Well the first British Championship counter has been and gone, and like usual when you think you are running well, the sheer depth of talent that these races bring just puts you in your place! The Coledale Horseshoe is a race that i've wanted to do since i first started running and the hills around the Newlands Valley and Braithwaite are some of my favourite in the country, so i was excited to run the course hard and see what i could do.
The race set off at a frantic pace up through the field and it was elbows out to jostle for a good postition before being spat out onto the road and the epic climb up Grisedale pike. I felt really strong on the climb and was passing people all the way up, if anything the summit came a bit soon for my liking, the extra ascent in training must have been working! The route then contours around Hopegill Head before a second punishing climb up to Eel Crag, this was classic hands on knees tackle and again i felt really strong all the way up. On the long descent from Eel Crag i stitched up quite badly and lost the flow a bit, getting passed by a few runners, i was glad when the short climb up to the final summit of Barrow came and i was able to slow things down a bit and compose myself for the final fling down to the finish.
I have to say i'm fairly happy with my 95th place and 6th under 23 but there is more to come, many things to ponder and many more miles to run........
Sunday, 15 April 2012
Wednesday, 4 April 2012
Bloody Weather.........
The British are renowned for always moaning about the weather, it's hardly ever just right and when it is, it doesn't usually last long! I suppose everyone has a personal preference as to what makes 'ideal' weather conditions, some like it red hot and are not happy unless it's above 30 degrees whilst others are pissed off if it rises above zero! Perfect to me would be between 15 and 25 degrees with a slight breeze with the sun beating down on my back whilst out running or rock climbing, as you can see i'm not picky! And of course it's usually like that for only about two weeks every year in the UK, i just hope the last two weeks were not the last of it for this year!
I have to say i was lulled into a false sense of security by the strange weather the last couple of weeks, i was afterall climbing and running topless last week so thought that it can't possibly snow again.....
Well it did
I awoke to a horrible slushy, cold and windy world this morning, my plans and motivation for a run up Alphin were banished and i have resigned myself to a well earned duvet day! I have done some form of activity be it running or climbing or both everyday for the last 3 weeks and the usual feeling of guilt about not getting out and doing something that would usually be hovering over me is non existant, i feel like a rest day. The last couple of days i have kind of been going through the motions a bit, not really flowing like i had been and that for me is usually a sign to back off a bit. This for me highlights the importance of chilling out every now and again, i think you need it if you have been pushing it, and with my first goal race of the year, the coledale horseshoe, only 10 days away it may be a blessing in disguise. Although i am sure i will out again tommorow....
I have slotted into a nice rythem at present, getting out seems easy and the miles are fun, the motivation seems to be high everyday, it seems there is so much to do and so little time, but thats good, i never want to lacking ideas for future projects, i think we need this as runners and as human beings in in order to get the most out of our potential. Life is good.
I ran Midgley Moor last saturday and felt really strong, was in about 7th place and feeling really good, moving really effortlessly through the first few checkpoint when i decided to take an interesting route to see if i could get in front of a few people, i did and was probably in about 4th place when i re joined the main track, the only slight problem was that i had missed a checkpoint so had to run about 400m up the hill to it and then back again! Note to self....look at the course before trying anything stupid in future!
I have to say i was lulled into a false sense of security by the strange weather the last couple of weeks, i was afterall climbing and running topless last week so thought that it can't possibly snow again.....
Well it did
I awoke to a horrible slushy, cold and windy world this morning, my plans and motivation for a run up Alphin were banished and i have resigned myself to a well earned duvet day! I have done some form of activity be it running or climbing or both everyday for the last 3 weeks and the usual feeling of guilt about not getting out and doing something that would usually be hovering over me is non existant, i feel like a rest day. The last couple of days i have kind of been going through the motions a bit, not really flowing like i had been and that for me is usually a sign to back off a bit. This for me highlights the importance of chilling out every now and again, i think you need it if you have been pushing it, and with my first goal race of the year, the coledale horseshoe, only 10 days away it may be a blessing in disguise. Although i am sure i will out again tommorow....
I have slotted into a nice rythem at present, getting out seems easy and the miles are fun, the motivation seems to be high everyday, it seems there is so much to do and so little time, but thats good, i never want to lacking ideas for future projects, i think we need this as runners and as human beings in in order to get the most out of our potential. Life is good.
I ran Midgley Moor last saturday and felt really strong, was in about 7th place and feeling really good, moving really effortlessly through the first few checkpoint when i decided to take an interesting route to see if i could get in front of a few people, i did and was probably in about 4th place when i re joined the main track, the only slight problem was that i had missed a checkpoint so had to run about 400m up the hill to it and then back again! Note to self....look at the course before trying anything stupid in future!
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