Training Log Archive: OJ

Event: WOC 2007
 

Bob Graham supporting. Thought about sitting around moping all weekend, but decided to head over to the Lakes with Middle to support Chappers and Bill on the BG. Somehow forgot my tent on Friday so slept for a (very few) hours in the car then an early start to meet them at Dunmail Rise. The weather was as bad as it could be in August - no visibility and constant rain - so it was always going to be a tough day out for them, the sort of day when you wouldn't dream of leaving a nice warm coffee shop to head up a peak, let alone 42 of them. Rob and I ran with Bill round leg 3, a long and rocky one that crosses Scafell Pike on the way to Wasdale.

I thought what we were doing was pretty stupid until we met a group of chavs on their way down from that summit dressed only in sodden jeans and hoodies - nuts. All was well until Lord's Rake, where we took a wrong turn before the summit and ended up following a narrowing rocky ledge until it petered out in a sheer cliff disappearing off into the mist. Managed to rectify the situation with some backtracking and scrambling but lost a bit of time there.

Really glad that Bill went on to complete showing remarkable stoicism. I really feel for Chappers, who put everything into it but had to pull out after about 15hrs. Very bad luck but I'm sure he'll go on to do it sometime soon, hope I can support him then!

My legs are now even more screwed.

C • We scewed up. 2

Ouch.

Started off on a 7 day attempt at the Pennine Way long distance footpath today, day 1 Edale to Hebden Bridge. Thought it would be a good way to divert myself while WOC was going on. Set off at 8 from Edale feeling quite optimistic. 5 minutes in it started chucking it down with rain and a strong N wind (I was going N) and didn't really let up much for the whole day. Nonetheless I felt pretty good for the first 3 hrs or so.

My in-laws kindly met me for lunch and a welcome chance to shelter in their car, but after that it all went downhill...IT bands tightened up, SI joint got stiff and after about 5 hrs I was in a lot of pain. Saw out the whole day but the last few miles were a real killer. Rosie and Lee provided food, a hot bath and a bed for the night, but this morning my legs were still screwed so I threw in the towel and made my way home with my tail between my legs. Hmmm, might head over to the Lakes for a bit of BG supporting if my body is up to it...

Drove to track to pick Jenny up and did some jogging about in the rain. Pretty quiet there tonight.

Very tired, paying back the debt from last week's fun.