TA DNF

Blisters with dirt in them. Too much pain to be fun any more. I tried running today but gave up near bush burn. About 35km.

Popped some compeeds on and hope they're better soon..

Te Araroa day 3

Felt much better today, easier leg. I did longwood range and forest, and reached woodlaw. 

The view from the top of longwood forest

The ironic telecoms on bald hill. Typically only gave me two bars of signal!?

Some deer, is this where prince Charles farms them for Richmond park? 

38km maybe more, trying to find level ground for camping.

10hrs! 

Te Araroa Day 2

Set off feeling ok not 100%. Met a French couple Nico and Lucy who were also doing the Te Araroa. They said I made the right decision to not do Bluff. It was a min dumbing 30k road. Quite warm today. No signal still, I guess it might take a few days. Heading toward my first interesting looking ascent 

Near to the start of the climb I met a guy called Kevin hawkes, who does is heavily involved with the trail. He kindly volunteered himself to drop off some food for me! I kind of heard of the hospitality of the kiwis and never quite believed it. Kevin advised me the next part would be tough and to possibly stay at martins hut at the top. I said initially I should be fine. But he was right. Also I didn't help that it finally started raining and hasn't stopped..

The forest before the rain

The forest also contained various opportunities for SUDDEN DEATH in the form of dug out canals. The area was once used for mining gold. So every 800meters you found things like this, or worse. One just had a piece of rope

Any way, this is all in a fairly random order. Hut life ain't so bad

About 22km with loads of switch backs so maybe more

8hrs

Te Araroa Day 1

I still had to get to the start at this point. So I had to get up for 4am as my coach was leaving at 6am from town. 

5am at Queens town

Basically I decided I wanted to start today and after talking to some locals about the first section. I also decided it would be better to start from Invercargill. 

Invercargill was quite industrial. It has some nice bits and typically very clean. But basically I wanted to head for the mountains! I eventually decided to try to get to the foot of the mountain at least which was 48km away. It was quite windy and I had two beaches to cross. Basically the first was a sandstorm with a river crossing. I decided to take the long way around the river crossing as my feet were rubbing from the heat and the sand. Running/hiking through sand and strong winds was pretty tough going. It eventually wore me down to a walk before reaching a campsite at the end of Colac Bay. Hopefully today will be easier! Honestly heading up the mountain sounds easier than being sand blind with head winds so strong it's picking things out of your bag! But there were some good views. Sadly if I stopped to take a photo I'd probably be still chaising my phone down the beach now.. 

In other news these are lovely!

And I had my first taste of Kiwi ale last night which was also good. I only had 1 but forgot to write down what it was. So I'll just have to test a few more to see if I can jog my memory.

Hardly any signal so days 1 and 2 might get uploaded together.

48km 

About 8hrs

Finally arrived...

I'm in queenstown. The down side is there is something wrong with my sim and Vodafone. I've been to the shop twice. I'll go again tomorrow on my way through innvercargil. I may have to just blog when I can get wifi. 

Any way, typically tired. Just preping gear and food. Here's the view from the yma

Today 0miles run/hiked but a load to camping shops and such! 

Te Araroa

It's been a while since I've felt I've had any running/hiking exploits to talk about that are of interest. But I'm going to try and make an effort to blog about my holiday doing the Te Araroa. This is basically end to end of New Zealand: http://www.teararoa.org.nz/

I'm not sure if I'll finish or how far I'll do or what. I've done some research and even the best out there don't set schedules for this. So basically I'm just going to enjoy the route and make the most of my time on the route. 

I'm not looking forward to carnivorous parrots:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kea

And the Weta: 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weta

But I'm sure I'll be ok... 

Bob Graham Round report

I arrived at Moot Hall just before midnight where I promptly sorted out what to take and what not to take with my pacers. And all important last minute prep of which I probably should have taken more time over this. And then we set off, waving goodbye to about 7 or more people. Looking back it was quite a blur but I was pleased to see friends from Stone and well-wisher’s who were assisting a round about to leave around the same time. The weather was less than perfect but I read and hoped it would change later. As we set off through the rain up towards Skiddaw the temperature started to drop more and more. We weren’t even half way up and I was asking if we were nearly there yet. My pacers were Dave and his mate Ronnie. Truly great guy’s, at this point we were starting to panic. Or at least I was about the weather. We reached Great Calva by which time the rain wasn’t quite as bad and I got just enough of a run in to keep myself warm for a bit. The lower we were the better things were temperature-wise. We reached Caldew river where we came across a small problem, the current was very fast and the river was high. After some negotiation and allot of running back and forth I decided to just go for it. I fumbled across and shouted Dave and Ronnie over. They weren’t too sure still so they ran to the road and made their way to me. Dave and Ronnie at first weren’t to sure whether to continue or not and honestly I didn’t blame them. And I had enough pacer’s for leg two but after some soup and fumbling around they decided to joined us for leg 2.

Now 4 pacers strong with Simon and Julian we headed up Clough head, by this point the rain had subsided slightly from what I remember and spirits were high. When we reached the top there was clag in every direction. We did joke about the view frequently. All seemed well and we were joking and chatting away. Thing’s seemed to be on the up. I had a slight wobble around Seat Sandal, I had some problems eating earlier in the cold and wet. I was basically getting a sugar low. I really, really didn’t want this to happen and not on an ascent, I slowed down slightly and probably too much for and ate a cheese sarny. I already knew I was a few mins down on time and this wasn’t going to help.

I started to pick up slightly reaching leg 3, a small crowd awaited me which was lovely. I stopped for some flapjack and set off up Steel Fell. Now accompanied by Dale, Robin and his two lovely dogs who entertained me by fighting each other for the first 30mins at least (the dogs not Dale and Rob). We reached the top and cruised along for a while. Dale promised me some chocolate for every peak I reached, sometimes the promise was retracted as and when he saw fit but it was a bit of a laugh and great incentive to get my ass in gear. And thing’s seemed to be going ok for a while. I seem to remember seeing another group doing their round, one of which was wearing a skirt he found along the way! Interesting..  After a few peaks I started to really struggle with the descents. My nerves were going and my muscles were starting to tighten. I was pretty much in denial of this at the time but I really needed to have spent more time descending on the fell in training. Going up was always ok but after a while the decsents started to get to me. And of course even more so this started to affect my time again. Lord’s Rake was wonderful and truly scared me with the amount of clag. I don’t mind a bit of a climb, but I couldn’t see anything over the top edge. Which was probably for the best! We dug our heal’s in and slid down to Wasdale on the loose scree. Unfortunately I don’t think I enjoyed this as much as Dale at the time as I started to cramp up but it was still great fun. My brake in Wasdale was short lived. I was getting really behind on schedule. I had 2 mins to down some pasta and get going!

Climbing Yewbarrow was just as tough as I remembered it from my recce. It never seemed to get any easier. I kept asking how behind I was on schedule and no one would give me a straight answer so I figured I needed to put quite a bit more work in. I knew the last 2 legs wouldn’t be easy and I had zero chance of any kind of rest. On this leg I was joined by Julie and Ian who pretty much kicked me into shape and I’ll be honest I needed it. I don’t mind being told what to do I just don’t like failing. And who does.. We reached the top into yet more clag, at times this made for hard navigation but I have to say throughout. All of my navigators were first class so if we did stop to think it wasn’t for long and some even ran ahead to double check. I was still managing some kind of running pace of the flats and I felt ok considering. I could feel my right hamstring tightening and generally felt like I might slow but I tried as best I could to keep drinking and eating. Consumption was becoming a problem again but Ian and Julie were bit feeding me bits of chocolate which worked great. Just little bits and often. I was starting to get myself down a bit with the fact I couldn’t eat but kept it going. I really wanted to enjoy the view of Great Gable but sadly the view was again obscured by the clag. After Grey Knotts I really started to push, I had to make time in order to finish.

I ran straight through Honister on to leg 5. By this point I wasn’t saying much and just trying to get the job done. When I reached Dalehead, again in the clag I thought it was a house. I guess I must have been quite depleted. The steady rolling hills felt like a god send between Dalehead to Robinson. I was making time and felt like I could run the road section. My support said I could walk some of the small hills on the road to Moot Hall, I did for the most part but managed to run some as well. I was in quite allot of pain but determined to make the cut off. When I reached Moot Hall I touched the door and crumpled in a heap. I got there with just 4mins to spare.

In no order THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!! You were all amazing. I’m sorry for going quiet, not eating, slowing down, being a wus and or being grumpy. Thankyou for feeding and looking after me: John, Alison, Dale, Den, Tracy, Simon, Dave, Ronnie, Julie, Johnny, Julian, Ian, Robin and dogs (forgot their names, sorry), Ben, Amy, Helen, the near 50 people at Dunmail supporting other BGer’s and me, random drunk kids at near midnight cheering me in and anyone else I might have missed.

Carb loading

Faffing with gear before the start

View of Grizedale Beck

Grizedale Tarn off Dollywaggon

Grizedale Tarn off Dollywaggon

Grizedale Tarn off Dollywaggon

 

With Dave Swift ascending Fairfield

Fairfield Summit

Fairfield Summit

Fairfield descent

Seat Sandal ascent

Seat Sandal descent

Heading for leg 3

Dunmail

Dunmail

Steel Fell ascent

Heading out for leg 4

Honister from Dale Head ascent

blurry run in towards Moot Hall

The end!

Thank's Simon and John for the photo's.

Marlborough Downs and Riga Marathon

Just a few notes. I should write more but I have way to much on my plate at the moment. To summarise, in short: new door ££££, boiler problems ££££?? awaiting quote.. New door not finished, probably due to rain.. EVEN THOUGH I'VE PAID THEM!!! Slight problem with a canvas I sold.. Something else. I forget too many phone calls.. No running.. Must taper..

Any way, running:


Marlborough
Great, ran with Mark who did his famous negative split which knackered me but felt good overtaking people even in the last mile of an ultra! No pb but Mark and I got 4th and 5th. I let him have 4th as it's his first. Even though that would have been my first 4th ever. But still I was 5th last year and I'm sure i'll get there. It's best not to be greedy :)

Mark and his kitchen sink bag :)

Riga
After my terrible run in London I decided to try for a negative split or even split after Mark's influence. And honestly I didn't want to hurt myself this close to my BGR. So I did it and it felt great, again I was over taking people in the last mile still. I think there's allot to be said for going out steady. Here's my split:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/182058915

I lost the link for the Riga photos.

BGR next :)

Busy busy busy... AGAIN

A quick re-cap of what I've been up too. Or at least the bit's that seem memorable/I can remember.
If I don't take note now this will all get dog piled in one big lump. 2 weeks ago I did the London Marathon and well and truely ruined everything on the day by going off too fast, getting stitch and walking around 20 times. Generally speaking I felt the whole experience to be a little frustrating. I can see why people love London but it's just not me!
One can only assume copyright is void with all watermarking they did here :)

The week after was the Fellsman, which as most know was called off at 1:40am dew to weather conditions. But at least I finished. Not in a great time but still I met some nice chaps and had a good laugh. Some highlights were, a guy pooring boiling water over my bag while I was trying to get my glove out. When I asked what he was doing he replied: "I'm making tea". He wasn't making tea! He was watering my bag. I didn't get angry I just eased away with my numbness. Speaking of which I still can't feel my toes. My doctor tell's me I've finally damaged my nerves. Generally speaking better than some poxy city jog (sorry my beloved road running pals).

Which brings me up to date. Yesterday I did leg 4 of the BGR with Simon and Dale. Which was truely awesome. I can't wait to get up there. Most people probably think I'm nuts but I'm loving all the views and ups and downs. 

This blog is really getting a bit messy in terms of consistency but then this is as I may have mentioned before more for me to remember and look back on. I don't want to get old and go yeah I did some running.. I think.. To be honest I do that now. I had to think quite hard to remember the first leg of the Fellsman..

Next is Marlborough Downs followed by Riga marathon. And then I need to make some blog space for my Bob Graham Round (attempt). I'll write more as and when I get time... Possibly more photo's too follow. Maybe even some legal ones. 

Micah True

Everyone has a moment of inspiration or at least identifies where they can see why or how something impossible could ever be possible. For me it was reading Born To Run. I just read Micah True aka Caballo Blanco has left this world. He was seriously (from what I read in Born To Run) awesome! One day I'll have to get myself Copper Canyon.

http://billybarnett.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/walking-light.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/9193441/Micah-True.html

With that said my life has been good. Although I don't have much spare time still. I completed another leg of the Bob Graham supporting Andy Blackett on his round. He was a beast. A real star, completing in 23:36. Simon and Helen joined me along with a few others. Simon did a great write up:
http://simonstrailrunningblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/bob-graham-leg-2-support-31st-march.html

Sunday marked my 7th (I think) Stone circle. 37 miles around Stone. ..37 as I ran to Yarnfield to start.

Bob Graham reccy #1 leg 1

Honestly I couldn't have asked for better weather (apart from the hale!). All my hill reps are starting to pay off, the round is going to be hard but we do these thing's because they are hard.

Some photo's with numb fingers from the top of Blencathra:

17 Miles around and up The Wrekin

Had a great run last week, nothing too intense but so enjoyable. Here's some photo's (and of course I was the only one going for the cup cake):

Jan, Feb and much snow fun!

In Jan I went snowboarding, while I was there I attempted some running of sorts.. I say of sorts as it took me about 30mins to do 2 miles. There was a foot of snow and massive ascent, so if nothing else it was good hill work! On the way down I filmed the trail on my phone till my thumbs started to stop working. And the trail ran out..

I've been working steadily on my hill reps for my BGR attempt. I'm up to 22 now and I think I'll stay at that for a while now as it seems to be just enough and still seems like quite allot.

Last Sat Tim, Mark and I ran to Alsager (19.5 miles) and Tim and I ran the Alsager 5. Again mainly in snowy conditions with some blood on the floor (not mine!)

It was nice to take it fairly steady on a race that was so quick, I managed 32:52mins which was ok I guess. I'm still not sure my lungs are up to 5miles flat out any way. Also I never realised the route passes past my Grandad's old house and my Aunties house.

Next Anglaze Arke Amble.. I may take some seal skins for this one if the weather stay's as it is. To be honest I can't see it changing.. 

My nibble box!

My nibble box..  Apprently: http://graze.com/b/v5n4b
Not so sure about the love mix though. 

NYE! and silly goals

I've finally reached my mile goal this year of 3500. I ended up doing 3514 :) Had to do 34 today which is kind of last minute and makes me laugh but it was kind of worth it for my silly goal. I ran to Alsager and back, which is a run I till now used to do to visit my great aunt who sadly is spending the last of her day's in hospital at the moment. At 92 year's of age she definitely had a good life. I think I'll still run this route if not just to remember her.

Some plans for next year, in no order.
3120 miles! (ha)
UTMB (if I get in)
London silly road running marathon, just to say I did it..
Fellsman (shortly after silly over populated road jogging)
Anglezarke amble
Bob Graham round+ lot's of training on the fell's before hand!
Dovedale dipper
Round Rotherham
No run further, too much else to do!
Marlborough Downs challenge for my birthday :)
Cader Idris
Summer series
Spring Treble
And anything else along the way that I might have forgot..

Happy new year!

Bat's day out at the Christmas Cracker

My impression of a bat (although it just looks like I'm wearing a bin bag), closely followed by Elvis at the Christmas Cracker. 

Collectively we kind of look like bat's:

I hopped around with Mark and ran back before we crossed the finish line so the whole club finished together :) Great fun, bloody cold but good. 

As much as I love the snow it seems to be slowing down my miles, that and falling off my bike is getting old very quick. 

Well I did it, I've put in for the UTMB ballot.

And now I wait...

Has it been drawn yet!!??

Leek xc and Xmas miles

Saturday was the North Staffordshire Cross Country League last race: Westwood High in Leek. Featuring THE KILLER HILL!! This year the killer hill was moved slightly to the right, making everyone's time's 2mins slower (at least that's my excuse). When I checked the results I released even the winners were quite allot faster last year. The header image for my blog is from last years race. And this year I looked somewhat worse:

If you look at the train of people behind me making the same face I don't feel quite as bad. Going up that hill 3 times in a row, at speed for a bit over five miles was tough. Yet at the end I still felt like I enjoyed it. It's probably the same feeling as tooth ache and then the relief after the tooth is finally pulled. I don't think I'm built for speed, it did make me laugh though how many quick road runners I took on the hill :) All those fell's and ultra's are starting to pay off even if most of them caught me on the flats. Luckily we finished at the top of killer hill.

Next: I need to start/find time for reccying a section of the BGR. I decided which part. I can't remember the exact's now although I know a guy who has done it and assisted on quite a few. He's given me some sound advise. So I just need to start driving up and plodding away. And next Sunday I'm planning on running the Xmas Cracker dressed as a bat :) Providing I'm not too hungover to run after the club's xmas do. 

Busy busy busy...

So busy in fact I've had little time to paint or run as much as I'd like but still getting some running done.

A quick re-cap of the last few thing's I've been up to with pictures :)

Park Hall XC - 6 miles 1min pb, I really enjoy this run. Mainly because of the hills, I can out run quite a few on this route when it gets steep which is fun

New shoes and matching socks. That should secure favour with the club chairman complaining about my kit..

Flying fox 10 - 0 miles apart from the fact I ran 13 to get there and back. I marshalled and generally gave words of encouragement, such as: "not far now.." and "just around that corner (which had one guy run into a hedge)"..

On the way to the FF10 near Standon

Six dales - 26 miles (advertised as 25miles), great day, thoroughly enjoyed the event and the oatcakes from the LDWA Staffs group. Had a good chat with lots of people :)

Nick Ham took some cracking photos

Stafford Common XC - 6.3 miles another 1min pb, however this was flat as a pancake and dry under foot so the road runners got the better of me. Well that and I really shouldn't have had goats cheese and crumpets 1hr before a speedy effort! After the first 2 laps I wanted to stop quite quickly but held out till the end. And promptly heading for the porter loo's! I dropped out 50 places on this one but still mustn't grumble I did pb for that particular route..

Last lap with George, with me complaining all the way..

On the Sunday we went for a walk, that's right a walk! Up Mam Tor. I didn't run for the first Sunday in a month and 10 days. Lovely day with soup in the camper, the low mist makes it look a little higher than it actually is which is pretty cool

And this weekend I'll be up Long Mynd.