Not the shape of training profile I would have liked, but the best in the circumstances. You have a goal of 10,000ft for a reason.

Monday : Rest

Tuesday : 2 miles and 2000ft in dark : 3 reps of bus stop to iron age hill fort while is the largest climb (650 ft) which is close to the house. White out on top of hill.

Wednesday : 4 reps of 250ft on hill next to house. No commute required. Dog sits half way up hill chewing a stick.

Thursday : Long day in London. Preceded by a only just make it drive over the Cambrian mountains following a gritting lorry and a failed attempt to find accommodation in Shrewbury or Telford (all full) meaning that I ended up sleeping in the back of the car in a disused quarry on the Wrekin in order to get the 6.20am train to London for a meeting which got cancelled via text at 7.08am. Head training?

Friday : felt a bit ick with something picked up from kids, so day off

Saturday : The needs of being Duty Manager and keeping law and order at a 4 year olds birthday party meant 4 x 650ft from bus stop to Iron age hill fort plus the run up to the top of the fort to start, 3000ft in less than 3 miles in the dark. 1 rep was in 16.30 and the next 3 were all less.

Note to self, you have 2 pairs of MudClaws for a reason and that reason is that anything less aggressive such as Mudroc and x-talons means you fall over on this route when it is wet, so wear Mudclaws.

Sunday : Again being D.M. and needing to look after small man while small girl and Mum are at Jack and the Beanstack meant no scope for a long run this weekend. Thats the breaks and we work around them. 4 * 650ft from bus stop to Hill Fort as fast as we can manage which was a little faster than the previous day finishing just before 9pm. Mudclaws proved to be about 30 seconds faster on the decent than mudrocks and I did not slide over, though it was a little drier.

so with some hill dog walks we come in at about 9,500ft this week, a little short of target.

Next week will have to be quite creative as I am in London for 4 days doing work type things.

Decided not to enter the Highland Fling this year. It was the best things I have ever done in terms of running and possibly the hardest. It took me at least month to recover last year and I if I am serious about a BGR, it is just too close.