September 16, 2012

and now for a messages from our sponsor


Mt Bloody Windy


Of course, no company is daft enough to give free kit to a tail end of the mid pack runner like me for their running prowess. However, I am really made up with the kit that we got as helpers for the Dragons Back race. Mr. Berghaus gave us the works. Full set of light weight Gore-tex waterproofs, rucksack, warm jacket, 2 base layers, trousers and race T-shirt.

Total value = lots

So, as I have no other medium to say it

Thank you Mr Berghaus. I very much appreciate getting the kit, it is unbelievably light and keeps out horizontal rain coming at you at 70 mph. Thank you for your support of the race.
Mount Clay
So I find myself with a free weekend in Boston in the North East U.S. I had stuffed the Goretex jacket[I think it is one of these] and the insulated jacket [similar to this] and a base layer [Like this but with a zip ] along with shirts, running shoes and the other rubbish a work trip needs. Previously unaware that New Hampshire had mountains (not been to these parts before), I cobbled enough kits from what I had with me, bought a 1:100,000 trail map and headed to the White Mountains to walk/run a loop of Mt's Washington, Jefferson, Clay and Munro. Mt Washington had a bit of the feel of Snowdon with a train running to the top and people wondering round shivering in T-Shirts as they run between the train and the visitors centre.

Mt Jefferson with random dog
Mt Washington is without doubt the most windy place I have ever been. I understand it was an average day and the winds were 70 mph with horizontal driving rain.  The wind only really got up in the last 50 vertical meters which was odd.



A very good day out, but here is the rub, at home I have kit to deal with such conditions, but as I also had to pack shirts and other work related rubbish for the week which is not light, unless I had known I was going to have a free weekend near mountains, I would not have bothered to pack any of outdoor gear, so would not have made the trip. I had no idea that mountain quality kit could be made so light.



The kit I had with me yesterday was light enough and took up so little room in my luggage, that I just packed it anyway. I would not have made this off the cuff trip in the wilds of New Hampshire without the kind sponsorship by Berghaus of the Dragon's Back and the quality  of kit they gave out to the race helpers.


September 9, 2012

Inspired by the Dragon

Spent most of last week supporting the Dragon's Back Race and a privilege it was to. I had 3 great runs out, learned that the Black Mountain and the Black Mountains are different, got 1st hand experience that organizing an event of that scale is as much of an effort as running in it and meet some really great new people, both competitors and supporters.

Being involved in this race in any way resets your baseline of what HARD really means and I don't think I still really get what this race involved. Many of the competitors I spoke to said they thought it was the hardest race out there. Around 3/4 of the starters did not finish the whole thing. That should not detract from the achievements of those who did part days in any way, but gives some idea of just how bloody hard it was.

I would never be able to do it, I am not physically or mentally wired in such a way as to be able to do the full event over the 5 days.

I have only admiration for Shane, the race director, lets hope he runs it again before an other 20 years have elapsed. This event more than any I have run in or helped at shows that sport(elite or not) is not just about the Olympics and medals.

It has wetted my appetite to run a Mountain Marathon (2 day type thing) next year. Just need to find a partner of similar running outlook and ability.