First real logistical challenge today. Out early on my Brompton to cycle to the station to get a train to Lancaster. Return to Leeds for 6.15 pm then cycle the 2.5 mils straight to the Left Bank in Leeds to watch the Australian Voices Choir (check them out, they are awesome!).
Left the concert about 8.45 pm and then got dropped off 2 miles from home to get my run in.
The logistics:
I wore my running socks (black) all day.
I changed into my compression shorts before I left the Lancaster Office and wore them under my trousers.
Before I left in the morning I put my running shoes, over shorts and running top in Pamela's car.
On the way to Leeds Pamela texted me to let me know where her car was parked. I had the spare key so I could go straight to the car and fold up my bike and put it in the boot before the concert.
Finally, I changed into running top, shoes and shorts in the car at a pull in at the side of the road.
Day seven and week one done!
358 days to go. 26.1 miles complete.
Saturday, 8 September 2012
Thursday, 6 September 2012
Day Six
As I'm officially tapering for Sunday's Yorkshireman off-road marathon, it does actually say '3 jog' on my training schedule. So, nice easy 3 mile jog around Otley it was.
Not much else to say really, except I saw the Brownlee brother's again today, they were cycling towards Leeds as I drove home from work and their style was so distinctive it was obvious who they were from first glance (no offence to all the other cyclists out tonight.....). On their way to Carnegie for training perhaps?
Anyway, looking forward to the 100m and 800m in the paralympics tonight.
359 days to go. 24.1 miles complete.
Not much else to say really, except I saw the Brownlee brother's again today, they were cycling towards Leeds as I drove home from work and their style was so distinctive it was obvious who they were from first glance (no offence to all the other cyclists out tonight.....). On their way to Carnegie for training perhaps?
Anyway, looking forward to the 100m and 800m in the paralympics tonight.
359 days to go. 24.1 miles complete.
Wednesday, 5 September 2012
Day Five
Hilly 3 today up into the Chevin Forest and out at Danefield Gate for a glorious sunset over the Cow and Calf rocks on Ilkley Moor.
360 days to run. 21.1 miles completed.
360 days to run. 21.1 miles completed.
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Day Four
Done! Wondered when I'd fit my run in today but got back from school meeting earlier than expected, about 7.45, and daughter Emma was just about to go out for a run, so I tagged along. About 3 miles, out up Leeds Road and back. Fantastic sunset.
361 days of running to go. 18.1 miles done.
361 days of running to go. 18.1 miles done.
Monday, 3 September 2012
Day Three
Another day ticked off. 5 miles easy today only......every step is feeling really heavy at the moment. Not sure why, but might put in some very short runs next.
Tomorrow looks like the first 'no time to run day'. Long day out at work, then straight to a school meeting in the evening. Its going to be dark...
362 days to go. 15.1 miles compiled.
Tomorrow looks like the first 'no time to run day'. Long day out at work, then straight to a school meeting in the evening. Its going to be dark...
362 days to go. 15.1 miles compiled.
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Day Two
7 miles done. Out to Pool and back. The 'downhill' route. Longest run since Hell on the Humber and it was a bit of a struggle!
This morning we all helped out at Alice's Run marshalling the busy road crossing. 7th year of the race and it all seemed to go really well again.
Check it out here http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/alices-run and run it next year!
Right, so thats 2 down, 363 to go. 10.1 miles completed.
This morning we all helped out at Alice's Run marshalling the busy road crossing. 7th year of the race and it all seemed to go really well again.
Check it out here http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/involved/alices-run and run it next year!
Right, so thats 2 down, 363 to go. 10.1 miles completed.
Saturday, 1 September 2012
Day One
So, thats day one's run completed. Just 364 to go!
Ran Leeds parkrun with Emma this morning. Good running conditions and another PB for Emma, just ducking inside 27 minutes for 26:59.
No more running today, marshalling at Alice's Run tomorrow.
Ran Leeds parkrun with Emma this morning. Good running conditions and another PB for Emma, just ducking inside 27 minutes for 26:59.
No more running today, marshalling at Alice's Run tomorrow.
Friday, 31 August 2012
Run everyday for a year.......
To find out more about this challenge and how it came about check out:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Likeys-3very-6leedin-5tep-Challenge/407910439269982
OR
http://likeys3very6leedin5tepchallenge.wordpress.com/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Likeys-3very-6leedin-5tep-Challenge/407910439269982
OR
http://likeys3very6leedin5tepchallenge.wordpress.com/
Friday, 4 September 2009
UTMB - DNF....
So, what was the story of my UTMB race 2009? Well, the bottom line is that I DNF’d (Did Not Finish). Not only that, I DNF’d after no more than 20 of the 103 miles and after completing just one of the 10 significant ‘hills’. Still, it was an interesting experience and in a wonderful place, so I’m left just wanting to go back.
The story. After a week chilling out on the shores of Lake Annecy we turned up in Chamonix in glorious afternoon sunshine (temperature in the high 20s) and relaxed while we waited for the 6.30 pm race start.
Chamonix was naturally very bust with a real party atmosphere and the whole town turning out to wave the runners off and shout out encouragement.
The race start is actually quite narrow, so with over 2,300 runners the start was slow (more of a stroll out of town), but after about 5 or 10 minutes everyone was able to start running. The first section of gently undulating trails through the woods leading out of Chamonix was very easy and it was good to be underway.
I’d allowed about 58 minutes for this first section and arrived almost bang on time in Les Houches. I grabbed a couple of cokes (colas..) here and then set off up the hill, waiting a while to find a spot off the track to get the poles out. Then started the first climb of the race, rising over 2,500 ft to the top of Le Charme at nearly 6,000 ft. And this is also when it all started to go wrong.......
I felt good to start with and the pace was steady (still lots of people around you) but I started to sweat profusely – it was becoming difficult to grip my walking poles (I could see the whole of the poles glistening with sweat) and I noticed that even my shoes were changing colour as they became wet.
Slowly I also noticed I was falling off the pace with those around me but just decided to stick to my own pace and not to worry about anyone else.
However, I was also starting to feel tired and my leg muscles were complaining (defiantly NOT normal so early into a long race). I stopped a few times to drink, take on some food and take a few photos – glad I did as I got to see Mont Blanc appear in a break in the cloud. I was also aware of a tightening in my chest and some constraint on my breathing – was it the altitude?, the cold mountain air?, I just didn’t know.
By the top of the climb I was really out of sorts, I was very wet, feeling cold and very low on energy. Anyway, I put on my arm warmers and gillet for the descent and started the long (3,250 ft) drop down into St Gervais. The drop was surprising steep and for what seemed like forever you could see the lights of the town below.
Despite now being on flat and downhill trails I had no energy to run so just plodded steadily on down hill (conscious that lots of people seemed to be travelling much faster than me) and eventually arrived in to St Gervais to a real party atmosphere – lots people lining the streets and lots sitting out at pavement cafes and restaurants (how much did I want to join them at that point!).
At the feed station I found a wall to collapse onto and contemplate what to do next. I really wanted to stop and indeed saw plenty of runners seeking medical attention, but it seemed so early in the race and after so much preparation. I sent a text to Pamela to let her now I was ‘struggling’, filled up my water bottles, found some coke and then some tea to drink and made my way through the feed station to continue.
Just as I was leaving I bumped into two runners I’d met doing the MdS, Annabel and James. They were not complementary about how ‘ill’ I looked!! and, in comparison they looked as fresh as daisies (Annabel was to make it through till morning, James did a very creditable half way – well done both of you!). We chatted for a while then set of for Les Contamines but they were soon away and out of sight.
I decided to keep going (knowing that the next 6 mile section was largely ‘flat', climbing ‘only’ 1,350 ft – originally this was one section that in my race plans I would try and run as much as possible). In the event, I trudged slowly through the night.
It now became very quiet on the trial and, at times, I could see no runners ahead or behind. I actually quite enjoyed this solitude, but my general physical state was not getting any better. I was OK on the flat, but any climbing was an effort., I also felt very dehydrated despite having taken on far more liquid than usual this early in, eating was also a problem as my mouth was so dry I couldn’t chew any solid food without drinking at the same time.
Eventually I arrived at Les Contamines, but now well down on schedule and only 30 minutes inside the cut off time. After the party atmosphere of St Gervais, Les Contamines was a bit eerie, about 12.30 at night and just a few sad looking runners wandering about – most it turned out having, or about to, pack it all in.
After finding more tea and sitting on the pavement I texted Pamela to say ’I don’t know what to do!’. In truth I did know what to do, STOP. But, it’s hard to make that decision and the pull to keep going to the next checkpoint was quite strong. So, in order to remove myself from the decision I ventured into the first aid station. There a doctor checked me over, pronounced that basically I was OK, but the breathing was a bit rattly and said the words I really did want to hear; ‘I think your race is over’ (in a French accent of course!).
Just then Pamela phoned. Spookily she’d woken and decided to check her phone for messages just after I’d sent my text.
Obviously I wasn’t happy to be bailing out, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Next followed the logistics of getting back to Chamonix, of Pamela and Emma getting back into France from Italy and my drop bag return from Cormayeur. This saw us watching CCC runners finishing at 3 am in Chamonix centre, breathing in the smell of fresh baking in the square, and then spending the rest of the night sleeping in the gymnasium on camps beds with a load of UTMB drop outs and CCC fast finishers!
Me and Emam sleeping in the gymnasium!
The next day we returned to Annecy and then enjoyed a couple of ‘bonus' days holiday. I also started to think about next year and the plan now is to enter the CCC – the 56 mile race that covers the second half of the UTMB route. The thinking behind is that, one, its shorter, so if it is altitude or heat and humidity that my body can’t cope with, then I might still be able to finish this race. Two, if I do drop out again say, after 6 hours, I’ll have seen some fantastic scenery in daylight (the race starts at 10 am as opposed to 6.30 pm) and three, if I complete then I‘ll be ready for UTMB and will have seen three quarters of the route.
Oh, and ‘fourthly’, we get to holiday in the Alps again, maybe heading down to the Italian lakes. Roll on August 2010!
Foot note: a final mention needs to go to everyone who sponsored me in this venture. I ‘m sorry I didn’t manage to complete, but thank you for your support. I raised over £300 (once you add in Gift Aid!) for Children Today and even got some publicity with a piece in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus!
The story. After a week chilling out on the shores of Lake Annecy we turned up in Chamonix in glorious afternoon sunshine (temperature in the high 20s) and relaxed while we waited for the 6.30 pm race start.
Chamonix was naturally very bust with a real party atmosphere and the whole town turning out to wave the runners off and shout out encouragement.
Feeling good at the start and ready to go
The race start is actually quite narrow, so with over 2,300 runners the start was slow (more of a stroll out of town), but after about 5 or 10 minutes everyone was able to start running. The first section of gently undulating trails through the woods leading out of Chamonix was very easy and it was good to be underway. Chamonix town centre at the race start
I’d allowed about 58 minutes for this first section and arrived almost bang on time in Les Houches. I grabbed a couple of cokes (colas..) here and then set off up the hill, waiting a while to find a spot off the track to get the poles out. Then started the first climb of the race, rising over 2,500 ft to the top of Le Charme at nearly 6,000 ft. And this is also when it all started to go wrong.......I felt good to start with and the pace was steady (still lots of people around you) but I started to sweat profusely – it was becoming difficult to grip my walking poles (I could see the whole of the poles glistening with sweat) and I noticed that even my shoes were changing colour as they became wet.
Slowly I also noticed I was falling off the pace with those around me but just decided to stick to my own pace and not to worry about anyone else.
However, I was also starting to feel tired and my leg muscles were complaining (defiantly NOT normal so early into a long race). I stopped a few times to drink, take on some food and take a few photos – glad I did as I got to see Mont Blanc appear in a break in the cloud. I was also aware of a tightening in my chest and some constraint on my breathing – was it the altitude?, the cold mountain air?, I just didn’t know.
Mont Blanc making a brief appearance above Les Charme
By the top of the climb I was really out of sorts, I was very wet, feeling cold and very low on energy. Anyway, I put on my arm warmers and gillet for the descent and started the long (3,250 ft) drop down into St Gervais. The drop was surprising steep and for what seemed like forever you could see the lights of the town below.Despite now being on flat and downhill trails I had no energy to run so just plodded steadily on down hill (conscious that lots of people seemed to be travelling much faster than me) and eventually arrived in to St Gervais to a real party atmosphere – lots people lining the streets and lots sitting out at pavement cafes and restaurants (how much did I want to join them at that point!).
At the feed station I found a wall to collapse onto and contemplate what to do next. I really wanted to stop and indeed saw plenty of runners seeking medical attention, but it seemed so early in the race and after so much preparation. I sent a text to Pamela to let her now I was ‘struggling’, filled up my water bottles, found some coke and then some tea to drink and made my way through the feed station to continue.
Just as I was leaving I bumped into two runners I’d met doing the MdS, Annabel and James. They were not complementary about how ‘ill’ I looked!! and, in comparison they looked as fresh as daisies (Annabel was to make it through till morning, James did a very creditable half way – well done both of you!). We chatted for a while then set of for Les Contamines but they were soon away and out of sight.
I decided to keep going (knowing that the next 6 mile section was largely ‘flat', climbing ‘only’ 1,350 ft – originally this was one section that in my race plans I would try and run as much as possible). In the event, I trudged slowly through the night.
It now became very quiet on the trial and, at times, I could see no runners ahead or behind. I actually quite enjoyed this solitude, but my general physical state was not getting any better. I was OK on the flat, but any climbing was an effort., I also felt very dehydrated despite having taken on far more liquid than usual this early in, eating was also a problem as my mouth was so dry I couldn’t chew any solid food without drinking at the same time.
Eventually I arrived at Les Contamines, but now well down on schedule and only 30 minutes inside the cut off time. After the party atmosphere of St Gervais, Les Contamines was a bit eerie, about 12.30 at night and just a few sad looking runners wandering about – most it turned out having, or about to, pack it all in.
After finding more tea and sitting on the pavement I texted Pamela to say ’I don’t know what to do!’. In truth I did know what to do, STOP. But, it’s hard to make that decision and the pull to keep going to the next checkpoint was quite strong. So, in order to remove myself from the decision I ventured into the first aid station. There a doctor checked me over, pronounced that basically I was OK, but the breathing was a bit rattly and said the words I really did want to hear; ‘I think your race is over’ (in a French accent of course!).
Just then Pamela phoned. Spookily she’d woken and decided to check her phone for messages just after I’d sent my text.
Obviously I wasn’t happy to be bailing out, but I knew it was the right thing to do. Next followed the logistics of getting back to Chamonix, of Pamela and Emma getting back into France from Italy and my drop bag return from Cormayeur. This saw us watching CCC runners finishing at 3 am in Chamonix centre, breathing in the smell of fresh baking in the square, and then spending the rest of the night sleeping in the gymnasium on camps beds with a load of UTMB drop outs and CCC fast finishers!
Me and Emam sleeping in the gymnasium!
The next day we returned to Annecy and then enjoyed a couple of ‘bonus' days holiday. I also started to think about next year and the plan now is to enter the CCC – the 56 mile race that covers the second half of the UTMB route. The thinking behind is that, one, its shorter, so if it is altitude or heat and humidity that my body can’t cope with, then I might still be able to finish this race. Two, if I do drop out again say, after 6 hours, I’ll have seen some fantastic scenery in daylight (the race starts at 10 am as opposed to 6.30 pm) and three, if I complete then I‘ll be ready for UTMB and will have seen three quarters of the route.Oh, and ‘fourthly’, we get to holiday in the Alps again, maybe heading down to the Italian lakes. Roll on August 2010!
Foot note: a final mention needs to go to everyone who sponsored me in this venture. I ‘m sorry I didn’t manage to complete, but thank you for your support. I raised over £300 (once you add in Gift Aid!) for Children Today and even got some publicity with a piece in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus!
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Just Three - Bolt's fault
Should have been four, but didn't want to miss Bolt running in the 200m World Finals - right choice! Another amazing performance by Usain, another gold, another world record, another field decimated. Wow!
My run was very, very sedate by comparison. Full kit run again, but really sweated as the weather is so warm and close.
Not much more running now before 18.30 on Friday 28th......
My run was very, very sedate by comparison. Full kit run again, but really sweated as the weather is so warm and close.
Not much more running now before 18.30 on Friday 28th......
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Easy Eight
Full kit work out today, even down to the mini gaiters and little sachet of crystallised ginger.
Ran a made up route that took me up Leeds Road to Bar House End, then walked with poles up Old Pool Bank to the very top of the hill and the old school. Packed the poles away and ran down into Bramhope, cut down by the Fox and Hounds (cricketers hang out), back along Oltey Road to the Dyneley Arms, then cut up through a little snicket to Old Pool Village and back through Chevin Forest to arrive at Danefield Gate.
This is usually the 'best view in the world', which I fully intended to capture on camera (found a spot for it at last), but sadly arrived after the sun had sunk below the Cow Calf rocks and was faced with a dull grey sky. Still, took photo, will post it below later.
Ran a made up route that took me up Leeds Road to Bar House End, then walked with poles up Old Pool Bank to the very top of the hill and the old school. Packed the poles away and ran down into Bramhope, cut down by the Fox and Hounds (cricketers hang out), back along Oltey Road to the Dyneley Arms, then cut up through a little snicket to Old Pool Village and back through Chevin Forest to arrive at Danefield Gate.
This is usually the 'best view in the world', which I fully intended to capture on camera (found a spot for it at last), but sadly arrived after the sun had sunk below the Cow Calf rocks and was faced with a dull grey sky. Still, took photo, will post it below later.
Fast Four
Short run yesterday, the usual four mile circuit around Otley, but ran it fast and wore the UTMB back pack again. Balance was good even at speed.
Monday, 17 August 2009
Pool Seven
Back from a weekend of more rest and over indulgence! Guests at our house from Thursday through Sunday, so lots of cooking, entertaining and wine!
Run today was good though. Ran with Olmo 5 back pack, bottles and poles.
Pack still holding up, stable and comfortable. Used the poles up Pool Bank and feels good once you have a rhythm. Also a great feeling when you pack them away and start running again 'hands free'.
Hopefully more runs out most of this week adding bits of kit and looking for the elusive 'ideal' spot for the camera...
Run today was good though. Ran with Olmo 5 back pack, bottles and poles.
Pack still holding up, stable and comfortable. Used the poles up Pool Bank and feels good once you have a rhythm. Also a great feeling when you pack them away and start running again 'hands free'.
Hopefully more runs out most of this week adding bits of kit and looking for the elusive 'ideal' spot for the camera...
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Roughly seven
Well, that was more like it, about seven miles in all, up East Chevin Road and then kept on going all the way to the trig point deep in Danefield forest but also the 'summit' of our little hill.
Used the poles to the top then packed them away onto the Olmo 5 back pack. Really like this bit of kit, but typical Raidlight seem to have skimped on strength to go lightweight and one of the bungees to secure the poles snapped. This pack is only about 30 miles out of the wrapper......still, managed to fix it up and carried on through forest, out to Old Pool village and back in on the Leeds Road.
Fantastic evening, bright, breezy, quiet and perfect for running.
Used the poles to the top then packed them away onto the Olmo 5 back pack. Really like this bit of kit, but typical Raidlight seem to have skimped on strength to go lightweight and one of the bungees to secure the poles snapped. This pack is only about 30 miles out of the wrapper......still, managed to fix it up and carried on through forest, out to Old Pool village and back in on the Leeds Road.
Fantastic evening, bright, breezy, quiet and perfect for running.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
Easy Three
I is officially taperin'!
Decided to take some rest last week after feeling tired of so much running. Its actually harder than you might think not to run - your body is happy with the concept but your mind insists that you are undoing all those weeks and months of training. Which is, of course, rubbish.
So, just a selection of shortish runs now I think until the big day, but lots of messing around with kit!
Today's dilemma, where to carry my camera.....
Which is of course essential, so I can take lots of pictures, like these from Berwick-upon-Tweed at the weekend:
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Muggy, Muggy Four
Once swam off a beach called Muggy, Muggy. We were trying to snorkel but couldn't see a thing.
Visibility around Otley this evening was very clear, but the atmosphere very close. Not a pleasant run at all.
Oh, and Muggy, Muggy beach is off Dunk Island on the Great Barrier Reef....
Visibility around Otley this evening was very clear, but the atmosphere very close. Not a pleasant run at all.
Oh, and Muggy, Muggy beach is off Dunk Island on the Great Barrier Reef....
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Trip down to Wales this weekend to collect Emma after her weeks holiday with cousins Sophie and Amy.
Drove down Friday evening and stopped over at the The Bell in Skenfrith. This is an old pub that is now a restaurant with rooms and is featured in the book 'Hip Hotels'.
Unfortunately, it rained the whole time we were there, so no chance to explore the riverside, ruined castle or what looked like a lovely flower and vegetable garden. Still, the room was very luxurious and the meal absolutely delicious - check out their website if you are interested: http://www.skenfrith.co.uk/
Saturday (after a very nice breakfast - all local produce) we set off for the the very far south west corner of Wales. After a picturesque if slow drive we reached 'Dale' at the mouth of Milford Sound just before 2 pm. Here Pamela dropped me off to run the 28 miles along the coast path to the caravan at Newgale.
St Bride's Castle
View north across St Bride's Bay
After about an hour of this, and still some 8 miles from Newgale I phoned Pamela to give an update. It took another 30 odd minutes to cover the next mile to Broad Haven so I called in to get picked up - I could have run on up the road for the last 7 miles in, but I was going to be well over schedule and late for tea! Anyway, I'd run a good 4 and 1/2 hours which was good training and I'd had the chance to test out all my new kit.
Drove down Friday evening and stopped over at the The Bell in Skenfrith. This is an old pub that is now a restaurant with rooms and is featured in the book 'Hip Hotels'.
The Bell at Skenfrith
Unfortunately, it rained the whole time we were there, so no chance to explore the riverside, ruined castle or what looked like a lovely flower and vegetable garden. Still, the room was very luxurious and the meal absolutely delicious - check out their website if you are interested: http://www.skenfrith.co.uk/ Saturday (after a very nice breakfast - all local produce) we set off for the the very far south west corner of Wales. After a picturesque if slow drive we reached 'Dale' at the mouth of Milford Sound just before 2 pm. Here Pamela dropped me off to run the 28 miles along the coast path to the caravan at Newgale.
Dale
Marloes Sands
View north across St Bride's BayBy now the rain had cleared and it was a glorious sunny day - I'll download some photos later in the week. All in all in was great run, until the last few miles before Broad Haven when the path became overgrown and treacherously muddy. It was thick, slippy clay and impossible to run in and only just walkable - my feet slid with ever step.
Broad Haven
After about an hour of this, and still some 8 miles from Newgale I phoned Pamela to give an update. It took another 30 odd minutes to cover the next mile to Broad Haven so I called in to get picked up - I could have run on up the road for the last 7 miles in, but I was going to be well over schedule and late for tea! Anyway, I'd run a good 4 and 1/2 hours which was good training and I'd had the chance to test out all my new kit.Saturday night's accomodation....
Friday, 31 July 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
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).
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).
Tuesday, 28 July 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)