SportsShoes Blog

Well this is a novelty - the races I do are usually so obscure that nobody has ever heard of them let alone got any idea what actually goes on.

But this weekend fell running made a spectacular job of grabbing the headlines.

Unfortunately, the media did its usual job of blowing things out of proportion and many of the reports of lost / missing runners were grossly irresponsible. Anyway, if you’re interested in the negative side of the event you can read the papers and believe the news stories - if you want the truth here it is.

One thing the reporters got right was that the weather was a tad on the damp side, in fact they were (un)comfortably the worst conditions I have ever been out in for a sustained period of time. To me this only added to the sense of adventure and made a tough event even more challenging.

When Jamie and I struggled up to CP9 of the A class after battling for about 2 hours into a rain laden 40 mph headwind and were told the event had been cancelled I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. What I can say is that we were still going strong and I’m confident we would have finished the event.

Up to that point our nav had been pretty much bang on and our pace was reasonable over the very tough ground.

My kit performed perfectly - Walsh PB trainers - Thorlo Socks - speedos (only time I wear em - honest!!) - Nike Leggings - Hummel Base layer - Karimor base layer - North Face windproof gilet - Lowe Alpine waterproof shell - buff - hat - and for my hands, some of my kids’ gloves that cost 50p from Primark!!! Honest that’s what I used and they were fab…..

Once we were told the event was over, we made our way back through Buttermere to the barn that you probably saw on telly - it was an amazing site and the atmosphere was great - around 400 runners all brewing up, cooking and bedding down in a massive brand new cattle shed. One team even bagged the bucket of a dumper truck that was parked in there and kipped in it all night.

This morning around 7am, news came through that the roads were now clear and there was access back to and away from the start area. We (me, Jamie and my other Bingley Harriers pals Robin and Steve) made a wise decision to skip breakfast, get packed and jog the 5 miles back over Honister pass to the start so we could get the car out of the wet field and away before the other 2000 runners tried to do the same. It was a master stroke and although we need 5 pushing as I steered the car along a very swampy field we made it out of the field before the real tractor pulling fun started.

It was only when we got going back and started to listen to the news and pick up mobile signals that we realised there’d been such a media ’storm’.

Don’t let the images put you off the hills - take comfort in the fact that over 2000 people ventured into the mountains yesterday and everyone of them got back to safety with just one suffering an injury and a few other treated for hypothermia.

There’s a big debate raging about whether the event should have been cancelled before the start (mostly it has to be said fuelled by folk who weren’t there) - for what it’s worth I think the organisers were right to let it go ahead (and cancel it when they did) - everyone in the race knew the risks they were taking, had read the weather forecasts and were prepared for 36 tough hours in the mountains. Of course I have sympathy for the rescue services that were called out (but that’s why they’re there) and for the worried relatives at home but in all honesty, this was a fantastically organised and superbly controlled event that has left us all with great memories and more tales to tell of exciting hours in our amazing countryside - bring on next year I say!!

See http://www.theomm.com/pages/OMM_resultsandreporting.html for loads more….

Been resting up this week in prep for this weekend’s epic and enjoying as much real food and sleep as possible as I certainly won’t be getting much of either on Saturday / Sunday.

We’re going up Friday night ready for our 8.35am start Saturday morning. In the OMM you only find out where you’re going on the start line when they give you your map - then it’s a race around 6 - 8 checkpoints across 40 ish kilometers of real off piste mountain terrain to the overnight camp. We then camp and eat using the equiment / food on our backs before being given another map and heading off again Sunday morning for another 30ish k via another 6 - 8 checkpoints back to the start / finish area - all against the clock.

It’s a really interesting and tough challenge and unlike an ordinary fell race you also have to plan your equipment, food and route choices VERY carefully.

The weather forecast for the weekend around Borrowdale is for high winds and lots of rain - just what you need for camping in the lakes!! I’m not too bothered about bad weather as I’ll gear up accordingly but the only time I don’t want rain is when we’re packing up Sunday morning - there’s nothing worse then getting you and all your gear wet and cold before you even get going.

My partner Jamie is coming round tomorrow to finalise the kit / food strategy - we’ll be aiming for pack weights of around 5-6kg each on day one including tent, sleeping bags, food, cooking equipment and clothing.

The real key to success in a Mountain Marathon is good navigation skills - we made a howling mistake in 2006 which we don’t want to do again this year so we’ll be taking a little more time over the map reading to save a lot of time on the hills.

If you’re interested, full details of the event can be found here : http://www.theomm.com/event/aboutTheEvent

Full report to follow on Monday……

My final position for the Langdale race last Saturday was 33rd in 2 hours 35 mins - I’m pretty pleased with my run and my position and it’s boosted my confidence for the OMM next week which will be accross very similar terrain.

Since Langdale I’ve done an hour on the road bike Sunday, a ride to work and back Monday a speed session on Tuesday (8 x 1min 50 sec laps), 50 mins on the road Wednesday, rest Thursday and ride to work and back today. I put a short loop in on the way home tonight up some big hills on the singlespeed - wow it’s tough. I’m going to stick with it through the winter to see if I can develop some biking leg strength.

Just come back from The National Media Museum where we were invited to the opening of the 50th Anniversary Blue Peter exhibition. My eldest son is a Blue Peter badge winner (how cool’s that!!) so he got us an invite - I met Biddy Baxter (editor of Blue Peter for 28 years). Max was interviewed and he’s just been on Look North and News at 10!!!!

Just 1 week to the OMM (Original Mountain Marathon) - can’t wait. Got the food this week - pot noodles, super noodles, cup-a-soups and snickers bars hmm nice!!

Finally I must say a big hello to my good buddy Ade in the Isle of Man - an avid reader of the blog - hope it’s inspiring you to get out and explore that fantastic island of yours.

After torrential rain Friday night, Saturday was almost perfect running conditions for the Langdale race.

I had a good run round making third counter for the Bingley team with Rob Jebb (race winner) and my 3 Peaks Yacht Race partner Robin in 12th. Not sure of my position yet as results aren’t up and I was too interested in getting a pie and a pint at the finish to worry about the leaderboard.

The course was very wet underfoot and some of the bogs were genuine people swallowers - ask my pal Martin Peace who literally dissappeared up to his chest. I asked him if, as he was sinking, he was thinking about what Ray Mears would do - he replied that he did exactly what Ray Mears would have done - ‘panicked and kicked like f**k!!’ Ha ha ha ha….

Anyway, in my opinion the day didn’t belong to us seasoned (read old) fell runners who’ve done this sort of thing before but to our Bingley teammates who were tackling Langdale as their 1st ever A-long lakeland race. As Mary commented before and after the race this was a BIG step up from anything she’d done before but she faced it head on and nailed it - well done to her Steve Firth and all the other Bingley gang that got round. For those that didn’t make it, remember it’ll be on again next year so you’ve a full year to get ready for it!!!

Another pal of mine Steve ‘Carnage’ slipped after about 3 miles and jarred his back, got going again only to fall, bang his head on a rock and almost knock himself out then stagger round to about 1/2 mile from home where he fell again and was told to lie still as he was in shock by a marshal. Anyway, he made it to the finish, got some treatment by the medics then managed to stay out on the beer til 4 in the morning - a true endurance athlete!!!

After the fun and games of Saturday, I managed an hour on the roadie Sunday and pedalled to work and back today.

Langdale Fell Race tomorrow - 14 miles and 4000 feet of climb - it’s a hard ‘A-Long’ lakeland race and it’s likely to be a tad damp on them there ‘ills….

This week I did a speed session on Tuesday - a tough ‘half pyramid’ where we did three laps - rest (jog recovery) - two laps - rest - one lap - rest - all at race pace. It sounds easy but the laps were about 2 min 45 secs in length so it was a real lung buster. I used my new Nike Zoom Air Waffle XC spikes - what a difference they make - the traction from those few tiny spikes is amazing compared to fell shoes.

Wednesday I went to work on my bike then dropped my wife’s car off at the garage and cycled home.

Thursday I did a very steady 45 min jog with 3 other pals who are racing at Langdale tomorrow.

Today I’ve been to work on my bike again - this time ’singlespeed’ after I converted my Kona during the week - my how the old legs were spinning!! -see earlier post.

An old friend of mine called me today and said two weeks ago she went to the doctors complaining of indigestion only to find out she had cancer.

She not old enough to have cancer, then again nobody is.

I sometimes think I’m tough doing the races and physical challenges that I do but that’s not being really tough - yes I push myself and yes it hurts sometimes but in truth I could stop whenever I wanted and within a few minutes or hours in the worst case I could be warm and dry in cafe with a brew and a piece of cake in front of me. Really tough is what my friend needs to be now - she hasn’t got the soft option of the cafe - she has to see this challenge through to the end and make sure she collects the winners medal.

Calls like this put everything in to perspective. Twisted ankles, rain, dark nights, broken central heating, the dog peeing on my carrymat - these things simply don’t matter do they.

When we arrive in this world we’ve no idea how long we’ve got so whilst we’re here we might as well enJoy ourselves. Don’t put things off - get on with them, don’t dream - do. Send that marathon application form, enter your first fell race or try and swim the channel - time waits for nobody!!!

Bring on that global warming stuff that’s what I say (I notice they call it climate change now to try and keep folk interested). I’m only joking, I do care about our planet really, but our weather just seems to be getting wetter, colder and more miserable. I have to try really hard to remember a nice stretch of sunny days this year.

Anyway, enough of the moaning - we need to remember the old saying - ‘there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes’. I quite like that one and think it’s pretty true. So I guess we’re all diving into our kit bags and boxes to dig out the winter training gear - gone are the shorts and vests to be replaced by tights and base layers.

My ride in the peaks last week has really fired me up for a solid winter of training and racing. As I enter my 40th year next year I intend to do all I can to improve my fitness and prove that age is no barrier in the sports I’ve chosen. Who knows, if I choose my races carefully I might pick up a prize or two next year (in the old buggers category!!!)

This week, I rested Monday but did 2 decent dog ’strides’ - my new dog exercise grading system = walking, striding, jogging and running. Tuesday I took my eldest son to Bingley Harriers for the first time and ran with him. He loved it, did really well and wants to go with the longer distance group next week. Wednesday - 2 dog strides. Thursday ran with the harriers in the evening - 9.67 miles in 1hr 3 mins (Martin had a Garmin with him) which was a reasonably hot pace as we did quite a bit of climbing. Friday rode to work and back on the bike. Saturday 1hr 15 on the fells this morning. The old legs felt a bit tired on the hills but otherwise it was nice to get out in the daylight.

Tomorrow depends on the weather - if by chance it’s nice I want to get out on the roadie for a longish ride. If it’s rubbish (more likely) I’ll go for a long run or mountain bike ride.

Well it’s Monday and I’ve survived another 3 Peaks Cyclo Cross (my 6th).

What a day we had yesterday - a record entry of over 500, a new course record set by my Bingley Harriers team mate Rob Jebb, stunning weather and the biggest crowds I’ve ever seen at the event.

As you’ll have read in my earlier posts, I hadn’t really prepared very well (read at all) for this year’s race as I’ve been concentrating on my running instead of biking this year but as there’s a lot of off bike climbing and off road descending in the peaks my time didn’t really suffer. In fact I set my second best time around the course at 4.00 hours 46 seconds. I should be pleased with this but as a first class award goes to all those under 4 hours I feel a little bit miffed.

Anyway, what it did tell me is that I should be well capable of a sub 4 if I put a bit of time into getting bike fit before next year’s race. I’ve decided that this will be one of my target races for next year and want to see if I can find a good blend of cycling and running that will see my results improve in both disciplines.

As predicted, I didn’t feel I did too bad on the climbs and the descents but the road sections (of which there are quite a few) are my major weakness. The roadies just come steaming past me, working together in groups, and I simply can’t hang on. I reckon there’s a good 10 mins to be saved if I can up my road strength and stay with a group.

I beat my pal Pete Jowett by two mins but it’s a bit of a hollow victory as he punctured coming of Whernside which will have cost him 5-10 mins - that said staying puncture free is all part of the race and if you push too hard on the descents is very easy to nip a tube.

My running training partner Jamie Robinson did the race for the first time this year and despite admitting to be sh*****g himself on the start line he had a great, trouble and injury free ride coming home just inside 4.5 hrs - well done Jamie. I’ve spoken with him today and he’s caught the 3PX bug and is already talking about what he could do in next years race - funny how pain can be addictive!!

It was also nice to have some friends on the course spectating this year - the support I got from Jez, Mick, Steve and Ian was fantastic and even though I declined a drink from Sarah on the way up Penyghent it was a much appreciated offer. However, either Ian or me need to practise our Tour De France style rider support as I nearly broke my hand on the mirror of his van whilst trying to pass back an empty bottle…..

The old legs feel fine today - it’s amazing how different the body feels after a long cycle compared to a long run. It’s the down hill braking effect that really screws the leg muscles when running - something that just doesn’t happen when biking.

Next event is the Langdale Fell race in the lakes in 2 weeks time - I’m really looking forward to this as I had a great run there a couple of years ago and I’m keen to get round the course again.

My eldest son Max is going training with the Bingley Harriers for the first time tomorrow - he can’t wait.

So I decided late Saturday to race the Sedbergh Hills race on Sunday. This is a serious AL fell race at 14 miles and 6000ft of climb. (AL or A Long is an FRA grade which measures height gained and distance and the system goes from CS to AL). Sedbergh is in the Howgills above the Dales and to the right of the Lakes and it’s an area I’ve never really visited. I’ve heard a lot about the race and was quite keen to give it a shot as, if nothing else, it would give me some decent climbing practise before the Ben. As I didn’t know the course and I’d trained all week before the race (including Saturday) I decided to simply treat it as a long training run - which is exactly what it turned out to be. I ran with my pal Andrew Jebb (brother of the fell running supremo Rob) for the first half of the race but had no option but to let him go after checkpoint 4 as he was simply too strong for me on the long climb up to ‘The Calf’.

I managed to perform a bit of a crowd pleasing comedy tumble on a track about half way round which resulted in a badly sprained and bruised thumb! Not the most common of fell running injuries….

Anyway, I really enjoyed the race despite blowing quite badly between checkpoint 5 and 6 and having to eat almost all my emergency rations (SIS Go Gel, chocolate raisins and a brunch bar - didn’t need my ‘break wax in case of emergency’ babybell though - that’s in there to fend off cramp should it rear its ugly head)- now I know the route I think I’ll be back for more next year.

Had a rest Monday, although the old legs didn’t feel too bad, and then tonight went for another hour on the roadie - my how my 3 Peaks traning is really coming on!!! Oh and by the way I was wrong in my earlier post it was 16.5 mph avereage not 17.5 - I’m even more rubbish on a bike than I thought I was.

Thursday night it’s the Bingley Harriers backpack run from Beckfoot School to the pubs in Ilkley - this started off as a crazy stunt amongst a few of us but has turned into quite a tradition - full report soon.

Anyway - anyone see the Olympic triathlon this morning? - what about the Bingley Harrier leading from the front until 2.5km out - a fantastic performance by Alistair Brownlee - he’s my tip for the top in 2012 (oh and his brother Johnathon for silver!!)

Had a rest on Wednesday then went out with the fast boys from the Bingley Harriers on Thursday night who were up for a session.

Managed 40 mins then had to let them go - the pace was just too hot for me. So me and another chap trotted back at our own pace. 

I seem to be really struggling on the hills at the minute and don’t know why. I’m wondering if it’s just  that the season is starting to catch up with me a little. I’m at the point where I don’t know if I need to train harder or have a few weeks off. Trouble is I’ve got that many races planned that I can’t fit in a rest period so I guess it’ll have to be the harder training option!!!

After the humiliation of being dropped on Thursday night I went out Friday for a quick 35 mins up the local hill and felt reasonable - song of the session - Wig Wam Bam by The Sweet - now don’t laugh (well ok you can if you like) but if you manage to ignore the cheesy lyrics and can pretend you never did the ridiculous dance it’s actually a cracking song.

Saturday I eventually managed to crack out the road bike - did 20 miles at 17.5 mph average which is about my usual pace - Hannah will probably chuckle at this and call me chicken legs but I don’t think it’s that bad for an occasional cyclist on the hills riding solo. I enjoyed the ride and decided I need to do more of this to compliment my running and in prep for the 3 Peaks Cyclo Cross in September.

Now sat here considering going up to do Sedbergh Hills Fell race tomorrow - 14 miles 6000 ft - It’s either that or a walk round Kettlewell Scarecrow festival…….I’ll let you know if you tune in tomorrow.