Saturday, June 02, 2012
Anyone up for a long run on Wednesday?
This is the last week I can get out during the daytime on a weekday, having secured a full-time job from the 11th so thought I would try to get a long run or walk or run/walk in the Howgills or Lakes next Wednesday. It seems silly to just drive up on my own. Due to a throat infection I've not run for over a week so it will have to be at an easy pace and hopefully it will have cleared by then.
I know Henderson's End is on Thursday but I can't make it as I'm tutoring every evening this week (with two on Thursday) but from the following week I'll be able to get out for evening runs - I'll have to! This also means I'll have to be back not much later than 5pm on Wednesday. Get in touch if you're up for it.
I wouldn't mind having a go at Duddon (short) this year and, as I've no tutoring planned for Friday, might go up Friday morning for a walk and camp overnight. But this may be scuppered if I need to move furniture from Gateshead for Diane.
Friday, June 01, 2012
The Torch Through Horwich
Responding to a proposal from Meredith, our youngest, I set my alrm for 5:00 this morning and was on Chorley New Road for 6:00. Meredith turned up with her boys soon after, complete with with home made union flag (I think there may be some confusion between the Olympic Torch Relay and the Royal Jubillee celebrations):-
After quite a wait, and a significant promotional cavalcade, the torch bearer come into view. He was a young lad suffering from, possibly, celebral palsy, but he made good progress and was very well received:-
Managed to get a reasonable picture as he came past, but unfortunatly a "heavy" virtually obscured my squad (left to right, you can see Meredith's face, Henry's feet and Jake in his buggy:-
I'm told that soon after the Crown a bus came into use, and the next time the torch was carried was on the tarmac was at Yarrow Bridge.
My overall impression was that the promotional buses did not detract too much from the occasion, and the local folk of all ages were thrilled by the experience, and as I drove home for my porridge, I was heartened by the way it brought the community together.
After quite a wait, and a significant promotional cavalcade, the torch bearer come into view. He was a young lad suffering from, possibly, celebral palsy, but he made good progress and was very well received:-
Managed to get a reasonable picture as he came past, but unfortunatly a "heavy" virtually obscured my squad (left to right, you can see Meredith's face, Henry's feet and Jake in his buggy:-
I'm told that soon after the Crown a bus came into use, and the next time the torch was carried was on the tarmac was at Yarrow Bridge.
My overall impression was that the promotional buses did not detract too much from the occasion, and the local folk of all ages were thrilled by the experience, and as I drove home for my porridge, I was heartened by the way it brought the community together.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Olympic Torch Relay
As today's route was passing near the house decided couldn't not go and see. At 5.30pm crowd starting to build up
At 6.00pm initial convoy with a note on one windscreen and the girl on top of the bus saying the torch was 6 mins away
Well, 20 mins later finally arrives, just as the camera went into sleep mode so picture of back of first torchbearer. Each one runs/walks 300m.
A couple more shots further up the road, with view of next couple of torch bearers .
Didn't follow all the way in to Bolton as the crowd had really built up and running down the pavement difficult. So most impressed with the turn out from the Locals, glad I made the effort and got home early to see it, if only to avoid the traffic chaos it created.
You can catch it early doors tomorrow coming through Horwich along Chorley New Road starting at the Beehive at 6:42am.
TF
As today's route was passing near the house decided couldn't not go and see. At 5.30pm crowd starting to build up
At 6.00pm initial convoy with a note on one windscreen and the girl on top of the bus saying the torch was 6 mins away
Well, 20 mins later finally arrives, just as the camera went into sleep mode so picture of back of first torchbearer. Each one runs/walks 300m.
Chased up the road to see if could get a better picture. No luck going too fast for me!
Finally caught up with him at the change over point
A couple more shots further up the road, with view of next couple of torch bearers .
Didn't follow all the way in to Bolton as the crowd had really built up and running down the pavement difficult. So most impressed with the turn out from the Locals, glad I made the effort and got home early to see it, if only to avoid the traffic chaos it created.
You can catch it early doors tomorrow coming through Horwich along Chorley New Road starting at the Beehive at 6:42am.
TF
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Last Saturday Afternoon!
Just me and the missus up to Hutton Roof for the 7+ miler over the crags and the climb up the great lump opposite junction 36 on the M6. Not the missus of course just me, she went looking round the rather quaint village fair they put on around this event - very British.
240 eager entrants all preparing their excuses for not performing well on the forthcoming trial lined up in the field. The field I hear you say? They added an extra 300m to the start of the race in a field next to the concrete road, the idea being to string the runners out to avoid the early argy-bargy on the road and stop start queues on the initial climbs.
I like this race, I normally like the terrain and I especially like the views all around. However the hot dry weather had dried the ground rock hard, making me pleased that I wore my trail shoes and not fell shoes. On the way round we encountered many windless pockets of still hot air, which almost took your breath away. It was hot and hard going and dehydration was taking its toll. I so wished I had knocked back that iso' drink earlier.
As usual many people passed me on the downhills but I got passed 15 people on the steep climb at the halfway stage. Thankfully they had put a water stall on at the second road crossing. After that, head down , don't let anyone pass and get in front of the irritating stop/start geezer in front of me - difficult to do on single track paths.
I even managed a bit of a sprint finish down the concrete road to finish 144th out of 235+ starters. 15 minutes slower than 2004 so in the letters of TY'M a PW but better than nothing. I kept telling myself the great Eric Riddles saying that got me into fell racing as I was going round the course:
"There are 3 challenges to every race: 1) entering it, 2) finishing it & 3) not coming last - everything else is a bonus!"
I have never known my feet throb so heavily after a race and the luxury at the end of pouring cups of cold water over my bare feet was sheer bliss.
We finished the day by taking the meandering route back through some very pretty Lancashire villages such as Wellington making for a perfect afternoon out.
Pity you missed it.
KLM
Just me and the missus up to Hutton Roof for the 7+ miler over the crags and the climb up the great lump opposite junction 36 on the M6. Not the missus of course just me, she went looking round the rather quaint village fair they put on around this event - very British.
240 eager entrants all preparing their excuses for not performing well on the forthcoming trial lined up in the field. The field I hear you say? They added an extra 300m to the start of the race in a field next to the concrete road, the idea being to string the runners out to avoid the early argy-bargy on the road and stop start queues on the initial climbs.
I like this race, I normally like the terrain and I especially like the views all around. However the hot dry weather had dried the ground rock hard, making me pleased that I wore my trail shoes and not fell shoes. On the way round we encountered many windless pockets of still hot air, which almost took your breath away. It was hot and hard going and dehydration was taking its toll. I so wished I had knocked back that iso' drink earlier.
As usual many people passed me on the downhills but I got passed 15 people on the steep climb at the halfway stage. Thankfully they had put a water stall on at the second road crossing. After that, head down , don't let anyone pass and get in front of the irritating stop/start geezer in front of me - difficult to do on single track paths.
I even managed a bit of a sprint finish down the concrete road to finish 144th out of 235+ starters. 15 minutes slower than 2004 so in the letters of TY'M a PW but better than nothing. I kept telling myself the great Eric Riddles saying that got me into fell racing as I was going round the course:
"There are 3 challenges to every race: 1) entering it, 2) finishing it & 3) not coming last - everything else is a bonus!"
I have never known my feet throb so heavily after a race and the luxury at the end of pouring cups of cold water over my bare feet was sheer bliss.
We finished the day by taking the meandering route back through some very pretty Lancashire villages such as Wellington making for a perfect afternoon out.
Pity you missed it.
KLM
Last Saturday
Turned up a bit early and did a couple of extra miles for Duddon. On the way back to the barn I met TYC who was setting out to do Coope's dozen to test the ankle he wrecked on the OCT! Talk about testing to destruction.
Waited at the barn a bit longer than usual in case CW turned up, but perhaps he also is still suffering from injury.
Was pleased then to see JTE and we set off for Healey Nab. Thence to White Coppice where we opted to explore the path leading across the ford between the cottages near the road junction. A very pleasant, meandering path eventually led us back to the main bridle path for Brinscall. Then up through the woods, past the cow byre and down into Brinscall village. John then showed me a route that he had used previously, along another path to the west of the stream, back to White Coppice, and then to the barn.
Back at the barn there was no trace of TYC's car, so his ankle had either held up very well and he had sprinted the 18 miles, or it had destructed!
A very pleasant morning, a lot of it sheltered from the sun. John clocked just over 12 miles, which would give me 14 with my extra bit first thing.
Waited at the barn a bit longer than usual in case CW turned up, but perhaps he also is still suffering from injury.
Was pleased then to see JTE and we set off for Healey Nab. Thence to White Coppice where we opted to explore the path leading across the ford between the cottages near the road junction. A very pleasant, meandering path eventually led us back to the main bridle path for Brinscall. Then up through the woods, past the cow byre and down into Brinscall village. John then showed me a route that he had used previously, along another path to the west of the stream, back to White Coppice, and then to the barn.
Back at the barn there was no trace of TYC's car, so his ankle had either held up very well and he had sprinted the 18 miles, or it had destructed!
A very pleasant morning, a lot of it sheltered from the sun. John clocked just over 12 miles, which would give me 14 with my extra bit first thing.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Here she is, the new addition to the wfdbwgua fleet of vehicles. No prizes for guessing the destination for the first 'spin'
First 'Day Out' is Sat 9th June to the Duddon Valley. EtU has already placed a reservation. 2 further seats available. There is width in the back for 3 Adults, but think the middle section may need a bit of bedding in before it's comfy for a 2hr journey. But as I don't have to sit there, happy to take 3 and prepared to make stops to aid circulation.
First 'Day Out' is Sat 9th June to the Duddon Valley. EtU has already placed a reservation. 2 further seats available. There is width in the back for 3 Adults, but think the middle section may need a bit of bedding in before it's comfy for a 2hr journey. But as I don't have to sit there, happy to take 3 and prepared to make stops to aid circulation.
EtU is on for the Long Duddon, I'm doing the short. Details at www.duddonvalleyfellraces.org.uk
Non-racers more than welcome.
TF
Sunny Saturday on Latrigg
Couple of snaps from Saturday in Keswick with a few more at Out and About
Look closely on this one and you can see the Bishop – the white speck above the village with the summit of Barf above
Derwentwater with the path up to Cat Bells above
Will be missing Sat UTUPs for a couple of weeks – off to Scotland – cue torrential rain and thunderstorms.
Have fun 
NLN
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Running Upside Down
Greetings from Melbourne - home of great people and awful beer!
I went for my first run earlier today after three days of being jetlagged/lazy. The problem with our Rachel living in a city is that the only bearable runs are in parks and as the local park is fairly small, that means laps. Still it has rained a lot here recently so there were plenty of boggy patches. I will try and put some pictures up when I get a chance.
Congratulations to t'Y on Huddersfield's promotion - I will have to try and get up north when Bolton play them next season.
I went for my first run earlier today after three days of being jetlagged/lazy. The problem with our Rachel living in a city is that the only bearable runs are in parks and as the local park is fairly small, that means laps. Still it has rained a lot here recently so there were plenty of boggy patches. I will try and put some pictures up when I get a chance.
Congratulations to t'Y on Huddersfield's promotion - I will have to try and get up north when Bolton play them next season.
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