10 miles

Yesterday I did the 10 mile loop out to Pool, Arthington, up Creskeld Lane to Bramhope and then home via the Leeds Road.

Thermometer was reading 22 degrees when I left but mix of a breeze and shade from the low sun meant that the temperature was actually OK.

Felt good on this run but bizarrely for just 10 miles suffered a very visible runner's nipple incident - I was wearing a white Two Oceans T-shirt. Oddly, this same thing happened the last time I did this route but luckily, the injury is less severe than it looked......

After the run had a very pleasant evening at Boun Apps in Otley, even sitting outside to enjoy a glass or two of Proseco before sitting down to our meal. Walk home was actually quite warm and still light enough to run at about 10.45 (no, we didn't actually run home). Fingers crossed for same night time temperatures and visibility next weekend...

Three more

Same route as yesterday evening, but the other way around. Clockwise I guess.

Nothing much to report, all felt OK.

Three

Yes, just three easy miles around the quiet streets of Otley this evening. I am, remember, tapering for the big run just 8 days away now.

Knee felt a lot better today. Skin still tight across the wound but starting to crack up and shrink.

Another short run tomorrow, then just a single one hour run over the weekend, and then time to get ready for the West Highland Way Race.....

So, the recovery continues....

....knee and calf still sore, especially sitting still at meetings or on the train today.

But, tonight's run seemed to go OK. Emma's guide troop (sounds like a pack of monkeys...) met at the top of the Chevin tonight (at Surprise View car park). View looks like this:

So I went ready to run and did a very acceptable circuit of the Chevin Country park which added up to about 5/6 miles. Calf sore again now, but felt much 'looser' as did my scabby knee on the run.

Not much more running now until West Highland Way, longest run will be an hour on Saturday......de de derrr de d derrr...(its a Star Wars thing....).

Slow recovery run

Just did four very slow miles around Otley this evening in an attempt to get the muscles moving.

Needless to say I'm still a bit stiff and sore after Saturday's little escapade. My left calf is very tight and my right knee very in-flexible covered as it is in a big red scab. Still, good to get moving and much better for me than sitting at a desk and hardly being able to get out of the chair after and hour of inactivity!

Might try the same again tomorrow.

Snowdon - times three!

As part of my UTMB training, I feel that lots of long uphill and downhill work will help, getting used to using poles, getting used to long, relentless downhills - the sort of thing that becomes tortuous towards the end of the West Highland Way race as the hills get bigger.

So, I set off for North Wales late Friday evening to do just that....

The plan, do three ascents/descents. After a brief overnight stay at the cell like Travelodge in Cearnarfon I arrived at Llanberis around 4am, parked up in the layby just on the edge of town then set off for the hill at 4.37 am.

Llyn Padarn, Llanberis 4.37 am Saturday 6 June

Snowdon Mountain Railway trains stoking up at 4.40 am

The weather was cool, with a few spots of rain in the air, with lots of low cloud around. I ran the half mile or so to the foot of the climb then got out the poles for the 4.5 mile uphill slog on the Lllanberis path. The ascent was fairly uneventful, saw a handful of walkers (all on their way down - 3 Peakers presumably) and hit the summit at 6.19 am. It was cloudy when I arrived, but that very suddenly, and dramatically, cleared to provide some stunning views:

Snowdon Summit, 6.19 am.

Looking into the Snowdon horseshoe:

The view north:

After a quick snack I folded away the poles and headed down the hill. Still very quiet but the path was starting to get very wet - in fact there was so much water compared to the ascent that I began to wonder if I'd taken a wrong turn (which on the Llanberis path you just can't do!). Anyway, with no misadventures I arrived back at the car at 7.19 am, exactly one hour after reaching the summit.

Llanberis was starting to get busy now and I got chatting to a fell runner parked next to me. Turned out to be John Vernon (West Highland Way family) over from Sheffield for the 1000 metres fell race (a 22 miler finishing on Snowdon). Turns out John is also running UTMB this summer!

After a change of kit and more food and drink set off at 7.39 am for leg two. Once again the climb was very straight forward, but the rain was incessant by now and the wind on the top made it very cold.

Second summit, 9.26 am

To get a chance to recover I went in search of shelter by the new multi-million pound visitor centre on the top of Snowdon - which bizarrely remained closed all day. No outdoor shelter of any kind has been built into this (which seems like a missed opportunity), but the north side of the summit was out of the wind and I warmed up from the hot air emanating through a steel shuttered door (no idea what it was powering).

Again, poles got packed away and I was glad to be running to start warming up (given that it was only 9 or 10 degrees in Llanberis, it must have been around zero on the summit and that's before factoring in wind chill).

I soon starting warming up and was enjoying the run off the hill when I suddenly found myself heading for the ground. I'd tripped (I blame low visibility.....). I hit the ground palms down, right knee, thigh, elbow and shoulder. I think I was more in shock about what a disaster this might be than from the actual impact and despite feeling sore (and glad no one was around to see me) decided the best option was to keep on running. The throbbing in my elbow and knee soon calmed down and I made the rest of the way down incident free and arrived at the car at 10.26 am.

Luckily, Pamela's car comes with a first aid kit so I was able to clean and strap up my wounds and then sat in the car to warm up, get dry, change kit and feed. At this point, with the rain still pouring down and feeling sore and cold I could have packed in, but fitness wise I was feeling good and decided I'd come to do three ascents so that is what I'd do.

Eventually I set off in the rain again at 11.10 am for the third and final summit.

Llyn Padarn 11.10 am.

The hill was really busy now with charity walkers and endless ill equipped groups who seemed to have taken a wrong turn off Bangor high street. Still, none of them made the news unlike the well equipped fell runners.

So apart from crowds, the third and final ascent and descent was uneventful and my run down marginally quicker than the first two - I think ostensibly as I wanted to get away from the all those people! Although I did get to see more trains on this run and took several pictures for train mad Asa.

Timings; I set off at 11.10, reached the top at 1 pm and was back at the car for 1:58 pm. The rain continued while I sheltered in the car, dried off, changed, ate more stuff, drank loads of coke and water and then headed home at about 3 pm.

Overall I was very happy with the whole exercise (apart from falling over) with all climbs taking between 1:40 and 1:50 and all descents @ 1 hour.

So, that was the equivalent of about 30 miles and 3,000 metres of ascent, about 30% of UTMB....but, in only just over 9 hours and in fairly rubbish weather. So quite encouraging.

7 - up, then down.

Familiar circuit tonight, up the Leeds Road to the top of Pool Bank, then down the hill and the return flat to Otley for 7 quickish miles.

Was distinctly cool tonight, almost cold but although the sky had that threatening rain look, just stayed dry.

The new Otley 'gateway' sign on the Pool Road:

Quick 4

Literally that, 4 miles around town, felt pretty good, sore knee early on, but feels OK now. Fingers crossed...

Skipton to Otley - 18

Pamela very kindly drove me out to Skipton today for my 'long' run. Was scheduled for 2hrs, but the Skipton to Otley route is about 18 miles and took about 2hrs 40mins.

Very hot today, 23/24 plus and towards the end I really felt it.

Otherwise, it was a great run. Starting at Skipton, out through Embsay then over to Bolton Abbey picked up the Dales Way through Addingham to Ilkey and then the dullist bit, the road route back to Otley.

Really enjoyed the section to Ilkley, breezy to start with so took the edge of the heat, then shady, firm trials.....felt rough after I'd finished but soon picked up with a few glasses of Chablis and Monkfish kebabs. Yum!

Makes for 50 miles in total this week.

14....'quite' warm.

Not a very interesting route - running one hour up the Leeds Road and then turning round and heading home (got as far as Lawnswood roundabout), but a good testing run in 22+ degrees heat.

14 miles in total.

Three

Well, that's what I'd written into my schedule, maybe it was supposed to be speed work. Anyway, ran /walked three, straight up Johnny Lane to the top of the Chevin (poles in full use), bit of traversing, then back down.

Perfect evening, bit breezy, but bright and fantastic scenery from 'surprise view'.

Swift 5

Well, swift on the way back with the wind behind. Just the usual Otley 5 mile circuit of town. Lovely bright evening, breezy and cool.

9.7 miles

Took a day off yesterday (leisurely trip over to Hardcastle Crags and then gardening all afternoon), but muscles felt well sore when I set off today, especially my thighs. I guess that was the after effects of Saturday's climbs.

Still, soon loosened up and ran the nearly 10 miles from Otley to pool, Arthington, up Creskeld Lane and back along the Leeds Road.

After a warm, even humid, day the cloud cover and light drizzle made for perfect running conditions.

Yorkshire Three Peaks

Ran the route of the Three Peaks Fell race yesterday, about 26 miles in all with a 'few' climbs!

Set off at 10 am intending to start running at 11 but got held up on the A65 by Gypsy Caravans...finally got running at 11.42..........weather though was spot on, warm (about 16 degrees), but overcast and with a light wind.

Plan was to run anything flat or downhill and use the poles on the ascents. Route up Pen-y-ghent was fairly straight forward, a few running sections but mostly an uphill slog. Kept going to the top without a stop, then a quick fig roll, poles collapsed and packed away and map out for the descent and long run across to the Ribblehead viaduct. The top of Pen-y-ghent was cool, but cloud free and the first of many fine views I get throughout the day.

Summit One - Pen-y-ghent


Pen-y-ghent to Whernaide turned out to be the least enjoyable section of the day, it was very wet and boggy with time wasted trying to get round the worst of the degraded peat bogs. Finally hit a good farm track out to the road and then a short section of tarmac to the viaduct.

The fell race itself turns left soon after the end of the viaduct and goes vertically up the side of Wherenside, but this land is not open to the public so I had to stick to the main path on a long sweeping detour north then west. This was good training though for ascending using the poles and again I kept going until I hit the summit. Once more I hit the top clear of cloud, though it was dull and windy with spotting rain. I stopped soon after the trig point to refuel on ham sandwiches and crisps and had to put my coat on to keep warm.

However, the short stop was refreshing and I set off along the ridge (poles now packed away again) before the steep descent and short valley crossing to Ingleborough.

Summit Two, Whernside

The descent off Whernside is very steep and limestone covered in mud gets very slippy. Soon caught up with a crocodile of people (it was very busy on all the hills), including one women who was really struggling to keep her footing while carrying a folded up pushchair (father was equally struggling with crying child...). So I offered to help and ran most of the descent with a buggy under my arm!

Once I'd ditched that at a stile as the path improved I packed my coat away and set off across the valley floor to the start of the climb up Ingleborough.

The route up Ingleborough was fairly direct and though quite energy sapping it didn't seem to take too long to hit the summit plateau. Again, a short rest to refuel, pack away the poles and it was back off the plateau to start the long gradual decent back into Horton in Ribblesdale. The weather now was perfect, high cloud, sunshine and no real breeze with fabulous views.

Finally came off the hill about 5.15, making for a total run time just over 5 hours 30 minutes, slightly longer than expected but happy with the result.

Future plan is to run this route twice.......bearing in mind that one loop is about one quarter of UTMB......

Summit Three, Ingleborough.

Sunny seven

Though the weather outside is frightful, something or other is quite delightful......well, for once a run in dry, sunny conditions!

Just 7 tonight, out to Pool, up Pool Bank and back down the Leeds Road into Otley.

Rest day Friday (not back till late from trip up to the Solway Firth), then 3 Peaks on Saturday. Forecast looks good.

Five miles

Short recovery run tonight, so decided to go up the hill and off road through Chevin forest. Wore the still new Hardrocks and took the walking poles (Camp Xenon).

Walked using poles on all the uphills, running the rest and getting used to collapsing and resurrecting the poles.

Nice workout, bright evening and though a bit of drizzle no where near as wet as the last two days.

Two rest days coming up.

Cold and wet 15 miler...

Set out at 5pm for a gentle 15 mile loop via Menston, Guiseley, Rawdon, Yeadon and home and as I put my kit on it was about 15 degrees...balmy! Then I looked out of the window and the rain had started and it just didn't stop, so just like yesterday, rain, cold, floods, wet.....and then chill blanes, mid-May? eughh...

Hail!

Just 9 miles this afternoon, quite warm, weather a bit 'spotty' with rain, but then a huge downpour. Gutters and pavements like rivers, hailstones stinging and the temperature dropping quickly. Had planned to do 13 but with squelchy shoes cut it short at 9. Longer run tomorrow hopefully.

Snowdon night run cancelled

Was supposed to be supporting a Paddy Buckley attempt tonight, doing the section over Snowdon through the night but persistent rain and forecast of strong winds caused it to be cancelled. This is what the summit of Snowdon looks like at 4 pm today;

Blogging!

Not sure where to start. So, here's a summary.

Decided to try and get in the UTMB so applied at end of last year fully expecting not to get a place but be offered one for 2010. Only they had tightened up the entry criteria and were undersubscribed, so suddenly in January I find myself planning to run 103 miles in the Alps and climbing 9,400 metres - about the height of Everest.

I hadn't planned to blog though, but then at a Trustee meeting of Children Today Charitable Trust last weekend I sat there thinking, I should be using this event to raise funds to support our work helping children and young people with disabilities. So, here we are!

I'll post about my training (and doubtless some kit stuff) and also progress on fundraising. So please pop in for updates and please sponsor me! Just click here: http://www.justgiving.com/ultratour