Bob Graham Training Update.

Bob Graham Training Update for Last Week.

Mon - Rest Day - 12 mile Bike Ride
Tues - Sunny Hill Hill Reps x 14 8m/3212ft
Wed - Rest Day - 12 mile Bike Ride
Thurs - Sunny Hill Hill Reps x 14 8m/3212ft
Fri - Chevin Fell Race Route x 2 8.45 m/2454ft
Sat - Thorpe Cloud - 14m/5325ft
Sun - Mow Cop Fell Race - 6.25m 1250 ft

Totals for the week 44m / 15,453 ft

And on Monday it all starts again.

Training for the hills!

After a few years of promising to spend less time running i have finally but my hand in my pocket,

It took me an age to decide and after some careful consideration, i have a Genesis Croix De Fer!



The sales blurb states the following:

Equally well suited to winter commuting on the roads or hammering down sun baked bridleways or even exploring the world, it’s a versatile and beautiful bicycle that crosses many boundaries.

I have clocked up some 80 miles during the two and a half weeks i have had it, first week was painful, but not ridden a bike for some 5 years.

Seem to be getting fitter, as the routes i have chosen are 10 miles long and take in 3 or 4 climbs,

The key is that when i get home i have no Fell Running pain in my legs at all, also i seem to be able to get up faster than ever,

Cycling + Rest + Small Hilly Reps = better fell race times this year ( fingers crossed)

Welcome Back!

Its been too long, but i have decided to get back into blogging about my fell running!

So here is a recap from last year and this year so far:

I was 40 years old in October last year.
I planned to have a crack at the BGr last year but had toe issues.
Managed to achieve my 40 trig points and peaked my 40th on my 40th Birthday.
Training this year is going really well.
Ran the "Wilmot Wander" again this year and knocked 17 mins of my PB



40th Trig Point on my 40th Birthday 12th October 2011 - Raynards

So, lets see how it goes from here on in!

Bob Graham Round - "A Recce of Legs 1 and 2"

After some last minute planning and a real struggle to find accommodation i decided to nip up north to carry out a leg 1 and leg 2 recce of the Bob Graham. Some last minutes calls resulted in a solo visit due to the late decision to make the trip. So a chance to get some real solitary fell running in the bag.

After presenting to 8 folks about the importance of brand and brand consistency, seeing "the wedding" and spending some time with MrsG and the two spouts, i set off up to Keswick for a one day onslaught on the fells.

A longish 3hr 10 min drive i arrived to see Moot Hall, the market square had been battered and bruised by the Royal Wedding Street party, but it looked "just beaut" with the lights (see below)


The accommodation did not come off so, with a bit of reworking, a sleeping bag and a seat folded down, i slept in the car, after a pint of Jennings of course.

Good nights sleep and i was off to check the major points of legs 1 and 2, starting from Moot Hall, the market traders just starting to arrive, i made my way up and round Latrigg to make my way up Skiddaw, managed to nip to Skiddaw Little Man, Dropped off Skiddaw to far and lost some time hitting the Cumbrian Way to far left of the Bridge and Trod that paves the way up Great Calva, found a nice heathery line just off the fence and crossed the river Caldew on a great line and hit the top of Blencathra, after a small detour left to take in Atkinsons Pike. Dropping off Blencathra and hitting the right line down Halls Fells was good even though the Wind was really strong the sun keep getting me when i was out of the wind. Saw a few folks who chose a
different line from Great Calva to Blencathra but they seemed to think i nailed it as i pulled out 10 mins on them.









All in all a great leg, ran at a tad under 23 hr pace, 3hrs 48 mins, which is good due to two small errors.

Leg 2 continued i a similar vain with the route easier to pick due to the paths, trods and general ease of locating your route and line, had a few issues around Clough Fold right at the start, getting from Newsham and up to Clough Head, something that i think i need to go back over again and get that right!

The remaining areas went well, unsure if the Drop off Dollywaggon Pick to the right is the best way or keep on the zig zags, i did the zig zags so looking for some feedback on that?

Finished leg 2 in 4hrs 21mins, with a flat iphone since the last road crossing, very sore ankles and buzzing! Bus back into Keswick and then a log drive home after a bowl of pasta and mackerel sitting at the back of the car.

A great day on the fells, the route choice was ok, the weather was fine and i had achieved what i set out to do, recce legs 1 and 2 in one session in a reasonable time !

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.

BGR - Week 1 - Training Plan?

Just putting the final touches to a BGR training plan that will take me to May/June next year.

The first few weeks are as follows..... any thoughts?

Week 1

Monday Weight Training / 4 Miles - DONE
Tuesday Weight Training / 8 Miles - DONE
Wednesday Weight Training / 4 Miles - DONE
Thursday Rest or Swimming- R& R all the way - DONE
Friday Weight Training / 8 Miles - DONE
Saturday R&R / - Done- DONE
Sunday Long fartlek 2 hrs - Race if appropriate

Will repeat this for week 2,

Any feedback on Feet of ascent etc, read so much but i think you need to plan and go as you feel fit for the first 2 months to get to a level of general strength and endurance.