Feet on the clouds

The early bird catches the worm they say. After a week of joy and sadness, anguish and peace, comfort and pain, I need to go into work today - which should have been my day off. So an early start and as I needed a bit of space, I set off to run down into Ilkley but my legs knew better and before I knew it I was heading up on t'moor.

An amazing cloud inversion left me above the clouds that filled the valley around. Where i ran it was clear, cold, radiant and damp.

I could get all metaphysical describing it all - something of the sky, the infinite, but also the heart pounding, leg screaming and not least the dirt that I ran in -(from dirt we come from, from dirt we return - but also i think to and from the stars....)

Meanwhile back on planet earth - for those who strangely seem bothered, last 2 weeks 60km, and 4 hours of dirty, nasty, big grin mtb, Oh and entered me a race of 2 - Conniston 14 in March and i'll return to racing at the Stoop before Christmas

Fat boy slow mixes it up

After a shameful 3 plus weeks of not running, (not sure why.... laziness, busyness, family - nothing new then), I got out yesterday and today. The verdict - fatter and slower - so no suprises there.
Yesterday Old bridge - to addingham circular and today a yomp up on't moor.
Must look out some races to keep me focused.
Off to see England loose at Cricket tomorrow with mum so no running

Back to the lolipop

3mins to 7 and eventually settled the shall I shalln't I debate, quick change and down to the tennis club to just catch the lads and lasses setting out for various pack runs on club night. Took the group doing the Burley Lolipop, really a winter run, so faster and flatter. Aim was 8:30 but all a bit frisky tonight so 8min mile pace including the regroups etc, so felt tempo to me, but good catch up with a few, and given that I'm not race fit at the moment good miles. 9.5 of them, nice

Early Sunday am

Now feeling fat after Sunday lunch, but able to blog a long run, a shower, breakfast, dropping eldest off for the train and church before 12 today.
Nice day for an early morning run - out along the back road to Bolton Abbey and back. The heron looked suitably bemused by my presence, I was suitably bemused by a large peton just giving me room to run.
A steady 90mins to Bolton Abbey and back, looking up

Hopefully really back on the road again

Last blog was a bit premature, felt about 100 for a few days after the last run, so not really recovered from that flu like illness, so last 11 days 3 runs, one ear infection with a bit of a dizzy do, A level results and mum to stay...
So One shortish run including a climb from Ilkley to top of moor, one very early morning hill efforts session up the hill to Cow and Calf Pub and today a steady 10 km - felt ok so a long run tomorrow.

Back on the road again

After nearly 2 weeks finally got those running shoes back on. A bout of "flu like illness" slowed me down nearly to a standstill coming back from hol's, I certainly couldn't make it out for a jog, so nice to get out tonight with a group from the Harriers.
It feels like the nights are drawing in a bit, so not so many Tuesday nights out of town/off road left.
Nigel led us a steady pace up Owler Park Road, through Woods, Nesfield down to Addingham over the bridge then round and about and up the very big hill to Addingham Moorside before "contouring" back to Ilkley.
Whilst a steady group tonight it wasn't steady enough for some of us including me - I really struggled the last bit so will put this down as a "recovery run". Hopefully it was post viral and it won't take me yonks to get back to how I was running before the hols.
The watch says - 15.9km, 1hr 35min, 1500ft of up, and 1500 calories - I think I'll have a beer

Running around in France

A great 2 weeks en France on holiday, managed to do some running, mostly flattish, sometimes along sandy beach, sometimes alone and sometimes with Jon S
Did a bit of cycling too
Probaby most important I had a holiday - sometimes it's important not to try too hard

So 60km running
and 110km cycling
and a lot of french cheese, a bit of wine, a little beer.... but no pies

Rupert road loopy

Thursday 7:45pm a small pose meet at the old bridge knowing the gentle jog, ministry of silly runs warm up is just putting off the inevitible of some hard effort around Rupert road, down hill 1km, uphill 1km then repeat.
Excellent hard session faster than last time for me, but still to much of a slow down 3:35, 4:00, 3:48, 4:08, and I didn't feel like wretching at the end - so clearly didn't try hard enough!
Will sleep well tonight though.

World Famous In Ilkley

Another one of Andy Wolf's world famous in Ilkley away runs.
20 + lithe athletes gathered at Barden Bridge for the classic away run, some like lambs to the slaughter had only heard "and we'll go to the pub afterwards", not thinking that we'd driven out somewhere slightly hillier.
Along the dales way towards Appletreewick for a mile or so, with big loopy regroups to find those who had arrived and set off some time after us. Then a sharp detour up hill, which quietened the chatter, most of the way up to the top of Simons Seat. The views from the top were Englands finest, which we all enjoyed once up there (photos courtesy of mr and mrs gooch hopefully posted later).
Chatter returned as we wended our way down the valley of desolation, back to the road then along the east bank of the river, high above the strid returning grateful to our cars at Barden Bridge.
2 hours and nearly 15km with all that regrouping and contrary to Sundays run I felt pretty frisky (in a running sense).

We retired to the Swan in Addingham for butties and chips - courtesy of the club and a drop of Ale. More natter with friends old and new. Though the eating habbits of some left something to be desired - what is wrong with crusts?

A bit heavy in the legs

The heat, the early wake up this am, the 3 peaks and 2 moor runs in the last 10 days, work doing my head in - or all of these togetether, who knows, but the legs were a bit on the heavy side as i ambled round the old bridge, addingham, dales way circular.
Still nice to get out - just under 10k in just over 50mins

Sweaty on the moor

Hard, heavy week at work, so needed to clear my head a bit - so solo run out the front door, up to MW and along beyond Burley then up to the ridge path past the hut, to the 12 apostles then the summit cairn before dropping down towards Ilkley and then contouring home.
I love how running is my Zen, therapy and prayer sometimes, I'm ready to live the moment again.
Hot and sticky out there this am with all that running about but no flies this time. Off for a cold shower.
10.2km in 1:04hrs

Buck Stones with the flies

Headed out this evening with a crowd from harriers. Nigel led us up out of town, via Hebers Ghyll to the Swastika stone, along the edge past Noon stone to Wingate Nick then a bit more up to Bucks Stone, along to Keighley Gate then a blast down hill to the club.
I felt the climbing of the 3 peaks in my legs a bit. Was glad that it rained on a warm sultry night, and was glad of a large group running which always slow us down. Pestered by a crowd of flies for a few miles - but at least they don't bite like midges. Plenty light chat, catching up and getting muddy. Now for a beer!
13.25KM, off the road, in a few bogs in 1:30ish

3 Peaks Challenge-So What?

3 years ago in Pete's Eats in Llanberis with the family, Matthew(I never listen to music) then 12 had put Miles Davis "So What" on the Juke box and was describing to his dumbstruck dad the fundementals of Jazz form. Bethany meanwhile spotted a group of 4 cleanly shaven (one at least was a girl I can't vouch for wether she was cleanly shaven) and showered folks proudly sporting "We completed the Three Peaks Challenge" T Shirts, at that moment an urge to emulate them was born for her.
After her GCSE's she and her mum did the Dales Way, so with A levels pending this summer, her18th and leaving home I suggested a few months ago if she fancied doing something similar - "Can we go to Everest on a Trek?" was her retort - "no try again" was my reply. Fairly quickly the more realistic notion of having a go at the 3 Peaks of Scotland, England and Wales was born. My initial thoughts was something relatively sane, making a few days of it, staying in B&B's and eating well etc., but the notion of challenge is strong with Beth.
Beth invited life long friends Hannah and Rose, who came with their dad Rev Eric my good friend and houseshare buddy from Uni days (and thankfully now driving buddy). The girls pressed into training which invovled revising, eating pizza and drinking wine, whilst the old b's still living under the delusion that running can resist the march of time, ran a wee bit (and ate pizza and drank wine).
The morning arrived, there was an air of expectancy as Beth and I drove to pick the others up. I hoped Eric had packed some maps and had a watch as both seemed to have some utility. We'd all loaded up our ipods playlists as we were anticipating nearly 1000miles on the road and we needed backing music for the trip. We loaded the car, which very soon began to resemble a teenage girls bedroom on wheels (not a comfortable place for 2 middle aged men) and hit the road North a buzz with excitement (except Hannah, the after effects of last nights prom were contributing hanging on - but hey she's young and we had paracetemol in the car....somwhere). So fine music, fine company,fine weather, eventually fine scenery and no fear (yet).
Ben Nevis
On arrival at designated car park, we changed, were amazed that the sun was still shining, and even though late afternoon shorts were the order of the day - quick group photo and off we set. To Eric, being able to see the top of the Ben on this fine summer evening was amazing, for the girls seeing how far up it was was slightly daunting. Beth set the early pace - at this rate we'd be down in an hour but good sense and basic physiology put paid to that and we settled down to a more sustainable rhythm as we (and a few hundred others - this is a big event we discovered) wandered merrily to the top of the Ben, where snow, a brisk wind/breeze and a lot of fireman were what we'll remember, oh and the stunning views to Skye and hundreds of Munros - but no time to drink it all in. The way up was long and uphill, the return was just as long and downhill - no suprises there, we encouraged every group on the way up, and let the fast ones by us on their way down, we would renew aquaintances as the next 24hours unfolded.
Down at the bottom the midges lay in wait by the river, so we didn't hang around too long but headed for Fortwilliam where they have cashpoint machines and a fine chinese restaurant where we refuelled, still perky, a bit stickier and finally got back on the road not long after 10pm.
Sca Fell Pike
The main challenge of the next bit of the expedition was going to be keeping awake to Wasdale for the drivers. We hatched a plan which involved caffiene, changing drivers, Sat Nat and Bach - JSB provided that essential something else that weirdly kept us going. I took on the driving through Cumbria, back through my old haunts taking some turns that only a GPS could think up. We arrived 3am at Wasdale head, it was just stopping being dark, was 19 C and a bit blowy. Again we were not alone, as a constant stream of challengers arrived in mini buses as well as a few independants like ourselves. The murmurings of the "waking" girls weren't encouraging, the madness of it all and the unaturalness of being woken up before lunch time to any teenager was evident. Cries of I want a bed, a shower, a meal - were greeted with the lack of a nearby bed,shower or meal. We set off in the first light up, the girls had managed to rouse themselves and commendably instill a sense of excitement once again into the adventure as we struck up Englands highest.
Again we were blessed with sun and fine views. Hannahs knee was playing up, we all physically or mentally dipped a bit on this leg at some point, but not all at the same time. The sun breaking out on the fells as we reached the top will be a memory that I'll hold for a long time. It was a long time ago (in Mackem years) that I first walked these fells as my introduction to the great outdoors, so Sca Fell Pike and Great Gable have a fond place in my heart - I'd not been up either though for over 20 years, so topping this with Beth had a special significance for me. The views were breathtaking, it would be ungrateful of me really to moan, but it was a shame that we couldn't stop for a long time and drink it all in. Anyway like all 300 of us that were filing up and down (truly wierd at this unearthly hour), there was no stopping and drinking it all in - we were on a mission and Sca Fell Pike was just a step on the way. We again found ourselves greeting our fellow challengers, we were slow on this leg so many passed us. The bright, hopefullness of the Ben was not so bright on many faces, but onwards and downwards back to the car where we again greeted by some English midges - not as fiece as their Scottish cousins, so we had a leisurely changeover, cold bacon butties and hit the road again.
Snowdon
The initial part of the drive to Wales was the moment the wheels nearly came off. We were all very tired. I was driving over Birch fell towards Eskdale - but only driving some of the time, at others I was if I'm honest sleeping - not to be recomended whilst driving. At one point I coasted to a near standstill -which suprised me, at last I took the common sense approach and pulled up for a power nap. After that Rev Eric and I managed to spell each other off, pump up the volume of the music, find some more coffee, and as we neared our next destination we did so with some relief - no more driving for a while, this is the last one, and were greeted by our first rain as we passed through Llanberis.
Still warm and now a bit moist outside, after a proper downpour we were still grateful to have somewhere to park at Pen y Pass, we managed bright smiles again for the camera before trogging up the Miners Track. This route is a nice easy start (and easy too as we're already at 1000ft ish), but still all tired, some aching as we started the climb proper after the second lake. We knew by then that the rain wasn't going to stay away for long, but any hopes of it being light and brief went with our last 1 1/2 hours of walking being in torrential rain. Not much to say about the last bit of the days uphill, the views were.... about 50-100ft and mostly of mist and rock, we were seriously soggy. Still character and purpose prevailed and we acheived our goal, the thing that kept us all going for that last hour, our mantr to each others as our bodies and minds wandered - hot chocloate at the new cafe at the top! We acheived our secondary goal also, the 3 highest peaks in each of Scotland, England and Wales in 24hours(just). We spent nearly an hour enjoying not walking, no pressure, not getting rained on, drinking hot chocolate, using the toilets, warming up, drying off a little before thankfully noting the rain had stopped and then heading back to base.
Rev Eric noted that the girls were to a greater or lesser extent a bit sore and very wet and rightly deemed walking back along the rail track route was the safest return. I'd been feeling the urge to run since we'd arrived at Pen Y Pass and needed no encouragement to head back there for the car, after noting that I'd arrived up at the top in running shorts, top and roc lites - I stripped down, packed away the waterproofs and hit the trail. After all the miles in the car, not running for 5 days, I was in need of an endorphin fix. How I enjoyed the freedom (and easy downhill), punctuated with stopping and chatting with the marshalls who by now recognised me - my 6th pass by them of the 24hours. They do a great job making this possible and safe for so many people - race marshall are a blessing to the world!. After a chat with them, an invite to join them for a beer, resolving and promising them I'd never do anything so daft again and drive as well, I put the burners on (such that I have - that is my weight, gravity and rudimentary balance) and blasted the final descent to the car, now endorphined enough to party all night!.
I managed to visit our overnight accomodation at Ben's Bunkhouse, which did us well, got a shower, changed, resisted lying down - and then headed to Llanberis to get the rest of the A Team off the mountain. One last photo of the challenge, more midges, the Welsh type, not as viscious individually as the Scottish ones but more numerous today and persistent - or was it just the smell from the car that attracted them for all 3 countries?. After a few few clothing adjustments we arrived at what this was really all about - a big order at the counter of Pete's Eats where the idea was birthed. Very happy, very satisfied, a few very sore - a great day out in our countries fine fells.
So What?
In Miles Davis's words, actually notes "So What?"
Well for me that may not be clear for some time, the memories and significance are sometimes shaped by our future, but for now - the night after the afternoon before a few thoughts spring to mind.
I love the hills, and doing these 3 - the Ben for the first time, Sca Fell which was so precious to me in my first decade in the hills, then Snowden similarly in my second decade was a joy. I'm so grateful that in every way I still can.
Doing this with Rev Eric, listening to his music, sharing again our lives, keeping safe with Bach, being suprised and amazed at our wonderful girls - what joy!. Our journeys are at times so different and yet so similar, it's right that we journey next to each other for a time from time to time.
Hannah and Rose - I've known these 2 since they were born, and I've just noticed they're not kids any more but full grown women, and fine, fun and courageous women too, doing this with these two was my priveledge.
This was Beth's idea, the thing is with your kids is that you love them so much it hurts sometimes, and sometimes forget what is great about them, cos you love them whatever. This walk reminded me that I like that she is up for the challenge, can be really funny and fun, that she likes to climb the hills, that she's suddenly all grown up and that we get to do crazy things like this together.

So
26miles walk
9500ft
850 road miles
24hours
2 hours sleep
No pies

Fathers Day Treat

After Church the others set off to secure a good picnic and I had a couple of hours slow run to Burnsall along the Nesfield/Beamsley road and then the Dales Way.
A touch warm and busy with walkers and families out to lunch. A bit introspective today on the run - after Church and father God sermon - full of mercy and grace, wondering a bit about my Dad (24 years now since he died which feels like for ever and yesterday), and my Beths long hug in the service reminding me that she's moving on this summer and being a dad an' all but still being fathered. Plenty to ponder then. I'm not so sure that I agree with Larkin at all.
I arrived back in the real world at Burnsall where L and the kids were cooking up a storm on the bbq, a real fathers day treat, we ate well, chewed the fat, played some ball and snoozed before heading home late afternoon.
As good as it gets

Oh and 21km in 1:55 Nice miles

Easy does it

Dropped boys off for school and then a gentle 5km at 5:40/km pace recovery after last nights exertions.
Might run tommorrow, planning a couple of hours on Sunday. Day off work today, but looks busier than when i'm at work

who needs drugs ?

Lungs on fire, heart trying escape your chest wall, legs burning, then wobbling, dripping with perspiration, keep pushing don't let them past, catch the one in front, concentrate, embrace the pain..............then the relief, the surge of joy, lightness, achievement, a big smile.
Who needs drugs - just do an effort session with a few harriers in need of a stress buster. Did a good effort session, including 8x2mins along the beamsley road and back, still short on leg speed, but coming back. Out an hour altogether for the 10km with recoveries and plyo's. That's a bit of quality banked.

Is that Gargrave down there?

About 25 harriers gathered in car park by the canal at Skipton and headed off through the woods in the sure knowledge that it would all end in the pub.
I'm not all together sure where we went, but after about 40min running up hill looked down to my left so see Gargrave, which I thought was miles away from Skipton, apparently not when the Wolfy leads.
A bit hot and sticky tonight, but good company - and plenty banter, these away runs not too serious and good to run with a wide ability range together. Talked about new babies, daughters, sons, cars, work, bankers (with a banker), holidays, exams, loud running shoes, how fantastic it is to run where we live, summer, Vic's nearly legendary Tri changeovers, loosing weight, not loosing weight and occasionally running.
So 9 miles no so quick but great route, followed by some less than discrete changes of clothes in the main car park before retiring to the pub for much of the same without running whilst refuelling. :-)

Shopping with mum

What is it about shopping with mum. I remember through childhood the urge to fall to the floor and kick and scream after 5mins, this continued until I left home. Similar urges emerge when shopping with L, I become incapcitated, only to be revived by one coffee shop per 20min shopping or a gear shop/book shop - my legs ache, I become breathless, minutes turn into hours - it's like mile 20 in a marathon. So though I didn't run yesterday, I did go and see my mum and took her shopping in Durham - I considered this character building - face the pain. With my youngest Ben's support we managed an hour and half, and although exhausted I think it will pay off next April.
Today a full day and ran in the dwindling light for half an hour of slow, fast, slow fast - not sure what I was doing but it was tres pleasant out there.
I really must do something a bit longer next weekend, I'm going a bit soft

Grabbed a blond in Appletreewick

Not being much of a cyclist - summer holiday and a weekend with the boys off road my usual lot, but Linda (Mrs Mackem) who aspires to ride a bit more with the girlfriends got a new bike this week and tempted me out for its first flight.
Mostly road with some thigh burning sections from Ilkley to Appletreewick, a pause there for lunch at the New Inn. Fine selection of beers there which I reluctantly declined - other than half a pint of blond - "what can I get you" said the obliging barmaid - "I'd like a blond please" I replied hopefully, "that'll be a pound" ,worth every penny as well to know that there's still a schoolboy lurking somewhere inside me and about as riske as my behaviour gets!.
Anyway toilet humour aside we enjoyed a pleasant lunch and natter, but with the blond, the food and the warm sun I thought we'd fade on the way home, but we zipped back like we did this every week.
So 20 miles, spicy chowder soup (yum) a fine time with Mrs M... and a blond.. is this as good as it gets?

Got the Elvis legs

Turned up for a speed session with a few Harriers - the one where you probably end up feeling sick. 4x 1k efforts "comfortably" under 4 minutes which is an improvement. Didn't feel sick but definitely got a dose of the Elvis legs after the 4th effort.

Thursday is night is usually the low point of the week for me - the point when work is most doing my head in - so this later session is a gift - this type of high intensity session clears my head (ie I don't lie around all night being grumpy and slobbish) :-)

Addingham Moorside Club Run

Steady 14Km up and over Addingham Moorside then back along dalesway.
A bit brisker than I expected but i felt good, I've misplaced my heart rate monitor so I'm a bit lost but probably mostly zone 3 - which isn't what the training manual says but I had fun.
One of the things I enjoy about running is meeting new people and catching with old friends, did both tonight.
Did some catching with an old friend and the stories of our kids who now attend different schools. Funny how running becomes part of how we live together.

Recovery amble

Time a bit short tonight, but went out for the last of the light to shake off some of the stiffness of the race from Sat.
Apparently at recovery pace you should be able to talk in full sentences and observe the flowers.. no one to talk too, but I did notice lots of wild flowers - which is a pleasing changes these days, too many bunnies (the long eared vermint type) and swallowed a few calories worth of midges.
Easy 3miles around the local byways.
Should get to the club tomorrow pm - probably do a longer zone 2 run and enjoy the company, plan to do tempo and long run later in the week.

Wharfedale Half

Picked up Jon S and S Jr leaving Ilkley at 10am for a 11am start at Threshfield.
The heavy rain of earlier in the morning looked like it was relenting somewhat, though still a bit breezy.
Good atmosphere, we arrived just before the full marathon set off - glad I'm not doing that today!
A few harriers around for the half and off we all went at 11am.
I was planning to do reverse split - as I know my inclination is to go out tooo fast, also the hr monitor doesn't lie so would help me be sensible.
Leaving Grassington I needed to make a clothing adjustment and was caught up by an old friend from Shipley days- Rhys and I stuck together and nattered about the weirdness of the way things are until Mastiles Lane - when silence descended and I plodded on ahead.
On getting to Mastiles Gate I resolved to up the pace and not let anyone past - 25 passed and none got past me by the finish.
A fantastic course, well organised and some good company on the way round. As a race - possibly too much left in the tank all the way around (confirmed with hrm output) - which makes a change. Still 2:06 with a strong finish is a good marker.
Jon S was fastest old bloke over 45 around - it's an honour to care share with you Jon!, Alex took a wrong turn and had the shame of his dad waiting for him at the end.
As ever good to catch up with Harriers and old friends - thanks for the company Rhys, good to see ex harriers Mark and Sarah (fastest woman on the hills today) you're always such and encouragement to me.
I will return
Garmin version of my run
Link to Marathon Website
Official Results

Here we go again

6 weeks nearly since cramp transformed my 3 Peak Race into my first 2 Peaks race I have resolved to make completion of all 3 of them a goal for April 2010.
Foolish I know, but a lot more running and a lot fewer pies is what is called for - so here goes.

Took a day off today with L to catch up with non work, needed a bit of down time to keep the show on the road - holiday planning, shopping, fix the steps.

Today a nice 'n slow loop with the missus along the MW to Burley Woodhead then the newly creosoted hut, onto the 12 Apostles down to the Cow and Calf then home. An easy one as planning to run Wharfedale Half on Sat.