Rivi Ride

Headed to Riv about 2:30 for a bimble to try to ease my legs out after yesterday's race, they weren't actually that sore but they were tired. I had hoped Pam was going to make it as I would ride round with her and let the boys go off in front.


Pam didn't make it which meant it was just myself, Jez and Stu. Jez and Stu set off having their usual chatting session as I rode along behind. What always happens is the two of them gradually speed up (to match the speed of their chat!), they don't realise their doing it but I can see them unconsciously egging each other on and the speed increases.


Now, they are always happy to wait and if Pam was riding I'd ride along with her chatting and catch up to them when they stop but as I'm on my own I end up trying to keep up. I keep telling myself to ease off but there is something about being off the back that makes me ride that bit harder than I want to or really should. My quads were actually quite sore, I could really feel them when I contracted them.


I'm ok for the first couple of miles around Healey Nab etc but I really am not looking forward to climbing Moor Road. It's always a challenge but I very rarely dread it but I was dreading it today. I did think as I was rolling past the Waterman's Cottage that I should put it into the granny ring and spin up in a very easy gear (but then it would just take longer an my legs were even less up for spinning fast!) but I left it in middle and forced my way up. It hurt but I was at least compensated for the pain by the beginnings of a gorgeous setting sun making part of the sky orange - I think Snowdon was sillouhetted ?


I got to the top and dropped down Lead Mines (which actually put a smile on my face again - weeeee!). The next bit 17% road up from Alance Bridge really hurt, I normally manage to get most of the way up this section before it starts to hurt but it hurt all the way up. I don't remember much about the ride to the bottom of the climb to the pigeon tower either though I did switch my light son at some point and I did spend a lot of time looking at the sky and the effect of the orange light on the hillside (why didn't I have my camera - why isn't Jez riding with the SLR anymore, stamps feet). I did notice I was starting to feel very petulant (I'm sure my bottom lip was petted) and inordinately sleepy.


I rode up the climb to the pigeon tower ok but my mood was really heading south, we got to the bottom of the climb to the pike and I managed to get round the rocky corners ok but I refused point blank to actually do the last bit to the Pike (strop alert). I said I'd meet them at the gate at the bottom and headed down. Once I got to the gate I was feeling very nauseous and sleepy it dawned on me that I feel like that when my blood sugar crashes through the floor.


I had a quick think about today's food intake (well not quick as that faculty was now gone awaiting input of sugar): Breakfast at 9am of Scrambled eggs and a slice of toast and half a bowl of soup at 2pm. FFS! It was now close to 4pm, no wonder my limbs felt like bits of chewed string, that's not enough for me on a day of just lying on the sofa. I got a gel down me quick as the boys rattled into view.


Jez had a look of total non-surprise when I told him I was very hungry and grumpy (apparently I'd bitten his head off at least three times between Lead Mines and the pigeon tower, oops). We more or less headed straight back to the car. If I'd spotted a chippy open that we could park at on the way home I would've pulled in and stuffed my face. I was so hungry when I got home.


Think I need to record my food intake/timings/fuelling in general again.

I also need to have some sort of plan for my training again, got some races to plan in over the next couple of months and some mountain biking to fit in.

Hellvellyn Trail Race

That was fun, I really enjoyed myself today, my favourite course of the Lakeland Trails Series so far I think. It was a glorious day for running, just the right temperature with some lovely sunshine and good visibility.


Due to not getting in much in the way of long runs in October I had decided that I wasn't going to race this just have a good run with company. I was going to run at my pace, walk if I needed to early (and not wait until I physically couldn't run anymore) and make a point to stop and look at the views rather than my feet, they would be excellent today.


I did a ten minute warm up and my legs felt tired and heavy (TOTM, great) so it wasn't going to be a day for speedy running but the warm up made me feel ready to go. I started near the back to make sure I didn't get carried away and just trundled along. It wasn't long before we started climbing and I kept running at a sensible effort level. I actually felt my heart rate climb a little too high only once and I walked five metres or so but because I'd sone it sooner rather than later I recovered quickly and was soon running again. I ran all the rest of the first climb so I was pleased. I caught a glimpse of a snow dusted Hellvellyn and smiled, it looked stunning, what a gorgeous day.


The climb had been mainly on fireroad style track but once we crossed Glenridding Beck it changed to rocky, slippy, muddy Lakeland bridleway. It the kind of running I love, picking a line, dodging rocks and splashing through mud. Once I got past the people in front of me who were picking their way through it slowly I was off! I speeded up and had an absolute whale of a time and completely forgot about looking at the view (oops) as the track did require concentration.

It was quite slippy in places and I saw more people fall today than any other race I've been at combined. Most of the people falling over had road shoes on (though not all), for a change due to the slippiness of the rocks road shoes were a bit of a liability I think. Pam had a bit of a walk around the course whilst I was running and had to get her first aid kit out to patch up a woman who had taken a spill. One young lad in front of me fell twice once landing on his knees on a rock, I think I asked him three times if he was ok on the way round. The third time was due to him pulling over with a monster stitch, poor lad. I was having so much fun I had to remind myself to take fuel on board, I needed it and was glad I made myself slow down to do it.

I ran within myself and backed off where I needed to but just really enjoyed the terrain. The last part of the race was along an undulating fire road track then down to the road. This type of terrain usually results in me being passed by people I've overtaken on the rockier sections as I struggle with the more steady running. This time it didn't happen, I felt very strong on this last part and got into a good rhythym and actually overtook a few people myself (very, very rare). There was a steep downhill road section which seemed to pound my knees but I ran the last flat section back to the finish quite comfortably, pushing hard but not absolutely killing myself.

I finished in 1:33 which I really wasn't expecting though I have a feeling that the race is shorter than 15k but I didn't have the Garmin to check. I think I will be doing this one again next year, it's done my motivation a power of good I think.

Short Run

I continued my run of stupidity by forgetting to take my works pass with me this morning. I had to get a colleague to come to the main gate to sign me on and I didn't get a pass that would work the doors to my building so I was kind of trapped in there for the day. Lunchtime's planned run was done this evening.

I headed out for just over three miles at whatever pace I felt like doing, it is still pretty cold but I really enjoyed the run. The day off meant my legs didn't feel quite so battered as Monday and Tuesday. I couldn't get down to the club tonight as we have lots to sort out for the lounge. Although I can categorically say that the Garmin unit wasn't in the lounge -we have emptied it of everything and as all the stuff is scattered over the rest of the house its going to be difficult to find it anywhere at the minute.

Rest tomorrow and Helvellyn Trail on Saturday, the weather looks like it may be ok.

Lunchtime Run

Took my kit to work to get out for a lunchtime run as I'm sure the forecast said it was going to be sunny but very cold. Cold, crisp autumn/winter days are the best for running along the sea front, its nice and bracing and usually quite quiet. Of course the sun didn't materialise but the cold was certainly there.

I ran in quite a roundabout way (not intentional just not paying attention to where I was) to the north of the pier then ran along the beach for a while. It was really cold so I was running a little faster than I intended but it was nice to take a break from tarmac pounding and run on the sand for a while. I ran as far as I could comfortably on the sand but it changed to a narrow strip that had a noticeable camber so I headed back up on to the prom.

The tarmac was sore for a bit but I managed to get into a nice steady rythym, it has a long unbroken stretch with no junctions on it, It is good for my running to do this kind of run but I do prefer hills and mud. I ran down to Fairhaven Lake, I was feeling quite warm by the time i got there and was almost tempted to take my sleeves off but I didn't as I thought the wind was behind me.

It was! I was supposed to be jogging the mile and a half back to work but as I turned off the beach and started heading north again there was a hail shower. It wasn't heavy and quickly changed to rain but it was cold and the wind was cold so I just tried to get back to work asap and again spent ages in the shower trying to warm up.

6.7 miles in just under 59 minutes, I may just be getting some running speed back. Will be giving the legs a break tomorrow, they need it.

Cycling and Running - Brrrr!

Had to take my car in for a service today, the garage is in Blackpool and in the past I've always gotten a courtesy car as it is free. They are now charging 15 pounds for one and my Scottishness wouldn't allow me to pay that much for driving it 8 miles. I hadn't really appreciated it was only an 8 miles round trip from the garage to work as it seems to take ages due to traffic.

I have the Spesh kitted out with flippy pedals so I put it and a pannier stuffed mainly with my laptop and work papers but also lunch and work clothes in the boot of the car to cycle. I would change trousers and top only as would be bimbling along anyway. It was quite cold in the morning, glad I had my buff on my head under my helmet, also had the "boil-in-the-bag" flouro yellow jacket on so I was warm enough. I had a headwind all the way to work so thought I would have a nice tailwind on the way back....err wrong!

The wind changed direction to mainly northerly and it was really bloody cold riding into it. It was also depressingly dark at 5pm, I had walking style trousers on and they do have a little wind proofing but they are not warm as such, my quads felt really cold. I cranked the heating up in the car all the way home.

I had (quite sensibly of me) laid out all my kit to go running last night, I got in, put it all on and got out the door...and gasped. It was proper cold, the kind that really permeates, I was glad I decided to put the fleecy longs on my legs and the sleeves on my jacket. I had thought about doing 6 miles or so but it was too cold to run that far, I decided to do a shorter 3 mile run but have some fast efforts in the middle instead. I set off trying not to breathe in too hard, it takes a while for me to adjust to running in the cold air again.

After a mile or so I try to do a fast minute or so to warm up even more but my legs weren't having it at all, they were quite tired from yesterday's run and my joints felt a little stiff from the tarmac so I kept it to a steady pace, enough to keep some heat in me and was glad I hadn't decided to go further. It was cold enough that I never uncovered my ears, or unzipped my jacket , or was tempted to take my gloves or sleeves off. Normally one of them happens on a run even in the cold.

I tried again to pick up the pace on the last stretch but only succeeded in making my legs feel even more battered so just plodded home. I always walk the last 50 or so metres back to the house to shake my legs out but it was too cold and I broke into a jog again. I spent ages in the shower warming up!

I wanted to cycle to work tomorrow but it looks like we will be moving all the stuff out of the lounge ready for the builders to start demolishing it on Wednesday. It will disrupt things for a couple of weeks and I think I may end up struggling to get some cycling in for a bit - I hate painting!

In the end it was 3.8 miles at just under 9mm mile pace which was longer than I intended to run and faster than I thought given that it felt like I was wading though treacle at times.