Training - 7 miles

Very boring run tonight, used my 'town' 5 mile route with a short extension out to the Fox at Menston.

Did a bit of 'fartlek', doing my main sprints up Burley Road to the Fox from the back of Ellar Gardens (or whatever its called...), and also up East Chevin Road - always a killer, must be 12.5% gradient, takes about 40 seconds at top speed.....

Only saw one Otley runner out tonight, so must have been a bit early for the 'moonlighters' and, despite by best efforts (Ken!), didn't stumble across any buried treasure, remains of crashed World War Two bombers (complete with skeletal crew), just a long tailback of cars because of the roadworks on the ancient and somewhat historic bridge. Here is a picture, of the bridge that is, not the traffic jam, or rather the weir, the bridge is in the background.....

Training - 8 miles

8 mile route up Leeds Road to Bramhope, a few loops around there and then back down again.

Felt very fluid today, the benefits of a rest day I guess. Shorter runs coming up this weekend but plenty of kit to play with (have just added some valves to my drinks bottles and they work much better - very Wallace & Grommit! Will post some kit blogs at the weekend).

Training - 5 miles recovery run

Quick 5 miles this evening before a rather long school meeting. Felt OK after the weekend's runs, not too stiff and not too sore - roll on the desert.....i think!

Training - 33 miles

33 mile route today - out to Burley, then Ilkely, Addingham, Silsden, Steeton, Keighley, Bingley, Shipley, Guisesly and back over West Chevin End.

Set off in a cold drizzle but rain soon stopped and even saw some sun. Have done this route before so was pleased to feel stonger towards the end than usual, and have never done this off the back of a 23 mile training run before.

Makes 68 miles for the week and now start to enter my taper, although I am doing Barry 40 two weeks today, but otherwise will be concentrating on getting my backpack / frontpack system sorted out.

Training - 23 miles

Usual 23 mile route yesterday taking in Menston, Guiseley, Apperley Bridge, Calverley, Horsforth, Headingley, Adel and Bramhope and, as ever, first 2/3rds of the route felt good and last 7 miles, less good! Still, completed in 3 hrs 20 mins so quite happy with that.

Training - 7 'chilli'

7 mile Pool Bank run tonight. Very windy and quite a battle into the headwind back to Otley. Bumped into two lots of Otley runners tonight, saw Phil (WHW runner), Chris (24 hr runner) and Carl (the bed runner....).

Surprisngly warm out running tonight and did a slight detour at the end of the run to buy a 'chilli' for Emma's cooking class (or is that 'Food Technology'?) tomorrow.

Much better run tonight though.

Training - sluggish 5 miles

Back on the road at last, but felt heavy today. Not so cold as the last few days, but still chilly.

Good to get back to running, hopefully do 7 tomorrow and then two big runs at the weekend...

MdS Race number

Race numbers have now been posted on the official website. My number is 877.

So, if you are really bored while I'm away in the desert, you'll be able to check up on my daily progress. I know, exciting isn't it?!

News!

Back at work today after a weeks skiing. Went to St Jean D'Aulp near Morzien and Avoriaz in teh northern French Alps. Great skiing conditionsand loads of runs to choose from. Sun shone all week so it was just about perfect - also pleased to come back with no injuries.

Also tried out the Wileys one day. Vision was good with the smoke elenses in bright sunshine and shade but they misted up every time I stopped. However, this happens when I cycle in sunglasses so I guess I'll just have to put up with that in the desert. My 'P20' look-a-like sunscreen also worked well in the Alpine sun, and hopefully I've now got a good 'base layer' tan for the desert!

So, only 8 miles running in the last two weeks but plenty of very useful cross training. Hopefully get a few short runs in during the week and two big runs at the weekend.

Been a busy time recnelty as I've been actively looking for a new job and was offered and accepted a position with the RSPB the week before going on holiday - yippeee!! Really pleased as I'll be fundraising for conservation projects which is something I've always been really interested in.

However, first I have to work 3 months notice, but will start my new job on May 1st.

Kit - Wiley X SG-1 Goggles...

...arrived today. Very chuffed with my cheap eBay purchase all the way from Malaysia, and then went and broke them........still, they do work and seem to fit really well, good for sand storms, not so stylish as glasses, but functionality is slightly more important I think. That's just about all the kit sorted now.

Oh, and these only weigh 60 grams, including spare lenses (one clear pair, one smoked), head band strap and sunglass 'arms'.

Training - 8 miles

8 mile 'recovery' run tonight. Felt really tired at work this afternoon, but run went OK. Did the 'Highroyds 8'. Chillier than I thought, so with no gloves or hat hands got quite cold....not that a hat would have made any difference, obviously.......rest day tomorrow......I think I need one!

Kit - SIS ReGo

Tried this out after yesterday's race and today's training run (supposed to aid recovery from exercise with complex carbohydrates....or something!). Tastes OK, a sort of powdery milkshake. Have had strawberry and chocloate and both taste fine. Will also try out vanilla and then add to the kit list

Training - 20 miles

Usual 20 mile route today - Menston, Guiseley, Rawdon, Horsforth then along the ring road to Lawnswood, down into Headingley, out to Weetwood then Adel and then back in on the Otley Road through Bramhope.

Ran the first 12 none stop and felt pretty good. Next few miles more testing but finished well. 3 hrs in all, not bad after yesterday's race.

Makes for a 66 mile week. Highest yet!

Race - Rombalds Stride

Took part in the Rombalds Stride race yesterday. A 25 mile tour of Rombalds Moor organised by the LDWA. Lots of runners do this one too though and quite a decent sized field.

Took it easier than usual as I was trying out my front pack for the MdS with two 800 ml water bottles attached.

Weather was good, snowing at the start but generally quite bright, icy underfoot on the moors though this did make it marginally less boggy. Ice took its toll on some though, the blood smeared road at the foot of Keigthly Gate being a timely reminder to watch you footing.....

Compelted in 4 hrs 3mins, only 3 mins outisde my target time and quite happy with that. Felt OK too until the final big climb up the Chevin, a real killer which completely wiped my out. Still, recovered enough to make up a few places on the final three mile run to the finish.

Slide show as promised. Just click on the thumbnail....


Rombalds Stride 2/3/08