Things have gone a bit downhill since the last post.
I had a rubbish week off with a cold and poor weather and managed 40 miles in 2 weeks. However last week in spite of feeling below par still I did 44 miles including a 15 and a 13.
Plan is to try and keep things on course this week then taper. I have picked up a tight hamstring but had a massage last night which should help.
Monday, 23 September 2013
Thursday, 5 September 2013
SWCHR
Another highly successful day at Comrie. I ended up running leg 4 again after some last minute changes. In admittedly ideal conditions I recoreded my best time for this leg of 49.28 beating my best in 2006 of 49.38. The weather ewas breezy but the ground bone dry. I set off with a Carnegie guy a few secs behind in 6th place. By the shakey bridge I had caught a Carnethy runner and after hammering down the Maam Rd I passed a Corstophine runner going up the monument road. I ran out of steam coming through the woods and the Carnegie runner went past me and away finishing 20 secs in front. Still, a good run, probably my best since March. On Tuesday I did an 18 mile road run so I have 2 18 milers on the road and 2 20 mile TDSs. Chester is 4 weeks on Sunday and I am feeling quite good about it. The 18 miler was a hilly one and an average of 7.50 pace seems OK
Thursday, 29 August 2013
A couple of 10Ks
Have had a busy August.
The Forfar 10K went pretty well. It was an undulating course with a strong headwind for the 2nd half.
I finished 9th out of over 300 runners in 39.57. I also got 3rd MV40.
Last Sunday the Perth 10K took place. Unfortunately the course was short due to some marshalling errors and I got it to be 6miles. I ran 37.35 and came 30th out of 600 so not bad.
I have done 2 TDSs this month and an 18 mile road run. Feeling tired but OK.
Yesterday I drove up to Braemar and did Carn Fidhler and Am Sgorsach. Luckily I was able to cycle 7 miles in but that still left over 12 miles to jog/walk.
It's the swchr this Sunday.
The Forfar 10K went pretty well. It was an undulating course with a strong headwind for the 2nd half.
I finished 9th out of over 300 runners in 39.57. I also got 3rd MV40.
Last Sunday the Perth 10K took place. Unfortunately the course was short due to some marshalling errors and I got it to be 6miles. I ran 37.35 and came 30th out of 600 so not bad.
I have done 2 TDSs this month and an 18 mile road run. Feeling tired but OK.
Yesterday I drove up to Braemar and did Carn Fidhler and Am Sgorsach. Luckily I was able to cycle 7 miles in but that still left over 12 miles to jog/walk.
It's the swchr this Sunday.
Sunday, 28 July 2013
5x5
For the 5th year we did this intra club event. I had leg 3 again which is a smidge over 6 miles and a climb of over 1000 feet. It was warm and v humid and I lost pints in sweat on my way.
I felt good in the 1st mile or so but that evaporated with my sweat as I took a bad route choice after the hole in the wall and plunged into a forest of thick bracken. I must have lost 1-2 minutes and the next 2 miles were a struggle. I did recover my enthusiasm after hitting the water board road and quite enjoyed the run to Loch Turret.
Time was 53.16 which is slow and then I ran down to Crieff.
The whole race was a success in that most seemed to enjoy it.
I felt good in the 1st mile or so but that evaporated with my sweat as I took a bad route choice after the hole in the wall and plunged into a forest of thick bracken. I must have lost 1-2 minutes and the next 2 miles were a struggle. I did recover my enthusiasm after hitting the water board road and quite enjoyed the run to Loch Turret.
Time was 53.16 which is slow and then I ran down to Crieff.
The whole race was a success in that most seemed to enjoy it.
Sunday, 21 July 2013
Right 1st time
I had an ultrasound on my heel last week. It showed quite clearly that I have plantar fascitis.
I have the option of a steroid injection on Wed and not sure whether to have it or not.
Today I did 15 miles in the GO33 route north from Lochearnhead. The heel was a bit sore in the last 3 miles and sore now.
On the plus side that's 40+ miles in a week for the 2nd week.
I have the option of a steroid injection on Wed and not sure whether to have it or not.
Today I did 15 miles in the GO33 route north from Lochearnhead. The heel was a bit sore in the last 3 miles and sore now.
On the plus side that's 40+ miles in a week for the 2nd week.
Monday, 15 July 2013
A new running injury
Turns out it wasn't P.F. after all but something called fat pad atrophy. This happens when the fat pad under your heel thins and feels like you are running on bone, nice! Think it heals eventually but what to do meantime?
I ended up with 32 munros in May. Some good days, some terrible and some great.
Since then I have been building things back up slowly and for the last 2 weeks have been wearing a hard plastic heel cup on the sore heel. Amazingly it helps. I did 42 miles last week and that included a 13 mile run. I still look like I've been shot in the foot when I get up but I'll take the current situation.
Probably foolishly I have entered the GO33. It only costs £17 and gives me something to aim for. I f it doesn't work out, so what.
I ended up with 32 munros in May. Some good days, some terrible and some great.
Since then I have been building things back up slowly and for the last 2 weeks have been wearing a hard plastic heel cup on the sore heel. Amazingly it helps. I did 42 miles last week and that included a 13 mile run. I still look like I've been shot in the foot when I get up but I'll take the current situation.
Probably foolishly I have entered the GO33. It only costs £17 and gives me something to aim for. I f it doesn't work out, so what.
Friday, 3 May 2013
Winter in spring
In the last week I have managed 7 new Munros but it's not been easy.
Last Saturday on the back of a decent forecast I decided to make an early start and headed north to Glen Shiel with the intention of staying north for 2 days and practice camping with my new tent.
It's a 3 hour drive and once the correct starting point had been found I emerged. TBH I had been hoping that the white stuff wasn't going to be too bad and had been dismayed to see the S Clunie ridge plastered. The day I had planned was the Saddle and Sgurr nan Sgine which includes the Forcan ridge which has a grade 2 scramble. Feeling I might be biting off more than I could chew I set off up the excellent stalkers path which takes you to the base of the Forcan ridge, so called because once seen you might exclaim Forcan hell!!
I had spotted a group of 4 climbers, caught them up and atached myself to them. They were v v careful and slow which suited me and we slowly made our way along the airy, exposed ridge covered in soft snow. We spent the next hour crawling over the stunning rock until a point was reached where a down climb was needed and we headed down before that point , came back up at which point I bade them farewell and headed down to walk below the difficulty. A hard march through deep snow to the top of the Saddle followed and I sumitted at last. Not sure how this bear got in my bag!
Then is was back down through the snow to the bealach, up to the 2nd summit, where a strong wind had picked up. My heel was now hurting and I spent a long time working my way off. Finally over 8 hours after leaving the car I was back. It was late, raining and I decided I was going home. I finally made it home at 11pm, 15 hours after leaving.
On Tuesday I drove north again. A good forecast lured me a day earlier than planned. The day's targets were Meall na Teanga nad Sron a choire ghairbh. A 2 mile drive down a decent track from Laggan locks to Kilfinan and I was on the bike for 2 miles then up the great route to the bealach at 600m. Two unremarkable hills later and a cycle back and the day was over in 5.5 hrs. I headed to a campsite at Roy bridge called Bunroy. On a lovely evening my tent was at last erected in anger.
After a fairly wet night I headed off to meet John King at Spean bridge. Burnt porridge is OK btw. Then we had a v wet drive north to Torridon and found the lovely hostel. We changed plans as the day was now looking good and headed for Beinn Eighe.
At 1pm we set off for Coire mic fearcher. What an amazing spot!
We took a v direct route up to Ruadh stac mor and were rewarded with stunning views.
Then it was a lovely traverse of the ridge to Spidean coire nan clach.
Now the descent it has to be said was dodgy. For the 1st time we encountered ice and had to dig the heels in hard to get down as we had left the crampons in the car!
The off was down to the right of the ridge on the below photo and then a scree run and eventually back to the car. It was a stunning late evening and we got back to the hostel at 9pm. A truly stunning day, I cant remember a better one.
The next day the weather was very different. Snow was forecast. We headed up Ben Alligan but it was thick clag by 300m and haevy snow by 600m. The crampons went on at 700m and we did make the 1st munro before a sensible decision to go down was made. The weather just got worse after that. So will have to return to Ben Alligan but we had a full on winter experience in May!
Last Saturday on the back of a decent forecast I decided to make an early start and headed north to Glen Shiel with the intention of staying north for 2 days and practice camping with my new tent.
It's a 3 hour drive and once the correct starting point had been found I emerged. TBH I had been hoping that the white stuff wasn't going to be too bad and had been dismayed to see the S Clunie ridge plastered. The day I had planned was the Saddle and Sgurr nan Sgine which includes the Forcan ridge which has a grade 2 scramble. Feeling I might be biting off more than I could chew I set off up the excellent stalkers path which takes you to the base of the Forcan ridge, so called because once seen you might exclaim Forcan hell!!
Then is was back down through the snow to the bealach, up to the 2nd summit, where a strong wind had picked up. My heel was now hurting and I spent a long time working my way off. Finally over 8 hours after leaving the car I was back. It was late, raining and I decided I was going home. I finally made it home at 11pm, 15 hours after leaving.
On Tuesday I drove north again. A good forecast lured me a day earlier than planned. The day's targets were Meall na Teanga nad Sron a choire ghairbh. A 2 mile drive down a decent track from Laggan locks to Kilfinan and I was on the bike for 2 miles then up the great route to the bealach at 600m. Two unremarkable hills later and a cycle back and the day was over in 5.5 hrs. I headed to a campsite at Roy bridge called Bunroy. On a lovely evening my tent was at last erected in anger.
After a fairly wet night I headed off to meet John King at Spean bridge. Burnt porridge is OK btw. Then we had a v wet drive north to Torridon and found the lovely hostel. We changed plans as the day was now looking good and headed for Beinn Eighe.
At 1pm we set off for Coire mic fearcher. What an amazing spot!
Now the descent it has to be said was dodgy. For the 1st time we encountered ice and had to dig the heels in hard to get down as we had left the crampons in the car!
The next day the weather was very different. Snow was forecast. We headed up Ben Alligan but it was thick clag by 300m and haevy snow by 600m. The crampons went on at 700m and we did make the 1st munro before a sensible decision to go down was made. The weather just got worse after that. So will have to return to Ben Alligan but we had a full on winter experience in May!
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