Monday, February 7, 2011

Some "Upping and Dipping" around Thorpe Cloud

Had a couple of races that i could have gone and done this weekend, Charnwood Hills and Mickleden Straddle, both good distances but the diary said more "upping" so headed off to Thorpe for a 4 hour session,

Never tried the Walsh shoes before so as the Invo8's are getting to the end of their live, purchased a pair, first run out......



After the 30 min journey from Derby to Thorpe, arrived to see the wind thrashing the tree's around and i knew it was going to be a tough run.

I have a route that takes in Thorpe Cloud and all of the remaining ups and downs (Thorpe Cloud, Thorpe Pastures, The Nabs and taking in the Trig Point "Raynards") along the river until you get to Milford, a real push as i do some of them twice! It covers around 7 ish miles and 3250ft, so a real heavy quad session.

Some great views of the River Dove at it flooded the Dale! Stepping stones out of view and the tarmac road also flooded.



The next section takes you out of Milford and up onto the other side of the Dale, Raven Tor, Ilam Tops, Jacobs Ladder and Bunster Hill, a good push which totals 6 ish miles and 2734ft.

On the trot back up to the car up Lin Dale the stream was running quite fast, as the river Dove had flooded it had pushed the Dipper up and into the stream, great view of what is sometimes a difficult and private bird to see...



All in all a great 4 hours, it was actually 3hrs 42mins to cover 14.2 miles and 5984ft. Oh! and the Walsh's performed well, a harder ride that the Inov8's but more feel.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Post Long Race Lows - Run Numb?

After running the Wilmot Wander on Sunday 32 miles, i feel a little run numb!

Conscious that the distance is a long way and that i am still recovering,

Been out for a 4 mile recovery run and a 10 miler today, but still feeling ever so fatigued.

Just wanted to share that with you.........

.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Crow Wood Farm - Trig Point TP2628

Crow Wood Farm - Trig Point TP2628 - #4

I have set myself a target of 40 Trig Points in 2011.

This year being my 4oth Birthday on 12th October i plan to have reached all 40 by that date.


Bagged this one whilst doing the Wilmot Wander on the 30th January - situated just up the main road from Locko Park - in the hedge



Crow Wood Farm - Trig Point TP2628 - #4

Bolehill East- Trig Point TP1522

Bolehill East - Trig Point TP1522 - #3

I have set myself a target of 40 Trig Points in 2011.

This year being my 4oth Birthday on 12th October i plan to have reached all 40 by that date.


Have been running the Blackrock Fell - a great race organised by matlockac.org.uk 5.5miles/850ft race route as training for some time, and the main upping is from the High Peak Junction up to the Trig at BoleHill. Took this one in on the 17th January - later that day i did hill reps with John Birch and the Wirksworth Running Club..



Bolehill East - Trig Point TP1522 - #3




Skitteridge Wood - Trig Point TP6008

Skitteridge Wood - Trig Point TP6008 - #2

I have set myself a target of 40 Trig Points in 2011.

This year being my 4oth Birthday on 12th October i plan to have reached all 40 by that date.


This is on my usual 8 mile route which i just needed to include, i use this route when i just need a trot, but it takes in 6 miles of the Wilmot Wander Route between Quarndon - Bunker Hill and Radbourne Hall. Take this in maybe 3 times a week, but this was on 4th January 2011.



Skitteridge Wood - Trig Point TP6008 - #2



Reynards - Trig Point TP5642

Reynards - Trig Point TP5642 - #1

I have set myself a target of 40 Trig Points in 2011.

This year being my 4oth Birthday on 12th October i plan to have reached all 40 by that date.


So.... as soon as i could i was on it, the first one reached on 2nd January



Reynards - Trig Point TP5642 - #1

Took this one in during a 15 mile, 5625ft route around Thorpe Cloud - great views on a very quite day, not a sole in 4 hrs or more.


Thorpe Cloud

1st January 2011 - Holybush Race


A great start to the year and a little late with the blog post for this one. It's a fast blast from the pub car park up the old chesterfield road - which is a bridal path..... The starter uses a 12 gauge shot gun, which really does blow the cobwebs away.



I though the race started at 10.30, but it was 11.30 so i made use of the time and ran the 2mile route, a nice little test from the start, then some tarmac, then fast and furious to the finish.



Unsure of my finishing place, but after looking at the Garmin i managed the 2 mile dash in
15 min 11 seconds, which is not bad!


19th Wilmot Wander - 32 mile Challenge

A 32 mile circular around Derby - This was in the diary early on, a great early test for the legs and head. Organised by Bob Rogerson and listed on the LDWA website.

Mentally strong as well as having the legs is as much the end result of getting to the point of no return,

I had arranged to run this with Stephen Shaw a local Dark Peak member who i get to most races with.



We arranged for a few pre race recce's and as i am really sticking to the BGR training week in week out, felt that this would be fine for my legs.

We arranged to do a 15 miler, 20 miler and then 25 miler in the build up, fitting this in has been hard, but with three weeks to go, i had managed this with relative ease, and also had a few days free so decided to trot the route 3 weeks before in its full form. (Steve managed the 20 miler to get to the 20 miler and seemed fine, even though we ran the flattest bit of the route)

I set of on the full recce at 8.30am, really sticky and not much light, misty and also a chance of rain, with rucksack on as i would be out for the full round, i had packed a few nibbles (just testing peanut butter and brown bread as a running snack)

I set off from Radbourne Lane (Trig Point - Skitteridge Wood - SK 31239 36851) water tower and for anybody that knows the route this is after the hard 16 mile start.

I ran the route in the correct direction and soon found myself trotting down the Canal towards the final tarmac section into Derby and towards Pride Park.


The next section from what is essentially is the start - out of Derby from Chaddeston Scout Hut and towards Locco Park - and then the hill start, with muddy fields, i was really heavey going and i soon became tired, nt even wanting to look a the Garmin, i rolled in back at the water tower in 5 hrs 41 min, hold on that's 40 odd mins faster than 2010, and i didn't have the rest of the runners to pull me along! Very Pleased with that.

So the 30th of Jan arrived our start time was 8.10, some banter with friends before the off, and we went of with three other runners, soon we pulled away - Steve seemed to be going well and we reached the first checkpoint 4 mins up, the next check point we had gained another 12 mins, and i felt good really good, steady and still feeling as though i was not burning out.

After about 16 miles Steve hit was can be described as the WALL he started to talk rubbish, and then started to wander rather than run, i soon noticed him falling back, as we reached the next checkpoint he was white, and i just had to get some food into him, a cup of tea followed the food and i spent 10 min trying to get him to lift his spirits, to be honest i would have been gone, only needing to give my number and a small amount of water.

The toughest is done, i said t0 Steve "come on" or word to that effect that i can't put on a blog! he slowly started the next section, within 5 mins i new this was not a good idea and soon found myself waiting for him, at one spot i waited 10 mins, so we agreed that at the next stop i would crack on, Making sure he was ok and not in any danger, i was off, and at it trying to claw back some time, always with 5.41 in my head.



Long distance running is about caring for your joints, soft foot falls and not busting a gutt to make 20 seconds to find that effort has knackered you up!

I had 12 miles left and managed to cover these in 1hr 48 mins, and arrived back with a time of 5hr 51, looking at my splits at the finish i was 42 mins up before we had that nightmare section, but making sure Steve was fine was more important.

Steve finished, after a long slog to the end, but well done for sticking with it mate!

A great event! Thanks to Bob and his team and a great day out with some like minded folk, looking forward to next year............