What's it all for........

Ever had that thought in the back of your mind, "whats it all for" a little down in the dumps!

I have been covering the miles and feet of ascent constantly, week in week out, since November so since completing the Grindleford i have taken a well earned rest.

having to re-charge the batteries and also refocus the mind,

I have been going out a feeling as though i was just going through the motions and i have seemed to lost that keenness to dig in and grind it out,

The Wirksworth Incline is on Sunday so i will be wanting to beat my time from last year of 40.21, which to be honest is a real plod!

The plan when i took this 4 day break was to just chill, walk the dog and thats about it, which is what i have done since Saturday,

Because of this, i seem to have become tired, and lethargic, has anybody else felt this?

Or is it because i am eating the same but not burning it off, i would say this is the case,

I have a fast session planned for Thursday night consisting of the following;-

1 mile jog out, steady just warm up, then stretch
Have a hill that's about .5 mile long - start dash up this at 80%
Then plod back down to recover
Do this for 4 times
Plod back down, stretch
Steady home for a mile

Will see if that gets me knees moving faster

Oh! and the weather is changing........

Grindleford Gallop 13th March

After two recces, i arrived in Grindleford to take part in the GrindleFord Gallop 21 miles, of fell running, after leaving a sunny Derby to find it overcast with a chilly wind,



The car parking field seemed to be filling up quite quickly and you could see the walkers getting off across the first couple of fields,

9.10am and 50 mins until we, Steve Shaw and myself galloped around the 21 miles of the Grindleford race,




After registering and checking dibbers we brewed up, and stretched, also saw a few runners from other clubs from around the country, which is always nice see old friends and remember old races,


I am a plodder and will always be a plodder, after doing a recce around this beautiful course, felt that a sub 4 hr race would or should be a possibility,

As the field lined up i could remember how narrow the first 4 mile was, small gaps etc, and narrow paths so was expecting a stop start affair during these early stages,

On the line saw quite a few faces that i had not seen in a while, Colin from Long Eaton and Stuart Learmouth from Dark Peak, nice to catch up,

The start and up until the second check point didnt go according to plan, i seemed to get really bad crap in my lower back and marched up the first climb, not a good start but managed to shake it off before arriving at Eyam, i must say that even though there was a large field of runner the dibbers and marshals were great,

I was running with Steve Shaw, who at this stage would have been gone, long gone, but we agreed to trot this one as a team, i felt as though i was holding him back, good mate, as he stayed with me,

A tough climb around Great Longstone moor, love that part of the race,

Then came the slog along the Monsal Trail, a real grind it out section, flat followed by a tough little reminder up to CP5 on a gatepost, unmanned, maybe next year this could do with a marshal as from the results, it seems to have caused a few issues,

The next 4 miles are easy going which is good because i needed it, through Edensor and then through Chatsworth, dodging the Sunday walkers, through the kissing gate and then cake, and tea, as me and Steve agreed, we ain't gonna win it so lets have some cake......

The atmosphere for the climb up to eagle rock out of Baslow was great, its a tough climb, on the road section then up to Eagle Rock, from here on in it a ridge trot, across the baslow edge, drop down Curbar gap , then back onto the Edge,

At this point i suggested that Steve should plod on to try ad crack the 4 hr mark, he stayed with me until the road crossing at Frogatt,

really enjoyed the last blast through the woodland at the bottom, reached the unmade road and my legs went to jelly, and i managed to run? jog? stumble to the finish,

Finished in 4 hrs 3 mins 22 secs, so missed the 4 hr mark,

A must say that it was a great race, i enjoyed it, and the company around the route,

Soup, tea, cake and chat about the run was also great....

Sandstone Trail - 27th February

The Sandstone Trail

Planned this for some time, previously lived in Nantwich so wanted to do this,

Dad walked it last year and suggested i gave it a crack, so reviewed the route,



Splits nicely into three sections each approx 12 miles each,

North section - "Frodsham - Willington"

Central Section - "Willington - Bickerton"

Southern Section - "Bickerton - Whitchurch"

After some careful final planning around tow other longish events, Grindleford 21 miler and Wilmot Wander 32 miler i decided in the 27th February,

Arrived late to my folks house on the friday night after what can only be described as a hard mental week at work, managed to get some runs in to taper down but on each one felt knackered but mentally not physically,

Got up at 5.30am - had big bowl of pre long race granola and fruit etc,

As i had arranged to have a support, Dad drove me to Frodsham for a 7am start, it seemed after a really wet week that the weather would be kind, just unsure how it woudl be through the next 36 miles,

First section out of Frodsham was tough early pain from a hard push up onto the ridge overlooking the estuary into Liverpool, i could see Runcorn and a great view back down towards Frodsham,



The idea was to work to the schedule that i had given my Dad, he would meet me at set places with a general shout of support or a scheduled stop for rest up to 5 mins and food - testing some BG foods (soup, Cornish pastie, ravioli) and a drink warm if possible,

After the first 5 miles i arrived at the first stop and was running 5 mins ahead of schedule, the going was tough for the first section, sandstone ridge, Dad said i looked white but i had pushed hard wanting to keep the schedule alive, not even starting to break the back of the total distance yet to be covered but, ensuring that i was pushing as hard as i could.



Second section seemed to be easier, i just got my head down and focused on reaching the next goal, from doing the longer distances i think its easier to break it down mentally, 6 x 6 mile chunks, and when that one is done, its focus on the next one, works for me,

Met Dad, at the next stop and was 15 mins up, and ready for some food, so had soup, and then pushed on, had an 8 min break at that stop, so was always getting along with the tiem and distance well,

Enjoy running like this so much, on your own taking it all in, noticing little things, Buzzards, Hares and a lot of Pewits, or Lapwings depending where you are from, nothing beats running the hills on your own, or with your dog,

More to follow,