Burley Menston

Ran this regular route yesterday in glorious sunshine. Its either six or seven miles, not really quite sure, but a nice circular route with some fine views despite the main roads.

Big news yesterday was the arrival of various bits of UTMB kit - back pack, short sleeve Helly Trailwizard, gaiters, water bottles, collapsible beaker......hope to test these out over the weekend.

Pool Seven in the Rain

Bit of a feature recently, but yet another run in the rain. Always difficult to know what kit to wear, its definitely not cold, but the body chills quite quickly when wet so there is always a need to stay warm.

Still, good run, luckily I avoided the heaviest of the rain and quite enjoyed the route (up Leeds Road to the Dyneley Arms junction, down the big hill into Pool, back to Otley along Pool Road).

Otley Four

Just four steady miles around Otley in the warm but dull summer gloom.

Ring Road sixteen

Not the most glamorous location for a training run, but convenient!

After a weekend at the parents and dropping Emma off for a holiday with her cousins I got dropped off on the way home near the junction of the M1and the A63. I then followed the Ring Road through places like Cross Gates and Roundhay to Moortown and then cut up through Adel, onto the Leeds Road and home.

Quite a good run, including a quick second half, covering the route from the Lanswood pub to home in 41 minutes.

Also tested out an SIS fig and raisin bar (glorified fig roll) that went down very well, so might form part of my UTMB diet.

Just Three

But a nice three - up East Chevin Road, little circuit around Danefield Forest and then back.

Should have been a rest day today, but had decided to do tomorrow's 2 hr run today instead (free up some weekend time), but then just didn't feel like it some how.

So, back on track Sunday (I hope).

Old Pool Bank six

A really enjoyable run this evening, despite the outward half climb.

Ran up the Leeds Road to Old Pool Bank and then carried on to the very top of the hill. From here there are great views across Wharfedale and of Armscliffe Crag.

The run back is mostly downhill through Danefield Forest, coming out onto East Chevin Road at Danefield Gate for one of the best views in the world - Wharfedale, Rombalds Moor, Cow and Calf rocks, Beamsley Beacon and, on a really clear day, right out to the hills of the Yorkshire Dales.

Pool seven

Quick seven miles in between the heavy showers tonight. Not much to report, no space junk or crashed world war two bombers.

Although earlier in the day I ventured across the Pennines again to a place called Birchwood, near Warrington. Very nice business park (home to BNFL, Atomic Energy Authority, Atomic Police Agency...) but the shopping centre and housing all around were, well, a tad different.

The really spooky thing was wondering back to the station (there were no sign posts so it was all a bit hit and miss - its clearly modelled on Milton Keynes, so lots of paths and cycleways, but with no pavement on the roads, also no signs so no idea where I was going...) and found myself on 'Dunnock Avenue', which lead to Goldfinch Close, Dipper Way, Blackbird's Nest......very twilight zone.

Three more Peaks

Yes, back to the Dales today for another round of the Three Peaks. Wasn't sure how this one would go coming off the back of yesterday's 24 miles (that and the fact it had rained non-stop yesterday and last night), but in the end I had a really good run.

Weather was spot on. Very clear with fantastic views - Pendle Hill to the south, Morecombe out to the west and although it was cloudy, the cloud stayed off the tops for each of my visits. PERFECT!

It was also drier underfoot than last Sunday (that'll be that fast draining karst topography), and with the wind blowing even the descent off Whernside wasn't as slippy.

Busier than last week, but not too congested and overall felt pretty pleased with myself.

Four and Twenty

It was an awfully wet day today, not a 'tad' wet, but constant, unrelenting RAIN.

So, ideal conditions for a quick four mile run at lunchtime and then a little 20 mile jaunt this evening! NOT.

Dario Melaragni - WHW Race Director

I was shocked today to read that Dario, Race Director of the West Highland Way Race for the last 10 years, died tragically on Sunday whilst out Munro bagging with friends (many of whom are WHW runners).

It really was a shock and I found it hard to believe it was true (given the propensity of WHW forumites to go completely off the wall). Needless to say the tributes are many and moving, and if you knew Dario, or had any involvement in the race, do read them.

http://www.westhighlandwayrace.org/

Three up hill and down dale

No idea how this happened, but my schedule today stated '3 x mile'. In other words, SPEED work?! in the middle of an ultra training plan. Weird.

So, I ignored the speed bit and stuck to the three bit, walking up the 1 in 8 gradient East Chevin Road (poles in use of course) into Danefield forest, and then enjoyed the gentle run through the woods and back into glorious sunshine with stunning views up and down Wharfedale.

Fantastic evening to be running in, but found those three miles quite hard....

Thunderous Five!

Just a short five mile loop around Otley, but made all the more interesting this evening by a huge thunderstorm. Not too much in the way of thunder and lightning, but lots, and lots of stair-rod rainfall! Got home a tad wet....

Three Peaks again!

Well, I did it. Not the Three Peaks so much as getting up at 4.15 am on a Sunday morning!

It poured with rain all Saturday night and it wasn't exactly the sound to get you leaping out of bed at 4 am to go and run for the best part of 6 hours. Still, I need the training, so got up, left on schedule at 5 am and was running from Horton in Ribblesdale towards Pen-y-ghent by 6.05.

Needless to say it was fairly quiet and apart from a few walkers getting ready to set off in Horton, I didn't see a soul until the top of Whernside 3.5 hours later.

The weather was warm when I set off and dry, but that soon changed as I ascended the slopes of Pen-y-ghent and rose up into the swirling, misty cloud. Having set off in a long sleeve Helly it was time for coat on and head down. It was getting windy too near the top but I never felt cold.

From the top of Pen-y-ghent I tried a different route to the last run (which I thought was too boggy). This was better, more running on grass (which was really wet after the overnight rain), but lots of styles and a lack of sign posts meant this section to the Ribblehead viaduct still seemed to take forever.

From the viaduct it was the long slog up to the summit (ideal UTMB training - poles out and working well), then the steep slippy descent before the short valley crossing to climb up Ingleborough. This route is pretty much straight up and I felt the effort of the steep climbing, but once on the rocky plateau felt good. All peaks on Sunday were in the mist, so no fabulous views, although there was one 'moment' coming off Whernside when the cloud broke, the sun streamed through and a rainbow lit up the hills and valleys' below.

The run of Ingleborough was uneventful, the sun finally started to come out and I eventually got back to the car about 11:50 am. Job done.

After the quick dash home, bacon butty and tea I raced over to Ellerton near York to hear Pamela perform with the Cantabile Choir - quite a contrast between morning and afternoon!

The new East Window at the restored Ellerton Priory Church.

Creskeld 10

Bit of an issue with motivation at the moment. Was supposed to do 13 and then run the Three Peaks route tomorrow (means an early start) so struggling to think that's a good idea!

Anyway, did the route out via Pool, up Creskeld Lane to Bramhope and back in on the Leeds Road. Like Thursday though, once I was out and running it felt good and I even started to think tomorrow might be fun...

This mosaic sign at the foot of the Lane is for the Creskeld beef herd - available in all good Otley butchers!

Pool Seven

I love running!!!!

OK, said it. Have been feeling really tired this week, nodding off on trains, struggling to keep my eyes open in a meeting - oops! So, I skipped my run yesterday (no, I didn't literally skip it, I just missed it out altogether) and was tempted to do the same today.

BUT, with UTMB looming large I felt I really needed to make the effort. So I set off to do the Pool seven loop and, after an afternoon of torrential rain was greeted by lovely sunshine, the Chevin was glistening in the light and everything (yes, cheesy) felt right with the world. And, that's when I realised why I run, its so uplifting, and its outdoors in fabulous scenery and its just really, really good.

East Carlton Nine

No Wimbledon marathon for me today, infact, because the tennis went on so long I had to cut my planned 13 mile run down to 9. Still, ran a good solid run - Menston, Guiseley, Yeadon, East Carlton and home. Didn't take any drink as I usually do on this run and did it all in one go - no stops. Felt good!

The old church in East Carlton

Seven

'Longest' (and only second) run since WHW. The old, familiar, Burley 'Menst'. Despite another really hot, sultry day (at least it was sitting in the office revising for my RHS exam next week), the run itself was quite cool, made easy by the breeze and was easy and enjoyable.

Hopefully about 13 tomorrow.

Quick three

First run since Saturday and joined Pamela for a nice steady three miler around Otley. All moving parts seem to be in full working order and fully recovered. Back training from Monday on the UTMB schedule. Only about 8 weeks to go...

West Highland Way Race 2009

22 hours, 25 minutes and 54 seconds for 30th place overall - a new PB by 33 minutes!!

So, that's the headline, but the story behind it was far less enjoyable than the result. It was perhaps best summed up by Pamela who said; "I can't understand why you are so keen to do it again when you seemed to have such a hard time and clearly didn't enjoy it?".

Well, like most races, the enjoyment is in the result and the memory after, more so than the run itself - most running is 'hard'! AND, this year was perhaps worse than any run before.

The story. Arrived in Milngavie as usual on Friday afternoon to pick up fresh supplies from Tesco and have a nap in the Premier Inn before tea of Pizza and Tiramisu at Toscana on Milngavie High Street. There was then time for a couple of hours kip before registering for the race, getting weighed and giving blood and urine (for a research study into the effects on the body of ultra running).

Then at 1 am sharp we set off into the Glasgow night.

The first sections went very well and by Drymen I was already up on schedule and ahead of last year's time.

I felt good up through the forest to Conic Hill but it was at the top of the hill that the fist sign of things to come emerged (well almost!). Following a long draw on my Camelbak and intake of Nuun electrolyte I heaved hugely and it was alI I could do not to actually throw up - not fun, and not a good sign. I continued OK though and was able to refuel at Balmaha without any side effects (I did however hand Pamela my false tooth - didn't want to lose that later! - which was clearly a sign that all was not well).

Loch Lomond from Conic Hill


I was now finding it hard to take on board much water without gagging and was only taking the smallest bites of food - mainly dry biscuits. BUT, my legs felt good so I stuck to plan and ploughed on along the side of Loch Lomond to Rowardenen.

I now faced about 18 miles without contact with my support crew and decided to ditch the electrolyte and go with plain water - I had more Nuun waiting for me at Inversnaid but would have to ditch that as well and hope the mountain rescue team there would have plenty of water to spare, though I also had two small bottles of Coke in my drop bag.

I hate the run along the side of Loch Lomond, at times its more of a walk/scramble than a run and for the distance, takes a disproportionate amount of time.

Still, and despite not eating or drinking much, I made good time and arrived at Criagmyle Cottage (the new meeting point a mile on from Derrydaroch) ahead of last year's time and with one of my quickest lochside runs. I ate OK here, fresh peach, bit of sandwich I think, tea and then set off with a bag of ready salted crisps - I did suffer from incredibly itchy feet and legs here, not sure if it was the midges (who were out in force) or the change in air temperature after removing my longs and changing into shorts. The 'pain', not unlike chilblains, persisted for about quarter of an hour - not fun and a bit weird.

From here to Auchtertyre is another section that I generally don't like but I found myself running well and quite enjoyed it, that is until crossing the A82 and approaching St Finnan's Priory. I had caught up with two runners here, but soon found myself dropping back again as I felt really sick - and then I was, bent double and spewing up all the fuel I'd taken on board. I was proper projectile vomiting. I wasn't far from the farm and checkpoint, so walked in slowly wondering what had hit me.....

Auchtertyre is just over half way, from here I only had about 45 miles to go! I really didn't feel like eating anything, so asked Pamela and my Dad to boil up some water for my Camlebak, went and got weighed and set off for the shortest of our legs (about 2/3 miles) to Tyndrum.

Brodie's store in Tyndrum

Ran/walked OK and arrived at Tyndrum feeling sort of OK. Very short stop here then set off for Bridge of Orchy. This is one of my favourite sections and after nibbling on a very dry Granola bar starting jogging then running and arrived in BoO in good time, but feeling a bit drained. No more sickness, boiled water was going down OK, but definitely feeling low on energy. Tried eating peaches, but Waitrose let us down with a couple of very unappetising 'just ripe' fruit. After those aborted snacks I really didn't feel like anything but took a Tunnocks Caramel Wafer bar with me and jogged down to the checkpoint.

Trail from Tyndrum to Bridge of Orchy

Here I met Phil Robertson - first time WHW finisher last year, but sadly injured this year and out of WHW and UTMB, but somehow he couldn't keep himself away and had volunteered to sweep up from Kingshouse. WHW and many races like this only happen because so many people volunteer their time. Thanks Phil!

After BoO another short section over an annoying little hill to Victoria Bridge. I seem to remember this being fairly uneventful and can't remember much about the change over either. Anyway, set off for Rannoch Moor, one of the longer stints at 8 to 9 miles loaded up with two ginger biscuits and more boiled water. At this stage, although feeling depleted of energy (and a bit worried about the effect on running so far on 'empty') my time was good and according to the calculations in my head, not only was there a very good chance of improving on last year's time, but breaking the 22 hour barrier seemed possible.

With this in mind I put my head down and starting running this section much earlier than usual and passed quite a few runners early on.

Things went well until the very last climb on the Moor before the descent to White Corries. I'd just passed a runner and their support who looked like he had decided to call it a day when I felt that horrible sick feeling and promptly threw up what little food and water I'd managed to take on board - and I mean every last drop. It was horrible. Still, nothing much to do about it apart from walk the last of the hill and then run the descent to White Corries to get the section over with as quickly as possible. I arrived at White Corries and collapsed into my chair.

I don't think I was very communicative or indeed very polite to my support crew at this point (though I think that was probably a bit of a theme throughout the day....) and felt a degree of despair. I was running well, my muscle strength was good, but I was throwing up everything, including the trusted formula of warm boiled water and crunchie bars. We still had 25 miles to go and quite a few hours on the move.....could I do it?

The view from white Corries - worth keeping going for?

Again, I don't remember eating at this stop, I think I tried some Coke and set off with another Tunnocks bar. This section had been unbelievably slow last year (I threw up at White Corries after downing a bottle of Lucozade, so walked it) so I made the effort to run down to Kingshouse, through the checkpoint and out along the road. I then started the climb up the stony path before the easy descent to Allt na Feadh. And then I threw up again.....and again, it was everything. So, just like in 2008 I ended up walking to the foot of the Devil's staircase and recorded yet another really slow three miles (on the plus side, I could make up heaps of time on this section next time around!!).

So, 21 miles to go, three significant bouts of vomiting, feeling really, really low on energy, BUT still up on time......

I sat in the chair at Allt na Feadh shivering, covered in towels, coats etc and thinking "is it all over?". There was no way I was going to eat or drink anything and I had 21 miles ahead with two big climbs. I'm not sure how my thinking went, but I finally decided to pack a small bottle of coke and then set off up the Devil's staircase (at this point, I don't think I said a word to my poor support crew...).

The climb up the Staircase was deliberately slow but I still caught up with a runner just passed the summit. I stopped here to drink some of the coke, thought about putting on my jacket, but decided against and set off on the long descent. Gradual at first, then steep down the Alcan service road.

Looking down onto Kinlochleven

I stopped again before the road and finished off the Coke and the run down was good. 90 minutes for this section felt like I'd made good time and indeed after a sit down at Kinlochleven I was ready to go again knowing I was 45 minutes up on last year's time. The big question in my head was, "could I gain 15 minutes in the last two sections to get that elusive 21 hours something".

I knew not to talk about this to Pamela as I know the answer would be "don't be silly", but she would support me if I decided to go for it.....as in previous years Pamela joined me for this last 14 miles, but we didn't know if she'd run beyond Lundavra as her knee is still causing her problems.
We set off running the short road section before veering off into the woods and the long slow '1,000 ft straight up out of the car park' climb onto the Lairig Mor. Now, last year when we hit the top of the climb and the long, gradual drag to the turn into the Lundavra forest we encountered a fantastic tail wind that really did blow us along the Way. No such luck this year, but we were soon running well and it felt as if we were making good time and running at least as much, if not more than in 2008.

Then, just after the turn towards the forest I threw up again. Horrible.

This slowed me to pretty much walking pace and we rather limped towards the curling smoke from the bonfire the marshals and supporters had got going at the checkpoint.

On arriving at the checkpoint I also then knew that sub 22 was very unlikely as we'd taken 15 minutes more on the last section than in 2008, a factor clearly of last year's tail wind.

Still, a new PB was definitely on, so after a very brief stop - and no food or water - set off for the last 7 miles. The one big high, it was still daylight and we were in with a shout of making Fort Bill without the need for head torches! Only, just as we were about to leave Dad announces that he'd been unable to start the Prius since he arrived at Lundavra - so Pamela ran through the checks (sounded like being in an aircraft cockpit) and we left him to it, wondering if we'd see him in Glen Nevis. Or not!

We set off much slower than last year, without the prospect of sub 22 then the motivation was gone, but we ran/walked until we hit the forest (all of this section used to be in dense forest, but alot was felled before the 2008 race).

Once in the forest it gets dark, really dark, even during the middle of the day! So I did put my headtorch on at this point, more to avoid tripping up than anything else. The route rises and falls, passes spectacular waterfalls and meanders through eerily quiet woods.

Eventually we made it out of the forest onto the long stony forest track down into Glen Nevis and the last mile of road to the finish. Ben Nevis was clearly visible ahead (though topped, as ever, by cloud) and we started our descent.

The south face of the Ben looking across Glen Nevis

Very soon after we heard voices behind and turned to see Aileen Scott closing in.This did spur me on to run a little, but having heaved massively in the woods not long before (the sound boomed around the woods scarily!), this didn't last long and she and her support runner soon passed. Apart form Aileen, we'd only seen one other runner since Kinlochleven (who we passed just before the Lundavra checkpoint).

The descent though is endless, and walking it seemed to take forever, so we eventually decided to run and before too long turned the corner to see the Braveheart car park and the Glen Nevis road ahead. Luckily, Dad was there in the car, but despite waving we got no acknowledgement (the engine was turned off, so when he flicked the lights, nothing happened...). So Pamela had to detour off to make sure he'd seen us while I ploughed on ahead.

It seemed to take ages for Pamela to reappear, and Dad even longer in the car, but we raced as fast as we could towards the finish.

Unlike last year, I held my pace so that Pamela finished with me and with a final sprint across the leisure centre car park I held open the door for her and we finished in a new PB of 22 hrs 25 minutes and 54 seconds AND 30th place!

I then got weighed (I'd lost a stone!) and had my blood taken and decided the urine sample could wait till the morning. It was then off to the Travelodge to crash out.

Felt pretty good the next day, though it took me a few days to refuel - I really felt drained after this year's race. The presentation ceremony was great - some fantastically fast times this year and, as ever, some heroic finishes. And, before the ceremony we analysed this year's race to see that all the time made up on last year was in reduced stop times - so, can I go faster? Well, on one level yes, just by cutting down on rest times. I also felt strong this year and feel I could run more of each section. So sub 22 feels possible, but there are so many other factors - not being sick! the weather (tail winds, head winds...). Who knows, other than that I do want to do this again!

The End. Well nearly, actually the race finishes about 100 metres on at the Fort William leisure centre.

Last run before the West Highland Way

So, 54 minutes was on the schedule today. Nice still evening, overcast but dry. Ran the old, familiar 6 to 7 mile loop out to Burley, up to Mentson then back into Otley on the Bradford Road.

Thought I'd better wear my new Fastrax socks before the race - they are SOooo white, I looked like a right, random tennis player! Comfy though.