sunshine at 0850!
We had packed numerous layers of warm clothing plus waterproofs expecting a very wet day after the weekend that had seen the ‘Fellsman’ close in the early hours due to weather conditions and people becoming hypothermic. Plus 8-10 hrs of food had to be carried too. Water was going to be a problem, I carried 1 and a half litres of water and 1 litre of Hammer’s Perpeterum ( Protein/Carb drink) So all in all 4 hours worth of fluids ( Im too spoilt with checkpoints providing water at races :0) )
Fingers crossed I would find another source of water along the way.
Hall's Fell Blencathra
We eventually stopped dithering about what layers we needed or didn’t need to wear and headed up Spooney Lane towards Latrigg and ultimately Skiddaw. Ten minutes later Rorie stopped in his tracks, he had spotted a Red Squirel, the Squirrel had vanished before I could understand what Rorie was going on about. The steep climb up Jenkin Hill soon passed and we reached Skiddaw summit dead on a 23hr BGR schedule time. The Summit was being assaulted by some very strong winds, we decided not to hang about Rorie found the best line off the back of Skiddaw towards Gt Calva and we lost 1000 feet in minutes. ‘Back of Skidda’ was boggy as per usual. We trudged up and down Gt Calva across a river (shin deep) and up to Mungrisdale Common. This climb was steep, very wet and relentless with no redeeming qualities apart from one; it eventually finishes!
Blencathra summit was cloud free with superb panoramic views over most of the Lake District. The continuation of our route ahead (The Dodd’s) was hidden in the clouds. We dropped down to Threkeld via the exhilarating Hall’s Fell Ridge.
Reaching the bottom of Hall’s Fell and hitting ground level we where taken aback by how warm it was. We stopped for 5 minutes then set off up the steep grassy slog that is Clough Head. The Roseberry Reps had trashed my calves (possibly the 2 hours of incline treadmill the day before the Roseberry Reps could also take some of the blame too) Within 10 minutes of the climb my calves had swollen up to the size of basketballs, so much so I had to pull down my calf compression sleeves to stop them from cutting off the circulation to my legs. Following Rorie’s technique I sidestepped up the slope for awhile to take the strain off my calves. We reached the summit and made our way over the Dodds which were now cloud free! I focused in the distance at Helvelyn. Once again the views where superb in every direction. The Dodds/Helvelyn range consists of the following mountains Clough Head, Great Dodd, Watson’s Dodd, Stybarrow Dodd, Raise, White Side, Helvelyn Low Man, Helvelyn, Nethermost Pike and Dollywagon Pike. We made short work of the range and eventually dropped down a 1000 feet or so to Grisedale Tarn. I filled my water bottle up from a small stream, circumnavigated the Tarn and headed up the steepest climb of the 2 sections, up to the summit of Fairfield.
This climb to me was arguably the toughest climb of the day and half way up the steep slopes my calves went on strike and started to go into convulsions. I dropped my bag off onto the floor (the route up Fairfield, bgr style is also the return journey, so I would be back to my bag within 10 minutes) As soon as the weight was taken off my back I found I could negotiate with my Calves and get on track , 5 minutes later I picked up my pack on the descent back down to Grisedale Tarn. After dropping off Fairfield a climb up Seat Sandal was in store, this climb was much easier on my legs and on reaching the Summit the views which we had been so fortunate to enjoy where still there waiting. Directly ahead after the main road which passes by Dunmail Raise sits Steel Fell and the start of the notorious leg 3 of the Bob Graham Round (Dunmail to Wasdale via the Langdales and the Scafells) To the south views of Fairfield, Rydal Water, Coniston and Esthwaite waters plus Windermere, it was tempting to sit back and take in the views while relaxing on the summit of Seat Sandal but we had a date with the 555 (bus back to Keswick) So we descended down to Dunmail Raise and jogged down the road to the bus stop .
Back in Keswick to keep the tradition we visited the Moot Hall Chippie (purely like I said for tradition, and it would be rude not to order food, wouldn’t it?)
We had kept to a 23hr Bob Graham pace all the way comfortably (except for the calves) while taking pictures, chatting and carrying weight.
I found the shoes to be perfect, exceptionally light and responsive to the ground, A great fell shoe and just right for the decent of Hall’s Fell ridge off Blencathra http://runfree.co.uk/products/inov-8/x-talon-190
NEXT Ingleborough Marathon - Saturday 12th May
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
Ultra's 11 to 15
Sorry I haven’t ‘Blogged’ in a while just haven’t had chance due to lack of time. This blog is really a Catch up with only a few lines about each race ( if I wrote full reports on each race, you would be then reading this in August :0( )
HARDMOORS 55 (Ultra 11 )
I managed to get 2 hours sleep the night before the race ( Last minute race organisation ) A fast start fuelled by adrenalin (again Race Directing nerves) and optimistically following a 10 hr schedule. Fell to bits at about 37 miles (Blowarth Crossing) Picked back up at Kildale felt good at Roseberry and finished in 11hrs in 26th place, 2011 time was 10hrs 28 mins….
HARDMOORS 55 (Ultra 11 )
I managed to get 2 hours sleep the night before the race ( Last minute race organisation ) A fast start fuelled by adrenalin (again Race Directing nerves) and optimistically following a 10 hr schedule. Fell to bits at about 37 miles (Blowarth Crossing) Picked back up at Kildale felt good at Roseberry and finished in 11hrs in 26th place, 2011 time was 10hrs 28 mins….
HARDMOORS 110 Recce (Ultra 12 )
This run I helped a 110 competitor with a 30 mile recce of the route from Square Corner Osmotherley to Slapewath. I was pretty ill throughout the duration of the run to the extent that if I hadn’t felt like this before at the TDS in 2011 then I was sure I would probably die on route :0)
Very High Pulse, chest tightness and pains, excessive sweating etc (Yes I was well hydrated)
Needless to say no I didn’t have a great time ;0(
BLUBBERHOUSES 25 (Ultra 13)
Beautiful course made even better by having Shirley with me for this race. Ran with and enjoyed the company of Dan Aldus and Mark Dalton for a while. Came off course following 2 other runners who had taken the wrong turning and ended up adding an extra couple of miles to the course. Finished the route in just over 4 hours. Sat and chatted for awhile after the race then ran the extra 2 miles I needed for the event to be an Ultra (note to myself, never sit down for awhile before adding the extra miles on to the end)
BOB GRAHAM RECCE (Ultra 14 )
Ran with Rorie Macintosh section 3 and 4 of the Bob Graham. Dunmail Raise to Wasdale via the Langdales, Bow Fell and the Scafells into Wasdale, then from Wasdale to Honister Pass via Yebarrow, Red Pike, Steeple, Pillar, Kirk Fell and the Gables. Weather was pretty wet and nasty, a trip to Keswick Moot Hall Chippie saved the day!
CALDERDALE (38mile option well kind of ;0) ) (Ultra 15)
A fiasco from the start but highly enjoyable fun and was actually running well for the duration.
We arrived 20 minutes late at the start after being sent in the complete wrong direction by a man walking his dog. We went through registration and pressed on, everyone had left awhile ago and I hadn’t marked out my map and started running blind. Eventualy without the aid of my glasses (in the car) I managed to mark on the map the checkpoints but couldn’t work out from the dozens of footpaths the best ones to take. While searching for CP2 I received a call from the organisers asking if we were okay and if the challenge was too much, if we were fit enough to complete the coures (our route choices where possibly the longest routes we could take, and we had lost a lot of time) I knew the best way to the next checkpoint (this particular bit was similar to Haworth Hobble but in reverse) so we made pretty quick work of it and then rang the organisers, they realised with our timing it was a navigational error rather then fitness. We finished the 38 mile route in 10 hours covering a distance of closer to 48 miles but due to missing one early checkpoint we were classed as 27 mile option runners ( I wasn’t too fussed as it was another Ultra and David Cremmins got his marathon) I ran the event in Hokas, in areas where I thought Hokas would let me down And no they proved me wrong and where once again fantastic!
Recently I have missed a weekly Ultra. (This was one of my planned Ultra free weeks) I still managed to get some decent runs in around London and up and down Roseberry.
NEXT FEW WEEKS (May to June)
Sat 12th May Ingleborough Marathon (27miles)
Sat 19th May Bob Graham Round (65 - 72 miles?)
Sat 26th May Dukeries Ultra (40miles)
Sun 27th May Leaden Boot (27miles)
After Bob Graham next big races -
June -West Highland Way Race 95miles (Adding 5 miles on the end to make it 100)
July - Lakeland 100
August - Glenmore 24hr (minimum target of 100 miles)
Friday, 6 April 2012
Ultra no 10. Haworth hobble aka Wuthering Hike
Ultra no 10 was the 32 mile Haworth hobble. The Hobble is the first race in the 2012 runfurther series starts in the West Yorkshire town of Haworth. I had first ran the event in 2011 in 5 hrs 32 mins ( this year as things were going 2011's time would be a tall order to match)
The Friday night before the Saturday race I had driven from York to Sheffield to meet John Vernon and then go on together to see top fell runner 'Angela Mudge' talk about the book ' the 'Worlds Ultimate Running races' ( hardmoors is in the book :0) ) firstly I was hoping to see 'Unbreakable' ( the story of the 2010 western states 100 race) but alas I had no ticket. John and I had waited to see if they would let me in but no such look the film was sold out. After a long but good night I arrived back home at 0300 in the morning. Time for 2 hours sleep then up to prepare for the Howarth Hobble, yep!! great prep I know!!
I picked David Cremmins up on route (David is planning on completing his 100th marathon this year, so he can join the 100 club, at last count he is on 77, a lot of the qualifying events he has completed are trail ultras rather than road marathons, as David cycles but doesn't drive he often gets a lift with me and we split fuel)
Arriving at Haworth we join the mega long ques for the toilets ( outside portaloos ) Come to mention portaloos, I forgot to mention in my last blog about arriving late for Ultra no 9 and having to jump in a portaloo minutes before the start of the 'Golden Fleece' while a couple of hundred walkers and runners waited for the off! I stepped out of the loo and everybody was really quiet?, I then realised this wasn't just a race brief but also a few words about the past Scout leader who had recently died and the event was in memory of, and of course I had flushed the chain just at the wrong moment .
I chatted to a few familiar faces including Nick Ham, Daniel Aldus, Mark Dalton, Martin Dietrich and John Vernon and then it was time to gather for the mass start. I said a quick hello to Richard Webster and Ross Moreland and then we where off. Not a huge amount to say about my performance only it was pretty dire. I pushed on at the start but quickly felt shattered. After awhile I caught up with Nick Ham exchanged pleasantries and pushed on, David was running with me, I knew I was holding him up but he was pretty happy at the pace I was running. The lack of sleep the night had affected my energy levels. I knew I wouldn't come anywhere near my 2011 time so gave myself another target to catch Mark and Danny up. Studley Pike eventually appeared and played havoc with my average pace, I decided to take a very steep shorter route up the hillside and suffered for it, my legs filling up with lactic acid within seconds and fellow competitors who were 5 mins or so behind me at the start of the climb had already summitted the hill and were descending the other side.
Switch forward an hour or so and more suffering was to be had, a combination of a bad headache and a lack of carbs = one hell of a bonk, anyway enough of my misery, coming up to the last 100 metres and my body decided to wake up and manage a sprint to hopefully come in under 6hrs. Well it sprinted but failed to come in under 6 hours by a minute or so. Mark and Danny came in after myself and David, they had been behind us all the time. As I recovered again I got to chat to Martin D, John V, Mark and Danny, Nic Ham. Karen and others, sometimes the best thing about a run is the finish!! the chance to chat to such great people made all the suffering well worth it!! cheers guys.
The Friday night before the Saturday race I had driven from York to Sheffield to meet John Vernon and then go on together to see top fell runner 'Angela Mudge' talk about the book ' the 'Worlds Ultimate Running races' ( hardmoors is in the book :0) ) firstly I was hoping to see 'Unbreakable' ( the story of the 2010 western states 100 race) but alas I had no ticket. John and I had waited to see if they would let me in but no such look the film was sold out. After a long but good night I arrived back home at 0300 in the morning. Time for 2 hours sleep then up to prepare for the Howarth Hobble, yep!! great prep I know!!
I picked David Cremmins up on route (David is planning on completing his 100th marathon this year, so he can join the 100 club, at last count he is on 77, a lot of the qualifying events he has completed are trail ultras rather than road marathons, as David cycles but doesn't drive he often gets a lift with me and we split fuel)
Arriving at Haworth we join the mega long ques for the toilets ( outside portaloos ) Come to mention portaloos, I forgot to mention in my last blog about arriving late for Ultra no 9 and having to jump in a portaloo minutes before the start of the 'Golden Fleece' while a couple of hundred walkers and runners waited for the off! I stepped out of the loo and everybody was really quiet?, I then realised this wasn't just a race brief but also a few words about the past Scout leader who had recently died and the event was in memory of, and of course I had flushed the chain just at the wrong moment .
I chatted to a few familiar faces including Nick Ham, Daniel Aldus, Mark Dalton, Martin Dietrich and John Vernon and then it was time to gather for the mass start. I said a quick hello to Richard Webster and Ross Moreland and then we where off. Not a huge amount to say about my performance only it was pretty dire. I pushed on at the start but quickly felt shattered. After awhile I caught up with Nick Ham exchanged pleasantries and pushed on, David was running with me, I knew I was holding him up but he was pretty happy at the pace I was running. The lack of sleep the night had affected my energy levels. I knew I wouldn't come anywhere near my 2011 time so gave myself another target to catch Mark and Danny up. Studley Pike eventually appeared and played havoc with my average pace, I decided to take a very steep shorter route up the hillside and suffered for it, my legs filling up with lactic acid within seconds and fellow competitors who were 5 mins or so behind me at the start of the climb had already summitted the hill and were descending the other side.
Switch forward an hour or so and more suffering was to be had, a combination of a bad headache and a lack of carbs = one hell of a bonk, anyway enough of my misery, coming up to the last 100 metres and my body decided to wake up and manage a sprint to hopefully come in under 6hrs. Well it sprinted but failed to come in under 6 hours by a minute or so. Mark and Danny came in after myself and David, they had been behind us all the time. As I recovered again I got to chat to Martin D, John V, Mark and Danny, Nic Ham. Karen and others, sometimes the best thing about a run is the finish!! the chance to chat to such great people made all the suffering well worth it!! cheers guys.
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Ultra 8 and 9
At last a breather! A chance to catch up with this blog before I have a dozen to write up or so ;0)
Ultra 8
Ultra 8 was a return to my old training ground and top mate Steve walker. Steve was my Sunday morning partner in crime. When I used to live in Seaton ( nr Hornsea on the East Yorkshire coast) we would meet up at 0530 and run a 20 miler every Sunday morning, through sand along cliff tops and occasionally sea :0)
Steve and I needed a catch up and what better way to have one while running a 30 miler!. I drove over to his house the night before ready for yes! Another 0530 start. A tooth abscess derived me of anything more than three hours sleep. The time came, Steve drove to the seafront at Skipsea sands and we started running, Steve chatted, I grunted. The lack of sleep, darkness and diclofenic sodium ( NSAID ) I had taken for the abscess made me feel very drowsy and all I wanted was my bed, I knew though as soon as daylight came I'd be ok. We ran along the sandy beaches to the holiday resort of Bridlington. Brid was just beginning to wake up. We passed by fisherman lobster cages and locked up fairground rides a lull before the storm of summer.
We headed up onto the cliffs and ran by Sewerby hall heading towards Danes Dyke. Steve slowed down and then stopped in his tracks, a couple of seconds later he started to walk like John Wayne ( he needed the toilet really bad!! ;0))) but of course his bowels had waited until the whole of Brid was out walking their dogs! He staggered out towards some bushes. The way he was walking looked like it was already too late ( hasten to add it wasn't ) We ran down Danes Dyke and back up my pet hate 'steps' half way up these steps they become quite steep and lactic acid flows through my quads to make running impossible and I spend a few moments gasping my last. Steve makes light work of the steps. He always used to. It used to frustrate me that I would incorporate hill work etc into my training but the steps always did this to me in fact the stronger I became the more my legs would blow up. Id always call Steve a few choice names under my breath as he would fly up past me! We ran along narrow footpaths looking out to the sea and the cliffs ahead. After a few more descents and steps!! Flamborough lighthouse was in our view, we passed by South landing and headed over the extra mile to the North landing .
The views along this coastline have their own beauty just as good as anywhere in the world. Blue sky, deep blue sea and the White cliffs of Bempton. We headed inland briefly to come to the top of Flamborough head. Flamborough head north landing is a small inlet ( cove) surrounded by caves and cliffs. In summer it can be packed out and was a place I used to come with parents in my early years on holiday when I lived in Chesterfield (Derbyshire). The route down to the cove follows a lifeboat launch track The track and the climb afterwards up to the cliff path was Steve's and my hill training for a past Bob Graham round attempt, we would park up down the coast and run 8 miles here and rep out 20 hillreps and then run back.
We dropped down to the cove to do a rep of the slope before turning round at the 16 mile point, the climb was just as steep as I remembered and we returned back on the path we had come along. At the side of the clifftop path along the banks of a bungalow there used to be dozens of stones and signs covered with funny anecdotes . The owner of the garden had also put a pot out to raise money for charity. All that was left now was a few broken signs and a small memorial to the man who had spent so much hard work entertaining passers by. Another sign had been written quite a bit more upsetting than the first one. The pot where charity money had been thrown in by passers by had been stolen. This wasn't the centre of a town but a clifftop path. Well by posting this on this blog his memory may live a little longer.
We continued along the clifftop path with views of Bridlington to distract our attention from tired legs. Arriving at Bridlington I diverted off the route to get some more food and drink before 8 miles of sand running along the beach back to Skipsea. The sand felt tougher than I remembered it. After what seemed an eternity we ran back onto the cliffs and cut through a couple of caravan parks. A house which had been there last time I had run on this route was now gone. A victim to the severe Coastal erosion this part of the uk's coastline gets I doubt if the road I was running on would still be there in 10 years time. Eventually we reached the car in 5 hours 50 mins. We had completed 32 miles. The second half had been into very strong winds proving to be a battle all the way. Well I had a great run with a brilliant mate on tired legs.( 3 days before I had ran up and down Roseberry Topping 10 times, a total ascent of 10,400ft in 2hrs 40mins )
What more could I ask? Oh yeh a bottle of diet coke and some sleep!!!
Ultra 9
Ultra 9 was the first running of the Golden Fleece circuit an ldwa event organised by the South Cave scouts group. The event was 26.5 miles, I ran with David Cremmins and completed unintentionally 29.5 miles. It felt a bit of a mix between the other ldwa events 'the Rudolphs romp' and the 'Woldsman'( the original route before it moved to Driffield ) the event was well organised, pretty countryside and a reasonable size field didn't stop the event being painful and hardwork for me. A fast start ( should know better) = blowing up at the 20 mile stage and resulted in walking for several miles. Daniel Aldus and Mark Dalton flew by and no way did I have it in myself to catch them up. I finished the race with trashed legs and 3 days of doms afterwards. Was it the pace? No. The doms where the result from not wearing my compression shorts for the first time in ages. This has certainly convinced me they work ! Before I was sceptical, now I'm convinced, they work. We finished the event in just under 5 hours. Good event but my heart or legs weren't there.
Ultra 8
Ultra 8 was a return to my old training ground and top mate Steve walker. Steve was my Sunday morning partner in crime. When I used to live in Seaton ( nr Hornsea on the East Yorkshire coast) we would meet up at 0530 and run a 20 miler every Sunday morning, through sand along cliff tops and occasionally sea :0)
Steve and I needed a catch up and what better way to have one while running a 30 miler!. I drove over to his house the night before ready for yes! Another 0530 start. A tooth abscess derived me of anything more than three hours sleep. The time came, Steve drove to the seafront at Skipsea sands and we started running, Steve chatted, I grunted. The lack of sleep, darkness and diclofenic sodium ( NSAID ) I had taken for the abscess made me feel very drowsy and all I wanted was my bed, I knew though as soon as daylight came I'd be ok. We ran along the sandy beaches to the holiday resort of Bridlington. Brid was just beginning to wake up. We passed by fisherman lobster cages and locked up fairground rides a lull before the storm of summer.
We headed up onto the cliffs and ran by Sewerby hall heading towards Danes Dyke. Steve slowed down and then stopped in his tracks, a couple of seconds later he started to walk like John Wayne ( he needed the toilet really bad!! ;0))) but of course his bowels had waited until the whole of Brid was out walking their dogs! He staggered out towards some bushes. The way he was walking looked like it was already too late ( hasten to add it wasn't ) We ran down Danes Dyke and back up my pet hate 'steps' half way up these steps they become quite steep and lactic acid flows through my quads to make running impossible and I spend a few moments gasping my last. Steve makes light work of the steps. He always used to. It used to frustrate me that I would incorporate hill work etc into my training but the steps always did this to me in fact the stronger I became the more my legs would blow up. Id always call Steve a few choice names under my breath as he would fly up past me! We ran along narrow footpaths looking out to the sea and the cliffs ahead. After a few more descents and steps!! Flamborough lighthouse was in our view, we passed by South landing and headed over the extra mile to the North landing .
The views along this coastline have their own beauty just as good as anywhere in the world. Blue sky, deep blue sea and the White cliffs of Bempton. We headed inland briefly to come to the top of Flamborough head. Flamborough head north landing is a small inlet ( cove) surrounded by caves and cliffs. In summer it can be packed out and was a place I used to come with parents in my early years on holiday when I lived in Chesterfield (Derbyshire). The route down to the cove follows a lifeboat launch track The track and the climb afterwards up to the cliff path was Steve's and my hill training for a past Bob Graham round attempt, we would park up down the coast and run 8 miles here and rep out 20 hillreps and then run back.
We dropped down to the cove to do a rep of the slope before turning round at the 16 mile point, the climb was just as steep as I remembered and we returned back on the path we had come along. At the side of the clifftop path along the banks of a bungalow there used to be dozens of stones and signs covered with funny anecdotes . The owner of the garden had also put a pot out to raise money for charity. All that was left now was a few broken signs and a small memorial to the man who had spent so much hard work entertaining passers by. Another sign had been written quite a bit more upsetting than the first one. The pot where charity money had been thrown in by passers by had been stolen. This wasn't the centre of a town but a clifftop path. Well by posting this on this blog his memory may live a little longer.
We continued along the clifftop path with views of Bridlington to distract our attention from tired legs. Arriving at Bridlington I diverted off the route to get some more food and drink before 8 miles of sand running along the beach back to Skipsea. The sand felt tougher than I remembered it. After what seemed an eternity we ran back onto the cliffs and cut through a couple of caravan parks. A house which had been there last time I had run on this route was now gone. A victim to the severe Coastal erosion this part of the uk's coastline gets I doubt if the road I was running on would still be there in 10 years time. Eventually we reached the car in 5 hours 50 mins. We had completed 32 miles. The second half had been into very strong winds proving to be a battle all the way. Well I had a great run with a brilliant mate on tired legs.( 3 days before I had ran up and down Roseberry Topping 10 times, a total ascent of 10,400ft in 2hrs 40mins )
What more could I ask? Oh yeh a bottle of diet coke and some sleep!!!
Ultra 9
Ultra 9 was the first running of the Golden Fleece circuit an ldwa event organised by the South Cave scouts group. The event was 26.5 miles, I ran with David Cremmins and completed unintentionally 29.5 miles. It felt a bit of a mix between the other ldwa events 'the Rudolphs romp' and the 'Woldsman'( the original route before it moved to Driffield ) the event was well organised, pretty countryside and a reasonable size field didn't stop the event being painful and hardwork for me. A fast start ( should know better) = blowing up at the 20 mile stage and resulted in walking for several miles. Daniel Aldus and Mark Dalton flew by and no way did I have it in myself to catch them up. I finished the race with trashed legs and 3 days of doms afterwards. Was it the pace? No. The doms where the result from not wearing my compression shorts for the first time in ages. This has certainly convinced me they work ! Before I was sceptical, now I'm convinced, they work. We finished the event in just under 5 hours. Good event but my heart or legs weren't there.
Saturday, 3 March 2012
Ultras 8 and 19
Reports coming, snowed under with Hardmoors 55 admin at moment...
Ultra no 8 was 30 miles of sand and cliftops in strong winds with Steve Walker, finished in 5hrs 50 mins
Ultra no 9 was 29.5 miles on the Golden Fleece LDWA event ( the event was supposed to be 26.5, Ill let you guess how the extra came in place) Finished it in 4hrs 50 mins....
Next week Wuthering Hike, then Hardmoors 55 followed by the week after Cleveland Survival then Blubberhouses 25 plus on the same weekend Allendale Challenge (unsure if I will do the Allendale, all to do with Work) then ............
Ultra no 8 was 30 miles of sand and cliftops in strong winds with Steve Walker, finished in 5hrs 50 mins
Ultra no 9 was 29.5 miles on the Golden Fleece LDWA event ( the event was supposed to be 26.5, Ill let you guess how the extra came in place) Finished it in 4hrs 50 mins....
Next week Wuthering Hike, then Hardmoors 55 followed by the week after Cleveland Survival then Blubberhouses 25 plus on the same weekend Allendale Challenge (unsure if I will do the Allendale, all to do with Work) then ............
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