Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Thursday, 3 September 2009
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Monday, 24 August 2009
Scotland - Pentland Hills
Taking advantage of the sunny weather (never a certainty in Scotland), we took a short walk into the Pentlands, the hills just on my brother's doorstep in Edinburgh. We made it over Caerketton to Allenmuir Hill, it's summit a smidgin over 1600 feet.
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Charleston Sprint Tri No 3
Well, I didn't manage to do more than 2 sessions in the pool in the interim, but I did manage to take 31s off the swim - mainly by keeping away from the breast-stroke!! Jenny had to work so I didn't have much support on the sidelines.
Bike went well too - kept off the bottle - just sips this time - hammered a bit from the turn on the bike to improve by almost 2 mins - although one of these minutes was due to the 2.5% shorter course from the previous week :)
Run felt so much better, but only 17 secs faster on the clock. Managed to make my 3 min improvement target (almost) - not feeling great though - think I've got some sort of infection.
swim 00:13:37
T1 00:01:21
bike 00:31:50
T2 00:00:37
run 00:23:09
total 01:10:32
Bike went well too - kept off the bottle - just sips this time - hammered a bit from the turn on the bike to improve by almost 2 mins - although one of these minutes was due to the 2.5% shorter course from the previous week :)
Run felt so much better, but only 17 secs faster on the clock. Managed to make my 3 min improvement target (almost) - not feeling great though - think I've got some sort of infection.
swim 00:13:37
T1 00:01:21
bike 00:31:50
T2 00:00:37
run 00:23:09
total 01:10:32
Full Results here: http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_results&id=1445
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series #2
I finally started a triathlon this summer... Last year's Charleston Sprint series was quite good fun - apart from the baking heat - so I decided to give it a go, despite only two sessions in the pool beforehandLast Sunday weather was pretty nice, cool, with only a very slight breeze. The dog pond at James Island was it's usual mirky self - but warm like bath water. Got a reasonably decent spot on the bike rack (it's first come first serve at this triathlon) and went off to warm up. I didn't used to believe in warming up much - but I think the shorter the event, the longer you need to bike / run beforehand. I started at the back of the swim pack and my half freestyle half breast-stroke technique pretty much kept me there until the swim heroes from the next wave went through me like a dose of salts. 14 :08 for 600 yards is def. slower than any of the swims I did last year - will need to get my landlubber backside into the pool for a few sessions before the next one.
Nice to see Jenny on exiting that water - I think she was more relieved than I was to get out of there. Good steady transition then settled into the 20km bike. Passed a lot of people as usual and had a few disc-wheel-merchants pass me - Trevor, my Sunday running pal, caught me for 3 minutes on the swim, then showed me a clean rear wheel to put another 30 seconds into me on the bike. I managed 33:37 for the cycle, which is about a minute slower than my PB from last year, executed a great dismount into fast transition to running gear and out onto the 5 km run course.
My guts started aching at after about 500 yards - I hadn't drunk much fuel on the ride so slammed about half the bottle in the last mile to "give me a little something" for the run. Well - a little indigestion is about all I got. My innards were not happy at all. Reduced to a trot for the run which was becoming very painful. Took 8 minutes to knock out the first mile then it got a little easier. Happy to finish with 23:26 for the run and a total of 1:13:28 for the tri, about a minute faster than my first attempt last year - so not bad all things considered. Next tri is Sprint #3 on 2nd August. I want to take 1 minute off the swim, 30s off the bike and 1.5 mins off the run for about a 1:10:30 - Better go train....
I still have half an idea to attempt an Iron distance race this fall - I keep checking the Beach to Battleship site for entries - I feel if I could pull off that flat course in about the same time as my Lanzarote Ironman time 5 years ago, then I'm not aging too disgracefully...
Wednesday, 17 June 2009
New title page
...a new title page is under construction - trying to keep all this in order - watch this space :)
Sunday, 7 June 2009
Chatooga 50K Ultra
With maybe 12 miles of "running" in my legs between October and April, I knew this ultra trail race was going to be a bit of a big ask, which is probably why I only got 3 hours of restless sleep the night before, camping in Oconee State Park (You don't want to camp in the wild up here - this is where they filmed "Deliverance" !)
71 souls of various ages showed up at Burrells Ford trailhead for a 32 mile slog out-and-back along the south-western end of the Foothills Trail. I started well behind the self-proclaimed front runners, determined to keep my pace in check. I had researched the previous years results, winners time was 5h30 mins, 1st lady at 7h11m and figured with my 3 week crash course in flat mileage in Charleston I'd be doing well to finish under 7hours. I soon found myself frustrated at runners picking their way around the rocks and roots in front of me and started moving up the field. I knew Jenny was at the aid station at the road crossing, the highest point of the race at 10.4 miles and was pleased to get there in 2h06m. I reckon I was about 21st going through this point.
The next section had a long 700 ft descent and bees stinging unsuspecting runners! I got one right on the pip! I clocked 1h03 for the 5.6mile section to the turnaround and then 1h08 for the slog back up to Jenny's aid station. I had made up some 8 places over the 11 miles, as the 83 degree heat and the 90% humidity began to take it's toll on the field, despite the extensive leafy canopy throughout most of the course.
It was great to see Jenny again to fill up bottles and stuff my belt with goodies before heading back to the river for the final stretch. She told me later that many of the other competitors were a bit peeved not to be receiving the same kisses I was at the feed station !!
The wheels started falling off with about 6 miles to go. With tired legs it was taking me much longer to negotiate the fallen trees, rocks and roots and I ran out of water with about 3 miles still to cover. Although I had made up 1 more place another couple of folks passed me plodding uphill, so eventually I finished in 14th, scraping under my 7hour target at 6:53:35. I reckon there was at least 3600 feet ascent along the whole course - so I am really happy with that result. The winner came in with an incredible 5h08 - I swear he wasn't running - more like floating.
More info and official results should be here soon.
71 souls of various ages showed up at Burrells Ford trailhead for a 32 mile slog out-and-back along the south-western end of the Foothills Trail. I started well behind the self-proclaimed front runners, determined to keep my pace in check. I had researched the previous years results, winners time was 5h30 mins, 1st lady at 7h11m and figured with my 3 week crash course in flat mileage in Charleston I'd be doing well to finish under 7hours. I soon found myself frustrated at runners picking their way around the rocks and roots in front of me and started moving up the field. I knew Jenny was at the aid station at the road crossing, the highest point of the race at 10.4 miles and was pleased to get there in 2h06m. I reckon I was about 21st going through this point.The next section had a long 700 ft descent and bees stinging unsuspecting runners! I got one right on the pip! I clocked 1h03 for the 5.6mile section to the turnaround and then 1h08 for the slog back up to Jenny's aid station. I had made up some 8 places over the 11 miles, as the 83 degree heat and the 90% humidity began to take it's toll on the field, despite the extensive leafy canopy throughout most of the course.
It was great to see Jenny again to fill up bottles and stuff my belt with goodies before heading back to the river for the final stretch. She told me later that many of the other competitors were a bit peeved not to be receiving the same kisses I was at the feed station !!
The wheels started falling off with about 6 miles to go. With tired legs it was taking me much longer to negotiate the fallen trees, rocks and roots and I ran out of water with about 3 miles still to cover. Although I had made up 1 more place another couple of folks passed me plodding uphill, so eventually I finished in 14th, scraping under my 7hour target at 6:53:35. I reckon there was at least 3600 feet ascent along the whole course - so I am really happy with that result. The winner came in with an incredible 5h08 - I swear he wasn't running - more like floating.
More info and official results should be here soon.
Sunday, 14 October 2007
Tuesday, 24 October 2006
My Bob Graham Round Attempt Sept 2006
(new photos added - see below)
If you don't know what the Bob Graham Round is - have a look here first:
http://bobwightman.co.uk/run/bgr_history.php
Taking advantage of the high pressure weather that eventually found it's way through the depressions sweeping the island, Jenny (my girlfriend visiting from the US) and I made haste for the Lake District, in the north of England on Thursday 7th September in the evening.
After the 5 hour drive south from Inverschnecky, I showed Jenny what Threlkeld, the first road crossing would look like at 2am and how to find Dunmail Raise (stop 2) in the dark too. We spent Friday 8th visiting the other stopping points, getting Jenny used to driving on the left hand side with a manual gearstick in her left hand on the tiny little roads that criss-cross the Lake District; and purchasing food, resting and eating lots.
After a two hour nap, I set off from Moot Hall (275 feet asl) on a clear, cool, moonlit night in an optimistic mood just before 11pm. My final hope for a pacer had dropped out with a leg injury on the Wednesday, so solo it was going to have to be (I guess most folks can't take leave out with the weekend - or else September is just too late in the season). Although my reccy of Leg1 had been in November last year, I found the going very familiar and was on a windy Skiddaw summit (Peak No.1, 3050 feet) in about 1h20. I found the fence corner and dropped into the valley via a barely visible trod, headed for Hare Crag. To my surprise I ran straight onto the tiny path through the bogs and heather where many previous BGR attempts have floundered. I was running without a headtorch - preferring to use the natural moonlight, which my eyes had become accustomed to fairly quickly once I'd left the artificial lights of Keswick behind. Visibility was superb.
Up Great Calva (Peak No.2, 2264ft) and down through the heather to the River Caldew (1200 ft). I lost a little bit of time here, trying to find a good place to cross through the wetlands around the river - I don't remember there being one, so trudged through the knee deep marsh and the freezing cold river. Climbing Blencathra (Peak No.3, 2848 ft) was the first time I was aware of voices and headtorches flashing about. As I neared the summit someone was standing on the marker with his head torch flashing. Turned out he was a supporter who had been separated from his "contender". I took some strength from the knowledge there were other loons about tonight. I took Halls Fell Ridge (the supporter was off down Doddick Fell - with his walking sticks!!) fairly easy in the dark, reaching Jenny in Threlkeld (470ft) in 33 minutes, about quarter to three In the morning.
It was great to talk to somebody - I suppose I must have been pretty excited. I was not paying any attention to schedules, simply recording the time at each peak by pushing the lap button on my pulse monitor. After a quick strong coffee, 400mg of ibuprofen to try and minimise swelling ankles and a large bowl of weetabix I set off across the A66 for Clough Head, my backpack replenished with fluids and snacks.
I didn't know leg 2 at all, apart from the area immediately around Helvellyn, which I'd run during the Helvellyn Tri last year. The clear conditions prevailed, however, and the ridge path was moonlit up in front of me once up the initial 1900 ft climb to Clough Head (Peak No.4). I found the going easy enough on the ridge and was soon ticking off peaks 5 through 7.
Unfortunately the clear conditions were disappearing as I climbed Raise (Peak No.8) with clouds blowing in from the south west. Coming off White Side (Peak No.9) I had to slow to a walk, just to see where my feet were going and stay on the path. My headtorch was no good - much like full beams on a car, the light just bounced off the mist (cloud). This was no big deal on the climbs, but was costing me time on the descents. I found Lower Man and Helvellyn (Peaks No. 10 and 11, 3117 ft) in the thick mist with several map and compass checks. Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon (Peaks 12 and 13) were much harder as I had no idea what they looked like and just ran on compass bearings and written descriptions. After a few false summits I eventually found these two and was looking for my cue (some old gatepost) to descend to Grisedale Tarn. I couldn't really see the old foundation of a fence line that is supposed to guide you back down to 1800 feet, but figured the Tarn (lake) was 500meters long - so surely I couldn't miss that. When I popped out of the cloud at about 2000 feet, the tarn was visible to my left. I'd come a little far West, but don't think it made that much difference. The dawn had broken and now out of the cloud, I could enjoy it's light everywhere.
Fairfield (Peak 14, 2864ft) was incredibly steep with lots of loose scree. I think this was probably the first time I felt some fatigue and discomfort. The other contender (wearing Blue Breeks) who's support guy I'd talked to on Blencathra was descending as I was climbing. We stopped to compare start times. Turn's out he'd started about 20 mins before me. I was keeping up anyway - but felt it important to stress (to myself) I wasn't racing anybody. Seat Sandal (Peak 15, 2415ft) was another little steep one - but much grassier. I thought it prudent to make a toilet stop halfway up before I was exposed to all the Saturday fal-de-ree walkers out on the more popular fells along Leg 3. There is nothing quite like squatting in nature to put a smile on your face !! Descending Seat Sandal wasn't the first time I'd turned my right ankle in the previous 8 hours, but it must've gone over pretty far this time as the residual pain was far more acute than usual. I reached for the pocket first aid in my bag and took 800mg ibuprofen and carried on down to Dunmail Raise (765ft) to meet Jenny.
Dunmail Raise in the Dawn
Jenny had been chatting to Blue Breek's wife at stop 2. I could see him part way up the next climb - that didn't matter - I wasn't racing. I changed into shorts, a cooler top and swapped my studded hill shoes for more cushioned trail shoes for the rocky section to come as the sun was starting to burn off the clouds. Jenny changed the fluid bladder and the snacks in my backpack. I crammed a sandwich down me, 400mg more ibuprofen (just in case) and drank a little coffee before setting off towards Steel Fell at about 7:45 am
Towards the top of this climb I realised I'd forgotten to pick up the map and notes for this section, leg 3. This didn't disturb me too much, as I had run this section only 2 weeks previously and was confident I knew it. 
The clouds were rolling in again as I left Steel Fell (Peak 16, 1814ft) and if I lost too much visibility, without a map I would have no compass bearings to navigate from. A bigger problem was considerable discomfort in my stomach. I had been eating as much as I could manage to try and "get ahead" in the calorie game and with hindsight I think I possibly overdid it. The carbohydrate mix in my water (SIS GO) was not too strong, but I think in conjunction with the solids I was eating had overloaded my stomach with more carbs than it could comfortably deal with in motion. I was surprised to need to make another (serious!) toilet stop, only 45 mins after the first one!!
Trying to ignore my sore stomach I carried on towards Calf Crag (Peak 17) as the clouds closed in. I found the trail to Sergeant Man (Peak 18, 2392ft) easy to follow in the mist as it has lots of landmarks, but the next section is pretty featureless. With no bearing to work off I struck off towards High Raise (Peak 19, 2500ft) in the general direction I thought it was. I found the path ok, but must have strayed off it to the North, as I came across some little tarns I didn't recognise. I turned west, dead reckoning with the compass, and found the summit, probably only losing about 10 minutes in the fog. The path to Harrison Stickle (Peak 21) is much more straight forward and I made the detour to Thuncarr Raise (Peak 20) en route without difficulty. On the descent towards Pike o Stickle (Peak 22, 2326ft) I turned my right ankle again in a little rabbit hole. The pain was not crippling - but I took another 400mg ibuprofen to try and keep it at bay. I love the view from this little Lakeland summit, but there wasn't much to see today in the low cloud. I was happy to descend below the clouds towards Martcrag Moor at about 2000 feet. I was even happier to find the tiny trail across the centre of the Moor that I'd missed on my reccy run. I made good time across the moor, down across the stream at about 1350 feet and up the sloping shelf to Rossett Pike (Peak 23, 2116 ft)
I hadn't been eating any solids, just drinking GO, hoping the bloating would subside. It didn't. Climbing Bowfell (Peak 24, 2960 ft) I got really dizzy and had to sit down for what felt like ages. I forced myself to eat chocolate - assuming I had "the bonk". This seemed really unfair, considering the amount of calories I thought I'd been taking in. I couldn't understand why the elephants on Bowfell didn’t want chocolate either… Hang on ?? Elephants ??!! The sun started to split the low cloud at this point physically and metaphorically illuminating my understanding that I must have been hallucinating. With hindsight my daily total of ibuprofen was now at 2400 mg, which was probably more than my system was comfortable with, particularly for a drug I don't use often at all. The "elephants" were of course large grey rocks. I cursed myself for wasting time, got back on my feet and headed up to summit my 24th peak, now resplendent in sunshine.
The sunshine warmed my attitude, the bloating seemed to be dissipating and I was able to eat again. Esk Pike, Great End, Ill Crag and Broad Crag (Peaks 25 through 28) passed quickly and other than a slight pain in my right Illotibial (IT) band (above knee) I was making good progress, generally running the flats and descents; and fast-walking the climbs. The number of fal-de-rees about was increasing as I approached Scafell Pike (Peak 29) at 3205 feet, the roof of England. It's amazing how many tourists want to race you if you dare to pass them!! My right IT band was aching but nothing too serious.
I obviously had no belay support for Broad Stand (a little bit of rock climbing required) and as Lord's Rake was reputed to have dangerous, easily dislodged rocks on it; I thought it prudent with all the people around to take the safest diversion via Foxes Tarn. I had not reccy'd this - so it was a nasty surprise to see how long this detour was. My right IT band continued to ache. Checking maps now indicates that this route involves losing almost 1000 feet between the last two peaks on leg 3 - twice what one would lose with Broad Stand roped up.
I reached Scafell (peak 30, 3163ft) 53 minutes after Scafell Pike and set off on the long descent towards Wasdale Head (223 feet) to end Leg 3 and meet Jenny again. Leaving the scree section at the top, my left IT band started to copy it's partner. Wasdale claims to be the most beautiful valley in England - it has the highest mountain, the deepest lake, the smallest church but is also home to the biggest liar, so go figure… The scenery was breathtaking. This 3000 foot descent has taken me 25 minutes in training. I wasn't going that fast this time. My right IT band was still aching. My left one was agony. That wasn't fair! It hadn't even hurt until five minutes previously. "Iron" Joss Naylor was from Wasdale. He ran through anything!! On one of the funnest sections of the whole round, I was reduced to a trot.
I contemplated taking more ibuprofen, but decided one English animal safari had been enough. The path turned right off Green How and got steeper. I started walking. I could see a person about half a mile away on the road beside the NT campsite that had to be Jenny. My left leg was seizing up completely. I stopped, stretched it out and tried to run again to no avail. It just got more and more painful. I felt pretty cheated. I stopped and stretched again but couldn’t free the vice like hold this damn muscle had on my leg. I fell over the stile and tried to run down the field to Jenny without success. I glanced at my watch. Over 15 hours of running, 45miles and almost 18,000 feet of ascent/descent and I knew my attempt was in jeopardy. I felt completely exposed to the whole of Wasdale as a failure.
I met Jenny and hobbled back to the car with her. The weather was beautiful. She was changing my fluid, loading snacks and stirring soup. I dug a time schedule out for the first time and had a look. Blue Breeks was making very slow progress up the 1800 foot climb to Yewbarrow (Peak 31) I had been on my feet for 15 Hours and 48 Minutes. The "just making it in 24 hours" schedule would have had me leaving Wasdale (after my feed stop) over half an hour earlier. The last pitiful descent had stolen those 30 minutes. The guy who had been running Leg 3 with Blue Breeks was trying to get me to continue. He couldn't believe it was my first attempt and I had run it all solo. It was Blue Breek's third attempt. I don’t know if he completed or not, but he must have been pretty close to running out of time.
I wanted to continue - I knew almost 2/3rds of it was over and how close Keswick and Moot Hall were but hardly able to walk, never mind run, I was never going to make it in under 24 hours. My predicted pace would put me on the final peaks of leg 5 in the dark again and I didn't really want to be up there, crippled. I laid down and had a go at stretching out my IT bands. The left one was very inflamed near my knee. My right ankle was pretty swollen too! Ice would have been useful - but there is no ice in the middle of nowhere. I got up and tried to jog. I could hardly walk. I suddenly felt very selfish watching Jenny busy around the car. Enough. I had given it a pretty good shot and had got as far as this season's recurring injury was going to let me. I had tested myself and decided I was fit enough - had I been injury free.
There may be another attempt. I would have to be completely injury free for the season beforehand, but if I am and happen to be in England, I'll be back, Bob!
I was trying to raise £2000 for the Lothian and Borders group of Lupus UK, an organisation supporting patients with Lupus, an immune system disease that my sister suffers from. If you have already sponsored me, thank-you so much. If you haven't I'd be grateful if you could visit
http://www.justgiving.com/swaz
..and give generously. Thanks !
If you don't know what the Bob Graham Round is - have a look here first:
http://bobwightman.co.uk/run/bgr_history.php
Taking advantage of the high pressure weather that eventually found it's way through the depressions sweeping the island, Jenny (my girlfriend visiting from the US) and I made haste for the Lake District, in the north of England on Thursday 7th September in the evening.
After the 5 hour drive south from Inverschnecky, I showed Jenny what Threlkeld, the first road crossing would look like at 2am and how to find Dunmail Raise (stop 2) in the dark too. We spent Friday 8th visiting the other stopping points, getting Jenny used to driving on the left hand side with a manual gearstick in her left hand on the tiny little roads that criss-cross the Lake District; and purchasing food, resting and eating lots.
After a two hour nap, I set off from Moot Hall (275 feet asl) on a clear, cool, moonlit night in an optimistic mood just before 11pm. My final hope for a pacer had dropped out with a leg injury on the Wednesday, so solo it was going to have to be (I guess most folks can't take leave out with the weekend - or else September is just too late in the season). Although my reccy of Leg1 had been in November last year, I found the going very familiar and was on a windy Skiddaw summit (Peak No.1, 3050 feet) in about 1h20. I found the fence corner and dropped into the valley via a barely visible trod, headed for Hare Crag. To my surprise I ran straight onto the tiny path through the bogs and heather where many previous BGR attempts have floundered. I was running without a headtorch - preferring to use the natural moonlight, which my eyes had become accustomed to fairly quickly once I'd left the artificial lights of Keswick behind. Visibility was superb.
Up Great Calva (Peak No.2, 2264ft) and down through the heather to the River Caldew (1200 ft). I lost a little bit of time here, trying to find a good place to cross through the wetlands around the river - I don't remember there being one, so trudged through the knee deep marsh and the freezing cold river. Climbing Blencathra (Peak No.3, 2848 ft) was the first time I was aware of voices and headtorches flashing about. As I neared the summit someone was standing on the marker with his head torch flashing. Turned out he was a supporter who had been separated from his "contender". I took some strength from the knowledge there were other loons about tonight. I took Halls Fell Ridge (the supporter was off down Doddick Fell - with his walking sticks!!) fairly easy in the dark, reaching Jenny in Threlkeld (470ft) in 33 minutes, about quarter to three In the morning.
It was great to talk to somebody - I suppose I must have been pretty excited. I was not paying any attention to schedules, simply recording the time at each peak by pushing the lap button on my pulse monitor. After a quick strong coffee, 400mg of ibuprofen to try and minimise swelling ankles and a large bowl of weetabix I set off across the A66 for Clough Head, my backpack replenished with fluids and snacks.
I didn't know leg 2 at all, apart from the area immediately around Helvellyn, which I'd run during the Helvellyn Tri last year. The clear conditions prevailed, however, and the ridge path was moonlit up in front of me once up the initial 1900 ft climb to Clough Head (Peak No.4). I found the going easy enough on the ridge and was soon ticking off peaks 5 through 7.
Unfortunately the clear conditions were disappearing as I climbed Raise (Peak No.8) with clouds blowing in from the south west. Coming off White Side (Peak No.9) I had to slow to a walk, just to see where my feet were going and stay on the path. My headtorch was no good - much like full beams on a car, the light just bounced off the mist (cloud). This was no big deal on the climbs, but was costing me time on the descents. I found Lower Man and Helvellyn (Peaks No. 10 and 11, 3117 ft) in the thick mist with several map and compass checks. Nethermost Pike and Dollywaggon (Peaks 12 and 13) were much harder as I had no idea what they looked like and just ran on compass bearings and written descriptions. After a few false summits I eventually found these two and was looking for my cue (some old gatepost) to descend to Grisedale Tarn. I couldn't really see the old foundation of a fence line that is supposed to guide you back down to 1800 feet, but figured the Tarn (lake) was 500meters long - so surely I couldn't miss that. When I popped out of the cloud at about 2000 feet, the tarn was visible to my left. I'd come a little far West, but don't think it made that much difference. The dawn had broken and now out of the cloud, I could enjoy it's light everywhere.
Fairfield (Peak 14, 2864ft) was incredibly steep with lots of loose scree. I think this was probably the first time I felt some fatigue and discomfort. The other contender (wearing Blue Breeks) who's support guy I'd talked to on Blencathra was descending as I was climbing. We stopped to compare start times. Turn's out he'd started about 20 mins before me. I was keeping up anyway - but felt it important to stress (to myself) I wasn't racing anybody. Seat Sandal (Peak 15, 2415ft) was another little steep one - but much grassier. I thought it prudent to make a toilet stop halfway up before I was exposed to all the Saturday fal-de-ree walkers out on the more popular fells along Leg 3. There is nothing quite like squatting in nature to put a smile on your face !! Descending Seat Sandal wasn't the first time I'd turned my right ankle in the previous 8 hours, but it must've gone over pretty far this time as the residual pain was far more acute than usual. I reached for the pocket first aid in my bag and took 800mg ibuprofen and carried on down to Dunmail Raise (765ft) to meet Jenny.
Dunmail Raise in the DawnJenny had been chatting to Blue Breek's wife at stop 2. I could see him part way up the next climb - that didn't matter - I wasn't racing. I changed into shorts, a cooler top and swapped my studded hill shoes for more cushioned trail shoes for the rocky section to come as the sun was starting to burn off the clouds. Jenny changed the fluid bladder and the snacks in my backpack. I crammed a sandwich down me, 400mg more ibuprofen (just in case) and drank a little coffee before setting off towards Steel Fell at about 7:45 am
Towards the top of this climb I realised I'd forgotten to pick up the map and notes for this section, leg 3. This didn't disturb me too much, as I had run this section only 2 weeks previously and was confident I knew it. 
The clouds were rolling in again as I left Steel Fell (Peak 16, 1814ft) and if I lost too much visibility, without a map I would have no compass bearings to navigate from. A bigger problem was considerable discomfort in my stomach. I had been eating as much as I could manage to try and "get ahead" in the calorie game and with hindsight I think I possibly overdid it. The carbohydrate mix in my water (SIS GO) was not too strong, but I think in conjunction with the solids I was eating had overloaded my stomach with more carbs than it could comfortably deal with in motion. I was surprised to need to make another (serious!) toilet stop, only 45 mins after the first one!!Trying to ignore my sore stomach I carried on towards Calf Crag (Peak 17) as the clouds closed in. I found the trail to Sergeant Man (Peak 18, 2392ft) easy to follow in the mist as it has lots of landmarks, but the next section is pretty featureless. With no bearing to work off I struck off towards High Raise (Peak 19, 2500ft) in the general direction I thought it was. I found the path ok, but must have strayed off it to the North, as I came across some little tarns I didn't recognise. I turned west, dead reckoning with the compass, and found the summit, probably only losing about 10 minutes in the fog. The path to Harrison Stickle (Peak 21) is much more straight forward and I made the detour to Thuncarr Raise (Peak 20) en route without difficulty. On the descent towards Pike o Stickle (Peak 22, 2326ft) I turned my right ankle again in a little rabbit hole. The pain was not crippling - but I took another 400mg ibuprofen to try and keep it at bay. I love the view from this little Lakeland summit, but there wasn't much to see today in the low cloud. I was happy to descend below the clouds towards Martcrag Moor at about 2000 feet. I was even happier to find the tiny trail across the centre of the Moor that I'd missed on my reccy run. I made good time across the moor, down across the stream at about 1350 feet and up the sloping shelf to Rossett Pike (Peak 23, 2116 ft)
I hadn't been eating any solids, just drinking GO, hoping the bloating would subside. It didn't. Climbing Bowfell (Peak 24, 2960 ft) I got really dizzy and had to sit down for what felt like ages. I forced myself to eat chocolate - assuming I had "the bonk". This seemed really unfair, considering the amount of calories I thought I'd been taking in. I couldn't understand why the elephants on Bowfell didn’t want chocolate either… Hang on ?? Elephants ??!! The sun started to split the low cloud at this point physically and metaphorically illuminating my understanding that I must have been hallucinating. With hindsight my daily total of ibuprofen was now at 2400 mg, which was probably more than my system was comfortable with, particularly for a drug I don't use often at all. The "elephants" were of course large grey rocks. I cursed myself for wasting time, got back on my feet and headed up to summit my 24th peak, now resplendent in sunshine.
The sunshine warmed my attitude, the bloating seemed to be dissipating and I was able to eat again. Esk Pike, Great End, Ill Crag and Broad Crag (Peaks 25 through 28) passed quickly and other than a slight pain in my right Illotibial (IT) band (above knee) I was making good progress, generally running the flats and descents; and fast-walking the climbs. The number of fal-de-rees about was increasing as I approached Scafell Pike (Peak 29) at 3205 feet, the roof of England. It's amazing how many tourists want to race you if you dare to pass them!! My right IT band was aching but nothing too serious.
I obviously had no belay support for Broad Stand (a little bit of rock climbing required) and as Lord's Rake was reputed to have dangerous, easily dislodged rocks on it; I thought it prudent with all the people around to take the safest diversion via Foxes Tarn. I had not reccy'd this - so it was a nasty surprise to see how long this detour was. My right IT band continued to ache. Checking maps now indicates that this route involves losing almost 1000 feet between the last two peaks on leg 3 - twice what one would lose with Broad Stand roped up.
I reached Scafell (peak 30, 3163ft) 53 minutes after Scafell Pike and set off on the long descent towards Wasdale Head (223 feet) to end Leg 3 and meet Jenny again. Leaving the scree section at the top, my left IT band started to copy it's partner. Wasdale claims to be the most beautiful valley in England - it has the highest mountain, the deepest lake, the smallest church but is also home to the biggest liar, so go figure… The scenery was breathtaking. This 3000 foot descent has taken me 25 minutes in training. I wasn't going that fast this time. My right IT band was still aching. My left one was agony. That wasn't fair! It hadn't even hurt until five minutes previously. "Iron" Joss Naylor was from Wasdale. He ran through anything!! On one of the funnest sections of the whole round, I was reduced to a trot.
I contemplated taking more ibuprofen, but decided one English animal safari had been enough. The path turned right off Green How and got steeper. I started walking. I could see a person about half a mile away on the road beside the NT campsite that had to be Jenny. My left leg was seizing up completely. I stopped, stretched it out and tried to run again to no avail. It just got more and more painful. I felt pretty cheated. I stopped and stretched again but couldn’t free the vice like hold this damn muscle had on my leg. I fell over the stile and tried to run down the field to Jenny without success. I glanced at my watch. Over 15 hours of running, 45miles and almost 18,000 feet of ascent/descent and I knew my attempt was in jeopardy. I felt completely exposed to the whole of Wasdale as a failure.
I met Jenny and hobbled back to the car with her. The weather was beautiful. She was changing my fluid, loading snacks and stirring soup. I dug a time schedule out for the first time and had a look. Blue Breeks was making very slow progress up the 1800 foot climb to Yewbarrow (Peak 31) I had been on my feet for 15 Hours and 48 Minutes. The "just making it in 24 hours" schedule would have had me leaving Wasdale (after my feed stop) over half an hour earlier. The last pitiful descent had stolen those 30 minutes. The guy who had been running Leg 3 with Blue Breeks was trying to get me to continue. He couldn't believe it was my first attempt and I had run it all solo. It was Blue Breek's third attempt. I don’t know if he completed or not, but he must have been pretty close to running out of time.I wanted to continue - I knew almost 2/3rds of it was over and how close Keswick and Moot Hall were but hardly able to walk, never mind run, I was never going to make it in under 24 hours. My predicted pace would put me on the final peaks of leg 5 in the dark again and I didn't really want to be up there, crippled. I laid down and had a go at stretching out my IT bands. The left one was very inflamed near my knee. My right ankle was pretty swollen too! Ice would have been useful - but there is no ice in the middle of nowhere. I got up and tried to jog. I could hardly walk. I suddenly felt very selfish watching Jenny busy around the car. Enough. I had given it a pretty good shot and had got as far as this season's recurring injury was going to let me. I had tested myself and decided I was fit enough - had I been injury free.
There may be another attempt. I would have to be completely injury free for the season beforehand, but if I am and happen to be in England, I'll be back, Bob!
I was trying to raise £2000 for the Lothian and Borders group of Lupus UK, an organisation supporting patients with Lupus, an immune system disease that my sister suffers from. If you have already sponsored me, thank-you so much. If you haven't I'd be grateful if you could visit
http://www.justgiving.com/swaz
..and give generously. Thanks !
Thursday, 7 September 2006
BGR DAY
Well it's fixed for Friday 11pm start - for better or for worse - Thursday may have been a better day - looks a little windy on Sat - but fingers crossed for a clear morning so the moonlight will illuminate some of this stuff (that I haven't seen yet !!!)
Successful (I hope) report soon....
Successful (I hope) report soon....
Wednesday, 6 September 2006
BGR update
So the British weather carries on true to form... Saturday and Sunday look like they've moved to Thursday and Friday.
We will head down to the Lakes tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon as soon as possible after work. 6 hour drive down there from Inverness.
I'm hoping the area of high pressure pushing into the UK will stay there through Saturday and give us some good weather. Most important is a clear night, so the moonlight can show us where we are going. If necessary (pending bad wetaher on Sat) , I could start on Thursday evening, although this wouldn't be great
Will know more once Geoff Monk posts his mountain weather forecast for Thur, Fri and Sat at 5pm tonight: http://www.mwis.org.uk/forecast.php?area=6
Fingers crossed.
We will head down to the Lakes tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon as soon as possible after work. 6 hour drive down there from Inverness.
I'm hoping the area of high pressure pushing into the UK will stay there through Saturday and give us some good weather. Most important is a clear night, so the moonlight can show us where we are going. If necessary (pending bad wetaher on Sat) , I could start on Thursday evening, although this wouldn't be great
Will know more once Geoff Monk posts his mountain weather forecast for Thur, Fri and Sat at 5pm tonight: http://www.mwis.org.uk/forecast.php?area=6
Fingers crossed.
Tuesday, 5 September 2006
Bob Graham Round
So BGR day approaches... Looking at an attempt this weekend (9/10 Sept), weather permitting. Currently both Saturday and Sunday are looking good, but every day sees a different forecast...
Jenny is getting more nervous about finding the road crossing points than I am about running it... which is probably a good sign !
Legs a bit stiff after Braemar highland games race - one I'd care to forget..
If you haven't already sponsored me, go and have a look at: www.justgiving.com/swaz
Current weather conditions available here: http://www.metcheck.com/V40/UK/FREE/7days.asp
Monday, 4 September 2006
Lomonds of Fife 06
The new course, making the race feel more 'Long' than 'Medium' saw 10 Westies take to the Lomonds of Fife on Sunday 20th August.Don Naylor showed the field a clean pair of heels to win comfortably in 1.36.09. However the field got it's own back, showing everybody's butt a slope full of thistles on the final unique descent. Consequences of this (and new reccommended antidote) soon to be available in photo form, once Manny downloads his camera.
The "Highland Westies" staged a southern raid on the summer league points up for grabs, with Manny finishing 5th, suffering from injury (what do you mean as usual ?) and Swaz 15th. Jane Robertson finished 2nd Lady overall (and 2nd Lady vet). An off-form Cat Miller still managed 4th (2nd lady senior). Most enjoyed the new route, although the contouring off W
est Lomond and the long plod along vehicular roads through the forest were a little wearing... the single track and historic buildings adding another dimension to a fun race.Well done all - results on the shr site - please pass the Sudocrem.
written by Sore-Ar$e-Swaz on 21/8/2006
Strathpeffer HR 06
Strathpeffer Games must be one of the few events on the calendar where you get to tie your number (on stiff card) on with a lovely piece of blue ribbon instead of safety pins… It must also have one of the steepest climbs on the circuit – rivalling that loopy descent off West Lomond in Fife for gradient. The technique seems to be to grab as much wet bracken / grass as you can and chuck it over your shoulders into the face of the poor sod at your heels. If you are a bit of a mid-pack perambulator like me then there isn’t much left to hold onto towards the summit of Knockfarrel.
A fun descent through the nettley bracken tunnels, slippery wooden styles and cow-pat strewn fields follows before the lap round the games field to the usual rapturous Highland applause for every last runner.
The Tartan Terrors were out in force but Cambuslang’s Andrew Wright put in a record breaking performance to push their Graeme Campbell and Henry Blake onto the other podium spots. I finished 9th with 36m40 for the 4.2 miles / 900 feet about 4 minutes adrift. Sharon, Andrew’s significant other was first lady.
I also took part in the handicap 220yard race (a Westies first?), although the kilted starter put me on the scratch line at the back to my significant chagrin. This proved to be some of the best games entertainment as myself and Phil, the other hill runner who decided to have a go were left a significant distance behind, surprised by the speed of the marks-set-“bang”. The laughter seemed to get louder in direct proportion to the size of said significant distance all the way around the grass track.
The final affront was some bureaucratic kill-joy shoving a Scottish Games Association day membership form under our noses. Having grudgingly paid him £3 for a day licence, I pointed out the difference in attendance between the Hill race – almost 40 people from ages 15 through 60odd (no licence reqd) and the track events – less than 10 twentysomething ringers. Perhaps they could learn something there?
written by Scratch-line-Swaz on 14/8/2006
A fun descent through the nettley bracken tunnels, slippery wooden styles and cow-pat strewn fields follows before the lap round the games field to the usual rapturous Highland applause for every last runner.
The Tartan Terrors were out in force but Cambuslang’s Andrew Wright put in a record breaking performance to push their Graeme Campbell and Henry Blake onto the other podium spots. I finished 9th with 36m40 for the 4.2 miles / 900 feet about 4 minutes adrift. Sharon, Andrew’s significant other was first lady.
I also took part in the handicap 220yard race (a Westies first?), although the kilted starter put me on the scratch line at the back to my significant chagrin. This proved to be some of the best games entertainment as myself and Phil, the other hill runner who decided to have a go were left a significant distance behind, surprised by the speed of the marks-set-“bang”. The laughter seemed to get louder in direct proportion to the size of said significant distance all the way around the grass track.
The final affront was some bureaucratic kill-joy shoving a Scottish Games Association day membership form under our noses. Having grudgingly paid him £3 for a day licence, I pointed out the difference in attendance between the Hill race – almost 40 people from ages 15 through 60odd (no licence reqd) and the track events – less than 10 twentysomething ringers. Perhaps they could learn something there?
written by Scratch-line-Swaz on 14/8/2006
Fatboy Slim at Fyrish 06
Although the Rock Ness extravaganza obviously lured some of the entries away, Westies staged their own Fatboy Slim show at Fyrish on a mild and ever so slightly drizzly Saturday afternoon.
David SLIM Riach staged a surprise highland raid (en route to his Dad’s birthday celebrations in Thurso) and was rewarded with second place and 1st Vet (although he had to argue that one from the less than thorough organisers – funny, I can’t think of him as that age, either…). David covered the 7.9 miles of rocky forest track, firebreak and footpaths, in about 54 minutes Top honours went to defending champion Manuel BOY-wonder Gorman, who was first up the 1200 foot ascent to the monument on Cnoc Fyrish, leading David by about 15 seconds at the top. Manny stretched this lead to about 45 seconds by the finish line on the games field at Evanton.
Swaz FAT Fraser didn’t quite manage to catch fastest lady, Jill Irvine, but laboured in about 12 minutes down on David to finish 11th and snag the “virtual team prize” for Westies. Oh…. and Duncan (the real BOY) Gorman, finished a very credible 11th in the fun run.
Manny’s got some pix I’m sure he’ll download when he get’s a chance…
written by Fatboy Swaz on 26/6/2006
Tain Morangie Gathering
More trail race than hill race, my return to running further than the jog to the gym for more rehab provided encouraging results in the form of a fifth place on Wednesday evening.
Steve Worsley of Inverness Harriers claimed top spot, from Ross Bannerman (HHR) and an off form Franny Williams (HHR) in third.An encouraging field of thirty odd showed up despite the biting north wind and drizzle in the air to take on the 5.7 mile race up approximately 900 feet in the Mornagie Forest.
No pipe band or tug of war teams to dodge on the finishing straight - the games proper is held on the Thursday - a ruse I'm sure was developed by the Tartan Terrors to avoid other people showing up and winning !! A final crossing of the A9 adds a little spice in the last 500m of what is otherwise a bit of a tempo charge along fast forest trails.
First lady was some un-named youngster who looked like she was out for a stroll....she still finished in front of me, though...impertinent young pup...
written by Sliding-back-to-form-Swaz on 11/8/2006
Steve Worsley of Inverness Harriers claimed top spot, from Ross Bannerman (HHR) and an off form Franny Williams (HHR) in third.An encouraging field of thirty odd showed up despite the biting north wind and drizzle in the air to take on the 5.7 mile race up approximately 900 feet in the Mornagie Forest.
No pipe band or tug of war teams to dodge on the finishing straight - the games proper is held on the Thursday - a ruse I'm sure was developed by the Tartan Terrors to avoid other people showing up and winning !! A final crossing of the A9 adds a little spice in the last 500m of what is otherwise a bit of a tempo charge along fast forest trails.
First lady was some un-named youngster who looked like she was out for a stroll....she still finished in front of me, though...impertinent young pup...
written by Sliding-back-to-form-Swaz on 11/8/2006
Wednesday, 14 June 2006
Hot as Hades - Glen Rosa Horseshoe 2006
It was great to see all the usual hill running suspects again at Glen Rosa.
My first hill run since November proved a little more challenge than my rapidly adiposing tissue and atrophying muscle needed, but Manny, Luke and Chris put in excellent runs to claim 2nd team behind the C-Machine. Cat, Elsie and Ana claimed second ladies spot too on a day that proved too warm for many.
Westies did well to finish no less than 4 mens teams overall in spectacularly clear yet stifling conditions.
I suffered most on the 2 mile run into the glen, the bulk of Goat Fell hiding everybody from the wind that would provided at least some respite on the ridges later on. I decided to take the easier ascent up the path alongside Garbh Allt, following Cat who was jogging steadily away from me. Pete Baxter had passed me in the opposite direction heading for the direct ascent up Chliabhain. We would meet again briefly on the scree descent into Choire Daingean, the closest I think I've come to skiing without skis on!! Somewhere in here I must have passed Cat and Blair - but don't recall seeing them until the descent of Cir Mhor. It was sad to see Steff limping down. He must have been well up until he turned his ankle on the descent of Cir Mhor. get well soon, mate....
I was starting to pull in runners due to reckless descending more than any real athletic ability and got the right trod round Cir Mhor, passing another two athletes who looked a bit light on water. Up the ridge to North Goatfell and I hauled in another two, putting me effectively in 50th place. Somehow I had missed the Westies pre-race briefing that the best route around Stacach was to the East. The Westerly path looked so much more inviting, I was suckered down into Dearg Choirin (sorry Drew) losing one place again. I brought at least one chap with me, who didn't look too enamoured at the finish.
On the descent off Goat Fell (full of kids, of course!) I made up another couple of places to the last check point, grateful to get rid of those damn little tags I'd had to keep fishing around for all day. It was here that I started being impeded by some serious internal plumbing problems that were shortening my stride and really slowing me down. An opportune gulley on the otherwise exposed descent offered me the privacy to clear the offending blockage (hope you've had your lunch!!) but this cost me two places. To add insult to internal injury, I ran off course with less than half a mile to go, adding an extra mile and a bit plus 200 extra feet of ascent to get back on course (sorry again, Drew). I wasn't alone. I met Martin Reid and managed to save him at least some of a similar fate, both of us getting back on course again just as Pete ran into view. It would have been comical to pass him 3 times so I put in what remaining effort I had (well you never know who's watching !!) to finish about 12 places and 15 minutes down from where I probably should've been.
Grateful to finish at all - I really must get out and do some run training!!
My first hill run since November proved a little more challenge than my rapidly adiposing tissue and atrophying muscle needed, but Manny, Luke and Chris put in excellent runs to claim 2nd team behind the C-Machine. Cat, Elsie and Ana claimed second ladies spot too on a day that proved too warm for many.
Westies did well to finish no less than 4 mens teams overall in spectacularly clear yet stifling conditions.
I suffered most on the 2 mile run into the glen, the bulk of Goat Fell hiding everybody from the wind that would provided at least some respite on the ridges later on. I decided to take the easier ascent up the path alongside Garbh Allt, following Cat who was jogging steadily away from me. Pete Baxter had passed me in the opposite direction heading for the direct ascent up Chliabhain. We would meet again briefly on the scree descent into Choire Daingean, the closest I think I've come to skiing without skis on!! Somewhere in here I must have passed Cat and Blair - but don't recall seeing them until the descent of Cir Mhor. It was sad to see Steff limping down. He must have been well up until he turned his ankle on the descent of Cir Mhor. get well soon, mate....
I was starting to pull in runners due to reckless descending more than any real athletic ability and got the right trod round Cir Mhor, passing another two athletes who looked a bit light on water. Up the ridge to North Goatfell and I hauled in another two, putting me effectively in 50th place. Somehow I had missed the Westies pre-race briefing that the best route around Stacach was to the East. The Westerly path looked so much more inviting, I was suckered down into Dearg Choirin (sorry Drew) losing one place again. I brought at least one chap with me, who didn't look too enamoured at the finish.
On the descent off Goat Fell (full of kids, of course!) I made up another couple of places to the last check point, grateful to get rid of those damn little tags I'd had to keep fishing around for all day. It was here that I started being impeded by some serious internal plumbing problems that were shortening my stride and really slowing me down. An opportune gulley on the otherwise exposed descent offered me the privacy to clear the offending blockage (hope you've had your lunch!!) but this cost me two places. To add insult to internal injury, I ran off course with less than half a mile to go, adding an extra mile and a bit plus 200 extra feet of ascent to get back on course (sorry again, Drew). I wasn't alone. I met Martin Reid and managed to save him at least some of a similar fate, both of us getting back on course again just as Pete ran into view. It would have been comical to pass him 3 times so I put in what remaining effort I had (well you never know who's watching !!) to finish about 12 places and 15 minutes down from where I probably should've been.
Grateful to finish at all - I really must get out and do some run training!!
Friday, 9 June 2006
Back in the Highlands
It's June - must be safe to get back to the highlands... managed a few hills on the way here, but not much running.
Fat, slow and unfit. Commuting 26 miles on the bike each day will hopefully see that off...
... or see me off...
Fat, slow and unfit. Commuting 26 miles on the bike each day will hopefully see that off...
... or see me off...
Saturday, 1 April 2006
Out of date / Past the sell-by date ?
... so that was September - so much for keeping up with this thing...
The winter season is nearly over and it'll soon be time to return to God's own country.
Where did all the time go ?
The winter season is nearly over and it'll soon be time to return to God's own country.
Where did all the time go ?
Friday, 16 September 2005
Helvellyn Tri 2005
..it's never too late to start the Tri season...Saturday 10th September
A mile swim in Ullswater, a 37 mile bike ride (climbing 4250 feet), taking in Kirkstone Pass and the infamous 1in4 Struggle, followed by a 9 mile run (climbing 3150 feet) up Helvellyn, England’s 3rd tallest peak.
Although seriously un-swim-fit - I just had to tri ;) this event out. I’ve never had the pleasure of a hill run in a tri before. 400 entries – possibly 50 odd no shows..
I got a rotten dose of calf cramp in my right leg as a result of a really poor swim - (I see from the results there were less than 20 bikes left in transition when I got out the water...!!) It made itself known on that first climb away from Ullswater, then kept threatening to lock up all the way round. Scared to stand on the pedals properly for fear of being unable to continue, I stretched and drank and stretched and drank and drank and stopped and peed and stretched until eventually it loosened off before Ambleside (80% of the way round). I'd been to and froing with this elderly lady on a sit up and beg bike with mudguards... very humiliating. I was fortunate my calf didn't lock up on The Struggle, though. Managed to make up 100 or so places on the bike.
Run went well - although I paid for all the previous anti cramp drinking with 2 more pee stops! I must have made up 50 or so places on the climb and another 30 or so on the descent. It did feel a little weird to be up in the fells in a triathlon unitard, however...
What a great race - no contrived distances - no artificial trademark - just a mile in the water, a complete tour of the Helvellyn massif on the most logical (and challenging)
bike route and a trip up the mountain and back on your feet (just).
More details here: http://www.trihard.co.uk/HelvellynHome.htm
Although it was a little bit of a rush getting my buddy from Chester back to Oxenholme for a train at 19.30, we managed to get up Scafell, then scramble over to Scafell Pike on a beautiful Sunday. England's 3 highest tops in a weekend and back in Inverness before 1 am, Monday.
Have it!
A mile swim in Ullswater, a 37 mile bike ride (climbing 4250 feet), taking in Kirkstone Pass and the infamous 1in4 Struggle, followed by a 9 mile run (climbing 3150 feet) up Helvellyn, England’s 3rd tallest peak.
Although seriously un-swim-fit - I just had to tri ;) this event out. I’ve never had the pleasure of a hill run in a tri before. 400 entries – possibly 50 odd no shows..
I got a rotten dose of calf cramp in my right leg as a result of a really poor swim - (I see from the results there were less than 20 bikes left in transition when I got out the water...!!) It made itself known on that first climb away from Ullswater, then kept threatening to lock up all the way round. Scared to stand on the pedals properly for fear of being unable to continue, I stretched and drank and stretched and drank and drank and stopped and peed and stretched until eventually it loosened off before Ambleside (80% of the way round). I'd been to and froing with this elderly lady on a sit up and beg bike with mudguards... very humiliating. I was fortunate my calf didn't lock up on The Struggle, though. Managed to make up 100 or so places on the bike.
Run went well - although I paid for all the previous anti cramp drinking with 2 more pee stops! I must have made up 50 or so places on the climb and another 30 or so on the descent. It did feel a little weird to be up in the fells in a triathlon unitard, however...
What a great race - no contrived distances - no artificial trademark - just a mile in the water, a complete tour of the Helvellyn massif on the most logical (and challenging)
bike route and a trip up the mountain and back on your feet (just).
More details here: http://www.trihard.co.uk/HelvellynHome.htm
Although it was a little bit of a rush getting my buddy from Chester back to Oxenholme for a train at 19.30, we managed to get up Scafell, then scramble over to Scafell Pike on a beautiful Sunday. England's 3 highest tops in a weekend and back in Inverness before 1 am, Monday.
Have it!
Sunday, 12 June 2005
Edinburgh Marathon 2005 - on residual fitness
A drizzly start saw a reported 11000 runners take to Edinburgh's streets to try a flatter course over the classic 26 mile distance. Despite less than 30 miles running training in the last 6 months I decided to "give it a bash" as some kind of weird experiment to see what sort of "Residual Fitness" I typically retain over a winter of skiing at 8000 - 10,000 feet and beer quaffing. The opportunity came on 1st June as one of Chris' colleagues decided he wouldn't be running.
Armed with loaded bottle belt and far too many gels, I (code name Bill Fisher) set off through the streets and bike paths of my Senior School and University days.. The weather cleared up and I managed to maintain a reasonably constant 8m30 pace until about the 17 mile mark where it started to get sore..
Worst bit was Miles 20 through 23 - I think they took me about 30 mins with repeated stretching stops and various false re-starts !!
Finish was fine - Miles 23 through finish in about 23 minutes - seemed easier running uphill !!
Managed 3h45m26 which was quicker than I could have hoped for and only a few minutes slower than my Ironman run split (the only other time I've raced the distance - albeit with 3.8kms swimming and 180kms cycling before it) last year..
New course was ok if not a little dull along the sea front from Cramond to Portobello.
Full results here:
http://www.edinburgh-marathon.co.uk/uk/results/
Armed with loaded bottle belt and far too many gels, I (code name Bill Fisher) set off through the streets and bike paths of my Senior School and University days.. The weather cleared up and I managed to maintain a reasonably constant 8m30 pace until about the 17 mile mark where it started to get sore..
Worst bit was Miles 20 through 23 - I think they took me about 30 mins with repeated stretching stops and various false re-starts !!
Finish was fine - Miles 23 through finish in about 23 minutes - seemed easier running uphill !!
Managed 3h45m26 which was quicker than I could have hoped for and only a few minutes slower than my Ironman run split (the only other time I've raced the distance - albeit with 3.8kms swimming and 180kms cycling before it) last year..
New course was ok if not a little dull along the sea front from Cramond to Portobello.
Full results here:
http://www.edinburgh-marathon.co.uk/uk/results/
Friday, 28 May 2004
Ironman Lanzarote 2004
It is Monday 24th May. I can't walk properly, seem to get a "stitch" every time I stand up, and am still eating as if the world superpowers are about to outlaw it. Different foods have different alternative effects on my digestive system...but none of them can remove the warm, satisfied, sense of achievement I feel from head to toe. Yawn. Must be time for another nap..
It is Saturday 22nd May. The alarm clock ends the all night insomniac wriggle-athon at 4.30am. I start to cram the calories in. My nutrition plan suggests 1000 kcal before 5 am - I'm lucky if I manage 600. I smear myself in P20 sun cream (providing all day protection) and have a last look over my pulse monitor settings and my race plan.
I try to relax and joke with the other Chester Tri members on our way down to the start. The general mood is good; I think all 14 of us are glad the day has finally come, for better or for worse. Puerto del Carmen is still in darkness at 6.00 am. The transition is set up along the road that runs along the beachfront. The multitude of cafes are still closed, a caffeinated gel and water will have to suffice. I stretch and wriggle into my wetsuit, pose for a final photo with the rest of the gang and then make my way down to the beach.
Although it IS only my second year of triathlon, I had a fairly full season last year and I don't remember so many people pushing to get to the BACK of the holding area before the swim start! It is approaching 7.00am and the sky is getting visibly brighter. The gun goes off and I can hear bare feet running on sand, presumably the hero "fish" were sprinting down the beach. Us cycling/running "bricks" amble down to the water's edge and eventually join the foaming white-water for the wrestling match to follow. I had had no saliva to spit in my goggles - so they were a bit foggy (rather like my brain) for the whole of the first lap. I never thought swimming could be such a contact sport....but at least the horizontal scrum that followed took your mind off the distance you were swimming. After 37 minutes, I was up on the beach again, grateful for the opportunity to clean my goggles. The first 1.9 kms (and the majority of the competitors) have gone. I enjoyed the aquatic scenery a lot more on the second lap, with the exception of one larger black/silver Snugg-clad swimmer that I seemed to be continually bouncing off. I hadn't noticed the fish or the scuba photographers on the first lap.
I was delighted to get out of the water in 1hr 16mins. A week ago I had dreamed of going sub 1hr 20mins and realistically decided I'd do well to break 1hr 30 mins. A short jog up the beach, through the showers, grab the blue bike bag and into the transition tent. I had planned a complete change into comfortable bike shorts (180kms on a carbon saddle in a pair of Speedos is not my idea of fun, thank-you) and it suddenly dawned on me I'd be stark naked in front of the ladies applying sun cream (and the female competitors) before I could get my bib shorts on. I dismiss this fear (they're all professionals, right ?!!) and get into my bike gear (They were polite enough not to laugh out loud, at least!). A quick encouraging "Hah haaaaaaaarrrrrrr" in a piratical kind of way to Captain Morgan on the way out of the tent and I'm on the bike before 1hr 25 mins shows on the race clock.
The bike course is 180kms of long drawn out climbs and loopy steep descents, but at least I'm 10 minutes up on my dream schedule.The pace strategy for the bike was to take it very easy (Zone 1 or pulse sub 150 bpm - about 28kph on the flat) for the first 90 minutes. This was incredibly hard given the multitude of nutters (were there really THAT many triathletes slower at swimming than me?) zipping past me in the first 20kms and my bike racing habit. I consoled myself with images of them all hobbling on the run later. The nutrition plan at this stage was to drink only water (with electrolytes) until the first support station. I feel this worked exceptionally well - letting my heart rate and stomach settle and giving my metabolism the best opportunity to burn fat for fuel. With the first climb over the island out of the way I upped the pace (Zone 2 or pulse about 155 bpm) and started on the energy bars / bananas and anything else the enthusiastic local kids were thrusting at me at every aid station. It still took me almost three hours to catch the next familiar face. I had to wait over two minutes for my Special Needs bag at the top of the Haria descent. I would have left it but it contained a bag of Jelly Babies and a cheesy sandwich. I was so fed up of sweet stuff I decided the sandwich would be worth the wait. The descent was great fun. I made up a dozen or so places down here, because we had driven the course the previous Wednesday and I had memorized the corners. I went through a really bad patch at about 110kms (although on reflection - it probably started at about 85kms) when I couldn't eat anything without feeling like I was going to explode. I had read so much about one's digestive system "shutting down" and feared the worst. After taking it easy and drinking only water for a while, I decided to try and make a serious toilet stop. The relief I felt was almost worth the worry I then had that the leaf I'd used to wipe my butt was some sort of weird tropical species that would now be disolving my innards from the ring-piece up !! Memo to self: Carry bog-paper in future!
With only one seriously steep climb keeping us away from the run, I got back on the gas pedal, heading South with "Vamos a la Playa" playing over and over again in my head. The 140km mark saw a return of the dodgy stomach. Maybe Jelly Babies weren't the best nutrition after all. I couldn't possibly need another toilet stop, could I? Maybe this time the dreaded digestive problems had really arrived. I procrastinated (and decelerated) until the final climb above Puerto del Carmen. The dodgy stomoch turned out to be just gas - it cleared and I plumetted down the descent into the run transition.
Pass my faithful carbon steed to a smiley face, grab the red run bag - another trip through the transition tent (the fastest peep show in the world?!) and I was into my first ever marathon, psyched to be running before 8 hours was showing on the race clock. I was still just inside my "dream objectives" and hadn't needed any "reality adjustments" yet (I had 4 different levels prepared to drop to). The run course consisted of a 5.275km leg on roads and pavements along the beachfront, to be completed 8 times, 4 times in each direction. Each time you returned to the finish area you were rewarded with a coloured bracelet, to identify which lap you were on. I didn't worry about pace or pulse until I had established some kind of running (jogging?!) rhythm. At about 4kms I felt reasonably comfortable and stole a peek at my pulse monitor. I was delighted to find my pulse comfortably within my moderate zone - and ran the rest of the first leg at the same pulse / pace. I reached the first turn in about 29 minutes. Heading back into the heart of Puerto del Carmen I was greeted by this incredible raucous racket from the grandstands making up the last 200 metres of the run. The first three pros had already finished, Gerrit Schellens, was in the home straight. However, the din was not for him. The ladies that ran our complex's bar (Angie and Gena) had made a banner with "Come on Swaz" and were screaming my name like I was some kind of celebrity. I would find out later they had raised over 400 Euros for the St Thomas' Lupus Trust, going round the bars on the beachfront!
I collected my yellow coloured lap bracelet and almost sprinted back out onto the next 10.5 k lap lifted by their support. Next time back there, I would only have a half marathon to finish. I'd done five of them already in training this season - no problem - each step was really taking me closer to known territory. The turn came at 1hr 24 mins - I was still inside a 4 hour marathon, and a 12 hour overall - my dream objective. For the first time, I sensed a whiff of achievement - and confess I had to choke back a few tears. It was great to see all the other club members on the run. The out and back format meant that I saw the other 13 troopers twice a lap. I got a big boost from the high 5's and smiles - and the other Chester Tri support - team Nagle, Tali, Lucy, Jan Morgan and Sue Haslam. The noise was deafening again at the half-way mark, I bounced away from the finish with my blue bracelet and 09:54 showing on the race clock. A few kilometres later my right Achilles started to remind me this was approaching the furthest it had ever run. I didn't want to start walking. I tried to adjust my stride, using the cushioning on the heel of my trainers to soften the blow as much as possible and eventually I took an Ibuprofen from my bottle belt too. I don't know whether it helped, or if it was the sight of Jeff starting out on his last lap walking; but towards the end of the third lap I seemed to be able to stretch my stride out again. This turned out to be my slowest lap - but it was still less than an hour. The usual finish area fanfare and my final lap bracelet - orange. Just ten kilometres to go. My personal best for 10k is a smidgen over 40 minutes. That was in no danger whatsoever today although I did up the pace a little as I enjoyed spending some more of the energy I'd been jealously guarding all day against the unknown. The last 5k leg home was a blur of air punching and cheesy grinning. Crowds, more noise, arch, tape, medal and handshake.
11 hours 45 minutes and 11 seconds. The sense of achievement was immense. Angie, Gena and friends, now a little worse for wear from their all day drinkathon in the sun, made sure they cried enough for all of us. Chests swelling, finish medals proud. Post race massage took 40 minutes. I went to the medical tent too, wondering if I should be plugged into a saline/glucose drip like the dozens of runners around me. A pretty Spanish doctor gave me a sandwich, a cold coke and wrapped me up in a blanket. It took me about half an hour to eat the sandwich. When I said I needed the toilet, the doctor probably decided all internal functions were returning to normal and crossed me off her likely drip recipient list. I went out and collected my tee shirt and checked my bike had not been neglected.More Chester Tri members were finishing. Hugs and stories abounded. We stumbled towards the Paella tent, where rumour had it there was beer on tap...
It is Thursday 27th May. We are still in Lanzarote. All the weird stitches have gone. My sunburnt skin is starting to peel (wetsuits and salt water would seem to negate the protection normally offered by P20 sun cream). I can walk normally. I am eating normally again. I had decided on Tuesday I would take the next step towards my PADI Divemaster qualification and enrolled for a Rescue Diver course. This course teaches advanced scuba divers how to deal with emergency situations and is described by PADI as "very physical". With the exception of a short cycle along the beachfront to the dive centre every day, and a few gentle swims, I have done no exercise since the race. We have been in a bay near Costa Teguise for about an hour practicing drills used to rescue panicking divers and she is warning me about how "physical" the next day is going to be. I think about reminding her that I had just completed a 3.8 km swim in the Atlantic in a thinner wetsuit devoid of scuba equipment and fins with 800 other crazies trying to drown me every 3 or 4 strokes; but I remain quiet. This is her gig and although we are still both divers, I'm different now...
..I'm an Ironman......
Results:
Place Group Pl.Sw. Swim T1 Pl.Bk. Bike T2 Pl.Run Run Total
241 Keith "Swaz" Fraser 35-39 493 01:16:37 05:56 325 06:31:14 04:37 146 03:46:51 11:45:11
It is Saturday 22nd May. The alarm clock ends the all night insomniac wriggle-athon at 4.30am. I start to cram the calories in. My nutrition plan suggests 1000 kcal before 5 am - I'm lucky if I manage 600. I smear myself in P20 sun cream (providing all day protection) and have a last look over my pulse monitor settings and my race plan.
I try to relax and joke with the other Chester Tri members on our way down to the start. The general mood is good; I think all 14 of us are glad the day has finally come, for better or for worse. Puerto del Carmen is still in darkness at 6.00 am. The transition is set up along the road that runs along the beachfront. The multitude of cafes are still closed, a caffeinated gel and water will have to suffice. I stretch and wriggle into my wetsuit, pose for a final photo with the rest of the gang and then make my way down to the beach.
Although it IS only my second year of triathlon, I had a fairly full season last year and I don't remember so many people pushing to get to the BACK of the holding area before the swim start! It is approaching 7.00am and the sky is getting visibly brighter. The gun goes off and I can hear bare feet running on sand, presumably the hero "fish" were sprinting down the beach. Us cycling/running "bricks" amble down to the water's edge and eventually join the foaming white-water for the wrestling match to follow. I had had no saliva to spit in my goggles - so they were a bit foggy (rather like my brain) for the whole of the first lap. I never thought swimming could be such a contact sport....but at least the horizontal scrum that followed took your mind off the distance you were swimming. After 37 minutes, I was up on the beach again, grateful for the opportunity to clean my goggles. The first 1.9 kms (and the majority of the competitors) have gone. I enjoyed the aquatic scenery a lot more on the second lap, with the exception of one larger black/silver Snugg-clad swimmer that I seemed to be continually bouncing off. I hadn't noticed the fish or the scuba photographers on the first lap.
I was delighted to get out of the water in 1hr 16mins. A week ago I had dreamed of going sub 1hr 20mins and realistically decided I'd do well to break 1hr 30 mins. A short jog up the beach, through the showers, grab the blue bike bag and into the transition tent. I had planned a complete change into comfortable bike shorts (180kms on a carbon saddle in a pair of Speedos is not my idea of fun, thank-you) and it suddenly dawned on me I'd be stark naked in front of the ladies applying sun cream (and the female competitors) before I could get my bib shorts on. I dismiss this fear (they're all professionals, right ?!!) and get into my bike gear (They were polite enough not to laugh out loud, at least!). A quick encouraging "Hah haaaaaaaarrrrrrr" in a piratical kind of way to Captain Morgan on the way out of the tent and I'm on the bike before 1hr 25 mins shows on the race clock.
The bike course is 180kms of long drawn out climbs and loopy steep descents, but at least I'm 10 minutes up on my dream schedule.The pace strategy for the bike was to take it very easy (Zone 1 or pulse sub 150 bpm - about 28kph on the flat) for the first 90 minutes. This was incredibly hard given the multitude of nutters (were there really THAT many triathletes slower at swimming than me?) zipping past me in the first 20kms and my bike racing habit. I consoled myself with images of them all hobbling on the run later. The nutrition plan at this stage was to drink only water (with electrolytes) until the first support station. I feel this worked exceptionally well - letting my heart rate and stomach settle and giving my metabolism the best opportunity to burn fat for fuel. With the first climb over the island out of the way I upped the pace (Zone 2 or pulse about 155 bpm) and started on the energy bars / bananas and anything else the enthusiastic local kids were thrusting at me at every aid station. It still took me almost three hours to catch the next familiar face. I had to wait over two minutes for my Special Needs bag at the top of the Haria descent. I would have left it but it contained a bag of Jelly Babies and a cheesy sandwich. I was so fed up of sweet stuff I decided the sandwich would be worth the wait. The descent was great fun. I made up a dozen or so places down here, because we had driven the course the previous Wednesday and I had memorized the corners. I went through a really bad patch at about 110kms (although on reflection - it probably started at about 85kms) when I couldn't eat anything without feeling like I was going to explode. I had read so much about one's digestive system "shutting down" and feared the worst. After taking it easy and drinking only water for a while, I decided to try and make a serious toilet stop. The relief I felt was almost worth the worry I then had that the leaf I'd used to wipe my butt was some sort of weird tropical species that would now be disolving my innards from the ring-piece up !! Memo to self: Carry bog-paper in future!
With only one seriously steep climb keeping us away from the run, I got back on the gas pedal, heading South with "Vamos a la Playa" playing over and over again in my head. The 140km mark saw a return of the dodgy stomach. Maybe Jelly Babies weren't the best nutrition after all. I couldn't possibly need another toilet stop, could I? Maybe this time the dreaded digestive problems had really arrived. I procrastinated (and decelerated) until the final climb above Puerto del Carmen. The dodgy stomoch turned out to be just gas - it cleared and I plumetted down the descent into the run transition.
Pass my faithful carbon steed to a smiley face, grab the red run bag - another trip through the transition tent (the fastest peep show in the world?!) and I was into my first ever marathon, psyched to be running before 8 hours was showing on the race clock. I was still just inside my "dream objectives" and hadn't needed any "reality adjustments" yet (I had 4 different levels prepared to drop to). The run course consisted of a 5.275km leg on roads and pavements along the beachfront, to be completed 8 times, 4 times in each direction. Each time you returned to the finish area you were rewarded with a coloured bracelet, to identify which lap you were on. I didn't worry about pace or pulse until I had established some kind of running (jogging?!) rhythm. At about 4kms I felt reasonably comfortable and stole a peek at my pulse monitor. I was delighted to find my pulse comfortably within my moderate zone - and ran the rest of the first leg at the same pulse / pace. I reached the first turn in about 29 minutes. Heading back into the heart of Puerto del Carmen I was greeted by this incredible raucous racket from the grandstands making up the last 200 metres of the run. The first three pros had already finished, Gerrit Schellens, was in the home straight. However, the din was not for him. The ladies that ran our complex's bar (Angie and Gena) had made a banner with "Come on Swaz" and were screaming my name like I was some kind of celebrity. I would find out later they had raised over 400 Euros for the St Thomas' Lupus Trust, going round the bars on the beachfront!
I collected my yellow coloured lap bracelet and almost sprinted back out onto the next 10.5 k lap lifted by their support. Next time back there, I would only have a half marathon to finish. I'd done five of them already in training this season - no problem - each step was really taking me closer to known territory. The turn came at 1hr 24 mins - I was still inside a 4 hour marathon, and a 12 hour overall - my dream objective. For the first time, I sensed a whiff of achievement - and confess I had to choke back a few tears. It was great to see all the other club members on the run. The out and back format meant that I saw the other 13 troopers twice a lap. I got a big boost from the high 5's and smiles - and the other Chester Tri support - team Nagle, Tali, Lucy, Jan Morgan and Sue Haslam. The noise was deafening again at the half-way mark, I bounced away from the finish with my blue bracelet and 09:54 showing on the race clock. A few kilometres later my right Achilles started to remind me this was approaching the furthest it had ever run. I didn't want to start walking. I tried to adjust my stride, using the cushioning on the heel of my trainers to soften the blow as much as possible and eventually I took an Ibuprofen from my bottle belt too. I don't know whether it helped, or if it was the sight of Jeff starting out on his last lap walking; but towards the end of the third lap I seemed to be able to stretch my stride out again. This turned out to be my slowest lap - but it was still less than an hour. The usual finish area fanfare and my final lap bracelet - orange. Just ten kilometres to go. My personal best for 10k is a smidgen over 40 minutes. That was in no danger whatsoever today although I did up the pace a little as I enjoyed spending some more of the energy I'd been jealously guarding all day against the unknown. The last 5k leg home was a blur of air punching and cheesy grinning. Crowds, more noise, arch, tape, medal and handshake.
11 hours 45 minutes and 11 seconds. The sense of achievement was immense. Angie, Gena and friends, now a little worse for wear from their all day drinkathon in the sun, made sure they cried enough for all of us. Chests swelling, finish medals proud. Post race massage took 40 minutes. I went to the medical tent too, wondering if I should be plugged into a saline/glucose drip like the dozens of runners around me. A pretty Spanish doctor gave me a sandwich, a cold coke and wrapped me up in a blanket. It took me about half an hour to eat the sandwich. When I said I needed the toilet, the doctor probably decided all internal functions were returning to normal and crossed me off her likely drip recipient list. I went out and collected my tee shirt and checked my bike had not been neglected.More Chester Tri members were finishing. Hugs and stories abounded. We stumbled towards the Paella tent, where rumour had it there was beer on tap...
It is Thursday 27th May. We are still in Lanzarote. All the weird stitches have gone. My sunburnt skin is starting to peel (wetsuits and salt water would seem to negate the protection normally offered by P20 sun cream). I can walk normally. I am eating normally again. I had decided on Tuesday I would take the next step towards my PADI Divemaster qualification and enrolled for a Rescue Diver course. This course teaches advanced scuba divers how to deal with emergency situations and is described by PADI as "very physical". With the exception of a short cycle along the beachfront to the dive centre every day, and a few gentle swims, I have done no exercise since the race. We have been in a bay near Costa Teguise for about an hour practicing drills used to rescue panicking divers and she is warning me about how "physical" the next day is going to be. I think about reminding her that I had just completed a 3.8 km swim in the Atlantic in a thinner wetsuit devoid of scuba equipment and fins with 800 other crazies trying to drown me every 3 or 4 strokes; but I remain quiet. This is her gig and although we are still both divers, I'm different now...
..I'm an Ironman......
Results:
Place Group Pl.Sw. Swim T1 Pl.Bk. Bike T2 Pl.Run Run Total
241 Keith "Swaz" Fraser 35-39 493 01:16:37 05:56 325 06:31:14 04:37 146 03:46:51 11:45:11
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