Ambition Exceeds Ability

Huff

2012-02-05T09:25:00.000-08:00

So 6 weeks of chest infection, then 10 days in India with the obligatory 3 day of sprinting to the toilet, and I am back in the UK and still not able to run. This is getting boring. Hope to make the Tarren Hendre race next weekend, even if I am not that fit.

30@30

2012-01-27T01:12:00.000-08:00

30 was a long time ago for me, but I was a little surprised and very pleased to be invited along to Andy Blacketts 30 birthday do where he was going to run 30 peaks across the Ulswater and Helvellin range in just about daylight.

He managed it(along with Jim Mann), despite 70 mile an hour winds.

When Clive is on top form and Andy and Jim has their legs tied together, Clive would still struggle to keep up with them. 6 weeks of chest infection, still coughing, common sense (of a sort) prevailed. 6 set off from Pooley Bridge early. We meet them for soup at the pub at Kirkstone Pass. Jim and Andy carried on from there to finish on Great Dodd where I planned to meet them.

In the morning I wondered up Cat Bells on my own, my 1st Lakeland hill that was not on the Bob Graham Round, shame on me I know. Cat Bells is quite small, but I almost got blown over while sitting down on the top.

In the afternoon I went up Great Dodd and sat in the shelter at the top as the wind blasted past. It was quite wild, but under my little nylon shelter all of me except my feet warmed up nicely. I should have a) worn a new pair of seal skin sock and b) taken a spare pair of socks with me. The SealSkins I had on have been good friends, but taken hell of a hammering, so don't keep your feet warm or dry now, so time to get a few new pairs I think.

About 30 minutes before Jim and Andy were scheduled to arrive my feet got so cold that I felt it wise to go. I tried walking towards Watson Dodd, but got blown back up the hill. Quite annoyed at myself for not taking a spare pair of socks and not being able to wait around for the lads, but going when I did was the right judgment.

Great weekend, nice to catch up with the lads, looking forward to Andy's BG which he looks very much on form to complete in a fast time and I ordered some new SealSkin socks when I got home, a complete weekend!

still coughing up green stuff

2012-01-14T01:30:00.000-08:00

4 weeks and counting ......

3 weeks and counting

2012-01-08T01:57:00.000-08:00

3 weeks since I have run. Chest infection remains and seems immune to Amoxycilin suggesting perhaps it is viral rather than bacterial. It is feeling a bit better, but no way I can run yet. I think patience is in order for at least a few more days.

Must resolve to use this time out to stretch and do various specific strengthening exercises. As long as I don't get out of breath I won't start coughing.

Very frustrating for me and dog who's behavior changes towards frustration when she had not had a long run for a week or so.

Winter BG's, Amoxycilin and World War 2 cake

2011-12-29T05:22:00.000-08:00

About 2 weeks ago I started to cough, some sort of chest infection, but nothing too serious. Once of my friends who is a GP suggest a useful metric would be to avoid running if the infection was in the chest, but to continue with head colds. So I stopped running 2 weeks ago. However, I had agreed to pace 2 winter Bob Graham attempts and if you agree to something, unless you are going to do yourself serious harm or be a liability, you still turn up and show willing in my book.

Nick Clark winter BGR attempt is better documented here than I ever could. I was lined up for leg 4 with Yiannis and indeed I has started wondering up Yewbarrow a few minutes before Nick came into Wasdale and called it a day. The reasons were very valid and understandable if you were there.

Nick did not get round, but for me it was s success. I meet a bunch of new great people [Nick, Wynn, Ian et al], had a wonder over Moses Trod with Yiannis to Honister from Wasdale [would have been a bit packed in the car otherwise] which was fun and I picked up his view on various rounds and how hard they were in comparison to the Bob Graham. The World War 2 cake and soup at Wasdale was just out of this world.

The following week I was going to pace leg 5 for Jim Mann. Jim set off, but found his ankle/knee giving him some trouble as leg 2 wore on. Sounded like they were up on schedule, but bailing was a sensible decision.

One of my reasons for starting Fell Running and to attempt the Bob Graham was to get properly fit as a way of life. I don't get many infection, but some can slow you down. This one was a xmas present from the kids and so I visited my GP this week as 2 weeks of coughing to the point you throw up seemed enough. He put a pulse monitor on my finger and with a concerned look asked if I felt faint. I said not. He then asked if I did a lot of exercise, I explained the fell running thing and he looked a lot happier that my heart rate was below 50 and commented that it was the same region as a elite athlete. Clearly he has not seen me run! One lung has some sort of bacterial infection and so we came out with a prescription for Amoxycilin and should be back running within 4 or 5 days.

Don't underestimate a Jack Russel

2011-12-18T07:30:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning was Corndon 3 Peaks Classic morning. A little bit of the Welsh/Shropshire boarder I had not visited and great running ground. Other than there being quite a lot of runnable ground on this race and I am not very good at running uphill runnable ground, I had a great time. Did not do well, but did not do badly. Race had the usual profile, I got passed on gentle gradients. I passed 1 or 2 folks on steep climbs. Got passed on the flat bits and passed a few on each steep descent. Congratulations to the Jack Russell who beat me and the lass who I shared a photo finish with. No doubt Al will have some pics up soon.

1 hour and 3 minutes and as usual I am sure that with some more focused training under an hour is easily within grasp. Priest Weston is one of those gems of little villages that fell races in that area introduce you to. Must go back to the Miners Arms when I am not driving and this is a reasonable route to do as a training run when returning from various places. Had a good chat with Tim Davies (he who won) after the race about training and got some useful ideas.

Monday : 6 miles on fields, lots of up and down
Tuesday : 6 miles on track while waiting for small girl Gymnastics
Wednesday : 3 miles on fields in a bitter wind
Thursday : in Manchester
Friday : 6x200ft hills reps plus a mile or so
Saturday : rest
Sunday : 6 + 2000ft Cordon Classic

Wish for better weather

2011-12-11T03:44:00.001-08:00

I find it very easy to go out for a run when the weather is good, even in winter, snow also fine. Steady rain combined wind, much less appealing. The photo above is post run afternoon tea at Findhorn a few weeks back. It was a bit chilly, but just wonderful to sit outside even in early November having done a few miles on the beach. We have been quite lucky weather wise up until the last week or so, but getting out in all weathers is the real test and contributes to the "fell hard" state of mind that Joss etc al mentions.

Some things just sound wrong, but I shall reserve judgement until hear it. There is also a Radio 4 program about the BGR and the music on friday at 11am. The tunes on my iPod during my round was somewhat less classical. I am sure it will be good, but I do wonder if it is something you can really set to music. Guess it depends on your musical background.

Monday : rest
Tuesday : 6 miles, split into 2 bits, some hill, some track while waiting for kids at gymnastics
Wednesday : 7 miles along bank of Thames near Streatly at night. A very memorable run indeed, torch off and still light enough to run along some of the medows
Thursday : Dreadzone in Stroud. My legs were more tried post gig than if I had been running for the duration.
Friday : 2 miles 500ft
Saturday : small girls birthday
Sunday : 3 1/2 miles of wet wetness over hilly fields while it was wet.

Need a long day out.

Good to see Andy back with a plan. Getting him round his round is one of my goals for 2012.

A new focus

2011-12-07T10:16:00.001-08:00

I have a bit of new focus in my training. I will hopefully be pacing 2 mid winter BGR attempts over the next few weeks. Nick Clark who seems to have done a little bit[!!] of this mountain running stuff before is having a mid Winter BG attempt and I am down to pace leg 5 along with the most noble BG club sec. The other attempt have yet to "come out", but is likely to be just as competitive and I can for see my efforts to keep up being in the style Pigsy of the 1970's kids program Monkey children's program.

Much of this last 2 weeks training has been done carrying a rucksack which has made it a fair bit more intense.

I was not feeling great last Sunday, so gave the Cardington Cracker a miss. Disappointed, but no point running if you are not up to it. Rest of the weak was a series of shorter and faster runs, including my 1st hill reps for a while.

wood stacking vs running

2011-11-27T05:29:00.001-08:00

Monday : rest
Tuesday : 8 laps of field outside house quite quick
Wednesday : 3 * 500ft hill reps [ 1st hill reps since July ! ]
Thursday : circuits
Friday : rest
Saturday : speed session on the track while waiting for small man in football
Sunday : Stacking 3 years worth of firewood in the shed, enough exercise for any man

Plans for the Pumlumon round are coming together in terms of the route. Hard to get out at this time of year without sacrificing part of the day to recie the bits I don't know how to join up.

Nice to see Mark Smith has a brand new plan. He has both ambition and ability and is a very nice chap.

Cardington Cracker next week which is one of my favorite races of the year. Had a stomach bug coming on last year, so had a really slow time and until about 12 hours later no idea why. Looking to beat my 2009 time of around 1.42 and then some.

Nothing special

2011-11-20T11:04:00.001-08:00

Monday : rest
Tuesday : Now't
Wednesday : 3 miles in dark somewhere between Reading and Aberystwyth. Had big hill in it and a firing range!
Thursday : 10 x 400m reps
Friday : bug, thanks kids
Saturday : bug
Sunday : 8 local mountain miles, quite fast and very rough ground. Very nice.

Not great amount of work, but I do feel as if I am ramping up again.

The way I am feeling at the moment I have no plans to do an other 24 hour round next year, the Paddy and friends can wait. I am putting together a route with a working title of "Pumlumon Round" which would be a 12 hours solo supported round of about 50 miles and maybe 10k of climb and I doubt anyone else would ever do it. Other than that fell races and pacing are my running goals for 2012. Next race, Cardington Cracker.

Ras Rhobbel Fawr with no shirt in November !

2011-11-16T06:43:00.001-08:00

Ran Ras Rhobbel Fawr ( 6 miles and 2000ft) on Sunday, a glorious day. 29th out of 62 in a time of 1.12:25. Ran the last part of the ascent and all the descent without a shirt, it was that hot or I was sweating that much.

Great race, very well organized, 1 minute silence for the fallen at the start it being remembrance day as very appropriate I thought. Cracking soup at the end.

The race followed the usual competitive profile

Gentle ascent for the 1st 1.5 miles I was slowly passed by people
Steeper leg pumping climbs I would pass the odd runner
Passed 7 or 8 folk on the descent on the mountain
Kept my place on the gentle descent to the finish despite some thundering footsteps just behind me at the end

So I am relatively poor at running on the flat and gentle uphill, but OK at steep climbs and technical descent, so no news there. I think I could have improved by at least 3 minutes (6 places plus) with a slight improvement on the 1st 1/4 of the race. So will have to put some training focus on being able to run flat and gentle slopes a lot faster, between now and the Cardington Cracker.

Rhobell Fawr Recie

2011-11-06T11:51:00.000-08:00

Rhobell Fawr race next week, so we had a recie late on friday afternoon. No wind and the top of Rhobell Fawr was nearly poking out of the cloud. The navigation for the race looks straightforward following the wall until nearly at the summit, provided you don't get the wrong summit. A good hill to do at night given the large stone handrail on the 2nd half and the big wide paths on the 1st half.

School in Llanfachreth which you park next to has only 16 pupils left (had a quick chat with the head teacher who was heading home and asked if I was spying the route of next weeks race) and is on the threatened list. I predict an outcome similar to the primary school in our village, it will be a private house or houses within 5 years, matter what local people think or want.

Earlier in the week did 2 laps of the Dragons Back near Nant-Y-Arian, Saturday spent putting up scaffolding (very good upper body and core training, tired after) and 5 miles over local hills on Sunday.

Only 2 more races planned this year, next weeks Raw Rhobell Fawr and the Cardington Cracker. After a poor showing last year at the Cracker on my part due to a stomach bug. 1.52.12 compared to 1.42.30 in 2009, I need to do some hard work before then and should be able to get under 1.40 this year.

Clive vs Mr Naismith

2011-11-02T04:46:00.000-07:00

Looking north from Sron A'Choire Ghairbh toward Loch Ness : its a wee bit windy !

Naismith's rule gives an estimate of how long it may take to cover ground on the ascent of a hill.

Allow 1 hour for every 3 miles (5 km) forward, plus 1 hour for every 2000 feet (600 metres) of ascent.

My copy of 1992 "The Munros" uses a slightly different similar calculation of

4.5km per hour plus 10m per minute for climbing

but the results turn out to be similar.

A week in a cottage north of Fort William on a King family holiday spent most of the time doing jigsaws, child friendly walks and bike rides and trying to get motivated to go out an do a few hills. On the last day I set out a 3pm to do Sron a'Choire Ghairbh and Meall na Teanga which are just west of Loch Lochy. The time given by the book to the 1st summit was 3 hours 40 minutes and to the second was 4 hours and 40 minutes. The 1st half is on good path or forestry roads and the second part of the walk in is on rough track or no track with some peat bog hopping. I took the direct approach from the west up the steep nose, rather than from Carn Bhealach which was much rougher, but a fraction shorter.

Post Bob Graham I have been in a bit of a motivational lull [ I set out on the Tuesday morning at 7am and ended up driving 2 miles up the road before deciding I could not be arsed, turned round and went back to bed ], so not been full of motivation and fight on the running front of late, so was not really pushing myself to my limit on this outing which maybe was no bad thing, this was a family holiday.

Got to the summit of Sron a'Choire Ghairbh in 2 hours dead, a 100 minutes quicker than the book schedule and Meall na Teanga in 2 hour 40 mins so that gains another 20 mins on the book times. Carrying an appropriate amount of kit no doubt slows things down a bit, and I was no where near race speed. Suspect I have lost some of my hill climbing spark in the last 10 weeks.

Only took 1 photo, the wind on the top made us both struggle to run into it. Hounds ears and cheeks were flapping around in the wind a bit. On a clear day this must be one of the best hills for a view in Scotland. Ben Nevis to the south, looking up the great Glen from above to the north, but a cracking view in each direction. Some interesting ridges which are worthy of further exploration, but time did not allow on this visit. These are hills I must visit again.

It got dark while I was on top of the ridge, but had no problem hitting one of the streams and following it down to the entrance to the Forestry and the path. all done in just over 4 hours, could have taken 30 minutes off this time with some application. I would have guessed 4 years ago it would have taken 7 hours-ish as a walker. Without the experience of wondering around the Lakes at night I would not even have set out at 3pm in the certain knowledge I was be doing a fair part of the outing on remote and unfamiliar ground in the dark.

In no way does this suggest Mr Naismith was slow, but using 2/3 of his figures should be a safe guide for a slow late afternoon outing.

On the training front I have done a little running, but have started going to Circuits in Aberystwyth Sports centre to contract the observation that I may have legs like a bullock, but my arms and core are in serious need of some work. Finding it hard, but that is no bad thing. It a good way of getting my enthusiasm back for exercise, I am sure the running bug will follow in its own time.

well, what now ?

2011-10-13T10:38:00.000-07:00

My Bob Graham adventure finished in the bar of the Shap Wells on Saturday night at about 12.30 about 3 years after it started and what a fine adventure it has been. Meet some cracking people, got fitter than I would ever have imagined and have learned a huge amount about mountains and myself.

The picture above is of Jim Mann and I post presentation with our certificates. We had our 1st attempt at the BGR together in September 2010, Jim finished in 22 hours, I needed 2 more tries. Jim then set the winter record in Feburary 2011, so you could say we are at other ends of the distance running ability spectrum. No matter, Jim has given me a humbling level of support and encouragement, as did Penrith Stu, Mark Smith, Dave Almond, Dave Swift, Dave Hindly and many, many others. That is what was so great about the Bob Graham Round reunion dinner, we were a cohort who helped each other and is special in ways I can not begin to describe. It was nice to be told by a few people that I was the one they thought would not complete it, at least I think it was!

The evening was everything I wanted it to be and I spent a lot of it in quiet amazement that I had managed to get there legitimately. I was the 2nd last to be presented with a certificate in the evening (Graham was slow getting the forms in, but finished 30 minutes ahead of me), so I was the last to complete in 2011 I think.

During the day I did the Langdale Horseshoe, a cracking race, nice and hard covering some of the BGR ground and some new ground. Got lost for about 10 minutes coming off the last peak and 3:44 is not a great time, but I enjoyed the race and even the conditions which included going up to my waste in a bog. Bob Graham Round is great training for the round, but it leaves you a bit slow for a short race ! like this. Certainly one I want to come back and do.

Best cakes this side of Bala

2011-09-29T05:37:00.000-07:00

Name: Arenig Fawr

Date: Sunday 2^nd October 2011 at 1pm
Venue: Car park and registration near Arenig quarry (GR SH830392)
Details: AM, 6.7 miles. £4 EOD only. Start 1 mile from car park. No toilets. Over 18. Organiser is Yiannis Tridimas: 0151 7272615 or 07779 187769.

I marshaled this race last year and thinking I would have the now cancelled Plymlimon Challenge on the Saturday, I offered to marshal again on Sunday. While I would really like to run it, can't let Yiannis down.

Post race cakes are just super :-)

Enough slobbing .......

2011-09-22T10:17:00.000-07:00

Just about 6 weeks since the Bob Graham and I ran for the 4th time today. I was slow, only did 3 miles, but there was no tiredness in the legs. I had a week in south Africa with work last week, so no running there and took a few days to recover from the flight.

So time to ramp up the miles, speed and fun again. I was thinking about doing the Black Mountain race, but I think I need to do some training before racing. The Plumlumon Chalange has been cancelled for 2011. I may just wait until the Langdale race the week after (BGR reunion weekend), but it is tempting to get a race in before that. Must resist.

2 weeks to the best Ultra of the year

2011-09-15T12:40:00.000-07:00

You know you want to enter this race, 27 miles and 5500ft - ish, some rough ground, but don't let that worry you.

Missed it last year as it clashed with the Peris, so really looking forward to it. I ran it over the winter a few times.

I wonder if my short cut which involved going through a drain that goes under a road rather than going to the gate is allowed. Probably not in the spirit of the event.

If you are doing it, find the quad bike tracks that go off Drosgol and follow them, saves at least 10 minutes of fighting rough ground.

See you there?

Malvern Hills

2011-09-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

I have passed about 5 miles or so south of the Malvern Hills many times in the last 14 years, but never took the time to visit them before last night. I wanted to answer the question "are my legs up to doing the full Peris Horseshoe" and it is a very good place to ask such questions. Lots of short hills, great running and stunning views in all directions. Did about 12 miles and got back just as it was getting dark, felt more like going for an explore and I just happened to be running than explicitly training. Legs were OK, but still heavy, so not recovered enough for the big time yet. I would end up having to flog myself and with a poor time. Always next year. Going to either do the half Peris or marshal dependent on need. Shame as the Peris Horseshoe is my favorite fell race of the year, but one of those things that had to slide this year to accommodate the Bob Graham and I am very happy out it.

Out and back along the Malvern Hills makes a cracking run, well worth trying.

....... and back to the green door

2011-08-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

Three months on from failed attempt number two, this was to be a smaller scale attempt with one pacer for most legs, less road support and less build up. I was not keen to put pacers and family though an other failure, though it was always a very real possibility.

The weekend of the 12th of August was probably the last chance for an attempt in 2011 with other things going on and committed on the Wednesday, picking a Saturday night start as the weather looked better than for a start 24 hours earlier. The forecast was not great, showers, cloud, poor visibility on the high hills and 35mph gusts, but was to get better on the Sunday.

We travelled up on the day and I dropped the family in Keswick at about 5.30 to get chips and went to pick up Stu. from Threkeld. On arriving back at Moot Hall at about 6.30pm, we find Andrew had thrown up (a week later I got the bug while at a music festival) which proved to make Myra's weekend just that bit harder. Fortunately, the sickness only lasted for a few hours and he was much better the next day. What can you do other than thank fate that you have a better half most capable of tackling such matters alone, do what you can while you are there, then put it aside in your mind. With 7 folks lined up in various roles for the next 8 hours or so, delaying even an hour to help sort out the little chap was not an option. Prior investment in Travelodge for the night for the family proved well worthwhile.

Graham from north of Inverness (we had a short exchange on the fell runner forum before hand) was also going at 7pm, so we had a chat and photos by the green door.

Leg 1 : Pacer Penrith Stu.

The final team and positions had come together late, but I was very pleased Stu. from Penrith (obvious really) could do leg 1. We meet 18 months previous on a snowy February day out on legs 1 and 2 where he was somewhat fitter/faster/better than I was. Stu. went on to do a fast round last year and paced leg 1 for my second attempt. He has been incredibly encouraging, sometimes with the subtle charm of a brick. Stu. kept me calm, feed and amused up Skiddaw where we were 9 minutes up and on Calva we got an other minute or so. We let Graham disappear into the distance who was working on a 21 hour schedule and kept to our pace. I kept being told not to look at my watch, but having been up there so many times I know at each stage if I was up or down relative to the schedule on this leg. We crossed the Caldew which was fine, feet were already wet. A few 100 meters up the climb of Mungrisdale common, I started to slow, not sure why, but we both noticed it and I struggled. After about 10 minutes I got a good talking to from Stu. and clicked out of it.

Looking back this was a positive event. I have heard that a wobble can happen anywhere on the BGR and having one this early and getting your head back into gear was a good thing. We probably lost all the time we gained earlier. Worse, so much worse, I mispronounced Mungrisdale in the presence of a Cumbrian and was very lucky not to get buried in soft peat there and then. The rest of the trog up Blencathera was fine. Towards the top the mist really came in which combined with the dark meant less than 5 meter visibility. At the top we heard a voice somewhere in the mist who said they wanted to follow up down, we said OK, but they never followed us!

If I was going to change one thing about my successful round, to admit to one error, then this would be it. I would have gone down Doddick, but not because of any merit of the route itself. There were many reasons for this, the best being that I took someone who is a very serious and experienced mountain man, but not 100% comfortable with the Yiannis Parachute Descent, down it. It would also have stopped him having something to rib me about until I am into my 70's which alone was reason enough. So the lesson here is that even though the descent very much suited the runner, it also needs to suit the team. Visibility was 5 meters at most. Even though I though I knew it quite well, I managed to go off route again, but in a different place this time. A great descent for consenting adults who all embrace a loony trip in the wet down a very steep slope at the end of a leg 1 reccie. To use it on a BGR all the party need to have the intellectual approach of Mike Blake to steep descents, otherwise play it safe. While I remember really enjoying the descent, I understand that Stu. is still in therapy as a result of the experience.

We finished leg 1 about 10 minutes down on schedule. I came into Threkeld in good humor, well feed and watered which Stu. takes the credit for, the 10 minutes down rather than 10 minutes up was down to me and the mist alone.

Dave Swift (tailing for his Paddy round) had also done support for Ronnie (success at just over 23 hours) that weekend, was very kind to get the leg 2 pacer and his car in the right place, and to do tea and sympathy at Threkeld. Porridge, tea, sock and shoe change and we were off. The pacers for leg 3 were also in attendance which confused me a little.

Leg 2 : Jim Mann

Leg 2 is a hard leg in navigation terms at night or in bad weather and with visibility down sometime to less than 5 meters in the mist, even with GPS with a track, it needs a solid navigator which I had. Jim and I have done this leg at least 4 times together and it it always seems to be in poor weather. Clough Head, a low point on my 1st attempt passed without problem with a split just about on schedule. The way up Great Dodd took a bit for effort to find the path in the mist and that pattern continued along the Dodd's. At most of the summits we would need to turn our torches off to see the trig point or pile of stone faintly silhouetted against the sky (there was a full moon behind the clouds, but we never saw it). My stomach played up. I managed to eat enough, though drank just about enough to arrive in Dummail in a reasonable state. I suspect over the leg we lost 10 or 15 minutes on navigation and 5 minutes because you could not see far enough to go full speed (relative to what you could travel at if you could see far enough ahead to place your feet), which given the conditions is very good indeed. A minute looking for a summit here and 30 seconds looking for a path there added up, but no faults in the navigation. Torch decided to give up just after Dollywagon Pike, but we had a spare (and a spare spare). Fairfield and Seat Sandle were done just about on the split times. The leg and each summit seemed to go quickly which suggests we had a good natter and that route finding took a lot of attention. Given the weather conditions and my condition no one could have done anything to get me across leg 2 faster or in better shape.

Near the botton of Fairfield we encountered Graham (who set off the same time as I did) who was on the way up Fairfield having had some navigation problems on leg 2. I have no idea where he overtook me later, there was a lot of mist between Dummail and Wasale, but suspect it was around Great End and he went well to finish in just over 23 hours.

I arrived at Dummail Raise in O.K. condition, happy, but really starting to tire. We were about 20 minutes down on schedule. I had been unable to arrange road support for Dummail, but Edinburgh lads sorted out tea and rice pudding. My feet were soaked, but decided not to change shoes or socks which proved to be a good call. Wet Sealskin socks continued to be comfortable without causing any problems, as did the MudClaws which I wore the rest of the way round. Jim was taking it easy that weekend, so only 1 leg as part of his taper for the BAMM Arctic marathon in northern Sweden where he and Duncan put in a highly respectable 2nd on the 70km.

Leg 3 : Pacers Olly Stephenson, Jason Hubert and Willy Gibson. Tim Hoskin as poor sod on Broadstand for the 3rd time.

I paced Olly and Jason on the Snowdon section of their Paddy last year. They came over from Edinburgh to do legs 4 and 5 on my attempt last September when I wimped out in Wasdale, so there were never any question of stopping at Dummail, I owed these lads a run out. I had meet Olly and Jason again for minutes in a car park in Llanberis at 2am as I handed their friend Mick over on his successful Paddy round in early June this year. Willy joined them at the last minute. For 2 people I had only meet briefly before and their mate, there was not a second in the 7 hours we were together where any of the 3 failed to put in maximum effort and commitment to get me across leg 3 in the best shape possible. It was truly humbling.

Stell Fell is always a bit short and sharp and I found the 1st half hard. At about the mid point I asked for my iPod to see if it would help distract me from thinking ahead which is the real danger on a round. If you just worry only about getting to the top of the hill ahead of you, you are OK, if you start thinking any further ahead, madness and dragons lies beyond. By complete accident, the 1st tune was the tender works of Motorhead and I went up a gear immediately. Its hard to describe but the distraction of the music allowed me to learn that I could push myself just that bit harder with no immediate bad effects, so I did. For the rest of the round, a mix of Julian Cope, Faithless, Cure, Cult, early pink Floyd, James, Happy Mondays, Stranglers, Smiths, Levellers, The The, Squeeze, Ramones, Nirvana among others, distracted my thoughts from beyond the next summit and to focus on the hear and now, the next foot step. I could still hear the lads talking and chatted a bit, but it was not a section to engage in witty banter, it was a section to keep going.

Parts of leg 3 I felt really good and parts were really hard. Steel fell to Calf Crag I really enjoyed, the climb up Sergeant Man was OK and High Raise to Stickle O Pike was a lot of fun, still hard but I remember spending a lot of that time with a smile on my face. It got light between Calf Crag and Sergeant Man, though we were still in the mist, the GPS and route knowledge made navigation a non issue.

I had a bad patch from the bog before Rosset Pike until about Esk Pike where I found the going very hard. Bowfell, in particular, was a struggle. The lads kept feeding me to the extent my stomach could cope with it. In contrast to my May attempt I worked hard on forcing at least a little food down even when I did not want it and Zantac made a difference. Willy was the tattie man and provided me with 2 or 3 spuds an hour. At one point Olly gave me a bit of a Marmite sandwich which shocked my taste bugs, but the different taste seemed to make eating other stuff easier.

Willy had a strange nack of heading off in the right direction without having a map or any prior knowledge of the route! The peaks came and went, but the mist and general wetness stayed meaning a lot of care (read slower) was required over the rocky ground on the 2nd half of leg 3. Scarfel Pike was deserted, I think we saw a single couple walking up as we went down to Mickledore.

Tim, stalwart climbing partner for close to 20 years now, had set himself up on Broadstand for a 3rd time. Last September there was ice and in May it was tipping down with gale force winds. However, this time was much better, it was just very wet indeed. Jason and Willy did the West Wall Traverse to meet me at the top. Olly was determined to win the "weekend balls of steel award" by following me up Broadstand. I did my best to persuade him it was horrible and he could take an alternative.

As I climbed I asked Tim if he fancied roping Broadstand a 4th time if required and his reply translated into "probably not", but the words he choose were very different. As in May, with only a few minute contact time, it is easy to forget how serious a contribution Tim made. I don't much pleasure from climbing steep wet rock, but it works better for me than the alternatives. Had it been dry I would have been very happy to solo Broadstand. With water running off it, I was very pleased to have the rope there. Using Broadstand probably saves me 15 minutes with the energy saving included(your milage may vary) and I am most grateful again to Tim who has now spent 2 nights this year camped on top of Scarfel in appalling conditions to see me up this section. However, he introduced me to the book "Feet in the Clouds", so sitting half way up a wet rock face for an hour or more waiting for a runner to wobble out of the cloud, to see them safe up 15ft of easy rock is just part of the price one has to pay for such gross lack for forethought. I think, but am not sure that Tim also helped Graham's party up Broadstand. What a guy!

I went to the summit, met up with Jason and Willy as I came back down to the coll and down we went. I think I had a bad patch during 1st part of the descent, I don't really remember that clearly that I said to Jason I was probably going to pack it in. If Jason did nothing else that day (and he did a huge amount in the previous 6 hours) then his moment came, his very calm words along the lines of "your are just about on the 24 hour schedule, you look to be getting stronger, at least set off from Wasdale, don't decide now" kept me going long enough to have a really enjoyable and quite fast run down the scree. A run down steep loose rock always seems to cheer me up.

Myra, Rowen and Andrew were the road crew at Wasdale with Dave Almond waiting for the next leg. It was great to sit in the chair, get a hug from the King crew, get socks changed and I could actually eat without having to forcing it down. Some porridge, Zantec and some pain killers along with SIS pink recovery gloop, flat coke(as recommended by Nick Ham) and tea. I actually wanted to eat and was surprised by how easy a pot of porridge went down.

I was worried I was too much of a liability for leg 4 and asked Dave if he was sure he was O.K. taking me. I was very swiftly reassured.

A new face appeared, said some nice things about me getting stronger. I had to ask who they were? It as Jason. I had just spent 7 hours with the guy, I felt terrible and must have been away with the fairies while sitting in the chair at Wasdale.

While I was 10 minutes down on the 24 hours schedule I wanted to finish even if the final time was over 24 hours. What Olly, Jason and Willy had done was set me up very well for leg 4. I was well feed and watered, my legs were in good shape for having run 44 miles and 19,oooft of climb and despite some mental low points, I was also in good spirits by Wasdale and my stomach had started wanted food again. I had also learned something vital during this leg about how to push myself harder when tired than I though possible . I did not have great legs 1, 2 and 3, but they were good enough and looking back they provided a firm foundation for the rest of the round.

Leg 4 : Pacer Dave Almond

If roles were reversed and I was asked to take a near exhausted runner over leg 4 on my own, I would have to think about it for a minute and understand howwreaked they really were. Dave never showed any doubt, not even for a second, that I would get round in under 24 hours and he was going to make it happen.

Yewbarrow (Alternative fell runner name : Yew-bastard), well you know what I mean, its 1800ft of upward horribleness that seems to go on for ever. iPod inserted and ground it out in a few minutes under the split time. Yes, it was very hard indeed, and the wobbling wreak that spluttered "thirty bloody one" and then wobbled off towards Red Pike got very strange looks from the walkers having lunch on the summit.

The only part of leg 4 where I had gentle encouragement to go a bit faster was between Yewbarrow and Red Pike. Dave could see we were getting back on schedule and gently pushed me to up the pace a little, not on the steep hills where I was flogging myself quite adequately, but on the gentler sections even to the point of suggesting a power walk (in one's dreams). We picked up a few more minutes on Red Pike and with much improved (good viz, light wind, clear sky) we picked up a little more time over to Steeple. I felt like I moved up a gear between Steeple and Pillar and probably did some of the best running I have ever done. The climb and subseqeuent descent of Pillar passed in what felt like a flash. We gave a cheer when we passed the point where I sat down on my attempt in May at Blacksale Pass. I kept eating spuds and Dave's mini Mars bars. Had plenty to drink, sometime water, sometimes Nuun. I was able to enjoy the downhill sections at a respectable pace.

Kirk Fell and Great Gable are 2 climbs that feature in many write ups as hard and moral sapping. Yes, they were hard, very hard after 56 miles or so, but there was never any question in my mind of giving up or slowing down so they became OK. I do though recall a far amount of grunting on my way up Gable as I tried to claw back a little more time. We took 3 minutes off the schedule between Pillar and Kirkfell and then 7 minutes between Kirk Fell and Great Gable. I remember getting some really funny looks from the people eating sandwiches on top of Great Gable as I touch the summit, muttered "Thirty bloody Seven" and wobbled off in the direction of Green Gable. Neither of us were 100% sure we could find the grassy strip to the right, so we opted for the more cautious rocky descent, it did not matter, 3 more minutes off the split schedule between Great Gable and Green Gable.

In June 2010 I supported leg 3 of the Tattenhall Boob Graham round ladies relay and tagged along for leg 4 for the training. Going at about the same pace was a guy from the north east on his round and he passed me on the bog just before Grey Knots. I was struggling at the time and thought how the hell do you run when you have done such much. I found out for myself and was able to continue to make good time down to Honister. Legs were still fine for descending, I had been a little worried about the long and steep run down into Honister but I really enjoyed it.

Great to see kids at Honister. Some of Dave Almonds friends had come along and gave me great support. Rice pudding, SIS gloop, cold-ish tea (I had gone a fair bit faster than expected so water had not boiled in time), some pain killers and a change of shirt and I think I wondered off 30 seconds or so before my pacers were ready.

Leg 5 : Dave Sargent, Tim Hoskin, Jim Mann, Rowen King

Dave on navigation and food and Tim on Nuun. I had meet Dave on his unsuccessful Paddy attempt back in June which as the most fun and best spirited round I have been involved in as a pacer and look forward to his successful attempt next month.

I have been climbing with Tim for nearly 20 years now. We have had some great and some fairly scary times together on various types of vertical fun from E4 rock to Alpine ice climbs to Scottish winter and much in between. The poor sod had also roped Broadstand for me 3 times. He introduced me to the Bob Graham Round concept so it seemed very right he was there on leg 5 and I was delighted to be able to run the last leg with Tim as a pacer.

Dale Head felt like it went on for ever. While there was no question of giving up, it just dragged on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and on and I was relived beyond expression to get to the top. I still felt OK and made good progress over Hindscarth, but felt the larger climb of up to Robinson. I pondered at the time that I should have felt something more then "forty bloody two" as I got to the summit rocks on Robinson, but I did not. With exactly 2 hours left on the clock and 100 minutes on the schedule between Robinson and the Green Door and I knew it was quite possible that I might fall apart either on the descent of Robinson or on the road, so any extra time gained would be insurance against blowing up.

Dave knew the descent down from Robinson like the back of his hand. We may not have taken the most direct route, but it was probably the quickest and easiest. I found it hard to believe I was still able to run at all, let alone make good progress down the steep grass slope after the rock step and down to the path, though my quads might not have agreed at the time and then a reasonable pace along the grass track, even running the slight uphill before the house.

There is a small cottage on the left hand side of the track as you start to drop down into Newlands. I had a chat with the elderly lady who lives there when I passed doing a leg 5 out , 2nd part of leg 3, leg 4 and leg 5 back as a training run back in April. She had mentioned she used to run in her younger days, but it was not the done thing for girls to do "The Graham". She wished me luck for my attempt.

I was really pleased when we passed she was outside. We did not stop as I had no clue how tight time was, but mentioned we had meet before and I thanked he for her wishes back in April. I don't really believe in providence, but ......

Team King were ready at the car park near Newlands Chruch for a change of shoes, socks and shirt.

Dave left us at Newlands, drove back to Keswick and would rejoin us near Portinscale. Tim and I wondered off along the road, but I knew we were easily on target as long as I kept going and did not blow up, this meant I could relax a bit and enjoy the road section as much as you can enjoy running on a road after 60 plus miles of fell. Walking the hills and to my great surprise 9 or 10 minute miles on the flat. I don't like running on roads at the best of times and running now was hard. However, it was not impossible and we kept the pace up between Newland and Keswick with a bit in reserve.

About 2 miles out from Keswick Jim Mann joined us and said we had plenty of time now, just enjoy it. Dave Sargent rejoined us before Portinscale. At Portinscale Bridge, Rowen joined us which was a real lift as I was finding running very hard by this time. Her running style was very good, as noted my both myself and Jim Mann in contrast to my forced stumble. Andrew having been sick the night before was not up to a run of near a mile. The 5 of us ran along the track by the river and into Keswick, negotiated some traffic and onto Keswick High Street where Andrew joined us for the last 100m or so.

Rowen, Andrew and myself ran up towards Moot Hall holding hands and got a really great reception from Dave and friends, some fell runners who just happened to be around, Graham's crew and even from some people who were out for an evening in Keswick. The three of us touched the door 23 hours and thirty four minutes after leaving the green door.

Writing about the last 10 minutes now makes me feel emotional. During the round, the big thing that kept me going was wanting to run the last bit with my 2 monsters. They had been really upset last time when I bailed out on leg 4 as they had the expectation they would run the last section with me. I thought it was be a really emotional event and I would struggle to contain my emotion. The Bob Graham Round does funny things to your emotions and my emotions were all used up by the time I got back to Keswick to be replaced by a confused haze of being thankful it was over, disappointed it was over, a vague understanding that I had achieved something significant and wanting to eat. I was pleased, do not doubt that for a moment, but the elation would come later, days later in fact.

Don't get me wrong, at the end it was truly wonderful to have some of the folks who had help me there and their friends to cheer me on. It now feels very special to have had such fantastic family support and that Myra, Rowen and Andrew could be part of that last section. The memories, and they are great ones, will last until I get put into a box, but at the time I was very conscious that I was not feeling emotional and remember commenting to a few people about it.

Graham who had set out the same time was still around. We did some photo's and to be fair Graham looks in much better shape at the end than I did, though I was expecting to be a heap by that point, but to my great surprise was broadly still functional.

Myra got some chips, that well known recovery food. We sat and chatted, eat chips and people started to go their separate ways. 45 minutes after finishing, we were on our way back to Aberystwyth with Myra driving thankfully. There were a few folks who had given me such wonderful support over the 3 years of this campaign, I felt I owed them a call. Coach Jon from Aberystwyth University Sports Sciences who expertly put some science into my training got a very incoherent sunday evening phone call, as did my brother. Penrith Stu, Mark Smith and Dave Hindly had been super supportive and I let them know there won't be a rematch. When I got home I took my clothes off to get into the shower and got hit by the smell of cortisol, a by product of my body breaking itself down to keep going during the day.

The following week both body and brain were unable to focus for more than a few minutes. Had a lazy but very good following weekend at the Beautiful Days festival (if you ignore the stomach bug Andrew kindly gave me). 9 days later I managed a lazy 3 miles, but was my legs were still tired. I also eat and slept more than I had for a long time.

So what went right on the 3rd attempt? Well, these are the things it was not.

Better pacers. All the pacers on each attempt have been top notch and fully committed to this daft enterprise
Better weather. The weather was better this time with no high winds, but there was better visibility last time at night.
Clive was fitter. This was probably a true statement and may have helped a bit. The must have been a boost in fitness post attempt 2 and I had been doing quite a bit of speed training such as fast hill reps, so may have found going up hills at pace a bit easier, but I still think this was marginal. I had no really big days out between attempt 2 and 3.

So what did make a difference

iPod : It managed to distract my little brain from thinking ahead which is the biggest danger on a BGR. It also helped give some rhythm on climbs. Try going slow up a hill with Ace of Spades in your lug holes. I did not use it on legs 1 and 2 which was a good thing, it did start to loose its affect a bit after about 6 hours.
Food : I basically eat small boiled potatoes, chocolate, some other sweets and Dave Almonds mars bars on leg 4. I drank only Nuun and water while on the round itself. This was a gel free round.
Pain killers : I took a single Paracetamol around Esk Pike. A Nurofen at Wasdale and a Nurofen and Paracetamol at Honister, well below the maximum dose I could have taken and worked very well.
Zantec, a Ranitidine based indigestion tablet. I took 3 of these and they really seemed to help. Stomach had some problems up to the end of leg 3, but fine after that. Maybe should have taken one at the start. Doc Smith from attempt 2 suggested this, as he suggested the option of mixing of paracetamol and Nurofen.
Had a GPS with a track on it. Probably saved us 10 minutes or so on leg 2 and reduced the risk of getting very lost on night sections.
I wanted to finish the whole round no matter what the eventual time was.
I had learned from the previous 2 failure. As a member of the tail end of the mid-pack, it was always going to take me a couple of attempts to learn how to overcome the various mental and physical obstacles.

A few people have asked .... So What Next?

For the 1st few days I could not contemplate even thinking about running again, ever. I have no ambition to do a Paddy or Ramsey at this point in time and want to keep off any big challenges until at least 2013. A must is to spend more time on family fun.

There is much scope for me to get faster on easy fell races [all things are relative :-)], I mean the like of the Peris Horseshoe, Welsh 1000m, Long Mynd Valleys race and some of the Welsh AM races.
I get a kick out of pacing folks on their rounds and want to do some more of that next year. The Paddy looks to be getting more popular and it is quite easy for me to pop up to north Wales for an evening or night leg.
I want to get to know the Meirionnydd round in part as it has some close hills I don't know that well and so I can do it by proxy(someone more capable) next year
I have a vague plan to search out a viable route for a 24 hour mid-Wales (Pumlumon round) over this winter
Like to still do an Ultra or 2 a year,
Do some more rock climbing and some more Munro's.

The Bob Graham Round was a part of my life for 3 1/2 years. It took me from my 1st fell race in early 2008 where I finished with the mid pack 60 year old women to running leg 4 in 4 hours and 37 minutes. The journey has been a great one and meet lots of great people who I hope I will know for many years to come.

The Bob Graham Round was always a big scary hard to achieve goal to counterbalance the onset of my middle years, reducing fitness, the nature of my job and its travel requirements. It did take on a life of its own beyond that, but ultimately it did its job which was to get me properly fit. As I bonus I got to know parts of the Lakes quite well.

I took up fell running (not quite true, I did 3 races in the mid 90's) to get fit and experienced enough to do the Bob Graham, but fell running turned out to be such a great sport this blog will remain to record the continuing journey of Clive's running, but less heavy on ambition, at least for a while.

Shap Wells in October, here I come!

and the result was ......

2011-08-15T04:22:00.000-07:00

23.34

and the decision is ....

2011-08-10T06:35:00.000-07:00

Yes. Low key attempt, fewer pacers (though all top notch), over night road support still to be sorted for Saturday/Sunday.

I have not written much here. The fear of failure( for a 3rd time ) has weighted more heavily this time. Its all very well saying to myself both that I now know I am capable of it after the last attempt and that you have to embrace the possibility of failure, then set it aside to succeed.

So this time, less gel, more IPOD and drugs, less rain and wind [I hope] and a commitment to finish whatever the time (less than 24 is the plan).

To go or not to go, that is the question

2011-08-09T08:38:00.000-07:00

Along with when to go, if at all.

A lower key attempt is possibly on the cards for the weekend. Wanting to give my self the best chance of success and that needs reasonable weather. Friday and Saturday don't look too good from a distance at the moment, but it can all change.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday:
Remaining cloudy and breezy with heavy rain or showers throughout, with occasional hill fog. Fairly humid by night. Conditions probably improving during Saturday, but with scattered showers.

UK Outlook for Sunday 14 Aug 2011 to Tuesday 23 Aug 2011:
A generally unsettled end to the weekend with showers or longer spells of rain in the north, but somewhat drier and brighter in the south. Windy also, especially towards the west and northwest, with temperatures largely near normal across the UK. Heading into Monday, turning somewhat drier and more settled for a time across southern parts, whilst remaining breezy with occasional showers or longer spells of rain further north. These drier conditions continue for southeastern parts until mid-week, with more unsettled conditions in the west spreading erratically southeastwards. Thereafter, changeable conditions are expected for most parts of the UK, with the driest weather mostly towards the southeast. Temperatures likely to remain close to normal but perhaps slightly above in the brighter interludes in the south.

I think I will decide tomorrow based on the consensus of forecasts, but Sunday looks better than Saturday in the Lakes.

A bad gel trip!

2011-07-25T12:20:00.000-07:00

A good week all in all, though constrained by being on-call

Monday : 4 * 500ft hill fort reps
Tuesday : 2 * 500ft hill reps
Wednesday : 4 miles and 1500ft on cliff route
Thursday : 100ft * 10 behind house hard
Friday : rest
Saturday : Legs 1 & most of 2 of BGR overnight
Sunday : missed it almost completely

Set off from Keswick about 7.45 on my own. Very nice evening indeed. Leg 1 went very well, though I tried the Doddick Fell descent and it just did not work for me at all. Each to their own and all that stuff, but it is Yiannis's Parachute Descent for me. I missed the feed at Threkeld, but even with a small rucksac and a slight Doddick delay was just about on the 23 hour schedule. What a difference having your own personal Yak's for the evening makes.

Clough Head went fine, a few minuites slower than usual maybe, but no surprise. Meet a chap at the top (remember it was 1am by this time, so not a casual walker out for a stroll) who had been pacing one of the 2 other groups ahead of me and found the pace a bit quick.

About 1/2 way up Great Dodd, I decided to try one of 2 Torq Caffinated Fruits of the Forest gels. It was very hard to consume, bitter, but I managed about half of it before my world started to spin and I spend 15 minutes throwing up (did not stop walking). A side effect was that just about all my water got consumed and regurgitated as part of dealing with this, so I was short of water from Great Dodd on. I did stop throwing up after about 15 minutes, but slowed a lot mainly due to a lack of water and a now empty stomach. I got as far as Helveyn and then took a straight line back to Dummail and my car getting back at 4am. Once I found some running water, put some Nuun in it, drunk it and eat 2 small boils spuds my energy levels recovered and I could happily run again. So a good training night with about 9000ft and 24 miles, but a duff gel did make it a bit more of an adventure than I expected. Still a fantastic night out.

So good thing I tried that Gel while training and not on the real thing and Torq were very keen to get hold of the wrapper and the one I did not consume for tests. I think for the big day No. 3 in just over 2 weeks time I am going to avoid gel until leg 4 and keep on spuds, sandwiches, sweets and rice pudding for the 1st 3 legs. Since the body can metabolize only about 250 calories an hour, we need to make sure we actually eat that much.

A big fat 40

2011-07-18T01:31:00.000-07:00

This was the 1st week of training ever where I aimed to do miles, instead of them being an aside to climb. We managed 40 miles, few of them were easy flat miles, though some were. Most had a twist. With Mum still in Canada I ended up 10 short of my goal just through a lack of time.

Monday : hot day 3 x 2.7 miles with about 1000ft of climb. 2nd rep in 23 minutes:-)
Tuesday : 4 miles round forest and 2 miles round track with small man while small girl in Gymnastics
Wednesday : 8 miles out and back along coast south of Aber. Glorious day. Dog came back with sore paw.
Thursday : rest
Friday : no time
Saturday : 12 miles flat along Ystswyth cycle path plus forestry tracks (sub 10min/miles)
Saturday : 6 miles on coast path (legs tired)

next week is 10k+ of climb. Weather does not look great from here, but hope it will improve towards then end of the week.

Just reps

2011-07-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

With Mum on holiday with her sister in Canada, getting long runs in was just not going to happen, so I settled for a week of hill reps. Quite pleased with what I did, but not quite the 10k I was looking for this week.

Monday : 1500ft : 300ft * 5
Tuesday : Same 1500ft * 5
Wednesday : rest
Thursday : 1000ft : 500ft * 2 bus stop to till fort. 2nd rep in 12.44 (personal best about 12 mins)
Friday : 2000 : 300ft * 7
Saturday 1000ft : 100ft * 10
Sunday : 100% kids day

While I went at them quite hard, there never felt hard and recoverey was quick. That might be a sign I was not doing enough or trying hard enough. Next week going for distance, see how far we get.

More speed

2011-07-03T09:02:00.000-07:00

A good week given the time constraints, guided by my experience after last years BGR attempt. Once I had recovered, I started doing a few quicker sessions about 1 week in 3 and made a big difference.

So I have a rough plan for the next 3 weeks of going

fast (all things are relative)
high (10k plus of climb)
long (putting in lots of miles)

then thinking about a 3rd BGR attempt 2nd week in August if the planets align.

Monday : 2.5 miles (may be 500ft) new quick circuit in 24.27
Tuesday : 5 miles plus 1000ft of climb somewhere near Rhyader
Wednesday : 5 miles and 1000ft of climb somewhere between Rhyader and Hereford
Thursday : rest
Friday : things got ahead of me
Saturday : 13 miles out and back along Ceredigion Coast path on an early start carrying rucksac. super morning, hard work and good training. When chase by cows, hound decides it every dog for themselves and out runs the lot of us.
Sunday : 5 * 400m fast on flat while kids eat ice cream.

Mum is away for 2 weeks on holiday in Canada with her sister, so I am a bit restricted over the next 2 weeks, but going to try to cram in 10k of climb and not worry about distance next week. So hill reps all next week, but might take a day off and have a run out while kids in school.

New GPS purchases on advice of Yiannis. A Garmin Dakota 20 plus all the maps of the UK. Been out today geocaching with the kids (looking for treasure) which it is super for, yes they have an app for that. I also suspect it will be very good for when I am out traveling and want to find somewhere to run and make sure I make it back to the car. The 1:50,000 is very good and shows footpaths, so it opens up a lot of new ground.

Too much in a weekend !

2011-06-25T03:04:00.000-07:00

I overstretched myself a little last weekend.

Friday night was Ras-Y-Hafod, a shortish local trail race
Saturday leg 5 of Dave Almond's BGR
Sunday was Derek and Dave (from Cumbria) Paddy Moelwyn's leg.

Friday night was cracking. I got my running mojo back on a 6 mile and 1000ft local trail race (Ras-y-Hafod) through forests. But the best part was there was a kids race. My two were too young to enter (year 3 and above), but Dick the organiser let them run and I paid the entry fee anyway so they got a meddle which they were very happy about indeed. There were not confident enough to run on their own, so I ran round with them and they finished before some children who were at least 2 years older. Probably less than a mile, but they enjoyed it and it was great to see then so enthusiastic about running. I was not going to do this race as I had a Paddy to pace, but it got moved back 24 hours and as this is a local race and the kids could get involved I felt I had to support it.

Dave Almond's BGR was a textbook round, though I hear he was wobbling a bit at the end of leg 2. By leg 5 he was very strong again and took 13 minutes off the schedule from Newland's followed by a gaggle of puffing and panting pacers. I stopped at Newland's to conserve some energy for the following day. Dave has been one of the most supportive people on my attempts, he has trained hard and helped on lots of rounds so a well deserved 21:50 round. I am really pleased to have been there to see him finish.

A short sleep in a car park below Blencathera, an early start and drive down to Capel Curig for 9am was not the best prep for supporting the longest leg and their last of the Paddy Buckly from Capel Curig to Nantmoor. Dave and Derek has delayed their start by 24 hours on account of weather and Dave had dropped out around the Glyders. Derek was about 40 minutes down by Capel Curig and had some work to do. I struggled to keep up going up Moel Shabod and got left behind over the next 2 peaks. I went back to Capel Curig and drove round to Croser and walked up to the quarries with some extra food. Good thing Derek had Simon Ellis from Tattenhall as pacer who should get a knighthood for taking Derek over the rest of the leg and getting him to their start point 15 seconds before the 24 hour deadline. This was by far the most excisiting round I have been involved in and really wish I had been able to keep up, but I had taken too much out of myself on the previous 2 days. I enjoyed this round more than any other I have supported, in part because of its light weight feel, part the closeness of the end result and in part the relaxed and good natured, not too serious approach. It was a real pleasure and I really regret not being able to keep on with Derek and Simon, but I am also glad they left me behind as Derek would not have made the 24 hour limit otherwise. I won't be trying 3 events in a weekend again.

PBR pacing

2011-06-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

View North west of the descent from Snowdon

I have had a horrible cold this week, so my ability to pace the Snowdon leg of the Paddy Buckley Round was in doubt, but in the end we managed well enough for Mick the runner to gain 30 minutes on the leg and to finish in 22.30 overall. Well done Mick.

Thought a bit cold going over Snowdon with a cold mist blowing over us, the rest of the leg was clear, the sunset quite something and the last part in the dark just stunning. A great night to be out and I am please my cold did not hold me up too much.

Well done to Jim Mann and running partner, Duncan, on winning the Elite class in the LAMM over the weekend. It looks to have been around Loch Broom just south of Ullapool which is rough and remote ground with some big hills like Beinn Dearg, a cracking area.

Welsh 1000m race : Asking a bit much of your body

2011-06-05T05:38:00.000-07:00

The Welsh 1000m race is a classic. It is superbly organized, it has a number of classes, the hardest being class A, long fell race which I guess is about 22 miles and 9000ft of climb. Its a little harder now (but a better route) as Glyder Fawr was added in this year.

I really enjoyed the leg over the Carneddau. Starting at the back I slowly passed folks and had great fun. Coming down into the Ogwen Valley via a fantastic descent to the Ogwen MRT hut, I could feel that part of the 3/4 of a Bob Graham Round was still in my legs. I had drunk loads, but my legs were just tired. A quick survey of web wisdom suggests at least a month is needed to recover from a big outing. I entered this race last year, but got my entry deferred for a year because I was intending to do the BGR in June. Ideally, I should have got my entry changed to the short race. Going up the very interesting route to Glyder Fawr was very hard work. Legs were weak and starting the descent to Pen-Y-Pass my quad's were not happy. I am not sure if I would have carried on the last leg, it was still an open question was I descended along the start of the red spot path.

At about 2500ft I ran past 5 people sitting/lying in a lovely location, but all was clearly not right. A runner from my club was clearly in quite a lot of pain. Actually, it was well aligned with my imagination of what someone having a stroke looked like, and then some. A woman out walking with her 2 sons tuned out the be a nurse (Our friend having convulsions and being sick is a lucky boy to have a qualified palliative care nurse on hand). He claimed that he has had this condition before, it passes and he spend a year at the pleasure of the medical profession trying to find the cause. I am a great believer in leaving decisions to those who probably have the best knowledge to take such a decision and at some point the 3 adults (a fellow lady runner who found out poor unfortunate 1st, nurse and myself) decided it was time to get this chap off the mountain as he was not recovering.

As I attempted to contact mountain rescue via a phone, he started being sick. MRT were busy with other incident, so I was put through to the police who really had no clue of the questions to ask or that information like a grid reference, altitude and we are on the red spot path at this altitude between Pen-y-Pass and Glyder Fawr would give a very accurate description that the MRT could use. Instead she asked if we were on Snowdon, what the chaps name was (I had not idea) and how old was he. About 10 minutes after making the call our poor unfortunate has recovered enough to walk slowly. He did have to stop every so often, but was recovering. We were called back by the MRT coordinator, I said he was now able to move under his own steam and they agreed to keep the incident open and I would call them back when he was safe.

We were joined by a marshall and on the descent encounter some MRT out training and about to be picked up by a big yellow helicopter[who's pilot may owe me 3 quid for paying for part of his wedding]. Our poor unfortunate point blank refused to entertain any thought of getting in the big yellow taxi in the sky, even though it was hovering above him. Why? ....... in case his wife found out. The impression he gave was that to get him on the other end of a winch line, we would have had to knock him out first, which would have really gone against the point of the exercise.

We got down to Pen-Y-Pass, it took a while, but all was well.

I pondered if we did the right thing to call the MRT, even though they were not in a position to help as they were busy elsewhere. I concluded yes. He was showing no signed of improvement, a qualified nurse was getting worried and we were in a relatively remote place. He recovered, but what if it had continued.

Our passing nurse was a absolute star, every mountain should to have one.

The incident gave me an excuse to drop out of the race which given my lack of pace I was probably quite happy about it. All I did was talking on the phone and bag carrying, any turkey can do that.

Should our friend have entered the long race, given he has had this problem before on long races? I also pondered on that and decided it is not for me to judge. I don't know his personal circumstance. Its not what I would do, but I also think he is less irresponsible than many of the walker on Snowdon. He was well equipped, kept himself well hydrated and is a experienced runner.

2 year ago there was foul weather and hypothermia. This year, a chap with having an impressive set of convulsions of unknown cause. I am going to have to think very hard before entering this race again.

Congratulation to Sam Smith, one of my esteemed BGR pacers from 3 weeks previous who finished 2nd.

BGR attempt 2 : 13th of May

2011-05-28T01:37:00.000-07:00

Leg 1 : Penrith Stu and Steve

I had not meet Steve before. He is a mate of Stu's and for some reason I called him Chris for the next 3 hours (Sorry Steve). Stu really enjoyed this for some reason. Apart from a slight navigational error on my part coming down the parachute descent all went very well indeed. Stu did a good job of slowing me down. The weather was no problem, I eat and drunk a lot.

We set off from Moot Hall 10 minutes after a party of 14 which include Stef, Derby Tup (from the forum) and Linda. This was good as it gave me an incentive for a gentle chase. My aim was to gain the 10 minutes by Dummail, we just about caught up with them by Great Calva, though Yannis, their navigator took a cracking line back towards Skiddaw Haus, while we went down to the normal river crossing. Passed them again going down Blencathera via the Parachute Jump where I managed to take a wrong turn. Serves me right for passing Yannis.

What would I change? Though it pains every fiber of my being to say so, I agree with Stu. I would choose to go down Doddick Fell instead if I was doing a real round. If I was out for a leg 1 reccie and wanted some fun at the end, then Parachute Jump it is. The ground suits me, I like steep rough downhills and really enjoy it as a descent, but that is not the point. Next time Doddick fell it is for me.

This leg went really well and it was fun. We were about 20 minutes up leaving Threkeld. I did manage to leave Stu and Steve on the parachute jump descent which caused some handover confusion with Stu and Steve running up and down the road looking for us to hand over kit.

Leg 2 : Dave, Dave and Andy

Overnight stops were done by Bryn who knows nothing about running, does a bit of mild hill walking including meeting me on Snowdon during the Peris Horseshoe. and lets say he gets some pleasure out of seeing me suffer. Bryn did the stop by the book. Everything was perfect, drinks, porridge, feet dried, clean socks and shoes and we were off on leg 2 after 5 minutes.

It was odd to change pacers and a little disorientation in a fun way to leave Stu and Steve behind and have different people to run with. I felt a lot stronger than the previous attempt at this point and was happy to drop 5minutes I had gained to take Clough Head a bit easier.

I had meet both Dave Hindly and Dave Swift during some of Mark Smiths Winter rounds. I was very pleased indeed to have them on this leg. Both solid calm chaps. Since things started going wrong on Clough Head last time, they felt like the right characters to have along and I was right. Dave H and Andy (Daves mate) did the navigation, Dave Swift made sure I kept drinking. All went well until after Watson Dodd. We were probably about 15 minutes up and then the weather just got worse with navigation getting much harder. We would arrive at summits and have to spend a minute or 2 looking for the trig point or cairn. An other minute would go as they took a bearing to the next peak and an other minute or two might get dropped while we searched for the path. Visibility really was down to 5 meter or less at time with a fair amount of wind. On this section my stomach started playing up, I felt very full over the whole leg and I eat that much, though drank Nunn well. The peaks passed without event, it was just hard navigation work. We passed the other group and were probably about 5 minutes ahead by the start of Fairfield.

The weather on Fairfield was horrible, no really horrible as in hard to stand up. We went too far to the left on the descent and probably lost at least 10 minutes getting back to the col near Grisdale Tarn. Given the conditions I am surprised were did not loose more. At this point my nice 4 leg Hope Vision head torch decided it was over heating and turned itself off. My spare did not work either, what a fiddle and a few more minutes lost. Did the rest mixed in with the "Bus", chatted to a few new people and down to Dummail. We left Dummail about 10 minutes down on schedule.

The only thing I would change would be the to include a simple spare head torch instead of my old Hope Vision. I wish I had known about and understood a stomach settling drug, which Sam Smith later suggested on the next leg (and I ignored to my shame).

I would also have changed the weather, the Dave H and Andy did a very good job on navigation given the conditions. Dave Swift kept me well hydrated. At the end of leg 2 I still felt good and was going quite well.

I also need to plan a backup torch better or maybe walk some of it with a small torch and only use the Hope Vision where needed.

Leg 3 : Mark Smith (Nav), Dave Almond (water and spuds), Andy Blackette (Head gel suggester), Dave Swift (along for the exercise), Tim Hoskin (man of large minerals on Broadstand), Sam Smith (head of gentle persuasion).

Bryn thought his arrival at Dummail at 2.30 in the morning to be one of the most alien of his life. He claims it is the nearest to dogging he will ever get. A line of 14 cars on the side of the dual carridgeway and he had to wonder round them to see who wanted to interact with him.

I came into Dummail feeling quite good. Knew I had not eaten enough. It seems like I was only there about 8 minutes and we left about 10 minutes down on schedule as I remember it. I got some tea, mango juice and rice pudding down me, but I struggled to eat much as would be the pattern for the rest of the round.

If my stomach had been in the same zone as my head I suspect the outcome would have been a sub 23 hour round. Reflecting on it now, it still feels like I was in the right zone. The weather was still not great, but navigation was easier at it got light at about Calf Crag and Mr Smith knows leg 3 very well. I managed to eat some of Dave Almonds potatoes, the odd gel. I had some dried mango which tasted very sweet indeed. Dave Almond (and Swift when Dave A. we otherwise occupied) kept me topped up with Nuun. It was one of those days when layers were put on and taken off.

Peaks came and went. We were not dropping much time. I remember the climb up Bowfell was hard, and someone mentioned a great view I just continued with the job in hand and don't think I looked up. At Esk Pike Dave's Almond and Swift cut across to have a longer break in Wasdale. Mark, Sam, Andy and I continued over the rocky sections which were wet making OK time.

I have climbed with Tim since 1994(ish) and we have done some fairly hairy climbing together. Alpine ice, scottish winter, a far few lumps of extreme rock, winter mountaineering in Scotland and a fair few adventures. While I would be happy to solo Broadstand if it was dry, there was always going to be a chance it would be wet and slippy and I know Tim is experienced enough

to sort himself out and provide a rope if needed. Tim spent the night in a tent on top of Scarfell which must have been quite windy in itself.

When we got to Broadstand it was dripping. Mark Smith went straight down to Wasdale and Sam, Andy and myself went via Broadstand. I later got admissions from the other 2 and can confirm that we all put weight on the rope, it was horrible. The ramp above took great care and extra time. I am sure it still saved a good 10 minutes, but if you were not a confident climber it would have been very hairy indeed. Looking forward to seconding Tim on Cenotaph Corner this summer. We climbed it maybe 10 years ago together when I was leading a lot harder than I am now. To descend the section above Broadstand in boots with rucsack and rope as Tim did was a scary proposition.

I toped out 1st by a few minutes, went and did Scarfell and meet Sam on the way back. Andy caught up with us on the way down. I was descending really well and the scree was great fun. Came into Wasdale feeling really strong for having run over 40 miles with a few hills included, very different from September 2010.

What would I change? Probably only the weather and having taken something for my stomach.

I might also have taken a bin bag to do the last bit of the slope into Wasdale.

Leg 4 : Jim Mann (Boss), Andy Blackette (specialist in tough love), Sam Smith (Pharmacist), Dave Almond (Camel)

I managed to eat some chunky soup, some tea and mango juice and left Wasdale on the 23 hour schedule. Walking along the road from the national trust campsite with Jim, something had changed. I just did not feel anywhere near as strong as I had coming into Wasdale.

Going up Yewbarrow my head was spot on, but in a different gear to my legs. I did not stop, but could not move very fast. Not being able to eat much had caught up with me and I dropped time. I could sip an odd gel and nibble on a boiled potato, but anything more and I would start to throw up or my stomach crap up. Lost 10 minutes on Yewbarrow, same on Red Pike. We got hit by a real nasty hail shower and lost Jim for a few minutes around Steeple. I noticed I was starting to loose mental focus, mentioned this and had a gel squirted down my neck which almost got squirted back up again. Between Steeple and Pillar I lost my speed of descending. 2 paracetamol and a nurofen were prescribed and took about 15 minutes to kick in, but when they did the world got a lot better.

In the col between Pillar and Kirk Fell, I sat down. We were at the 24 hour schedule and I knew I was not going to recover enough to keep to time. While I had full on encouragement during this leg, once the decision was made and I think we all knew it was the right one. I descended with Jim to his car in Wasdale and the other 3 carried on to Honister.

There are a few things I could have changed on reflection

Picked a day with better weather
Not had stomach problems
Taken the Ranitidine based stomach pills Sam suggested
Taken the pain killer mix 2 hours earlier
Gone down Doddick fell instead of Parachute jump

Apart from the 1st two they would not have made much difference to the overall outcome.

I am really pleased with what I did. About 53 miles and 23k feet of climb at a guess. Reasons for failure are obvious and largely outside my control, so no point in dwelling.

I will have an other go this year. Will probably be a lighter weight effort with potentially fewer pacers at short notice with good weather. I now know I can do it, so running legs with 1 strong pacer would work.

I do need at least an other 4 weeks to recover properly.

The thing that will stay with me, the really great memories, will be the quality and commitment of support from road crew Bryn who had no idea what was going up to the most experience BGR veteran pacers. They all did everything in their power to get me round, some days it just not your day.

I am humbled

2011-05-16T02:34:00.000-07:00

I have no hint of disappointment or regret, but I have been humbled.

I am humbled by the dedication of my pacers. Each pacer to a man did their absolute best to get me round. I can't pick one out from the 11 who made a greater contribution because each one did their absolute best for me, including the 2 mates of pacers I had not meet before. Some of the conditions on top were horrible making navigation and herding/feeding/clothing a Clive a challenge. Stu, Steve (who I called Chris for most of leg 1, sorry), Dave, Dave, Andy, Mark, Sam, Andy, Dave, Jim, Paul, Mark, other than the weather and struggling to eat I would have not changed a thing.

I am humbled by my long time climbing partner Tim who climbed down to rope Broadstand. In the wet, both the climb and the ramp above were very tricky as the 3 of us who climbed it will testify. With only 3 minutes contact time, it would be easy to forget the extent this was above and beyond the call of duty.

I am humbled by Bryn, one of my beer drinking friend who had no clue about running, let along fell running and found the whole experience of doing the overnight road support quite curious and alien, but followed each instruction in the lengthy Clive's BGR manual to the letter with serious enthusiasm and did not get a step wrong.

I am humbled by Myra, Rowen and Andrew, who were just great in every way, despite me spending too much time with Bob for the past 3 years. What a lucky boy I am.

I am humbled by the support from people at work and encouragement from the members of the other groups who went at the same time.

I don't feel humbled by the Bob Graham Round itself. My respect for it has grown. I gave it my all, with better weather and/or a lack of stomach problems, it would have been on. For someone who inherited general purpose genetics (meaning OK at most things, but not a natural runner) I am really pleased with what I achieved and have such positive memory of what people did for me, how could I have any regret or disappointment.

I will write up a fuller report in time and some very minor lessons learned, but the tangible things that would have made a difference to the outcome that I would wish to change are the weather and my lack of ability to get calories down my neck were outside my control.

Its time for some different adventures for a bit with more family focus. Maybe I will do it again, maybe I won't, for the moment it really does not matter.

Calm before the gales

2011-05-12T00:54:00.000-07:00

So the Met. Office mountain forecast looks like this for Saturday

Saturday
A bright day with some sunshine. Scattered showers will break out over the National Park later in the morning, dying away again later in the afternoon. Strong to gale force northwesterly winds across the tops with summit temperatures. This will result in a high wind-chill effect over the higher summits.

Last time we had gales forecast and while there were some periods of strong winds, there were never a worry. Might be the same this time or it might be worse, you get the hand you are dealt with the weather. On the bonus side strong winds tend to assist descending (takes the pressure off your legs if you have the confidence to lean into it) and it is I would argue better than hot weather for an attempt. Best not to dwell on the weather, prepare for anything and take it as it comes, the forecast and subsequent reality may be better. We have finished packing. With what feels like a tonne of food for pacers to carry. Add to that food and gear for the stops, keeping 2 kids warm and happy, there is a fair amount of logistics to take your mind off things.

I feel quite confident. I know it can all still go wrong, but this time, barring injury (mine or someone else) I am going to finish, even if it take me 26 hours, though I am setting out with full intend to do sub 24.

I know there is one chap setting off at 6pm. Linda and Stef. at 7pm and me 10 minutes later, go good luck to the other 3 I know going on Friday night and anyone else.

Despite failing last time so much good personally came out of the experience, I don't feel able to worry to much about any prospect of failure, though I want to move on to other challenges now. I think family life has taken enough of a low level hit for the last 3 years with me being out training during meal times, etc, it is time to complete it within the 24 hours.

I have a great set of pacers and support, so baring serious injury or the prospect of immediate injury, the only excuses for not finishing within 24 hours are in my head.

Keeping two chevrons apart

2011-05-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

A tip from a stockbroker (I doubt he is registered with the F.S.A) back last September lead me to Lord Hereford's Knob/Twmpa in the Black Mountains this week while coming back from work near Reading . With a chill breeze on top, there was little time to hang around in shorts and a vest and ponder on the lyrics of H.M.H.B. for long, but we got about 5 miles and 1000ft in and have noted the Black Mountains as an area for some more serious exploration this year before the nights get a lot shorter. They are characterized by long ridges and steep sides, so ideal training ground and the fact I pass through them on a reasonably regular basis makes it all the more shameful I have not explored them before.

We are having a longer ramp down this time of 3 weeks. The week before the week before we have probably done about 20 miles and 4000ft. It will be even less next week with the last planned runs on Monday of about 4 miles and Tuesday a little less. Then its rest and eat while sorting out the logistics for a small war.

2 weeks to go, 2 weeks to go ....

2011-05-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

Monday : Caringorm from car park
Tuesday : wondered round a scottish Safari park with family
Wednesday : 11 miles and 3k of climb locally
Thursday : Tabata
Friday : 11 miles and 3k of climb locally [ same as Wednesday ]
Saturday : Now't
Sunday : Marshaling local trail race. Cracking family fun as small boy runs down forest trail after water cups dropped by the runners. Dr M. off doing 10 hour cycle ride, so running in Ras-y-Daifol was not an option unless I wanted to carry the little people as well.

8k and about 28 miles seems about right as the 1st week of a 3 week ramp down.

1 more 10 miles and 3k tomorrow, then drop down then milage and climb gradually. No more high intensity work and more stretching and rest.

Lots to prepare in the next 2 weeks, but we have an absolutely cracking set of pacers lined up.

Not that they are any better or worse than last time, but I know some of them better and there is more BGR experience included this time.

Will probably start looking at the weather towards the end of this week, not that it makes any difference, I can't change it.

Searching for a concise description of the problem

2011-04-29T01:51:00.000-07:00

I guess part of many journeys to the Bob Graham Round come via the book "Feet in the Clouds". I read it about a year before deciding I wanted to do the BGR. When you fail on something significant, it is easy to blame external factors or that you were not fit enough, but deep down you know that there is something else going on and its inside your head, you just need a word or phrase to describe it.

In the early 90's I floundered around for 2 years with little direction on my PhD [2 years out of 6, I did it while working], trying to find an angle. I managed to go through 2 supervisors and supervisor number 3. was a 1/3 time professor approaching retirement, Ian Pyle who had a long and distinguished career, he started York computing department, worked on Safety Critical Systems in industry and was a all round nice chap. After about 2 months of his term as Clive's supervisor he came out with the phrase "Engineering Decisions" which captured what I was trying to do with my thesis. While the road to a PhD was still bumpy, it was a key moment and I could hang the rest of my work on a key phrase that at least he and I understood. 4 years later the PhD was completed.

In searching for the phrase or word to really understand why I failed last time and how to get it right, there have been a few interesting things turn up. Jim Mann pointed me at the book "Born to Run" and the concept of "The Beast" and indeed this has been useful, but did not quite capture why I failed. I was re-reading part of "Feet in the Clouds", the section where he has his final successful attempt(page 304 onwards) and talks about self-deceit in the face of the daunting task ahead being his real enemy.

If I really want to know why I failed in September it was self-deceit, if I fail again in 2 weeks time, baring bad weather or an genuine accident (mine or someone else), it will be self-deceit. Once you are able to describe a problem, you can deal with it, what else do I need to know !

To Fisherfield and beyond

2011-04-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

The Fisherfield Forest (not that many tress left) is one of the most remote areas of Scotland and contains 6 prized Munro's which require a long walk in and out. Tim, who I have climbed with for years, had a small number of Munro's left including A' Mhaighdean and Ruadh Stac Mòr. I did look at trying the other 4 in the group, but we only had one map between us and part of the fun was being in the hills with a mate.

Weather was great, though a little hazy for pictures. No midges. Walk in's were long and to help with my training Tim kindly let me carry the tent on the way in and out and we put all the gear in one rucksack and he let me carried it. His consideration has no bounds. The walk in and out were probably quite good BGR training and hard on the feet.

Also included 2 other hills while I was away on the mission to take kids to see Grandad who lives in northern Scotland. Ben Wyvis, which I had been up about 15 years before, and a quick run up and down Cairngorm on the way home while kids were in the soft play in Aviemore.

Just when you don't want it .....

2011-04-19T10:15:00.000-07:00

Last week had 2 great days out, including a 12 hours plus. This week had 3 days in New York visiting a customer and 2 days travel plus jet lag [ no, it was not nice or OK for some, it was a pain in the **** ]. Did you run while in New York, Clive? No. To the east of the hotel on Long Island are crack dens and to the west was a power station. Within 5 miles is Jones Beach where 10 bodies were uncovered during the week I was there. So apart from lots of stretching, a bit of swimming, activity was confined to Sunday where I did 20 miles and about 9k over Snowdon via the Watkin path, Moel Elio down to Llanberis for brew and back up and over Snowdon. Hot day for April and good heat training. I had planned to do more, a lot more, but I was just tried, not my legs, but me inside from Jet lag, etc and I feel very comfortable with going with what my body tells me and cutting the day short to 6 hours, 20 miles and 9k.

No work travel planned between now and BGR time in 3 1/2 weeks, but at least a good 10 days before I start ramping down. Going for at least 15 of climb in the next week and after that I learned to make the ramp down a little less steep this time.

Quite looking forward to the rematch in 3 weeks or so time.

Less frequent and more of it

2011-04-13T11:48:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks I have traveled a lot with work. Paris and Milan last week which included an overnight on the train to Milan which was as step down the evolutionary ladder from the UK's Caladonian sleeper. Lots of sitting around and not much exercise.
At the moment I am in Long Island, New York. East from the hotel is a power station and west from the hotel is well known for Crack Dens, so I don't feel inclined to go out for an evening run. Though I am probably still recovering from last Friday to be honest.

However, the last week as included 2 super days of training. Early last week Jim Mann and I did leg 1 in a gale. We could just about stand up on Skiddaw. Soaked through, but probably the quickest I have done leg 1 at about 3 hours and 35 minutes. Easy get 15 minutes off that time in good weather. A most enjoyable morning other than the weather.

Friday was a beautiful day. I had got back from Milan and I was really tired on Thursday evening, given the weather I decided on the spur of the moment to return to the Lakes and did Newlands to Honister to Windy Gap to Esk Haus to Great End to Scarfel via Broadstand to Wasdale to Yewba****d to Pilar to Gable to Honister to Newlands in about 13 hours. I had a few work calls I had to took which took about 20 minutes and eat at honister on the way out, so probably about 12 hours over 13k of climb and close to 30 miles on some very rough ground. I found going back up Dale Head very hard, but did not stop and seemed to find new legs from Dale Head summit to the end (I missed out Robinson as it was just about dark by the time I got back to the car). Probably the best days training I have had and it felt good in a hard sort of way.

I am going to continue this training scheme of running myself into the ground once a week plus some bits for the remaining 3 weeks, though I hope that I won't be traveling work wise between the end of this week and the 13th of May. A job where travel is required is far from optimal for a BGR attempt, but we need to stay true to the BGR prime directive about it not having a severe adverse impact on home and work.

Now that is more like it

2011-03-28T02:07:00.001-07:00

Monday : 3 miles and 1500ft behind house
Tuesday : 4 miles somewhere off the A34
Wednesday : now't. In London
Thursday : 45 mins on indoor cycle while watching Shameless
Friday : 7 miles and 2500ft
Saturday : 500ft on hill behind house and 19 minutes flat out on road bike
Sunday : 22miles, 12000ft 4 reps of Cader Idris in 9 hours.

so a total of 34 miles and 16,500ft which is far more like it.

Sunday was a great day, each time round Cader Idris was different in terms of weather, light and the view. 1st reps was in the mist and too 70 minutes, 2nd was 75 minutes, 3rd and 4th I just did, but a little under 9 hours with 20 minutes eating back at the car, no stops at all on the way round bar the odd minute or two of chat.

I felt better after the 4th rep than I did after the 3rd. At the top on the 4th rep my legs felt they had more climb left in them, though it would hurt to drag it out. I was descending well even at the end. In some ways Cader is a harder route than the 1st 2 legs of the BGR and in some ways easier, so 4 reps on just a climb basis would be like getting to Steel fell. I did not drink enough on the 1st 2 reps which probably explained why rep 3 was hard (Nuun to the rescue). It is curious in March to be running with your shirt off.

The important thing for me is that I felt better at the end of 4 reps yesterday than when I did 3 reps in July/August time last year. So I think I am probably fitter than I was in September last year which is important. So now its down to getting a couple more long days out, training to raise my VO2max just a little, getting the planning and my head in absolutely the right place.

Plan for this week is to do no climb, just do miles (I am duty manager for the week so can't disappear into the hills where the is no cell phone reception) and then a week on monday have a solid day out in the Lakes.

Bug

2011-03-24T12:36:00.000-07:00

Last week was good for 3 days, then 2 days of a mild stomach bug, a race in the shadow of a stomach bug and then a day with a mild stomach bug.

Monday : 3 miles and 500ft
Tuesday : 5 miles flat while waiting for budding Gymnast
Wedneday : 10m & 3000ft, Route of Ras-Y-Aran
Thuesday : Blah
Friday : Blah
Saturday : 10m & 3000ft Ras-Y-Aran with stomach cramps, so 2.08. Had hoped for at least 8 mins faster, but legs went to jelly 1/2 way down and stomach cramps for about 1 3/ of the race.
Sunday : Blah

Good amount of climb in the bank, but far too little. At least I learned to run with stomach cramps which may be a useful life skill, but I don't want to test it out in May.

Welsh Fell Running, not trains or pensions

2011-03-18T04:18:00.000-07:00

Article number 3 for the Wales@home website is not about trains or pensions, but Fell Running in Wales.

Not sure I would have called it "Running up that Hill", but the editors have a very sound grasp of their audience. I do love the diversity of this site, the next article was about the Assembly Government to take direct control of Anglesey Council. I do feel I wrote one of the lightest weight articles they have had on the site for a while.

Note to self : charge torch battery before night runs

2011-03-13T12:31:00.001-07:00

I normally do reasonably well in terms of taking what is needed when out and about. On Saturday I did the course (with some slight detours) of the Pumlumon Challenge. Encountered a D.O.E. group who did a good job of pretending to be lost in toward the bottom of the Hen Gwyn valley (the most remote place in Wales, unless you know different?), Drosgol went fine and found the secret quad bike tracks which gives a very fast descent, round Nant-y-Moch, over the road and feeling on the home leg as it got dark and rained, I had planned to run the last hour in the dark away. I did 8 reps of the hill by the house the night before, so legs were getting tired as I tried to pick my way across the Land Rover (typically stuck) tracks through the bog, then my torch started flashing. I did have a spare, but it was very weedy and near useless. I had a backup spare which doubles as my phone, but decided to keep that as torch of last resort. Despite knowing this area really well, this was not good. A flashing torch with about 10 minutes light left and it was wet and dark and we were in the middle of a bog.

Last week I mentioned "the Beast" and we had been toying with each other for the previous 2 or 3 miles. Time for some clear thinking, so got into reverse and got back to the road around Nant-Y-Moch at full pace. Any hint of being tired disappeared and ran with a flashing torch close to full speed for about 5 minutes to get back to the road. At least if worst came to worst I could walk back along the road, though an lot of extra miles. As it happened, there was enough light to see along a well defined path once your eyes got used to the near dark and I took a well defined and much shorter track back to Nant-y-Arian.

Apart from the obvious, don't assume a battery has enough juice left in it, take the spare battery and a more capable back-up torch, don't pack in a hurry, the interesting bits are that when required all hints of fatigue went in a moment, for at least the next hour. This run could have been really bad if I had not got a complete mental picture of the area or if it was 100% dark (fortunately there was some moon light through the clouds), I could have been sat in a bog all night wrapped in my space blanket with a wet Golden Retriever. Being so close to home and knowing the hills well, liberties are taken which maybe should not be. Still lots learned/reminded of and a very good run out.

Monday : 5 miles and 1000ft
Tuesday : 5 miles on sports field waiting for small girl at gymnastics
Wednesday : 6 miles with Brother Haslam in woods near Camberly
Thursday : rest
Friday : 3 miles, 2500ft 8 reps of hill behind house
Saturday : 26 miles and 5000ft over rough ground
Sunday : rest

A helpful hint which I got from one of Mark Smith's blogs was to put Skins under your trousers the day after a big day out and indeed it does seem to help.

Thinking about doing the Ras y Aran next weekend as I missed it last year, but will have to put the climb in across the rest of the week.

Searching for the beast in Croesor village

2011-03-06T08:29:00.000-08:00

Slate Quaries that the Moelwyn race passes through. Image the scene 100 years plus ago. Perfect weather to get the full slate effect !

What a house!

Snowdonia's 1st ski lift. Sadly now disused.

Last week when I was out doing leg 2 of the BGR with Jim Mann in horrible weather he told me to get and read a book call Born To Run and that I needed to make friends with the beast. Since then Jim has since achieve the record for the BGR in winter, it is reasonable to assume there may be something in it. I spent most of this week in Prague so when I got a text while at Bristol airport that Jim was looking for pacers next day I was gutted I could not make it. Still I have read most of the book and it does mention the beast which is the negative side of your character which does its best to stop you running when you are exhausted. I have seen the beast (Highland Fling 2009 we danced for about 8 hours together), but yet to really make friends with it and enjoy its company which was Jim's view and one of the perspectives of the book. Read the book and then tell me I am talking ballocks.

So one of the goals of Saturdays run was to wake the beast up a little and get to know it again. A conflicting goal was to learn to eat and drink when I neither needed to or wanted to, which is a good way of delaying the onset of the beast coming out to play.

Hound and I parked at Aberglaslynn and we just ran with a rough aim of going over Cnicht. You can see why the Paddy is 30-45 minutes harder than the BGR, the ground is just rougher to travel over. We just ran north to start with for a few miles, then back to Cnicht and down into Croesor Village and back to the car. About 18 miles and 5k of climb, but the 1st 13 miles were much harder than the last 5.

Just as you get into Croesor Village I found absolute proof that a god exists. Not sure what form they take, but at just the point the beast was starting to stretch it legs, coffee cake and tea put it back to sleep with a very solid thump. Running the last 3 or so miles back to the car was much easier. Food and tea is a powerful mix.

The rest of the week was a bit of a loss. 2 nights in the Gym in the hotel for about an hour on the stair stepping machine and a couple of days where I seemed to have picked up a mild stomach bug, so not a full weeks training. Still, Saturday was good and I did poke around and work on my weakness

After about 13 mountain miles I slow down compared to the schedule. Post 20-24 miles I am probably moving at about the schedule and can climb well, but have lost time and the associated psychological effects come into play. I need to work on what leg 2 speed, while still not fast, is a bit faster than I have been going. This means hard runs between 4 and 7 hours in duration are my primary focus for the next few weeks.

Nutter of the week award goes to ........

2011-03-02T01:51:00.000-08:00

.... this week goes to Jim Mann for his 20hrs 39mins, day before the winter cut off, Bob Graham Round.

I am disappointed I was away with work and could not be there to pace him [ read struggle to keep up ]. Very impressive effort. We went out running on the previous Wednesday over leg 2 and he is in great shape, so not at all surprised he made it in I think record winter time.

Family training week in Troutbeck

2011-02-26T07:40:00.001-08:00

Half term and a great idea from Dr. M was a family holiday in the Lakes where I could do some training as well as doing family stuff. Success on both counts with over 16k of climb and a wide range of Lakeland tourist venues ticked off, it was lots of fun.
Troutbeck Inn cottages get the thumbs up. Weather was a bit variable, but did not stop play of either type.

I got to know Blencathera a lot better with early or late outings on or around it and 2 trips up Skiddaw. Also did leg 2 with Jim Mann in quite horrible conditions and a shared desire to be able to navigate it without getting the map out.

Instructed by Uncle Jim to read "Born to Run" so I can learn how to enjoy pain! It probably explains this.

Still have unpacking and packing for a short work trip to do .......

Enjoying something you really should not have done

2011-02-13T10:47:00.001-08:00

I did the Tarren Hendre race in mid Wales and had a blast. I really enjoyed it. Flat out for the 70 minutes and despite going up an extra hill which lost me about 3 minutes [much to the amusement of Mr Blake] felt I ran well. At 6m miles and 2000ft it was not a long race by any means, but I felt on form. I did a 2 miles and 500ft warm up in the hour before which probably helped a lot. Deciding to do this race and really going for it (even managed to fall over into mud on the descent through the upper forestry) meant I did not hit 10k of climb this week and my legs were stiff on Sunday in a way they were not from doing 3 times the distance 2 weeks earlier. I don't want to do many of these, but the change from plod training and the intensity did me a lot of good. Must recie it before next year, at least 5 minutes to come off the time easily.

Monday : 1500ft and 8 miles on Plummon in the dark

Tuesday : rest

Wednesday : 2000ft and 3.5 miles via 6 hill reps [ clockwise up the steep bit, down the more gentle slope ]

Wednesday : 2000ft and 3.5 miles via 6 hill reps [ anitclocksize and down the steep hill ]

Friday : rest

Saturday : Tarren Hendre race 2 miles and 500ft warm up and 2000ft and 6 miles of race

Sunday : 500ft of walking up hill with dog twice

So about 8k of climb and 23 miles this week. Short of target across both dimensions, but somehow I don't feel disappointed at all, it was just what I needed.

How many ways can you think of to say "nothing"

2011-02-07T04:03:00.001-08:00

No training last week beyond a few good stretches. There are 2 types of colds which have different implications for training.

Which stays in the head and you keep on training through it
Which involves coughing up green stuff and you stop training.

My G.P. friend Dr. J. told me some time ago about this simple classification and that keeping on training hard with type 2 can develop into a pneumonia. I had type 1 till Monday and then we got green stuff. I found even walking the dog to the top of the hill behind the house a breathless experience. However, this morning I was fine, so its time to start training again. The weeks rest was probably not too bad a thing after the long day out on Sunday, still we had not real choice.

A series of weeks like this would make a real mess of BGR training plans, but the odd week is OK. Lets make this week a good hard week and keep poping the vitamin C tablets.

1st big day out and what a day

2011-01-26T08:43:00.000-08:00

Monday : rest

Tuesday : 4 miles fast on undulating muddy field

Wednesday : 1000ft and 2 miles of hill reps

Thursday : 2000ft and 3 miles of 4 *500ft hill reps

Friday : High intensity intervals

Saturday : 4 miles on flat reasonably fast (beach)

Sunday : 18 miles and 7000ft in Snowdonia

The early part of the week was OK, Friday and Saturday were too full and struggled to get time between being a taxi service. Sunday was one of the best days out in the hill I have had for a very long time. Starting and finishing in Llanberis, Y-Elin, Y-Garn, Glydar Fawr, Pen-y-pass, Miners track to Snowdon and down the railway. I was going follow the Peris Horseshoe route, but I there was a lot of water ice about and was unsure how her 4 pawed ladyship would manage on the north face of Snowdon. Average 3 miles an hour, water ice slowed things down a bit, as did carrying enough stuff to be safe on your own in winter. The ground was very hard, but a good 1st long day out of the campaign, hard but not too hard. Only regret was not taking a real camera and having to make do with a camera on the phone.

Need to get a few more miles and climb in the early part of the week, but still a good week of training.

Much of muchness

2011-01-23T11:07:00.000-08:00

Whatever that really means, but an other slack week with some quality sessions. I was in Prague for 5 days and managed 2 good sessions on the stair stepping machine while there which don't half give your legs a good work out.

Saturday and Sunday had good runs of 11 miles/2500ft and 9 miles and 2000ft respectively. Saturdays run was from Nant-y-Moch, over Plumom to the source of the Severn and back following the fence. Sunday was a random run around various minor hill with the most stunning sunset. Not expecting such a sunset I left my camera at home. Both were good hard mountain runs over rough ground, Sunday especially.

I would guess at 23 miles and 7000ft equivalent, but this is just not good enough. I am still being cautious about my left foot which continues to not "feel right", but is not proving to be a problem. I used Fly-Roc's on Sunday and they seemed to give much better support and the foot/ankle bothered me less.

On the bright side it is enough output to be fitter at the end of the week than the start, but we need to step up a gear or 2 in terms of distance and climb and now is the time to do it.

Standing in a stream in your pants

2011-01-15T06:22:00.001-08:00

Only about 15 miles, but lots of quality short sharp sessions. Using the gym has been a reasonable change, given the weather and wanting something different while my foot sorted it self out has worked quite well.

Foot appears to be on the mend, but taking it slowly.

Monday : warn up plus 20 minutes hard on stair climber. 1st time in Gym for a year or so, so some orientation required. Session cut short by need to pick up kids from school

Tuesday : Bike ride. Leg burner near Nant-y-Arian as fast as possible. Most out of breath I have ever been expect for ramp tests with Coach Jon.

Wednesday : 35 minutes hard on stair climber

Thursday : 35 minutes hard on stair climber plus 3K on tread mill to see if foot has recovered enough to run on

Friday : 4 miles easy local run

Saturday : 8 rough miles in hills north east of Aberystwyth. Blowing a gale on tops and very wet. Just under 2 hours out, lots of hill and some very rough ground. 1st real outing and foot was OK apart from a slight niggle.

Sunday : small boy birthday party and then some travel, so won't have a chance to write up, but expect to get some hill reps in late afternoon.

So not the week I would have wanted, but lots of useful training. Foot still has a niggle, but it is OK to keep running on it and I am going to gradually increase the miles. I think I learned this week that either a gym or bike once or twice a week is really useful. I had been struggling to run more than 5 days a week, but maybe a hour bike or gym cross training when the weather is crap would be a useful addition.

I have started using cold water to aid recovery after longer runs. Most of the places I run are quite remote, so you just find a stream, take your leg cover off and stand in a stream until you can't stand in it any more. The more remote parts of mid Wales the chances of someone passing as slim. So after the run on Saturday, post run, I wondered down to a stream by a bridge, took my tracksters off and waded into a stream. After a minute or so a Land Rover appears out of the forestry and stops on the bridge next to where I am stood in the stream. The old boy winds down his window

Farmer : are you all right boy
Clive : yes fine thanks, horrible day
Farmer : What you doing standing in the stream in your pants, boy?
Clive : It helps your legs recover after a long run, helps the micro-fibers repair more quickly.
Farmer : You local then?
Clive : Yes, 2 valleys over
Farmer : I thought it was only people from away who stood in a river in their pants in winter

I came out of the stream, put my tracksters back on and we had a short chat about the farm I used to work on as a kid. Any farmer in North Ceredigion older than 55 knew or knew of (now late) Gatty Lewis who ran a agricultural machinery dealer in Aberystywth until about 1975 (unsure of this, must ask brother to be sure). He also ran a farm which I spend my formative years working on and he was a Dyfed County Counciler, including a term as chairman. There are 2 responses from hill farmers when you mention his name, either a change in the tone of voice to relative warmth or a slightly sheepish. The latter may be explained by a conversation I once had with Gatty about the difficulties of debt collecting from hill farmers who would run out of their farm yard into the hills when they saw him coming. In the end he hired 2 debt collectors from south London who he said looked like gangsters, even if they were more legitimate and they collected the full debt from every farm they visited. He did mention he had far fewer problems with bad debt after that, I guess the thought of a return visit by the Cray brother clones was not that attractive. I suspect either the sheepish farmer or his father had a visit from Ron and Ron.

Foot problems

2011-01-10T03:40:00.001-08:00

I have hurt my foot. Think it was running on ice in mid to late December. Nothing serious and it goes away when I run, but Kevin the physio suggests it best to lay off running for a week, put it in ice water every day and call him if it does not recover.

So I have been on the bike for the later part of the week. I am not bike fit and the saddle has taken its toll getting my delicate little places are a bit sore. Still, better than sitting around. I can manage to keep my foot in ice water for about 20 seconds at a time before it gets too much, need to work up to a minute. Gaging to get running again. I was starting to enjoy doing the extra distance, but needs must and I am sure the time on the bike has done me good. Some extra time to focus on core stability and stretching has not been wasted.

Earlier in the week I did a short night run along part of The Ridgeway south of Swindon. The mist was very thick, like running through soup. I also think I ran through a car park which was holding the Wiltshire Winter dogging festival, not really my thing.

Start running again on Thursday and see how it goes. Really looking forward to getting a long day out.

On your bike

2011-01-07T07:04:00.001-08:00

After 4 weeks of mild pain in my foot which cleared up after a few minutes running, I went to see Kevin the Physio this morning. Nothing serious and he thinks that the muscles between the bones in the foot got bruised and twisted. He hurt me for a while which made my foot feel much better. Suggested foot in ice water for a minute, then out for a minutes and back in, repeat a few times. One week with no running, so its the bike instead. He thought there was no point backing off for longer.

I was concerned that it was a little more serious, but this is good news and a week of going out on the bike instead of running won't be a waste at all. A tad cold to go aqua-running in Pendam Lake.

How did it happen? I don't normally run much on roads, which this is a common injury from. It may have been during the snow I was doing a few miles on the roads with a couple of inches of snow cover and some of the icy sections strained something in the foot that is not used to working that hard.

Niggles like this are part of Ultra/fell running and having access to a good sports physio has proved to be important.

2011-01-03T12:02:00.000-08:00

I think I missed a week around xmas. Lots of snow plodding and some great night runs, but I neglected to account for them here.

The last week has been about doing a few more miles than I normally would, but various family stuff meant a big day out had to be canned. Still quite a good week for the 1st week of counting. Not a step was run in the light, thank you Hope Vision.

Monday Rest
Tuesday : 10 x 150ft of the steepest hill I could find. As good training for going down as up and a few miles before and after. 1500ft and 3 miles
Wednesday : 5 * 350ft : 1500ft and 4 miles
Thursday : Aber to Borth and back across the coast path. 10 miles and 2000ft.
Friday : rest
Saturday : 5 miles + 500ft
Sunday : 7 miles + 1500ft

so 29 miles and 7,000ft is OK for the 1st real week of training. Both need to increase and a big day out a week should do that. This was the 1st week I forced myself to go out each of the 5 days and do more than a warm up and warm down. The ghost of Bob Graham present (otherwise known as Jim Mann) has kept on at me that I need to get more miles in and compared to last year's training where I would happily get 10,000ft of climb in 15 miles, we are heading in the right direction. If I can get a big day in as well in a week, then 40 miles and 10k of climb should be no problem and be nice to do some of it in the light.

The dark side of the Bob Graham Round

2010-12-19T11:39:00.000-08:00

The Bob Graham Round (I suspect any similar experiment in making the human body go up and down hills for 24 hours) seeks to expose any weakness it can find. It works away at the mind and body. Testing the character with hill after hill and rough terrain stretching out before you in your mind just that bit worse than the reality. Bad weather, darkness, coping with the inevitable slight navigation errors and other niggles is a stern test of inner strength of both pacers and the runner. So that is the kinder, sunny disposition of a summer BGR. A mid winter BGR shows a whole other darker side. 14 hours of darkness, endless sub zero temperatures, winds, limited visibility, hard ground, soft snow covering features and hazards make it a whole different ball game.

Second weekend running of BGR support. As with the previous weekend, great fun, but not with the outcome we all would have wanted. Jim Mann who completed the BGR back in September set himself a serious challenge. While I was off enjoying life a bit and getting my head set to start training again, Jim was doing 100 miles a week and getting to know the route much better.

I was to navigate leg 5 and also to provide a limited service cafe at Hare Crag on leg 1. I really enjoyed the walk in along the Cumbrian Way. The light was on as I passed Skiddaw Haus, probably just a candle, but someone was in residence. I got to the crossing point on the land rover track about 15 minutes before the group who set off at 9pm passed thorough and tied a flashing LED dog collar to the Hawthorn tree to guide them in as they came down from Skiddaw.
At 10am it was still enough to hear the voice of the runners on top of Skiddaw and easy to see their torch light.

1st group must have been a bit curious what they were running towards(a rave maybe), but had a very brief hot orange and golden syrup cake stop and headed up Calva. About 20 minute later Jim arrived minus navigator who they had left behind (with his consent of course). Dave Hindly, a class act as a navigator, is a faster plodder than me, but still a plodder. To pace Jim on the 1st 2 legs of the BGR you need to be a bit of a racing snake. Coffee and cake consumed and they disappeared up Calva. It appears that the pacer with Jim asked who was the chap with me. Jim pointed out there was no one and a bit of "yes there was", "no there was not" exchange went on the trog up Calva I was later told. I can confirm that to be best of my knowledge I was on my own at that point. Spooky hey.

A sweaty and puffing Dave Hindly turned up about 15 minutes later. We then waited about 20 minutes for the solo runner( See Baggins on page 4). We could see his light on Skiddaw and thought we better wait as a 4 hour leg in the dark on your own, even a sip of hot juice and bit of cake and 15 seconds of human company must life your spirits a bit. We then walked down to Threkeld just in time for Jim to barrel through have some Carbona and coffee thrown at him. Appears he had some fun trying to descend Sharp Edge. Not a route I know, but seems to be one to be treated with respect. More so since he came back up it again. Various bag swapping chaos ensued in Jim's wake and pacers from various groups appeared and then things returned to order. It was 2am and I had a fantastic evening. Most of it on my own, but the situation was great. Being in the middle of the mountains in moon light were great. So were my 5 layers of clothing. I was not cold, but once you stop you chill very quickly. Dave Hindly and I had a great chat on the way down to Threkeld.

Most of the next day I spent eating and drinking tea after an early aborted attempt to get to Newlands to look at the descent from Robinson. In a Volvo which gets stuck on the flat, no way.

The leg 5 crew were thinking about getting ready for the trip to Newlands, when we got a text that it was off. Disappointed that Jim did not get his crack at the mid-winter record, but all down safe. I am sure the rest of the story will be told on the fell runner forum, its not my story to tell. Hell of an achievement just the same given the conditions.

While waiting for the runners and support crew to return to the house, the three of us in the leg 5 crew went off to Threkeld to stretch our legs and I had a look at the lower second of the parachute jump descent again.

Both weekends had great people and great efforts by all involved. Mark I really feel for as his calf tore after 45+ miles. Jim just was unlucky with the conditions. The most respect to both of them.

After the last 2 weekends, my mojo for the BGR is back, but lets be very clear. I enjoy winter running, but the only BGR attempt I will ever make will be a summer one.

if you succeed at everything, you are not trying hard enough.

2010-12-12T11:22:00.001-08:00

Main event this week was Mark Smith's winter round on friday night and saturday. I was scheduled to

Rope up Broadstand for an abseil descent (anticlock wise round) with my 100m caving rope.
Do leg 5 (Skiddaw and friends)

A rapid thaw on friday left just about as good a set of conditions as you could hope for in winter. As with supporting any round there are many other threads to the Mark Smith winter 2010 BGR story, but they are not my story to tell.

Roping Broadstand went well, apart from pulling a rock down on my face as I put a guide runner just above Broadstand. I should have spent 2 minutes clearing the rocks above. Still, I was not beautiful before hand. One of the support runners who was going to run leg 3 with Mark started an abseil and could make no progress, the rope was too tight. This made no sense to me at the time, but we made the call to take Mark down Foxes Tarn instead, as the abseil would be very slow if the rope was that tight. When I abseiled down about 10 minutes later to get the gear I left in place to guide the rope it was easy, I did the 80m in about 2 minutes, rope was loose. It appears 2 walkers use it to go hand over hand down the tricky bottom bit of Broadstand which is why Ian found it tight. Did they ask? No! Could we have choosen at any time to untie it and let it sliver down? Yes! I shall say no more as it did not effect the outcome of getting Mark round in under 24 hours, but I was not a happy Clive.

On Dollywagon Pike [ about 17 hours in ], Mark was only a couple of minute down on a 23 hours schedule, so going very well. At this point he tore a calf muscle and had to struggle back down to Dummail.. I really felt for Mark, after being so close last year. He was obviously disappointed. With a small person on the way, he felt it was his last chance for a while. Few people have been as encouraging in my rather less ambitious summer BGR objective than Mark, so if/when he wants to have an other go, he can be assured of my support. A winter BGR a big step up from a summer round in terms of commitment.

In the early 1990's I organized talks in the University in Aberystwyth by some well known mountaineers(if you were a mountaineer yourself). All were great, the most memorable being Simon Yates, Mick Fowler and Andy Perkins (in the days when he had a beard and worked for Troll). Andy came to Aber at least twice. One talk was about an 1993 expedition to Gasherbrum 4 where they did not complete the whole line. While talking about the expedition over a beer, he made a comment along the lines of

if you succeed at everything, you are not trying hard enough.

That statement has well has stuck with me over the years. If you attempt a winter BGR, you defiantly are trying hard enough.

So for my 1st week of training, only about 3000ft. These were a quality 3000ft carrying with 3 of us taking turns to carry 40 pound plus sacks up Scarfell. Sunday was taken up with hosting a 7 year old girls birthday part and taking a small buy to a cinema party which left little scope to make up for not doing leg 5.

Next week is pacing Jim Mann's winter BGR and it appears at least an other 4 groups are going over the weekend. Must remember to avoid the falling rocks from now on.

Cardington Cracker and beyond

2010-12-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

The day after my aborted Bob Graham Round attempt, I decided to have a break until the Cardington Cracker race (about 10 weeks), get a bit faster, catch up on some other bits of my life, change job, get to enjoy running again and reflect on what I needed to do to get round in May 2011. Success on all counts.

The Cardington Cracker was a bit frustrating this year. Nothing to do with the organisation or anything like that. Speaking to others their times were down, some by about 6 minutes on the previous year because of the ice and hard ground. By the 1st gate 200m from the start I knew something was not right. I got out of breath more than usual on the flat and slight inclines. I could not attack the hills as well as I have been, so lots of people passed me. I got back some places on each descent (20+ on the descent from Caradoc), but most of them passed me by the summit of the next hill. Had a lack of serious training had such an marked effect? By the time I got home the reason for a very lack luster performance was obvious, I had picked up the stomach bug one of the kids had. Better this weekend than either of the next two.

Before putting the new plan together its useful to reflect on why I did not get round and to be quite honest about it. In no particular order

I did not prepare mentally for the concept that I could get to Dummail behind schedule and have to pull time back
Did not apply vaseline at the start, after leg one or after leg 2. It caught up with me on leg 3. While tolerable, it took your mind of the task in hand. Take care of those important little places.
I had no margin of error. The BGR was at the limit of what I was capable of. This meant I lost confidence going up Clough Head, slipped a little behind schedule and a feedback loop started.
I did not know leg 2 well enough. Despite having been over it 3 weeks before while doing legs 1 and 2. I also did it in snow in February and most of it one evening in 2008, I still did not know it well enough.
Late September was not an ideal time to do a round. We had ice, some cold and lot of dark.
I had too few long days out. Family collateral damage prime directive stood, but I could have used two or three more long days out a couple of months before.
I ran too few miles in training. I did the climb and did it well. I would go out and do 2500ft of climb, but sometime in only 2 miles. I really need to get more distance in the weeks training. Maybe not every week, but most weeks.
Some days I would go out and do hill reps and only do a 1000ft. I really needed to go out for an hour (or whatever unit of time was available) and see how many reps I could do in that time, not decide to do 3 and end up doing 2.
I went out some days when I was too tired. I got the train/rest balance mostly spot on, but some days I should have focused on stretching and strength training or a short recovery run rather than a half hearted attempt at hill reps.
I should have paced a BGR or 3 in 2009 in addition to a winter one.
I was about 1/2 a stone too heavy.
I came down from Scarfell on my own. Really needed a pacer.
My plan for food, etc was too specific on what and when. Needed a more pragmatic plan to give pacers along the lines of "insert contents of bag marked leg ?? food into largest hole in front of Clive's head during the leg until empty".
My legs were still tired a little from the Peris Horseshoe 2 weeks before. I don't think this was a big issue, but meant my taper was more an abrupt near stop.
I spent a lot of leg 2 not knowing if I was ahead or behind schedule and by how much. I need to be self sufficient until Wasdale in knowing where I am relative to the schedule.

All that said, much more went right than wrong in training. I ended up fitter than I had probably ever been before and I had a good crack at it. I had only been running for 2 1/2 years, so not a bad effort for starting at the tail end of the pack in March 2008.

So what are we going to do that is different

Get to know leg 2 really well. At least 1 out and back in training and a combined leg 1 & 2 in less than 8 hours.
Use a more aggressive schedule 22.30 and have done each section faster than that schedule in training.
Less hot baths and more standing in cold rivers post training runs.
Do at least 30 miles in training every week, in addition to at least 10,000ft of climb
Do 50 miles plus at least twice a month. Anything more ambitious would end in injury and/or madness and/or violation of the BGR family prime directive.
Do as many hill reps per unit of time available and compete with yourself to improve.
In my local area, much of the ground is rough, slow and hard work. The BGR is rough, slow and hard work, they are a good match, so spend more time local running than travelling to someone more interesting.
Be under 12 stone or I must run in a shirt with "fat bastard" on the front on the 13th of May.
Spend more time stretching and working on leg strength, not just stretch before and after running.
I got a lotout of, and raised my game, after my blind date at Dummail with Penrith Stu. Getting out and running on the hills with other people who are a order of magnitude better than you (and are not a dog) is very positive.

There is also a large slab of "on the day stuff I have picked up", but we can leave that to the day itself.

I found not racing much a good move and only plan to do a couple of races before May. My thoughts at the moment include

Long Mynd Valleys race
One of the Hardmoors 55, the Wuthering Hike or the Wye valley Ultra. Preference to the longer race.
An as yet unspecified A.M., maybe the Moelwyn race.

The next 2 weeks are a bit curious training wise as I am supporting winter BGR attempts on the next 2 weekends. I don't want to have trained so hard in the week that I become a weak link. That said there should be at least 6000ft of climb for me including Scarfell from Wasdale with 100m of caving rope. Lets hope the weather improves(read power snow goes hard), at the moment a winter round would be a hell of an adventure.

Snow, Snow, Snow

2010-11-28T13:43:00.000-08:00

Seal Skin socks and Inov-8 studs dealt very well with uncompacked snow and the little ice that has been around. So Friday to Sunday included very nice, but quite cold evenings of 5 or 6 miles in the dark on snow. I suggest a snow plod multiplier of about 1.2 making the running a little harder, but no where near the added difficulty of last year. Still, more snow is forecast so the snow plod multiplier may increase.

Hound has a new green flashing led collar which appears to stop motorists who can't work out what it is.

The tail end of this week has been really about getting myself reacquainted to running in the cold and dark. While moving I find I need a lot less insulation that I expect when I am starting out. This is important to be able to judge how many layers and how thick each one should be for the temperature and wind. I have pacing for 2 winter rounds coming up in 2 weeks time and keen not to make the same mistake as last year where wearing a Buffalo Smock almost cooked me alive, even though the temperature was around -8. Major lesson learned.

Other major lesson was that drinks not in a flask will freeze, so I have a few heating pads which should take the chill off a drink in a camel pack without melting the bag itself.

Cardington Cracker race next weekend. I suspect it will be fun! For some historical reason it is one of my 3 favorite fell races of the year (Long Mynd Valleys and Nant Peris Horseshoe are the 2 others). A time of 1.42.30 last year, so lets go for under 1.40 this year, but times relative to last year will be irrelevant if there is a lot of snow to slow things down and spice it up.

Poor Little Sod

2010-11-17T11:33:00.001-08:00

Something I suspect most road runners don't come across during their training.

My car was being serviced in Aberaeron, and as I am taking a weeks holiday between jobs, I took the opportunity to run along the coast path from Aberaeron to New Quay and back, about 6 miles each way. I did this section in June in trail shoes, but I do wish I had worn studs today as I slipped over a few times. Wales in November so I got soaked on the run down. Enjoyed a coffee, some welsh cakes, a read of the paper in New Quay and started to run back.

On the beach north of New Quay I came across this little fellow and a reasonably elderly lady who had just pulled him out of the surf at no small risk to her self. Her friend had gone to get a phone. She was walking 2 dogs, one of which was deaf and blind and would every so often bump into the Seal pup, and then bark at it, but facing the the wrong direction.

We waited a while, but the Octonauts failed to arrive. I had my mobile with me so via the Coastguard (I was one long ago ago, so had a good idea they can be the official in the middle for such things) who somehow got in touch with Bert the man who rescues Seals in mid-Wales. Only took Bert the Seal man about 40 minutes to get to us.

While a Seal pup looks very nice, injured as it was, it was still very keen to demonstrate its ability to hiss and show its teeth to make you think that handling one is best left to someone like Bert who know what they are doing. Seals carry Salmonella, so care and gloves are required in their handling.

The Seal pup had lost one eye (crows picked it out), was exhausted to the point it could not move itself and bleeding from the mouth. I expect he got washed around by the storm last night. Bert thought the seal pup was about 2 weeks old, still dependent on its mother and would have died if left. Seal pups appear in September/October and this one was probably born quite late in the year.

A young couple staying at the Caravan park above the beach were part of the team which carried Seal pup across the beach and up to Bert's car in a dog cage. It was being taken to the Seal hospital in Milford Haven. The couple named him Nelson and Bert told us how to visit him. I won't be going to see him, best to do your bit and move on in such things. As I was still damp from the run down, I got cold, even though the Sun came out while waiting on the beach. I was happy to see Nelson in the back of the car and to get running if I am honest.

Should nature have been left to take its course? Possibly. I don't know if Nelson was a grey or a common seal and what the population balance is in the Irish Sea. Since someone was bothered about saving it, I guess it must have been worthwhile. In short, not for me be the judge for the future of a fellow mammal.

So if you do run along the coast this time of year, then Welsh Marine Life Rescue on 01646 692943 is a useful number to have programmed into your mobile.

Winter's come on the Meirionnydd Round

2010-11-12T02:58:00.000-08:00

A few pictures taken on Wednesday on the section of the Meirionnydd Round north of A458. Only had time for a quick "lunch time" run on my way to get the train to London. Got as far as Glasgwm, before running out of time and having to turn back. Great view of the whole round, but my feet got very cold. Note to self to wear Seal Skin socks when out on such ventures from now on.

Clwydian Hills Race

2010-11-08T01:39:00.000-08:00

Pics as usual thanks to Alistar.

A good excuse to explore a new area which is the area of hill between Mold and Ruthin. Race was 10 miles and 3100ft of up and down. The start was a bit random with runners spread out over about 100m and a whistle and "off you go". I was near the start by chance, so had 1/2 the field stream past me in the 1st mile.

Most of the up was runnable for the mid-pack folk unless you have spent the last 2 years training to walk up hill, so I lost places on each of the quite gentle up hills. Gained places on the down hill and the steep ascent up the gully to Moel Famau. Some of the descents were fantastic in terms of being quick and I appear to have properly got my descending head back.

I did a time of 1.36.?? which is better than the target of 1.40. I left my watch behind so had no idea of my time until I had finished, just ran as hard as I could. I decided to do without any gel (I had one with me incase I or someone else bombed out) to see what happened. I think it made no difference on this course. I certainly felt like I could keep the power on towards the end. I finished about 10 place ahead of the 2 people I judge my performance against, but you never know what sort of day they had. It did feel like the interval sessions I have been doing made a positive difference in allowing me to run some of the more gentle hills. I did 4 miles on saturday evening which might have left my legs a little tired, but I don't think it made much difference.

Navigation yesterday was a case of follow the line of runners infront. I had a map with the checkpoints marked, but did not consult it which would have slowed thing down a bit.

Great soup and tea at the end. The race was very well run (as would be expected) by the NEWSAR mountain rescue team.

The rest of Clive's running week was looking for new routes and some intervals.

Fred Rogerson

2010-10-31T02:16:00.001-07:00

I never meet Fred Rogerson, but was well aware of his huge contribution, from reading accounts of BGR attempts, talking to people or from Feet in the Clouds, to many who attempted the Bob Graham Round over the years.

Morgan wrote this on the fell runner forum.

but why ?

2010-10-30T12:16:00.000-07:00

back on or off the wagon depending on your point of view.

Monday : 3 miles on fast-ish on undulating ground

Tuesday : 5 miles and 1000ft of local loop

Wednesday : 3 miles fast-ish on undulating ground

Thursday : Tabata

Friday : rest

Saturday : Out and back of the easy leg of the Meirionnydd Round which felt like about 5 miles and 2k of climb each way at a reasonable pace.

Sunday : probably nothing as Mrs AmbitionExceedsAbility is away

Hound and I ran the section from the A 487 to the A470 and back.

View Merrioneddyd round section 1 in a larger map

The part of the Bob Graham Round most like this is probably Calf Crag. The running is quite quick in many sections, but it is boggy in a lot of places and quite undulating which makes for a good 9 or 10 mile training run. I suspect that this is the least challenging section of the Merrioneddyd Round in all aspects, distance, terrain, amount of climb and navigation. Indeed once you find the fence, just follow it worked well. Being mid Wales in later October is rained for part of the run, but the visibility was good enough to be able to see most of the rest of the Round and it is quite impressive. I can believe that it is at least 90 minutes harder than the BGR. Not even thinking about doing it, at least until we have got round the BGR, but a winter of exploring as part of the BGR training has some great wider effects of getting to know an area less than an hour from home, but wild as hell.

Attempting to do the Bob Graham had many effects. Not getting round was not the big deal I though it might have been, maybe because at least in my mind I proved to myself I could do it, now all I need to do is remove the few small barriers (a lack of Vaseline strangely being one of them), get a little bit fitter and a little bit faster than I was in September to get some margin and baring accidents, really bad weather, etc and including some humility, I should get round in May.

The Sunday after my attempt I decided it was time to change jobs. Not quite sure how it happend as I did not actually apply for a job (missed out the whole writing a C.V. and interview ball ache), I now have a new role in Engineering in Oracle stoping our customers self harming with these monsters of Database consolidation.

As a mid-life crisis, 2 1/2 years of training for and attempting the Bob Graham Round is quite tame really and keeps me out mostly out of trouble. Certainly less disruptive to family life than fast motorbikes, having an affair with fast and loose women or exploring your alternative sexuality. I do seem to be collecting agricultural and construction hardware( about 30 tonnes at the last estimate) but I am using the excuse of an investment which works for me at least.

The reasons I started running again 3 years ago and set the BGR as a goal as mostly lost in time, though I do remember one event being a catalyst. Running along the ridge this afternoon I asked why I was going to have an other go at it and what poped into my head was along the lines of

putting yourself in a high stress situation which you choose to be in gives a perspective from which to examine the rest of your life.

Each to their own, but it works for me as a justification to have an other go. No major revelations, I am happy with my lot, but there are a few things which, on reflection over the last 5 weeks, I have decided to stop doing which leaves more time to focus on important stuff.

So enough of the navel examining rubbish. Considering doing the Clwydian Hills race next sunday. A new race for me in an area I don't know.

Round up of the week

2010-10-25T01:15:00.000-07:00

Nothing that interesting this week, other than a mild cold which gave an excuse not to run for the last part of the week.

Monday : Did something, but can't remember what!

Tuesday : 5 miles across Rodney's Piller at night. Good ridge with lots of climb.

Wednesday : Snivel

Thursday : Snivel

Friday : Snivel

Saturday : 6 x 400m reps (would have been 8 but it tipped it down) while waiting for kids and 8 x 20 seconds flat out with 10 seconds rest late afternoon. I was knacked.

Sunday : busy building a shed

The default dog walk is 250ft of climb in about 1/2 a mile through woods, so I have been doing that at a push which adds a little spice and do this on the days we don't run and even on some we do.

Getting the appetite back to run distance and legs seems to have recovered now.

Hills, Hills, HIlls, Miles, Miles, Miles, Fun, Fun, Fun

2010-10-24T06:19:00.004-07:00

A very wise man left a comment on my blog a few weeks ago

Clive
Throw the bloody stopwatch away!!
Hills hills hills
Miles miles miles
Fun fun fun
I once paced a very fast marathon runner (2.25) AND HE FAILED TOO.
You will do the BG at "Clive pace"

There is no doubt Stu is right. Even a high level analysis of my BGR training prior to September would suggest it was a short of miles most weeks, did have lots of hills and lots of fun. A lack of miles will be something I am going to address when I start BGR training again in December.

At the moment I am playing catch up on the jobs around the house, so going out for 20 minute, warming up, doing 4 minutes of hell on legs and warming down, then getting on with everything else is very appealing. Intervals round the track fits well with Saturday morning children's gymnastics. I am also not that motivated to do long runs or hill reps, probably because it is only 4 weeks post BRG attempt. I am getting quite fired up about doing the course of the Meirionnydd Round in sections over the winter and might start this week work and weather willing.

However, it has been fun exploring an other side of running over the last 3 weeks of trying to just get faster over a short distance (1 mile) and I have used it as a change rather than full rest.

Stu is on the money, for a BGR it matters not a jot if I the fastest I can run a mile round in track is 6 or 8 minutes. More importantly it is great to be challenged when the challenge is a wise one, and Stu's always are, particular the one about fat boy. Its the best kinds of encouragement, is very useful and is included in the mix when working out a training plan (don't really schedule things, my world is too random for that) which balances home, work and BGR ambitions.

So Stu, whats next for you? Paddy Buckley?

Shame the Commonwealth Games has finished

2010-10-16T03:51:00.000-07:00

I have improved my mile time by 31 seconds in the last 2 weeks to 6.22. I expect there are a couple of reasons for this

Recovered a bit more from the Bob.
Got a bit better at the pacing and technique of running a mile
Tabata training is having some effect.

Give me an other 3 months at this rate and I would be setting a world record, though I expect diminishing returns. A good use of the 50 minutes while I wait for the kids to finish gymnastics on a Saturday morning and once we can get sub-6 mins, we will work toward 2 miles under 6 minutes. My very experienced veteran Midlands runner friend Richard keeps pointing out that "if all you do is long slow distance, all you will get is long slow distance".

Not quite feeling recovered enough for a big run or hill reps yet, so 5-7 miles tomorrow is planned.

Golf, hand warmers and being bonkers

2010-10-14T05:51:00.001-07:00

The day or 2 before I attempted the Bob Graham Round last month I got a number of text's which included the words

good
luck
bonkers

in various orders.

Jim Mann and Mark Smith are both attempting winter rounds a week apart and I shall look forward very much to doing what I can to support them both.

I was looking at getting some of these in preparation and this seems to be about the cheapest place to buy them. However, can I risk being seen to buy from a place that sells golf gear?

If you have any experience of such heat generating devices, please leave a comment.

24 hours out in December a whole extra world of hurt layered on top because of the cold. 8 hours out in winter is OK, 24 is a different game, even supporting in 4 - 6 hours sections becomes more of a challenge. Not being able to do something because you had to take your gloves off to fiddle and now they are too cold to feel can not just be awkward, it can be there start of the decent into the accident pit. Even so, buying stuff from a golf shop is going a bit far.

Jim and Mark, I am pleased to say you are both bonkers.

Still recovering

2010-10-10T01:05:00.000-07:00

I went out for a run on Sunday late afternoon, aiming at about 7 miles on Sunday, some very small hills and rough forest tracks. The weather was a bit wild, so stuck to either the forestry or lee side of hills north west of Nant-y-moch.

I did the 1st 2 miles aiming at a 8 minute mile pace, but after a mile and 1/2 the track got rougher, some small rivers to run through and I got more tired, so slowed to 8.40 for the next 1/2 mile. The rest was at a comfortable, fun pace, though the last mile was hard work, my legs have not quite yet fully recovered from 2 weeks ago.

I find my unconscious mind is planning a re-match for May and every so often pops ideas and plans into my conscious mind when then need suppressing. For the last 2 years I have run the Aberystwyth Twin Peaks race, but this year I am giving it a miss. Myra is riding the Taf Trail with some friends today so small people are in charge of me and to be honest I am not ready to run a race, even more so one which is more than 70% pavement, though very nice pavement. The race is quite fast and has less than 1000ft of climb in 7 miles, so not well aligned with the previous years training aims.

Tabata : take 2

2010-10-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

A little more research and it appears I was doing it wrong on my 1st attempt. The requirement for the Tabata method to be successful is that you can't stand after the 4 minutes is up. Almost not being able to stand is not good enough. Each rep needs to be as fast as you can go at that time with no pacing at all.

Last night I could not stand after which is the aim of the game. Even after only 2 reps of really flat out sprinting I was already struggling.

2 times a week for 4 weeks and we shall see if my mile time improves from 6.53.

Tabata Method : No, it has nothing to do with contraception

2010-10-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

I tried the Tabata Method out this evening. Running as fast as I could on the flat for 20 seconds, 10 seconds rest, repeat 8 times.

I could just about stand after. Aiming to raise my VO2 MAX, so going to do this twice a week and see what progress gets made in my mile times and hope this translates into being able to work a little harder on the hills.

Running again and Marshalling

2010-10-04T03:25:00.000-07:00

Started running again on thursday early evening with a little jog (maybe 3 miles) around Gloucestershire Country Park which I had been passing with 1/2 a mile of for the last 13 years and never found before, shameful. May make this a regular stop.

Did some work on the track on saturday morning where I have an hour free while the kids do Gymnastics. A warm up and then a 6.53 minute mile and then some warm down jog.

Both of the above suggest I have not yet fully recovered for my aborted BGR attempt.

Sunday had much fun as a marshall for the Arenig fell race in the wild parts of wild Wales. Just a great race in the middle of nowhere. You get a different side to racing and meet different people. I do between 4 and 8 races a year, so I guess if I Marshall 1 a year, that is my contribution for now. I have a long term plan of re-running the Nant-y-Moch fell race, but not for a few years. If any one remembers the route, can they let me know.

Going to try a bit of HIIT over the next 4 weeks in addition to longer slower runs and a bit of hill climbing, see what happens. 1st measure is any improvement in my mile times, but the real test will be the Cardington Cracker in December.

Bob Graham Round 1 Clive 0

2010-09-28T02:59:00.000-07:00

Wimped out at Wasdale, about 1 hour and 20 minutes down on the schedule. Your head goes your legs soon follow.

Why? some strategic planning errors and not having my head in the right zone on leg 2. A round is a cruel beast which seeks out any weakness to stop you getting round. If you are on the margin of being able to do it, which I openly admit I was, then it does not take much to tip you off balance.

That said, it was still a fantastic experience. Weather was not a big problem, though it was very icy on top of the peaks on the 2nd half of leg 3. Leg 1 was magical and the most fun running I have ever done. The team, both pacers and support were brilliant in all aspects. I could not have picked a better random stranger than Jim Mann to do it with. Well done to Jim for getting round in 22 hours, doing leg 4 on a 16 hour schedule!

What it did prove to me is that I am capable of it, and with some spare time. My legs were not shot until my head told them to be. If my head was right in Wasdale my body was quite capable of carrying on.

Lots learned. I am not going to dwell on it or have a autopsy of the BGR experience. We know what went wrong, what needs to be changed and what went right and so much went right.

I am going to step out of the Bob Graham Round mindset for a few months. Running wise focus on getting 1.35 (7 minutes quicker than 2009) on the Cardington Cracker race in December, be Mark Smiths Winter BGR slave the following weekend and then start thinking about an other crack at it, probably in early May.

Myra and a friend as planning to cycle Wales, north to south, next year so I am now becoming Coach Clive as well.

What makes the BGR special is not the achievement, the mountains or the location, but the wonderful people we meet on the journey to and from Moot Hall.

Now, time to get a bit faster !

No time or reason to dwell

2010-09-24T00:11:00.000-07:00

The day has arrived after 2 1/2 years since the concept of doing the Bob Graham Round found its way into my head. no time or reason to dwell. Forecast looks better, still windy.

So many nice messages of support. Time to get on with it.

I suspect quite a lot of the 24 hours from 7pm are going to hurt.

Friday
Weather
There may be some light rain at first, but this will soon clear leaving a dry day with clouds thinning and breaking to give some sunshine, particularly over the southern Fells.
Visibility
Very good, perhaps good at first in any light rain, becoming excellent by the afternoon with distant hills clearly visible.
Hill fog
Occasional at 700 metres becoming patchy by the afternoon and lifting above the summits.
Maximum winds above 500m
Northerly 35-40mph gusts 50-60mph over exposed summits and ridges, easing 25-30mph gusts 35-40mph during the afternoon.
Saturday

Weather
A dry day with some good sunny spells, although there will be more in the way of cloud over the eastern fells during the afternoon.
Visibility
Excellent, with distant hills clearly visible.
Hill fog
some patches at 700 metres over the eastern fells in the afternoon.
Maximum winds above 500m
North 25-30mph gust 35-40mph

Full moon approaches

2010-09-22T04:37:00.000-07:00

30 minute run last night and my legs felt that they recovered from the Peris Horseshoe. They had not on Sunday where 7 miles mostly on the flat was harder work than it should have been. Lets hope they still feel recovered at Wasdale. Our run last night was just before it got dark and the moon is just off full.

Lots of planning, packing and writing the BGR manual. This has been a useful exercise to get me to think about who and what needs to be where and when. Also what to pack, what to explain. A number of people involved are not runners and previously thought Bob Graham was a mid-West US preacher.

2 1/2 years since I decided to attempt the BGR and 2 days to go. This may be the calm before. I am visiting a customer tomorrow, trying to sleep as late as I can in a B & B in Ullswater on Thursday night. I don't feel nervous or really excited, maybe that is being 42 and treating it a little like a job to be done and doing all I can to give it the best chance of success, rather than worry about it. The one thing that had concerned me was the weather and that has improved in terms of the forecast a lot in the last 5 days.

Outlook for Friday to Sunday:
Occasional showers on Friday clearing, leaving a dry weekend with plenty of sunny intervals. Feeling cool and fresh in a northeasterly wind that will be strong at times on Friday.

If that is what we get then I will be content.

Packing probably too much stuff in 8 labelled boxes on the floor, plus tents, matts, sleeping bags and water containers among other items. Planning and packing has replaced training as a focus in the last week. A few last phone calls to make.

We have a bunch of great pacers and friends from the last 42 years helping, a cast of 13 at last count. Whatever the outcome in terms of getting round the 42 peaks in 24 hours, the other 2 measures of success are

Failure to call the mountain rescue
Everyone has fun

Preparing for a small war

2010-09-20T03:48:00.000-07:00

Into the final week and it is all about resting and preparing. I am looking forward to the rest of this week where the name of the game is to feed my face (technical term is carbo-load) which I should be quite good at.

Every day the Met Office forecast changes and it has been sounding better, but with some uncertainty. The current forecast is

Outlook for Wednesday to Friday:
Dry, sunny and warm on Wednesday. Cloudier with occasional rain and showers during Thursday, before becoming brighter again on Friday, though turning cooler.

UK Outlook for Friday 24 Sep 2010 to Sunday 3 Oct 2010:
Outbreaks of rain are likely to affect the UK on Friday but become mainly confined to eastern England and Scotland, while western areas become drier and brighter. It will feel cold, especially in the east and northeast where it will be rather windy. Indications are that the weather will become more settled during the last weekend of September with most places seeing dry and bright conditions. Daytime temperatures are likely to recover to near normal but it will feel chilly at night with a chance of patchy frost in rural locations. Towards the end of September there are signs of a return to more unsettled weather with wind and rain in the northwest gradually extending further south and east by the start of October. Temperatures will tend to be near-normal.

Not quite cool, with a gentle breeze and clear skies, but looks OK. Things can change, but there is no mention of gales or heavy rain which there was 5 days ago.

Last motivational coffee and cake with Coach Jon today.

I have done a little running, 1000ft of hill reps, 7 miles and 2 miles on the flat. Also a "how fast can I run a mile while waiting for children at Gymnastics", answer is very slow, just over 7 minutes, though there was a head wind. Still a bit tired from the Peris Horseshoe which I very much hope disappears before Friday.

Scared by the moon

2010-09-17T02:08:00.000-07:00

I got sent to Morrisons to do the weekly shop on wednesday night. It was just about dark when I came out and the moon which was a perfect 1/2 caught my eye. The implication that we are only 1/4 of a lunar cycle away from standing outside Moot Hall under the full moon scared me for the 1st time.

I did a very bad job of explaining this to a ex-neighbour who I meet in the car park who wondered off thinking I had really lost it and that I was now scared of the moon itself. Sorry, Wally.

7 days to go.

Nant Peris Horseshoe 2010 : welcome to the taper

2010-09-12T09:15:00.000-07:00

I can't really claim that the Peris Horseshoe was part of my taper, that would be rubbish. At 17 miles and 8,500ft of serious terrain, it is always going to be hard work. I will claim it as my favorite fell race in the calendar, there is no better place to mark the end of my BGR training (assuming we get round).

My legs still felt a little tired from the previous Sundays run over legs 1 & 2 of the BGR and I did keep a little in reserve not wanting to end up really drained with 2 weeks to go. I also got very strict instructions, while I was waiting to register for the race, from Peter Taylor and Dave Sykes from Tattenhall not to injury myself . While you don't go out to hurt yourself, I was unable to disable the self preservation chip due to a little voice in the back of my head chirping on about "2 weeks to go". Probably a good thing.

My good friend and neighbour, Bryn, came up with me. I dropped him at Pen-Y-Pass and he walked up the Miners track to the summit of Snowdon with some fluid. He ended up being co-opted by the marshalls on the summit, who remembered him from 2008, to cut up Mars bars for the passing runners.

A field of 71(I think) started a little late, with a slightly altered start. Mike Blake, the race organiser, mentioned during his pre-race briefing that he had forgotten his fell shoes( think studs) and ended up running in road shoes (think slicks) he happend to have in the car. If there is one thing I shall remember this race for, it is struggling to keep up with Mike on a number of the downhills. I had invested in the most agressive studded pair of fell shoes out there (Inov-8 Mudroc) and I think of myself as reasonable quick downhill, but following Mike off the Glyders was a real lesson. Mike knew the lines really well, every so often I would work hard on a hill or the descent would favor grip over skill and I would make 30 seconds on him. Within 5 minutes he would get a better line round a lump and be back with me. I did manage to gain maybe 2 minutes on Mike on Lliwedd, but I got some really bad lines and he got a little ahead by direct route up Snowdon. Mike has 20 years on me and if he had studs he would have left me for dust yesterday. I must admit I do try to beat Mr Blake in races, more as a way of judging how well I am doing rather than a personally competitive thing. Mike's view of the race can be found here. Given his 10 minute handicap of running on slicks, I think Mike deserves to be the winner of any King/Blake challenge. I do come away with real admiration for Mike, not just as a runner past and present, but also for the energy and organisation that makes races like the Peris such a great day out. Sorry if I nicked your lines Mike :-)

Apart from trying to get some advantage by following Mr Blake, the notable parts for me were

Legs got tired on Y Garn, a hang over from doing 27 miles and 11000ft 6 days before I guess. Good I was still able to run OK on tired legs.
I got a useless line over and off Lliwedd. Lost maybe 5 minutes.
Short stop at the top of Snowdon, get some fluid from Bryn and disappeared off down the track shouting "passing to your left" at the tourists.
I did slow down on the last 2 hills, but managed to keep going limited only by how much air I could get down my lungs.
I fell over about 1/4 of a mile from the finish, some minor cuts to my knees and the air went blue.
We got a mug at the end, every last drop of sweat was worth it 10 times over for the mug.
Sausage, egg, chips and beans in Pete's Eats.

While I did try to keep something in reserve for this race, my only goal yesterday was to finish in under 5 hours, who was in front or behind me did not matter at all. My time was 4 hours, 59 minutes and 55 seconds. My fall near the finish was only due to running as fast as I could on tired legs as I saw the 5 hour barrier approach on my watch. So I am really pleased to have finished 14 minutes faster than last year. I still think that if I got the good lines on the second half I could take 5 - 10 minutes off my time, but getting good lines is all part of the game.

The last year of BGR training has been all about climbing hills at a moderate pace, repeat until finished. It became clear yesterday that if I want to improve in this class of race that I do need to become faster and work my my V02max . I was too slow up Elider-Fawr, I would get breathless really quickly if I went faster than my usual up hill plod and I could have run more of the Miners track. With training focused on this type of event, and getting the route knowledge (learned of lot from Blake yesterday) I think I have the potential to do 4 hours 30 minutes, but this is something that can be considered post BGR if we get round. One thing at a time dear boy.

Peris 2010 was a top day out, part down to following Mike for a lot of the race, part down to having a mate (Bryn) along and part because it is a great race in a great location. While I could have done better I am sure with more focused training, I would rather compare where I am now to where I was in 2008. I have been running for 2 1/2 years, just about all of it has been with the underlying aim of attempting the Bob Graham Round. The days I remember as learning something important or being special in some way include

2008 Aran race : finished in the last 5. Took too much clothing and was out classed by the 60 year plus ladies.
Peris Horseshoe 2008 : spent time being sick with dehydration on Lliwedd until a kind soul out for a days walk dropped a litre bottle of Tesco's water in my lap and wondered on
2009 Long Mynd Valleys race : over an hour faster than when I was 27 on the race which caused me to give up fell running for 13 years. Not quite true, we took up diving instead.
Highland Fling Ultra : 53 miles and 8500ft along the 1st part of the West Highland Way, including an out of mind experience and calling a very confused coach Jon as I could see the finishing line. Being held up against a fence at the end of the race by Iain and Sarah Ridgeway and crying with possibly joy while sitting in the shower.
2009 Welsh 1000m race where I did not finish and had a near death experience, just someone else's near death.
Leg 1 and 5 for Mark Smith's Winter round : a shock to the system as to what a round really means and during the trudge up Blencathra I did commit to myself to pull out of the idea of doing a BGR, I would never be near fit enough.
A bind date with Penrith Stu running legs 1 and 2 in snow : this day out caused me to up my game quite a lot and he also introduced me to Nuun tablets!
Tattenhall Boob Graham Round : Proof of concept, in particular with Peter Taylors comment about me being a really **** runner when he 1st meet me in April 2008 and now I was at least in the ball park after doing legs 3 & 4 legs in heat with a sack.
Pacing an overnight leg of the Paddy Buckly over Snowdon for Jamie, Mick and Olly.
Paul Jacksons BGR : Just a great day out with new folk, found legs 3 & 4 much easier than 6 weeks earlier. Also meet Jim with who our resources have been pooled for the attempt on the 24th.
Most of Ceredigion Coast path with Misty.
Many hours and days out with coach Misty, always eager and always faster than me. Chewed sticks when she got board of hill reps.

Writing a blog has been a very good discipline. I have no idea who reads this, but feeling you have to justify your training output, meeting or exceeding the 10,000ft target each week has been useful. I based my training plan roughly on Mark Smith's blog with some modification (more rest and some very slack weeks) and I can't think of a better way of doing it for me at least. I could probably have used some more distance, a few more really long (12 hours plus days out) but it did not fit my lifestyle and the BGR prime directive of avoiding collateral family damage.

So 2 weeks of planning a small war, getting kit together, resting, eating and a bit of running, cycling and maybe even some surfing.

Last big day out

2010-09-06T11:46:00.001-07:00

It must be a good sign when after 2 leg of the BGR you don't feel like you have had the life drained out from you.

Jim Mann and I did legs 1 & 2 on Sunday. Apart from the last hour from Grisdale Tarn, up Fairfield and Seat Sandle being a bit of a struggle for both of us (me a little more) because we were about a litre short on the amount of water we needed, things went very well.

We were about 20 minutes up on schedule at the end. We passed and gave appropriate encouragement to many competitors of the Helvelin Triathlon. I guess if you were fashion orientated, then one of these would make Triathlon more appealing than a pair of discounted Ron Hill shorts and a inside out Inov-8 top (it was dark when I got up, my excuse anyway).

We also engaged in some road crew training on Sunday with Myra very ably meeting us in Threkeld and Dummail with drinks and food.

Ideally, we would have at least climbed Steel Fell and maybe gone on a bit further, but I have the Peris next weekend and don't want to push it too far with only 6 days to recover.

Monday : 12 miles near Stratford-upon-Avon along foot paths and the Green Way. Very nice morning run starting from my Brothers house and ending up near Wellsborne.

Tuesday : Rest

Wednesday : 1000ft 2 reps fort to bus stop and back in dark

Thursday : Went out for a run, but heart not in it. Did some down hill training instead

Friday : 5 miles and 1000ft at a moderate pace

Saturday : Rest

Sunday : 11,000ft and 27 miles

12,000ft and 44 miles make it one of the best weeks in terms of Horizontal miles and 12,000ft is OK.

Starting the ramp down now. I am going to enter the Peris Horseshoe next weekend, but plan not to take it to the wire. I only really want to do better than 5 hours (last years time was 5.13) and not get injured.

Lots of planning to do, but we have a cracking set of pacers lined up. Am I ready? I feel ready to attempt it. If I get round is determined by those things you can control like the extent of your minerals, your planning for food, support, etc and those you can't such as weather, injury, the 2nd coming, etc. I have had enough of training, Thursday of this week showed that, which suggests its time to get on it.

by the next full moon ....

2010-08-31T08:17:00.001-07:00

I was out doing my hill reps on Tuesday night while a good friend bribed by a choice of 1 of 7 bottled ales, watch the kids after they went to bed (actually he watched telly). I noticed the near full moon breaking through the clouds. Next full moon it will be time for the round. I know if I kept training I would get fitter, but I somehow feel ready. Does not mean I will get around in 24 hours, but I feel I am capable of it and as ready as I will ever be.

We have a really good set of pacers and supports lined up and Jim Mann who I met on leg 3 of Paul Jacksons round is going to have a crack at the BGR with me. Should be interesting how some who is very fit, but has not trained specifically for the round does.

Myra away at a conference last week, so much fun had with kids and really had to pack the running into 3 days. Still managed 12000ft, but not much more than 25 miles on the horizontal if that.

Monday : Kids

Tuesday : 1500ft of 3 x 500ft hill reps. Managed just under 12 minutes for 1 rep of hill fort to bus stop and back up (in dark) which is a new Clive record. Also 1st time out in the dark for a while.

Wednesday : kids, no time

Thursday : 1500ft 5 * 300 reps

Friday : 3 reps of Cader Idris from the east side so 3000ft x 3 and 18 miles in total. 12 seconds under 1 hour to the top while juggling a mobile phone talking to a customer who phones when I was within sight of the top and running across the rocks at the top. Still able to run quite fast at the end as time running out to pick up kids. Legs still a bit tired from day before, but a great day out. 1st ascent 59:48, 2nd and 3rd about 1.15 so all at a reasonable pace.

Saturday : helping kids learn how to body board at Mwnt

Sunday : kids all day

plan for next weekend is to do legs 1 & 2, following weekend the Peris Horseshoe and then 2 weeks taper. It would be rash to claim that the Peris Horseshoe is part of my taper!

After 2 and a half years of training, 9 months of more intense and specific training, I am looking forward to the next full moon and getting on with it.

Sweden, German army motorcycle helmets and the strange world of Arthur Brown stop play

2010-08-23T11:46:00.001-07:00

A combination of

A big day out on Saturday last week over legs 3 + 4 of the BGR
A week working in Sweden with a 8am meeting, a full day working and 7pm conf call
King family annual pilgrimage to the Beautiful Days festival in Devon

left little scope for training. I did run about 5 miles on saturday morning along some footpaths and stubble fields in rural Devon and can suggest with high level of confidence that I was the only festival attendee out of maybe 12,000 who put on a pair of running shoes and shorts and went out for a run. While waiting for a free portaloo I was talking to a chap wearing a german army motorbike helmet and a frock that my late grandmother would have found out of fashion. I made the point that I don't normally talk to men in a dress outside toilets and he made the point he does not normally wear a dress. I got more strange looks running out of the site at 9am, than a chap with a beard walking round all day in a frock and german army motorbike helmet which did not cause most of the festival 12,000 a second glance. Going for a morning festival run would have been a concept a little too far out for even The strange world of Arthur Brown.

Some weeks this is the price of having other great things in your life (family) and a job I have to admit I am blessed to enjoy most of the time. Always good to remember the BGR prime directive about collateral damage to the rest of your life. I could feel guilty about not training this week, but there is no point. The rest probably did me good and training hard when you are travel tired I have found to be counter productive.

I feel a serious week of hill reps coming on.

Paul and Marks BGR : Yet another blind date at Dummail Raise

2010-08-16T07:35:00.002-07:00

Monday : rest
Tuesday : 5500ft 11 miles 5 reps up and down Plynlimon
Wednesday : rest
Thursday 1000ft 2 x bus stop to hill fort
Friday : rest
Saturday 13,000ft 27 miles legs 3 & 4 of BGR
Sunday : Brussells airport

so a total of about 19,500ft and 40 miles which is more like it. I really should have run on wednesday, but work and home life got in the way.

Saturday morning, 8am at Dummail Raise walking up line of cars on the grass verge asking if they were waiting for runners called Mark and Paul. Eventually found the road crew, among 2 other BGR parties and one doing the Joss Naylor, for Mark and Paul, said hello, eat breakfast and had a brew.

Mark came in 1st, looked good going well, had some beef stew(I had some at the end leg 4 and I can confirm it was the best food in the world ever), change of socks and pacers and off he went up Steel Fell. Paul came in about 45 minutes later, he looked shot, mumbling about not intending to carry on. A combination of a good talking to from his wife and beef stew persuaded him to carry on. It appears that his pacers on the 1st 2 legs did not feed and water him to the extent needed.

If you have never been a BGR pacer, it is quite reasonable to assume that the runner will ask for food and drink, rather than having to be pestered to eat and drink. I ran a 3rd leg of the Paddy with 3 very experienced guys who were very self contained and needed little water or food from me, so if that was your only experience of pacing, you might quite reasonably assume that you feed and watered the runner when asked, other than that you were there for company and carriage. It does highlight the need for a pacers apprenticeship and also for the runner to be aware of the experience of the pacers and to be clear what is needed of them. Anyone who offers to help on a Round is a top chap or top chapette just for offering, but sometimes you just don't know what is needed and I am certain the 1st time I paced a round I was at risk of not providing the support needed.

On leg 3, Dale, Jim and myself made sure that Paul eat and drank and by Calf Crag he was a recovered as a man who had done 30 miles and 12,000ft of up and down could be. Dale did the navigation, impended by a little mist, but still getting good lines. Jim and I played who can force the most food or liquid down Mark's neck without him getting visibly upset, but we eased up on the game by High Raise. Good banter, though it has to be said Paul had his mind focused on the task in hand. Scarfell Pike was standing room only. There were 2 climbers on Broadstand so rather than push past them, I went with the others on West Wall traverse which feels a lot slower and then down to Wasdale from Scarfell. It had been a great leg as a pacer. 4 people who had never meet each other before just coming together and getting on with it.

A change of socks and some food on my part, some TLC for Mark and his feet, a change of pacers and a new name for the 1st hill on leg 4, Yew-Bastard. Navigation was done by a chap called Ian who I think it would be fair to say knew Leg 4 as a navigator so well as not to put a foot wrong or to even hint it might be a possibility. I did little as a pacer on leg 4, I think I held a bottle of water once once, shouted a few words of encouragement on Great Gable and did a bit of torch shining coming down the hill to Honister. Other than that I was just along for the training. The 3 pacers Paul had were just what you would want for the task in hand. I missed out Steeple, choosing instead to phone home and have a chat with the kids before they went to bed. The subsequent sunset was spectacular, I will post the pics from my phone when I get a chance.

The few words I exchanged with Paul suggest a really nice chap, but he really did go inside to get the strength to get him round. This meant after 11 hours in his company over some of the toughest mountain terrain in England, I don't really know him at all. I hope some day we will have a few hours for a beer. He really did dig in and grind it out coming from being well behind schedule at Dummail Raise. I was travelling to Sweden for work the next day, so could not hang around for Paul to finish leg 5 which I regret, but that the breaks.

I did find the walk up Red Pike hard, I was probably a bit down on food and fluid by that time and also was carrying a reasonable amount of weight in a rucksack, so it is probably not a shock I was finding it a bit hard going after 18 miles and 9000ft. I tried a new gel from Torq which coach Jon recommended which has a nice Strawberry yoghart flavour and that was a lot easier to get down your neck that the usual SIS gels. It also perked me up straight away.

I did feel a lot better than the 6 weeks previous when I did legs 3 and 4 with Tattenhall, moving a lot faster on the downhills and finding the uphill also easier. Having eaten and drunk more, but also being it cooler and not having getting up a 1.30am probably helped.

As I got a lift back to my car at Dummail, we found out that Mark had finished in 20.56 which is a fantastic time.

I admit I had a slight(being a bloke we can only admit to a slight one) tear of joy when I got a text that Paul finished his round in 23.46. I was pleased that collectively as pacers we did our job. The huge contribution of Paul's wife and Mark's partner as road crew in terms of providing the worlds best beef stew, moving pacers around, tending needy feet and delivering a good stiff talking to. What really got Paul round was digging deep inside and grinding it out. I saw a huge amount of mental strength being brought to bear on legs 3 and 4, which is in relation to my attempt at the end of next month, was both inspring and sobering.